Wrap Your Arms Around Me

{{Infobox album

| name = Wrap Your Arms Around Me

| type = studio

| cover = Wrapyourarms.jpg

| alt = A young woman poses in front of a background full of pink and black satin fabrics. She is wearing a pink buttoned-up sweater, resting her chin on her hand, with her left hand pinky finger in her mouth. To the top left, the text is written in elegant style, and it reads "Agnetha Fältskog", with a pink underline. The bottom right of the underline shows a text all in lower-case reading "Wrap Your Arms Around Me".

| caption = Original vinyl cover (Some CD versions have minor differences)

| released = 31 May 1983

| recorded = 20 January – March 1983{{cite magazine |date=July 1983 |title= Agnetha Solo |first=Magnus |last=Janson |magazine=International Abba Magazine |issue=20 |pages=4 | publisher=Pinewood Studios | location=Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England}}

| studio = Polar Music Studios (Stockholm)

| genre =

| length = 46:20

| label = Polar

| producer = Mike Chapman

| prev_title = Nu tändas tusen juleljus

| prev_year = 1981

| next_title = Eyes of a Woman

| next_year = 1985

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Wrap Your Arms Around Me

| type = studio

| single1 = The Heat Is On

| single1date = 3 May 1983

| single2 = Wrap Your Arms Around Me

| single2date = 22 July 1983

| single3 = Can't Shake Loose

| single3date = 13 August 1983

| single4 = Man

| single4date = 1983 (SA)

}}

Wrap Your Arms Around Me is the seventh studio album, and first English-language album, by Swedish singer and ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog. It was released on 31 May 1983, by Polar Music Records, and on 8 August in North America, by Polydor Records. Following the break-up of ABBA in late 1982, she met with record producer Mike Chapman in London, known for his work with Blondie. He began collaborating with Fältskog to take role by coming up with the album title and produced it thereafter. As with post-1979 ABBA releases, recording for Wrap Your Arms Around Me took place at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where Fältskog collaborated with songwriters and ABBA studio musicians to complete the album. The recording lasted for a span of three months during that time.

The album marked a significant step in Fältskog's solo career, resulting in a shift in musical style from the pop-oriented sound of ABBA to a more adult contemporary and soft rock aesthetic that established Fältskog's conventional sound following her later solo albums until I Stand Alone. The stripped-back approach accesses theme implications of ballad-tempo driven by an energetic, introspective sensibility, following as a pre-cursor to album-oriented rock, while retaining elements similar to Europop. This eventually helped secure Fältskog's reputation as a solo artist, growing more independent from the ABBA clout. Despite limited international chart-topping success compared to ABBA, the album remains an important part of Fältskog's musical catalogue, marking a new chapter in her career.

Following its release, the album became a commercial success across continental Europe, topping the charts in Sweden and Norway. However, it had only modest success overseas in North America, including United States and Canada, charting at 102 and 79, respectively. Four singles—"The Heat Is On", "Wrap Your Arms Around Me", "Can't Shake Loose", and "Man"—were released throughout various countries to promote the album. It has gone to attain sales certifications in Netherlands and the UK. It has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Background

Agnetha Fältskog, one of the members of the Swedish group ABBA, had ventures of success in Sweden with her solo career since the late 1960s, primarily containing Swedish-language lyrics. Then 17 year old Fältskog signed with a small record company, Cupol – which saw five albums being released in that particular label, with one while in the group.{{harvnb|Fältskog|Åhman|1997}} She had met Björn Ulvaeus in 1968, one of the members in Hootenanny Singers, along with Benny Andersson. Ulvaeus and Andersson first formed the group as "Björn & Benny" in 1970, but later became a quartet, when Andersson's partner and then-wife, Anni-Frid Lyngstad joined, while Fältskog joined at the same time. She eventually married Ulvaeus in 1971, and the four members, later named "ABBA", rose to international prominence releasing eight albums through Polar Music. Fältskog further gained attention based on her role as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar musical production, enabling her as an actress in the later years.{{harvnb|Palm|2001|pp=112–129 and 135–136}}

By 1979, ABBA's popularity grew at its peak, but the group started to show some tensions, eventually leading to the breakup of both couples.{{cite magazine |date=17 January 1979 |title= ABBA divorce – Agnetha moves out |magazine=The Sun |pages=1 |publisher=John Fairfax Holdings |location=Sydney, Australia}} The divorce and the perceived fame had resulted Fältskog to go to a psychiatrist, realising that being "really crazy to reach that stage" while being in the group seemed "nonsense".{{cite magazine |date=January 1981 |title=Muziek van ABBA houdt doodziek jongetje in leven (in Swedish) |magazine=Story |pages=29 |location=Stockholm, Sweden}}{{cite web |last1=Langley |first1=William |title=Abba's Agnetha Faltskog: Could the girl with the golden hair get lucky at last? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/9933274/Abbas-Agnetha-Faltskog-Could-the-girl-with-the-golden-hair-get-lucky-at-last.html |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=7 December 2024 |location=London, England |date=13 March 2013}} By the end of 1982, the last leg of the promoting tour for ABBA's The Singles: The First Ten Years have been concluded in Stockholm.{{Cite news|url=http://home.bt.com/news/showbiz-news/abba-together-on-stage-again-but-only-to-open-a-taverna-11364034663670|title=ABBA together on stage again – but only to open a taverna|first=Michael|last=Moran|website=Bt.com|date=21 January 2016|access-date=6 December 2024|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810114143/http://home.bt.com/news/showbiz-news/abba-together-on-stage-again-but-only-to-open-a-taverna-11364034663670|url-status=live}} There was no official announcement made involving the break-up of the group, though the collapse of both marriages and inactivity have been contributed to this.{{cite web |last1=Sexton |first1=Paul |title=‘Wrap Your Arms Around Me’: Embracing Agnetha Fältskog’s English Solo Debut |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/agnetha-faltskog-wrap-your-arms-around-me-album/ |website=UDiscover Music |publisher=Universal Music Group |access-date=6 December 2024 |date=31 May 2024}} Fältskog reminisced that before the group's demise, she subsequently was offered actress positions, alongside her prominent advocacy against drugs.{{cite magazine |date=24 October 1982 |title= Alla påhopp har gjort mig stark (in Swedish) |magazine=Aftonbladet |pages=26–27 |publisher=Lena K Samuelsson |location=Stockholm, Sweden}} Commenting on the breakup, Fältskog stated, "I am very proud of what ABBA achieved, but for all of us, it's time to move on... at this point, all of us are going to concentrate on our solo projects."{{cite web |last1=Slater |first1=Andrew |title=After ABBA: Conquering the New World with pop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today/164717600/ |pages=30 |newspaper=USA Today |date=1 September 1983 |via=newspapers.com |access-date=5 February 2025}}

Each member of ABBA had already embarked on solo careers by the time the group paused its activities – while Fältskog, who remained under a recording contract with the Polar label by the group's management team, recorded a duet with Tomas Ledin's Never Again. At the same time, Polar Music's general manager and head of artists and repertoire, Stig Anderson, who managed ABBA throughout its entirety, arranged a contract with Polydor Records for releases across North America. In the UK, Fältskog remained with Epic.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

To look for a producer, Fältskog was first heavily inspired by Barbra Streisand's Guilty album that she contacted Bee Gees singer/producer Barry Gibb as the first in line to produce her upcoming album. However, Gibb insisted on producing it in Miami, but Fältskog refused to leave Sweden at the time.{{harvnb|Palm|2001}} Although Gibb was interested, he first had to cooperate on a film.{{Cite news |date=1983-05-21 |title=ABBA'S AGNETHA NU OOK MET EEN SOLO-ELPEE OP DE MARKT "Frida en ik worden heel vaak met elkaar vergeleken. We lachen er om!" |url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Agnetha&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1983%7C&page=2&sortfield=date&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010593248:mpeg21:a0516&resultsidentifier=ddd:010593248:mpeg21:a0516&rowid=10 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=Limburgsch dagblad}} Aided with Gibb's production time constraints for the next two years, Australian producer, Mike Chapman, who heavily worked with Blondie and Smokie, was chosen to produce it instead.{{cite magazine |year=1983 |title= Agnetha Slaat Haar Arm Om U Heen (in Swedish) |magazine=Veronica |pages=73 |location=Stockholm, Sweden}} Fältskog had previously met Chapman in London, who agreed to take part in producing her album, which came during the news that Blondie already had been disbanded.{{cite web |last1=Irwin |first1=Corey |title=40 Years Ago: A Rare Disease Prompts Blondie to Break Up |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/blondie-break-up/ |website=Classic Rock |access-date=7 December 2024 |date=1 November 2022}} Other well-known producers which Fältskog wanted to work with were Giorgio Moroder and Quincy Jones.

Composition and production

The recordings were originally planned to take place at Polar Music Studios in Stockholm in mid-1982, but were postponed to late November due to her time being in need to record four new songs for ABBA. The majority of the album's writing and composition had been completed during the summer of that year.{{cite magazine |date=July–August 1982 |title=Agnetha: Wir kommen auf Tournee! (in German) |magazine=Bravo |location=Germany}} Following the group's presumed demise, she entered the studio on 20 January 1983 to continue recording her release. She aimed to create her first english studio album with a distinct sound away from ABBA while recognizing that her voice would remain a defining characteristic.

In an interview, Fältskog stated that "Mike Chapman and I both chose the same songs from that huge selection, we were on the same page from the start… I especially wanted a record with cheerful, varied music, alternated with a more solid or romantic number. I enjoyed the freedom you enjoy as a soloist."{{Cite news |date=1983-05-09 |title=Algemeen Dagblad |url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Agnetha&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1983%7C&page=1&sortfield=date&coll=ddd&identifier=KBPERS01:003001007:mpeg21:a00087&resultsidentifier=KBPERS01:003001007:mpeg21:a00087&rowid=9 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=Algemeen Dagblad}} Fältskog was particularly impressed by the band Smokie, selecting them as background vocalists for one of her singles. In addition to collaborating with Smokie, she primarily worked with Swedish musicians, many of whom were touring members who performed with ABBA throughout the group's career. Reflecting on her creative process, Fältskog explained in an interview, "Frida deviated from that. She used foreign musicians, but I didn't want that." She expressed a strong preference for collaborating with familiar individuals, stating, "I preferred to work with people I know. That makes me feel more comfortable. And Mike Chapman thought it was fine, so why not? He thought they were good enough. The album was recorded in our own Polar Studios in Stockholm. I also found that much more pleasant. I like a familiar environment."

Fältskog and Chapman chose the songs from no fewer than four-hundred submitted cassettes. Eventually, the selection was narrowed down to about twenty songs, from which the final choices were made. The completed compositions were created by Chapman, Russ Ballard, and Agnetha Fältskog, along with contributions from emerging composers who had yet to gain recognition. Chapman commented in an Anders Hanser film, "I knew I've been seeing her perform for many years as a member of that group. I knew she was a very capable singer, a vary capable performer. I had no problems at all and understanding her capabilities, knowing what she was going to be able to do. I knew she was a great singer. And I also knew that our personalities would get along just fine. And I think I've been proved to be right."{{cite web |title=How was 'Wrap Your Arms Around Me' By Agnetha created? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejah6N3Gvcs&ab_channel=ABBA.FC |via=YouTube |access-date=7 December 2024 |date=28 February 2022}}

"The Heat Is On" was a cover originally recorded by Noosha Fox, then was re-arranged for Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version titled as "On the Run". The song was chosen as the lead single for Wrap Your Arms Around Me. "Can't Shake Loose" was written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote "I Know There's Something Going On", the only US hit by Fältskog's fellow ABBA member, Frida. Ballard also has writing contributions to "I Wish Tonight Could Last Forever". Other composers have contributed to this extent of the album: "Shame" and "Stay" (David Clark Allen), "Once Burned, Twice Shy" (Dan Tyler and Richard "Spady" Brannan), "Mr. Persuasion" (Susan Lynch and Larry Whitman), "To Love" (Jill Brandt and Randy Goodrum) and "Stand by My Side" (Guido & Maurizio De Angelis. David Cowles). The song title was penned by Chapman and American famed songwriter, Holly Knight. "Man" was the only song on the album written by Fältskog herself, in contrast to her pre-ABBA 1960s recordings in Swedish, which were mostly self-written. The album's strings were provided by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.{{harvnb|Fältskog|Åhman|1997|p=93}}

Album cover

English fashion photographer Gered Mankowitz shot the album cover and all the single covers based on her album. Mankowitz said of this shoot, "Agnetha was being produced by Mike Chapman who I had worked with a great deal in the 70s; and he asked me to come to Sweden, where they were recording, to shoot this cover. Agnetha was charming, very sexy, and photogenic – we had a lovely session together. When I got home to London, there was a huge bouquet of flowers waiting – a thank you from her, and a sweet and thoughtful gesture!"{{cite web |last1=Mankowitz |first1=Gered |title=Gered Mankowitz on Agnetha Fältskog |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=741016204077104&set=a.646185626893496&type=3&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=D5GX3MddbFjanFys&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CdY4ichvL%2F%3Fmibextid%3DWC7FNe# |via=Facebook |access-date=25 November 2024 |date=25 January 2023}} David Costa created the stylized cover while Lolo Murray does the makeup for the photo shoot.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me |title-link=Wrap Your Arms Around Me |others=Agnetha Fältskog |year=1983 |type=booklet |publisher=Polar Music, Polydor |id=042281324215 }}

In comparison, the original CD cover featured a different typeface, with the text predominantly presented in mixed uppercase letters. In contrast, the vinyl edition utilized an all-lowercase font. The 2005 reissue restored the typography to match the original font used on the vinyl release.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Release and promotion

As the recording had been completed, a TV special, "The Heat Is On" had been filmed in April 1983{{Cite web |last=biblioteket |first=Kungliga |title=ARBETET 1983-04-23 |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/tbddgpnvr25wx0r3/part/2/page/32?q=Agnetha%20heat |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Svenska tidningar |language=sv}} and was premiered on the 4 May. There, Fältskog performed new material for her upcoming release—particularly her current lead single and others.{{Cite web |last=biblioteket |first=Kungliga |title=ARBETET 1983-05-13 |url=https://tidningar.kb.se/k2474x1nhv2gh202/part/3/page/1?q=Agnetha%20heat |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Svenska tidningar |language=sv}} Internationally, the promotional campaign started on 6 May 1983 in the Netherlands, where she was invited to perform at the ANWB Gala which is organized to celebrate the association's centenary anniversary.{{Cite news |date=1983-05-07 |title=Agnetha van MA in ons land |url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=Agnetha&facets%5Bperiode%5D%5B%5D=2%7C20e_eeuw%7C1980-1989%7C1983%7C&page=1&sortfield=date&coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:011205644:mpeg21:a1096&resultsidentifier=ddd:011205644:mpeg21:a1096&rowid=8 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=De Telegraaf}} Fältskog performed "The Heat Is On" and "Shame" as well as being interviewed. Fältskog was delighted with the interest the Netherlands showed in her first English-language solo album, following its release.

Fältskog hoped to capture her own solo success in the United States compared to ABBA's sales in the European market. She commented over her plan to crossover promotion in the adult contemporary and pop charts stating, "I just wanted to find a good producer, choose good songs and make a record that everyone would enjoy."

=Reissue=

Wrap Your Arms Around Me received an expanded reissue on CD in 2005, featuring five bonus tracks, "It's So Nice to Be Rich"/"P&B" and "Never Again". On 28 July 2017, it was re-released as part of a reissue collection of solo albums from the members of ABBA in 180 gram black and pink vinyl.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-07 |title=Solo Albums Reissue! |url=https://abbasite.com/articles/solo-albums-reissue/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=ABBA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=2017-06-07 |title=Six Albums From ABBA Solo Repertoire For Vinyl Reissue |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/new-releases/six-albums-abba-solo-repertoire-vinyl-reissue/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}

Commercial performance

Wrap Your Arms Around Me debuted at number one in the Swedish chart on 14 June 1983, selling around 100,000 copies in the first two days since its release, making Fältskog's first album to top the chart. It was proclaimed Sweden's fastest selling albums for the year.{{cite web |title=Billboard 06-25-1983 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-06-25.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=18 November 2024 |pages=9}} It topped the chart for two weeks and placed a total of twelve weeks,{{cref|a}} before dropping off by 15 November, before it subsequently re-charted in January 1984. It has sold 350,000 copies in Sweden since its release. It peaked at number one in Norway for a cumulative of five weeks at its peak.{{cite web |title=Norwegiancharts.com – Agnetha Fältskog – Wrap Your Arms Around Me |url=https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=Wrap+Your+Arms+Around+Me&cat=a |website=Hung Medien |access-date=4 December 2024}} By the year end in 1984, it has sold more than 1,200,000 copies since its release.{{cite web |title=(ABBA) Agnetha Interview - Gäst hos Hagge 1985 Swedish TV Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpmvI2QIxEQ&ab_channel=abba2shay2 |via=YouTube |access-date=18 November 2024 |date=26 January 2023}}{{cite magazine |date= 5 September 1984 |title= It's important to take care of my own business now that ABBA has disbanded |magazine=Svenska Dagbladet | publisher=Schibsted | location=Stockholm, Sweden}}

In the United States, the album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200 on 17 September 1983, and at number 48 on the Rock Albums chart on 8 October 1983.{{multiref2

| 1 = {{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine 1983-09-17 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-09-17.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=19 November 2024 |pages=69 |date=17 September 1983}}

| 2 = {{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine 1983-10-08 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-10-08.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=19 November 2024 |pages=26 |date=8 October 1983}}

| 3 = {{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine 1983-10-29 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-10-29.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=19 November 2024 |pages=24 |date=29 October 1983}}

| 4 = {{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine 1983-11-26 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-11-26.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=19 November 2024 |pages=65 |date=26 November 1983}}

}} A month later, it peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Rock Albums and number 102 on the main Billboard 200 chart, spending for a total of eleven weeks on that chart while it only charted four weeks on the rock chart. It also debuted at 169 in the US Cashbox chart on 1 October 1983, and peaked at 125 on 5 November.{{multiref2|1={{cite web |title=Cashbox 1983-10-01 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-10-01.pdf |website=Cashbox |access-date=6 December 2024 |pages=34 |date=1 October 1983}}|2={{cite web |title=Cashbox 1983-11-05 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/CB-1983-11-05.pdf |website=Cashbox |access-date=6 December 2024 |pages=30 |date=5 November 1983}}}} The album peaked at number 79 in the Canadian chart. The album was Fältskog's only appearance on the Billboard 200 chart until A (2013) reached number 186.{{cite web |title=Billboard 200 {{!}} Week of 2013-06-01 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2013-06-01/ |website=Billboard |access-date=11 February 2025 |date=1 June 2013}} In the UK, it debuted at number 23 on 5 June, then peaked at number 18 the following week, with a cumulative total of 13 weeks spent on the UK Albums Chart,{{cite web |title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me – Agnetha Faltskog |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/agnetha-faltskog-wrap-your-arms-around-me/ |website=OCC |access-date=4 December 2024}} and during its eleventh week in the chart, it was certified platinum by the BPI in that respective country, selling over 300,000 copies. Following its 2017 reissue, it charted at number 26 in the UK vinyl albums chart.{{cite web |title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart on 4/8/2017 {{!}} Official Charts |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20170804/9/ |website=OCC |access-date=11 February 2025 |date=4 August 2017}} The album charted in eleven countries. Since its debut, it has sold an estimated of 2,500,000 copies worldwide, according to Fältskog.{{cite magazine |last1=Tonnon |first1=Fred |last2=Garau |first2=Marisa |date= December 1999 |title= Behind the scenes, I felt like a wreck (translated from Dutch) |magazine=Mikro Gids | publisher=Bindinc. | location=Nederlands}}

=Singles=

The album's lead single and cover, "The Heat Is On", was released on 3 May 1983,{{cite web |title=swedishcharts.com – Agnetha Faltskog – The Heat is on |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=The+Heat+Is+On&cat=s |website=Hung Medien |access-date=5 December 2024}} and charted for a total of 9 countries. The single peaked at number one in Sweden, becoming Fältskog's fourth and first English single to top the chart. It also peaked at the top of the charts in Norway, while it charted at number 35 in the UK.{{cite web |title=The Heat Is On – Agnetha Faltskog |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/agnetha-faltskog-the-heat-is-on/ |website=OCC |access-date=5 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Norwegiancharts.com – Agnetha Fältskog – The Heat Is On |url=https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=The+Heat+Is+On&cat=s |website=Hung Medien |access-date=5 December 2024}} Elsewhere, it peaked at number two in the Netherlands and Belgium.{{cite web |title=Agnetha Fältskog – The Heat Is On |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl///song/3cc/Agnetha-Faeltskog-The-Heat-Is-On |website=Ultratop 50 |access-date=5 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Nederlandse Top 40 – Agnetha Faltskog |url=https://www.top40.nl/top40-artiesten/Agnetha-Faltskog |website=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=5 December 2024}} The following next single and title track, "Wrap Your Arms Around Me", was released on 22 July{{cite web |title=Music Week Magazine 07-23-1983 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1983/Music-Week-1983-07-23-I.pdf |website=worldradiohistory.com |publisher=Music Week |access-date=12 February 2025 |pages=20 |date=23 July 1983}} throughout Europe (except Sweden), where it charted in 7 countries, and again peaked at number one in Belgium.{{cite web |title=Agnetha Fältskog – Wrap Your Arms Around Me |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl///song/43a5/Agnetha-Faeltskog-Wrap-Your-Arms-Around-Me |website=Ultratop 50 |access-date=5 December 2024}} It also charted at number forty-four in the UK.{{cite web |title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me – Agnetha Faltskog |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/agnetha-faltskog-wrap-your-arms-around-me/ |website=OCC |access-date=5 December 2024}} "Can't Shake Loose" was released on 13 August in the US and proved to be more successful in North America, debuting at number 78, then peaking at number 29 on the US Billboard Singles chart, staying for 15 weeks.{{multiref2|1={{cite web |title="Billboard Hot 100 Chart - 27 August 1983 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1983-08-27/ |website=Billboard |access-date=6 December 2024}}|2={{cite web |title=Billboard Hot 100 Chart - 5 November 1983 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1983-11-05/ |website=Billboard |access-date=6 December 2024}}|3={{cite web |title=Billboard Hot 100 Chart - 3 December 1983 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1983-12-03/ |website=Billboard |access-date=6 December 2024}}}} The song peaked at number 23 in Canada.{{cite web |title=Top RPM Singles: Issue 4365 |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4365&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4365.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4365 |work=RPM|access-date=6 December 2024 |date=15 October 1983}} WBAX's program director, Paul Christie, commented that the song "has more hooks than a tackle box", viewing it as a "universal appeal" to become an worldwide hit.{{cite web |title=Billboard Magazine 1983-08-27 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-08-27.pdf |website=Billboard |pages=14 |access-date=6 December 2024 |date=27 August 1983}} It was the only single to be released in the States taken from Wrap Your Arms Around Me. On the contrary, the song had minimal impact in other countries, where it only charted at number 63 in the UK and number 76 in Australia.{{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 - 15 October 1983 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19831016/7501/ |website=OCC |access-date=6 December 2024}}{{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Viglione|first=Joe|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wrap-your-arms-around-me-mw0000193784|title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me – Agnetha Fältskog|website=AllMusic|access-date=11 May 2019}}

| rev2 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Tuckey|first=Ken|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/164717932/|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|pages=182|date=4 September 1983|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|title=Agnetha Faltskog performs as a solo act|via=newspapers.com|access-date=4 February 2025}}

}}

Upon its release, the album received favorable reviews from music critics.

Joe Viglione from AllMusic retrospectively gave the album four out of five stars and wrote that songs like "The Heat Is On" and "Shame" were "much more refined than a lot of the dreck the major labels were issuing at the time" and that the album is "a healthy serving of charming melodies". He mentioned that the composition, "like the album, is a real gem".

The contemporary review from People magazine was also favorable, the author wrote that the record is like the ABBA albums "smooth, upbeat, relentlessly bright and on the sterile side". He concluded that fans of ABBA will not dislike the record and people who dislike the group will not like it any better.

Andrew Slater of USA Today stated that Wrap Your Arms Around Me "sounds tailor-made for the adult contemporary radio, retaining much of the sunny eroticism of ABBA without imitating he group's distinctive pop style."

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = The Heat Is On

| writer1 = {{hlist|Florrie Palmer|Tony Ashton}}

| length1 = 3:50

| title2 = Can't Shake Loose

| writer2 = Russ Ballard

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Shame

| writer3 = David Clark Allen

| length3 = 3:40

| title4 = Stay

| writer4 = Allen

| length4 = 3:20

| title5 = Once Burned, Twice Shy

| writer5 = {{hlist|Dan Tyler|Richard "Spady" Brannan}}

| length5 = 3:40

| title6 = Mr. Persuasion

| writer6 = {{hlist|Susan Lynch|Larry Whitman}}

| length6 = 2:45

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| total_length = 46:20

| title1 = Wrap Your Arms Around Me

| length1 = 5:15

| writer1 = {{hlist|Mike Chapman|Holly Knight}}

| title2 = To Love

| length2 = 3:49

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jill Brandt|Randy Goodrum}}

| title3 = I Wish Tonight Could Last Forever

| length3 = 4:12

| writer3 = Ballard

| title4 = Man

| length4 = 3:31

| writer4 = Agnetha Fältskog

| title5 = Take Good Care of Your Children

| length5 = 3:42

| writer5 = Tomas Ledin

| title6 = Stand by My Side

| length6 = 4:16

| writer6 = {{hlist|Guido & Maurizio De Angelis|David Cowles}}

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2005 reissue edition (bonus tracks)

| title1 = Never Again

| note1 = duet with Tomas Ledin

| length1 = 3:54

| writer1 = Ledin

| title2 = It's So Nice to Be Rich

| note2 = from the movie P&B

| length2 = 3:41

| writer2 = {{hlist|Gunnar Svensson|Hans Alfredson}}

| title3 = P&B

| note3 = B-side of "It's So Nice to Be Rich"

| length3 = 4:01

| writer3 = {{hlist|Svensson|Alfredson}}

| title4 = The Heat Is On

| note4 = super dance music mix

| length4 = 7:58

| writer4 = {{hlist|Palmer|Ashton}}

| title5 = Ya nunca más

| note5 = Spanish version of "Never Again"

| length5 = 3:55

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ledin|Mary McCluskey|Buddy McCluskey}}

}}

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me |others= |year=1983 |type=liner notes |publisher=Polar Music |id=POLS 365 |language=en |last=Fältskog |first=Agnetha}}

Musicians

Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals, backing vocals
Smokie (Chris Norman, Alan Silson, Terry Uttley) – backing vocals
Berit Andersson – backing vocals
Maritza Horn – backing vocals
Diana Nunez – backing vocals
Rutger Gunnarsson – bass guitar
Lasse Wellander – guitars
Per Lindvall – drums
Peter Ljung – piano, organ, synthesizers
Åke Sundqvist – percussion
Kajtek Wojciechowski – accordion, saxophones
Mats Ronander – harmonica
Ingegerd Fredlund – harp
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra – strings

Production

Mike Chapman – producer
Michael B. Tretow – engineer
Rutger Gunnarsson – string arrangements
Gered Mankowitz – photography
David Costa – album design
Lolo Murray – makeup artist

Charts

= Weekly charts =

Chart (1983–84) !Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book \|last=Kent \|first=David \|author-link=David Kent (historian) \|year=1993 \|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 \|edition=illustrated \|location=St Ives, N.S.W. \|publisher=Australian Chart Book \|pages=150–151 \|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} \|align="center"\|49
scope="row"\| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM){{cite web \|url= https://www.worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1983/RPM-1983-10-29.pdf \|title= RPM Magazine 10-29-1983 \|work= Library and Archives Canada \|access-date= 18 November 2024}} \|style="text-align:center;"\|79
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|4\|rowheader=true\|artist=Agnetha Fältskog\|album=Wrap Your Arms Around Me}}
scope="row"\| Finland (Suomen virallinen albumilista){{cite book \|last=Pennanen \|first=Timo \|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 \|language=fi \|edition=1st \|location=Helsinki \|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava \|year=2006 \|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}} \|style="text-align:center;"\|2
{{album chart\|France\|47\|artist=Agnetha Fältskog\|album=Wrap Your Arms Around Me\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 December 2024}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|13\|rowheader=true\|album=Wrap Your Arms Around Me\|artist=Agnetha Fältskog\|id=10052}}
{{album chart\|Norway\|1\|artist=Agnetha Fältskog\|album=Wrap Your Arms Around Me\|rowheader=true\|access-date=18 November 2024}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|1\|rowheader=true\|artist=Agnetha Fältskog\|album=Wrap Your Arms Around Me}}
{{album chart\|UK\|18\|rowheader=true\|artist=Agnetha Faltskog}}
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200 \|align="center"\|102

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1983) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1983&cat=a \|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1983\|language=nl\|publisher=Dutch Charts\|access-date=19 December 2021}} \| 35
scope="row"\| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1983\|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1983\|language=de\|publisher=GfK Entertainment\|access-date=14 June 2020}} \| 50

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (1983)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1983&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1983|language=nl|publisher=Dutch Charts|access-date=19 December 2021}}

| 35

scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1983|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1983|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=14 June 2020}}

| 50

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|award=Gold|title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me|artist=Agnetha Faltskog|relyear=1983|certyear=1983|access-date=3 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Norway|nocert=true|salesamount=100,000|salesref={{cite web |title=WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND ME by AGNETHA FÄLTSKOG sales and awards |url=https://bestsellingalbums.org/album/1199 |website=BestSellingAlbums |access-date=3 December 2024}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|award=Platinum |certref={{cite web |title=Sweden - Additional Information |url=https://www.abbacharts.com/weekssweden.html |website=Abbacharts.com |access-date=13 April 2025}} |title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me|artist=Agnetha Faltskog|salesamount=350,000|salesref={{cite book |last1=Palm|first1=Carl Magnus|author-link=Carl Magnus Palm|title=ABBA: A Biografia |date=2014 |publisher=Best Seller |location=Rio de Janeiro|isbn=9788576848837|page=10/27 (ePub)|language=pt}}|access-date=3 December 2024}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Agnetha Faltskog|title=Wrap Your Arms Around Me|award=Platinum|certyear=1983|relyear=1983|salesamount=300,000|salesref={{cite web |title=Record Mirror UK Charts |url=http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1983/UK%20Charts%201983.08.20.pdf |publisher=Record Mirror, United Newspapers |access-date=3 December 2024 |location=London, United Kingdom |pages=41 |date=20 August 1983}}|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|nocert=true|region=Worldwide|salesamount=2,500,000|salesref=}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Release formats for Wrap Your Arms Around Me
scope="col" \| Region !scope="col" \| Date !scope="col" \| Label !scope="col" \| Format !scope="col" \| Ref.
scope="row" \| Netherlands \| scope="row" \| 30 May 1983 \| scope="row" \| Polydor \| rowspan="7" \| {{hlist\|LP\|cassette}} \| scope="row" \|
scope="row" \| Europe \| rowspan="4" scope="row" \| 31 May 1983 \| scope="row" \| {{hlist\|Polar\|Polydor}} \| rowspan="4" \|
scope="row"\| UK \|scope="row"\| Epic
scope="row"\| {{hlist\|Australia\|South America}} \|scope="row"\| RCA Victor
scope="row"\| Japan \|scope="row"\| Discomate
scope="row"\| Sweden \|scope="row"\| 3 June 1983 \|scope="row"\| Polar \|scope="row"\| {{cite web \|title=swedishcharts.com - Agnetha Fältskog - Wrap Your Arms Around Me \|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=Wrap+Your+Arms+Around+Me&cat=a \|website=Hung Medien \|access-date=5 December 2024}}
scope="row"\| North America \|scope="row"\| 8 August 1983 \|scope="row"\| Polydor \|scope="row"\| {{cite web \|title=Billboard 1983-08-06 \|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-08-06.pdf \|work=Billboard \|access-date=19 November 2024 \|pages=88 \|date=6 August 1983}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\| Various \|scope="row"\| 13 September 2005 \|scope="row" rowspan="2"\| {{hlist\|Polar\|Universal}} \|scope="row"\| CD \|scope="row"\| {{cite web \|title=swedishcharts.com - Agnetha Fältskog - Wrap Your Arms Around Me \|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=Wrap+Your+Arms+Around+Me&cat=a \|website=Hung Medien \|access-date=5 December 2024}}
scope="row"\| 28 July 2017 \|scope="row"\| LP \|scope="row"\| {{Cite web \|last=Sexton \|first=Paul \|date=2017-06-07 \|title=Six Albums From ABBA Solo Repertoire For Vinyl Reissue \|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/new-releases/six-albums-abba-solo-repertoire-vinyl-reissue/ \|access-date=2024-09-12 \|website=uDiscover Music \|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release formats for Wrap Your Arms Around Me

scope="col" | Region

!scope="col" | Date

!scope="col" | Label

!scope="col" | Format

!scope="col" | Ref.

scope="row" | Netherlands

| scope="row" | 30 May 1983

| scope="row" | Polydor

| rowspan="7" | {{hlist|LP|cassette}}

| scope="row" |

scope="row" | Europe

| rowspan="4" scope="row" | 31 May 1983

| scope="row" | {{hlist|Polar|Polydor}}

| rowspan="4" |

scope="row"| UK

|scope="row"| Epic

scope="row"| {{hlist|Australia|South America}}

|scope="row"| RCA Victor

scope="row"| Japan

|scope="row"| Discomate

scope="row"| Sweden

|scope="row"| 3 June 1983

|scope="row"| Polar

|scope="row"| {{cite web |title=swedishcharts.com - Agnetha Fältskog - Wrap Your Arms Around Me |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Agnetha+F%E4ltskog&titel=Wrap+Your+Arms+Around+Me&cat=a |website=Hung Medien |access-date=5 December 2024}}

scope="row"| North America

|scope="row"| 8 August 1983

|scope="row"| Polydor

|scope="row"| {{cite web |title=Billboard 1983-08-06 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-08-06.pdf |work=Billboard |access-date=19 November 2024 |pages=88 |date=6 August 1983}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various

|scope="row"| 13 September 2005

|scope="row" rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Polar|Universal}}

|scope="row"| CD

scope="row"| 28 July 2017

|scope="row"| LP

|scope="row"| {{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Paul |date=2017-06-07 |title=Six Albums From ABBA Solo Repertoire For Vinyl Reissue |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/new-releases/six-albums-abba-solo-repertoire-vinyl-reissue/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}

Notes

{{cnote|a|Since its inception in 1975, the Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart published album rankings over a two-week period till 1993. Wrap Your Arms Around Me reached number one for a total of four consecutive weeks and spent 24 weeks on the chart, despite the shift away from the two-week publication format.}}

References

Bibliography

{{cite book |last=Palm |first=Carl Magnus |author-link=Carl Magnus Palm |date=2001 |title=Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Real Story of ABBA |location=London |publisher=Omnibus |isbn=978-0-7119-8389-2}}
{{cite book |last1=Fältskog |first1=Agnetha |author-link1=Agnetha Fältskog |last2=Åhman |first2=Brita |year=1997 |title=As I Am: ABBA Before & Beyond |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=978-1-8522-7654-6}}

External links

[https://abbasite.com/articles/the-agnetha-faltskog-solo-albums/ In Focus: The Agnetha Fältskog Solo Albums] at the official ABBA website

Category:1983 albums

Category:Agnetha Fältskog albums

Category:Albums produced by Mike Chapman

Category:Polar Music albums