Agnetha Faltskog - My Colouring Book

With the musical Mama Mia selling tickets so strongly in 2005 that it seems destined for a Broadway run through at least 2009, it's easy to forget the existence of the singers who were ABBA. My Colouring Book was Agnetha Faltskog's new album for 2004, and it's distinctly in a pop vein, comprised of music that she's known throughout her life, starting with the Kander & Ebb title track. Even her rendition of Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk in the Room," despite a heavy beat from Dan Stromkvist and some highly amplified guitar playing from Magnus Bengtsson, is very orchestra-heavy. Though the settings in no way parallel anything done by ABBA, Falktskog's voice retains the simple purity of tone and expression that she brought to the group's sound 30 years earlier, enough so that serious fans are likely to enjoy this CD, especially attributes such as her stripped-down rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon" and her covers of standards such as "Sealed With a Kiss" and "The End of the World." The sound is excellent and the playing is impeccable, in settings that range from an instrument or two right up to a full band and orchestra accompaniment. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Name Credits Agnetha Faltskog Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background), Creative Consultant, Producer, Arranger Alar Suurna Mixing Anders Neglin Orchestra Bells, String Arrangements, Organ (Hammond), Keyboards, Castanets, Piano (Grand), Harmonium, Fender Rhodes, Horn Arrangements, Producer, Violin Arrangement, Wurlitzer, Conductor, Farfisa Organ Anders Wiborg Trombone (Bass) Anna Rodell Violin Anna Wallgren Cello Arne Stenlund Viola Britta Bergström Vocals (Background) Christian Bergqvist Violin, Soloist Christina Wirdegren Alin Cello, Orchestra Contractor Christofer Stannow Mastering Dag Alin Violin Janne Hansson Engineer Jimmy Backius Photography Joakim Agnas Trumpet Joakim Wendel Violin Johan Ahlin French Horn Johan Granström Bass (Acoustic), Bass Johan Lindström Pedal Steel, Guitar (Electric), Guitar, Omnichord, Vox Jaguar Jörgen Stenberg Percussion, Drums (Bass) Karin Ohlsson Violin Lasse Wellander Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Leif Lindvall Trumpet Linda Ulvaeus Vocals (Background) Magnus Bengtsson Guitar, Mandoline Mikael Marin Viola Monica Jönsson Cello Monika Stanikowska Violin Patrik Lundström Vocals (Background) Petter Axelsson Viola Sarah Dawn Finer Vocals (Background) Sofia Tretow Vocals (Background) Urban Wiborg Trombone Wojtek Goral Sax (Tenor), Baritone, Clarinet (Bass)