Anni-Frid Lynstad, better known as Frida, was one quarter of the Swedish monster group ABBA. (She was the redheaded one—or was it brunette? I never could tell…) Right before ABBA broke up in 1982, Frida recorded a solo album (her third) and released today’s classic song of the day as a single. That song is “I Know There’s Something Going On” and it was a monster hit worldwide.
ABBA has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure me, as is this song. Frida said she wanted something decidedly non-ABBA-like for her first post-ABBA solo album, and this one delivers on that.
“I Know There’s Something Going On” was written by Russ Ballard, formerly of the band Argent, who also penned tunes for America (“You Can Do Magic”), Three Dog Night (“Liar”), Hot Chocolate, Roger Daltry, Santana, and Night Ranger. The sound of the record is unmistakably that of early-80s Phil Collins, who produced and played drums on the track, ably assisted by the power guitar work of longtime associate Daryl Stuermer.
“I Know There’s Something Going On” was all over the radio back in 1982, as was the song’s video all over MTV and other global music channels. It hit #1 in Belgium and Switzerland but only got to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 here in the U.S.. It stalled at #43 in the UK, surprisingly, although it did go all the way to #3 in Frida’s native Sweden. Still, it’s a damn fine song, I love Frida’s singing (as always), and it’s one of Phil Collin’s definitive drum tracks. The man had a sound and this was it.
The only beef I have with this tune is, who in his right mind would cheat on Frida? I mean, really, Frida, from ABBA? Anyways, it’s an earworm, alright, and the video is perfect early 80s MTV—and today’s daily bonus video of the day.
