Agnetha Fältskog - Wrap Your Arms Around Me (1983) [Remastered 2006]

First released in 1983, "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" was a fantastic start to Agnetha's post-ABBA music career. The production on this album is pretty standard '80s fare, but the songs have strong personality, thanks to Agnetha's distinctive and emotive voice. You can feel every word this woman sings, if that wasn't apparent by ABBA's most heartbreaking hits. Highlights of the album include "Can't Shake Loose", which led the album in America (it was the third single internationally). Written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote Frida's first English single and hit "I Know There's Something Going On", the songs have a similar edge, with Agnetha's sounding a tad more frantic and less angry, due in part to the differences in their vocal delivery. The album's title track (and second international single) is a gorgeous ballad that will make you want to cuddle up with someone special. The following song, "To Love" is a long lost radio hit, sounding much like the movie-soundtrack ballads that were huge at the time. "Man" sees Agnetha composing again for the first time in about ten years on record (it's the only song she wrote on the album), and it is a gorgeous tune that will make your heart melt.