To Turn the Stone

While the aim for Frida's first English-language solo album was to include only original compositions, several songs, recorded by other artists were chosen for the album, since those were eligible to include.[1] For instance, "You Know What I Mean" (previously recorded by Phil Collins), "Here We'll Stay" (previously recorded by Sonia Jones), and "To Turn the Stone".[1] It was ABBA manager Stig Anderson who had suggested this song for Frida's album.[1] Frida's version is driven by synths and has an Irish influence.[1] While recording "To Turn the Stone", Phil Collins had set out to achieve the Phil Spector "sound", and therefore bought Spector's albums to perfect an echo sound.[1]

"To Turn the Stone" was first released as part of the album Something's Going On on the 6 September 1982. The album had received positive reviews. However, this song was deemed "weak", "pale" by critics, and that the composition was "surprisingly impersonal" by highly prolific composer Moroder.[1] The critics from the USA, responded that within the album, "To Turn the Stone" sounds the most like ABBA.[1]

"To Turn the Stone" was the second single released from Frida's album after "I Know There's Something Going On" on 8 October 1982. It was released in selected countries around the world, including the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. RCA Australia had intended to have "Tell Me It's Over" as the second single instead of "To Turn the Stone". However, Polar overruled this decision.[1] "I See Red" was released in South Africa instead of "To Turn the Stone".[1] The UK single cover had the same artwork as the album by Yves Poyet, with different text in the top-left corner,[2] while the other countries had the regular artwork. The UK pressing was also pressed on clear vinyl.[3] The song was edited down to 3:24 for single release, snipping out the majority of the instrumental breaks. This single edit has not been included as a bonus track for the reissues for the album. However, it can be found on the German and Dutch ABBA compilations, "I Love ABBA", from 1983[4] and "From ABBA With Love", from 1984.[5] Frida began promoting the single on first October in the Netherlands on TV shows, Mies and Toppop, where she awaited crowds of people.[1] At this time. Frida did not have a music video for "To Turn the Stone".[1] Jan Bekema and Bert van der Veer, a director from Toppop gave help and recorded the music video in Almere, Netherlands.[1] The video consists of Frida singing in front of a mountain backdrop, cats, barbed wire, dancers, an lightbulb exploding and an eagle.[6]

Critics in the UK had responded harshly towards this single.[1]