"To Turn the Stone" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The song was first recorded by American singer Donna Summer, planned for release on her 1981 studio album I'm a Rainbow; however, it would be shelved until 1996. Swedish singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad would be the first to officially release the song, recording it for her third studio album and first English-language album Something's Going On (1982). Lyngstad's version was produced by Phil Collins, and officially released on 8 October 1982, via Polar Music as the album's second single.
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]
Release and reception
"To Turn the Stone" was first released as part of the album Something's Going On on 10 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]
Lyngstad in Amsterdam to promote To Turn The Stone.
"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]
Around the same time as Frida's single release in late 1982, Helen St. John released her debut album Power to the Piano, produced by Moroder. This consisted of an instrumental version of "To Turn the Stone". This album was released in France and Italy. "To Turn the Stone" was also St. John's debut single, only released in France.
Joe Esposito covers
Joe Esposito recorded and released two versions of "To Turn the Stone". The first, produced by Moroder and included on the 1983 album Solitary Men, credited to both of them. "To Turn the Stone" was also the B-side of "Lady, Lady, Lady" from the Flashdance soundtrack in the USA and Austria. This single peaked at No. 86 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 36 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and No. 7 in the Austrian Single Charts.
The second version was produced by Biff Vincent and Helmuth Schärf in 1989. This cover was only released as a single in Austria.
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