ABBA Classic Pop

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ABBA
WELCOME
ON THE FACE OF IT, YOUD THINK THE ABBA
STORY WAS ONE OF UNALLOYED SUCCESS
AN ALL-CONQUERING GLOBAL POP
PHENOMENON WHO TRAMPLED ALL
BEFORE THEM IN THEIR PATH. THE TRUE
STORY, THOUGH, IS FAR
I
MORE COMPLICATED n this edition of Classic Pop members themselves, who fell in
Presents, well be delving into love, married, then were pulled
what has become one of the apart by the rigours of fame.
most fascinating narratives in Two couples in the same
modern music history. premier-league pop group?
Its all there, from the bands Only Fleetwood Mac have a
early struggles to define their similar insight into such a
characteristic sound and forge perilous position.
an identity, to the setbacks that In recent times, of course,
dogged their first forays into the ABBA brand has gone from
the limelight. strength to strength and Swedens
Then theres the almost very own Fab Four are held up
unparalleled string of hit singles as a paradigm of pop perfection.
and albums not for nothing Even theatreland and Hollywood
has this quartet sold upwards of proved impervious to their
300 million LPs. unique appeal.
If they were somewhat taken Innovators in the studio and
for granted at the time, its only in on stage, fashion icons for a
retrospect that the sheer brilliance generation ABBA led where
of their songwriting nous has many have followed since.
become apparent as youll Beyond the kitsch which has
discover on the following pages, always done them a disservice
the great and the good from the theres real heft and weight to the
worlds of pop and rock have been ABBA story. Its not all sequins and
lining up to sing their praises, Schlager music
whether it be Madonna, Kylie
or Pete Waterman, to those from Steve Harnell Editor
more unlikely quarters, such
as Bono, Pete Townshend and
Noel Gallagher.
Adding to the spice, of course,
is the unique dynamic of the band
T H E C O N T R I B U T O R S
Simon Paul Lester John Earls Mark Lindores
Goddard has been both edited Teletexts grew up during
is an author, Features Editor music pages the golden age
Contributing of Melody Planet Sound of pop mags,
Editor to Q Maker and throughout the devouring Smash
Magazine and Deputy Editor Noughties; he Hits and Number
ecstatic owner of an Agnetha- of Uncut. Since 2007, he has has also done pop for the One. Writing about the artists he
autographed copy of ABBA freelanced for the Guardian, Sunday People, News Of The used to read about for Classic
The Album. His acclaimed The Sunday Times, The World and, currently, NME Pop, Total Film and Mixmag,
2013 Bowie book Ziggyology Independent, MOJO, Classic and the Daily Star. John also he is living the dream of his
is out now in paperback. Rock and Classic Pop. lectures in journalism. 15-year-old self.
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109 94
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EDITOR
Steve Harnell
steve.harnell@anthem-publishing.com
ART EDITOR
John Thackray
28
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PRODUCTION EDITOR
Owen Bailey
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jenny Cook
jenny.cook@anthem-publishing.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Gary Walker
DESIGNER
Andy Saunders
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Jon Bickley
jon.bickley@anthem-publishing.com
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Simon Lewis
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F E AT U R E S CLASSIC POP SUBSCRIPTIONS 22
LICENSING ENQUIRIES Subscribe to Classic Pop magazine save
THEY HAD A DREAM 6
Regina Erak Long before they became a household fixture, money and choose a free CD
Tel +44 (0)7753 811 622 heres how Swedens musical equivalent of ALBUM INSIGHT: ABBA 24
regina.erak@globalworks.co.uk IKEA was slowly assembled With Mamma Mia and SOS, the ABBA we
ALBUM INSIGHT: RING RING 12 know and love was gradually coalescing
ABBA were searching for their future sound THE AGONY OF THE ECSTASY 28
on this debut, which nonetheless contains We have lift-off! ABBAs incredible imperial
plenty of hints of the genius to come phase between 1975 to 1980 is one of pops
All content copyright of Anthem Publishing Ltd 2016, all great success stories
ALBUM INSIGHT: WATERLOO 14
rights reserved. While we make every effort to ensure
The title track is a classic; the rest is a ALBUM INSIGHT: ARRIVAL 36
that the factual content of Classic Pop magazine is correct, One of the all-time classic pop records, Arrival
work-in-progress on this second ABBA LP
we cannot take any responsibility nor be held accountable positively drips with joyful confidence and
BRIGHTON ROCK 16
for any factual errors printed. No part of this publication classy songwriting
ABBAs 1974 Eurovision Song Contest triumph
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or resold
was a launchpad for world domination and SUPER TROUPERS 40
without prior consent of Anthem Publishing Ltd. Classic Pop ABBA loved the studio, but the whirlwind of
rescued the band from pop oblivion after a
recognises all copyrights contained within the issue. Where their world tours was another matter entirely
series of false starts
possible, we acknowledge the copyright holder.
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Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
40 114 CONTENTS
120
ALBUM INSIGHT: THE ALBUM 46
Classic tunes aplenty, as ABBAs songwriting
ALBUM INSIGHT:
THE VISITORS 66
WHEN ALL IS
SAID AND DONE 106
and production became more ambitious ABBAs swansong is an introspective personal The members various post-ABBA solo careers
DVD INSIGHT: ABBA THE MOVIE 50 album, filtered through the prism of great pop SUBSCRIPTIONS 112
Shot in 1977 on the bands Australian tour, THE GALLERY 70 Subscribe to our sister titles and save cash
ABBA The Movie offers a precious insight Some classic shots from the bands history ON AND ON AND ON! 114
ALBUM INSIGHT: VOULEZ-VOUZ 52 TOP 40 ABBA SIZZLERS! 78 A look at Mamma Mia!, one of the most
ABBA immersed themselves in funk and A chronological look at an astonishing legacy successful musicals of all time
disco and headed for the dancefloor with this A LITTLE RESPECT 90 THANK YOU FOR
glittering disco ball of an album Paul Lester talks to Erasures Andy Bell about THE MUSEUM 120
ALBUM INSIGHT: the bands chart-topping ABBA-esque EP Join us for a guided tour of Stockholms ABBA
SUPER TROUPER 56 ABBA RELOADED 96 The Museum visitor attraction
Tinged with turmoil, but this sixth album still David Burke spins some covers of ABBAs ONCE MORE WITH FEELING 126
seemed part of a neverending success story music from a diverse range of artists Unfortunately for ABBA fans, a reunion
BITTER SWEDE SYMPHONIES 60 THE WINNER FAKES IT ALL 100 remains as remote a prospect as ever
When the inevitable end came for the band, it Even today, ABBA tribute acts continue to CLASSIC POP MOMENTS 130
was with more of a whimper than a bang pack out concert venues around the world When Kylie Minogue met Benny
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T H E E A R L Y Y E A R S
THEY HAD
ABBA WERENT ALWAYS
GLOBAL SUPERSTARS AND CHART
REGULARS INDEED, THEY HAD
A LONG, LONG STRETCH BEFORE
THEY WERE FAMOUS. HERE, WE
DELVE INTO THE ORIGINS AND
FORMATION OF SWEDENS
BIGGEST-EVER MUSICAL EXPORT
P A U L L E S T E R
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7

but most of her biggest hits were self-composed. She
released four solo LPs between 1968 and 1971.
Then, in 1972, the versatile performer won the role
as Mary Magdalene in the Swedish production of the
international hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
Five years older than her female ABBA singing
partner, Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born in Norway to
a Norwegian mother and German soldier father.
She was brought up in Sweden by her maternal
grandmother, following her mothers death aged just
21. Like Fltskog, she evinced an early propensity
for music, getting a job as a dance band and
schlager singer when she was 13, with the Evald Eks
Orchestra. She teamed up with a jazz-based 15-piece
big band, performing music by the likes of Glenn
Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, her singing
style influenced by Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. In
1963, she formed her own band, the Anni-Frid Four,
and in 1967, she won a national talent competition
that led to a record contract with EMI Sweden and
her first single for the company, En Ledig Dag (On
Vacation). It was while performing the song on
national TV that she encountered Fltskog for the first
time. Lyngstad spent 1968 touring Sweden and the
following year took part in the Swedish heats for the
Getty Images Eurovision Song Contest with the song Hrlig r Vr
Jord (Our Earth Is Wonderful), finishing fourth.
So much for the girls. The boys werent exactly
sitting around idly on their hands in those pre-ABBA
years either. Bjrn Kristian Ulvaeus (born 1945)
I
Bjrn with The
Hootenanny ts strange to imagine, but ABBA had a past, a made his name with Swedish folkies the West Bay
Singers on German pre-history. They might have looked, on that fateful Singers, a bunch of clean-cut band modelled on
TV in 1966 night in 1974 when Brighton hosted that years The Kingston Trio who changed their name to The
Facing page: Pre-ABBA
Eurovision, like the quintessence of 70s Euro glam Hootenanny Singers and became enormously popular
Benny performing Frida with her bizarre bubble perm, Agnetha in her in Scandinavia. Ulvaeus began penning English-
with the Hep Stars satin blue pants and silver stack heels, Bjrn with his language songs for the group, and even enjoyed a
sci-fi guitar and Benny with his, well, beard yet they brief solo career at the same time.
began life in the murky, monochrome 60s. It was while on the road with The Hootenanny
Agnetha se Fltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad Singers that he made the acquaintance of another
were no simpering blonde and brunette mannequins young Swedish musician, Benny Andersson (born
whose contribution to ABBA was purely decorative. 1946), who, after graduating from high school, had
In fact, Fltskog took the opportunity early on to set been invited to join the Hep Stars, a popular beat
the record straight. The myth is that Frida and I were combo with a massive teenage-girl fanbase not for
there as a front for Bjrn and Bennys music, she nothing were they known as the Swedish Beatles.
averred. But the truth of the matter is that we were Andersson a self-taught pianist with a wide-ranging
the people that could bring over precisely what they love of traditional European music and American
couldnt do with their previous bands. rocknroll didnt just play keyboards, he wrote
And there was plenty of previous bands or many of the Hep Stars songs, including the hits No
otherwise. Born in 1950, Fltskog showed an early Response (No. 3 in 1965), Sunny Girl, Wedding and
proclivity for songwriting, penning her first tune aged Consolation, all No. 1s in 1966.
six. By 1960, she was part of a musical trio, The Ulvaeus and Andersson discovered a mutual love
Cambers, who played local concerts in Jnkping, of songwriting, one that they soon put into practice,
Sweden. She left school at 15 to pursue a musical creating their first joint composition: a song entitled
career, achieving some degree of notoriety in the Isnt It Easy To Say, which they gave to the Hep
press after writing a precocious little number Jag Var Stars. There were further forays into the recording
S Kr (I Was So In Love) about breaking up with studio, and more joint compositions: Frken Blklint
her boyfriend. Within a year, she had signed a deal (A Flower In My Garden), also recorded by the Hep
with CBS before, towards the end of 1967, issuing Stars, and 1968s Ljuva Sextital (Sweet Sixties),
Jag Var S Kr as her debut solo single. It topped which was submitted for the 1969 Swedish heats of
the Swedish chart in January 1968 and sold more the Eurovision Song Contest but was rejected. It was
than 80,000 copies. She enjoyed continued success followed by 1969s Speleman (Fiddler) for the Hep
throughout the late 60s, with songs written for the Stars. They closed the decade by recording their
Swedish preliminary of the Eurovision Song Contest, first single as a duo: Shes My Kind Of Girl, which
and another Zigenarvn about falling in love with became a minor hit in Sweden.
a gypsy. It was around this time, while filming a TV special
There were further successes at the turn of the devoted to schlager music in March 1969, that
decade, with the single Om Trar Vore Guld (If Tears Ulvaeus met Fltskog. Mere weeks earlier, Andersson
Were Gold). She recorded covers of foreign hits had met Lyngstad. And so four became two (pairs):
and performed them on tours in Swedish folkparks, Bjrn and Agnetha married in July 1971, while Benny

and Anna-Frid eventually tied the knot in 1978. The The first date for their first joint live sortie was
two couples soon found themselves working together 1 November 1970, in Gothenburg. In a posh
in various permutations. restaurant, they delivered a series of skits and
As The Hootenanny Singers and the Hep Stars comic ditties, plus the occasional solo number, to
began to wind down in 1969, Andersson and virtual stony silence. On that first night, there were
Ulvaeus joined forces to record their first album, Lycka apparently just a few embarrassed couples seated
(Happiness), which included original songs sung at tables. By the end of the week, there were more
by both Benny and Bjrn. Their other halves were people onstage than in the audience. Ulvaeus later
often present in the recording studio, and sometimes cringed: It was the lowest ebb of my career. Of all
added backing vocals, Fltskog even contributing to our careers. Terrible, terrible.
the writing. Lycka was, in many ways, the genesis
of ABBA, although it was a more dour affair than
the latters early bubblegum pop, with a stark brown The two couples went on holiday together to Cyprus, and
cover and an overall seriousness of tone. gave an impromptu performance in front of UN soldiers
Andersson, meanwhile, produced Lyngstads
single Peter Pan in September 1969 it was her first
stationed on the island. This gave them the idea to
collaboration with Andersson and Ulvaeus, who wrote launch a cabaret-style revue, under the delightful
the song. Andersson proceeded to produce her 1971 soubriquet Festfolket (Swedish for Party People)
debut album, Frida, and she had her first chart-topper
with Min Egen Stad (My Own Town), which also
happened to feature all four future members of ABBA The lukewarm reaction convinced them to
on backing vocals. Lyngstad had another Swedish momentarily shelve further collaborations, and each
No. 1 in 1972 with Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan focused on individual projects again. Ulvaeus and
(One Wants To Live A Little From Time To Time). Andersson had a No. 5 Swedish hit with Hej, Gamle
But it was back in 1970 that the quartet made Man (Hello, Old Man), a song about an old Salvation
their first serious attempt to pool their talents in Army soldier with a country and western tinge.
public. It was serious and yet simultaneously comical, But in 1971, the four conspicuously began adding
because that was the year the two couples decided to vocals to each others recordings. That May, Fltskog,
holiday together in Cyprus. They gave an impromptu Andersson and Ulvaeus toured together while
performance in front of UN soldiers stationed on the Lyngstad toured on her own. After 1970s Lycka,
island. This gave them the idea to launch a cabaret- two further singles credited to Bjrn & Benny were
style revue, under the delightful soubriquet Festfolket released in Sweden, each with considerable vocal
(Swedish for Party People). contributions from their respective partners: Det Kan
Getty Images

Getty Images
Anni-Frid and
Agnetha sign Ingen Doktor Hjlpa (No Doctor Can Help With That) Enough) and Me And Bobby And Bobbys Brother.
copies of their and Tnk Om Jorden Vore Ung (Imagine If The Earth But there were also early signs of Andersson and
third album, ABBA, Were Young). By mid-71, the foursome was a regular Ulvaeus pop savvy in the title track, while Fltskogs
in Copenhagen
attraction at Swedens folkparks. composition Disillusion was an intimation of the
Andersson and Ulvaeus made several attempts melancholy, haunting ABBApop to come.
to break into the mainstream international market The album with its Spector-esque production
via the Eurovision Song Contest. They had two was well-received in Sweden and Ring Ring the
entries rejected in 1971, but the following year their single was a hit in many parts of Europe as well as
composition, Sg Det Med En Sng (Say It With A South Africa. And yet the group, and manager Stig
Song), sung by new arrival Lena Anderson, came in Anderson, were anxious to achieve wider recognition
third and became a hit in Sweden. They had further in Britain and America. Meanwhile, the foursome,
success abroad when their single Shes My Kind Of still labouring under the unwieldy name of Bjrn &
Girl gave the (male) duo a Top 10 hit in Japan. Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid, began to be referred
to by their manager, in the hope that it would catch
on, as ABBA from the initials of their four first
The foursome, still labouring under the unwieldy name of names (also a well-known fish-canning company in
Bjrn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid, began to be referred Sweden). A competition to find a name for the group
ran in a Gothenburg newspaper and it was officially
to by their manager, in the hope that it would catch on, announced in the summer theyd be known as ABBA,
as ABBA from the initials of their four first names having negotiated with the fish-canners for the rights.
(also a well-known fish-canning company in Sweden) Perhaps viewing Ring Ring as the Eurovision winner
that should have been (especially considering that
English lyrics for the UK version of the song had
Their first chart success as a four-piece, though, been provided by none other than Neil Sedaka and
was 1972s People Need Love, featuring vocals from Phil Cody), Stig Anderson encouraged the nascent
Fltskog and Lyngstad and credited to Bjrn & Benny, ABBA to come up with another song, this time for the
Agnetha & Anni-Frid. A period stomper, it peaked at forthcoming 1974 contest.
No. 17 in Sweden and saw them make their chart And so it was that ABBA found themselves, in late
debut in the States. The four future ABBA-ites began 1973, invited by Swedish television to contribute
work on their first album together in autumn 1972. a song for the countrys pre-selection contest,
Agnetha and Anna-Frid shared lead vocals on the Melodifestivalen 1974. With their relative failure
track Nina, Pretty Ballerina, thereby introducing to the year before, when Ring Ring had only reached
the world that unique harmonised combination of third in the Melodifestivalen, they tentatively proffered
soprano (Fltskog) and mezzo-soprano (Lyngstad). a slew of new songs. From this selection, a thrilling,
Elsewhere on the debut album titled Ring Ring surging number with a euphoric chorus was chosen.
and recorded between March 1972 and March Its title? Waterloo. ABBA won their national heats on
1973 at Metronome, Europafilm and KMH Studios Swedish television on 9 February 1974. Suddenly,
in Stockholm, Sweden there were such Europop they were heading for the Eurovision finals. Their next
novelties as Love Isnt Easy (But It Sure Is Hard stop: Brighton.
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A L B U M
INSIGHT
RING RING
1 9 7 3
BROUGHT TOGETHER BY EUROVISION, ABBA WERENT EVEN ABBA
WHEN THEY RELEASED THEIR DEBUT A GENRE-CROSSING CURIOSITY
THAT NONETHELESS OFFERS HINTS OF WHAT LAY AHEAD
W Y N D H A M W A L L A C E
12
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R I N G R I N G A L B U M I N S I G H T
E
very day in the morning
THE TRACKLISTING PERSONNEL

on her way to the
Benny Andersson
DETAILS
office, you can see as 1. Ring Ring (Bara Du Slog En Keyboards, vocals, backing vocals
she catches a train, Signal) (Swedish version) Agnetha Fltskog
the ladies sing. Just a face
among a million faces, just 2. Another Town, Vocals, backing vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
another woman with no Another Train Vocals, backing vocals
name. Anyone hearing 3. Disillusion Bjrn Ulvaeus
this song upon its release Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
would, in fact, have known 4. People Need Love
ADDITIONAL
the singers: their names were 5. I Saw It In The Mirror MUSICIANS
printed on the cover, in the
kind of typeface beloved of 6. Nina, Pretty Ballerina Ola Brunkert
Drums
the era, against a photo like 7. Love Isnt Easy (But It Sure Rutger Gunnarsson
one youd post on Facebook Is Hard Enough) Electric bass
after going through your Roger Palm
parents cupboards. 8. Me And Bobby And Drums
But, nonetheless, with their Bobbys Brother Janne Schaffer
centre partings and everyday 9. He Is Your Brother Acoustic guitar,electric guitar
grins, each might indeed be Mike Watson
not the girl youd remember, 10. Ring Ring Electric bass
but shes still something (English version) PRODUCTION
special, and even if you 11. I Am Just A Girl Benny Andersson;
didnt immediately recognise Bjrn Ulvaeus
their extraordinary talent: 12. Rock N Roll Band Producers, arrangers
If you knew her I am sure
youd agree, cause I know
shes got a little secret. also like the line that soon its exuberant, unforgettable melodic twists suggest a
And that secret, the one that followed: Women always chorus. Best of all are its fondness for the then-recently
makes her so special? Well, knew that it takes a man to production, a low-budget reunited Bee Gees, as does
thats easy: Friday evening get matrimonial harmony. In but rewarding attempt to I Saw It In The Mirror.
she turns out to be Nina, other words, it was a slightly mimic Phil Spectors Wall Of Love Isnt Easy (But It Sure
pretty ballerina. clumsy product of its time, Sound, and that short but Is Hard Enough), meanwhile,
Its a transformation that reminding one uncomfortably memorable bridge And I leans gently on country
ABBA were yet to mirror, of how The Wurzels would sit all alone impatiently/Wont rock, but offers glimpses of
but the metaphor was soon get to No. 1 parodying you please understand the their soon-to-be trademark,
nonetheless clairvoyant. Melanies dreadful Brand need in me? which hints at unexpectedly soaring melodic
Originally credited to Bjrn New Key, and how their impending, supernatural moments, and the admirably
Benny & Agnetha Frida, complex He Is Your Brother
Ring Ring (from which those showcases inventive guitar
lyrics come), came about [The song] Ring Ring, which boasts lyrical input licks. Nevertheless, Me And
after songwriters Benny by Neil Sedaka and his writing partner Phil Cody, Bobby And Bobbys Brother
Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus and the bittersweet candyfloss
known imaginatively as still stands as one of ABBAs masterstrokes of I Am Just A Girl sound
Benny & Bjrn, and already from its effervescent opening to its exuberant exactly like the kind of songs
successful within their and unforgettable chorus Eurovision would rightly
homeland invited their reject, while the 60s Carnaby
respective partners to record Street flavourings of Shes My
a one-off single on which Kind Of Girl and the soft-rock
theyd be given equal credit. Eurovision once represented combination of exhilaration posturing of Rock N Roll
Though People Need Love, the height of pop musics and despondency. Band seem strangely out
the resulting release wasnt ambitions. It did, however, Sadly, most of Ring Ring of place.
the most promising start to boast a melody that burrowed only released in the UK almost Fortunately, buried halfway
their career, it sounded like its way into your skull. 20 years later promises into the album is another
a distant cousin of the ABBA It was actually Eurovision something special, but little hint of the genius to come,
wed come to love. that provided added incentive more. Another Town, Another our once anonymous office
Beginning with a for the quartet to continue Train is elegantly constructed, girl, Nina, Pretty Ballerina.
crunching guitar chord, that after what turned out to be a more so than its lyrics about a Saccharine but irresistibly
inauspicious seven-inch Top 20 hit. Andersson and restless lover You and I had so the song boasts all the
which immediately leapt into Ulvaeus were invited to pitch a groovy time/But I told you qualities of its protagonist and
a well-intentioned but banal for Swedens 1973 entry, and somewhere down the line/You looks into a future where, like
chorus that observes how Ring Ring with lyrical input would have to find me gone her, the band, too, would be
People need hope, people by Neil Sedaka and writing and its flutes add a certain the queen of the dancing
need loving/People need trust partner Phil Cody was the soft-focus sophistication. floor. Ring Ring was to
from a fellow man was outcome. It still stands as Disillusion ABBAs only remain a secret for a long
much like its cover, which one of ABBAs masterstrokes, studio recording to feature time outside Sweden, but the
showed them in the kind of from its effervescent opening, a writing credit for Agnetha same could not be said of
bandstand pavilion in which which carves a circle in the Fltskog is an insipid ABBA, nor their debuts few
they often played. It was air appropriate to the title, to ballad, but its intriguing but vital future classics.
13
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A L B U M
INSIGHT
WATERLOO
1 9 7 4
ITS TITLE TRACK STANDS AS A POP MASTERPIECE, AND THE RATIO
OF KILLER TO FILLER HAS IMPROVED, BUT ABBAS SECOND ALBUM
IS STILL AS PREPOSTEROUS AS IT IS PLEASING
14
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W A T E R L O O A L B U M I N S I G H T
A
BBA may have
THE
TRACKLISTING Anni-Frid Lyngstad
been connoisseurs Vocals
1. Waterloo (English version)
DETAILS
of outstanding Bjrn Ulvaeus
melodies, but their 2. Sitting In The Palmtree Acoustic guitar,electric guitar, vocals
lyrics despite input from
manager Stig Anderson, a 3. King Kong Song ADDITIONAL
prolific songwriter himself 4. Hasta Maana MUSICIANS
sometimes left something Ola Brunkert
to be desired. Their second
5. My Mama Said Drums
album is a goldmine of 6. Dance (While The Music Christer Eklund Tenor saxophone
on Waterloo
linguistic misdemeanours, Still Goes On) Malando Gassama
with evidence right off the
bat: Waterloo may begin with 7. Honey Honey Percussion,congaon Sitting In
The Palmtree
that thrillingly simple, instantly 8. Watch Out Rutger GunnarssonBass
recognisable riff, but those
opening lyrics My My/
9. What About Livingston? Per Sahlberg Bass on Dance (While
The Music Still Goes On)
At Waterloo Napoleon did 10. Gonna Sing You Janne Schaffer Guitar
surrender/ Oh yeah/ And I My Lovesong Sven-Olof Walldoff
have met my destiny in quite a
similar way are written in a 11. Suzy-Hang-Around Stringarrangementon Honey, Honey
John Rabbit Bundrick
peculiar hybrid of archaic and PERSONNEL Keyboards on Dance (While The Music Still
second-language English that Benny Andersson Goes On) (not credited on album)
cant help but make visions of Piano, keyboards,vocals,Moog
people singing along that little synthesiser,Mellotron,clavinet,lead PRODUCTION
bit more ridiculous. vocalson Suzy-Hang-Around Benny Andersson
Matters dont improve as Agnetha Fltskog & Bjrn Ulvaeus
the album proceeds: the Vocals Producers
wild rhymes of King Kong
Song (What a dreadful
mighty killer/ A big black for 1973s Eurovision Song ape impersonations in the the pleasure. Honey Honey,
wild gorilla); the clumsily Contest in favour of Nova chorus, is less Alice Cooper meanwhile the albums
rebellious vernacular of My And The Dolls who finished and more Rocky Horror and second single is so sweet
Mama Said (Ooh, my mama a poor 12th Sweden at Hasta Maana, the tune the and close to pastiche it could
said, Look at this, you havent selected ABBA the following group rejected for Eurovision have been recorded by a
done your bed); and the year, and Waterloo secured in favour of Waterloo). Japanese tribute girl group.
downright creepy, romantic the prize. Fortunately, the album then Whether these are
pigheadedness of Watch compensation for the rock
Out (Anywhere you go Ill histrionics of stalker anthem
find you/ Watch out/ Ill be Watch Out another Rocky
staying close behind you). Theres no wonder the title track Horror moment and the
Thats not to mention Sitting In propelled them to international fame unduly saccharine schlager of
The Palmtree, which concerns What About Livingstone? is
a gentleman roosting with the But nonetheless, Waterloo the album questionable. Either way,
coconuts while monitoring
his true loves window
represents a band that arent quite playing theyre easily forgotten,
because the albums finale is
always a controversial to their strengths, and who havent wholly so remarkable: Gonna Sing
seduction method and the You My Lovesong, a heartfelt
charmingly literal What
identified their sound if morally questionable plea
About Livingstone, which for a man to abandon his
uses the explorers deeds to partner in favour of the songs
justify space travel. Nonetheless, Waterloo the delivers three slices of near protagonist, boasts a defiantly
But then theres the title album presents a band that perfection. My Mama Said uplifting chorus, while
track. Sure, Waterloo seems arent quite playing to their may be lyrically laughable Suzy-Hang-Around a rich,
to dwell, as a number strengths, and who havent how can anyone not snigger harpsichord-fuelled, baroque
of ABBAs songs do, on wholly identified their sound. at My mama said, I know pop gem thats so different to
now (hopefully) outmoded This is clear from the moment youve been out again with the rest of the album it could
relationship structures in the faux calypso sounds of Fred? but Janne Schaffers almost be Big Star brings
this case a woman forced to Sitting In The Palmtree get jazzy guitar, and some things to an unexpectedly
concede to the strength of her underway: though its blessed wonderfully funky basslines, psychedelic close. Its lyrics
conquering mans feelings with their trademark hooks make this a precursor to the may focus bizarrely on the
but theres an irrefutable joy and so sprightly its almost disco sound theyd explore cruel rejection by older boys
in that mid-chorus couplet weightless, the air of novelty more fully later. Dance (While of a young girl in a school
(So how could I ever holiday hit that envelopes it is The Music Still Goes On) playground, but as weve
refuse?/ I feel like I win when impossible to ignore. pushes the oddly lisping by now established whos
I lose) that perfectly matches One could also level the males to the front, but a here for the words? Were
the songs breathless, racing gimmick accusation at King glorious melancholy emerges here for the sentiment, and
pace. No wonder it propelled Kong Song once known each time the ladies get to ABBA were getting closer and
them to international fame: as Mr. Sex, this glam-pop the mic, and that hackneyed ever better at capturing and
having passed on Ring Ring number, with what sound like key change merely prolongs articulating that.
15
CPP04.Abba LP Waterloo.For Print.indd 15 19/10/2016 14:21

BRIGHTON
ROCK
WITH THEIR FUTURE ON THE LINE, THE 1974 EUROVISION SONG
CONTEST WAS MAKE OR BREAK FOR ABBA. SIMON GODDARD
LOOKS AT HOW THEIR WINNING SONG, WATERLOO, AT THE
UK-STAGED EVENT RESCUED THEM FROM POP OBLIVION
X X X X X X X X X X X X
16
CPP04.Abba Eurovision.For Print.indd 16 19/10/2016 11:42

Getty Images
THE
Swedes have a saying. Smaken r som lovers bosom to swallows in nesting; on the
baken: delad. Taste is like the backside: other, the Swedish public, who much preferred
divided. A proverb proven on a national the tune which finished third: a song about a
scale on 10 February 1973, the night telephone with a catchy doo-wop-ish riff not unlike
of the annual televised Melodifestivalen, Elvis Dont Be Cruel, played by a dicky-bowed
when Sweden got to choose its contender for that guitarist and pianist and their respective trilling
years Eurovision Song Contest from a shortlist of 10. other halves; one a demure redhead in a fetching
On one side, the judging panel of regional critics, mustard-yellow two-piece; the other, a conspicuously
between them picking male duo Malta and their pregnant silvery blonde seemingly moments from
ballad Youre Summer with its bizarre likening of a breaking water.
17

D U
E A R
V O
I D
V I BS O
I O
W NI E
ABBAs incredibly
70s costumes for
Waterloo, designed
by Inger Svenneke
Getty Images
Two months later, come the 1973 Eurovision finals no longer a matter of national pride, nor musical
in Luxembourg on 7 April, the folly of the Swedish excellence. This was their entire future at stake on one
judges selection was writ large. It wasnt just the three-minute pop song. This was WAR.
disappointment that Malta (renamed Nova for the 10 months, one birth (Agnetha and Bjrns
contest to avoid confusion with the island republic) daughter, Linda) and an official name-change later,
came fifth. There was the added humiliation of that in December 1973, ABBA were working on
weeks Kvllstoppen, Swedens national pop chart, the follow-up album to Ring Ring at Stockholms
which then mixed albums and singles together. At Metronome Studios when they received the invitation
No. 1: the snubbed telephone song. At No. 2: the theyd been waiting for. An offer to, once again,
same snubbed telephone song sung in English. And submit a song for next years Melodifestivalen and
at No. 3: its eponymous parent album. In terms of potentially qualify for the 1974 Eurovision finals.
musical taste, the judges had, indeed, made an arse In terms of vibrant melodic pop, Bjrn and Bennys
of it as the record-buying public so harshly reminded best plan of attack was a tune which, not unlike Ring
them: if only theyd Ring, gazed fondly
chosen Ring Ring across the North
by Bjrn & Benny, Sea to the stomp
Agnetha & Frida BJRN AND BENNY GAZED FONDLY and glitter of
POP_UP In 2005 the 50th anniversary celebration of the venerable
Eurovision Song Contest Abbas Waterloo won a public vote to take
For the band

soon to be
ACROSS THE NORTH SEA TO THE British glam, which
was then in its
rebranded ABBA, STOMP AND GLITTER OF BRITISH GLAM dying twilight with
it was a bittersweet the super-yobbery
revenge. While of Slade and the
the accolade of best song in the competitions history
Ring Ring turned the nascent alliance all veterans sleigh-bell boogie of Wizzard.
of Swedish folk and rocknroll into stars at home, it With lyrics then the responsibility of manager Stig
missed its main objective. The endgame was always Anderson, his original title choice to fit its three-note
Eurovision. Not for the prestige of being the first chorus hook was to steal that of The Beatles earlier
act to bring the trophy home to Sweden, but for the Honey Pie from 1968. Until, as ABBA-lore has it,
bigger prize of international exposure, a chance to he randomly stumbled upon a better alternative
be seen and heard by millions of TV viewers outside browsing through a book of old proverbs and famous
Scandinavia. For a foreign band such as ABBA in quotations: Wat-er-loo.
1973, being part of the Eurovision Song Contest was Its nevertheless tempting to wonder if other
exactly like being on The X Factor. A fast-track means contemporary early 70s influences helped steer
to an end to become, just maybe, the biggest pop Andersons pen towards the Belgian battlefields
group in the world. And with Ring Ring, theyd been of 1815: the 1970 blockbuster Waterloo Dino De
swindled at the first hurdle. Laurentiis dramatisation starring Rod Steiger as
But the Swedes have another saying. Av skadan Bonaparte; or possibly The Bee Gees, who had
blir man vis. Injury makes you wise. With the public already beaten the Swedes to making unlikely poetic
firmly behind them there was nothing to stop ABBA pop themed around Napoleonic warfare on 1971s
trying again. Only the next time, theyd plan, prepare Trafalgar album and its closing powerhouse ballad,
and execute with military precision. For this was Walking Back To Waterloo.
18

Getty Images
April Fools Day,

1974 the Rolls
Royce of Euro pop
perched on the bonnet
of a classy automobile
19

E U R O V I S I O N
I WAS DEFEATED! Whatever Andersons muse, as a title, Waterloo not

only supplied a playful lyrical metaphor for romantic
conquest, but also increased his charges sense of
HOW THE RUNNERS-UP OF 74 purpose their assault on Eurovision now a literal one
of historically epic proportions. Without considering,
FARED AFTER EUROVISION as one sneering critic put it, the gall of a pop song
about how 40,000 people died, the nerve to pick
GIGLIOA CINQUETTI OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN a tune which, in its headbanging rhythmic punch,
Italys first Eurovision winner at the age of 17 The Cambridge-born, Australia-raised chart star upset all established Eurovision conventions of easy
with 1964s Non Ho LEta (Im Not Old Enough), with several UK hits to her name was favourite listening, wasnt lost on ABBA.
Cinquetti was a favourite to win again 10 years to follow Sandie Shaw and Lulu to a third
As a cautious Plan B, theyd considered entering the
later, only for ABBA to knock her into second British Euro-victory, only to reach joint fourth.
Her public criticism of Long Live Love led to a
infinitely safer Hasta Maana. We took a chance,
place. For political reasons, her entry Si (Yes)
was censored in her native Italy, where viewers media backlash, her career not recovering in knowing [Waterloo] was going to be different from
were prohibited from seeing her performance for the UK until 1977s Top 10 Sam before the killer all the others, Bjrn later admitted. It was riskier.
fear its sentiment would affect the yes vote in combination of the Rydell High Shake Shack and Anderson, too, was prepared to stake his life on the
their referendum on legalising divorce. a sew-in pair of black skintight pedal-pushers song. You can kill me afterwards, he promised
Swapping singing for broadcasting, she made hers the most-celebrated rear in 70s pop them, if it all goes wrong.
later returned as Eurovision co-host in 1991 after Agnethas. Still touring today, in 2013 she While the men bunkered in the studio drilling the
and today anchors a current affairs show on sang Long Live Love for fun during her show music into a Spectorish thump of double-tracked
Italian TV. at Brighton Centre. instruments, even thickening the tape reels with
additional sellotape to lend the backing its magical
MOUTH & MACNEAL
glam wobble, it was the fashionable Frida, a former
ABBAs Eurovision nemeses were the Dutch duo
whod already enjoyed international success trainee seamstress, who found them the perfect battle
with 1972s How Do You Do. It wasnt Maggie dress in the window of Green Clouds & Blue Grass,
MacNeal, but her boorish bear-sized partner a Stockholm clothing boutique run by young designer
Willem Mouth Duyn, who made enemies of Inger Svenneke. A jacket with chains and sequins,
the placid Swedes at a party in Brighton on the Frida recalled. It looked really butch.
eve of the contest, boasting he was going to win After taking Agnetha to Svennekes shop for a first
before manhandling Agnetha. Critics further approval, Frida then showed Bjrn and Benny who
blamed Duyns irritating clownish performance had to agree the kitsch blouson complemented their
on the night as the reason they came third.
new sound: sparkly, colourful, futuristic and ever so
MacNeal returned to represent the Netherlands
slightly camp. Commissioned to create four bespoke
as a solo artist in 1990, coming fifth. Sadly,
Waterloo costumes, Svenneke kitted them in a similar
Getty Images
Duyn died of a heart attack in 2004, at the

age of 67. vein: silver wrestling boots, fluted flaps, chains,
epaulettes, a star-spangled knitted skull cap and the
sexiest pair of blue satin knickerbockers in the history
of cloth. As Bjrn later reflected, if nothing else,
MY, MY!: THE HIT the public would have to remember ABBA for their
wardrobe. Even if we finished ninth.
Almost a year to the day of their previous rejection,
VS THE HISTORY on 9 February, ABBA unveiled Waterloo in all its

glam-jive pomp and sequined splendour at the 1974
Melodifestivalen. Bounding on stage after a Cilla
How factually accurate is ABBAs Waterloo? Not While The Duke Of Wellington did indeed Black-lookalike chirruping about the speaking clock
very, according to pedants and scholars of the file his post-match report from the Belgian town (Ticke-ticke-tack!), in absurd sight and astonishing
famous battle of 18 June 1815. Contrary to its of Waterloo, the real bloodbath took place a sound, they not only obliterated but antiquated all
opening line, Napoleon didnt surrender to the few miles away, near a completely different
tired and trivial competition, from first phonetic Yoo,
British until a month after Waterloo, while trying village. It was a blessing that nobody told ABBA
to flee to America. More damaging still to ABBAs in 1974, however, else they may have risked yoo! (its original Swedish My, my!) to last platform-
handling of the facts are territorial claims the nil points with the clumsily titled abomination heeled boot shake. Winning by a landslide, just shy
battle itself was misnamed. Braine-lAlleude. of a 100 point margin, the Swedish flag was now
theirs to flap at the Eurovision finals something of an
inconvenience to the secretly pessimistic Bjrn, whod
foolishly bet one of their backing singers theyd lose,
offering up his Svenneke silver boots as a wager.
We have the strapped Luxembourg economy to
thank for the fact that ABBAs Eurovision showdown
took place in Britain. Consecutive winners two years
in a row, after Luxembourg hosted in 1973, they
declined the honour to stage it again for financial
reasons. As a substitute, Sir Charles Curran, then
President of the European Broadcasting Union and
Director General of the BBC, suggested the UK,
already proven hosts, choosing the Brighton Dome as
a scenic change from London.
Getty Images
Of the 17 finalists, Britain were joint bookies

favourites with Anglo-Aussie golden girl Olivia
Newton-John; hers the burden of Long Live Love,

E A R L Y 1 9 7 0 s
Getty Images
a happy-clapping propaganda anthem for the to split. First on the phone was Finland, giving half ABBA and some
Salvation Army set to a dismal oompah. The their marks to neighbouring Sweden, handing ABBA of their fellow
1974 Eurovision
Netherlands were also tipped for victory with I See an immediate five-point advantage. Though Italy, the contestants, plus
A Star by Mouth & MacNeal. Elsewhere on the bill Netherlands and the UK sometimes looked in danger limelight-hogging
was Monacos answer to Des OConnor, a tuxedoed of overtaking, ABBA never dropped their lead despite Womble (centre)
Spaniard with sideburns the size of the Costa del five countries not awarding them anything (shamefully,
Sol; a Belgian crooner with equilateral collars big Britain included). Whether they owed it to the quality
enough to trouble air-traffic control; a sad Yugoslavian and power of their music or those mesmerising
tune played by five hairy men in Showaddywaddys knickerbockers, it was mission accomplished: ABBA
hand-me-downs and many a coiffured lungsmith in a were Eurovision winners.
frumpy frock Olivias fire-hazard nightie included. Or rather Waterloo was. The grand prix being for
In a week when Slade and The Glitter Band were the song, not the singers, technically, it was Bjrn,
rubbing bovver boots in the UK Top 10, ABBA were Benny and Stig Andersons night or shouldve been,
to collect his medallion from the Beebs Sir Charles Curran, his co-writers
the only Eurovision act looking and sounding like had the presentation not dissolved into farce.
they belonged in 1974: Bjrn sporting a new spiky The following Wednesday, 10 April, the triumphant
While Stig Anderson, in formal dinner suit, walked on stage

starburst guitar for quartet pre-
were nowhere to be seen thanks to an over-zealous security guard

the occasion, while recorded their
Agnetha swapped WHETHER THEY OWED IT TO THEIR debut Top Of The
the black knee Pops, Agnetha
boots shed worn
MUSIC OR THOSE MESMERISING battling a cold
at Melodifestivalen KNICKERBOCKERS, ABBA WERE which almost
for matching jeopardised their
space-rocket silver EUROVISION WINNERS appearance when
models. Even Musicians Union
orchestra conductor Sven-Olof Walldoff entered the rules stipulated she wasnt allowed to mime. By the
spirit of high camp, taking to the podium dressed as first week of May, Waterloo was UK No. 1, a feat
Napoleon. Against the chicken-in-a-basket cabaret theyd repeat in nine other countries. The world was
couture of their rivals, ABBA may as well have been opened to us, Bjrn told Billboard magazine 25
that years entry from Betelgeuse. For the intrusive years later.
cameramen and BBC commentator David Vine, it was On 6 April 1974, the world prised apart for
definitely all about one alien The blonde Viking. ABBA. But though theyd won the battle, the war to
By the first chorus, the screen was flashing reverse conquer 70s pop was a different story. Their initial
angles of Agnethas wriggling gluteus maximus. If UK follow-up singles, a remixed Ring Ring and So
all the judges were men, which theyre not, Im sure Long, both flopped. Desperation finally set in when
theyd get a lot of votes, nudge-nudged Vine to the August 1975s I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do peaked at a
chuckles of feminists nowhere. miserable No. 38.
POP_UP
Drawing the eighth slot in the bill, after an ecstatic A very difficult period, mourned Bjrn. Everyone
reception inside the Brighton Dome, ABBA had to had decided we were a one-hit wonder because we
wait a long, nervous hour before host Katie Boyle, came from Eurovision. One year after the conquest
looking unnervingly like Margaret Thatcher in a of Waterloo, ABBA now faced permanent defeat. It
feathery nightgown, began calling in the votes, each was going to take a very special distress signal to
country with 10 points to cast, however they chose save them
21

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A L B U M
INSIGHT
ABBA
1 9 7 5
LYRICALLY DUBIOUS, MUSICALLY MUDDLED, ABBAS THIRD ALBUM STILL
PROVIDED THE GLOBAL BREAKTHROUGH HIT WHICH, TO THIS DAY,
FLIES THE FLAG FOR THE SWEDISH QUARTET
24
CPP04.Abba LP ABBA.For Print.indd 24 20/10/2016 08:22

A B B A A L B U M I N S I G H T
I
f youre of a certain age,
Getty Images
youll remember how,
at the height of ABBAs
fame, there were only two
choices: you either loved
or hated them. Dewy eyed
nostalgia was still at least
a decade away, there was
little question of them being
kitsch, and musicologists
were yet to rescue them from
tastemakers disapproval
with unsolicited academic
endorsements. There was no
middle ground, and none of
this guilty pleasure nonsense.
You made your choice and
you stuck with it.
None of this, however,
applied in the spring of 1975,
when their third, eponymous
album hit the shelves. As
an entity, it largely failed to
elicit such powerful reactions,
but then again, ABBA were The band
still little more than one-hit backstage
Waterloo wonders. Honey at a gig in
Honey might have scraped Copenhagen in
January 1975
the American Top 30 a year
earlier, but it was deemed
unworthy of release in the opening tune and their first piece of songcraft as one can memorably woozy saxophone
UK a version was instead truly worldwide hit whose hope to hear. opens the song, and the
released by Sweet Dreams, introduction remains, to this That only the piano and bells that chime throughout
which reached No. 10 and day, one of the most instantly marimba are left as they the background as though
its substitute single, Ring Ring, identifiable of all time. That break into the chorus is an it had been recorded with
barely grazed the British marimba riff the one that even more dazzling stroke Christmas in mind are
charts. Indeed, a European rises after the first notes, of inspiration. It makes the further indicators of the
tour in the winter of 1974 against ones expectations, full bands return 15 seconds musics tremendous attention
saw empty seats, and even instead of falling and later something almost akin to to detail.
cancelled shows. the guitar line that soon the legendary techno drop. Even more outstanding
ABBA definitely helped accompanies it cant help but Its a moment so rapturous is the albums other big hit,
change this it certainly SOS. This, too, boasts an
consolidated their position in impressive introduction, its
Scandinavia and delivered notes descending down
two big hit singles in the Long before Mamma Mia was a movie the piano, a beat casually
UK but America continued of a musical, it was ABBAs opening skipped at the end of the
to remain out of reach. Even opening musical phrase.
Britain was unconvinced,
tune and their first truly worldwide hit A genuinely magically
with the album stalling at whose introduction, with its rising marimba constructed tune, it goes on
No. 13. Listening to it now, to flaunt an aching melody,
41 years on, its easy to
riff remains, to this day, one of the most giddy rushes back up the
see why. No amount of instantly identifiable of all time keyboard at the end of the
repackaging, remastering, verses, an impeccable chorus
re-evaluation and and a compelling tonal
rehabilitation can change provoke a surge of pleasure, that it completely distracts shift therein.
the fact that, amongst the 11 as does the cheeky staccato from the fact the song is Once again, however,
songs on the original album, figure that bounces into focus in fact seemingly about a its lyrics are problematic,
the songwriting chops for at the end of the verses first helpless woman trapped in an especially when filed along
which the band would later two lines. Furthermore, the unhealthy relationship: others to be found here of a
be recognised frequently fail manner in which the verse When you go/ When you similar nature. In fact, given
to deliver the goods. There changes shape as it builds slam the door/ I think you lines like When youre
are, undeniably, tracks whose towards the songs chorus know that/ You wont be gone/ How can I even try to
brilliance is immediate, but Look at me now, the ladies away too long/ You know go on?, one really has to
the future winners still werent sing (and how could we not at that Im not that strong. wonder whether there were
ready to take it all. this point?) before slipping A little more more optimistic any strong women around
For the moment, lets focus effortlessly into that third is I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, Ulvaeus and Andersson at
on the positive. Long before segment (Just one look and I which finds its protagonist all. Their female subjects
Mamma Mia was a movie can hear a bell ring) is, quite begging her lover to give a are repeatedly depicted as
of a musical, it was ABBAs simply, as accomplished a relationship together a shot. A weak and dependent, and, if
25

A L B U M I N S I G H T A B B A
this accusation seems a little rousing backing vocals, but have diverted from its overly gardens full of flowers and
harsh, consider other lines on nonetheless feels like it was simplistic theme that, in affairs songs/ Come to the sunshine,
the album. The apparently stitched to the rest of the song of the heart, one reaps what beaches and sand. It seems
anti-feminist Hey, Hey Helen in the dark. Or try Bang-A- one sows. specifically designed to drift
piles on the guilt for a Boomerang, an ABBA-by- Rock Me, in addition, from bar stereos during a
woman whos walked out of numbers track seemingly could be mistaken for Club 18-30 holiday, only
a relationship: Is it worth worth so little to the band Showaddywaddy, its to be tossed away with the
the pain to see the children that, on the albums cassette punched piano borrowed cocktail fruit afterwards.
cry/ Does it hurt when Still, with Nixons
they ask for daddy? (In its impeachment fresh in peoples
defence, theres a positive, minds, and a continuing Cold
albeit muted, response to the SOS was a song both John Lennon and War that had seen India
question Can you make it joining the nuclear arms race
alone?/ Yes, you can).
Pete Townshend have claimed as one of a year earlier not to mention
Man In The Middle, their favourites. Hell, even the Sex Pistols the IRAs recent bombings
meanwhile, presents a Glen Matlock would famously admit of the British mainland, and
wealthy 50-year-old man the contemporary rise of the
whose companion is only Pretty Vacants opening riff was the result National Front perhaps
17, and the song suggests of him disfiguring its introduction people needed to believe
troublingly that this is morally Life can be funny/ Happy
acceptable since shes a gold and sunny. But that cant
digger: She doesnt care, excuse the portentously
and she never will/ If hes 95 release, it faded out, despite from a dingy bar, Ulvaeus titled Intermezzo No. 1,
she dont give a damn/ Just its melodic strengths, halfway snarling lyric as threatening ABBAs longest track and
as long as he pays the bill. through so that the tape could as Noddy Holders at a the albums nadir. This
Fortunately, So Long offers a be flipped over and the song tea-party performance, and lump of orchestral rock was
more progressive, contrasting concluded. Maybe that was Ive Been Waiting For You is conceived to showcase
outlook, with a woman who to soften the impact of a a sentimental, slow-paced, Andersson and Ulvaeus
declares, They say that chorus whose sentiment was but merely functional number classical predilections, but
moneys got a magic touch/ at best half-finished Like a thats easily forgotten before its exaggerated strings and
But not to me, it doesnt mean bang, a boom-a-boomerang/ its even over. Theres also chugging guitars make one
that much/ You wont have Dum-di-dum-dum-di-dum-di- closing track So Long, which long for Hooked On Classics.
me tonight. dum-dum but more likely attempts to repeat the glam- Prog rock may have been at
ABBA were still developing, it was due to the fact that pop trick that Waterloo pulled its height Rick Wakeman
evidence of which is to be the songs backing track off but lacks its canny sleight released The Myths And
found in many of the albums was originally recorded for of hand, and thats not to Legends Of King Arthur And
remaining tracks. Take the Eurovision wannabes Svenne mention Tropical Loveland. The Knights Of The Round
funky Hey, Hey Helen, which & Lotta, whom it had only This lightweight reggae tunes Table the same month but
offers a dramatic, carefully helped claim third place in the backing is barely sturdy this bombastic instrumental
arranged chorus, a neat national heats a year earlier. enough to carry lyrics like displays an uncharacteristic
little drum solo, and some Either way, it would barely Wander along/ Beautiful lack of judgement.
Nonetheless, it was still
too early for anyone to hate
ABBA justifiably. In fact, as its
predecessor had done with its
key singles, their third album
served up opportunities to
love them in Mamma Mia,
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I
Do and SOS, a song
both John Lennon
and Pete Townshend
have claimed as one
of their favourites.
Even the Sex Pistols
Glen Matlock
would admit Pretty
Vacants opening
riff was the result
of him disfiguring
its introduction.
Everybodys got to
start somewhere, and
though ABBAs gestation
was lengthier than perhaps
one remembers, there were
more than enough signs by
this point of what theyd
soon achieve.
26

THE
10. Ive Been Waiting For You Rutger Gunnarsson
Bass
DETAILS
11. So Long Roger Palm
PERSONNEL Drums
Benny Andersson Janne Schaffer
Keyboards, vocals, backing vocals Guitars
TRACKLISTING Agnetha Fltskog Finn Sjberg
1. Mamma Mia Vocals, backing vocals Guitars
Anni-Frid Lyngstad Bjrn Utvous
2. Hey, Hey Helen Vocals, backing vocals Guitars
3. Tropical Loveland Bjrn Ulvaeus Mike Watson
4. SOS Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals Bass
Lasse Wellander
5. Man In The Middle ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
Guitars
Ulf Andersson
6. Bang-A-Boomerang Alto saxophone,tenor saxophone Uncredited
Percussion
7. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Ola Brunkert
Drums PRODUCTION
8. Rock Me Bruno Glenmark Benny Andersson; Bjrn Ulvaeus
9. Intermezzo No.1 (Instrumental) Trumpet Producers
ABBA in London in
1975. Mamma Mia
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would top the

UK singles chart
in January of the
following year
27

THE AGONY
OF THE ECSTASY
ABBAS IMPERIAL PHASE
FROM 1975 TO 1980 SAW
THEM BESTRIDE THE GLOBE
LIKE A POP COLOSSUS. BUT
SUCCESS CAME AT A PRICE
S I M O N G O D D A R D
Eric Watson
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29

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B
Above, l to r: ABBA
strut their stuff jrn Ulvaeus doesnt specify the date, only the Dancing Queen, the Mona Lisa of ABBAs Louvre, is
on stage location. A restaurant in New York City when, a song about the lonely seeking temporary escape on
in Germany mid-dinner, he suddenly noticed the lanky the dancefloor, caught in the aching vacuum between
Bling, Bling a
5ft 11ins streak of rocknroll attitude sporting the dream of wanting and the impossibility of having.
detail from Bjrns the unmistakable beak of Pete Townshend striding If the secret of pop music is melancholy, then
bolero jacket purposefully towards his table. Bjrn hesitated, fork more than any other band in its history, ABBA
from 1978 frozen, a split-seconds panic that the man who cracked the code. And in their hands, sadness never
The gold-and- smashed guitars to smithereens for a living might be sounded so sublime.
white theme that about to wreak similar carnage upon his person. Growing up in the 70s, if there was a copy of
dominated ABBAs Until, to his shock and relief, The Who guitarist merely ABBAs Greatest Hits in your home (and as the UKs
costumes in 1977
extended a hand, announcing in awestruck tones that biggest-selling LP of 1976, its likely there was),
The band the Swede was responsible for the best pop song theres every chance your mum or dad would have
on 1978s ever written.
Mike Yarwood
It was a song Townshend first heard on American
Christmas Show
radio, transported by its sound long before he In their unbroken run of 16 Top 10 hits lies
realised it was ABBA, later evangelising to friends a catalogue of anguish, masochism, civil
and family how it tapped into whatever elemental
musical self all human beings possess. The same
war, weeping children, envy, self-delusion,
song that not only rescued ABBA from their post- sexual frustration, depression, divorce,
Eurovision cul-de-sac but blew the fanfare announcing homesickness and the misery of stardom
the imperial phase of the greatest pop group of their
decade, if not of all time, had begun: a five-year reign
from late 1975 to the close of 1980, in which ABBA bought it. ABBAs unique pan-generational appeal
created pops equivalent of the Louvre, masterpiece was a triumph of impossible contradictions, one which
by peerless masterpiece. The first being 203 seconds would never progress beyond the abandoned flip-
of suicidal heartache, Satie-esque piano and a chorus chart of todays risk-averse corporate hell. A band of
tsunami of despair. A tune with all the drama of two couples hitting their 30s (Agnetha, the youngest,
Beethoven, all the pathos of Sylvia Plath. Listening to was 25 when SOS charted), three of them parents,
it 40 years later, Townshend still has a valid point. one already a divorcee (Frida), writing, as Townshend
Maybe SOS really is the best pop song ever written. also noted, about intense middle-aged problems. In
The power of SOS, the single that returned ABBA spite of which, still a band so family-friendly as to be
to the UK Top 10 in October 1975, is the power of invited on the primetime Christmas Day edition of The
their genius unleashed: the moment they stopped Mike Yarwood Show, where some 20 million viewers
pretending to be bubblegum glam and realised watched them sing through gritted teeth about one
their true vocation as ambassadors of pain. In their of their own disintegrating marriages (If It Wasnt For
unbroken run of 16 Top 10 hits from SOS to 1980s The Nights).
Super Trouper lies a staggering catalogue of anguish, Equally irresistible to children, they even turned
masochism, civil war, weeping children, envy, up on Blue Peter, stroking Shep and lord forgive
self-delusion, sexual frustration, depression, divorce, them, for they knew not what they did Jimll Fix
homesickness and the misery of stardom. Even It. But there was nothing especially young about
30

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ABBA. Their show costumes, deliberately garish to be

tax-deductible non daywear, often amounted to the
dazzle of Vegas-era Elvis buckled in Scandinavian
translation, or Logans Run as recreated by Rainbows
Rod, Jane and Freddy. Yet off stage, in interviews
and the majority of their pioneering pre-MTV promo
videos, wandering through wintry landscapes with
thousand-yard stares of inner trauma, they dressed
like ordinary 1970s grown-ups. Leather, fur, woollens,
cheesecloth blouses, denim shirts and medallions.
The sort of grown-ups who took strolls along marinas
and went for candlelit dinners before, you suspected,
getting up to even more grown-up antics, not helped
by the fact that bearded Benny could have been
a model for the sketches of best-selling domestic
manual The Joy Of Sex. And, besides, they were
Swedish: we all knew what that meant in the 1970s.
But ABBA found their place at the forefront of 70s
pop, selling millions across Europe, North America
and especially Australia, not just because they were
all things to all ages daughters bedroom wallpaper, ABBA ROAD
dads bedroom fantasy but because there wasnt Beginning with 1978s Summer Night City, the home of
another band on the planet like them. ABBA were ABBAs hits for the latter half of their career was Polar
much too weird and far too talented to mimic. Those Studios, built upon their riches and named after their record
that tried, most conspicuously 1976 UK Eurovision label. Situated in the former ground-floor cinema of a disused
winners Brotherhood Of Man, a Butlins version of sports complex in central Stockholm, it realised Bjrn and
ABBA with none of the sex and even less of the Bennys dream of their own state-of-the-art workshop, a space
sorrow, only showed imitation to be the feeblest to create music at their own pace, aided by the third wheel in
form of flattery. You cannot sing an ABBA song, ABBA productions, engineer Michael Tretow. Eager to show
its impossible, raved ber-fan and producer Pete off its spacious live room and prized Harrison mixing desk, in
Waterman. The harmonies are so complicated, you September 1979 the studio took a starring role in the video
cant replicate it. At all. Theres probably 20 vocals for Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Between ABBA albums, its
on each harmony. Theyd speed the tape up and slow sacred vibes would be sullied by hoarier interlopers such as
it down to bring all the vocals tighter and tighter. The Led Zeppelin and Genesis, both making use of the Swedes
girls were telling me that took them up to three days. absence to record the respective albums In Through The Out
And you can tell. Door and Duke. After ABBA split, the studio opened its doors
The invasion first bugled by SOS was consolidated to a host of international acts, until a triple rent increase
in January 1976 with Mamma Mia, officially ending forced Polar to close its doors forever in 2004.
the post-Waterloo doldrums with their second UK
No. 1, symbolically knocking Queens Bohemian
31

T H E A G O N Y O F T H E E C S T A S Y
Getty Images
Above: Agnetha
signing photos Rhapsody off its tired perch in the process. Lyrically, six weeks in the late summer of 76, Dancing Queen
in Stockholm. By it further demonstrated ABBAs twisted genius. Not would even goosebump and uh! to the top of the US
1977, the singer boy meets girl or boy loses girl but unfaithful boy charts in April 1977.
was struggling
to reconcile being
turns desperate girl into such a psychological mess One year after SOS, ABBA were superstars on a
both a celebrity she gladly allows herself to be used as his plaything global scale and the world demanded to see them in
and a mother knowing more abuse is round the corner. That the flesh. In the spring of 1977, they obliged, touring
of two marimba sounds neurotic for a reason. Mamma Mia Europe and Australia, the latters hysteria (not least
Facing page: All is, no pun intended, Stockholm syndrome made pop. for Agnethas posterior) vividly captured in ABBA: The
smiles in 1977: Four months later, they were back at the top with Movie, a priceless timepiece of 70s pop culture and
but by this time, Fernando, an improbable coup by Scandinavians the band in their unified prime. In Britain, where they
the relentless
pressure of being
singing in English about the Mexican Revolution sold out two nights at Londons Royal Albert Hall, the
internationally (How proud you were to fight for freedom in this number ones continued: Knowing Me, Knowing You,
famous was land) at a time when the UK government was The Name Of The Game and the effervescent Take
beginning to
embroiled in a cod war with Iceland and the A Chance On Me, a rapturous Trojan horse masking
take its toll
ongoing terrorist threat of the IRA. The real sound the face-saving delusions of a bitterly rejected lover.
of Britain in 1976 may have been stirring in the The week the latter charted in early 1978, Margaret
garagelands of London punk, but as a tonic for a year Thatcher complained Britain was being swamped
of riots, bombs and droughts, ABBA were Britains by people with a different culture. She could just as
preferred prescription. easily have been discussing ABBA.
Just as theyd looked sideways to glam with But world domination came at a punishing price.
Waterloo, the unstoppably innovative Bjrn and Behind the perma-smiles of the greatest pop group
Benny were as keenly conscious not to fall out of step on the planet, ABBA were still Agnetha, Bjrn, Benny
with the mid-70s disco boom. In response, their first and Anni-Frid. Four people, two couples, struggling
spin of the glitterball was inspired by the rhythm of to find equilibrium in the chaos between concert hall
George McRaes 1974 hit Rock Your Baby, albeit and living room. For Agnetha especially, the chasm
less funky in execution. But then ABBAs odd Nordic between celebrity and domesticity, now a mother of
assimilation of Afro-American R&B, where the two after the birth of her second child Peter Christian
groove still allowed for Rachmaninoff piano runs, in December 1977, was irreconcilable. Deep down,
is half the joy of Dancing Queen. When Benny first I was just a normal kid from Jnkping, but now I
played the backing music to Frida, she burst into couldnt go anywhere on my own, she mourned in
tears. Because it was so beautiful, Frida explained. the aftermath of their Australian tour. It felt like they
It was one of those songs that goes straight into [the fans] wanted to suck me in, and Id never get
your heart. Agnetha was no less dumbstruck. free, like I was being crushed.
When Frida and I recorded Dancing Queen, we When we came to Australia, they had so
stood not beside but in front of each other. We much ABBA all around, Benny concurred of their
just felt Oooooh! This is fan-tastic! Goosebumps suffocation by merchandising. ABBA on pillows,
and uh! Its potency owed much to the melting of ABBA on soaps, ABBA on everything. A little
Agnethas soprano and Fridas mezzo-soprano into an overexposure, maybe. When we got to Australia we
inseparable harmonic singularity, their voices fusing felt that, boy, we shouldnt have done this, because it
in the musical equivalent of divine light. No. 1 for was just like putting a needle in a balloon. The only
32

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33

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to turn stagnant. As the charts of August 79 fizzed

with the hip-hop-ushering thrill of Chics Good Times,
ABBA pose for a way ABBA could survive this crisis was to allow ABBA dropped Voulez-Vous, echoing the dated
photoshoot in
Paris in 1979
their life to imitate their art. Love would have to be disco-lite of Marvin Hamlischs Bond score for The
the loser. Spy Who Loved Me two years earlier. More worrying
The band take a On Boxing Day 1978, the day after British TV still, though both the Voulez-Vous album and the
bow after their viewers tuned in to see ABBAs pre-recorded spot immaculate Greatest Hits Vol. 2 topped the UK album
concert at Radio
City Music Hall on the BBCs Mike Yarwood Show, Agnetha moved charts that year, none of their five singles of 1979 hit
in New York on out of her marital home with Bjrn, taking their two No.1; not even the spinster-on-heat howl of Gimme!
2 October 1979 children with her. We had developed in different Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), nor the
ways, she explained in 2013, grown away from contrastingly chaste coo of I Have A Dream.
each other and our marriage is destroyed. But we had
in common the success so, okay, we will go on, do
our best, to give more music. Fridaand I were feeling so sorry for
It had been a slow and tortured break-up each other. People said we hated
throughout 1978, exacerbated by the strain of
maintaining a happy public face and the coinciding
each other and it wasnt like that.
stress of setting up their new studio [see panel]. In the We helped each other, a lot
circumstances, it was understandable their art should A G N E T H A
momentarily suffer on Octobers Summer Night City,
an insecure shadow-puppetry of The Bee Gees recent
Travolta-moves which stalled at a lowly (for them) No.5 To return to the top, theyd have to dig deeper
in the UK. The same month, just as Bjrn and Agnetha rediscover the quintessence of ABBA by facing the
exhausted every avenue of counselling and threw pain. The answer had been staring at them for the
in the towel, Benny and Frida were married and the past year: the elephant in the studio called divorce.
soap-opera plot thickened. As four individuals, ABBA Usually, its not a good idea to write when youre
were now a split yin and yang of nuptial bliss and drunk, said Bjrn of The Winner Takes It All. But
failure. Consummate professionals, the show went on. it all came out on that one. By the time I wrote The
As far as the outside world was concerned, nothing gods may throw the dice, the bottle was empty.
had changed. Bjrn and Benny were still the studio Their eighth and penultimate No. 1 for two weeks
alchemists meticulously crafting the gold, content in August 1980, The Winner Takes It All was their
with their place stage left and right (Bjrns Childline- crowning glory, the song where ABBA proved
troubling lead on Does Your Mother Know a blessedly themselves grand Swedish tragedians on a par with
rare exception). Agnetha and Frida were still the Greta Garbo and Ingmar Bergman. But musically, and
voices, and iconic faces, of ABBA, either wholesome emotionally, the bottle was emptying for ABBA, too.
(Chiquitita) or flirtatious (Voulez-Vous) as the material Unbeknownst to the band and their fans, theyd
demanded. But as songwriters Bjrn and Benny were already played their last concert five months earlier
now swimming in circles, treading familiar disco in Tokyo, by which time, both couples had split.
waters which, by the end of the 70s, were starting Benny and Frida had been together nine years: their
34

S(TEAL) O(UR) S(ONG)
The diverse and endless influence of ABBAs 1975 breakthrough
01 SEX PISTOLS
From NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS
HERES THE SEX PISTOLS (1977)
Unbelievably, perhaps, one of the first bands
to pay homage to ABBA were the originators
of UK punk. According to bassist Glen Matlock,
the iconic octave-skipping guitar riff of
Pretty Vacant was inspired by SOS. Matlocks
replacement, Sid Vicious, was also a fan of
the band, and once chased Agnetha and Frida
through an airport in a failed effort to get
an autograph.
02 THE WEDDING
PRESENT
From GEORGE BEST (1987)
A more obvious steal than the Sex Pistols
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formed the basis of My Favourite Dress, a

cult favourite by Leeds indie band The
Wedding Present, which reached No.6 in fellow
ABBA apostle John Peels Festive 50 of 1987.
Its outro is transparently the now youre
marriage lasted all of 15 months in the spotlight. The gone ascent of SOS reintepreted on frantic,
chemistry reconfigured: ABBA were now a coalition of jangly guitars.
divorcees split into separate camps, the boys finding
consolation in music, the girls in mutual support.
Frida and I were feeling so sorry for each other,
said Agnetha. People said we hated each other and 03 GIRLS ALOUD
Sweet inspiration
it wasnt like that. We helped each other, a lot. Asked back in 2005 to name their favourite
Thered be one last pearl to ABBAs string of nine ABBA song, the quintet that had been
UK No. 1s, an eleventh-hour addition to already- assembled via ITVs Pop Stars talent show
named seventh album Super Trouper, set to become opted for Dancing Queen. However, much like
Pete Townshend, Brian Higgins, the Xenomania
its title track. A symphony of sparkles, but as so often
mastermind behind the writing and production
with ABBA, those reflecting in the tears of a clown, of their albums considered SOS the
its backing oo-pa-pas the sonic bubbles from a benchmark of pop perfection. That was the
well of loneliness, the narrative of tour fatigue and standard we aspired to reach, melodically.
its imprisoning spotlight merely the aria of Agnethas
reality: Facing 20,000 of your friends/How can
anyone feel so loney?
The welterweight poignancy of Super Trouper 04 PORTISHEAD
From HIGH-RISE (OST) (2015)
was that, six years after Waterloo, it told the truth Originally recorded for the 2015 soundtrack
of ABBA. A studio band forced on the road by of JG Ballards dystopian drama High-Rise,
unimaginable success who ultimately couldnt cope the Bristol trios grim, John Carpenter-esque
X-ray of SOS received wider attention in June
with the strain. If its thesis needed any reassurance
2016 when it was recast as a tribute video to
that fame is hell, there were plenty of omens around
murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, itself a testament
them that winter. Hitting the top of the charts in late to the songs haunting power. The video ends
November 1980, it was the UKs number one the with a quote from the murdered MPs maiden
day John Lennon was shot. The same month, ABBA speech in Parliament.
cancelled a promo trip to Germany after receiving
kidnap threats to Bjrn and Agnethas children.
Speaking to Dutch TV that Christmas, Bjrns smiling
poker face insisted What we need now is to look at 05 MAD CADDIES
From THE HOLIDAY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED (2000)
the future in a positive way. He wouldnt be able to
Californian ska-punk rockers Mad Caddies
kid himself for much longer.
released this shapeshifting cover of the ABBA
All that remained was the protracted denouement: classic on their 2000 EP, The Holiday Has Been
two years in which theyd still manage to further push Cancelled. Veering from menacing Millennial
pop to its outer emotional limits, saving at least one rock-guitar chug to soaring counterpoint
last ace of Gothic psychodrama up their sleeve before brass in the chorus, its a reflection of both
the death knell (The Day Before You Came). But by the the Caddies wide-ranging influences and a
close of 1980, their Louvre had been fully furnished, demonstration of just how far a great song can
their legacy assured. stretch across genres.
35

A L B U M
INSIGHT
ARRIVAL
1 9 7 6
TRANSFORMED INTO A SLICK HIT-MAKING MACHINE, ARRIVAL FINDS
ABBA AT THE PEAK OF THEIR POWERS ACROSS A LANDMARK ALBUM
THAT CAN BE SEEN AS A BENCHMARK FOR GREAT POP
M A R K L I N D O R E S
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A R R I V A L A L B U M I N S I G H T
I
f ever an album cover ABBA visit London during
embodied the record it a promo tour in 1976
contained, it is 1976s
Arrival. Featuring the group
posing confidently inside a
helicopter in a Stockholm
airfield, the shot captured
ABBA, primed for lift-off,
transcending them to the
upper reaches of the pop
echelon where their success
proved limitless.
Almost a year in the
making, Arrival was the point
at which ABBA discarded the
Eurovision, novelty pop tag
and fashioned themselves into
a sleek hit machine. Short
on 60s-inspired schlager
influences, they displayed
a knack for churning out
complex slices of pop
perfection, taking elements
of Philly Soul, Fats Domino
and folk to create a more
expansive sound that would
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become quintessential ABBA.

Originally intended for
release in the spring of 1976,
ABBA had begun work on
their fourth album in August game-changer for them, 40 years later, the song the UK due to the prolonged
1975, when they had created which became a No. 1 hit is still regarded as their success of Dancing Queen.
a groove called Boogaloo, around the world including greatest, though it faced Like many of the songs on
inspired by George McCraes in their sought-after markets stiff competition from other Arrival, the lengthy gestation
Rock Your Baby. of the UK and the US (it was tracks on the album, singles period between its early
However, the album was their only US No. 1 single). It or otherwise. A globe- recording sessions and
delayed by the runaway had originally been mooted conquering triumvirate of hit eventual release, Money,
success of previous singles for release in March 1976, singles which was completed Money, Money took on
SOS and Mamma Mia, both but was postponed in favour by Knowing Me, Knowing various styles and titles before
of which had become huge arriving in its finished version.
hits for the group, forcing The song started out as Been
them to leave their creative A globe-conquering triumvirate of hit And Gone And Done It,
hub on the island of Viggs, before evolving into Gypsy
where all of their material singles Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Girl and then Money,
was crafted, to fulfil touring Knowing You and Money, Money, Money Money, Money.
obligations throughout Europe Completing Arrivals
and UK, the United States ensured Arrival was a pop juggernaut trilogy of hits is Knowing
and Australia, where they which would establish ABBA as an Me, Knowing You, an even
were fast becoming one of the stronger track than Dancing
biggest names in pop.
international success story Queen, and the first of
Their appearances in ABBAs bitter break-up songs.
those countries proved an Comparing a shattered
invaluable part of the ABBA of Fernando (a re-recorded You and Money, Money, relationship with the haunting
success story, not only version of a song which had Money ensured that Arrival memories contained in an
because of the huge sales appeared on Fridas solo became the pop juggernaut empty house, Knowing Me,
their visits had generated but album), as ABBA didnt want which would establish ABBA Knowing You proved that
also because of the outside to follow-up Mamma Mia with as an international success ABBA were well on their
influences the group absorbed another upbeat song. story, though Dancing way to mastering the art
and incorporated into their With ABBAs fame on the Queens gargantuan success of masquerading bitter,
music which only served to ascent and their eagerly overshadowed some of painful lyrics as irresistible
enrich their sound, marking anticipated fourth album now Arrivals other highlights. pop hooks.
Arrival as their first great due out later than planned, Money, Money, Money, a Singles aside, Arrival is
album and one which still ABBA released a Greatest Cabaret-inspired number in packed with many of ABBAs
stands out as one of their best. Hits compilation to satiate which Frida laments her busy lost gems, songs of such a
By the time the album was fans with Fernando appearing work life and lack of finance high calibre that they could
released in October 1976, on that compilation as and longing for a rich man easily have become hits
the aforementioned Boogaloo opposed to their next studio to help her out was released in their own right, such as
had metamorphosed into LP, meaning Dancing Queen as the second single, though the joyful exuberance of
Dancing Queen, a complete would now be the lead single. it failed to top the charts in When I Kissed The Teacher,
37

A L B U M I N S I G H T A R R I V A L
which kicks off the album, a One track which has been Oldfield. Aside from giving backwards. Designer Rune
euphoric song underpinned unfairly singled out by critics the album its title, the song Sderqvist liked how it looked
with a playfully innocent over the years as a lowpoint doesnt really add anything to and suggested that the idea
lyric about a schoolgirl with on the album is Dum Dum the record at all. of the A and B facing each
a crush on her tutor; the Diddle. Much maligned by A much better decision other reflected the two couples
rocking Tiger, which talks of fans and even by the band would have been to include in the group. From then on,
the dangers of being in a city it was used as their official
at night and the predatory band logo.
quest to snare the object of The ABBA logo with the back-to-front B An hour-long TV Special,
ones desires; the positively ABBA-DABBA-Dooo!!, was
uplifting disco-infused Thats came about by mistake, after the band filmed during the recording
Me (Agnethas personal were holding up cards for a magazine of the album and granted
favourite from the album) and the cameras access to
the bluesy swagger of the photoshoot and Benny held up his B their recording sessions. It
Fats Domino-inspired Why card backwards. Designer Rune Sderqvist contained interviews with
Did It Have To Be Me. the group, alongside one-off
Elsewhere, My Love, My liked how it looked performances of all of the
Life, which boasts a heart- songs from the album (with the
wrenching turn from Agnetha exceptions of Thats Me and
bathed in a chorus of backing themselves, it is nonetheless Fernando instead, thus Arrival), and was broadcast
vocals inspired by 10CCs a catchy slice of Europop, completing an almost perfect around the world on
Im Not In Love, is one of much in the vein of Mamma pop album, something 5 November 1976, a month
their greatest ballads and set Mia, with the tracks only the band realised with the after the albums release.
a precedent for her ability real letdown being its bizarre Australian and New Zealand The album was an instant
to portray heartbreak and lyrical subject matter and title. pressings of the album and sensation, both critically and
vulnerability, something which Bjrn has spoken of how have since rectified on commercially, garnering rave
would continue throughout the song is one of his least Arrivals subsequent reissues reviews for ABBAs upgraded
their career to great effect favourites from the ABBA and Deluxe editions. sound and reached No. 1 in
particularly in the later years, canon and has admitted Very much a transitional 12 countries including the UK,
when such songs would that the tale of a dejected record for the band at the where its success continued
convey the breakdown of womans jealousy of her time, Arrival was ABBA long into 1977 and went on
ABBA, both personally and lovers violin and the attention aiming for the big time. As to become the biggest-selling
professionally. One of the he pays it was the result of well as the iconic helicopter album of the year.
final tracks recorded for the a frantic 5am rush-job image on the cover, Arrival With ABBAmania in full
LP due to so many songs writing session on the day saw the debut of the ABBA swing, it was decided that
featuring lead vocals from of recording. logo, with the back-to-front B. the fairest method for fans
Frida, the song began life as The only real misstep on It had originally come about to buy tickets for their two
Monsieur, Monsieur, a more Arrival comes with the closing by mistake, after the band UK concerts at Londons
uptempo track, before being track, a folky instrumental, were holding up cards for a Royal Albert Hall was to
restructured as My Love, which was later covered magazine photoshoot and allocate them by a postal
My Life. by, and was a hit for, Mike Benny held up his B card ballot. A total of 3.5 million
applications were made for
tickets, more than proving
their soaring popularity.
Four decades after its
release, Arrival is rightly
regarded as one of
ABBAs greatest
achievements
capturing the
joyful sound
of a band at
their absolute
zenith, while
Dancing
Queen has
become
an entity
of its own
and is often
held up as a
benchmark by
which great pop
music is measured.
This was the
album on which ABBA
truly arrived in the pop
firmament and proved that
they were here to stay.
38

THE
DETAILS PERSONNEL
Benny Andersson
Synthesiser, piano,accordion,chimes, keyboards,
Malando Gassama
Percussion, rhythm
Anders Glenmark
TRACKLISTING marimba, vocals Electric guitar
1. When I Kissed The Teacher Agnetha Fltskog Rutger Gunnarsson
Vocals Bass
2. Dancing Queen Roger Palm
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
3. My Love, My Life Vocals Strings, drums
4. Dum Dum Diddle Bjrn Ulvaeus Janne Schaffer
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals Electric guitar
5. Knowing Me, Knowing You Lasse Wellander
6. Money, Money, Money ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Ola Brunkert
7. Thats Me Drums, strings CHART PLACINGS
8. Why Did It Have To Be Me? Lars Carlsson UK No. 1
Saxophone US No. 20
9. Tiger Anders Dahl Sweden No. 1
10. Arrival Strings
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The group on the

Dutch family
TV show En Van
De Acht in 1976
39

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40
CPP04.Abba World Tours.For Print.indd 40 19/10/2016 12:37

J O H N E A R L S
C onsidering ABBA: The Moviewas about

the machinations of a world tour, its
surprising how ambivalent ABBA were
about performing live.Of the four, only
Anni-FridLyngstadseems to have actually enjoyed
At least the soldiers turned up, which is more than
can be said forFestfolketspackage tour back in
Sweden that autumn. Performing alongside dance
troupe TheLolas,Festfolketplayed cheesycovers to
as few as 14 people, according toUlvaeus.
being on the road.AgnethaFltskogwas the Speaking on Australian TV showSunday Night
archetype of the musician whowas bored when Specialin 2013,Ulvaeussaid: This was the low of
not actually on stage, while Benny Anderssonand the collaboration between the four of us, because we
BjrnUlvaeus werefrustrated that the concerts could werent doing what we supposed to. We were singing
never sound as good as the groups studio recordings. other peoples songs in a cabaret act, and Benny and
The fact there was no lengthy world tour ensured I did a number where we were supposed to be two
ABBA could be more prolific in the studio, but it also little boys. It was embarrassing, but we realised after
meant they completed just two full European tours that tour that we should do our own songs.
and one of North America. Their sole Japanese jaunt The following year saw ABBA begin playing their
in 1980 marked ABBAs final gigs, two years before own material in earnest, butLyngstadwasnt there for
they eventually split. most of the shows, as she was touring as a backing
In her autobiography As I Am, Fltskog summarised singer to Swedish singer-songwriter LasseBerghagen,
touring as Everything I didnt like. She wrote: It who had recently had a big hit withFredrikssonThe
was too long away from the children, long journeys, Teddy Bear.
changing hotels every day, time changes FltskogandUlvaeusgot married on 6 July
ABBAs years of struggle before Eurovision have that year, but were back playing with Andersson
been well documented, and these included the asAgnetha, Bjrn And Benny just four days later.
stereotype of performing shows to pitifully small Around that time,Agnetha, Bjrn And
crowds. Yet ABBAs very first gig was actually Benny began getting their first reviews.
relatively lucrative. Following on fromUlvaeusand National newspaperAftonbladetcommented:
Anderssons success in previous band The Hep Stars Theshowis sincere, simple and very hit
and Fltksogs 1969 solo hit Jag Var Sa Kar, Swedish parade,whileExpressenconsidered: Its a
travel agency Fritidsresor paid for the group to go charming show and theyre good on stage. The songs
to the Cypriot resort of Famagusta for two weeks in are very chart-oriented, although some are quite
April 1970. They only had to perform one show weak. ButExpressensreviewer HansFridlundwent
for Swedish soldiers stationed there.Playing under on: Bjrn still sings with a little nasal sound,
the nameFestfolket(Swedish for party people), the characteristic of him, whilst MissFltskogis still
show lasted for about 20 minutes. None of the group limited vocally. Im sure that will change over the
can remember which covers they performed, and years. You cant faultFridlundsprescience.
theresdebate about which two original songs they With no live shows at all in 1972, ABBAs final pre-
snuck into the set. fame gigs took place in a hectic four months over
41

D O
T A U
V R
I D
I N BG O W
Y EI A
E R S
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ABBA take their the summer of 1973, when they performed as Bjrn, showed up to each of the 13 concerts. It helped that,
praise at Radio Benny,AgnethaAnd Frida. They played as many as by then,their self-titled third album gave ABBA more
City Music Hall
in New York on
four shows a day, with asetlistfeaturing future songs hits inMamma Mia,SOSandI Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,
2 October 1979 from ABBAs debut albumRingRingincluding the title I Do.
track andNina, Pretty Ballerina. After taking 1976 off to concentrate on
Speaking in the official biographyABBA: The makingArrival, by the time ABBA finally toured
Book,Lyngstadrecalled: There are happy memories Europe again in 1977, there was no stopping
of that tour, but we were all exhausted. I lost 7kg. them.When thetour arrived for ABBAsfirst British
We did three or four shows on the same day it show at the 2,500-capacity Odeon in Birmingham on
was madness. 10 February, the group needed their own individual
Following the Eurovision triumph in 1974, youd security guards. Tour promoter Thomas Johansson
a TV special was turned down, it meant Universal dont own any official record
expect ABBAs live fortunes to have changed said: The audience is more forward in Britain. They
overnight, but theirpost-Waterlootour that year was want to get close to their idols and touch them.
a request by Swedish TV to record one of the parks shows for
of these or the European gigs. Even bootlegs of full shows havent surfaced
a mess. Touts were selling 2 tickets for 100, which didnt

A planned tour of Swedish parks was soon helpFaltskogsnerves. She told a local ITV crew: It
cancelled, with their record label Polydor anxious to was especially scary to be playing in front of a British
cash in on Eurovision. But, withWaterlootheir only audience. We were terribly nervous about that first
hit, ABBA felt that night. After all, its
it was too soon to a classic ground
be playing theatres
IT WAS SCARY TO BE PLAYING IN for pop music.
which was borne FRONT OF A BRITISH AUDIENCE The opening of
out when gigs in the show featured
the UK, France and AFTER ALL, ITS A CLASSIC GROUND the sound effect
the Netherlands of a helicopter
were cancelled FOR POP MUSIC AGNETHA passing over the
due to lack of crowd as ABBA
interest.UlvaeustoldABBA: The Book: We thought came on stage toTiger. But that helicopter was the
wed be turning some people away here and there, only time the Odeons quadrophonic PA was used.
maybe in Germany where we were always top of the Roadie Dale Michelson told The Birmingham Mail:
charts. But no. He was also concerned that thefans As soon as the effect was over, we had to drag
who did turn up were so ancient, at least 25 to the PA through the doors at the back and onto
30 years old. the rear car park, de-rig it and wheel it back
An additional complication was that Ulvaeusand around backstage.
Fltskogdidnt want to be away for too long from Less than three years after an IRA bomb killed
their 18-month-old daughter Linda, so the tour was 21 people in the centre of Birmingham, security
POP_UP After
split into two, meaning they had to persevere with the wasunderstandablytight for the show.Michelson
middling shows again after a month off. said: Stewards were on full alert. But, by the end
Concentrating on Sweden again the following of the gig, some fans were able to get on stage for
year proved a much happier experience. After Dancing Queenand wave ABBA flags.
cancelling the parks tour in the wake of Eurovision, Over 50,000 people had applied for the Odeons
the shows they played there in 1975 werean early 2,500 tickets. That was nothing compared to the
taste ofABBAmania,as between 8,000-10,000 fans 3.5 million who applied for a total of 10,000
42

1 9 7 0 s
Agnetha apparently
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enjoying playing live,

at the Myer Music
Bowl in Melbourne,
March 1977
43

T O U R I N G Y E A R S
Getty Images
tickets for ABBAs two London shows at the Royal to the Australian hysteria, beginning with 2,000 fans ABBA wave
to a gathering
Albert Hall for the end of the European tour, which greeting ABBA at Melbourne Airport. Fltskogwrote
of 2,000
followed further British gigs in Manchester and inAs I Am: [The tour] was the most incredible of fans at
Glasgow. And this was in the days before online all the things I experienced with ABBA. There was Melbournes
booking, of course. fever, hysteria, ovations, there were sweaty, obsessed Tullamarine
airport, on
The concerts a matinee and evening performance crowds. Sometimes it was awful. I felt as if theyd get 5 March 1977
on 14 February were ones even thegig-phobic hold of me and Id never get away again.
Andersson enjoyed. He toldABBA: The Book:The Bodyguard Richard Norton recalled that, after a
fans displayed their enjoyment so much. It was gig at Sydneys Myer Music Bowl: Our car was
electric, vibrant. I never thought Id see it happen. lifted and moved in a different direction. You literally
A fortnight later, ABBAs sole Australian tour as couldnt see, it was just a sea of people.It was quite
documented in director LasseHalstromsABBA: The the moment for a band who hadnt even wanted
Movie began in Sydney. to go to Australia, asUlvaeusadmitted in 2007 to
If tour promoter Johansson thought the British fans Australian mag The Weekend: Wed said Australia
were going to be intense, it was nothing compared was too far away. I dont think anyone except maybe
44

E A R L Y 1 9 7 0 s
Getty Images
Frida wanted to go on the tour. Benny and I had Although 1986sABBA Livewas compiled from ABBA dance
across the
realised a long time ago that the song is the important various shows from the 1977 and 1979 tours, Concord Pavilion
thing. In those days, you didnt even make any money its a disaster. Heavily overdubbed by ABBA stage during a
touring. And, apart from the time youre on stage, the producerMichaelTretow, most notoriously, it features gig in Walnut
Creek, California
rest is utterly, utterly boring and unproductive. none-more-80s synth drums front and centre.
After the triple whammy ofABBA: The Album,The For a truer picture of an ABBA gig, listen toABBA
MovieandThe Book, 1978 was quiet apart from Live At Wembley Arena. Issued in 2014, it was
Andersson andLyngstadgetting married, nine years chosen by the group as the best document of a full
after they began dating. show that needed the minimum of work doing to it. Its
It left the tour accompanyingVoulez-Vousin 1979 also strongly rumoured that a full show from the 1977
as ABBAs sole trip to North America before a third tour will be out as a live album next year.
and final run in Europe. The45-dateUS tour wasnt a After a four-month break, ABBAs final tour began
success. Although the tour stuck to cities where ABBA in Tokyo in March 1980. By this point, with personal
group performing together for the first time since 1980 in June 2016, at Stockholms Berns
sold well, it lost 150,000. relationships ruined andLyngstadthe only member
POP_UP Fans waiting impatiently for a reunion shouldnt hold their breath, despite the
By the first show, which was held in Vancouver who enjoyed touring anyway, theyd long decided
in September,UlvaeusandFaltskoghad got to stick to the studio rather than risk further damage
divorced.Fltskogsaid: I tore myself away from the to their music. The gig was effectively the same as
Hotel, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day Bjrm and Benny first met
children and the 1979
I just wanted
to be home.
[THE TOUR] WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE shows, with the
only notable
Bjrn and I OF ALL THE THINGS I EXPERIENCED WITH difference
were agreed being how
about doing the ABBA I FELT THEYD GET HOLD OF ME quiet the
tour together, Japanese fans
so we had to
AND ID NEVER GET AWAY AGNETHA were on the
form a new first night at
relationship. It was unfamiliar for all of us, an ordeal TokyosBudokan.Lyngstadrecalled: I remember
by fire. I had no-one to talk to, so I mourned alone. our audience didnt respond the way we were used
Given her sadness, and cracks appearing in to. Our promoter said we had to tell them they were
Andersson andLyngstads marriage, it was perhaps allowed to participate and do whatever they felt like.
little wonder that reviewers wondered what all the fuss The next night, at Bjrns announcement, the audience
was about. The Calgary Herald noted poor sound lifted the roof.
and lack of self-assurance and supercharged vitality And so, on a return to theBudokanon 27 March
normally associated with big-league artists. 1980, ABBA played their final concert, ending
However, one impressed fan was Madonna, who withDancing Queen.
later copiedLyngstadandFltskogsblue-and-violet Given the seemingly cordial relationships
jumpsuits for her ownConfessions On A Dance between the four members of ABBA in 2016,
Floortour in 2006.The European tour, which ended given that they performedMe And Iin June at
in Dublin in November, was more settled. A six-night StockholmsBernsHotel, if any huge group was going
run at Wembley Arena endedon a showwith Joe to reform for a tour, youd think it just might be ABBA.
Strummer and IanDuryin the audience, andformsthe Except, that is, when you consider three-quarters of
basis of ABBAs only full live album. them hated playing live first time round
45

A L B U M
INSIGHT
THE ALBUM
1 9 7 7
WHAT ABBAS FIFTH STUDIO TITLE LACKED IN AN IMAGINATIVE
TITLE, IT MADE UP FOR WITH GREAT SONGWRITING, AMBITIOUS
MUSICIANSHIP AND RECORD-BREAKING SALES
J U L I E B U R N S
46
CPP04.Abba LP The Album.For Print.indd 46 20/10/2016 09:54

T H E A L B U M A L B U M I N S I G H T
B
y the time of this, their ABBA played
Getty Images
fifth studio album, a 28-date
European and
supergroup ABBA
Australian Tour
were sitting on top in early 1977
of the music world. Savvily
released in conjunction with
ABBA: The Movie which
featured tantalising snatches
of these cracking album tracks
it proved a great double
whammy. Three years into
their phenomenal success,
this LP served to further cement
the bands status worldwide.
Remarkably, it also broke
records in some territories
not otherwise known to
welcome pop.
Its hard to digest now,
yet as late as the 70s, the
bleak Cold War still cast
a cloud in Eastern Europe,
with degenerate Western
music fiercely frowned upon.
Luckily for sweetly melodic
ABBA, they couldnt be
labelled as anything remotely
corrosive, and their uplifting,
catchy sounds won the day.
Incredibly, in 1977, ABBA:
The Album managed to shift The Album became the third- The Name Of The Game); of six elements: innocently
an unheard of one million biggest-selling album of the two would be huge Euro superficial lyrics, bouncy
units across Poland using year just behind those other hits (Eagle/Thank You For Europop music, rock energy
up the countrys whole iconic, era-defining movie The Music); and three were and amplification; soaring
foreign-currency resource in soundtrack LPs, Saturday unusual culls from ABBAs melodies, Mamas & Papas
the process. Though a limited Night Fever and Grease. 1977 tour mini-musical high female harmonies and
pressing of 200,000 copies Ultimately striking platinum concept, The Girl With The lavish sonic textures Even
was somehow allowed in sales in the UK and US, the Golden Hair. he had to concede: ABBA:
Russia, demand was such that same in Germany and Hong On the accompanying The Album represents an
the sadly thwarted sales interesting departure from
potential was estimated at past formulas That
some 40 million. Such was the was some understatement.
power of ABBA, it seemed.
Though the content was the least of any Overall, the consensus was
Meanwhile, in the UK, ABBA album, the compositions were that even the most hardened
following an unintentional music journos waxed lyrical
postponement, their latest
longer in length than any of the bands about this particular LP:
LP smashed straight in previous LP output, and sparkled with according to one, who loved
at No. 1; the first ABBA album originality and quality spawning some its effortless straddling of
to do so, where it remained hard rock, pop/rock, dance-
for seven weeks. seven (largely) hit singles rock and progressive rock.
Due to massive pre-orders, ABBAs soundscape had
UK pressing plants had undoubtedly expanded,
been unable to provide Kong, it grew to platinum-plus ABBA: The Movie which ties progressing far beyond
enough copies in time for the prominence in Finland and in some of ABBA: The Albums the bounds of their original
scheduled end of 77 release double platinum in Canada. soundtrack Bjrn Ulvaeus Eurovision win. The Swedish
date. The post-Christmas Sandwiched smartly comments: Music critics try supergroup were now pop
ABBA clamour continued between LPs Arrival (1976) to rationalise (our appeal) royalty, and on this evidence,
into the New Year when and Voulez-Vous (1979), The they have a formula we in a realm of their own.
at last the goods were Album comprised just nine never did. We wrote from the Opening on an epic scale,
delivered, in more ways than songs. Though the content heart. This was never more Eagle soars from the get-go.
one. The Album spent a total was the least of any ABBA true for the Super Troupers A pure breath of fresh air,
of 39 weeks in the Top 40, album, the compositions were than on this highly regarded it perfectly paints a sound
February through to October longer in length than any of adventure of an album: a panorama of mountain, forest
78. For the first 14 weeks, it the bands previous LP output, high-calibre showcase of and sea, and the feeling of
comprised a happy hat-trick, and sparkled with originality wide-ranging work. ABBA let loose from the studio
charting along with Greatest and quality. Spawning some Critics such as Rolling and airborne). An intro
Hits and Arrival: at the start seven (largely) hit singles, two Stone Magazines John worthy of Pink Floyd expands
of March 78, all three ABBA would be evergreen UK No. Rockwell called ABBAs into such intricate melodies
albums were in the Top 15. 1s (Take A Chance On Me/ songs a calculated blend and harmonies, it needs
47

A L B U M I N S I G H T T H E A L B U M
this 5.53 duration to do and Astley remasters, issues mode, is on lead vocal, adds Wellander has hard rocking
it justice. Its complex and still remained. According to to the piquancy. fun on lead electric guitar.
dense, synth-laden, rich in experts, Tretows had a harsh In comparison, The Name Amidst more ear-bending
American-Indian influence, EQ, whereas Astleys were Of The Game was seen as blending of Fridas mezzo-
yet tinged with a Viking-like badly compressed and noise a commercial cracker. The soprano and Agnethas
spirit of adventure poetic, reduced. Fortunately for Take girls deliver sublime solo soprano, listen out midway for
in other words. A Chance On Me, it largely parts before their clear-as- the latters amazing heavy-
Britain especially adored escaped distortion across all a-bell harmonies chime to metal scream As Bjrn said:
the next track, Take A Chance LPs and non-remastered CDs rival the best of Phil Spectors We had a wild range.
On Me. From its bonkers yet such as Polydors Greatest girl groups. Their unearthly, Most arresting of all
brilliant a cappella opening, Hits Vol. 2. ABBA: The Album radiant chemistry is something was the three song finale.
this insanely catchy melody is An unsettling essay on
an instant earworm. Bubbly the entrapping nature of
and punchy, it bounces along, On the evidence of this totally eclectic LP, fame acts as a bold touch
anchored by Benny, enjoying of genius. A trio of scenes
himself on the old joanna
ABBA can never be accused of trotting from a mini-musical were
driving home the beat. A song down the road marked bubblegum conceived as a storytelling
so great, in fact, it almost saga by Benny and Bjrn for
singlehandedly lends weight
pop. Like their colourful album cover, this the concerts on their latest
to the theory that at one point, landmark LP is a rainbow of a record triumphant tour. The flaxen-
ABBA were responsible for haired heroine of the semi-
producing 20 per cent of cabaret-style tale behind The
Swedens entire GDP was released as a CD in else; the kind of magical Girl With The Golden Hair is
And now for a slight 1984, and four subsequent vocal melding usually the not necessarily Agnetha: both
digression, to discuss The times by Polygram. In 2005, preserve of siblings. Manager women appeared onstage in
Albums mixed history of part of The Complete Studio Stig Anderson helped the blonde wigs to perform this
production quality. For Recordings box set, by 2007, two worker Bs, Benny and bravura number. The lyrics
reasons unknown, original it was also available as a Bjrn, on the writing credits. travel from moody reflection
LP pressings came from a two-disc Deluxe Edition. As he did on I Wonder, and to joyful gratitude.
defective master tape, causing Carrying swiftly on to an folksy Side 2 starter Move Then through I Wonder,
distortion across some tracks overlooked slow-burn gem, On. Despite its progressive the tone changes to a what
most especially, The Name Of and one never released as message, this song is if fame hadnt come calling?
The Game. a UK single: One Man, One nowhere near as potent or as scenario. The diva turns it
The original Polydor Woman. Bennys gift for memorable as the rest. around in a final remarkable
pressing and subsequent lyrically depicting human Off on another tangent twist to pronounce her
CSR and Deluxe editions relationships reflects in his goes the rock pomp of Hole In all-consuming careers left
sourced from the same bad moving lyrics here on the Your Soul. Building like some her nothing but a puppet.
tape, also audibly suffered. gender situation, like a male opus from Queen, it deftly With more than a nod to the
Though clean transfers of Carly Simon in insightful vein. displays Bennys masterful lexicon of Broadway musicals
the original studio tapes The fact that his then-missus way with song-bridge and the rich musical texture
came via various Tretow Frida, in notably emotive construction, while Lasse of Weimar cabaret (as one
wag said, ABBA almost does
Kurt Weill) it culminates in
the unexpected jangling
edge of the girls duet,
Marionette.
Im A Marionette
On the evidence of this
totally eclectic LP, ABBA
can never be accused
of blithely trotting
down the
road marked
bubblegum
pop, or resting
on their laurels.
Like their
colourful album
cover, this
landmark LP is
a rainbow of a
record, and
one which,
seemingly
effortlessly, manages
to encompass a
surprising number of
tones, textures and moods.
It represents ABBA at their
artistic peak.
48

THE 9. I Wonder (Departure) Anni-Frid Lyngstad
DETAILS
Vocals, backing vocals
10. Im A Marionette Bjrn Ulvaeus
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
RELEASED ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
TRACKLISTING 12 December 1977 (Scandinavia); Ola Brunkert
January 1978 (UK)
1. Eagle Drums
LABEL Roger Palm
2. Take A Chance On Me Polar, Epic (UK), Atlantic (US) Drums
3. One Man, One Woman PRODUCED BY Lars O Carlsson
4. The Name Of The Game Benny Andersson, Bjrn Ulvaeus Flute, saxophone
Malandro Gassama
5. Move On RECORDED AT
Percussion
Marcus, Metronome and Glen Studios, Stockholm,
6. Hole In Your Soul and Bohus Studio, Kunglv Rutger Gunnarsson
Bass
7. (The Girl With The Golden Hair PERSONNEL
Janne Schaffer
Three Scenes From A Benny Andersson
Lead guitar
Mini Musical) Keyboards, vocals, backing vocals
Lasse Wellander
Agnetha Fltskog
8. Thank You For The Music Vocals, backing vocals
Lead guitar
Benny and Bjrn

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included their
ambitious mini
musical on
The Album
49

D V D
INSIGHT
ABBA THE MOVIE
1 9 7 7
SHOT ACROSS SIX WEEKS IN 1977 ON THEIR SEMINAL AUSTRALIAN
10-DAY TOUR, THIS FUN AND HISTORICAL FLICK REMAINS THE
BANDS DEFINITIVE IN-CONCERT DOCUMENT
J U L I E B U R N S
50
CPP04.Abba The Movie.For Print.indd 50 20/10/2016 09:00

T H E M O V I E D V D I N S I G H T
A
ccording to one
review critic: This
was really the first
widescreen pop
music showcase
It remains a very rare portrait
of a 70s pop band at the
height of its popularity.
Digitally remastered and
re-released in 2008, it was
first conceived as a home
movie, a TV Special, then
a documentary, before this
rockumentary concert movie.
As writer/director Lasse
Hallstrms first film in English,
he later found fame with
movie hits including Whats
Eating Gilbert Grape?,
Chocolat, and The Cider
House Rules. He also directed
the majority of ABBAs 38
promotional videos, from
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1974 debut Waterloo to ABBA arrive at the London premiere

their farewell Head Over of their movie at Warner Cinema,
Leicester Square, on 16 February 1978
Heels, in 1982. Chiming
with the release of ABBA: The
Album, The Movie spans danger (a distinct hazard country-and-western track members of the public on the
songs from the LP plus earlier for then-pregnant Agnetha, intro is an early 70s Bjrn appeal of ABBA. A surprising
hits, and such otherwise necessitating many of her and Benny composition: number of under-12s are fans
unavailable gems as Get On scenes shot in close-up). Please Change Your Mind, of their music and perhaps
The Carousel. The quartet, clearly in performed by Swedish sum it up best as Special
By the time of ABBAs their heyday, are dynamic country band Nashville and Happy.
arrival in Australia on 27 onstage. For optimum Train who were made up of Huge crowds had come
February 1977, the groups acoustic recording, the film several musicians from ABBAs to watch the band perform,
record sales had eclipsed sticks mainly with one indoor studio band. while cheering fans lined their
that of The Beatles. We meet gig at Perth Entertainment Dizzyingly edited from entire 19km airport route to
the Swedish Fab Four at a Centre. Latest album tracks Hallstrms 50 hours of Melbourne. Abbamania in
welcome press conference. full swing.
When asked: Is every Bjrn Ulvaeus later admitted
performance traumatic?, Seeing the film came as a bit of a shock. Its to some misgivings about the
Benny answers, Every show hard to recognise yourself on a giant screen in film. Quite honestly, I dont
youre nervous, and, Id think that films with pop stars
hate the sound of 30,000 Panavision. But then weve had so many moments work very well. Of course,
fans booing! As for Agnetha: when it has been hard to accept the things that The Beatles are an exception
I find the travelling very and Tommy was a big hit
have been happening B J R N U L V A E U S
hard. I start to think, Where but there have been lots of
am I? Which city? Bjrn other pop films that have sunk
says: Its an unsocial life, are showcased: He Is Your footage, unusually, no without trace Seeing the
it kills creativity in a way I Brother; Eagle; the startling out-takes or DVD extras film came as a bit of a shock.
dont like. Livewire Frida Agnetha and Anni-Frid duet would ever surface. Its hard to recognise yourself
adds: Its boring to travel, to Im A Marionette. Classic Concert coverage is up there on a giant screen in
fantastic to be onstage! Did hits, of course, rock the spliced throughout with the Panavision. But then weve
they make loads of money? crowd: SOS, Money, Money, (deliberately) thin fiction of had many moments when
A lot of money coming in, Money, So Long, Rock hapless DJ Ashley Wallace, it has been hard to accept
a lot of tax to pay. Money Me, to Fernando; the girls assigned to interview the the things that have been
isnt that important, its liking favourite, Dancing Queen, band and despite frequent happening to us.
the work that is, says Benny. and their lesser-known slower near misses, unable until Nevertheless, on departing
And to Agnetha, how did it duets, Ive Been Waiting For the last minute to do so Down Under, the message
feel having the sexiest bottom You to Why Did It Have To (a plot device apparently was positive: We had
in pop? How can I answer Be Me?. More material not kept from the group to add such a good time, the
that? I dont know, I havent instantly recognisable includes authenticity). After a surreal foursome agree. As DJ Ashley
seen it! (It still caused some Benny playing his prog-rock dream sequence in which broadcasts his hard-won
off-tone-titled gig reviews such pop Intermezzo No. 1; the the girls sing The Name Of interview, in the background
as Agnethas Bottom Tops instrumental Stoned and The Game, he finally gets plays ABBAs timeless concert
Show!). ABBA Risk Their Swedish traditional songs to meet and talk with them closer, Thank You For The
Lives ran a more serious Johan Snippen and Polka all in an elevator. Traversing Music. Nearly 40 years on,
headline, when rain-swept Goes, performed by Benny Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the sentiment is still shared by
arena stages threatened on accordion. Even the films Melbourne, Ashley interviews the bands global fanbase.
51
CPP04.Abba The Movie.For Print.indd 51 20/10/2016 11:55

A L B U M
INSIGHT
VOULEZ-VOUS
1 9 7 9
ITS ABBA AT THEIR SEXIEST, AS THE QUARTET HEAD FOR
BOOGIE WONDERLAND ON THE MOST DISCO-INFLUENCED
WORK IN THE BACK CATALOGUE
52
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V O U L E Z - V O U S A L B U M I N S I G H T
W
ith a new ABBA perform in
baby, a Paris in 1979
wedding
and a
divorce all
happening behind the scenes
and a poorly received album
planting seeds of doubt in
the minds of the group as
to their position in the music
scene, it is little wonder
that Voulez-Vous, ABBAs
sixth album, was their most
challenging to date.
Having sustained a prolific
musical output, releasing an
ABBA album every year as
well as writing and producing
other acts since 1973,
recently completed a tour in
support of ABBA: The Album
and ABBA: The Movie, Benny
and Bjrn found themselves
suffering writers block for the
first time in their career and it
was decided that 1978 would
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be set aside for them to write
a musical instead, having
been inspired by their The
Girl With The Golden Hair
vignette, which had closed of songs that form the basis ABBA would seamlessly slink with its risqu lyric, which
their previous album and tour. of the next ABBA album. their way into the dancefloor- hints at Labelles infamous
However, the idea was Their creativity sparked, they dominated world, of which Lady Marmalade, and is
put on the backburner when booked studio time at Miamis pioneers such as Giorgio definitely at odds with their
Summer Night City failed to Criteria Studios and recorded Moroder, Cerrone and the usual wholesome image.
set the world alight although the backing track to Voulez- Casablanca label roster Keen not to alienate their
a hit by anyones standards, Vous, the song that went on to rubbed sequinned shoulders longstanding audience, ABBA
it wasnt by ABBAs. So, used become the albums title track with Eurotrashy classics such slowed the pace for a more
to a seemingly endless string and dictate the direction of as Baccaras Yes Sir, I Can traditional, schlager-influenced
of No. 1 hits, the songs Top the album. Boogie and Tina Charles I ballad with I Have A Dream,
Five placing in the UK was Upon their return, and Love To Love, all which are a schmaltzy ballad which
deemed below par and, with their brand-new state-of- ingrained in the rich sonic scored them a Christmas hit,
knowing full well that all pop yet sounding out of place
acts however successful within the sexier, clubbier
had a shelf life, ABBA began Benny and Bjrn decided that they needed tracks which form the core of
to worry their time at the the album, particularly when
top was finally coming to an exposure to current music trends to inspire a childrens choir are enlisted
end. They decided to push them and took a trip to the Bahamas and to sing lines such as I Believe
ahead with a new studio In Angels. A perfectly fine
album instead; however, Miami, where they immersed themselves ballad but for ABBA three
despite putting the time in in in disco and funk, including the Bee Gees, albums ago.
the studio, they struggled to The only other downtempo
produce anything that they Earth, Wind & Fire and Donna Summer moment on the album, though
considered good enough. far superior, is Chiquitita,
For the first time, working in a perfect example of ABBA
solitude in their usual secluded the-art Polar Music Studio in tapestry of Voulez-Vous. going back to their roots.
cottage was stifling them and Stockholm at their disposal, Kicking off with a dramatic Of similar ilk to their classic
Benny and Bjrn decided they crafted their most string arrangement, As Fernando, Chiquitita was
that they needed exposure to cohesive album to date, Good As New resolves into written at the request of
current music trends to inspire utilising the latest studio an energetic number which UNICEF, who approached
them and took a trip to the technology, they completed dictates the pace of the the biggest acts of the day to
Bahamas and Miami, where the album within a matter of record and is driven by a donate a song each to raise
they immersed themselves in weeks and found disco the pulsating dance beat, over proceeds to under-privileged
disco and funk, including the perfect fit for their trademark which ABBAs unmistakable children. Chiquitita was
Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire hook-driven pop. harmonies flourish. Likewise, a huge hit and has raised
and Donna Summer. The trip At a time when everyone with the title track, the only millions for the charity.
proved to be just creative shot from The Rolling Stones to Rod ABBA song recorded outside Amping up the tempo
in the arm they needed and Stewart were releasing disco Sweden, Voulez-Vous marks once again, Angeleyes is
there, they wrote a handful songs, it was a no-brainer that quite a departure for ABBA, one of ABBAs greatest
53

A L B U M I N S I G H T V O U L E Z - V O U S
songs and one of the most when suffering loneliness. creative high points. If It both of which were among
underrated, due to its lack How I fear the time when Wasnt For The Nights, the first songs to be written
of a video and its release shadows start to fall/ Sitting Chiquitita and Angeleyes for the album, originating
as a double-A Side with here alone and staring at the were only the beginning. from the period when Benny
Voulez-Vous, therefore not wall/ Even I could see the Keen not to make all their and Bjrn were struggling
giving the song its chance to light/ If it wasnt for the nights confessions on the dancefloor, for inspiration and direction,
shine. Blending an irresistible I think that I could make it. though, tracks such as the title and arent really up to the
60s-inspired melody over a The lyric was deemed to track, the pounding glam- standard of the later material.
dance beat, the song is one of have particular relevance rock/disco hybrid Does Your When the Voulez-Vous
those songs that manages to when put into context that Mother Know (Bjrns only album was finally released
be both wistful and uplifting at it was written shortly after lead vocal on a single) and in 1979, fans were thrilled
the same time, of which ABBA Bjrn and Agnethas divorce. the blistering Kisses Of Fire with the bands return to form
were the true masters. Having battled to save their proved energetic escapism after the disappointing ABBA:
from the troubles behind The Album. With a sound
the scenes, particularly the that was as sexy and cool as
Wanting to check they would fit alongside latter. Like Donna Summers
MacArthur Park, the song
ABBA ever got, and a sleek,
fashionable look ready for
the biggest dancefloor hits of the day, begins with a stunning a night on the town on the
Bjrn and Benny would visit Stockholms misleading introduction, cover, this was positive proof
which suggests the song is that the dancing queens were
Atlantic nightclub to play the songs when going to be a beautiful ballad at their musical peak.
they were in the process of being recorded before it erupts into a funky The album itself fit perfectly
floorfiller reminiscent of the into the musical zeitgeist and
and gauged the crowds reaction to them Bee Gees You Should Be ABBA found themselves a hit
Dancing, with one of ABBAs in the clubs and in the charts,
most hypnotic choruses. with no fewer than seven of
Likewise with If It Wasnt marriage with counselling The songs authenticity was the albums 10 songs hitting
For The Nights, a mid-tempo sessions after the birth of tested when, wanting to check the charts as singles in their
disco shuffle which evokes their second child, they were they would fit alongside the own right or as Double A-Side
Dancing Queen and possibly forced to admit that they had biggest dancefloor hits of the features. When the band ran
even surpasses it. The megahit grown apart and divorced, day, Bjrn and Benny would out of songs to release, they
that never was, the song was though they assured fans visit Stockholms Atlantic simply returned to the studio
originally planned to be the that their split would not nightclub to sneakily play the to seemingly casually dash
first single from the album affect ABBA. songs while they were in the off and record yet another
but was shelved when they This technically wasnt process of being recorded slice of dancefloor magic, in
were approached by UNICEF. true, as it became a source and gauged the crowds Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Showing a remarkable of inspiration for their reaction to them. (A Man After Midnight).
progression when it comes to subsequent albums and would The only time the quality The only place where the
storytelling, If It Wasnt For provide an emotional depth drops is on the plodding The album wasnt a success was
The Nights deals with how that would in turn result King Has Lost His Crown and in the US, with ABBAs hopes
hopeless one can feel at night in some of their songwritings Lovers (Live A Little Longer), of a hit there scuppered by
the untimely emergence of
the Disco Sucks movement
and the ceremonial burning
of disco records in Chicago.
Tensions were also rising
within the group, with
Agnetha and Bjrn
struggling to
adapt to life in
the group post-
divorce and
cracks also
beginning
to show in
Frida and
Bennys
relationship,
despite
their recent
wedding.
Despite the
chart success
of the albums
singles, though,
by the end of the
decade, it seemed the
party was over both for
ABBA and for disco.
54

THE
PERSONNEL Bjrn Ulvaeus
Benny Andersson Banjo,guitar, vocals
DETAILS
Synthesiser,keyboards,vocals
Agnetha Fltskog CHART PLACINGS
Vocals UK No. 1
Anni-Frid Lyngstad US No. 19
Sweden No. 1
TRACKLISTING Vocals
1 As Good As New ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Rolf Alex Rutger Halldor Palsson George Terry
2 Voulez-Vous Drums Gunnarsson Tenor saxophone Guitar
3 I Have A Dream Ola Brunkert Bass Arnold Paseiro Mike Watson
Drums Paul Harris Bass Bass
4 Angeleyes Piano
Lars Carlsson Jan Risberg Lasse Wellander
5 The King Has Lost His Crown Horn Janne Kling Oboe Guitar
Wind
6 Does Your Mother Know Anders Eljas Janne Schaffer Kajtek
Horn Nils Landgren Guitar,sitar Wojciechowski
7 If It Wasnt For The Nights Joe Galdo Trombone Johan Tenor saxophone
8 Chiquitita Drums Ish Ledesma Stengrd
Guitar Tenor saxophone
9 Lovers (Live A Little Longer) Malando
Gassama Roger Palm ke Sundqvist
10 Kisses Of Fire Percussion Drums Percussion
Though disco was a

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perfect fit for ABBAs

melodic pop, when the
80s dawned, it swiftly
went out of fashion
55

A L B U M
INSIGHT
SUPER TROUPER
1 9 8 0
ONE OF THEIR MOST FULLY FORMED COLLECTIONS OF SONGS
AND A UNANIMOUS BAND FAVOURITE SUPER TROUPER
SAW ABBA PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES TO FINE EFFECT
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S U P E R T R O U P E R A L B U M I N S I G H T
A
lthough ABBAs
sixth and
penultimate studio
album took its
name from the
giant spotlight that glared
on the band during their live
shows, the four members of
the group revealed themselves
to be super troopers of a
different kind, soldiering
on through the catastrophic
turmoil that was their personal
lives to produce their most
accomplished album to date.
While Agnetha and Bjrn
had put on an amicable
front when announcing their
divorce in 1979, the fact
that Bjrn had met his new
partner within a week of his
split from Agnetha strained
their professional relationship
considerably. Also, though
ABBA pictured
unbeknown to the public at in 1980 they
the time, Benny had also
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mayve been
met a new woman, thus approaching the
signalling the end of his end, but they were
still a hit machine
marriage to Frida.
Therefore, at the dawning
of the 80s, ABBA was a they had made progress released as the first single not strictly autobiographical
very different entity to the with the album, they divided from the album in July 1980 about his divorce from
fun foursome in flamboyant their time in the cottage in and is an obvious standout. Agnetha, in the sense of there
fashions that captivated the Viggsand in their Polar With a visceral lyric about being a winner and a loser,
world with their infectious Studio in Stockholm, penning a couples divorce delivered the raw, emotional lyrics can
Scandi-pop. On Super songs for the album. with heartbreaking feeling only be a subliminal release.
Trouper, they emerged, battle With half of an albums- by the person the track was He admitted that once the
scars on display, with an worth of material written, the written about, the track is backing track was complete,
album as rich with emotional the song is one the quickest
depth as it is in complex hed ever written, with the
harmonies the confessional In The Winner Takes It All, an emotionally lyrics pouring out of him.
lyrics testament to Bjrns Aside from the lyrics and
grasp of the English language spent Agnetha opines the breakdown of Agnethas delivery, bathed
and his flair for storytelling. her marriage: the song covers the stages in choral backing vocals and
As initial sessions for the Bennys simple cascading
album took place in January of a broken relationship such as denial, piano line, the song is notable
1980, Benny and Bjrn found shock, wistfulness and self-punishment, for its unusual structure,
themselves struggling to write something ABBA had become
for the new album. As this
asking her ex-husband questions she masters at ever since their
was the same predicament doesnt really want the answers to biggest hit, Dancing Queen
they had found themselves (which begins halfway
in with Voulez-Vous, they through the chorus), taught
once again decided a visit band completed a tour of one of those instances which the pair that there are no
to sunnier climes could help Japan in March (which would transcends the boundaries rules when it comes to writing
to get their creative juices be their last), before returning of being a throwaway pop timeless pop songs.
flowing (not to mention a to work on the LP in earnest song. As an emotionally The Winner Takes It All is
break from the tensions of at the end of May. As work spent Agnetha opines the by no means the only song
their home lives) and headed continued, and Benny and breakdown of her marriage, on Super Trouper to explore
for Barbados. Bjrn felt that the record was the song covers the stages of the pain of the breakdown of
The trip was short lived, taking shape, they revisited a broken relationship such as relationships. As affecting a
lasting only 10 days, but was a few older ideas they had denial, shock, wistfulness and song, if not so raw, Our Last
a success, in that it resulted recorded and, during one self-punishment, asking her ex Summer finds the wistful
in them having written the particularly fruitful session, questions she doesnt want the Frida of Knowing Me,
first two songs for the album, came up with the song that answers to, such as: Does Knowing You reflecting on
Happy New Year and On became the centrepiece of she kiss like I used to kiss a summer spent in Paris,
And On And On, the former the album and would be you?/Does it feel the same reminiscing of Walks along
stemming from the idea of recognised in the fullness of when she calls your name? the Seine/ Laughing in the
writing a musical that they time as ABBAs masterpiece. Although Bjrn has insisted rain/ Our last summer/
were still toying with. Feeling The Winner Takes It All was that The Winner Takes It All is Memories that remain.
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A L B U M I N S I G H T S U P E R T R O U P E R
While the song was written invaluable in allowing him theyd explore deeper on the vein of Does Your Mother
by Bjrn about a summer to experiment in a variety of The Visitors album. Taking the Know which veers close to
romance he had while a different genres. premise of a split personality, the cool female rockers of the
student, Fridas interpretation With its keyboards and the song experiments with day such as Blondie and The
is entirely believable, just catchy Su-per-per trou-per- strong synths and vocodered Pretenders, Andante Andante
one of many standout per vocal refrain, the title vocals, which culminate in another of the bands returns
performances from her on tracks irresistible harmony one of ABBAs most uplifting, to their schlager material with
this album, in some cases was the perfect antidote to anthemic choruses, likewise an endearing lilting country
sadly overlooked due to the downcast lyrics which tell of with Lay All Your Love On Me. feel, and The Piper which is
dominance of The Winner the downside of life on the The song was originally a medieval-inspired song that
Takes It All. road. The band had never in the style of a traditional warns of the possibility of a
Completing Super Troupers enjoyed touring, and now hymn, with multitracked looming dictatorship.
break-up triptych is seasonal separation from loved ones vocals for the chorus to give The album closes with
standard Happy New Year. The Way Old Friends Do,
Originally planned as the first an Auld Lang Syne-style
single from the album, and With more than an air of swansong to it, sentimental song recorded
also at one point a starting live as the encore to their
point for Benny and Bjrns The Way Old Friends Do suggests that Wembley concerts in 1979,
plans for a musical, the song ABBA maybe knew their time was coming accompanied only by
uses New Years Eve as a accordion. With more than
metaphor for the happy part
to an end. It was a theory supported by an air of swansong to it, the
of a relationship, while the the albums artwork a shot of the group album as a whole suggests
gloomy comedown of New that ABBA maybe knew
Years Day when the fun is
in a circus setting, surrounded by their their time was coming to an
over and the uneasiness and family and closest friends end a theory supported by
uncertainty of what lies ahead the albums artwork, a shot
proves daunting. of the group in a moodily lit
While the introspective while on tour was an issue it a choir-like sound, but the circus setting, surrounded by
ballads form the emotional for Bjrn, who missed his addition of a dance beat and a specially invited audience
core of the album, the new partner, something he piano melody reminiscent of made up of their family and
intensity is countered by some had never experienced with Thats Me, resulted in one of closest friends.
of their greatest pop songs. Agnetha as they were never ABBAs best dance songs. If it was the case that ABBA
Safely ensconced in their new apart. The song shot to No. 1 When it was released only were planning their farewell,
Polar Music Studios (Agnetha around the world when it was as a 12-inch single, Lay All they were going out on a
called it her second home), released as the second single Your Love On Me, became the high. Super Trouper was
ABBA had the latest in in November 1980. biggest-selling 12-inch single met with unanimous critical
technology at their disposal, The feelgood factor is of all time. acclaim upon release a first
and Benny made full use sustained with Me And Aside from ballads and for the group, and it became
of it particularly the new I one of the most forward- synthpop, Super Troupers their biggest selling album.
Yamaha GX-1 synthesiser, sounding tracks on the album cosmopolitan feel is illustrated Entering the charts at No. 1 in
an instrument which proved and a precursor to the sound with On And On And On, a nine countries, Super Trouper
Beach Boys-inspired exceeded sales of over one
rocker in the million in advance orders
alone in the UK, a record
at the time.
As well as being a firm
fan favourite, unusually,
perhaps, all four
members of the group
cite Super Trouper
as their favourite
album, because
it works as a
collection of songs
and each is
strong enough to
stand individually.
Speaking in the
Words And Music
documentary,
Frida says: You
usually feel that
each album you do
is the best youve ever
done, but I have to say
that Super Trouper is a
little different. Because were
pleased with each and every
song on the album.
58

THE PERSONNEL Per Lindvall
DETAILS
Benny Andersson Drums
Synthesiser, keyboards, vocals Janne Schaffer
Agnetha Fltskog Guitar
Vocals ke Sundqvist
TRACKLISTING Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Percussion
1 Super Trouper Vocals
Mike Watson
Bass
2 The Winner Takes It All Bjrn Ulvaeus
Lasse Wellander
3 On And On And On Acoustic guitar, vocals Guitar
Kajtek Wojciechowski
4 Andante, Andante Saxophone
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
5 Me And I Ola Brunkert
Drums
6 Happy New Year CHART PLACINGS
Lars Carlsson
7 Our Last Summer Horn
UK No. 1
US No. 17
8 The Piper Rutger Gunnarsson
Bass, guitar Sweden No. 1
9 Lay All Your Love On Me Janne Kling
10 The Way Old Friends Do Flute, saxophone
ABBAs last gigs

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were 11 dates in
Tokyo in 1980,
on the bands
final world tour
59

AS GLOBAL SUPERSTARDOM TOOK
ITS TOLL, ABBAS BREAK-UP WAS A
LONG TIME COMING. DAVID BURKE
LOOKS AT THE FINAL YEARS AND HOW
THEY STAYED OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT
BITTER SWEDE
Eric Watson
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SYMPHONIES 61

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W
Benny and Bjrn e can talk about the ephemeral magic and Benny were finished with Chess, no one was
with Tim Rice of pop music about the quick fix, the interested in getting back together as ABBA. When
at the press
conference for instant buzz, about getting off or becoming they went on that break, I think they all knew that
Chess in 1984 blissed out on three minutes of sonic candy. there was a possibility they would never get back
We can talk about the evanescence of pop acts, together again.
the here today, gone tomorrow nature of hipness. ABBAs vanishing act what else could you call it?
But none of this applies to ABBA, the consummate meant their millions of fans worldwide were denied
practitioners of an artform in which they scaled the opportunity to thank them for the music. Surely a
epic heights; which they positively made their own reunion, however fleeting, would facilitate what our
between 1974 and 1982; whose songs transcend the supposedly special friends across the Atlantic term
now and occupy a prominent place in our heads and closure? Carl Magnus Palm doesnt think so.
in our hearts, and who, as an entity, lingered just long One should never say never, but I cant see that
enough for us not to remember but never to forget ever happening. Bidding farewell to their fans would
them. Who, similarly to The Beatles and The Smiths, not be very high on ABBAs agenda. If they did it, it
knew when to quit rather than suffer the ignominy would only be because they felt that they could make
of reprising themselves year after year, decade some good music together. But with most of the group
after decade. being around 70 years old, they dont want to spoil
Which poses an intriguing question: would the memory of ABBA as that young-ish band they
ABBAs oeuvre have endured as it has, if they hadnt once were.
separated when they did? Carl Magnus Palm, There was almost a sense of inevitability about
internationally renowned ABBA authority, uses the ABBAs demise, even when they were at the zenith of
example of a bunch of wrinkly rockers to offer an their global success. The foursome may have given
objective view. the impression to their fawning fanbase that they were
The Rolling Stones never formally split up, but have comfortable with the demands commensurate with
limped along over the decades. Yet Im sure this hasnt multi-million record sales and sell-out concerts. But
really hurt the long-term endurance of classic hits these demands caused a shift in the dynamic of the
such as (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction. But maybe The group, according to Palm.
Stones back catalogue would be regarded as even Maybe it became clear that Bjrn, Benny and
more magical if theyd split up at some point. Im sure Frida were quite eager to go with the flow in terms
its been good for ABBAs longevity that the audience of touring and going on promotional trips all over
has been left wanting more. Its created a tension the world. Agnetha, on the other hand, had small
thats enhanced the magic of the back catalogue. children and didnt think anything could be more
Of course, ABBA never really split up. Not officially, important than staying home with them. It appears to
anyway. They took a break so that Bjrn and Benny have caused some tension from time to time.
could write Chess together with Tim Rice, says Palm. Factor in the strain that fame must have placed
And then, not getting back together again seems on those marital relationships involving Bjrn and
to have happened organically. By the time Bjrn Agnetha, Benny and Frida both of which collapsed
62

T H E B R E A K - U P
and its remarkable that ABBA managed to sustain We would arrive in our cars and there would be
the long run they did. Although all parties concerned small children there, and we were so scared that
were adamant that the failure of their marriages we were going to drive over someone or hurt them.
wasnt detrimental to ABBA, Palm, on the other hand, Sometimes, we could hardly leave our hotels. It
remains somewhat ambivalent. was frightening, but we had so many people taking
It doesnt seem to have impacted ABBA that care of us and everyone wanted to show us the best
much. After all, they went on for four years after wherever we went.
Bjrn and Agnethas split, and after both couples Compounding the misery of life on the road was
made statements about their respective splits saying Agnethas increasing dread of going on stage.
that the marital breakdowns had nothing to do with Performing live was not my favourite. I am more of a
ABBA, and that they intended to carry on as before. recording person. I prefer to be private. Walking on
However, in the long term, perhaps the fact that stage and singing live, thats a bit difficult. And I dont
theyd come together as two couples in love, and now think we ever sounded or looked very good.
were just four individual members, robbed ABBA of Bjrn, whether expressing his own thoughts or
some of their raison detre. representing the ABBA collectives perspective,
Bjrn and Agnethas divorce was presented to press suggested to reporters that the American trek would
and public as amicable, with Bjrn insisting the pair probably be their last, though not a farewell tour,
just grew apart and decided, lets split up. Agnetha like The Rolling Stones have done so many times.
told a different story in her book, As I Am, insisting Namechecking The Beatles, he saw ABBA evolving
things werent quite so conciliatory. into a studio-based outfit. But the show went on,
We always told the media that it was a happy as ABBA returned to Europe for 23 sold-out concerts
divorce, which, of course, was a front. Obviously, we at the back of 1979, before, in March 1980,
all know there are no such things as happy divorces, embarking on an 11-date commitment in Japan,
especially when there including six nights at
are children involved. Our [lives] were in the full glare of the Tokyos Budokan.
On top of that, ours was The cycle continued
in the full glare of the media. But to this day, I dont regret with the writing and
media. But to this day, I splitting up. The reason behind our recording of Super
dont regret splitting up. separation is one of those things I dont Trouper, featuring the
The reason behind our track that finally exposed
separation is one of those want to go into A G N E T H A the torment Bjrn and
things I definitely dont Agnethas, yes, but really
want to go into. ABBAs behind the triumph, The Winner Takes It All.
Bjrn quit the family home on Christmas Eve in The personal had trespassed on the professional, and
1978, after which he was a bachelor for a week, though its a profound meditation on failed love, this
before meeting future wife Lena Kllersj. confessional ballad could be heard as a declaration
Meanwhile, Benny and Fridas marriage had been that ABBA themselves were unable to go on, that
on the rocks for years. Coining a phrase similar to they had been utterly consumed by the music and
that used by Bjrn to describe his and Agnethas everything that went with it.
separation, Frida, speaking to a Swedish newspaper Bjrn wrote the words while imbibing a bottle of
in 1981, said she and Benny simply grew out of Scotch. I was drunk and the whole lyric came to me
each other. It came down to our different goals in in a rush of emotion in an hour. And that never works.
life. We have always been honest and talked about You think its wonderful at the time, but it looks terrible
everything. We talked and talked, and finally we the next day but that one worked.
agreed that a divorce would be the best solution. Next day, he demoed the song at Polar Music
There was a lot of tears and a lot of discussions, Studios in Stockholm and gave it to Agnetha.
but there was no way back. Breaking up became It was strange hearing her singing that. It was
a necessity. more like an actress doing something when she
In the same newspaper piece, Benny claimed that sang it, but deeply moving, too. Afterwards, there
he and Frida decided to stay together for the sake were tears.
of the music, adding, We are fond of what we are For Agnetha, performing The Winner Takes It All
doing musically, and we will be able to cope with this was fantastic I could put in such feeling. I didnt
as long as possible. mind sharing it with the public. It didnt feel wrong.
Retrospectively, what emerges from this narrative There is so much in that song. It was a mixture of what
Agnethas anxiety, her separation from Bjrn, I felt and what Bjrn felt, but also what Benny and
followed by Benny and Fridas separation, and Frida went through.
the deferment of dealing with the emotional issues By the time of the next album, The Visitors, their
wrought by the breakdowns for the sake of sustaining swansong (intentional or not can only be conjectured),
a career is that ABBA were incrementally imploding. things were more fraught between the members of
On a tour of North America in 1979, Agnetha ABBA, with little attempt to conceal the cracks. It was
resented being away from her children, and insisted getting harder to say, Please do that again, Bjrn
on travelling in a different vehicle to Bjrn so that, in recalled of the fractious sessions.
the case of an accident, those children wouldnt be I think all four of us could see that the potential in
orphaned. She also developed a fear of flying, after the group was still there, so why should we let our
a private aircraft in which she was travelling became private lives ruin something thats still good?
caught up in a freak storm. The constant adulation Perhaps Bjrn was being disingenuous if
was another problem. everything hadnt already been destroyed, it was
Fans would become really hysterical, banging on certainly in the process of being destroyed. My
car doors, she recalled in 2013. understanding is that it was something of an uphill
63

struggle, at least from time to time, but maybe more and Benny. Plans to work on new ABBA material were
because everyone started feeling that ABBA had run postponed, with Benny declaring: The energy had
their course, rather than because of any bad feelings run out. Thats the feeling we had at the time.
in the studio, Carl Magnus Palm posits. He has since stated that had The Day Before You
That said, it may also depend on which ABBA Came gone to No. 1, ABBA might have carried on
member you ask. It seems it wasnt so easy for Frida for a little longer, a scenario Palm finds plausible.
from time to time, being fresh from her divorce and Perhaps Bjrn and Benny would have made
struggling to build a new life for herself while still a different decision and not gone ahead with the
working with her ex-husband. musical just yet, and instead spent 1983 completing
On The Visitors, ABBA went over to the dark side. the album they began in 1982. Its not impossible.
Paranoia, madness and desolation were not themes Assuming they would have chosen to do the musical,
with which the faithful were familiar. In the UK, only after all, as indeed they did, its not impossible that if
One Of Us made the Top 10 singles chart. The Day they went on their break off the back of a really big
Before You Came didnt even bruise the Top 30. An hit, they would have felt more motivated in getting
offer to collaborate with Tim Rice on a musical back together and carrying on as ABBA. But judging
which turned out to be Chess was taken up by Bjrn by the way they all conducted their lives in the
mid-80s Bjrn and Frida were both living outside
Getty Images Sweden, for example it just seems like it would have
been too much trouble.
While Bjrn and Benny hooked up with Rice,
Agnetha and Frida both embarked on solo ventures
with Wrap Your Arms Around Me and Somethings
Going On respectively. They released a handful
of albums between them during the 1980s, before
disappearing into secluded lives. Agnetha issued
a covers collection, My Colouring Book, in 2004,
before 2013s A found her joining forces with Take
Thats Gary Barlow, among others. Chess came out in
1984, spawning the hit singles One Night In Bangkok
(for Murray Head) and I Know Him So Well (a duet
featuring Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige), before
opening in Londons West End two years later, and
Broadway in 1988, although bad reviews culminated
in the latters closure within two months.
Benny descended into alcoholism, finally sobering
up in 2001, when he admitted: When its about
the difficult battle against addiction, it doesnt matter
who you are. I wasnt feeling well without alcohol,
so I knew I was in trouble. I sought help and I got it.
I knew that if I continued drinking, there was a risk I
would lose everything. If you drink enough for a long
enough time, you lose things.
ABBA havent gone away. It may be almost 35
years since they last put down anything new, but their
body of work the look as well as the sound is part
of the popular-culture consciousness, kept alive by
a resonance with successive generations and by the
profusion of tribute acts glammed up and reimagining
Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous and The Winner Takes
It All for audiences everywhere who never got to
witness the real thing.
When we broke up I thought that ABBA was
something completely past, behind me, said Bjrn
in 1999. We were going forward, writing Chess
and so forth, and I assumed that ABBA would vanish.
It was stupid and nave thinking that. The fact it has
survived is immensely flattering.
So ABBA didnt vanish at all then. Theyre still out
there in the firmament. Carl Magnus Palm believes
the quartet are comfortable with their legacy, just as
theyre comfortable with how they faded out.
They seem to be pragmatic souls who feel that
theres a time for everything, and that they probably
quit at a good point. When the ABBA revival
happened in the 90s, I get the feeling some members
may have struggled a bit with having to relate to this
old stuff and the interest in ABBA never going away.
Anni-Frid pictured in
France, October 1982 But it seems theyve all come to terms with it now, and
accept it as part of their lives.
64

T H E B R E A K - U P
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Agnetha in
Bremen, Germany,
November 1982
65

A L B U M
INSIGHT
THE VISITORS
1 9 8 1
BY 1981, THE END WAS NIGH WEVE EMPTIED OURSELVES
OF EVERYTHING WEVE GOT TO GIVE, SAID BJRN, AFTER
THE RELEASE OF THEIR INTROSPECTIVE FINAL ALBUM
D A V I D B U R K E
66
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T H E V I S I T O R S A L B U M I N S I G H T
A
BBA are
Getty Images
synonymous
with impeccably
crafted, inspiring
pop songs that
excite the kind of joyously
communal response from
listeners redolent of spiritual
revivalist meetings, but with
a greater sense of irony
and much better choruses.
Yet there has always been
a darkness at the heart of
their material think SOS,
Knowing Me, Knowing You
and The Winner Takes It All
a darkness that becomes
fully manifest on their final
album, The Visitors, which
metaphorically and explicitly
documents both the groups
impending dissolution and
the marital breakdowns of its
members, Benny and Frida,
ABBA almost
and Bjrn and Agnetha. manage a
Easy listening its not, collective smile
and its more of a critics as they arrive in
Bournemouth in
than a fans favourite, with September 1981
the former describing
it as an early 1980s pop
masterpiece and a record It could be frosty sound simply became too opens the album. Its a strange
divided between almost sometimes, was Bjrns clean, so I had to find ways and strangely irresistible
throwaway studio mastery diplomatic recollection of of compensating for that, song about totalitarianism,
and spectral, uneasy the atmosphere. he said. with Frida intoning almost
premonitions of ABBAs Frida admitted that they had The first three tracks had droning, in fact I hear the
own demise. become tired of collaborating already been put down doorbell ring/And suddenly
The sessions began on as ABBA. The analogy has on analogue. This meant the panic takes me. Subtle
16 March 1981, when Bjrn, often been drawn with the Tretow had to transfer all reminders of ABBAs flirtation
Benny and their quartet of sessions for The Beatles subsequent tracks from digital with disco fail to thaw the
trusted musicians, Lasse Abbey Road, the last time the to analogue and back again icy vibe.
Wellander (guitar), Rutger original Fab Four created as a to avoid variable quality. Head Over Heels and Two
Gunnarsson (bass), Ola For The Price Of One appear
Brunkert (drums) and ke incongruously frivolous
Sundqvist (percussion), along There has always been a darkness at the among an otherwise austere
with engineer Michael B collection, though each is
Tretow, entered Polar Music heart of their material that becomes fully perhaps redeemed by its
Studios in Stockholm. Some manifest on their final album, The Visitors, satirical undertone.
five months previously, ABBA Next up is the real gold on
had completed work on Super which metaphorically and explicitly The Visitors, a composition
Trouper, which went on to documents both the groups impending that came out of Benny and
become 1980s biggest-selling Fridas break-up. When All
album in the UK and spawned
dissolution and the marital breakdowns Is Said And Done, similar
another brace of No. 1 of its members to much of the album, finds
singles in the title track and ABBA in more adult-oriented
The Winner Takes It All. The terrain. Bjrn, who wrote the
latter explored Bjorns divorce collective. There was a sense That he overcame his teething lyrics, was concerned that
from Agnetha in 1979. of finality about The Visitors, problems with the equipment, it would be too much of an
When backing tracks even if nobody was saying and managed to achieve emotional wrench for Frida
were laid down for The as much. such a pristine sound, is a to sing, but on the contrary,
Visitors, Benny and Frida An already uncomfortable lasting testament to Tretows she assured him that the
had already announced ambience was compounded engineering and production opportunity to express her true
their separation, and so a by Tretows difficulties in diligence and dexterity. feelings was exactly what
band that once comprised navigating his way around the The Visitors remains, within she needed.
two couples was now made new 32-track digital recorder ABBAs oeuvre, a sonic tour All my sadness was
up of four individuals who, purchased for Polar. de force, and consequently captured in that song, Frida
while each retaining a mutual Digital recording cut out made it a perfect fit for the confessed years later.
professional respect, found all the hiss, but it also meant inchoate CD marketplace. When All Is Said And Done
themselves conflicted by that sounds were sharply cut The Visitors itself, awash was released as a single in
personal politics. off below a certain level. The with spooky synthesisers, Australia and the US only,
67

A L B U M I N S I G H T T H E V I S I T O R S
peaking at No. 27 on the Cold War is a delicious one. the albums predominantly suddenly, calls time on the
Billboard chart. And The lead single elsewhere in gloomy tenor. Slipping album and on ABBA.
inadvertently, it may have the world was One Of Us, Through My Fingers is an The sessions concluded on
been the reason why, in which, in contrast to the rest almost unbearably poignant 14 November, after which
1982, The Visitors ended up of The Visitors, stays true to meditation on parenthood, the ABBAs sleeve designer, Rune
being banned in the former the classic ABBA template words penned by Bjrn after Sderqvist, came up with
Soviet Union. lathered in lush harmonies. watching his seven-year-old his concept for the cover.
On 31 January that year, Agnetha takes the vocal, daughter, Linda, leave for He interpreted the visitors
ABBA had allowed a video of inhabiting the familiar role school one day. of the title as angels an
When All Is Said And Done to of a woman in remission I thought, Now she has interpretation given ballast
be shown in a United States from heartbreak. Soldiers is taken that step, shes going by Like An Angel Passing
Information Agency television impelled by a spellbinding away what have I missed all Through My Room.
special, Let Poland Be Poland, drum motif, some fat guitar these years? I knew that the painter,
along with a spoken message Julius Kronberg, had painted
from Bjrn and Benny. The a lot of angels in his time,
show, broadcast globally via Slipping Through My Fingers is a poignant Sderqvist explained, so
satellite, also featured Frank I located his studio at the
Sinatra, Paul McCartney, meditation on parenthood, the words Skansen Park in Stockholm,
Orson Welles, Henry penned by Bjrn after watching his which contained several of
Fonda, British Prime Minister his paintings.
Margaret Thatcher and seven-year-old daughter, Linda, leave for Together with photographer
American President Ronald school one day. I thought, Now she has Lasse Larsson whose
Reagan, expressing public image adorns Super Trouper
opposition to the recent taken that step, shes going away what he assembled ABBA in
imposition of martial law have I missed all these years? Kronbergs chilly studio,
in Poland. positioning them in a picture
Ironically, ABBAs segment with a giant angelic portrait
wasnt included in the final lines and a refrain that It has since become a as a backdrop. Bjrn,
programme because of merely accentuates the mainstay of Mamma Mia!, Benny, Agnetha and Frida
time constraints, though drudgery of the verse. I Let the hugely successful stage are depicted as singular
suspicions linger that the The Music Speak, with its musical and film adaptation. rather than as a group. The
omission was really due to wistful piano intro, synth Like An Angel Passing impression engendered by the
Bjrn and Bennys criticism of string ensemble and Jan Through My Room, the shot is sombre, a portentous
US-supported dictatorships in Klings beguilingly intricate closing selection on The glimpse at a future already
Chile and El Salvador. flute, is a grandiose paean Visitors, pitches Fridas being consigned to the past.
Whatever the veracity of to the gods of melody (and a solitary voice against a spare We might not go on
either account, the notion signpost to Bjrn and Bennys synth arrangement bleak working with this forever.
that ABBA incurred the wrath musical ambitions), and offers but beautiful and a ticking Weve emptied ourselves of
of both protagonists in the some euphonic relief from clock, which, when it stops everything weve got to give,
Bjorn remarked at the time.
And so it came to pass, more
or less the group would only
work together on three
further songs: The Day
Before You Came,
Cassandra and
Under Attack
-- all are on
the 2001
remastered
edition of
The Visitors.
The
following
year, ABBA
more or
less just
faded away
there was
no dramatic
exit after
a last public
performance on
British TVs The
Late, Late Breakfast
Show. In The Visitors,
however, they had left
behind an imperfect, yet
sublime requiem.
68

THE
PERSONNEL Lasse Wellander
Benny Andersson Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
DETAILS Synthesiser, keyboards, vocals, backing vocals,

drum machine
Agnetha Fltskog
Vocals, backing vocals
PRODUCTION
Producers
Benny Andersson, Bjrn Ulvaeus
Arrangers
TRACKLISTING Anni-Frid Lyngstad Benny Andersson, Bjrn Ulvaeus
1 The Visitors Vocals, backing vocals Engineer
Bjrn Ulvaeus Michael B Tretow
2 Head Over Heels Acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals, mandolin, Design
3 When All Is Said And Done backing vocals Rune Sderqvist
Ola Brunkert
4 Soldiers Drums CHART PLACINGS
No. 1 Holland, Norway, Sweden, West Germany
5 I Let The Music Speak Rutger Gunnarsson
and the UK
Bass, mandolin
6 One Of Us No. 3 in Austria
Janne Kling
7 Two For The Price Of One Flute, clarinet No. 12 in Japan
No. 17 in France
8 Slipping Through My Fingers Per Lindvall
No. 18 in Canada
Drums
9 Like An Angel Passing Through ke Sundqvist No. 19 in New Zealand
My Room Percussion No. 22 in Australia
Overall, The Visitors is a

Getty Images
fitting final offering from

a band that had built up so
much emotional baggage
69

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CPP04.Abba Posters.For Print.indd 70

CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
The rather literal folks at Saturday Night Live provided a nautical-themed
setting for the band to perform their hit SOS when they appeared on the
popular US comedy show in 1975
19/10/2016 12:02
Getty Images
CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
In the early days of ABBA, the bands manager Stig Anderson wrote many
of the lyrics including Waterloo, Mamma Mia, The Name Of The Game
and Fernando. He died at the age of 66 in 1997.
CPP04.Abba Posters.For Print.indd 71 20/10/2016 11:15

Getty Images
CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
Agnetha arrives for the taping of a Dutch TV show in 1976

Getty Images

CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
The band have fun around a gaming table at a London
press conference in 1977
19/10/2016 12:03
Getty Images
CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
Anni-Frid and Agnetha during an ABBA concert
at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, March 1977

Getty Images
CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
ABBA in Los Angeles in 1978 in front of a giant billboard
proclaiming their massive record sales

Getty Images

CLASSIC
PRESENTS ABBA
Bjrn with a freshly minted copy of the Arrival LP in 1976
20/10/2016 11:15
78
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A B B A T O P 4 0
ABBA will forever be one of the most

astonishing hit-making machines in the history
of pop. This chronological look at the standout
tracks from their glittering back catalogue
brings home just how spectacular their
nine-year success story really was
I A N R A V E N D A L E
79

W
ith their worldwide sales numbering
somewhere around an estimated, though
difficult to verify, 300-million-plus records
worldwide, ABBA are one of the biggest-
selling pop bands of all time, putting
them in the same bracket as the likes of The Beatles and The
Rolling Stones. Like the former, their recording career was
relatively short, only spanning nine years. ABBAs liking for
catchy choruses and flair for melody had its roots in their
native Sweden and the early influence on Benny and Bjrn of
the schlager music of central and northern Europe, which is
informed by Nordic and Slavic folksongs. The Swedish variant
of schlager added memorable choruses and pronounced key
changes, both of which are present in most ABBA songs.
Winning Eurovision was a jumping-off point and the band
quickly progressed, with writers/producers Bjrn Ulvaeus and
40
Benny Andersson soon playing the recording studio like an
instrument. The voices of ABBA, Agnetha Fltskog and Anni-
Frid (Frida) Lyngstad had a range of three octaves between
them and were given all sorts of complicated vocal parts to
sing by Benny and Bjrn, in what wasnt their first language. RING RING
The timeless appeal of ABBAs songs, the intricacies of their RECORD LABEL EPIC
vocal arrangements, and the inventiveness of the productions RELEASED 1973
have influenced a generation of producers, musicians and Written by Benny Andersson, Bjrn Ulvaeus and ABBA manager Stig Anderson, Ring
songwriters. Benny, Bjrn, Agnetha and Frida made eight Ring was originally called Klocklt (Clock Tune). The trio had been asked to submit a
song for consideration for Swedens entry into the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. English lyrics
studio albums during the period from 1973 to 1981. These
were added by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody, and the song became Ring Ring. By Melodifestival
albums and the many hits compilations are a library of timeless (the Swedish Eurovision heat), the quartet werent yet ABBA and performed as Bjrn & Benny,
pop songs that transcends fads, fashions, glittery boots, pert Agnetha & Anni-Frid. Agnetha was nine months pregnant and Frida learned Fltskogs parts
bottoms and marriage breakups When all is said and done, along with her own, so they could perform without her if necessary. The judges chose another
what ABBA are really about is the music. Lets jump in! song to go through to Eurovision, with Ring Ring coming third to much outcry in the Swedish
press. It went on to be a Swedish No. 1. ABBA (as they soon became) had arrived.
39
WATERLOO
RECORD LABEL EPIC
38
HONEY HONEY
RECORD LABEL EPIC
37
HASTA MAANA
RECORD LABEL EPIC
36
I DO I DO I DO I DO
I DO
RELEASED 1974 RELEASED 1974 RELEASED 1974 RECORD LABEL EPIC
RELEASED 1975
Instructed by Stig Anderson to write The Waterloo album reveals an ABBA First included on the Waterloo album
a song for 1974s Eurovision, Benny who still hadnt quite worked out and later re-recorded in Spanish for When I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do began
and Bjrn came up with the basic track in what sort of band they were. Half the songs 1980s Gracias Por La Msica album, Hasta climbing the Australian charts in
Ulvaeus holiday cottage on the island of were clichd rockers sung by Bjrn or Benny Maana was a close contender for ABBAs 1975, Countdown, the Top Of The Pops
Viggs. This was then passed on to Stig to and dont sound much like the ABBA 1974 Eurovision entry. The song was more in equivalent, asked RCA Australia whether a
write the lyrics. His original title of Honey Pie everyone knows. Much more in the ABBA line with recent previous winning entries of clip was available. The programme was
was quickly jettisoned in favour of Waterloo, schlager style of the time, Honey Honey was emotional slow-to-mid-tempo ballads in the rewarded with not just the I Do video, but
which means the same in any language. one of the tracks sung by Agnetha and Frida European melodic schlager style that also promos for Mamma Mia, Bang-A-
Eurovisions requirement for songs to be and could have been a Eurovision contender. Eurovision favoured at the time. Lyrics were Boomerang and SOS. The four videos were
performed in each countries native language ATV Music in the UK owned the publishing written by Stig Anderson, who had been on shot in April 1975 by Lasse Hallstrm at the
had recently been lifted, enabling ABBA to and, on learning that ABBA werent going to holiday to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, breakneck speed of two a day on a miniscule
perform Swedens entry in English. Held in release it as a single, put together the Sweet where the phrase Hasta maana! (see you total budget of 50,000 kronor (5,500).
Brighton, Eurovision 1974 was the first time Dreams boy/girl duo to record a cover, which tomorrow) was widely used. Hasta Maana is Australian television had only recently
ABBA went to town visually, with glittery peaked at No. 10 in July 1974. The ABBA sung primarily by Agnetha, and it was crossed over to full-colour broadcasts and
outfits designed by Inger Svenneke. Arranger original was the follow-up to Waterloo in the decided that, bearing in mind the huge Hallstrms cheap and cheerful treatments
Sven-Olof Walldoff joined in by conducting US and made No. 27, beating the Sweet exposure offered by Eurovision, Waterloo received massive exposure, resulting in ABBA
the orchestra decked out as Napoleon. Dreams version, which stalled at No. 68. would be a better vehicle for the quartet. becoming the most popular act in Australia.
80

A B B A T O P 4 0
35
BANG-A-BOOMERANG
RECORD LABEL EPIC
34
MAMMA MIA
RECORD LABEL EPIC
RELEASED 1975 RELEASED 1975
33
This jolly piece of pop was originally The song that named a musical has
recorded as the Swedish entry for come to symbolise the huge ongoing
1975s Eurovision by Swedish duo Svenne & appeal of ABBA. Taken from 1975s ABBA
Lotta, who Benny and Bjrn were producing. album, it was the bands second UK No. 1 and
Svenne & Lotta were unsuccessful, and their established the outfit as a successful pop act FERNANDO
vocals were subsequently taken off the track in their own right. Mamma Mia! the musical
RECORD LABEL EPIC
and replaced by Anni-Frid and Agnetha, with is a standalone story not based on the song,
the reworked number ending up on the 1975 of a girl who invites the three men who might RELEASED 1976
ABBA album. Lasse Hallstrms exuberant be her father to her wedding on a Greek Originally a Frida solo track from her 1975 Frida Ensam (Frida Alone) album that had
video shows Benny, Bjrn, Frida and Agnetha island. It debuted as a stage production on only been released in Scandinavia. Written by Benny, Bjrn and Stig, Fernando had
miming furiously by the sea, as comic book 6 April 1999 and is still running in theatres, been recorded at the same time as ABBAs Dancing Queen sessions. The popularity of Fernando
imagery (including a no doubt unauthorised having played to 50 million theatregoers. in Sweden quickly persuaded the group to turn the track into an ABBA release and it became
appearance by Superman) is cut in whenever Then, in 2008, it was made into a movie. the bands third UK No. 1 in March 1976. The Swedish lyrics had been written by Stig, but Bjrn
Bang! is sung. One of Lasse Hallstrms Benny and Bjrn are credited as executive stepped in for the English language version and turned the song from a standard love ballad
quickies, the Bang-A-Boomerang video producers of the film and re-recorded their into a conversation between two former Mexican revolutionaries sitting outside reminiscing
features his trademark close-ups, with the songs at Metronome Studios in Stockholm, a theme that ABBA reprised for the video, with the quartet sitting around a campfire playing
quartet smiling and laughing. with the cast supplying their own vocals. acoustic guitars.
32
SOS
RECORD LABEL EPIC
31
DANCING QUEEN
RECORD LABEL EPIC
30
The recording sessions for SOS Issued as a taster for the Arrival
started at the end of August 1974 album, Dancing Queen was ABBAs
under the working title of Turn Me On. With third chart topper in a row, hitting No. 1 a
Agnetha on lead vocals, SOS was the third mere two weeks after release, staying there
single taken from the ABBA album. It was the for six weeks and selling 850,000 copies in TIGER
song that returned the quartet to the Top 10 the UK. Released in the US in early 1977, it
RECORD LABEL EPIC
and gave them an appearance on Top Of The was the first ABBA single to top the American
Pops, something that virtually guaranteed a charts. Originally titled Boogaloo, the song
RELEASED 1976
hit. SOS eventually peaked at No. 6 in draws on the dance rhythms of the time, For part of ABBAs short international touring career, Tiger, from the Arrival album, was
October 1975 and remained in the charts for including George McCraes Rock Your Baby the up-tempo get em going song they came on to. In ABBA: The Movie, the quartet
two months. It also took off in the US, and the New Orleans-flavoured drumming on are standing at the side of the stage; Frida does a few vocal warm-up exercises; the extended
making the Top 20. It was now obvious that Dr Johns 1972 album, Dr. Johns Gumbo. To intro starts to play and helicopter sounds that nod to the Arrival cover echo round the stadium.
ABBA were substantially more than a leave listeners in no doubt that this was The four run on, throw off the long glittery cloaks theyre wearing and launch into Tiger. The
Eurovision one-off and, in September 1975, definitely a track to strut your funky stuff to, Lasse Hallstrm promo video draws on the songs lyrical theme of the city at night being a
they undertook their first US promotional Stig came up with the Dancing Queen title dangerous place and shows Agnetha and Frida doing their best to look streetwise in denim and
trip, spending two weeks making TV and the songs original lyrics, which Bjrn bandanas as they drive around a bustling city, while Benny and Bjrn sit passively in the back
appearances and talking to journalists. later modified. looking bored.
81

29
WHY DID IT
HAVE TO BE ME?
28
DUM DUM DIDDLE
RECORD LABEL EPIC
27
MONEY, MONEY,
MONEY
26
THE NAME OF
THE GAME
RECORD LABEL EPIC RELEASED 1976 RECORD LABEL EPIC RECORD LABEL EPIC
RELEASED 1976 RELEASED 1976 RELEASED 1977
Fridas sexy Norwegian accent on
One of the songs that Benny and lines like: Youre only smileen, Probably ABBAs most theatrical Over their nine-year recording
Bjrn brought into Metronome when you play your violeen. Wish I was Dum number, Money, Money, Money career, ABBA proved themselves
Studios in April 1976 for the Arrival album Dum Deedle, Your darling feedle! and the underwent several lyrical concept changes masters of many musical styles. The Name Of
was a piano-and-sax boogie-woogie number sheer bonkers subject matter peg this Arrival before reverting back to the original. On the The Game demonstrates that in addition to
called Why Did It Have To Be Me. Novel pedal track as a classic piece of ABBA kitsch premise that songs about cash were (literally) impassioned ballads and full-on Europop,
steel and crashing waves sound effects were Eurovision done right. Dum Dum Diddle was ten-a-penny, Bjrn ditched his original idea they could also do restraint and subtlety.
then added, and Stig Anderson came up with later dismissed by both Frida (A silly song and title of Money, Money, Money in favour Recording sessions started on 31 May 1977
lyrics about a girl going to Hawaii to forget I dont like it!) and Bjrn (It might as of new lyrics based around a gypsy girl. of a song initially called A Bit Of Myself,
the lover whos jilted her; Frida and Agnetha well have been Dumb Dumb Diddle!). Ultimately deciding this didnt work, the laying down bass and synthesiser refrains.
recorded a joint lead vocal, the song was A drunken Bjrn had written the words Money, Money, Money idea was reinstated. The rest of the song was then developed as a
renamed Happy Hawaii and mixed. As the (so he later admitted) at five oclock in the Benny and Bjrn wanted to write a musical six-part structure, with Frida and Agnetha
Arrival sessions drew to a close, the Fats morning with a recording session looming. and often crafted songs that could work adding solo and harmonised sections. Benny
Domino treatment was revived although The idea of a woman wanting to replace a within a dramatic context. Melodramatically provided exotic synthesiser effects, including
the Happy Hawaii version with Beach violin as the object of her lovers affections sung by Frida, Money, Money, Money wasnt a piccolo-trumpet sound. Stig Anderson
Boy-esque backing vocals also saw release as undeniably ranks as one of ABBAs more released as a single in the US, on the grounds suggested The Name Of The Game as a title,
the B-side of Knowing Me, Knowing You. unusual lyrical concepts. of being more European than American. which Bjrn then built his lyrics around.
25
KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU
RECORD LABEL EPIC
24
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME
RECORD LABEL EPIC
Despite being recorded on 23 March 1976, Knowing Me Knowing You wasnt released From the a cappella vocals at the start of the track onwards, Take A Chance On Me is a
as a single until 16 February 1977, demonstrating how confident ABBA were in the classic pop song, where the singer is asking a prospective beau to throw caution to the
other songs they had ready to go. The number was the first track recorded for the Arrival wind and take a chance. It cuts to the chase immediately, as many of ABBAs songs do,
album and spent five weeks at No. 1 in April 1977. Stig suggested the title, but Bjrn mapped especially after Bjrn began writing the lyrics on his own without Stig.
out the lyrical journey into heartbreak, where a couple realise that: There is nothing we can And while the collaboration between Benny and Bjrn was never entirely cut and dried,
do. This time were through. The simple but effective Lasse Hallstrm promo has the four band since Bjrn wrote most of the lyrics and Benny was the prime musical force, it was probably
members singing while facing each other and then turning away when a new line is sung. The Andersson who came up with one of ABBAs prime signature touches of having an instrument
conclusion, with Agnetha and Frida sadly walking away from Benny and Bjrn in the thick talk back to the vocal as here, when the Its magic line is followed by a piece of magical
Swedish snow, help make the promo one of pops most iconic videos. synthesiser swagger.
82

CO MING
SOON!
OM
AVAIL ABLE FR
P E N D E N T N E WSAGENTS
AND INDE
FROM THE MAKERS OF
LLV ad prelaunch A4.indd 101 01/09/2016 13:58

22
VOULEZ-VOUS
RECORD LABEL EPIC
21
IF IT WASNT FOR
THE NIGHTS
RELEASED 1979 RECORD LABEL EPIC
23
Always evolving musically,
RELEASED 1979
Voulez-Vous, ABBAs sixth album, saw Engineer Michael Tretow was flown
the group experimenting with funk and disco. over from Sweden to Miami to make
Many songs are set to a dance beat and are sure whatever was done at Criteria would be
SUMMER NIGHT CITY longer than usual. In the Bahamas in compatible with the equipment at Polar
February 1979, writing and preparing songs Studios. Working alongside producer Tom
RECORD LABEL EPIC
for the next album, Benny and Bjrn had Dowd were disco band Foxy supplying the
RELEASED 1978 access to all sorts of music not generally backing. In addition to Voulez-Vous, a new
ABBA opened their own state-of-the-art recording studio in Stockholm in May 1978. available in Sweden. Inspired enough by version of If It Wasnt For The Nights was
The first song to be worked on at Polar Studios over an initial backing track recorded at what they heard to write Voulez-Vous and tried but didnt work Benny later recalled:
Metronome Studio was the disco-influenced Summer Night City. Benny, Bjrn and Michael B Kisses Of Fire, the duo flew across to Miami The song has so many peculiar chord
Tretow spent a week trying to get a mix they were satisfied with, without success. Ultimately, a and booked themselves into Criteria Studios, changes in the verse, it made it hard for
mix was chosen that removed the 45-second vocal, string and piano introductory section which where the Bee Gees had made many of their them to get into the groove like they were
gave the track more immediacy (although this was reinstated when ABBA played the song live mid-70s hits. They laid down a basic track used to. Live shows around this time started
on their 1979 world tour). To Tretows ears, the edit was glaringly obvious. Bjrn later for Voulez-Vous which was taken back to with Voulez-Vous and segued straight into If
remarked that the recording was lousy and shouldnt have been released. The public didnt Sweden and completed. It was backed with It Wasnt For The Nights, proving ABBA could
agree and Summer Night City charted at No. 5 in September 1978. Angeleyes, another dance-influenced track. write and perform disco as well as anyone.
19
I HAVE A DREAM
RECORD LABEL EPIC
18
CHIQUITITA
RECORD LABEL EPIC
RELEASED1979 RELEASED 1979
20
In major contrast to the brisk disco Chiquitita is one of the very few
rhythms of most of the rest of the occasions ABBA repeated themselves.
Voulez-Vous album, I Have A Dream is The number borrows heavily from the earlier
probably the most sickly sweet song ABBA Fernando and, as a ballad, sticks out from
GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! ever recorded. Its also the only ABBA track the rest of the Voulez-Vous album. In The
to feature vocalists from outside the band, Arms Of Rosalita, an earlier version of the
(A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT)
when a childrens choir from the International song, had been even slower, with vocals
RECORD LABEL EPIC School Of Stockholm join in for the final shared by Agnetha and Frida. An interim,
RELEASED 1979 chorus. As 1979 was UNICEFs Year Of The lyrically different version of the song called
The follow-up single to Voulez-Vous was originally going to be Rubber Ball Man (also Child, ABBA would bring on stage a childrens Chiquitita Angelina was also recorded but
known as Under My Sun). The song only made it to demo stage and Gimme! Gimme! choir from each city visited on their world discarded. Chiquitita is faster and Fltskog
Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) issued instead. With its disco bass and drums, the song was tour to sing I Have A Dream with the group. dominates the individual sections. With all
more in keeping with the dance tracks that ABBA were making in 1979. Sung by Agnetha, the As the band later admitted, the results were publishing royalties going to UNICEF, the song
slightly risqu lyrics spin the story of a lonely woman desiring romance to lighten up her late variable but the kids choirs sometimes was premiered in 1979 at a benefit in New
nights. An up-tempo, catchy calling card for the bands forthcoming world tour, it was edited also stuck around for Thank You For The York as part of the International Year Of The
down to 3.36 for North America, as its 4.46 duration was too long for daytime radio. Music, confirming ABBA in concert was a Child, with ABBA on the same bill as the Bee
family show rather than a rock gig. Gees, Earth Wind And Fire and Rod Stewart.
84

A B B A T O P 4 0
17
DOES YOUR
MOTHER KNOW
16
SUPER TROUPER
RECORD LABEL EPIC
15
ME AND I
RECORD LABEL EPIC
14
THE PIPER
RECORD LABEL EPIC
RECORD LABEL EPIC RELEASED 1980 RELEASED 1980 RELEASED 1980
RELEASED 1979
Their ninth UK No. 1 and title song of The closing track on Side 1 of the With Agnetha, Frida and Michael
Getting to No. 4 in the UK charts and ABBAs seventh album is self-assured Super Trouper album, Me And I is Tretow in Stockholm working on the
later covered by REM, the release of but accessible pop music. With a lead vocal a prime cut of Europop, with Fridas Spanish album, Benny and Bjrn adjourned
Does Your Mother Know as a single shows a from Anni-Frid, the song tells of the trials and commanding lead vocals riding over a to Barbados to write songs for Super Trouper,
band supremely confident about what they tribulations of being in a band on the road powerful Benny Andersson synth-dominated with the thought of making a part of it a trial
were doing and the guarantee of success for and stage with a Super Trouper being the track. Michael B Tretow, who engineered the run for the musical the duo had been
virtually anything they released. Rather than nickname of the hefty spotlights that ABBA majority of ABBAs output, would often hankering to write. Bjrn had started his
feature a lead vocal by Agnetha or Frida, were lit up by at their stadium gigs. The multitrack the backing vocals, but then vary career in The Hootenanny Singers, a Swedish
probably among the worlds most vocally namecheck for Glasgow was suggested by the tape speed at successive passes to create folk group, and The Piper has folk-styled
recognisable singers, Does Your Mother Know Howard Huntridge of Bocu Music, ABBAs UK a shimmering effect which is present here. medieval-sounding music complete with
has Bjrn (at best an average vocalist) on his publishers. The video and record sleeves Fridas vocals are slightly higher than normal, flutes, jigs and military drumming. Its
only 45RPM lead vocal, singing about having feature circus performers art director Rune with occasional syllables running together, rescued from novelty hell by the vocals of
the hots for a female a lot younger. Take Sderqvist and photographer Lars Larsson indicating that the main vocals have also Frida and Agnetha. Ulvaeuss lyrics refer to
it easy. Thats no way to go, he concludes; initially considered Piccadilly Circus, but this been sped up. Bjrn Ulvaeus lyrics tell the the Pied Piper legend and the fear that in the
Frida and Agnetha join in with classic was soon ruled out and the Europa Film story of an internal battle within a split future, a fascist leader might be able to rise
harmonies for a middle eight lifted from the Studios in Stockholm and a circus were personality quite a progression from again, an idea inspired by Stephen Kings
bands unreleased Dream World song. booked instead. digging the dancing queen. 1978 novel, The Stand.
13
HAPPY NEW YEAR
RECORD LABEL EPIC
12
LAY ALL YOUR LOVE
ON ME
RELEASED 1980 RECORD LABEL EPIC
11
Very squarely set in 1979, as the RELEASED 1981
lyrics tell us: Its the end of a Two tracks from the Super Trouper
decade. In another 10 years time, who can album were given the full-on
say what well find at the end of 89? dancefloor treatment. Rather than put one
The opener of Side 2 of the Super Trouper or both out as singles, it was decided to ON AND ON AND ON
album was written by Benny and Bjrn while package them together and make the record
in Barbados. Theyd met comedian John
RECORD LABEL EPIC
available only in the format of choice of club
Cleese and discussed the possibility of RELEASED 1980/81
and dance DJs the 12-inch single. Both
writing a musical together. Happy New Year On And On And On and Lay All Your Love Benny Anderssons keyboards, sequencers, staccato piano stabs and the poppier end of
was intended to play a significant part in the On Me had been remixed with great success the industrial European electro of Kraftwerk are all in evidence here, even though On
production, which was to be based around and had topped the US dance and club And On And On is one of ABBAs more rocky numbers. The heavy guitars are almost certainly
the characters looking back over the chart. July 1981 saw the two remixes keyboard-generated and an effective contrast to Agnetha and Fridas robotic vocals. Benny and
previous year and speculating about the packaged up together and issued as a Bjrn had been playing around with the duos vocals for years and carried on doing so until the
future. Cleese ultimately backed out and 12-inch-only release. The Exclusive 12 inch end. ABBA were never ashamed of borrowing riffs or musical styles from different sources
Benny and Bjrn put the idea on hold, but Collectors Item single peaked at No. 7 (including themselves!) and On And On And On has Bennys Beach Boys-esque falsetto backing
kept the central song a maudlin ballad with and stayed in the chart for close on vocals. Beach Boy Mike Love must have heard the homage, as he covered the ABBA song on his
a great chorus. two months. Looking Back With Love solo album a year later.
85

09
THE WINNER
TAKES IT ALL
08
THE VISITORS
RECORD LABEL EPIC
RECORD LABEL EPIC RELEASED 1981
10
RELEASED 1980
The title track of ABBAs final studio
Often referred to as one of ABBAs album, where the recording sessions
most personal songs, even though, were later described by Benny as an uphill
as Bjrn later confessed, the lyrics came to struggle. Parts of the album are melancholy
OUR LAST SUMMER him in an hour-long rush of creativity when and downbeat, reflected in the dimly lit front
he was drunk one night. Ulvaeus says that cover, which has the band members barely
RECORD LABEL EPIC
the lyric, which refer to a recently ended love acknowledging each other. By this album,
RELEASED 1980 Bjrn had progressed hugely as a lyricist. The
that is still causing emotional pain, is 90 per
This emotive ballad that has a woman directly addressing a former lover is sung with so cent fiction, adding, poignantly: There were title track tells of being a dissident in the
much feeling by Anni-Frid that the suspicion is its a true story that happened to Frida no winners in our divorce. The video was Soviet Union and the secret meetings
herself. Not the case: the track from the Super Trouper album is Bjrn writing about a holiday filmed 10 days after Bjrn and Agnetha (where) we talked and talked in quiet
romance he enjoyed in France as a teenager and references walking along the Seine, sitting in finalised their divorce, has Benny and Frida voices, smiling and then waited for the
the grass by the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and morning croissants. Its all nicely punctuated, laughing with Bjrn while Agnetha sits ominous ring of the doorbell by the visitors
unusually for ABBA, by a great piece of rock guitar courtesy of Lasse Wallander. In the final glumly, lost in thought about days gone by. the Secret Police? whove come to take
verse, Frida flips it by saying the ex-lover now works in a bank and watches football, but she Because he was filming a movie there, Lasse me. Bennys swirling keyboard introduction
still tells him: Youre the hero of my dreams. Hallstrm shot the video in the small town of and Fridas treated otherworldly vocals are
Marstrand on the west coast of Sweden. classy pop prog.
07
SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS
RECORD LABEL EPIC
06
ONE OF US
RECORD LABEL EPIC
Taken from The Visitors album with Bennys keyboards as lead instrument, Slipping Among Lasse Hallstrms most memorable ABBA promos, the video for One Of Us gives
Through My Fingers is a slow-paced emotional insight into ABBAs private lives. With us a forlorn-looking Agnetha moving into a new flat. Noticeably on her own, she
lyrics by Bjrn and restrained lead vocal from Agnetha, the song is in stark contrast to the carries in boxes of her possessions which she starts to unpack and arrange with several bizarre
heavyweight concept of the albums title track. Slipping Through My Fingers was inspired by modern-art paintings taking pride of place. Hallstrms interpretation of the song could be
Bjrn watching their daughter Linda going away to her first day at school and turning round viewed as the director (and ABBA themselves, who will have had to approve his treatment)
and waving as she did so. Bjrn and Agnetha acknowledge that Linda is growing up and have playing on the recent personal soap opera happening between Ulvaeus and Fltskog and
mixed feelings, but know that they ultimately need to let go. In common with many parents, threatening to overshadow the music. The record-buying public disagreed and One Of Us was a
Bjrn later regretted having missed out on some of the magical childhood years when work Top Three single in the UK and many other countries, has been covered many times and
dominated predominantly ABBA, of course. features in the stage version of Mamma Mia!.
86

A B B A T O P 4 0
05
HEAD OVER HEELS
RECORD LABEL EPIC
04
THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME
RECORD LABEL EPIC
Taken from The Visitors album with a lead vocal by Agnetha, Head Over Heels was The last track (and penultimate original single) that ABBA recorded as a group, with
ABBAs poorest-selling UK single in seven years. The bands run of Top Five singles was Bennys keyboards providing all the instrumentation. Andersson and Ulvaeus usually
over. Musical tastes had changed New Romantic bands like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet came into the studio with finished songs, but on this occasion, Benny only had a small fragment
dominated the charts and the media was always hungry for the Next Big Thing. Head Over which he started playing. Michael Tretow had the foresight to record everything he was doing
Heels (and the video which accompanied it) illustrates the theatrical direction Andersson and and within an hour, Den Lidande Fgeln (The Suffering Bird) had a full melody. The number
Ulvaeus were going in. The song is about a woman who enjoys the material things in life, as was a new direction for ABBA, with no chorus and sequencers replacing Bennys usual majestic
rammed home in the promo which shows a worn-out Bjrn carrying parcels and packages for chords. Bjrn made a list of everyday things that somebody leading an ordinary existence
shopaholic Frida, who then dances round in a series of extravagant outfits while he falls asleep would go about doing before The day before you came. Agnetha was then instructed to sing
on the settee. the lyrics in a disinterested way, to emphasise the routine aspect of the narrators life.
03
UNDER ATTACK
RECORD LABEL EPIC
02
YOU OWE ME ONE
RECORD LABEL EPIC
Under Attack was ABBAs 28th and last original UK single. The group started work on Following the difficult sessions for The Visitors album, Benny and Bjrn returned to
what was initially intended as a new studio album in early August. This was abandoned Polar Studios in May 1982 and eventually recorded several songs for an album to be
in favour of a double album of ABBA hits, called The Singles: The First Ten Years which included issued later in the year that never materialised. One of these was You Owe Me One, which
Under Attack and The Day Before You Came from the autumn sessions. Under Attack showed an ABBA uncertain of their place in contemporary music by returning to their schlager
underachieved, only reaching No. 26 in the UK charts and barely scraping into the Top 100 in roots, which brought huge international success in the mid-1970s. The multilayered song pops
Australia, previously an ABBA stronghold. The video for Under Attack was shot in a warehouse like crazy, with Agnetha and Frida sharing joint (slightly speeded up) lead vocals. You Owe Me
to a backdrop of revolving red lights, dry ice and running up and down staircases. In keeping One may be ABBA-by-numbers, but the groups knack for making ultra-catchy pop records
with the serious tone of the song, the video concludes with Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjrn hadnt deserted them. The number ultimately surfaced as the B-side of Under Attack, and as a
with their backs to the camera walking out of the warehouse and into the daylight. Symbolic? bonus track on the 1997 remastered edition of The Visitors.
87

01
THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC
RECORD LABEL EPIC
RELEASED 1983 FURTHER READING
A feast of facts for ABBA aficionados
Issued as a single in November 1983, a year after Under Attack and when, to all
intents and purposes, ABBA were no more, Thank You For The Music (which could Bright Lights Dark Shadows The Real Story of ABBA
be considered an epitaph for the band) only made No. 33 in the UK. It was originally part Carl Magnus Palm (Omnibus)
of The Girl With The Golden Hair, the mini musical that concluded Side Two of 1977s From ABBA To Mamma Mia! Anders Hansen and Carl Magnus Palm
ABBA: The Album. Bjrn and Benny used the 1977 tour to try it out as a show-closer in (Virgin)
front of their huge live audience. Lasting only 25 minutes, The Girl With The Golden Hair ABBA Gold The Complete Story John Tobler (Century 22)
revolves around a girl leaving her small town in search of fame. The full musical remained ABBAs ABBA Gold (33 1/3) Elisabeth Vincentelli (Continuum)
ABBA Thank You For The Music Robert Scott (Carlton)
unproduced, but Thank You For The Music became a classic track.
88

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CPP04.Abba Erasure.For Print.indd 90 19/10/2016 12:49
AN EP OF ABBA COVER
VERSIONS BY ERASURE
REMINDED THE WORLD OF
THE BANDS GREATNESS,
CEMENTED THE SYNTHPOP
DUOS REPUTATION AND
HELPED REVITALISE THE SWEDES
FORTUNES AHEAD OF GOLD,
MAMMA MIA! ET AL. ERASURES
ANDY BELL TALKS FRANKLY
ABOUT THE ABBA EFFECT
B Y P A U L L E S T E R

I
Erasure had
already covered n June 1992, Erasure released the ABBA-esque the UK, which featured the same four songs in heavily
ABBA songs in EP, comprising four cover versions of Benny reworked form). That said, the rap by Londoner Caron
concert before Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus ABBA classics Lay Geary aka MC Kinky, the first white female reggae/
the release of
their Abba-esque
All Your Love On Me, SOS, Take A Chance On dancehall toaster, was something of a departure
EP in 1992 Me and Voulez-Vous. It became the duos first and, from the original and must surely have caused raised
to date, only No. 1 for a single or EP in the UK: eyebrows chez ABBA. Finally, there was Voulez-
they had previously peaked at No. 2 twice, first Vous (No. 3, 1979), which gave the song a sparkly
with Sometimes in 1986, followed by the Crackers glitterball disco twist.
International Christmas EP in 1988. The ABBA-esque EP was a resounding success,
ABBA-esque spent five weeks at the top of the both artistically and commercially and not just for
charts in Britain and also reached pole position in Erasure: its been argued that the four-song EP helped
Ireland, Austria, Finland and ABBAs homeland of revitalise ABBAs fortunes and give them a healthy
Sweden, where it remained for six weeks. It saw dose of credibility ahead of the wider revival of their
singer Andy Bell and sonic architect Vince Clarke career provided by the 1999 Mamma Mia! musical
delicately negotiating the middle ground between and attendant 2008 movie of the same name.
fidelity towards the originals and imposing a distinctly Yes, ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits a 19-track
Erasure-ish aesthetic. compilation issued in September 1992 would
Lay All Your Love On Me opened with a choir already have been on the release schedules
of multitracked Bells, affording it an out-of-season long before Erasure decided to put out their EP;
Yuletide churchy ambience, before turning into a nevertheless, ABBA-esque can be seen as a trailer or
lightly throbbing dancefloor version of ABBAs Top 10 teaser for that hits collection and a reminder to the
entry from summer 1981 (when it was the biggest- general public of the Swedish pop phenomenons
selling 12-inch record in UK chart history, ahead of melodic sensibility and general musical magic.
New Orders Blue Monday). The intro to SOS (a UK ABBA Gold would eventually become the second-
No. 6 in 1975) featured those familiar piano chords, best-selling album of all time in the UK, one place
only rendered this time on an electric keyboard. behind Queens 1981 Greatest Hits, with nearly 5.2
The remainder of the song was a bubbly, burbling million units shifted.
synthpop take on the Andersson-Ulvaeus version, as It also cemented Erasures reputation as pop colossi
though it had been dipped in techno. themselves. As a measure of the kind of fuss the EP
Take A Chance On Me (UK No. 1, 1978) was the caused in 1992, it led to the release of the Erasure-
most faithful of the tracks on the EP, with a sprightly ish EP by the ABBA tribute band Bjrn Again, which
feel that allowed Bell and Clarke to camp things up featured two Erasure tracks (A Little Respect and
in the accompanying video promos were produced Stop!) performed in the style of ABBA, as a direct
for all four tracks, and issued as a video EP on VHS (a riposte to Erasure. It was a tribute to an homage;
remix EP was also released by Erasures label Mute in postmodern referentiality run rampant.
92

E R A S U R E A B B A - E S Q U E
Classic Pop: How did the ABBA-esque EP happen? Was CP: What did close scrutiny of ABBAs music teach
there a conversation between you and Vince (Clarke) you? That theyre amazing songwriters?
about it? Bell: Yes, they really are. Those songs are little nuggets
Andy Bell: Im not sure if we spoke about it that much. of genius; each is a drama of its own and tells a story
Wed already done a version of Gimme! Gimme! it has a beginning, a middle and an end. And the
Gimme! years before, on the B-side of [1986 harmonies are so tight with the girls. I always thought
single] Oh LAmour and I just loved the band I was the boys didnt give the girls enough credit. I love
a huge fan when I was at school, back when it was listening to Fridas vocals on their own, with no music
uncool to admit you liked them. I thought they were backing they sound great.
really, really underrated.
CP: As with Gillian Gilbert in New Order and the
CP: It was inconvenient of ABBA to emerge at the Human League ladies, the addition of the women to
height of punk! the line-up made the crucial difference
Bell: Yeah. It was because of my pop sensibility that Bell: The Human League girls were a visual element
I was such a fan. I loved Elvis Presley and rockabilly to the band and did give them a very different
and Buddy Holly and country n western music, sound But the ABBA girls the ladies, I should say
which ABBA was always tinged with in the beginning. already had huge careers before they joined ABBA.
Also, I was a bit of a Euro fan, and you didnt get to Agnetha played Mary Magdalene in [the 1972
hear too much European music at the time. It was just Swedish production of the international musical hit]
something Vince and I did for fun. Jesus Christ Superstar. And Frida made a jazz album
before she joined ABBA. They both had beautiful
CP: Wasnt the original intention for the EP to be voices, and they married them together, becoming
an album? almost indistinguishable.
Bell: Yes, but in hindsight, Im really glad it wasnt,
because we honestly did get swamped by the whole CP: Could it have been Bee Gees-esque or anyone
ABBA thing. It almost became a new career Erasure else-esque?
almost got forgotten about as songwriters, because Bell: Never. We could maybe have done Blondie.
we got so well-known for those cover versions. It was With ABBA, I was just glad it was only the four songs
the height of our popularity and it became too much. because it all became a bit burdensome. And also,
That was the point when I said, Please switch it off when youre a huge fan of somebody and have to
and make it go away. take on the mantle of their songs, it takes away some
of their mystery. Id rather keep the mysteriousness
CP: Did you have to convince Vince to do it in the and not dissect it.
first place?
Bell: No. We did have a little tussle over the song
choices, which we always do, anyway. His taste is
completely different to mine. He chose SOS and
Take A Chance On Me and I went for the more
dancey, uptempo ones.
CP: Notably, you didnt do Dancing Queen

Bell: No, no. A few people had done [ABBA cover
versions] before us. Blancmange had done The Day
Before You Came and I know Jimmy Somerville
did a version of Dancing Queen live with The
Communards Anyway, we were on tour and not in
the country and the EP just took off. We were quite
surprised, because ABBA had fallen out of favour a
bit and been forgotten about. They needed that boost
from another familiar band.
CP: Did you study the songs?

Bell: Im not really a music reader, but I am a really
intense listener. I did the same with Siouxsie And
The Banshees and Blondie and The B-52s you just
rehearse along with the songs, and learn them that
way. One of my first boyfriends in school was also a
big ABBA fan and that cemented our relationship.
We were quite surprised

because ABBA had fallen
out of favour a bit and
been forgotten about
A N D Y B E L L
93

I read Agnetha preferred
her own version [of
Voulez-Vous] but she
liked our version, too
A N D Y B E L L
rap. Im not sure whether they had a clue what she

was going on about! If it was another band, they
might not have allowed it.
CP: You alluded to this before, but what was it like

having your first No. 1?
Bell: It was lovely, but we werent in the UK at all so
we werent around to celebrate it. We didnt have
any champagne or anything like that. Im not sure if
we were working or on tour or promoting we didnt
do any TV appearances or anything, which is quite
strange. It all seemed to happen without us.
Its always lovely having a No. 1 album, but
we were a bit humpy about it, because it was with
cover versions after all those singles of ours like Blue
Savannah and Love To Hate You and all those other
records that were No. 2 forever behind Europe, or
Crackers International being No. 2 forever behind
Jason and Kylie. And then you come along with
ABBA and you do it [i.e. reach No 1], and its a bit
kind of like
CP: A mixed blessing?

Bell: Yeah. But I honestly didnt think about it that
much. I do remember it stayed at No. 1 for about five
weeks and I was just thinking, Oh god, how come
its just staying there? I thought it would just go in
Vince Clarke:
an altogether CP: Did the EP bring you into contact with ABBA? and come straight back out again.
better Agnetha Bell: Not at all. Theres a plaque in recognition to
than Andy Bell, Erasure in the ABBA Museum, apparently, but Ive CP: When you finally arrived back in Britain, did you
apparently
never ever met them. Id be a bit beside myself; experience Erasuremania?
a bit like when I met Madonna, maybe even worse. Bell: Not really. I used to live in Hampstead with my
I couldnt even speak! I froze and could feel myself partner Paul and we had our own group of friends
fainting and going, Andy! Its Madonna, its and wed go to the pub. Then it all started getting a
Madonna, its Madonna I had to snap myself bit cliquey after Abba-esque came out. Everybody
out of it. I dont know what Id be like if I met ABBA. started staring when you walked down the street and
Maybe I might cry. I got really paranoid. I was very good at walking
with my head down and dashing through crowds. But
CP: What did (Mute label boss) Daniel Miller make of when your face becomes your calling card, it gets a
the EP? bit naff. Thats why I love how our careers are now.
Bell: He didnt mind it. Because everything worked out The celebrity culture today is so damaging; its awful.
nicely and tied in with the [1992] Phantasmagorical Because of social media, theres too much over-
tour which was the biggest tour wed done. We got exposure. I go on the tube all the time now. I didnt
loads of radio play and it all culminated in a great realise how much I liked [anonymity]. People crave
period for us. It was a gift, really. fame, but its all a bit silly, really.
CP: Where was it recorded? CP: Do you think thats what happened to ABBA? They
Bell: Vince was living in Amsterdam, so we used his started to crave anonymity, hence their decision to call
studio there. It was really good fun. The sessions it quits in 1982?
didnt last very long maybe five days. It was very Bell: Yeah, definitely. Their lives were full on, they
fast. I thought Vinces spin on the music was brilliant: were on every TV show the same as Kate Bush, she
the electro twists on the intro to Voulez-Vous were, was on everything. You just realise the superficiality
I think, some of the punkiest stuff hes ever done. and vanity of it all. Its amazing being a musician,
I remember reading an article saying Agnetha its amazing being creative, writing songs, giving
preferred her own version but she liked our version, pleasure to people, doing shows. Its a great job all
too. She liked our Take A Chance On Me that round. But I can really see why people like Debbie
was really tricky, doing the vocals on that. Its funny, Harry start to refer to themselves in the third person,
because we had to get permission for the MC Kinky because its not you! Thats why I think it was so wise
94

E R A S U R E A B B A - E S Q U E
of ABBA to stop right at the peak of their career. It Bell: Yup, very nice. Very camp. I think even to
was very courageous and probably one of the best this day, for some people, it made us a bit too
things they could have done. camp [laughs]!
CP: Do you think they should they take the CP: How much coaxing did Vince need to go female
billion-pound offers and reform? and wear the glam outfit?
Bell: [Categorically] No. I think they should retain the Bell: None at all! He totally wanted to be a blond.
mystique. They dont need the money. Wed done DJ tours in the US already in drag, in
these clubs, so it wasnt anything new.
CP: To what extent did Erasure bring about the revival
of ABBAs fortunes? CP: Did you argue about who would be Agnetha and
Bell: I think quite a lot, actually. We kind of propelled who would be Frida?
them back into the club limelight with the dance Bell: A little bit, but in the end, I think Vince looked
tracks. And I dont think there had been a video EP much better as the blond. I kind of see Vince as the
before and the songs got exposure like that in video boss although he calls me the boss now but I think
bars in America and places like that. Not that we he made a much better Agnetha. So we made the
gave them credence or anything, but it really was a right choice.
reminder to people of how brilliant that band was.
Theyre definitely one of the all-time Top 10 bands in CP: So all in all, youd say that ABBA-esque brings
terms of influence. back happy memories?
Bell: Really, really nice. Brilliant. So good. I do hope to
CP: Up there in the 70s pantheon with Bowie, Blondie meet them one day, I really do.
and the Sex Pistols?
Bell: Yeah, definitely. ABBA-ESQUE
Erasure (1992)
CP: What was it like doing the ABBA-esque videos? Erasures four-track EP of ABBA covers was
Bell: I loved doing them, although that was probably released on Mute in the UK, where it was No. 1
one of the first times that Vince started opting out for five weeks and Elektra Records in the US,
he was in two of them, not in the other two. where the EP reached 85 on the Billboard 200.
A1 Lay All Your Love On Me
CP: The one for Take A Chance On Me, where you A2 SOS
dress up as the ABBA girls (with thanks to Dean B1 Take A Chance On Me
Bright, the body double, for the from-behind shots), B2 Voulez-Vous
was great.
95

AB BA
RELO AD ED
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CPP04.Abba COVERS.For Print.indd 96 20/10/2016 12:08

R E D BY A
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F O R M ERS,
S I C H AS B C H O F PER R T I S H EAD
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ABBAS LY DI V E R S E
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REMA E , B E L L E AN O I N U S AS
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TO GE R E TRO V
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97

They didnt say yes straight away. ABBA gave their
consent because, as Benny explained, Hung Up was
a wonderful track 100 per cent solid pop music.
If it wasnt any good, we would not have said yes.
Bennys characterisation of Hung Up could just
as easily be applied to ABBAs entire oeuvre a
masterclass in the art of the perfectly formed three-
minute (or thereabouts) wonder, a sonic and lyrical
synthesis of sensibility and savvy. The songs have
such strong tunes at their core, that you can make
almost any kind of interpretation and the tune will
still be there to support the arrangement, says ABBA
biographer and historian-in-chief, Carl Magnus
Palm, who publishes ABBA: The Complete Recording
Sessions in March 2017.
Also, you could argue that a song like Eagle, for
instance, is a heavy metal song at heart, so maybe
the original versions of some ABBA songs are really
other types of songs in disguise, which would lend
themselves to cover versions by artists from all kinds
Madonna
of genres.
included a
sample of One of the first acts to cover ABBA were
Gimme! Gimme! Blancmange, taking The Day Before You Came to
Gimme! in her No. 22 in the UK charts in 1984. Frontman Neil
hit Hung Up
Arthur heard the track two years previously, while on
a working holiday with bandmate Stephen Luscombe
P
hil Collins was impressed by the craft that and several other musicians, including Vince Clarke.
went into the composition. Bono lauded the I bought one of those Walkman things, and the first
pure joy in the music. And Elvis Costello cassette I bought to go in it was ABBAs The Singles:
heard the melancholy in ABBAs songs The First Ten Years. Me and Stephen fell in love with
all the flourishes, like big double octaves on the The Day Before You Came. Id been brought up on
piano admitting that he and his former band, ABBA my mum used to do the cleaning to it. We
The Attractions, stole from them like crazy. both liked the idea of me a big, lanky northerner
ABBAs body of work has proven irresistible to singing these lyrics, says Arthur. It was a genuine
myriad artists, across all formats. Cover versions love for ABBA. The record company were a bit
can be found by everyone, from one-time teen idols surprised when we said we wanted to do it, because
S Club 7 to guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, I think at that time nobody had done an ABBA cover.
and easy-listening piano man Richard Clayderman It wasnt that successful compared to some of their
to jazz trio The Bad Plus. Dame Vera Lynn has other things it was one of their lesser known songs.
recorded Thank You For The Music, and the original It really appealed to us.
Bananarama line-up reformed briefly in 1998, to belt If you think thats Agnetha in the accompanying
out Waterloo on the Channel 4 Eurovision parody, video to Blancmanges single, then youd be right
A Song For Eurotrash. Meanwhile, samples have footage of her from the original ABBA promo was
been used by heavy hitters like The Fugees The spliced in.
Name Of The Game on Rumble In The Jungle and We sent a copy off to ABBA, via our record
even Madonna, whose Hung Up includes a snatch of company. They wrote back to us, saying how much
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!. they liked the song. To get a letter from them was just
I had to send my emissary to Stockholm with a brilliant. Their record company then got in touch and
letter begging them and telling them how much I love said, ABBA really liked the cover. If you can think
their music, said Madonna at the time. They never of any way we can help, let us know. So we were
let anyone sample their music. Thank God they didnt making the video with Clive Richardson, and ABBAs
say no. They had to think about it, Benny and Bjrn. record company said that we could use their video.
TOP 05
98
ABBA COVERS 01 HUNG UP
MADONNA (2005) 02 DANCING QUEEN
U2 (1992)

So they gave us rights to use clips from the video. He had a meeting with Benny to discuss his idea
Its quite a strange thing, I suppose, but thats why before committing to it. Benny laughed. ABBA were
you get me appearing to look at Agnetha! never funky, he said. I know thats why I want to
For Arthur, the popularity of ABBA material among make this album! I replied. Crazy enough, he said,
the diversity of artistic generations that have followed just go for it. He gave me the freedom to change
since their dissolution, is down to the Swedish Fab what I wanted, as long as I didnt use any sampling
Fours understanding of the craft (that word again). from the records.
Look at any of their songs, theyre beautifully Benny actually appears on the album, playing
crafted. Stephen and I had absolutely genuine piano on When All Is Said And Done, a duet with
appreciation for ABBA. We genuinely liked them Swedish chanteuse Viktoria Tolstoy. It was a magical
when a lot of people didnt. They werent particularly moment in the studio, just the two of them in the room,
popular in that early-80s period. Amazing success with everybody else in the control room listening in
rate, incredible writing. And they were fantastic with total silence.
electronics. Incredible stuff. The reaction from Benny and Bjrn was
Portishead explored this electronic adeptness on a overwhelmingly positive. Indeed, Landgren was
chilling rendition of SOS earlier this year. The Bristol invited to a celebration of the 50th anniversary
outfit released it as a tribute to Jo Cox, the Batley of the pairs collaborative relationship earlier this
and Spen MP killed in June. The video features singer year, and will perform Funky ABBA at the ABBA
Beth Gibbons, shot alone in monochrome, reaching Museum in Stockholm next year. Musicians have,
towards the camera before a quote from Coxs for many years, looked down on ABBA for being too
maiden parliament speech We have far more in commercial, too slick just too much. Its not true,
common than which divides us appears on screen. though. ABBAs music is a true musical treasure.
Portisheads revision of the original SOS could
certainly be described as radical when contrasted Kylie covered
with most other interpretations of ABBA, which Dancing Queen
on her 1998 tour
seem to favour a reverential approach. Perhaps that and at the Sydney
explains why Westlifes number one single, I Have Olympics in 2000
A Dream, Cliff Richards Lay All Your Love On Me,
Kylie Minogues Dancing Queen, anything by A-Teens
(their 1999 album, The ABBA Generation, spawned
four hits) and even Sinead OConnors Chiquitita tip
into blandness. Less radical than Portishead, but still
interesting, are Madness Money, Money, Money,
Mike Oldfields Arrival, Richard Thompsons folkie
Money, Money, Money and Belle And Sebastians
Dancing Queen (a track also performed live by the
Sex Pistols and U2). Stuart Murdoch of Belle And
Sebastian is such a big fan, he declared in 2014 that
he wanted to be a member of ABBA.
ABBA always amazes me. I can hear every
instrument, and I can almost see it in three dimensions
and feel the way theyve done it. But at the same time,
you just shut your eyes and its an amazing sound,
he said.
And then there are the plain curious, such as
German metalheads Avantasia and Metaliums
respective assaults on Lay Your Love On Me and
Thank You For The Music, and trombonist Nils
Landgrens album, Funky ABBA. Landgren, who
featured on ABBAs Voulez-Vous, found it a
challenge, but fun, too, to transform the songs from
the originals to the funk genre.
03 SOS
PORTISHEAD (2015) 04 DANCING QUEEN
KYLIE (1998) 05 THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME
BLANCMANGE (1984)
99

WITH ABBAS LAST TOUR FINISHING
UP IN 1980, ITS BEEN LEFT TO A
CORNUCOPIA OF TRIBUTE BANDS
TO KEEP THEIR POP TORCH
BURNING BRIGHTLY. WE TAKE A
CHANCE ON SOME OF THE
GROUPS BEST DOPPELGNGERS
CURRENTLY ON THE CIRCUIT
D A V I D B U R K E
THE WINNER FAKES I

100
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S IT ALL
101

This page:
Australias
Bjrn Again
playing live
Facing page, top,

and previous page:
Revival, voted
top ABBA
tribute act by
the Agents
Association Of
Great Britain,
since 2013
Facing page, bottom:

The Original
Band, left to
right Lasse
Wellander
(guitar), Roger
Palm (drums/
percussion),
Mikael Areklev
(guitar), Mike
Watson (bass),
ke Sundqvist
(drums/
percussion),
Johan Stengrd
(sax) and
Owe Sandstrm
(ABBAs original
designer
I
blame Matthew Kelly, myself. Stars In Their Eyes Reilly of Revival, voted top ABBA tribute act by the
spawned a nation of doppelgngers, ordinary Agents Association Of Great Britain each year
folk transformed with the aid of cosmetics and since 2013.
costumes into their idols. Of course, the ability to Part of the genius of their music is the fact that
sound vaguely like the person you were imitating was you can play around with the structure and give it
a prerequisite of the television series a criterion not your own stamp. The key elements of the song are
always deemed so important by many of those who still present, but we can increase or lower the tempo,
make a reasonable living on the tribute act circuit. make the guitars heavier and generally give the
And it is a lucrative circuit, especially at a time sound a more raw live feel. ABBA also did this in their
when were having to be more prudent with our live performances.
pennies. Affording ticket prices to see Lady Gaga, The Original Band, out of Sweden, comprises
Madonna or Coldplay in concert is a pricey business, musicians who have recorded and performed with
so the cut-price impersonator is often the next best ABBA, among them Mike Watson, ke Sundkvist,
thing. Mind you, be prepared for a considerable Johan Stengrd, Per Lindvall, Mikael Areklev,
suspension of belief in the presence of Maybe Gaga, Roger Palm and Lasse Wellander (the late Rutger
Madonna By Knight and, ahem, Coldplace. Gunnarsson passed away last year), as well as
The same suspension of belief isnt wholly necessary ABBAs original designer, Owe Sandstrm. According
when it comes to the veritable small industry of ABBA to Stengrd, he and his colleagues created their own
tribute acts. Lets face it, many of them bear as much playing on the recordings, the bass and guitar lines,
resemblance to Benny, Bjrn, Agnetha and Frida as the drum grooves. You know, there was never any
this writer does to Beyonc. But thats part of the gig. written music in the studio.
The sillier they look, the better, really. Nor does their This association with ABBA is what Stengrd
vocal homage have to be note-perfect a decent believes gives The Original Band an edge over the
karaoke ABBA usually suffices. You see, when it competition. It is one thing to play an ABBA song. Its
comes to the Swedish Fab Fours mimics, its all about a completely different thing to present an ABBA song
the songs, whether or not Agnetha is played by a as close to the recorded hit as possible, he says.
former nun who has swapped her tweed twinset for The ABBA-recorded songs have so many details
figure-hugging gold spandex. And the same songs and variations in the arrangements, mixes and sound.
are performed with as much (if not more) gusto by the We have really looked back at how we played the
audience replete with dance moves as they are by songs and analysed them from all angles.
the performers. The smoking horn riff on ABBAs 1979 hit single,
Mind you, the musicianship required to nail Voulez-Vous, was the brainchild of Stengrd, along
these songs live is in the upper reaches. They may with trombonist Nils Landgren and saxophonist
sound simple, but theyre not simply constructed. As Haldor Palsen.
composers, Benny and Bjrn had lofty aspirations. In those days, we played every single note, no
There is a surprising amount of freedom to improvise track copying, no autotune what we played is on
within the framework of ABBA songs, says John that record. When we finished recording the riff with
102

A B B A T R I B U T E S
overdubs, Bjrn mentioned that he thought something

was missing in the introduction. That day, I brought
my new soprano sax with me to the studio, thinking,
You never know, it might come in handy. So I picked
it up, played a little line reminding me of an old jazz
standard called Nature Boy, that fitted perfectly into
the composition. Thats what we want! was Bjrn
and Bennys reaction. So I recorded that seven-note
mini-melody twice in a couple of minutes.
The Original Band are also the sole ABBA
tribute act with the rights to use the ABBA brand.
It is very important to respect copyright laws.
We have continuous communications concerned
with what we are allowed to do, making sure the
advertising is correct, having all permissions in order
concerning using copies of ABBA costumes on stage,
merchandise prints, as well as the only band in the
world to have the permission to show photos of ABBA
when we are performing.
And adding even more credibility to their
particularly unique tribute is the involvement of
designer Sandstrm, the man responsible for every
ABBA stage outfit after their 1974 Eurovision Song
Contest triumph. Owe is actually a member of the
band, even though he doesnt play an instrument.
He is also a very important part of our show, as he It is one thing to play an ABBA song. Its a completely
appears on stage presenting some of the original different thing to present an ABBA song as close to the
costumes and telling the true story about them. We
are actually the only performing band in the world to recorded hit as possible J O H A N S T E N G R D ,
have original copies of the ABBA costumes, as well T H E O R I G I N A L B A N D

as costumes designed by Owe Sandstrm to underline
the typical ABBA look.
Its impossible to put a figure on the number of pop. After enduring the following decade of mostly
ABBA tribute acts. There are so many. You might be dire 80s New Romantic twaddle, while attempting to
harbouring one now in your spare room. Listen out succeed in a number of original and covers bands,
for the hurdy gurdy dialect of the Swedish chef from I studied closer the form of New Zealand band Split
Sesame Street strangling The Winner Takes It All. Enz and wondered how I could do something that
But one of the first and arguably the best known was as much fun and as entertaining. I knew my
are Bjrn Again, formed by Melbourne native own music wouldnt cut it, so I decided to focus on
Rod Stephen in 1988. As a teenager who was something that had been popular in the past, but to
more interested in English progressive-rock music, rework it and give it a new twist.
I witnessed the birth and death of 70s music and The year was 1988. ABBAs music and fashion
fashion, he recalls. of the 70s was all-but-forgotten. Nobody wore those
I was not really a fan of any of it, especially clothes anymore. Nobody listened to 70s music, much
ABBA, as it appeared to me to be throwaway girlie less ABBA. So to put things on its head, I believed a
103

This page Malin
Kernby and
Linda Frithiof,
alias Frida and
Agnetha of The
Original Band
Facing page Revival

recreating the
famous shot
from ABBAs
Greatest Hits
show based on ABBA, with theatrics like Split Enz, Yet he doesnt regard Bjrn Again as a tribute
the music rocked up and a healthy dose of satire act, claiming the content of the show is actually
and comedy, including observations about ABBAs quite different to the approach of ABBA tribute
relationship issues played out on stage, would at the bands we see today. However, different it may
very least be great fun to do. I had no idea it would be, the content of the show does include glamming
be that well received by audiences. up which Stephen acknowledges is integral to
After eight months of rehearsing, programming, the concept. When Bjrn Again started, the very
arranging and choreographing, and despite the notion of wearing platform shoes, flares and the
show not being as good as it should be, Bjrn Again various outrageous glam costumes ABBA had when
launched at a small Melbourne pub in May, 1989. everybody else was wearing 1980s smart Italian,
The advertising chalkboard out the front said Bjrn New Romantic style, was in itself a part of the whole
Again: ABBA Revival Show. That was all that was parody package.
needed to sell the 300 tickets. The response from The look of Bjrn Again wearing what was then
the small audience was astounding. There was a a very outmoded and dated style stood off the page
great write-up in the music press. Bjrn Again was and so worked in our favour. It wasnt so much an
offering up something unique and different, and most appropriation of ABBAs look in order to directly copy
of all, fun. By the end of 1989, Bjrn Again were on them, rather a way of saying, What right-minded
national television and selling out five shows a week person would actually wear these clothes and get
consistently around Melbourne. away with it? I guess the impact wouldnt have been
The buzz about Bjrn Again made it to Europe, the same were the ABBA costumes not used.
where there was interest from promoters in Sweden, Revival are meticulous in their attention to every
Ireland and the UK. 28 years and more than 150 ABBA detail, which explains why the Agents
members later, arguably, they remain the best known Association Of Great Britain have honoured them
and possibly best loved of ABBA disciples. In 1992, for the past four years, with an accolade judged on
at the request of Nirvana, they appeared at the production, marketing and proximity in both sound
Reading Festival. and look to ABBA. There were over 100 ABBA
The biggest thrills, though, were a 1990 tribute acts in the UK when we started, but still we
meeting with Benny and Bjrn in Stockholm and knew there was definitely a space for a high-quality
subsequently being asked to promote ABBAs Gold ABBA experience with a well-rehearsed performance,
album for them on Swedish TV and entertaining excellent stage show, authentic props and, above all,
Agnetha at a private party in 2007. All four a passion for the music, says John Reilly.
members (of ABBA), as well as the fifth, former Most of our members have performed in other
manager Stig Anderson, have all offered various bands and tribute acts, and knew what it would take
comments about Bjrn Again. I guess, most to be better than a lot of the rest. Its kind of a distilled
significantly, Bjrn stated, An ABBA revival was group of very talented individuals who came together
inevitable, but Bjrn Again certainly initiated it, with a single purpose to put their experience and
Stephen proudly declares. talent on the line and be the best they could be.
104

A B B A T R I B U T E S
Revival have been careful not to fall into the tried to keep it this way, says multi-instrumentalist
parody category, of which there are several Steven Galert. I have always felt it would be too
examples in ABBA world. They focus on the kitsch easy to fall into some kind of comical tribute style by
fashions of the 70s, and the outdated attitudes of the wearing wigs. Our costumes are all custom-made to
time. This sometimes can be quite negative, and there be as close as possible, but you will never see wigs or
is a real risk that you become classed as a comedy hear fake accents.
band. We are more interested in the incredible output Its remarkable to think that some four decades
of ABBA and their timeless catalogue of hits. If you after disappearing from a scene they had dominated
watch any of ABBAs original concert footage, youll for the previous 10 years, ABBA continue to beguile
quickly realise just how cool they were live, from a us, faithful fans and recent converts alike. They
cutting-edge light and sound show to costume design straddle the generations with consummate ease. Their
which was way ahead of its time during the late
70s. We want to emulate that, to celebrate ABBA the
band, not parody it. We have also studied hours and hours of live
We all have elements of the original bands performances to really get the look and feel right,
personalities and add that to the performance,
although to over-mimic could be seen again as from the girls dance moves to the boys movements
parody. We make it clear that we are a genuinely and mannerisms J O H N R E I L L Y , R E V I V A L
talented and hard-working band playing amazing
music from one of the best bands of all time. If we
can bring a fraction of the energy to our performance peerless pop legacy is assured forever, however
that ABBA did, were happy. We have also studied long forever may be. And having relinquished the
hours and hours of live performances to really get the spotlight themselves, they have, in a sense, entrusted
look and feel right, from the girls dance moves to the that legacy to the tribute acts impelled by a gratitude
boys movements and mannerisms. for the music, meeting an international demand not
Revival even went so far as to source the correct about to let up any time soon. Both John Reilly and
props, instruments costumes and hairstyles even the Rod Stephen use the word timeless to describe the
exact shape of Bennys beard! transcendent appeal of the songs. Stephen believes
Sometimes, that has meant heavy investment in that the music and lyrics are still relevant in the same
bespoke items, custom-made to mirror the originals way that The Beatles and Queen music is.
as closely as possible. Its this attention to detail that Johan Stengard puts it most profoundly. The
helps us assimilate the band and give as much as we music of ABBA may be the most popular music in the
do on stage. world. ABBA was, and still is, a wonderful concept
ABBAMANIA, who have been touring the world of music and performance that so many want to
for 16 years, get as close as they can to the sound experience live. The hits reach people 180 degrees.
of ABBA, but are somewhat circumspect when it One day performing in Salt Lake City for Mormons,
comes to the look. Luckily, the girls happen to have the next day performing in Miami at a rainbow
a similar look (to Agnetha and Frida), and we have festival. This is unique.
Getting the band back together

It was saxophonist Johan Stengrd who came
up with the idea to create an ABBA tribute act
pooled from the various musicians who had
backed Swedens Fab Four. So who are The
Original Bands members? Lasse Wellander
recorded most of the guitars and also made all
of the ABBA tours. Coming in second must be
Mike Watson, who you can hear on all of the
albums except Waterloo but there is Mike on
the cover, acting like Napoleon!
Roger Palm drums on many of the early
hits, such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia
and Fernando, Johan tells us. ke Sundkvist
recorded and toured with ABBA, and Mikael
Areklev was in ABBAs studio band. Number
one should be my very good friend who,
unfortunately, is no longer with us, Rutger
Gunnarsson. He was the very best.
Gunnarsson an arranger and producer as
well as a musician died in 2015. He began
his career with Bjrn Ulvaeus in The Hootenanny
Singers. After ABBA, he collaborated with
Celine Dion, Westlife, Elton John and Adam
Ant. Meanwhile, Stengrd has worked with Phil
Collins, Michael Bolton and Sammy Davis Jr.
Bolton described him as one of the best sax
players that walks the face of the world.
105

S O L O C A R E E R S
Getty Images
Bjrn and Benny international release from BAO, now renamed The sampled Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After
attend the
Mamma Mia!
Benny Andersson Band. Benny and Bjrn wrote a Midnight) and on The Fugees 1995 single Rumble In
Gala Celebration song in 2008 for Swedish singer Sissela Kyle, another The Jungle, which sampled The Name Of The Game.
Evening to for actor/singer Anders Ekborg, and even found time Not that ABBA are overly generous when it comes
celebrate the to dash one off for Barbara Dickson, entitled The Day to samples of their work. Indeed, Madonna had to
shows 10th
birthday at the The Wall Came Tumbling Down, although it has yet to ask very politely to get Benny and Bjrns consent.
Prince of Wales see the light of day. Madonna wrote a very, very nice letter saying,
Theatre in As for Ulvaeus, he may not have appeared onstage Please, please, we have had a wonderful idea which
April 2009
in a musical capacity since ABBA split up, but that involves Gimme Gimme, revealed Ulvaeus. We
dosesnt mean he disappeared altogether: he did said we would have to listen to it first. But after half a
reunite with members of The Hootenanny Singers minute I knew it was brilliant. That is one of the few
in July 2005 at a music festival in his hometown of we have allowed. Five years earlier we said yes to
Vstervik, where he sang their 1966 hit Marianne. the Fugees. But to everyone else we said no. I think
He also contributed lyrics to a cover version of ABBAs the Madonna record shows that ABBA is part of the
1976 instrumental Arrival by Sarah Brightman for her DNA set-up of pop.
2008 album Winter Symphony. The third contributor to the ongoing popularity and
Ulvaeus rationale for abstaining from live omnipresence of ABBA has been the Mamma Mia!
performing is simple: hed rather let the music be the effect. Andersson and Ulvaeus were highly involved
groups public face. He also believes the quality of in the worldwide productions of the Mamma Mia!
ABBAs output was in direct proportion to the scarcity musical, as well as the production of the film version
of their live shows. of the musical, which opened in July 2008, featured
We toured very little, he admitted in 2008. more than 20 of their hits and starred Meryl Streep,
Almost nothing. That is why the songs are still out Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters and Colin Firth.
there. They are carefully crafted. It was the very best Andersson produced the soundtrack, using many
we could achieve. of the musicians ABBA employed themselves on
We thought touring was a waste of time, he their albums and tours. He even made a cameo
furthered. It was much more productive and much appearance in the movie as a fisherman-pianist in the
more creative to write and record. I am glad today Dancing Queen scene. Ulvaeus, too, made a brief
that we didnt tour. We knew it begins and ends with appearance, as a Greek god playing a lyre during
a song. Back then the entire business revolved around the closing credits.
the song. They were originally reluctant to give the green
Even if the pair hadnt written another note since light to the musical. When we were first approached
1982, Benny and Bjrn, or at least their music, would about the idea for a show we said, I dont think so,
have been ubiquitous in the decades since. There are Andersson told The Daily Telegraph in 2008. We
three reasons for this. Most obviously, because it gets were very protective at the time of the work we had
played regular on radio all over the world. Secondly, done. We were proud of it.
it has featured in other artists songs, via samples, You dont just give songs away to anyone to do
most notably on Madonnas 2005 hit Hung Up, which with what they want, he added. It could have been
108
CPP04.Abba Solo Careers.For Print.indd 108 20/10/2016 11:50

Benny and
Bjrn at a press
conference for
their musical Chess
in Rotterdam,
Netherlands,
October 1984
Getty Images
109

Getty Images
Anni-Frid sings at a disaster. But we did have the power of veto which On. A rocky affair produced by Phil Collins, it was
the Sunday Night
Classics TV show
meant we could have stopped it anytime. a substantial worldwide success, selling 1.5 million
in Germany, 2004 Fortunately, they were delighted with the finished copies and spawning I Know Theres Something
results. The first preview was absolutely wonderful, Going On, a chart-topping single in Switzerland,
said Andersson. I remember in Knowing Me, Belgium, Costa Rica and France, where it stayed at
Knowing You they took out the ah ah bits. But the No. 1 for five weeks.
audience wasnt having it and just put them back in. She was subsequently voted Best Female Artist Of
They just filled in the gaps. The Year 1982 by the readers of Swedens biggest
In 2008, Ulvaeus and Andersson won the highly evening newspaper. Her next album, Shine (1984),
coveted Special International Ivor Novello Award saw Lyngstad recording with Peter Gabriel/U2/
from the British Academy Of Songwriters, Composers Simple Minds producer Steve Lillywhite and was more
And Authors as well as The Music Export Prize from experimental than its predecessor. It featured Slowly,
the Swedish Ministry Of Industry And Trade and the the last known Andersson-Ulvaeus composition to
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Swedish Music have been recorded by either of the erstwhile ABBA
Publishers Association (SMFF). vocalists. There were further solo recordings and
ABBA may have been, in rock-critical circles at collaborations throughout the 80s while in the 90s,
least, something of a joke when they first emerged in she became involved in extracurricular projects
the 70s, but nobody is laughing now. Today, Benny such as the Swedish environmental organisation Det
and Bjrn can take their place in the pantheon of Naturliga Steget (The Natural Step) and Artister Fr
all-time greats as established titans of collaborative Milj (Artists For The Environment).
sophisticated songcraft, alongside Lennon--McCartney In 1996, she recorded a Swedish language album
and The Rolling Stones Jagger/Richards. Djupa Andetag (Deep Breaths), her first LP since
We have influenced other writers obviously, said Shine. It reached pole position in Sweden. She
Ulvaeus. With such a string of hits, you are bound to recorded a duet in 2002 with opera singer Filippa
influence other people. Giordano and performed a song with Deep Purple
keyboardist Jon Lord. In 2004, she appeared in a
ANNI-FRID
comedy video alongside the other former members of
ABBA in the interval of the semi-final of the Eurovision
LYNGSTAD
Song Contest, their first joint venture since 1982.
In 2005, Universal Records issued a box-set of
ABBA were still officially operating when Frida her solo albums and included a DVD documentary
released her first post-Abba solo album, and debut in which she discussed her entire music career. She
solo album in English, 1982s Somethings Going returned to the recording studio in 2010 to record
110

S O L O C A R E E R S
vocals for the Cat Stevens song Morning Has Broken, My Colouring Book, a collection of covers of classic
for Swedish guitarist Georg Wadenius album tunes such as Fly Me To The Moon and Sealed With
Reconnections, which reached No. 17 in the A Kiss, was released in 2004, topping the chart in
Swedish charts. Sweden and earning rave reviews for her still-stunning
She appeared in a BBC Radio 4 play in 2011, voice. And despite refusing to do any publicity for
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room, about love the record, it still managed to sell around 500,000
and death. Following the death of Jon Lord a friend copies worldwide and became the 10th best-selling
as well as musical collaborator in 2012, Frida album of 2004 in Sweden. She did, however, give
has matched Agnetha for enigmatic reclusiveness, an extensive interview, her first for years, for Swedish
although in 2013 she helped organise the opening TV. Three years later, she appeared at the final
of the ABBA Museum in Stockholm and in 2015 performance of Mamma Mia! in Stockholm, and at
released the single 1865, about the Matterhorn in the after-show party with ex-husband Bjrn Ulvaeus. In
Switzerland, with Dan Daniell. 2008, Fltskog joined her three former ABBA-mates
at the Swedish premiere of the film version of Mamma
AGNETHA
Mia!; she even danced, alongside Lyngstad and
the films star Meryl Streep, in front of thousands of
FLTSKOG
fans, before joining the films other stars and Messrs
Andersson and Ulvaeus for the first photograph of all
Back in 1980, Fltskog recorded Nu Tndas Tusen four ABBA members together in 22 years.
Juleljus (Now A Thousand Christmas Candles Are Lit), In May 2013, she released a new album, A, which
a Swedish Christmas album along with her seven- managed Top 3 placings in many countries, including
year-old daughter Linda it went on to become of the No. 6 in the UK (her highest ever placing in that
nations biggest-selling Yuletide albums ever. territory), and whose sales have since exceeded one
Following the cessation of ABBA activity at the end million. The single If I Thought Youd Ever Change
of 1982, Agnetha snapped into action as quickly as Your Mind (a cover of the Cilla Black song from the
her male counterparts. She sang a duet with Swedish 60s) became Fltskogs biggest solo hit in the UK,
singer (and former ABBA backing vocalist) Tomas reaching No. 11.
Ledin on Never Again, which became a Top 5 hit That November, she sang live onstage for the first
around the world, and acted in the Swedish movie time in 25 years at the BBC Children In Need Rocks
Raskenstam. She also released her first post-ABBA 2013 concert in London, performing a duet with Take
solo album (and seventh overall), Wrap Your Arms Thats Gary Barlow, the organiser of the event. In
Around Me, in 1983. Produced by Mike Chapman, April 2016, a new biography Agnetha Fltskog:
half of 70s glam production team Chinn-Chapman The Girl With The Golden Hair was published in the Agnetha makes a
public appearance
with partner Nicky Chinn, and producer of Blondies UK. Clearly, the publics fascination with the blonde at Londons G-A-Y
Parallel Lines, it fared well across Europe (notably chanteuse continues unabated. club in May 2013
Denmark, where it became the biggest-selling album
of the year), sold over one million copies, and even
featured a single, Cant Shake Loose, which charted
high in the States. The follow-up, 1985s Eyes of a
Woman, was produced by Eric Stewart singer-
guitarist with, and producer of, 70s pop brainiacs
10cc and featured writing contributions from
Stewart, ELOs Jeff Lynne and Justin Hayward of The
Moody Blues. Again, it sold well in Europe but only
managed a week in the UK charts.
In 1986, she recorded another duet, The Way
You Are, with Swedish singer Ola Hkansson, which
became another No. 1 hit in Sweden and Norway.
The following year there was an album recorded
with her son Christian, aimed at children and sung
in Swedish. In 1987, she recorded her third English
language solo album, and 10th overall. Titled I Stand
Alone, it was produced by Peter Cetera (formerly
of the band Chicago) and Bruce Gaitsch, who had
collaborated on Madonnas La Isla Bonita. It was
a minor hit in Europe, except in Sweden where it
spent eight weeks at No. 1 and became the best-
selling album of 1988. Nevertheless, its poor sales
elsewhere perhaps contributed to her decision not
to record another solo album for 17 years, until
My Colouring Book. Agnetha withdrew from view,
becoming something of a pop Garbo, a beautiful
enigmatic recluse.
There was a strange extracurricular occurrence in
the quiet intervening years when she entered into a
relationship with a man who, after they broke up,
Getty Images
proceeded to stalk her, resulting in a court issuing

him with a restraining order. She published her
autobiography in 1996.
111

Untitled-2 112 20/10/2016 09:28
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M A M M A M I A !
burg
ff/Mogen
Brinkho
115

Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
O
Previous page: Richard n any given day, numerous different as proposed producer. The script by savvy writer,
Carson as Sky productions of Mamma Mia! the musical Brit playwright Catherine Johnson was promptly
and Sanne den
Besten as Sophie in inspired by ABBAs mammoth hits plays sanctioned; while director Phyllida Lloyd impressed
Mamma Mia! somewhere round the globe. Its subsequent with her previous high-end output of Brecht and
silver screen spin-off, Mamma Mia! The Movie, Shakespeare. Firing on all fronts, Craymer put
Above: The full cast
take their praise
is now the most successful film musical ever. Not for everything on the line to make it all happen, selling
nothing are songwriting partners Benny and Bjrn, her flat and giving up her day job in the process.
Top right: Mazz cited as fourth best-selling artists of all time. By 1997, the musical juggernaut was well
Murray as Tanya, It was while the pair were working on the West and truly on its way. It lived up to its billing: The
Linzi Hateley as
Donna and Jo End to Broadway musical, Chess with Tim Rice, in storytelling magic of ABBAs timeless songs with an
Napthine as Rosie around 1983, that they first met theatrical producer enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on
Judy Craymer. The determined 20-something had a Greek island paradise.
Bottom right: Alasdair
Harvey as Harry,
risen through the ranks from stage manager of the It was a surprisingly modern narrative centred
Richard Trinder as original production of Cats, to Tim Rices production round the wedding of a girl who had invited her three
Sam and Dugald assistant and onto his executive producer of Chess. possible biological fathers to her important event. On
Bruce-Lockhart
Inspired by the drama of The Winner Takes It All the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, Sophie aches
as Bill
Bjrns ultimate break-up hit song Craymer had the for her father to walk her down the aisle but does
Following page: lightbulb idea of setting ABBAs best-loved songs in a not know his identity. Discovering her mothers old
Linzi Hateley stage context. diary by chance, she finds entries recording romantic
as Donna and
Sanne den Besten Initially, the guys were not overly keen on the dates with three men in swift succession. Thinking one
as Sophie concept, and it took the would-be impresario 10 years of these may well be her father, ahead of the wedding
to persuade them to give her the rights to their most she sends an invite out to each in the guise of her
treasured works. However, once in agreement, they unsuspecting mother, Donna. As Donna is caught up
were artistically involved from the start, along with with meeting guests at her taverna including old best
ABBAs Anni-Frid in a financial capacity. friends (and ex-bandmates) Tanya and Rosie, in turn
Said to have sealed the deal was the pitching of Sophie secretly meets each of her mothers ex-lovers.
a top-notch creative team Andersson and Ulvaeus Shocked to see the men after all this time, Donna exits
were already on good working terms with Craymer overcome with emotion. Soon confusion reigns for
Mamma Mia! the musical has The Mamma Mia! musical Original
2008 Universal Studios.
MAMMA MIA! been seen by 60 million people

worldwide in 50 productions in 16
Cast Recording remains consistently
in the Billboard Catalog. The Special
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
A DOUBLE WHAMMY different languages. Thats a cool

$2 billion at the box office so far.
Edition Cast Recording is Double
Platinum in several territories.
116

M A M M A M I A !
become her indomitable reputation as the greatest

showbiz impresario of the 21st century, she wisely
insisted on refusing all Tinseltown offers until reaching
an agreement to helm the film herself along with the
original key team: Catherine Johnson as writer, and
Phyllida Lloyd, directing. She fought suggestions for
other experienced directors (such as Steven Spielberg)
to take over.
Equally, insistence was made that the musicals
central middle-aged, hippie mother character
Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
remained just so. Politely declined were mentions of
casting younger glamour girls like Kylie Minogue,
and favoured from the start, was Meryl Streep. Self
declared lifelong ABBA fan Streep stated: I am
Mamma Mia! on being cast, and said it was one
of the happiest roles of her life. She explained shed
found watching the 2001 Broadway musical version
life-affirming in the wake of the 9/11 Twin Towers
tragedy, and thus made contact via a congratulations
note, with Craymer.
Finally, actor Tom Hanks offered to make it on
the Brit producers strict terms with his production
company, and soon a useful ABBA-mad high-up at
Universal Pictures got things moving.
Besides Streep as spirited, single mother Donna
Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
the stellar cast boasted Amanda Seyfried as her

daughter Sophie, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski
as her best friends, and as the trio of love interests,
Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard, ex Mr Darcy Colin
Firth and former 007, Pierce Brosnan.
Ironically, as well as the main film location of the
both mother and daughter, with all three men wanting gorgeous Greek island of Skiathos, Donnas villa in
to escort Sophie on her big day. the film was in reality a set shot on the 007 stage at
The somewhat soap-opera story breezes by ably Pinewood Studios.
abetted by a string of ABBA pearls including Super Most external shots, with the exception of the
Trouper, Lay All Your Love On Me, Dancing Queen, seaside hamlet of Damouchari in the Pelion region,
Knowing Me, Knowing You, Take A Chance On Me, were filmed on Kastani beach, on the small island of
Thank You For The Music, Money, Money Money, Skopelos. The beach bar and jetty were temporarily
The Winner Takes It All, Voulez Vous, and of course, built for showcase song and dance numbers: who
Mamma Mia! the title track taken from the bands can forget the highlight of the cast strutting their
1975 smash. Various plot twists and turns later, it all collective stuff to Dancing Queen with such joy on the
resolves with a giant sing in the tale via I Do, I Do, jetty? all to that ABBA soundtrack. Eagle-eyed ABBA
I Do, I Do, I Do, and I Have A Dream, before a lively fans may have spotted cameos by Benny Andersson
audience interacting finale and reprise of Mamma as the Dancing Queen piano player, while more
Mia and Dancing Queen. uncharacteristically, Bjrn Ulvaeus played a blink and
The non-stop ABBA jukebox musical proved to hes gone Greek god!
mesmerise an audience like no other production Cast-wise, most naturally attuned to the ABBA
before or (so far) since. Currently entering its 18th repertoire, and known for their singing ability, was
year, the London production has now been seen by Meryl Streep. Having taken opera singing lessons
more than 10 per cent of the population. Following as a child, she had previously performed in films
its London premiere in 1999, the album ABBA Gold including Postcards From the Edge, Silkwood, and
notably topped the UK charts again. By 2001, the most recently, Florence about opera singer Florence
musical opened on Broadway, and has now played Foster Jenkins. Consequently among the movies many
in more than 40 countries in all six continents to a awards, she was Golden Globe nominated for best
worldwide audience of more than 60 million. actress. The fact that some of the cast had not been
Not surprisingly, Hollywood soon came calling. chosen for their vocalising led to some mixed reviews
As Craymer later related, after all her hard slog: from critics. Most especially Pierce Brosnan, who
There was no way I was going to sell the rights may have looked the part but somehow didnt quite
and have someone else do it. True to what would sound it and as a result, won the Golden Raspberry
The ninth-longest running Broadway The productions won multiple Docu-DVD Super Troupers: A
musical, Mamma Mia!s the longest awards and accolades, while Celebratory Film From Waterloo
daily running show in Russia and the honouring its original ABBA To MAMMA MIA! features unseen
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
first Western musical to be staged in inspiration a Touring Broadway footage, and scenes from Londons
Mandarin in China. Award for best musical score. Fith Anniversary Gala Special Finale. 2008 Universal Studios. 2008 Universal Studios.
All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved
117

M A M M A M I A !
award for worst supporting actor. At least he had Recommended to producer Judy Craymer by a
a great time making the film one of the best jobs mentor friend, she found the idea of the ABBA project
ever, he said. The Mamma Mia! experience that entertaining but over-familiar with financial hardship,
has been created and given people so much joy on did not take its commercial chances seriously. For that
the stage has bled into this film. The cast certainly matter, neither did ABBAs Bjrn: I didnt have a clue
looked like they were having a ball and allegedly, that Mamma Mia! would be a worldwide success,
were whooping it up after hours, as contrary to usual he later admitted. For the two years it took to write the
film-making stipulations, producer Judy kept the party book, it was a scary-ish time for Johnson. I couldnt
mood going with beers all-round for cast and crew. afford for things to go wrong, she said, looking
Coming up to a decade after the movie was back on the time. Its now well-known that Johnson
made, fans still make pilgrimages to the locations, deliberately wrote the plot about a single mother
particularly the picturesque but admittedly petite notably one who wasnt as the press often liked to
Ioannis white chapel used in the wedding scene. paint, a drain on the state a working single mother
Beyond the likes of Grease and Dirty Dancing, who had got her life together and the relationship
Mamma Mia! instantly became the song and dance she had with her daughter. As she told The
hit of the decade. Packing in a cracking 24 ABBA Guardian: Ive had less years of being a success
hits, as a feel-good escape, it more than hit the mark. than I had of being a failure. For a lot of my life, I felt
As Meryl Streep summed up: Its about dreams, your a complete letdown.
hopes, your happiness. Opening in 2008, it opened Consequently, though she has gone onto create
at No. 1 in 35 countries. other plays, she is happy if Mamma Mia! is fated to
remain her careers masterwork. Having initially given
the musical a lifespan of three months, its now going
Ive had less years of being a success than I had strong in its second decade, having amassed over an
of being a failure. For a lot of my life I felt like a eye-watering 2 billion worldwide.
Bankrolling nearly $610 million on a $52 million
complete letdown budget, Mamma Mia! is the highest grossing musical
C A T H E R I N E J O H N S O N film of all time in the UK. Such was its unprecedented
success that co-chairman of Universal Studios David
Linde, made a press statement that in years to come,
Craymer had staked all on its success. In the there could be a sequel adding he would be
90s money had been so tight that on the verge delighted if the creative quintet of Craymer, Johnson,
of bankruptcy, she had had to sell her house. In Lloyd, Andersson and Ulvaeus reunited to create a
interviews in the British press, she later related: All follow-up based round other ABBA songs.
my friends thought I was crazy. They said ABBA was Rumours immediately went into overdrive with
so passe and I should get over it. But I knew everyone every star in town from Kate Winslet to Leo DiCaprio
would want to see the musical. I had to make slated to appear in the potential follow-up. In fact,
people believe in what I was doing and it became a Meryl had had the time of her life so much, she said
complete obsession. Her choice to, in effect, take she wouldnt mind returning in a Grand Mamma
a chance on ABBA paid dividends to an astounding Mia! sequel with the same cast. Before fans hopes
degree: overall from her Mamma Mia! concepts, she could flare any further, ABBAs Benny said no to the
is reported to have made a reported 90 million. notion with a definitive: There will not be another
Awarded an MBE, she went on to produce Viva quote, unquote ABBA musical.
Forever!, the 2012 musical based on the Spice The worlds premiere may have taken place
Girls hits, and now spends much of her off-duty time elsewhere, but on 4 July 2008, all eyes were on the
fund-raising for Mamma Mia!-linked charities such as Swedish film screening. In attending this, all four
Breast Cancer Research. members of ABBA were photographed together for
In much the same way, Bristol writer Catherine the first time in 22 years. It was aptly held on ABBAs
Johnson shares a similar roughing it to riches home turf in Stockholm, and at the Rival theatre
backstory. Her colourful life could itself create a part of the boutique hotel owned by Benny, where
compelling screenplay. Expelled from school at 16, each room has a copy of ABBA Gold the album
married at 18, divorced at 24, she was a hard-up that spawned both memorable musical to movie
single mum with another child on the way when productions. Agnetha and Anni-Frid arrived dancing
entering and winning a newspaper playwriting with star of the movie Meryl Streep, before joining the
competition changed her life. Her hard-hitting play, ABBA boys and rest of the cast, on the balcony.
Rag Doll was staged by the Bristol Old Vic, and A show of solidarity between the former band
penning further plays followed including Bay City members, marking the next chapter in ABBAs
Rollers-based Shang-A-Lang before stints on popular enduring success: from international stage to
UK TV series such as Casualty, Band Of Gold and screen, in 2017, their perfectly crafted pop legacy
Byker Grove. lives on.
The Times Bestseller, MAMMA MIA! The first-ever UK tour of Mamma Mamma Mia! The Movie is the
How Can I Resist You? (UK/Orion) Mia! the musical opened in Bristol highest worldwide grossing live-
explores the magical ABBA songs in March 2016, with further dates action musical film of all time. It
All Rights Reserved
that first inspired the international to be announced. Now booking opened at No. 1 in 35 countries.
2008 Universal Studios. success of Mamma Mia! tickets through to March 2017... It is now available to own on DVD. 2008 Universal Studios.
All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved
118

Brinkhoff/Mogenburg
119

A B B A M U S E U M
Eric Watson
120
CPP04.Abba Museum.For Print.indd 120 19/10/2016 12:56

THANK YOU
FOR THE MUSEUM ITS THE PERFECT SETTING
FOR ALL THINGS ABBA,
AND AS JULIE BURNS
DISCOVERS THREE YEARS
ON, THE ABBA MUSEUM
IN STOCKHOLM HAS NOW
GROWN INTO AN EVEN
BETTER SPECTACLE THAN
EVER BEFORE...
121

The building houses
two museums and a hotel
These cat dresses arent even the Only four people in the world have
most outrageous clothes on show the number for this telephone, in the
at ABBA The Museum
museums Ring Ring Room
A
s one enthusiastic fan recently commented: karaoke or perform along to their idols music, even
Walk in, dance out! To many the world wear one of their digitally projected costumes.
over, ABBAs music represents joy and fun, On 23 April annual ABBA The Museum Fan
and the content of a certain number-one Day hundreds of fans worldwide gathered on-site in
attraction does well to reflect that. Since its opening in celebration. It coincided with an updated new version
Stockholm, Sweden, on 7 May 2013, this impressive of one of the most popular attractions 5th Member
interactive exhibition dedicated to all things ABBA enabling visitors to perform onstage with the
has carried on updating and evolving. Originally foursome or at least their incredibly photorealistic
inspired by the other Fab Four, The Beatles, and avatars. Museum director/curator Ingmarie Halling
their world-famous museum in Liverpool, founders explained: As one of the worlds leading interactive
Ulf Westmand and Ewa Wigenheim-Westman first music museums, we need to constantly be in the
mooted the ABBA project back in 2006. Slated to forefront of technical development, and we wanted
open in 2008, instead several years and setbacks the 5th Member attraction to be as convincing as the
later its now housed at a glittering new exhibit museums silicon dolls of the group. So we contacted
venue. Today, The Swedish Music Hall Of Fame Fido, well-known for their digital wizardry in film.
proves a great showcase for the groups prodigious One of the worlds top animation/VFX studios,
musical achievements and influences. Known for their Fido was Bafta-nominated for its work on David
collective love of Swedish island life, ABBA expressed Attenborough productions in stereoscopic 3D, and the
their preference for the landmark to be located on an Mad Max and Star Wars Battlefront computer games.
island and in Stockholm, the site of where they first A team of 15 artists modelled ABBAs four members
found fame. True to their wishes, fans will find the as digital statues, perfecting every detail from
ABBA-endorsed centre situated near the picturesque Bennys beard to providing each with digital skeletons
Grna Lund theme park alongside the bay on for the purpose of animation. Then, to make them
the island of Djurgrden. The museum is now the move in a lifelike manner, motion capture was used
permanent home for the popular ABBAWORLD exhibit (which is the same technique that makes Andy Serkis
that first toured Europe and Australia between 2009 portrayal of Gollum come alive in the Lord Of The
and 2011. Rings series). Fidos sister company, Imagination
Mindful of the infectious, singalong nature of their Studios, then recorded 1970s dance sequences in
hits, among the plethora of clothes, artifacts and motion capture. Even the content wasnt left to chance
awards to interviews and concert footage on show, Agnetha and Anni-Frids choreographer, Graham
the focus is very much on the interactive. Several state- Tainton, now aged a sprightly 88, was consulted to
of-the-art audio and video stations allow visitors to recreate all the key moves.
122

A B B A M U S E U M
Benny and Bjrn wrote

many of ABBAs songs
in a small cabin on the
island of Viggs
Of all the attention-grabbers contained in this ultra- I sometimes feel like a tiger which, taking her
slick space, the roomful of 30 costumes especially at her word, he made into her motif, while Owes
resonates. The fact that most have been donated by cat was the inspiration behind Agnethas panther.
the band members further amps up the wow factor. The yellow and blue appliques and matching linings
From album sleeves to costumes, the imagery of ABBA were included to represent the colours of the Swedish
was always carefully considered. The clothes hold flag. Sweden exerted other stylistic influences such
up an interesting mirror to musical and social history: as an Iceberg theme, as seen on the glacier white
from glam-rock to the disco era, into the more formal outfits with shades of purple flashes one-shouldered
early-80s. unitards the girls wore for hits like Gimme! Gimme!
Agnetha and Fridas stagewear from 74 to 78 Gimme! Frida had asked their long-term album
is especially flamboyant. Post-Eurovision win, all designer Rune Soderqvist to collaborate with Owe
costumes were exclusively made by designer Owe Sandstrm on the Swedish Ice theme in 1979. Ever
Sandstrm, who conceived them, he said, as works at the forefront, the glamour girls gave the band their
of art. (Rumour has it they also came in cannily striking visual identity. The look was an integral part
outlandish fashion as a savvy way to save money: of the bands performance.
Swedish law meant costumes could be deducted Curator Ingmarie Halling has gone full circle with
against tax liability, so long as they were so the costumes. As ABBAs former wardrobe supervisor
outrageous they could not be worn out on the street!) on all their major tours previous to being producer
Of his ABBA design days, Owe Sandstrm says: of their previous costume exhibitions she remarked:
Bjrn looked like Superman or some sci-fi action The clothes are like old friends! For years on tour,
hero, Agnetha looked like Barbarella, Frida often I was washing these garments, now theyre behind
asked me are you serious? Benny said, Nothings glass cases.
too wild! She considers style stand-outs came from the later,
Every garment here strikes a chord: each iconic less extravagant Voulez-Vouz disco era: The girls
outfit clothes a moment in time or memory of the band looked really trendy, tall and slim. Frida recently
performing particular hits: the blue silk Waterloo agreed: I think my favourite was the tight, striped
Eurovision-winning ensemble; the white and sparkling jersey costume with the diagonally cut little dress, from
gold attire Frida and Agnethas cheeky shorts to the 1979 tour. It made both of us look elegant and
figure-hugging body stocking for the Australian a bit sexy, but it would probably not look as good
tour; both of them strutting their stuff in the famous today! According to Agnetha: I think they made
white maxi to micro-mini tunics, featuring tiger and a great job with the clothes, especially our body
big-cat embroideries. Frida had told clothier Owe: stockings, which were so easy to dance and move
123

A B B A M U S E U M
The Duvemla room at the Pop House

Hotel visitors receive a welcome
letter from Bjrn Ulvaeus
ABBAs iconic gatefold cover art

from their 1976 Greatest Hits
is showcased at the museum Those Waterloo-era outfits
around freely in. Its such a good feeling to be able to apparently plays whenever he tinkles the ivories. For
move around in your clothes like that onstage. a pleasing personal touch, audio guides (available in
As to the boys, Benny, known for his (slightly) more English) feature each of the ABBA popsters recounting
sober style, commented: Owe and Lars did a lot of the story of their glory years in their own words.
nice stuff and also some totally crazy clothes. They The whole feelgood experience of the museum is
could say whatever they wanted, but at the end of the enhanced by its pairing with the Swedish Music Hall
day, I always decided what I wanted to wear myself. Of Fame. This separate, yet intrinsically connected,
If Bjrn wanted to wear a Superman costume thats gallery provides a useful overview of the countrys
fine, but not for me. Anyway, I think my clothes were pop music history: pride of place taken, of course, by
slightly cooler! its most well-loved and famous band.
Bjrn responded: I dont think I had a favourite
amongst my outfits, but I actually felt quite comfortable ABBA: The Museum, Djurgrdsvgen 68,
in my jumpsuits. That bloke on stage was somehow a 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
different person to the private Bjrn; maybe he was www.abbathemuseum.com
hiding a bit in his stage costume and also loosened
up a bit. Not sure Bennys clothes were that much
cooler more boring, maybe! THE MUST-SEE MUSEUM
Having had exclusive access to the groups dressing The Museum has had over one million visitors
room for so long, many more of the bands sartorial The History Of Swedish Pop Music exhibition
secrets turn up in Ingmarie Hallings authorised next door features 400 Swedish artists
book ABBA: The Backstage Stories. On the subject, including Roxette, Ace Of Base, and Europe
Ingmarie concludes: No matter what Owe created, Bjrn has co-initiated a new exhibition
he always had an eye for detail. Sadly, these celebrating the 60-year history of the
particular costumes did not get the attention they Eurovision Song Contest. Bjrn said: The
deserved. At least now retrospectively, here on-site, Eurovision Song Contest occupies a special
they can be seen and admired by anyone interested place in my heart. Its a pleasure to be
in the ABBA phenomenon. able to display the long and in many ways
Other museum highlights include the actual astonishing history of the largest running
helicopter from the cover of ABBAs 1976 seminal TV show in the world, where music is at the
album, Arrival. Theres an eye-catching starburst centre. I couldnt think of any better place to
guitar and a very quirky piano which, as if by do it than at ABBA The Museum.
magic, links to a piano in Bennys house and
124

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Once more,
WITH FEELING
126
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FROM THE SMITHS TO LED ZEPPELIN AND OASIS,
WITHIN MONTHS OF A BAND SPLITTING UP
THEYRE BOMBARDED WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT
A REUNION. SO WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A
FINAL LAP OF HONOUR AROUND THE WORLD
FOR A REFORMED ABBA?
P A U L L E S T E R
127

Getty Images
O
Benny and
Bjrn attend the n 15 April 2015, the Daily Mail reported the noughties, in the wake of the success of Mamma
Laurence Olivier that Bjrn Ulvaeus had made an exciting Mia!. In 2000, ABBA were alleged to have been
Awards at The announcement. He had been filmed offered a cool one billion dollars to reform for 100
Royal Opera
House, London,
writing the words Mamma Mia! The concerts, but they turned it down.
in April 2014 Party in paint, on a wall. The former ABBA Four years later, record producer Billy Butt
songwriter added that he was about to create a suggested ABBA reunite in support of the tsunami
new entertainment experiment that I will tell everyone victims in South East Asia, but the group refused. In
about on Wednesday. The news sent ABBA fans into an interview Benny Andersson was quoted as saying:
a tailspin, with fevered speculation that the four-piece We are four individuals who focus on other things
were finally going to reform after 33 years. now. We split over 20 years ago and never plan to
Ive been working on this experiment for quite a perform together again.
while now and its actually starting to feel ready, That same year rumours abounded that ABBA
Ulvaeus explained in a clip in which the 69 year old would reunite for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest
wrote the projects name in blue paint, followed by in Istanbul, 30 years after they won in Brighton with
the infinity symbol. Waterloo. All four members of ABBA did indeed
Was it some kind of mystical sign that Ulvaeus, appear briefly in a special comedy video made for
Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha the interval act, entitled Our Last Video Ever, but there
Fltskog were going to once more tread the boards or was no singing or dancing.
even re-enter the recording studio for one final ABBA In 2008, the complete ABBA line-up attended the
assault on the global consciousness? Might it be a world premiere of the movie Mamma Mia! in London.
multimedia event or a oneoff performance? Fans were seen wailing in the aisles and the media
It turned out not to be the most eagerly-anticipated once again began musing on the prospect of a
return since old rockers Led Zeppelin, just a case reunion, but it failed to materialise.
of Ulvaeus daubing an ABBA-related message on a A year later, the ABBA girls or rather, ladies
transparent surface. appeared together at an awards show in Sweden.
Still, wed been here before: there have been Anni-Frid was overheard saying: Ive felt lately it
rumours about ABBA getting back together virtually would be fun to do something with ABBA again
since they went their separate ways at the end cue mass media hysteria, to little avail.
of 1982. As far back as 1986, there was talk of It was also in 2008 that Bjrn Ulvaeus told the
another ABBA album, ostensibly the follow-up to Sunday Telegraph: We will never appear onstage
1981s The Visitors, to be titled Opus 10; at least again. We would like people to remember us as we
two tracks were recorded. Sadly, the project was were: young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition.
abandoned, although one track, Im A City, turned But there were signs of minds changing that
up on More Gold in 1993. The rumour mill seemed September, when Anni-Frid Lyngstad said it would be
to go a bit quiet in the 90s but went into overdrive in great to do something with her former bandmates.
128

T H E R E U N I O N
I could see us doing reminded about ABBA. It has brought so many happy
things into my life.
something together once In January 2016, ABBA surprised fans by making
their first public appearance together in many years
again in the future at the opening of Bjrn Ulvaeus new ABBA-themed
Greek taverna, Mamma Mia! The Party in Stockholm
A G N E T H A the entertainment venture alluded to so mysteriously
the year before. Agnetha, Benny and Anni-Frid
turned out to support their former bandmate, the four
all arriving individually for photographs with their
It would be hard to avoid all the pressure because spouses on the red carpet. Once inside, the 1974
of ABBA, she added. It could never be low key. Eurovision winners made a brief appearance onstage
Wembley Stadium, anyone? to rapturous applause from the audience.
Ever the teases, in a 2010 interview in The Times, And then, in June 2016, the unexpected happened:
Benny Andersson was quoted declaring, A reunion the four members did perform together on a stage, for
seems like a good idea. It later transpired that he the first time in well over 30 years a reunion they
was joking, although there were further suggestions had insisted would never happen and which fans had
that year that ABBA might reunite for the wedding of long ago given up dreaming of. The event took place
Prince William and Kate Middleton. at a private party held at Stockholms Berns Hotel to
Adding fuel to the gossipy fire were Agnetha celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day when Bjrn
Fltskogs words, in which she said she could first met Benny; as seismic a pop encounter as that
consider getting together for a one-off concert between John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
next year. Bookmakers immediately posted odds Towards the end of the evening, Agnetha and
for a royal wedding performance: Ladbrokes were Anni-Frid took to the stage to perform the 1980 song
offering 66-1 for the reformation in April the same Me And I. To the delight of the small audience of
odds for ABBA to have a US No. 1 in 2011. friends and Swedish celebrities, Messrs Ulvaeus and
It would be fun to get together, Fltskog said, Andersson then joined them onstage towards the end
clearly taken with the idea. It is just a feeling I have. of the performance, reuniting the group in song for
She seemed to be arguing for a full-blown reformation the first time since they disbanded in 1982.
at least for one night. We would not reunite for It was absolutely amazing. A lot of emotions,
a tour like The Rolling Stones and other old bands gushed Anni-Frid.
do now, she told M magazine. However, I could The miracle of the moment was best captured by
see us doing something together in the future. The Janne Schaffer, a session guitarist for the band, when
erstwhile recluse continued: A reunion, an occasional she told a reporter: We witnessed a piece of music
opportunity, maybe in connection with a charity event history tonight.
I believe we could consider it.
In 2013, Fltskog for many years regarded as
ABBA finally reunite at a private
the main barrier to the Swedish quartet reforming party held at Stockholms Berns
hinted that ABBA could reform the following year. Hotel in June 2016
She told German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag that
she, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjrn Ulvaeus and Benny
Andersson were considering reforming in 2014 to
mark the 40th anniversary of debut hit Waterloo. Of
course its something were thinking about, she said.
There seems to be plans to do something to mark this
anniversary in some way. I cant say at this point what
will come of them.
In 2014, stories ran that echoed the earlier offer of
$1billion to reform for one last tour. Speaking at an
event at the Tate Modern in London, Frida disclosed
details of a meeting the band had had several months
earlier to discuss a potential reunion.
We only have one answer and that is no were
not going to do it, said Lyngstad. Referring to an
image of ABBA on the gallery wall, capturing the four
members in their prime, she continued: Thats how
we looked at that time, with all the energy, excitement
and motivation. Its not exactly the same nowadays, if
you know what I mean.
We all met because we wanted to talk about what
we should do for our 40th, she continued. It was
a lovely meeting. It was like time had stood still and
we were back to where we were. We had the same
bond; we bonded instantly. But no amount of money
would change our minds. Maybe we sometimes say
it would be good to do a song together again, just a
recording and nothing else, but I dont know if that
will happen so dont say that we will!
Lyngstad added: There isnt a day when were not
129

CLASSIC
MOMENTS
W H E N K Y L I E
M E T B E N N Y
Australia took ABBA to its heart perhaps more than any other
country, so its fitting that Antipodean cultural ambassador Kylie
Minogue was chosen to perform live with Benny Andersson at the
Thank You For The Music concert in Hyde Park on 13 September
2009, which paid tribute to the bands legacy. Bjrn Ulvaeus
was also in attendance at the star-studded event that featured
performances from Lulu, Chaka Khan, The Feeling, Elaine Paige,
Getty Images
Jason Donovan, Marti Pellow and VV Brown. The Radio 2-helmed

concert was hosted by Chris Evans and headlined by Kylie, who sang
Super Trouper and When All Is Said And Done.
130
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What were ABBA's early struggles?

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