ABBA

ABBA was one of the most popular groups in the world throughout the 70’s and early 80’s. Many of their hits reached the top of the charts everywhere from their native Sweden to here in the U.S. All of the members had previously been involved in the show business, but only in Sweden. Agnetha was a solo singer, and Benny and Bjorn were both in groups of their own. As these groups disintegrated at the end of the 60’s, ABBA slowly came together. Surprisingly, the first time they recorded as a group, it was disliked by the members and was shelved away for awhile. In the early 70’s, they decided to try it again.

The first single that the world knew about was “Waterloo” – the one that won them the Eurovision contest. A year before this, they had entered and won third – not good enough. After “Waterloo,” though, their career took off. They topped charts with the song all over the world. More singles followed this, such as “Ring Ring” and “SOS.” “SOS” was their second UK Top Ten hit, proving that they weren’t one-hit wonders after “Waterloo.” This cemented their career.

The first album, hesitantly titled “Bjorn and Benny, Agnetha and Ani-Frid” was released in 1972. It was an awkward album, released prior to their success at the Eurovision contest. Also, they needed a new name. Their manager suggested ABBA, and after a “Name the Group” contest came up with the same thing, it was sealed.

The second album was “Waterloo,” titled after their famous hit. It was released in 1973. This was followed by “ABBA” in the spring of 1975. By this time, of course, they were on tour. “Mamma Mia” came in the summer of 1975, reaching number one in the UK. Along with “I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do,” this song conquered Australia for the first time, spreading their popularity even further. By this time, they were famous all over the world.

ABBA, as most people know, is made up of two couples – Agnetha and Bjorn, and Frida (as Ani-Frid is called) and Benny. Agnetha and Bjorn married in July of 1971. Their first child, Linda, was born in 1973. Their second child, Christian, was born in late 1977. Frida and Benny didn’t marry until much later (they’d been a couple for nine years by this time) in 1978, on the same day that the single “Summer Night City” reached number one in Sweden – the last of their songs to do so. Sadly, both couples later divorced – Agnetha and Bjorn in 1979, Frida and Benny in 1981.

By the end of the 70’s and the beginning of the 80’s, they were experiencing many of their “lasts.” Some singles, such as “The Day Before You Came” were met with confusion, reaching number one in some countries, but barely making the charts in others. “The Visitors” was their last album, released in 1981. 1982 was their last year together. After that, the members felt the need to do something different for awhile.

Their record of nine number one hits in the UK was a record topped only by The Beatles
, Elvis Presley, and Cliff Richard. They were truly a famous group the world over – this was proved when the ABBA Gold albums were released in the early 90’s, topping charts in several countries. Since then, the group has been asked to do several revival tours (the latest in 2000, for around a billion dollars), but all have been refused.