Book Review: ABBA At 50

After winning 1974’s Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Waterloo,” ABBA catapulted to fame, capturing hearts across the globe with their melodic and ever-so-catchy pop songs. Formed in Stockholm, in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide with classic hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight),” “SOS,” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.”

ABBA - Super Trouper

Today (November 3rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Super Trouper, the seventh studio album from the Swedish pop group ABBA. This 1980 release spent thirty-eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 17. It also charted at number 11 in Germany, number 8 in France, number 7 in Canada, number 5 in Australia and New Zealand, number 3 in Austrai, and number 1 the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

ABBA - Voulez-Vous (35th anniversary)

Today (April 23rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Voulez-Vous, the sixth studio album from the Swedish pop group ABBA.

Click here to read my full review of the album.

Adam Ant - Strip

Yesterday (November 8th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Strip, the second solo studio album from Adam Ant. This one reached at number 65 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 20 on the UK charts.

The cover, of Adam posing coyly on a bed of straw, was modeled after a photo of Jane Russell from the 1943 film The Outlaw.

ABBA - Voulez-Vous

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

On April 23rd, 1979, the Swedish pop group ABBA released their sixth studio album entitled Voulez-Vous. This Platinum seller peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 6 in Canada and France, number 5 in Australia, number 2 in New Zealand, and number 1 in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

Frida - Something's Going On

Today (September 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Something's Going On, the third solo studio album by Frida Lyngstad and her first in English. This 1982 release was in development as ABBA was finishing their final year as a working band. The album went Gold in Sweden after spending time at the number 1 spot on their charts. Around the rest of the world, it went to number 18 in the UK, number 12 in Germany, number 10 in Austria, number 3 in Finland and Switzerland, and number 2 in Belgium and Norway. In the US, it peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 200.

Happy Birthday, Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Today November 15th, sixty six years ago, Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad was born in Norway. She had been singing since age thirteen, mainly in jazz and cabaret styles. At age 22 she won a national talent competition where the prize was a recording contract in Sweden. In 1969, she eventually hooked up with her future bandmates that would form the international singing sensations ABBA, enjoying success for a decade from 1972 to 1982.

In 1982, she returned to solo work with an album in English. Something's Going On was produced by Phil Collins and sold very well. It also produced a hit single "I Know There's Something Going On" which was a number 1 hit in Belgium, Costa Rica, France and Switzerland, and a top five hit in Austria, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway. In the US the single reached number 13 and was the twentieth biggest selling single in the US that year. It features Collins' amazing drums.

Frida continues her music career to this day, showing few signs of slowing down. In September 2010 she released her most recent album Reconnection. She is also involved in charity work and in environmental protection efforts.

For their self-titled 1975 album ABBA, click here

For the group's final album from 1981 the Visitors, click here