Abba, the chart topping band from Sweden, which featured the blonde one, the dark haired one and the two blokes. But to the Abba fan, they were Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The women provided the vocal harmonies, and Benny and Björn, wrote the lyrics and music. Their journey was incredible, they had number ones all over the world and their songs remain as fresh today as when they recorded them! Here are their first singles up to and including Waterloo, with which they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 at Brighton, England.
He Is Your Brother – 1972
Released as Bjorn & Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid, this was from their studio album, Ring, Ring. This wasn’t released in the United Kingdom, but was in some of the Scandinavian countries.
B-Side: Santa Rosa
The B side was Santa Rosa which never appeared as an album track until the release of the Thank You For The Music box set.
He Is Your Brother
Written by: (B. Andersson / B. Ulvaeus)
I was a fighter always looking for trouble
And my life was so empty there was nothing left to live for
But then it happened one night as I got into a fight
I could hear someone saying as though he was praying
Treat him well, he is your brother You might need his help one day We depend on one another
Love him that’s the only way
On the road that we’re going
We all need words of comfort and compassion
Treat him well, he is your brother Love him that’s the only way
I was a woman never thinking of others
And my life was so lonely didn’t care for anybody
But then I happened to meet
A begging man in the street
As I turned down his praying
I heard someone saying
Treat him well, he is your brother You might need his help one day We depend on one another
Love him that’s the only way
On the road that we’re going
We all need words of comfort and compassion
Treat him well, he is your brother Love him that’s the only way
© Copyright 1972 for the world by Universal/Union Songs AB, Stockholm, Sweden. All rights reserved
People Need Love – 1973
This record was released to promote Björn and Benny’s partnership and their songwriting skills – Agnetha and Anni-Frid were guest singers, however, the positive reaction they received was unexpected. It was not released in the UK as a single.
B-Side: Merry-Go-Round
This was recorded in Swedish. It was also featured on the Thank You For The Music compilation album.
People Need Love
Written by: (B. Andersson / B. Ulvaeus)
People need hope,
People need lovin’
People need trust from a fellow man
People need love to make a good livin’
People need faith in a helping hand
Man has always wanted a woman by his side to keep him company Women always knew that it takes a man to get matrimonial harmony
Everybody knows that a man who’s feeling down wants some female sympathy
Gotta have love to carry on living Gotta have love ’til eternity
People need hope,
People need lovin’
People need trust from a fellow man
People need love to make a good livin’
People need faith in a helping hand
Flowers in a desert need a drop of rain like a woman needs her man If a man’s in love and his woman wants the moon then he’ll take it down if he can
Somebody who loves you and somebody who cares isn’t that what you call a friend
Gotta have love to carry on living Isn’t it easy to understand
People need hope,
People need lovin’
People need trust from a fellow man
People need love to make a good livin’
People need faith in a helping hand
© Copyright 1972 for the world by Universal/Union Songs AB, Stockholm, Sweden. All rights reserved
Ring Ring – 1973
Ring Ring was the single that charted in several European countries, including reaching number 32 in the UK. It had the working title, Clock Tune, which was changed to Ring Ring for more universal appeal. Björn & Benny enlisted the help of Neil Sedaka for the English lyrics. They entered this song in the Swedish Eurovision selection competition where they finished third.
B-Side: She’s My Kind Of Girl
This was the first Björn & Benny single. It was released in Japan and reached number one. It was used in a soft porn film, The Seduction of Inga in 1971.
Ring Ring
Written by: (B. Andersson / S. Anderson / B. Ulvaeus / N. Sedaka / P. Cody)
I was sitting by the phone
I was waiting all alone
Baby by myself I sit and wait and wonder about you
It’s a dark and dreary night
Seems like nothing’s going right
Won’t you tell me honey how can I go on here without you
Yes, I’m down and feeling blue and I don’t know what to do, oh-oh,
Ring, ring, why don’t you give me a call
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
and I sit all alone impatiently won’t you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring, why don’t you give me a call So, ring, ring ,why don’t you give me a call
You were here and now you’re gone
Hey did I do something wrong
I just can’t believe that I could be so badly mistaken
Was it me or was it you
Tell me, are we really through
Won’t you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking
Please forgive and then forget
or maybe darling better yet, oh-oh
Ring, ring, why don’t you give me a call
Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all
Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall
and I sit all alone impatiently won’t you please understand the need in me
So, ring, ring why don’t you give me a call
So, ring, ring why don’t you give me a call
© Copyright 1973 for the world by Universal/Union Songs AB, Stockholm, Sweden. All rights reserved
Waterloo – 1974
This was the first single to be released under the name ABBA. It was the Swedish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and won it for the country. At the 50th anniversary celebration of the Contest, this was voted the best song in the competition’s history. The Swedish version’s B-side was Honey Honey. It was number one in several countries. including the UK and reached the U.S. Top 10.
B-Side: Watch Out
This was included on the Waterloo album with Björn on lead vocals.
Waterloo
Written by: (B. Andersson / S. Anderson / B. Ulvaeus)
My, my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf is always repeating itself
Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo – promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo – couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa, wa, wa, wa, Waterloo – finally facing my Waterloo
My, my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo – I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo – promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo – couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa, wa, wa, wa, Waterloo – finally facing my Waterloo
So how could I ever refuse I feel like I win when I lose –
Waterloo – couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo – knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa, wa, wa, wa, Waterloo – finally facing my Waterloo
© Copyright 1974 for the world by Universal/Union Songs AB, Stockholm, Sweden. All rights reserved
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