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The Beginning
In June 1966, Björn Ulvaeus met Benny Andersson for the first time. The pair wrote their first song together just a few weeks later, and by the end of the decade, they had established a regular partnership as composers. Stig also contributed lyrics to many ABBA hits during the first years of the group’s career. -
What happened next...
In the spring of 1969, Björn and Benny met the two women who became the other half of ABBA. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid. -
The First Recording
In the spring of 1972 the group recorded a song called ‘People Need Love’, garnering a medium-sized hit in Sweden. Encouraged by this success they entered the 1973 Melodifestivalen, the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song ‘Ring Ring’. They finished third, but the single and the album of the same name were the biggest hits of the year in Sweden. ‘Ring Ring’ also became a hit in several other European countries. -
Waterloo
The group entered Melodifestivalen again in 1974, this time with ‘Waterloo’. By this time they had changed their name to ABBA, an acronym of their first names. Soon after this triumph, ‘Waterloo’ was Number One on the charts all over Europe. The album of the same name was also a huge hit in Sweden. It wasn’t until some 18 months later that they got a major worldwide hit again with ‘SOS’, taken off their third album, simply entitled ABBA. -
Arrival
In 1976 ABBA finally and firmly established themselves as one of the most popular groups in the world. The various hits compilations conquering the world during this period became global blockbusters. Classic single releases such as ‘Fernando’ and ‘Dancing Queen’ topped the charts all over the world. In late 1976 ABBA’s fourth album, Arrival, was released. This was followed by a concert tour of that was a complete success with capacity houses everywhere. -
...Then...
The spring of 1978 saw the group embarking on a major promotional campaign in the USA, leading to a Top Three single with ‘Take A Chance On Me’. The hit singles ‘Summer Night City’ and ‘Chiquitita’ were followed by ABBA’s sixth album, Voulez-Vous, released in April 1979. Earlier that year, Björn and Agnetha announced their divorce. This did not mean the end of ABBA, but it did overthrow their image of two happy, music-making couples. -
...Next...
ABBA’s single ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’ was released in the autumn of 1979, coinciding with a major tour of Canada, the United States and Europe. Around the same time a second compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. 2, became an international success. -
ABBA in Japan
In March 1980, ABBA took their tour to Japan for what turned out to be their very last live concerts in front of a paying audience. The rest of the year was devoted to the recording of ABBA’s next album, Super Trouper, containing classic hits like ‘The Winner Takes It All’ and the title track. -
One of Us
In February 1981 the final blow was dealt to ABBA’s happy-couples image of the 1970s, when Benny and Frida announced their divorce. This still didn’t stop the foursome from working together. At the end of the year, ABBA’s eighth album, The Visitors, was released, with ‘One Of Us’ as its biggest hit single. -
A Break...
Through the course of 1982 the energy was gradually running out of the group, as Björn and Benny set their sights on writing the musical Chess and Agnetha and Frida were reviving their solo careers. The only ABBA LP release this year was a compilation double album of their hit singles. At the end of 1982, ABBA decided to take a break. If they wanted to, they reasoned, they could always get back together after a few years. -
Gold
More than three decades after ABBA’s “temporary break”, there still has been no reunion. But the group’s music lives on: the 1990s saw the beginning of a major revival, with successful cover versions and high-profile movies using ABBA songs on their soundtracks attracting a great deal of attention. -
Mamma Mia!
The hugely successful musical Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of ABBA, premiered in London in 1999. The musical opened on Broadway two years later, and quickly spread across the globe. The premiere in ABBA’s home country of Sweden in February 2005 was attended by Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Frida. A hugely successful movie version of Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, opened in July 2008. -
Live at Wembley Arena
Since the start of the 21st Century, Polar Music International and Universal Music have continually upgraded the ABBA catalogue. ABBA’s eight original studio albums and their Spanish-language 1980 album Gracias por la mùsica, have been reissued as expanded Deluxe Editions. In 2014, the double-album Live At Wembley Arena was issued, the first-ever release of a complete ABBA live concert. -
ABBAWORLD
Today, ABBA are regarded as one of the all-time classic pop acts, acknowledged by their 2010 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That same year saw the London opening of ABBAWORLD, an authorized touring exhibition and interactive experience.
In January 2016, a dinner show concept called Mamma Mia! The Party opened in Stockholm. The opening was attended by all four ABBA members. -
Mamma Mia! The Sequel
In 2018 a sequel of the movie Mamma Mia! was released – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again allowed the original cast to reprise their roles, and also feature a cameo from Cher. -
Nowadays...
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ABBA’s Voulez-Vous was reissued as a multi-format release on June 14th. On September 19th, Mamma Mia! The Party opened at London O2, the opening was attended by Björn and Benny, and on December 6th ABBA The Super Troupers Exhibition opened at the same arena.
