Waterloo - Abba

Unless you've spent the last 50 years under a rock, you will be familiar with the Abba song 'Waterloo'. It was their international breakthrough after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. The song has been re-released many times, and in my collection there are several copies: the original Swedish version, the 30th anniversary version, the 40th anniversary picture disc, the German version and of course this year's celebratory 10" single.

This edition is a picture disc released as part of this year's 50th anniversary celebrations, along with the album Waterloo. It's the first of three picture disc 7" singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 7307
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Watch out'

Love isn't easy (but it sure is hard enough) - Björn Benny Agnetha & Frida

'Love isn't easy' was one of the last songs to be recorded for the album Ring Ring, released by the quartet of Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-frid in 1973. The song was also released as a single, but not in Sweden: only Danish pressings exist and the single was released in Norway, Finland and Denmark only (although copies would probably have reached other countries too). The song describes the common phenomenon of a quarrel between lovers.

This edition features the original A- and B-side, but on a picture disc. It's the last of five picture disc released at the same time as a re-release of the album Ring Ring in 2023.

My collection: 7" single no. 7302
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Love isn't easy (but it sure is hard enough)' / 'I am just a girl'

Ring RIng - Björn Benny Agnetha & Frida

Besides the Swedish version, 'Ring Ring' was also recorded in English. Translation into English lyrics was helped by Neil Sedaka and his collaborator Phil Cody. On 10 January 1973, the song was recorded at the Metronome Studio in Stockholm. Studio engineer Michael B. Tretow, who later collaborated with Andersson and Ulvaeus on many singles and albums, had read a book about record producer Phil Spector (Richard Williams' book Out of His Head: The Sound of Phil Spector), famed for his "Wall of Sound" treatment to the songs that he produced. While Spector used several musicians playing the same instruments in the same recording studio at the same time, such a technique would be far too expensive for the recording of 'Ring Ring'. Tretow's solution was to simply record the song's backing track twice in order to achieve an orchestral sound. Changing the speed of the tape between the overdubs, making the instruments marginally out of tune, increased the effect. This was unlike anything that had been done before in Swedish music.

The English version of 'Ring Ring' reached number 2 in the Swedish charts, just behind the Swedish version.

This edition features the original A- and B-side, but on a picture disc. It's the fourth of five picture disc released at the same time as a re-release of the album Ring Ring in 2023.

My collection: 7" single no. 7300
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Ring Ring' / 'She's my kind of girl'

 

Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal) - Björn Benny Agnetha & Frida

Björn & Benny, along with their manager Stig Anderson, were invited to enter a song into Melodifestivalen 1973, whose winner would represent Sweden in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. After several days, Andersson and Ulvaeus came up with the music for the Swedish version of 'Ring Ring', with the working title 'Klocklåt' (Clock Tune). Anderson wrote the lyrics with the intention of making a pop-oriented song, trying to remove the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest at the time. 

When Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-frid performed 'Ring Ring' in the Swedish Eurovision selection competition on 10 February 1973, it was a simpler version arranged by Lars Samuelson and backed by his orchestra, losing the "wall of sound" production sound. The song finished third. Nevertheless, when the studio recording of the song was released it fared much better in the Swedish charts, peaking at the top.

This edition features the original A- and B-side of the Swedish version, but on a picture disc. It's easily the ugliest of the five, replicating the original 'Polar record company sleeve and label', but they could have opted for a photograph instead, one might think. It's the third of five picture disc released at the same time as a re-release of the album Ring Ring in 2023.

My collection: 7" single no. 7299
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal)' / 'Ah, vilka tider'

He is your brother - Björn Benny Agnetha & Frida

'He is your brother' was originally released as the second single by the quartet Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-frid, continuing the lyrical theme of reaching out to your fellow man. While Björn & Benny were originally a duo, the success of 'People need love' was so big that the decision was soon made to continue as a quartet. 

The B-side of the single, 'Santa Rosa' had the working title 'Grandpa's Banjo' and was originally recorded in 1972 with the intention of releasing it as single in Japan. It was considered a Bjorn & Benny track. The writers have explained their dislike of the song, saying that the lyrics were clumsy due to the fact they only put the name Santa Rosa in because it fit the song; they actually came from Stockholm. 

This edition features the original A- and B-side, but on a picture disc. It's the second of five picture disc released at the same time as a re-release of the album Ring Ring in 2023.

My collection: 7" single no. 7303
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'He is your brother' / 'Santa Rosa'

People need love - Björn Benny Agnetha & Frida

There's no reason for music lovers to dislike Abba. The Swedish band have consistently produced melodic music that appeals to almost everyone who likes pop. The only reason that would put people off might be their relentless re-releasing and re-packaging of their albums and singles. Since the band stopped in 1982, over a hundred compilation albums have been released, and all of their albums have been re-released many times over. 

Even the singles got the re-release treatment. In recent years, the resurgence of the vinyl format has prompted Abba to release a singles box set, and now there are these picture disc re-releases from the last few years. Last year they re-released their earliest material, when they were simply called Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-frid. Curiously, on the sleeve they're called Björn Benny & Agnetha Frida, which is a minor revision of the past. 

Anyway, the debut single of the quartet was called 'People need love', and it was originally released in June 1972. This picture disc edition features the original A- and B-side, but on a picture disc. It's the first of five picture disc released at the same time as a re-release of the album Ring Ring in 2023.

My collection: 7" single no. 7301
Found: Sounds, Delft, 31 August 2024
Tracks: 'People need love' / 'Merry-go-round'

Trail of destruction - Kim Wilde

A new single by Kim Wilde is always an event, but more recently it has become more of an event because finally they're being released on 7" vinyl again. 'Trail of destruction' is a powerful song with strong lyrics that should grab you by the throat upon first listen. Unfortunately in my case the single came out while I was on holiday and so my first listen happened on a mobile phone that is becoming a bit geriatric.

So I was happy to receive this physical copy. The only criticism I would venture is the lack of a B-side. Kim has delivered strong B-sides throughout her career, but this particular disc only contains an etching of the 'Kim Wilde' logo and her autograph. It's a nice touch, of course. The new album Closer is out in January, but at the end of this month there are deluxe editions of her three 90s albums on MCA, so plenty of stuff to listen to in the meantime.

My collection: 7" single no. 7297
Found: Cherry Red website, received 24 August 2024
Tracks: 'Trail of destruction'