Ring Ring - Björn + Benny + Anna + Frieda

'Ring Ring' was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Their manager Stig Anderson wrote the lyrics with the intention of making a 'poppy' song and to make it more accessible to a universal audience, Anderson asked American songwriter Neil Sedaka to pen the lyrics for an English version, together with his songwriting partner, Phil Cody. Recorded in January, the song was submitted to the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest - and it finished third.

Nevertheless, the song fared much better in the Swedish charts, both in its Swedish and English language incarnations, where it hit number one and number two respectively. Björn + Benny + Anna + Frieda had an international hit on their hands and decided to re-enter for Eurovision the next year - and the rest is history. I never managed to buy this legendary single, but finally picked up a copy last weekend.

My collection: 7" single no. 5265
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ring ring' / 'Rock 'n' roll band'