ABBA

ABBA was a pop music group that enjoyed significant success during its decade long career.

History

Three Swedish musicians, and one born in Norway, release a single, 'People Need Love' as group in 1972 under a rather unwieldy group name setting out each of their four names: 'Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid'.

The four members of the band were Swedes Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Norwegian-born Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

The ABBA name

It was not until almost a year later in 1973 that the band's manager became annoyed with such an extended nomenclature to refer to the band, and began referring to the group using their first letters of each of their names to form an acronym, ABBA.

ABBA tastes success

ABBA became one of the most successful pop groups ever, and their music continues to remain commercially popular 25 years after the release of their last studio album, 'The Visitors'.

At the height of their career, a movie was filmed of their 1977 Australian tour, and released as 'ABBA - The Movie', along with an accompanying album 'ABBA - The Album' in 1978.

The end of ABBA

By 1981 the band was clearly moving apart. The band's final album 'The Visitors' was released in 1981 to much lower sales than most of the group's earlier recordings. An often hoped for later album, 'Opus 10' which had been planned, has never materialized. Final studio recording sessions took place in 1982.

The individual band members have continued to pursue careers in music, albeit sporadically in the case of the female members.

Notes and links

Official (Record Company) ABBA Website