"Ring Ring" by Abba (1973)

We know them as "Abba" now but back in the day, album was credited to "Björn, Benny & Agnetha, Frida" - still unknown internationally, but fairly popular in their homeland as solo artists, so this was kind of supergroup in Sweden. Guys just started working together and girls tagged along, mostly chirping backing vocals and it was obviously joined effort of young musicians who are still finding their own sound. Later on we got used to incredibly high standards of their subsequent studio work, so this debut comes as curiously undercooked - only "Ring, Ring" and "Nina, Pretty Ballerina" have that particular magic we now associate with "Abba", the rest is frankly disposable and obviously they were still conditioned with their schlager surroundings. 

In his eloquent biography "Bright lights, dark shadows" author Carl Magnus Palm points how difficult it was for an unknown pop band coming from non-English territory to step up under international spotlight, particularly as popular music was all about Rock - cultivating their brand of pop was obviously uncool amongst music critics who dismissed something as sunny and lightweight. Frankly, when you hear something as "Love Isn't Easy" or "Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother"  its hard to hear signs of future greatness. Most noticeable is how much the guys hogged the spotlight and distinctive voices of girls are mainly used as harmonies - Agnetha gets to sing her own song ("Disillusion") - it will take a while until all the ingredients finally jell properly and girls create that celebrated "third voice" that will make them a sensation. Personally, I find the most fascinating how imperfect things were at the time when two couples must have been at their most happiest - they were young, in love and very enthusiastic - later when their professional success exploded like a supernova, everything went downhill at home and final studio recordings found them as four unhappy, divorced individuals forced by contractual obligations to work together. Here, at this point, imperfect as they were, "Rock'n Roll Band" and yodelling "People Need Love" are still bursting with happiness. However, Scottish pop band "Middle of the Road" were far more successful at this particular brand of bubblegum and had obviously paved the way for a Swedish foursome.