Viva ABBA ! U.K. top40 * Waterloo*

The following U.K. chart has become some kind of a collector`s item as it definitely put an end to decades of ABBA-free hit-parades. As from next week it will bear a brand new complexion what with the Arrival of the band`s very first entry. Which spot will they reach first? Somewhere in the top ten no doubt perhaps even directly at number one!

14/04/1974

1] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (4)
2] Paper Lace: Billy, don`t be a hero (7)
3] Gary Glitter: Remember me this way (3)
4] Slade: Everyday (2)
5] The Glitter Band: Angel face (3)
6] Hot Chocolate: Emma (4)
7] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything (3)
8] Mud: The cat crept in (1)
9] Charlie Rich: The most beautiful girl (8)
10] Queen: Seven seas of Rhye (4)
11] Olivia Newton-John: Long live love (3)
12] The New Seekers: I get a little sentimental over you (5)
13] The Carpenters: Jambalaya (5)
14] Sunny: Doctor`s orders (1)
15] Little Jimmy Osmond: I`m gonna knock on your door (1)
16] Barry Blue: School love (5)
17] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock (2)
18] Mott the Hoople: Golden age of rock and roll (1)
19] Elton John: Candle in the wind (6)
20] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (1)
21] Robert Knight: Everlasting love
22] The Chi-Lites: Homely,girl
23] Limmie and the Family Cookin': A walkin' miracle
24] The Hollies: The air that I breathe
25] Ringo Starr: You're sixteen
26] The Wombles: The wombling song
27] Wings: Jet
28] Freddie Star: It's you
29] Genesis: I know what I like (in your wardrobe)
30] The Electric Light Orchestra: Ma ma belle
31] The Ragtimers: The sting
32] Barbra Streisand: The way we were
33] The Bay City Rollers: Remember (sha-la-la-la)
34] The Doobie Brothers: Listen to the music
35] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
36] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black
37] Alvin Stardust: Jealous mind
38] Lena Zavaroni: Ma He's making eyes at me
39] The Three Degrees: Year of decision
40] Stevie Wonder: He's misstra know-it-all





Well the doctor`s orders are to sing on and on "Long live ABBA"!
Next week the famous band will be creeping in but for the time being they`re just knocking on the chart door. The golden age of ABBA is about to start. They certainly are everything to all their fans. Let us remember them this way.

 


21/04/1974


1]Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (5)
2] Mud: The cat crept in (2)
3] Slade: Everyday (3)
4] The Glitter Band: Angel face (4)
5] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything (4)
6] Hot Chocolate: Emma (5)
7] Gary Glitter: Remember me this way (4)
8] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (2)
9] Sunny: Doctor`s orders (2)
10] Paper Lace: Billy, don`t be a hero (8)
11] The Chi-Lites: Homely girl (1)
12] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock (3)
13] Little Jimmy Osmond: I`m gonna knock on your door (2)
14] Queen : Seven seas of Rhye (5)
15] Limmie and the Family Cookin`: A walkin` miracle (1)
16] Charlie Rich: The most beautiful girl (in the world) (9)
17] ABBA: Waterloo (1)  
18] Mott the Hoople: Golden age of rock and roll (2)
19] Olivia Newton-John (without John Travolta) : Long live love (4)
20] The New Seekers: I get a little sentimental over you (6)
21]Genesis: I know what I like (in your wardrobe)
22] The Carpenters: Jambalaya (on the bayou)
23] The Wombles: The wombling song
24] The Hollies: The air that I breathe
25] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black
26] Barry Blue: School love
27] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
28] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
29] Ringo Starr: You're sixteen
30] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors
31] Stevie Wonder: He's misstra know-it-all
32] Freddie Star: It's you
33] The Three Degrees: Year of decision
34] Barbra Streisand: The way we were
35] The Ragtimers: The sting
36] Wings: Jet
37] Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: Satisfaction guaranted (or get your love back)
38] Peters and Lee: Don't stay away too long
39] Elton John: Candle in the wind
40] The Doobie Brothers: Listen to the music

Well as it happens third week at the top for Terry Jacks. Since there are four seasons I let you do the reckoning.

 



28/04/1974

1] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (6)
2] ABBA: Waterloo (2)
3] Mud: The cat crept in (3)
4] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (3)
5] The Glitter Band: Angel face (5)
6] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything (5)
7] Slade: Everyday (4)
8] Sunny: Doctor`s orders (3)
9] The Chi-Lites: Homely girl (2)
10] Limmie and the Family Cookin`: A walkin` miracle (2)
11] Little Jimmy Osmond: I`m gonna knock on your door (3)
12] Gary Glitter: Remember me this way (5)
13] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock (4)
14] Hot Chocolate: Emma (6)
15] Paper Lace: Billy, don`t be a hero (9)
16] Mott the Hoople: The golden age of rock and roll (3)
17] Queen: Seven seas of Rhye (6)
18] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black (1)
19] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (1)
20] Stevie Wonder: He`s misstra know it all (1)
21] Genesis: I know what I like (in your wardrobe)
22] Olivia Newton-John: Long live love
23] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
24] Charlie Rich: The most beautiful girl (in the world)
25] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
26] Wizzard: Rock and roll winter
27] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors
28] The Three Degrees: Year of decision
29] The Wombles: The wombling song
30] The Carpenters: Jambalaya (on the bayou)
31] The Osmonds: I can't stop
32] The Hollies: The air that I breathe
33] The New Seekers: I get a little sentimental over you
34] Ringo Starr: You're sixteen
35] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang
36] Barbra Streisand: The way you were
37] The Ragtimers: The sting
38] Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: Satisfaction guaranteed
39] The Intruders: I'll alway love my Mama
40] Wings: Jet


Now then now then as it happens fourth week at the top for T.J.. Better luck next time for the ABBA sisters unless they get stuck at n°2 as was the case for them in the Netherlands because of a few Cats getting in the way.
While we`re on the sobject I`d like to seize the opportunity while SITS is still on top to pay a wee tribute to late Belgian singer Jacques Brel who incidentally wrote the original back in 1967 ("Le moribond"), which was first covered by Rod Mac Cuen. As it happens we`re currently celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of his disappearance this very month. Onkol Ted tells me other songs of his had been covered abroad: "Amsterdam" by David Bowie and "Jackie" by Scott Walker. The follow-up to SITS by T.J. was also a Jacques Brel song of 1964 ("If you go away").
I`m not going away just yet.
Back to this week`s chart: this week the cat is creeping down in Britain while they`re zooming up in Holland :-).  Paper Lace are still lingering on after 9 solid weeks in the top20. Their follow-up "The night Chicago died" only made n°3 in the U.K. but, unlike BDBAH which didn`t do anything across the water it became a hit worldwide (says Onkol Ted).
Just for the record I once met Mungo Jerry`s sister on the way to church: she`s got long legs alright.
To end on a more cheerful note: yes, Stevie, I know the feeling, there are quite a few of them around. But let`s not forget: we are all humble Wombles!





Well howzabout that, doesn`t time fly, we`re already in May!
Sweden one thousand points/La Suède mille points!
That finishes the votes of the Haitian jury



O5/05/1974

1] ABBA: Waterloo (3)
2] Mud: The cat crept in (4)
3] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (7)
4] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (4)
5] The Chi-Lites: Homely girl ( 3)
6] Limmie and the Family Cookin`: A walkin` miracle (3)
7] Sunny: Doctor`s orders (4)
8] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything (6)
9] Wizzard: Rock`n`roll winter (1)
10] The Glitter Band: Angel face (6)
11] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (2)
12] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang (1)
13] Slade: Everyday (5)
14] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black (2)
15] Little Jimmy Osmond: I`m gonna knock on your door (4)
16] The Three Degrees: Year of decision (1)
17] Stevie Wonder: He`s misstra know it all (2)
18] Hot Chocolate: Emma (7)
19] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock (5)
20] Gary Glitter: Remember me this way (6)
21] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors
22] Mott the Hoople: The golden age of rock and roll
23] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
24] TheOsmonds: I can't stop
25] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
26] Genesis: I know what i like (in your wardrobe)
27] The Rubettes: Sugar baby love
28] Jim Stafford: Spiders and snakes
29] M.F.S.B.: T.S.O.P. (The sound of Philadelphia)
30] The Wombles: The wombling song
31] Paper Lace: Billy don't be a hero
32] Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: Satisfaction guaranteed
33] The Intruders: I'll always love my Mama
34] Charlie Rich: The most beautiful girl (in the world)
35] The Carpenters: Jambalaya (on the bayou)
36] Queen: Seven sees of Rhye
37] The Ragtimers: The sting
38] Status Quo: Break the rules
39] Paper Lace: The night Chicago died
40] Barbra Streisand: The way we were

Whooops the muddy cat is creeping up again while the Wombles are still wombling free.
Doesn`t Sunny`s progress in the chart remind you of the hectic pace of a Derrick episode? Well it does me and all (as it happens).
Last but not least in those days a U.K. chart was not really complete without the BCR. Welcome to the boys then.
Happy May day to all from Onkol Ted and me.   



12/O5/1974


1] ABBA: Waterloo (4)
2] The Rubettes: Sugar baby love (1)
3] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (5)
4] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (3)
5] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang (2)
6] Wizzard: Rock`n`roll winter (2)
7] The Chi-lites: Homely girl (4)
8] Limmie and the Family Cookin`: A walkin` miracle (4)
9] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (8)
10] Stevie Wonder: He`s misstra know it all (3)
11] Alvin Stardust: Red dress (1)
12] Mud: The cat crept in (5)
13] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black (3)
14] Paper Lace: The night Chicago died (1)
15] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything (7)
16] The Osmonds: I can`t stop (1)
17] Sunny: Doctor`s orders (5)
18] Jim Stafford: Spiders ans snakes :-(1)
19] The Glitter Band: Angel face (7)
20] The Three Degrees: Year of decision (2)
21] Little Jimmy Osmond: I'm gonna knock on your door
22] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
23] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors
24] Slade: Everyday
25] M.F.S.B.: T.S.O.P. (The sound of Philadelphia)
26] Status Quo: Break the rules
27] Sparks: This town ain't big enough for both of us
28] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
29] David Cassidy: If I didn't care
30] The Wombles: The wombling song
31] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock
32] The Intruders: I'll always love my Mama
33] Genesis: I know what I like (in your wardrobe)
34] R. Dean Taylor: There's a ghost in my house
35] Diana Ross: Last time I saw him
36] Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: Satisfaction guaranteed
37] Gigliola Cinquetti: Go
38] Mott the Hoople: The golden age of rock and roll
39] Charlie Rich: The most beautiful girl (in the world)
40] Paper Lace: Billy don't be a hero

WHOOOPs now What a sensation Quick`s the word, sharp`s the motion. State-of-the-art newfangled brand new squealing group the Rubettes just zooms out of nowhere directley up to nomber two, becoming the first ever threat to our fave rave four letter band. Now then now then (as it happens). Will the ABBAs be able to remain on top next week (I personalley wouldn`t pin too many hopes on that ) or will they have to be content with just two miserable weeks? Jost WATCH THIS SPACE and see how it goes. In the meantime, fingers and toes crossed. A little riddle now for all our clever clogs out there. Here goes: what`s the common link between n°4 and n°10 in this week`s classementation? Now then now then (as it happens) thinking caps on everyone That one had incidentalley been suggested to me by our very own Onkol Ted.
Now howzabout two (for the prize of one) of mine now: A] What`s the common link between n°6 and n°9 in this week`s line-up?
B] Last but not least what`s the difference between n°11 and n°13 in this week`s list?
Anticipated regards to all winners. Unfortunately the winners take nought in this non-competition.
I`ll go get me tea now. Tarah

Gloups! Les zABBAs seront-ils n°1 une troisième semaine ou vont ils se faire dégommer les roupettes par ze Rubettes Sa s'rait vraiment trop bête

Allez! Tous avec moâ

Chougueur bébi lôve
Gna-gna-gna-gna-gna
Ouah ouah ouah ouah ouah

By the way, celle-ci fut couverte par Dave. Franch'ment, les boys bands n'ont vraiment pas de veine...


 
19/O5/1974


1] The Rubettes: Sugar baby love (2)
2] ABBA: Waterloo (5)
3] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (4)
4] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang (3)
5] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (6)
6] Wizzard: Rock`n`roll winter (3)
7] Paper Lace: The night Chicago died (2)
8] The Chi-Lites: Homely girl (5)
9] Sparks: This town ain`t big enough for both of us (1)
10] Alvin Stardust: Red dress (2)
11] Stevie Wonder: He`s misstra know it all (4)
12] Limmie and the Family Cookin`: A walkin` miracle (5)
13] The Three Degrees: Year of decision (3)
14] Jim Stafford: Spiders and snakes :-(2)
15] The Osmonds: I can`t stop (2)
16] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors (1)
17] Mud: The cat crept in (6)
18] Status Quo: Break the rules (1)
19] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed in black (4)
20] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun (9)
21] David Cassidy: If I didn't care
22] Gigliola Cinquetti: Go
23] Sunny: Doctor's orders
24] R. Dean Taylor: There's a ghost in my house
25] M.F.S.B.: T.S.O.P. (The sound of Philadelphia)
26] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
27] Diana ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything
28] Marvin Hamlisch: The entertainer
29] Mouth and MacNeal: I see a star
30] The Glitter Band: Angel face
31] The Wombles: The wombling song
32] David Essex: America (caca)
33] Cockney rebel: Judy Teen
34] Cliff Richard: (You keep me) Hangin' on
35] Bill Haley and the Comets: Rock around the clock
36] Little Jimmy Osmond: I'm gonna knock on your door
37] Diana Ross: last time I saw him
38] Millican and Nesbitt: For old time's sake
39] The Intruders: I'll always love my Mama
40] Act One: Tom the Peeper

WHOOPS! ABBAleon did surrender this week. But as usual they feel like they win when they lose, which instantly brings solace to our hearts.
On other topics: Did you know that this week`s n°3 song had been massively covered all over Europe and even in Freedom Fries land by Playmobil girl Mireille Mathieu who once duetted with Atlandic lad Patrick "Bobby" Duffy? I bet you didn`t.
Now then, this week`s little riddle (as it happens): what`s the common link between n°3 and n°20 in the present listing? Good luck to all
Also this week aptly named Charlie Rich is back with a vengence. He certainly didn`t stay away too long, did he? He`s now taken the most beautiful (actually far from homely) longlegged girl dressed in red behind closed doors. It`s alright for some hey?
I do wonder what they`re up to.
And finally today`s vital question is: Does any of you know how it feels to shang a lang? Personally I`ve only banged a boomerang so far.

Ouh ABBA les Rubettes Y z'ont piqué la première place aux zABBAs

  




26/05/1974


1] The Rubettes: Sugar baby love (3)
2] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang (4)
3] Sparks: This town ain`t big enough for both of us (2)
4] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (5)
5] Paper Lace: The night Chicago died (3)
6] ABBA: Waterloo (6)
7] Alvin Stardust: Red dress (3)
8] Status Quo: Break the rules (2)
9] R.Dean Taylor: There`s a ghost in my house (1)
10] David Cassidy: If I didn`t care (1)
11] Wizzard: Rock`n`roll winter (4)
12] The Osmonds: I can`t stop (3)
13] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (7)
14] Jim Stafford: Spiders and snakes :-(3)
15] The Chi-Lites: Homely girl (6)
16] Gigliola Cinquetti: Go (before you break my heart ) (1)
17] Stevie Wonder: He`s misstra know it all (5)
18] Mouth and MacNeal: I see a star (1)
19] The Three Degrees: Year of decision (4)
20] Mungo Jerry: Longlegged woman dressed(like a dog`s dinner)in a black négligé with a set of matching executive luggage with a genuine leather embellishment and initials (5)
21] Cliff Richard: (You keep me) Hangin' on
22] M.F.S.B.: T.S.O.P. (The sound of Philadelphia)
23] Showaddywaddy: Hey rock and roll
24] Terry Jacks: Seasons in the sun
25] Charlie Rich: Behind closed doors
26] Bryan Ferry: The "in" crowd
27] Limmy and the Family Cookin': A walkin' miracle
28] Cockney rebel: Judy Teen
29] David Bowie: Rock and roll suicide
30] Mud: The cat crept in
31] Marvin Hamlish: The entertainer
32] Sunny: Doctor's orders
33] Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye: You are everything
34] David Essex: America
35] Harry Chapin: W.O.L.D.
36] Perry Como: I want to give
37] Andy Williams: Getting over you
38] The Wombles: The wombling song
39] Diana Ross: Last time I saw him
40] Ray Stevens: The streak


The all teeth out Mormonds are still going up the chart with already their fourth top 20 hit (and still counting).
In a quite different genre we welcome two Eurocontest leftovers this week. First and not least there`s wee Italian second -time-around famous pizza lass Gigliola Cinquetti whose eurosong "Si" had quite interestingly been translated "Go". "How come?" you may ask.
Well, rumour has it that the idea for the English version came up as she was prevented from becoming a Johnny Logan female counterpart (that is to say winning the Grand Prix twice) by the newly-called ABBA. Having to be content with second position she is said to have turned to the confetti-covered foursome and wombled out: "Go!", thus expressing her wish to see them vanish out of sight. Unruffled by this unexpected outburst the winning siblings just replied by singing: "What`s a matter you, gotta no respect, why you looka so sad? It`s a not so bad Ah shaddap-a you face!" Unless I and Onkol Ted are grossly mistaken the lady however remains the youngest ever Eurowinner of all times if you disregard Belgian lass Sandra Kim.
   Second and last Europarticipants to enter the top 20 this week are duetting double Dutch duo Big Mouth and Maggie MacNeal  who, if my memory serves me right, finished at nomber three in the contest with their rather catchy tune "Ik zie een ster" which, faithfully translated, would come down to "I see a star" (how cunning!)
Onkol Ted tells me that, unlike Gigliola, the hairy twosome were quite pleased with the ABBA victory and thought of rebaptising their song "I see four stars", only the 45 had already been wrapped up and ready for sale.
Willem Duyn and Sjoukje van`t Spijker (quite a mouthful...and MacNeal]) as their real names go had already been in the U.S. top 10 with "How do you do? (a-ha)" They had no less than two nomber ones in Holland in 1971/72 as well as a string of top ten entries. Unfortunately they split at the end of 1974.
   Loud-mouthed Willem and his biological wife then went on to form the duet Big Mouth and Little Eve and had two minor hits at home in 1975-76 (one of them being a small tribute to our dearest Onkol Ted) while Maggie McNeal represented her country again at the Euro thing in 1980 with the rather predictable tune "Amsterdam" which proved a lousy flop and eventually finished her career altogether. The two biggest solo hits of hers are "Terug naar de kust" in 1976 and "When you`re gone" released in 1975.
Mind you, Mouth and MacNeal won`t be the last Dutch act to make the U.K. top 20 as the very unique Shocking Blue had been paving the way for the celebritous Golden Earring, George Baker Selection, Teach-in, Pussycat, Vader Abraham and his gang of wombling smurfs, the Art Company, Elvis fan Danny Mirror and half-duet Yvonne Keely-Paay.
And so now to finish on a cheerful note: one more cornetto for Mamma!
What` s a matter you?
Gotta no respect?
Why you looka so sad?
It`s a not so bad
Ah! Shaddap-a you face!


Les Three Degrees, chanteuses préférées du Prince Charles, n'arrivent pas à se décider de quitter le top...

Dans cet épisode, deux adversaires eurovisionesques des zABBAs font leur entrée, il s'agit de la pizzaesque Gigliola Cinquetti dont j'explique que le titre anglais Go (= "fous l'camp") choisi pour sa chanson Si (="Oui") vient du fait que la belle italienne, vexée d'avoir été battue par le désormais célèbre groupe, se serait écriée en se tournant vers eux: "Go!"
Ensuite, le duo hollandais Mouth and McNeal dont la moitié refit une tentative infructueuse au Grand Prix en 1980. 



O2/06/1974


1] The Rubettes: Sugar baby lôve (4)
2] Sparks: This town ain`t big enough for both of us (3)
3] Paper Lace: The night Chicago died (4)
4] R.Dean Taylor: There`s a ghost in my house (2)
5] Peters and Lee: Don`t stay away too long (6)
6] Showaddywaddy: Hey rock and roll (1)
7] The Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang (5)
8] Gigliola Cinquetti: Go (before I break your neck ) (2)
9] David Cassidy: If I didn`t care (2)
10] Alvin Stardust: Red dress (4)
11] Status Quo: Break the rules (3)
12] Mouth and McNeal: I see a star (2)
13] Ray Stevens: The streak (1)
14] The Osmonds: I can`t stop (4)
15] ABBA: Waterloo (7)
16] Bryan Ferry: The "in" crowd (1)
17] Cockney Rebel: Judy Teen (1)
18] Jim Stafford: Spiders and snakes (4)
19] The Wombles: Remember you`re a Womble (8)
20] Cliff Richard: (You keep me) Hangin` on (1)


Well, now then now then looks like it`s ABBA`s last week in the top twenty this week. Actually this is their last top twenty appearance for this year (as it happens). Indeed, the next two follow-ups will respectively reach n° 32 and n° 38. Quite logically then, today`s question is: what(on earth) are those "not so successful songs?"
P.S.: I`m scared of spiders and snakes and I`m afraid of ghosts . I do like Wombles though.

Eh bien, Waterloo sera à la fois le premier et le dernier 45 tours des zABBAs par les zABBAs à figurer dans le top 20 pour cette année car les deux suivants se hisseront péniblement à la 32ème et la 38ème place. Il s'écoulera grosso merdo un an et demi avant que les dieux scandinaves ne reviennent à l'assaut glorieux des premières places du top...

  L'année 69 marque la rencontre des couples d'ABBA. Agnetha rencontre Bjorn et Benny rencontre Anni-Frid Les deux couples se fiancent et puis se marient, pour finalement divorcer. L'équipe auteur compositeur Benny & Bjorn se sont rencontrés évidemment quelques années plus tôt, en 1966.

Bien qu'Agnetha & Anni-Frid ont contribué aux voix de la chorale sur l'album des hommes 'Lycka', la contribution commune des deux couples semblait très éloignée, puisqu'il y eu l'essai désastreux d'une représentation dans un restaurant de Gothenburg en 1970 sous le nom de 'Festfolket'.

C'est en 72 que le groupe s'est officiellement formé sous le nom de 'Björn and Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid' et ont réalisé leur premier 45t. 'People Need Love', un n°17 au hit parade suédois. Avec l'invitation en 73 de proposer une chanson pour la sélection suédoise de l'Eurovision, Benny, Björn & Stig Anderson, le manager du groupe, venait avec la chanson 'Ring Ring'. Il finirent à la 3ème place.. Mais les quatre sont revenus l'année suivante avec la chanson "Waterloo", celle qui allait gagner le premier prix de l'eurovision, à Brighton, le 6 avril 1974.

Ainsi le nom du groupe devint ABBA, ce qui se prononce aisément dans toutes les langues. Le concours de l'eurovision a donné à ABBA tout ce qu'il fallait pour capter l'attention internationale et être suivie de succès. Quoi qu'il en soit, après que "Waterloo" fut n°1 en Angleterre (n°6 aux USA une première pour une chanson de l'eurovision) leur succès a diminué fortement. La chanson "Ring ring" n'atteignait que la 32ème place, "So Long" n'est pas apparu dans les hit parades, 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do' n'était que 38ème. Le Royaume uni est un marché important pour le groupe et ils ont du avoir beaucoup de désespoirs. Alors ils ont réalisé "SOS, qui a atteint le n°6, il fut suivi par 3 n°1 au hit des 45t. - 'Mamma Mia', 'Fernando' and 'Dancing Queen'. Après deux albums atteignant le top 30, le troisième album appelé 'Greatest Hits' devint n°1. en Angleterre

En 1976 avec le tour promotionnel d 'Arrival' était en route. Abba était continuellement vu en photos, en interviews, ou apparaissait à la T.V.. La même année on a vu une série télévisée incluant une page "ABBA en Australie", "ABBA en Pologne, 'Studio 2', 'ABBA D' ABBA Do', 'ABBA Musikladen' et ainsi l'année se finissait. En 77 le groupe préparait aussi le tour d'Europe et d'Australie. Durant ce tour le groupe a interprété en public une nouvelle série de 3 chansons " intitulée 'The Girl With The Golden Hair' Le tour en Australie leur a donné l'opportunité de réaliser un film, qui devint plus tard en 78 un grand film "ABBA the Movie".

'Knowing Me, Knowing You' & 'The Name Of The Game ' deviennent n°1 au hit parade anglais. L'album "Arrival fut n°1 en Angleterre, pendant qu'aux USA 'Dancing Queen' devenait le premier et le seul n°1 aux USA sur le "Billboard Chart". L'année 77 devenait une autre année a succès pour le groupe.

Le 45t. 'Take A Chance On Me' et le 33t. 'The Album' étaient n°1 en U.K., 'ABBA - The Movie' a pulvérisé les écrans de cinéma aux USA, on a déclaré le moi de mai 78, le mois ABBA. Le groupe réalisait des apparition à la tv et assurait une excellente promotion. Mai 78 a aussi vu l'inauguration d'un nouveau studio d'enregistrement. La réalisation du 45t. 'Summer Night City' montrait qu'ABBA pouvait s'adapter à la musique disco.

L'année suivant en 1979, montrait que le groupe était très occupé à la réalisation de deux albums 'Voulez Vous', 'Greatest Hits Vol. 2', atteignant le n°1 et contenant 5 45t. 'Chiquitita' (qui fut donnée à l'UNICEF en 79 année internationale de l'Enfant), 'Does Your Mother Know ?' - avec la voix de Björn - , le double 45t 'Angeleyes' / 'Voulez-Vous', 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' & 'I Have A Dream' qui manquait le n°1 à Noël. Il y eut aussi une émission spéciale ABBA en Suisse et ABBA voyageait au tour du monde pour la dernière fois, aux USA, Canada & Europe, finissant au Japon en mars 80.

'The Winner Takes It All' fut réalisé durant l'été 1980 et devint un autre n° 1, et 'Super Trouper' a suivi ses traces. L'album 'Super Trouper devint pour le groupe le sixième n°1 des albums et plus tard il y eut la réalisation du maxi 'Lay All Your Love On Me' à l'été 1981.

Il n'y a pas eu de nouvelles éditions avant la fin de 1981. L'album 'The Visitors' a établi lui-même un numéro 1 et le 45t 'One Of Us' devint un n°3. Il fut suivi par un autre 45t 'Head Over Heels' en 1982, l'année ou ABBA fêtait leur dix années de vie commune. 'The Singles - The First Ten Years' devint le 8ème album consécutif d'ABBA a atteindre le n°1 au hit parade des albums, et deux 45t ont été réalisés : le merveilleux, habile et intelligemment arrangé 'The Day Before You Came' et le dernier 45t original 'Under Attack'.

L'année suivante en 1983, a montré une année très calme. Un 33t compilation est sorti 'Thank You For The Music', une collection de musique d'amour qui fut édité pour Noël, avec le 45t 'Thank You For The Music'. Il semblait naturel qu'ABBA voulait assumer un retour vers les studios pour réaliser un nouvel album. Après tout aucune cassure n'était annoncée, le groupe voulait aussi promouvoir les carrières solo avec des engagement avec le groupe. Ainsi donc Agnetha & Frida ont maintenu leur carrière solo depuis 76 et continuait leur engagement avec ABBA

Les carrières solo vont et viennent et des compilations à bas prix d'ABBA ont été réalisée depuis le milieu des années 80s et jusqu'a 1990 quand Polygram International a acheté la catalogue d'ABBA. En 1992 ce fut l'année des reprises d'ABBA avec 'Björn Again' qui a montré un show dans tout le monde, Erasure avec le cd single 'ABBA-esque' & 'ABBA Gold Greatest Hits' devenant le 9ème n°1 avec un n°16 'Dancing Queen' sur le hit parade des cd single

'More ABBA Gold - More ABBA Hits' ont suivi en1993 avec la BBC qui montrait à l'écran sa propre contribution 'A for ABBA'. Un spécial 4cd box a été réalisé à l'automne 94, 'Thank You For The Music' consistant un un box dur de 4cd plus un livre et comprenant un cd avec des chansons inédites 'ABBA Undeleted'. Il y eut aussi des films, 'The Adventures of Priscilla - Queen of the Desert' & 'Muriel's Wedding', avec des chansons d'ABBA dans la musique du film. En 1996, il y eut l'édition limitée 'ABBA - Forever Gold' incluant un CD bonus avec le morceau 'Put On Your White Sombrero'.

En Mars 97, nous avons vu la nouvelle réalisation de tout le catalogue d'ABBA Les 9 albums originaux d'ABBA ont été remasterisés digitalement, avec 5 cd incluant des titres supplémentaires.