Ring Ring is the debut studio album by the Swedish group ABBA, initially credited as Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida. It was released in Scandinavia on 26 March 1973, and later in a limited number of other territories, including West Germany, Australia, South Africa and Mexico, through Polar Music.[10] It was a chart-topping album in Belgium, and also a big success in the Netherlands, Norway and South Africa.[11]

The album was re-released in Australasia in 1975, but was not released in the United Kingdom until 1992, and the United States until 1995.

Overview

When the first song "People Need Love" was recorded in the spring of 1972, the group was just one of many projects the four members were involved in. Only after the title track, "Ring Ring" became a hit, did the four decide to go on working together as a permanent group.[12] The original 1973 Polar version of the album opens with "Ring ring (bara du slog en signal)", the Swedish version of the track, and places the English-language version as track four on side two.

The track "She`s My Kind of Girl", included on the international editions, was originally recorded by Björn & Benny in 1969 for the Swedish pornographic film Inga II: the Seduction of Inga. Released as a single in 1970, it became a hit in Japan,[13] and was released as the B-side of the English version of the "Ring Ring" single in Scandinavia. The track "Disillusion" was originally written in Swedish by Agnetha Fältskog for her solo album Elva kvinnor i ett hus. Although she had composed much of her Swedish solo output, "Disillusion" is the only song released on an ABBA studio album to feature a songwriting contribution from her.[14]

Ring Ring was first released on CD in Scandinavia in 1988 by Polar Music alongside Waterloo and ABBA`s self titled album. It follows the same running order as the original Scandinavian LP, being the only CD of this album to do so.[15] Also in 1988, the international version was first released on CD in Australia by Rainbow Music Group.[16] In 1990, the international version of the album was released on CD throughout Europe by Polydor Records with the discs manufactured in West Germany. In the United States, Ring Ring would not be made available on CD - or indeed at all - until 1995 when it was released there by Polydor.[17] The album has been digitally remastered on CD multiple times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series,[18] in 2001 with an updated cover artwork and some bonus tracks,[19] in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and most recently in 2013 as a "Deluxe Edition".[20]

On 19 May 2023, a collection of vinyl products was released to celebrate Ring Ring`s 50th anniversary: a double-LP edition of the album, pressed on 180g black vinyl and half-speed mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios; a 7" box set of five of the album`s singles, pressed on colored vinyl; and 7" picture discs of each of these singles.[21][22][23]

Deluxe edition

On 14 October 2013, Ring Ring was reissued as a deluxe edition for its 40th anniversary. It was released as a CD and DVD set, alongside a 20-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the making of the album.[24][25]

The CD consisted of the original album, expanded with thirteen bonus tracks and featuring: "Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan", a 1972 hit for Frida, with backing vocals from the other ABBA members; The 1970 recording "There’s A Little Man", which features backing vocals from Agnetha and marks her first contribution to a song written and produced by Björn and Benny; "En hälsning till våra parkarrangörer", a 1972 spoken-word promotional single, in which all members promote their 1973 Sweden tour; rare original versions of tracks like "I Am Just a Girl" and "I Saw It In The Mirror"; among other tracks.[24]

The DVD featured the "International Sleeve Gallery" and contained the following television content: a performance of "People Need Love" from SVT`s Vi i femman; one of "Ring Ring" from ORF`s Spotlight; and a 2012 Swedish report where Benny talks about the album`s creation, titled "Ring Ring revealed" from Låtarna som förändrade musiken, on UR.[24][25]

Track listing

The information is based on the Scandinavian edition of the album, and has been adapted from the official ABBA website.[26] All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.

The album`s international edition opens with the English version of "Ring Ring" and features "She`s My Kind of Girl" as track four on Side two.

Deluxe edition

Released for the album`s 40th anniversary, this edition also features "Ring ring (bara du slog en signal)" as a bonus track. Its B-side, "Åh, vilka tider", was not included in this edition, but could be found on The Complete Studio Recordings.

All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.

Personnel

Numbers pretain to the original Swedish release.

• Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (3, 11), co-lead vocals (1, 6, 10–11), backing vocals,
• Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (8), co-lead vocals (1, 6, 10–11), backing vocals
• Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, lead vocals (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12), backing vocals, guitar (1–12), co-lead vocals (11)
• Benny Andersson – piano, keyboards (1–12), mellotron, backing vocals, co-lead vocals (11)

Additional musicians

• Ola Brunkert – drums (1–7, 10–11)
• Roger Palm – drums (8, 12)
• Jan Bandel – drums (9)
• Rutger Gunnarsson – bass (1–2, 6, 8, 10–12)
• Mike Watson – bass (3–5, 7)
• Stefan Brolund – bass (9)
• Janne Schaffer – acoustic guitar (2), electric guitar (1–4, 6–7, 9–12)
• Håkan Jansson – baritone saxophone (9)

Production

• Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus – producers, arrangers
• Michael B. Tretow – engineer
• Björn Almstedt, Lennart Karlsmyr, Rune Persson – assistant engineers
• Sven-Olof Walldoff – string arrangements on "I Am Just a Girl"[27]
• Lars Falck, Bengt H. Malmqvist – photography
• Peter Wiking – original album design
• Jon Astley, Tim Young, Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 1997 remasters
• Jon Astley, Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 2001 remasters
• Henrik Jonsson – remastering for The Complete Studio Recordings box set

Charts

Certifications and sales