The sensational Eurovision Track Contest win by ABBA in 1974 with “Waterloo” was no assure of fast and lasting worldwide success. For the following yr or extra, Australia and New Zealand have been probably the most receptive overseas territories for the Swedish quartet, with some additional singles success in Scandinavia. Then got here the only that modified their worldwide fortunes for good. In September 1975, Britain answered ABBA’s “SOS.”
The observe, which made the US chart on September 6, is widely known as the one hit during which each the group and track names are palindromes. However it’s not at all times remembered that the track was additionally launched, in Swedish, by the group’s Agnetha Fältskog. With music by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and lyrics by band supervisor Stig Anderson, it was included on her solo album Elva Kvinnor I Eet Hus (Eleven Girls In One Home). That LP was launched simply after the ABBA model had change into a success, in late 1975.
With hindsight, and within the context of the group’s unimaginable success within the years that adopted, ABBA’s “SOS” sounds irresistible, but it was not an automated hit. It entered the UK bestsellers on that September day at a tentative No.47 in a 50-position survey. However every week later, it made the High 40 for the primary time at No.31, and located its momentum.
“SOS” rose once more to No.16, then appeared as if it’d cease at No.13 earlier than rising once more into the High 10, at No.7 and eventually, for 2 weeks, its No.6 peak. It shared the upper chart floor with British hitmakers corresponding to David Essex, David Bowie and Smokie and American artists starting from the Drifters to Artwork Garfunkel, who topped the checklist together with his remake of “I Only Have Eyes For You.” No fewer than 17 extra UK High 10 hits for ABBA would observe.
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