How do you comply with a component in successful band? The apparent reply, in fact, is to discover a position in a much bigger one – simple sufficient to recommend, however far more durable to attain. So whereas Benny Andersson’s run in Swedish beat group The Hep Stars appeared a promising sufficient springboard, and Björn Ulvaeus’ spell as one in all The Hootenanny Singers helped safe him precious publicity, nobody would actually have thought of the pair seemingly candidates to finish up as one half of the world’s greatest pop band of all time. And but on their first album collectively, Lycka, which was launched in November 1970, you’ll be able to hear the genesis of ABBA. And it’s one thing of a revelation.
Whereas pop could have been struggling one in all its periodic international slumps in 1970, there was nonetheless a strong sufficient curiosity in singer-songwriters who might craft melodies that undercut the bombast and bluster of the predominant rock fraternity. This 11-track authentic album was initially conceived as a showpiece for Benny and Björn, who, whereas beneath the mentorship of Stig Anderson’s Polar Music, have been eager to show their work extra broadly. However that’s on no account to recommend that what emerged are merely half-cooked concepts prepared for another person to heat up. Whereas there may be typically a palpable sense of the pair trying backward – a handful of those tracks, such because the second, “Nånting är på väg,” may need come from a mid-60s beat group of the fashion Benny had not lengthy left – there may be an rising confidence within the songs and, crucially, that urge for food for the experimentation that was to serve the supergroup so nicely throughout the eight ABBA studio albums to comply with.
The folks influences on Lycka are apparent sufficient and, for the unfamiliar, the looping rhythm of the Swedish language at instances provides to the sense of the sudden. The craving title monitor, translated as “Happiness,” appears like an early Elton John piano ballad and was paired with the folky “Hej, gamle man!” because the album’s first single, the latter topping the radio-play listings within the duo’s homeland. It’s instantly obvious as to why. Right here you’ll expertise these hovering vocals from Agnetha Faltskög and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – truly the primary time the 2 {couples} recorded collectively (Björn and Agnetha have been already engaged by this level). Listening to it at this time feels a bit like discovering a forgotten ABBA monitor behind the vault. Astonishingly, the entire elements for the band are right here already on this track, which opened Lycka’s authentic second aspect.
It was this pop sensibility that formed the route of the 2 songwriters. Elsewhere, the affect of bands resembling The Turtles is evident, whereas the meandering “Ge oss en chans” sounds a bit like Procul Harum or the earliest Standing Quo hits – all blustery psychedelia sweetened up for mainstream tastes. Nonetheless, “Kalles visa” is probably the most entertaining factor right here – think about Benny and Björn becoming a member of glam rockers The Candy and also you’ll get the fundamental thought.
Heavier tracks resembling album nearer “Livet går sin gång” are outnumbered by lighter songs the likes of “Liselott” (that includes a writing credit score for Agnetha), which extra carefully mirror the schlager fashion that’s dominated continental pop for many years. A handful of different artists recorded covers from Lycka, however none had a lot success with their choice, although Anni-Frid revisited the title monitor on her Benny-produced debut LP, Frida, which was issued in 1971.
Whereas nobody would faux that that is an ABBA album, a lot of what we love about that system is clearly in proof. At Lycka’s coronary heart is the brilliance of Benny and Björn’s songwriting, which creates a wealthy however eclectic tapestry throughout the album’s 11 tracks, rewards with repeated listens, and presents some euphoric immediacy too.
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