Ring Ring (album)
{{Short description|1973 studio album by ABBA/Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Ring Ring
| type = studio
| artist = Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida
| cover = ABBA - Ring Ring (Original Polar LP).jpg
| alt =
| released = 26 March 1973
| recorded = 29 March 1972, 26 September 1972 – 15 March 1973{{Cite web |date=2016-10-09 |title=Liner notes, part 1 |url=http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/ring-ring-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-1 |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009193805/http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/ring-ring-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-1 |archive-date=9 October 2016 }}
| venue =
| studio = Metronome, Europafilm and KMH Studio, StockholmScott, Robert (2002) 'ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song', Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p. 22
| genre = {{hlist|Europop{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ring-ring-mw0000199347|title = Ring Ring - ABBA | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic| website=AllMusic }}|folk-pop{{cite book|editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |year=1995 |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |publisher=Vintage Books |location=New York |isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=4}}}}
| length = 35:51
| label = Polar
| producer = {{flatlist|
}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Waterloo
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Ring Ring
| type = studio
| single1 = People Need Love
| single1date = 1 June 1972
| single2 = He Is Your Brother
| single2date = 22 November 1972
| single3 = Ring ring (bara du slog en signal)
| single3date = 14 February 1973
| single4 = Ring Ring (English Version)
| single4date = 19 February 1973
| single5 = Another Town, Another Train
| single5date = March 1973
| single6 = I Am Just a Girl
| single6date = May 1973 (Japan only)
| single7 = Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
| single7date = June 1973
| single8 = Rock'n Roll Band
| single8date = July 1973
| single9 = Ring Ring (German Version)
| single9date = 10 August 1973
| single10 = Nina, Pretty Ballerina
| single10date = 6 October 1973
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Eder |first=Bruce |title=Ring Ring |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ring-ring-mw0000199347 |access-date=25 January 2025 |website=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2007 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84609-856-7 |pages=31 |edition=5th Concise}}
| rev3 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |pages=1–2}}
| rev4 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev4score = 4/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |date=1995 |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=3–4}}
| rev5 =
| rev5score =
}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Ring Ring |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ring-ring-mw0000199347 |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=AllMusic}} It was a chart-topping album in Belgium, and also a big success in the Netherlands, Norway and South Africa.Scott, Robert (2002) 'ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song', Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p. 24
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.{{Cite book|title=Guinness Book of Rock Stars|last1=Rees|first1=Dafydd|last2=Crampton|first2=Luke|publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd.|year=1991|isbn=0-85112-971-4|location=Enfield|pages=1–2}} 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,Palm, C. M. Thank You for the Music. Polar Music International AB, 1994. 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.{{Cite web|date=2013-10-13|title=Mecm - Mecm csajok - Hotdog.hu|url=http://www.hotdog.hu/mecm/mecm-csajok|access-date=2021-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013090931/http://www.hotdog.hu/mecm/mecm-csajok|archive-date=13 October 2013}}
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.{{Cite web|date=2009-03-23|title=Swedish Polars (1988)|url=https://abbaoncd.wordpress.com/european-cds/european-cds-1988/|access-date=2021-05-04|website=Abba on CD|language=en}} Also in 1988, the international version was first released on CD in Australia by Rainbow Music Group.{{Citation|title=ABBA – Ring Ring (1988, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/ABBA-Ring-Ring/release/5407418|language=en|access-date=2021-05-04}} 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 Kingdom, the album was first issued on cassette on 7 September 1992 then later on CD in the following year.{{cite web |title=New Releases: Albums |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-09-05.pdf |website=Music Week |access-date=26 June 2025 |pages=12 |date=5 September 1992}} 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.{{Citation|title=ABBA – Ring Ring (1995, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/ABBA-Ring-Ring/release/3201845|language=en|access-date=2021-05-04}} The album has been digitally remastered on CD multiple times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series,{{Citation|title=ABBA – Ring Ring (1997, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/ABBA-Ring-Ring/release/768836|language=en|access-date=2021-05-04}} in 2001 with an updated cover artwork and some bonus tracks,{{Citation|title=ABBA – Ring Ring (2001, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/ABBA-Ring-Ring/release/1049852|language=en|access-date=2021-05-04}} in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and most recently in 2013 as a "Deluxe Edition".{{Citation|title=ABBA – Ring Ring (2013, CD)|url=https://www.discogs.com/ABBA-Ring-Ring/release/4998939|language=en|access-date=2021-05-04}}
On 19 May 2023, a collection of vinyl products was released to celebrate Ring Ring
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.{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Paul |date=2013-07-03 |title=ABBA / “Ring Ring” 40th anniversary deluxe edition coming soon – SuperDeluxeEdition |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/abba-ring-ring-40th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-coming-soon/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=CD ABBA - Ring Ring - Deluxe Edition CD+DVD |url=https://www.soundofmusic-shop.de/CD_ABBA_-_Ring_Ring_-_Deluxe_Edition_CDDVD_English.html |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Sound of Music}}
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.
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.
Track listing
Based on the original Swedish release. All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.
{{track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing =
| title1 = Ring ring (bara du slog en signal)
| writer1 = {{hlist|Andersson|Stig Anderson|Ulvaeus}}
| length1 = 3:10
| title2 = Another Town, Another Train
| length2 = 3:12
| title3 = Disillusion
| writer3 = {{hlist|Agnetha Fältskog|Ulvaeus}}
| length3 = 3:03
| title4 = People Need Love
| length4 = 2:45
| title5 = I Saw It in the Mirror
| length5 = 2:33
| title6 = Nina, Pretty Ballerina
| length6 = 2:51
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side two
| total_length = 35:51
| title1 = Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
| length1 = 2:54
| title2 = Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother
| length2 = 2:50
| title3 = He Is Your Brother
| length3 = 3:18
| title4 = Ring Ring
| note4 = English version
| writer4 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus|Neil Sedaka|Phil Cody}}
| length4 = 3:05
| title5 = I Am Just a Girl
| writer5 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus}}
| length5 = 3:01
| title6 = Rock'n Roll Band
| length6 = 3:09
}}
Notes
- 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.
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks
| title1 = Merry-Go-Round
| note1 = B-side of "People Need Love"
| length1 = 3:24
| writer1 = {{hlist|Andersson|Stig Anderson|Ulvaeus}}
| title2 = Santa Rosa
| note2 = B-side of "He Is Your Brother"
| length2 = 2:59
| writer2 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus}}
| title3 = Ring ring
| note3 = Spanish version
| length3 = 3:00
| writer3 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus|Doris Band}}
| title4 = Wer im Wartesaal der Liebe steht
| note4 = German version of "Another Town, Another Train"; B-side of the German version of "Ring Ring"
| length4 = 3:21
| writer4 = {{hlist|Andersson|Ulvaeus|Fred Jay}}
| title5 = Ring Ring
| note5 = German version
| length5 = 3:09
| writer5 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus|Peter Lach}}
| title6 = En hälsning till våra parkarrangörer
| note6 = 1972 spoken-word promotional single for the band's 1973 Sweden tour, with excerpts of recent hits; previously unreleased
| length6 = 2:26
| writer6 =
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Extra bonus tracks - early versions
| title1 = Hej gamle man!
| note1 = performed by Björn & Benny; from Lycka
| length1 = 3:21
| title2 = There's a Little Man
| note2 = performed by Billy G-Son
| length2 = 2:45
| title3 = I Saw It in the Mirror
| note3 = performed by Billy G-Son
| length3 = 2:20
| title4 = Jag är blott en man
| note4 = performed by Jarl Kulle
| length4 = 3:04
| writer4 = {{hlist|Andersson|Anderson|Ulvaeus}}
| title5 = Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan
| note5 = performed by Anni-Frid Lyngstad
| length5 = 2:53
| writer5 = {{hlist|Vittorio Tariciotti|Marcello Marrocchi|Franca Evangelisti|Anderson}}
| title6 = Välkommen till världen
| note6 = performed by Lill-Babs
| length6 = 3:19
}}
Personnel
Adapted from the liner notes of the original Swedish album release and AllMusic.{{Cite AV media notes |last=Björn Benny & Agnetha Frida |title=Ring Ring |publisher=Polar Music |id=POLS 242 |year=1973 |type=liner notes}}
ABBA
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (3, 11), co-lead vocals, backing vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (8), co-lead vocals, backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus – guitar, acoustic guitar, lead vocals (2, 5, 7, 12), co-lead vocals, backing vocals
- Benny Andersson – piano, keyboards, mellotron, co-lead vocals, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Janne Schaffer – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Rutger Gunnarsson – electric bass
- Mike Watson – electric bass
- Ola Brunkert – drums
- Roger Palm – drums
Production
- Benny Andersson; Björn Ulvaeus – producers
- Michael B. Tretow – engineer
- Åke Eldsäter; Rune Persson; Lennart Karlsmyr (KMH); Björn Almstedt (Europafilm) – assistant engineers
- Sven-Olof Walldoff – string arrangements (11)
- Bengt H. Malmqvist – front cover photography
- Lars Falk – back cover photography
- Peter Wiking – layout, art direction
- Jon Astley; Michael B. Tretow – remastering
Charts
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Abba|title=Ring Ring|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|certref={{cite magazine|title=ABBA The History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CMEAAAAMBAJ&q=abba+waterloo+sold+millions&pg=PT40|magazine=Billboard|date=8 September 1979}}|relyear=1974|certyear=1975|access-date=2013-08-01}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|artist=ABBA|title=Ring Ring|award=|salesamount=10,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT54|publisher= Billboard|title=Abba The World – Norway|first=Randi|last=Hultin|date=8 September 1979|access-date=23 July 2018}}|relyear=1973|nocert=yes}}
{{Certification Table Entry|nocert=yes|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=ABBA|title=Ring Ring|salesamount=116,627|salesref={{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT54|publisher= Billboard|title=Abba The World – Sweden|first=Leif|last=Schulman|date=8 September 1979|access-date=23 July 2018}}|relyear=1973}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs master|master=2805|name=Ring Ring|type=album}}
{{ABBA}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ring Ring (Album)}}
Category:Albums produced by Benny Andersson
Category:Albums produced by Björn Ulvaeus