The Guys Write The SongsThe Girls Make The Clothes

From Swedish pop magazine "GO" 1974.

It's hard to deny that ABBA have had a bigger success than any other Scandinavian group. Even when they won in the Melodi Grand Prix, it wasn't sure that it was "Waterloo" that would become the million copy seller. There has been winners before who hasn't sold hardly any copies. But, as Björn Ulvaeus says:
     - We are also the only ones who have written a Grand Prix winner for 20 year olds.

The Guys
Write The Songs,
The Girls Make
The Clothes
He is totally correct about that. It's possible that the fate of the songs in the finally are decided by 45 year old judges, but at their age they don't go out and buy many records. On the other hand, that is what ABBA's fan base do and that's very lucky for them.
    "Waterloo" has sold over 3.000.000 copies world wide - and it has been a smash hit all thorugh Europe, in the US and in Japan. The fact it got so high in the US is probably the most important. Because America is a place where they never have done any promotion on TV, since The Melody Grand Prix is something totally unknown there. But ABBA managed to get a break there - unlike Slade, Gary Glitter and T. Rex - who all three of them have had a lot bigger staff for publicity.

FASHION DESIGNERS
While Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson consistently write ABBA's melodies - also the newly released hit single "Honey Honey" taken from their album "Waterloo" - the girls Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are working as consultants in cool clothes. It's them who are behind the colourfull and smart clothes.
     Even earlier when the quartett had minor success with "Ring Ring" they were still making solo albums at the same time. That time is over now. ABBA has become such a big thing that there simply isn't any time to do anything else. And don't forget there are children to consider. Agnetha and Björn have one, Benny and Anni-Frid two.
     The fall will be the time of the live performances. They are going to introduce themselves in all of Europe - and in the US - and they have some of the best musicians with them to help. Björn and Benny are not satisfied just singing, so Björn plays guitarr and Benny organ or electric piano.

NEW ALBUM BEFORE CHRISTMAS
The sequel to "Waterloo" has already been recorded without too many problems. Abroad there will be a re-release of "Ring Ring". In Sweden, Denmark and Norway "Honey Honey" taken from the album will be released. And it's not impossible at all that they will be able to get more song from the Waterloo album as singles, which at least has 4-5 potenital hits.
     But that's making it easy for you. And ABBA don't do things that way. They have spent the summer to create new material for a single and an LP which will be ready just in time before Christmas.
     The audience have to accept that neither Björn nor Benny have time to work with Hootenanny Singers or Hep Stars, and that they hardly will have any time writing songs for and producing other Polar Music artists recordings.
      With ABBA Sweden got it's first internationally sounding group and now it's time to step up to the plate and make their mark with even more and even better records. That is something ABBA's manager Stikkan Anderson knows far to well. That is why they are working so hard right now.