The Story of ABBA - Creating "Ring Ring" (1972) | History & Review

The story of ABBA’s beginnings is an intriguing tale of romance, hopes, and uncertainties. During that time, they happened to create their very first album, "Ring Ring", without actually realizing they were making it for awhile. The album was released on this day in 1973, and its creation was quite a long-winded road, a fascinating story. In this video, we explore the album in detail, by looking at the history, legacy, and the music of "Ring Ring".
0:00 Intro
0:33 The Beginnings
2:15 "Recorded in our spare time"
3:56 Going International, or Staying Local?
5:50 The Way to "Ring Ring"
7:34 A Hopeless Start - ABBA’s First Recording Session
9:54 More Hope - The Tales of a Brother and a Ballerina
11:32 "I Am Just A Girl" / "Another Town, Another Train"
13:58 "We can’t imagine anything else"
15:04 Outro
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Written, narrated, recorded & edited by Bobby’s Brother.
Bobby's Brother on Instagram: bobbysbrother72
#abba #ringring #50th

[@bobbysbrother137]

*Watch Part 2* here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5vSm6R9ibutrMk

[@TheFridaFan]

I LOVE "Nina, Pretty Ballerina". I think some people want to dismiss it based on the title. Same with "Dum Dum Diddle". People just need to listen!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Actually it was a rather unusual if not revolutionary production for a 1972 recording to add that train sound as an intro not to mention the cheering crowd right before the choruses and the 'just like cinderella' minie mouse response.

[@abbascots]

Congratulations Ring Ring 🎉❤ My my it’s hard to believe 50 yrs old It’s one of ABBA’s most Vibrant albums it’s young and simplistic yet so many great fresh songs ❤

[@thestepfordlife2015]

What's funny about this album ( to me ) is I didn't even know it existed until maybe ten years after they broke up. I was raised in rural New Hampshire. I had no frame of reference as far as back catalogues of any artist so what was on the shelf in the cassette section of The Music Shoppe...that's just what i knew. I knew nothing about ordering albums in an artists back catalogue... I was also seven years old... so I didn't know any better. This was 1980-81-82 so ten years on I was at a music shop in Connecticut where I'd moved ( more urban ) and in the catalogue there it was ' ABBA RingRing album cassette/ LP / CD I ordered it and it was delivered in a few weeks. As a kid I'd always wondered where some of the songs from the original Abba Geatest Hits collection ( on Atlantic Records here in USA ) had come from. I had no idea. I never really thought about it actually I was too young. Seven or eight years old. After getting the import Ring Ring CD I then saw how alot of them had come from Ring Ring (which made total sense). Lol So anyway the Ring Ring album is an odd one for me because I was seven years old when ABBA " took a break " and here I was discovering what was basically a new ( old ) ABBA album in my late teens. I was thrilled. Anyway it's a great album. "Love isn't easy" and "disillusion "stood out simply because quite a few of the more popular tracks had been released on the first Atlantic Greatest Hits so I'd heard those but there were a number of them that I hadn't heard til then. The album is a gem. It's a stellar first album. Anyway I hope this response made sense to you or anyone who actually read it til the end. I have lots of stories about ABBA they've been part of my life forever. THEY ARE THE SOUNDTRACK for my life basically. For all our lives. Truly. All my ❤ Bryce

[@carlosgarjon8340]

Lovely, interesting and full of information. Thank you! I love Another Town Another Train, it's one of my favourite ones in the album. Little did they know when making this record, all the glory they would reach later. No one could imagine. We are here in 2023 and the glory goes on.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

I love 'iam just a girl'.It's like Abba's 'lazy' velvet sofa to sit and relax sinking in comfort huging your beloved girl watching the outer landscape.The mood is very reminiscent of The Mamas and Papas sound to "People like us' in songwritting terms and dreamy vocal arrangements but in a more central European way with trumpet sounds added.Also the stripped piano version you exposed here to 'Another town...' is maaagical.Shines out the greatness of Benny's early songwritting.Excellent video!

[@roli9091]

When you compared "Nina Pretty Ballerina" and "I Am Just A Girl" I suddenly saw a connection to later ABBA songs I've never seen before, especially "The Name Of The Game", "Thank You For The Music" and "The Day Before You Came", exploring the same themes of low self esteem, feeling stuck in an ordinary life where every day is like the other, and the longing for breaking out into the spotlight. I always thought of "I Am Just A Girl" as being tongue in cheek and a novelty song, but there is more to it. "Another Town Another Train" is beautiful. I'm highly anticipating part 2, we have to talk about the heartbreaking "Disillusion" and that song about these sibblings ... ;)

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Yes indeed Ro li.If you just read the story telling lyrics in NPB and exclude the music it deffinately walks similar path finally leading to the TDBYC.

[@pop-esum5125]

nina pretty ballerina also reminds me of super trouper - being in the same key, another example of that classic abba sound and that sense of humdrum - thx again for this video bobbybrother!

[@johnadam5179]

Wonderful. Looking forward to Part II. I would also enjoy a segment about "Lycka" the album and recording sessions. it was a fascinating and very fruitful time!

[@jontwest]

Another great vid - thanks. What makes you far better than the TV presenters we have here in Australia (who occasionally put together Abba "specials" for ratings), is the unusual information & much greater depth that you cover, and your genuine interest in the music. Also you have a pleasant voice and intelligent manner (that TV presenters here don't have), with a natural way of speaking & connecting with your audience that is much appreciated - well done!

[@joycehennequin8469]

I totally agree.

[@AdamDawson3]

'Ring Ring' is my favourite ABBA album and my favourite songs from the album are 'Nina Pretty Ballerina', 'Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother, 'Disillusion', 'Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)' & 'Ring Ring'.

[@melaniewaggoner1989]

Another Fantastic video about ABBA history. Thank you!

[@charliemctavishsmith9486]

I love how much material you include, the photos/the lyric analysis/the piano version of "Another Town, Another Train". This is so great, I can't wait for the next one!! Thank you for this!!

[@joycehennequin8469]

We love you so much BB ❤

[@MarcelSonnega]

Isn't it wonderful how these four people came together "accidentally", and how now 50 years later people still listen to the songs and compositions.

[@alexioverdo5225]

It wasn't just accidentally but maybe more of a 'good-luck heavenly coincidence' or smth.Or even maybe this 4 some meeting and forming of Abba was the creator's gift to music.How could you explain this miracle.

[@WhitneyHouston4eva1]

Happy 50th anniversary, Ring Ring. It's hard to believe all these great ABBA tracks are now becoming 50th anniversaries for their releases. I bet they never thought we would still be talking about their music all these years later at the time of recording.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Benny (i think) was the one who had said in an interview that after their break he felt that people might remember Abba propably for a couple of years ever after and that all.But things turned out differently.They couldn't imagine what they had done for us.

[@gobiobi5030]

Thanks very much! As always, very well researched and edited. "Bobby's Brother" has become an institution and that's a very good thing

[@ThinkingWhileStitching]

A very good thing indeed!! Thanks for all the work you do and the info you provide, BB!!

[@LudiusQuassas]

Another Town, Another Train could easily be that catchy intro for your favourite Saturday-morning cartoon which you remember fondly. I love that tune, and it's solid proof that even with their early, less-experienced days they could still write beautiful music. Nina, Pretty Ballerina is another big highlight, and it makes it all the more impressive now that you said it was the first song ever with the ladies on leads. I always regard it as an early version of Super Trouper, and would kill for someone to do a proper mashup of these two songs.

[@GuardInterval]

Once again, you speak with such insight, knowledge and affection for our favourite group. So well researched and presented, as always.

[@williampaganucci1084]

Great Album BB. I always liked Nina Pretty Ballerina and thought it deserved to be more popular. 👍

[@awiealex5448]

I really love your videos! Thank you for making them Bobby's Brother. You are very talented 👏

[@henryhemming1494]

Songwriting gems, memorable vocals. All the pointers that an extraordinary moment in art was commencing. Great and fitting review BB.

[@eduardooscar309]

My dear young friend, how nice to see you again, to celebrate the historic 50th anniversary of the Ring Ring album, the first album by future icons ABBA. In addition to being a lover of the music of ABBA, the most important musical act of the 70s, I have previously been a lover of the music of THE BEATLES, the most important group of the 60s. which coincidentally this same month celebrates the 60th anniversary of its also first album "Please, please me" and allow me to mark some small curiosities or differences in the personal and group realities between these 8 absolute geniuses of their respective times BEATLES all hail from the same port city Liverpool It takes 6 years between their musical genesis (1957, when John and Paul meet) and their first album ABBA are all from different cities (even Frida is from Norway) and it takes 7 years between their musical genesis (1966, when Björn and Benny met) and their first album The BEATLES have always considered themselves a group, with no individual careers, and after recording their first two singles, they recorded 10 songs in a single day to finish the album. ABBA were four successful individualities, they had to discover when they walked that they wanted to be a group, and after their first two singles they also recorded their first album, with more time in the making. The BEATLES alternated their own compositions with covers of classics and they had a producer ABBA only performs their own songs, which are also self-produced At the time of each album, the oldest of The BEATLES (Ringo, July 1940) was the same age as the youngest of ABBA (Agnetha, April 1950) At the time of recording the albums, Lennon's wife and Agnetha were pregnant with their first child. John (hidden) and Agnetha (publicly) they got married the year before the release of the first album and musically, as the first single I like it much better "People need love" (ABBA) that "Love me do" (Beatles) but later their second singles are even "Please, please me" vs. "He is your brother" and both albums, too surely there must be more interesting data for comparison between the Liverpool's Fab Four and Sweden's Fab Four This is not to criticize or say if one did better than the other, they are only data from their contexts Mu best regards from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South America

[@bobbysbrother137]

As an admirer of The Beatles' music and achievements, this list of context is fascinating and intriguing. Thanks, Eduardo, also for the kind words. I might add another interesting connection that was pointed out to me. When ABBA performed their very first concert ever together as a foursome in front of a live audience, April 1970 in Cyprus, it happened exactly the same week, when - far away in London - The Beatles officially broke up.

[@hibernius]

Love your videos. Thanks for your hard work. You really are a dedicated fan :)

[@scottydogx]

I really have to thank you for bringing together all of this information on so many different subjects. You do an amazing job. Who knew Ring Ring had so much interesting details. Thank you 😊

[@Pedro-im1tt]

Che bellezza queste immagini .. e anche un po' di malinconia..! Eravamo giovani io avevo 25 anni nel 1973 come loro più o meno....! Favolosi Abba . Grazie Bobby 's.

[@kingmarshmusic]

Another excellent reflection and exploration of an album that had such variety. You could hear the birth of the true Abba sound throughout. A top 10 LP in Australia! My wife even had an argument with a teacher when she said Abba had a song called “Me and Bobby and Bobby’s Brother” and he claimed that the song was “Me and Bobby McGee” and Abba never sung it!!

[@diannepower7196]

You give us so much information on the best group. You do so much more research than anyone. I really look forward to it. Love Abba so much. I hope they never stop recording and getting together.

[@ThinkingWhileStitching]

Thank you so much.....I really like all the details/background you provide....Can't wait for Part 2!!

[@booh12469]

HAPPY 50th Birthday "Ring, Ring"! As always a fascinating clip with excellent research, thanks Bobby's B. 🎉❤

[@michaelsnaidero1671]

This is fantastic, thankyou BB ,watching all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle coming together to create the most beautiful and inspiring groups of all time and the letters of their first names to complete a binding and perfect bond that will be a legacy forever ,ABBA as one unique and amazingly incredible creation,a gift a life long inspiration and RING RING is the GENISIS of all that is to come,thankyou. for your incredible effort to bring these pieces together to share with you the immersive lives of these beautiful 4 Swedes.

[@BrunoTettamanti]

I'm fascinating for your capacity to tell a story. Amazing ! Thanks for this video.

[@garlen8]

Tack så mycket! I love every video you have on ABBA. You tell me more information that I never knew about them. I love ABBA Very much. Please keep them coming! Your fan from America

[@123billydog]

Nice video BB on the day Ring Ring turned 50 and probably got a bigger focus on the world stage than it did back in 1973. the 'Consolation' track you mention, Carl Magnus Palm stated he felt that was probably an early incarnation of Another Town Another Train, as apparently no session sheets were ever located for that song. Being a Brit the first inkling we had that the ABBA's may have been doing something before Eurovision, really was the release of Greatest Hits in 1976 which showcased all the UK Hits as well as four songs the British audience knew nothing of, People Need Love, Another Town Another Train, Nina Pretty Ballerina and He Is Your Brother. I think, on that album which probably introduced a lot of Brits to ABBA, I fell in love with the group and every song on it. In sequence I remember then finding the Ring Ring UK single release with Rock 'N' Roll Band on the B-side. I really loved listening to that one on Vinyl, it never works as well on CD or Download but, its still a good song. Then there were import albums so the next 'Ring Ring' track I was able to hear was from buying the French 'Golden DoubleAlbum' and the 'Musikladen' double album which both had a new title to me, 'Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)'. It would have been much later in the 70's I found out there was an album before Waterloo, and I seem to remember the ABBA Magazine offered readers the chance to buy the first ABBA album. You have to remember, there was no internet then to goggle anything!! Fortunately the first Ring Ring album I was able to buy was the Swedish one, with 'Ring Ring Bara Du Slog En Signal' as the album opener. It was much the album was released in the UK with She's My Kind Of Girl replacing the swedish Ring Ring (that never worked for me!). 50 Years on, I still love Ring Ring, Another Town Another Train, Nina Pretty Ballerina, He Is Your Brother, People Need Love, Love Isnt Easy, Me And Bobby And Bobbys Brother and Rock 'N' Rol Band. I can listen to the whole album without skipping anything but the production is so poor on 'Disillusion' and 'I Saw It In The Mirror' (shame they didnt use the Billy G-son backing track) they both seem weak and dirge like, and I have never had any affection for 'I Am Just A Girl'. Still, I guess I like more of the tracks on Ring Ring than I do Waterloo, which always seemed to be a genre to far in the search for the ABBA sound to me.

[@cedarcam]

Greatest hits was the album that introduced me to ABBA. Not because I knew who they were but because I was looking for folk music and there was an album by Agnetha and ABBA Greatest Hits in the folk section, when really it should of been in pop music section, it had some interesting sounding tracks Another Town Another Train and Waterloo the name of a station in London. It was only back home I realised Waterloo was that group from Eurovision and not a song I particularly liked but by the time that played I was already hooked, there was just something about these songs I could not stop listening, after that I went to find more of their music and got every album as it was released. I grew to like Waterloo and rarely skip any of the tracks on an album. It was a long time before I found all their early recordings and ones recorded before they were a group, but when I did get some I found I had heard songs on them years before on the radio. I still enjoy those early days songs more than the last ones recorded.

[@jermjerms27]

1 Many thanks again, another great video. I used to see the songs on Greatest Hits & wonder where they came from as the other songs said from Waterloo & ABBA albums . Now i know Ring Ring album not released in the UK for many years.

[@westfield90]

I literally would give anything to go back to those happier and simpler magical times.

[@blairhelsing630]

Another very enjoyable episode!

[@herbescobar4548]

Thanks. Really enjoy your analysis and musicology.

[@hweminnio419]

Ring2 is one of the masterpiece. 😍😍😍

[@michaelgask]

It's amazing how much was going on with Bjorn and Benny at this time: intended second album, solo albums from Agnetha and Frida, etc. So pleased they found the work they were doing as a foursome fresh and exciting. Thanks, BB for giving us this information and looking forward to part 2!

[@David-uf8ex]

When I bought ABBA The singles in 1982 Ring Ring was only 9 years old now it’s 50 😖😖 time sure flys it’s scary

[@davidmarshall5596]

Hey Bobby's Brother, another town, another train what a fantastic song from theRing Ring album 👌 this was the sort of track that was a prelude to what was to come down the line ( no pun intended ) a really good song 😀 excellent as always BB keep up the great content on the channel 💯👌

[@djmaffe]

As always- good job🌟

[@podacre]

Fantastic video, as always. I love the synoptic comparison between Nina Pretty Ballerina and I am Just a Girl; also love the synoptic comparison between the separate verses of Nina. Excellent.

[@Wojact_Taki]

Nina, Pretty Ballerina grew up and revealed herself as a grown-up woman in The day before you came: “Every day in the morning on her way to the office. You can see as she catches a train…” and “I must have left my house at eight because I always do. My train, I'm certain, left the station just when it was due…” 10 years later.

[@graphiquejack]

fascinating stuff... thanks as always for your outstanding research. The photo where the couples are mixed up and kissing the other's partner... that was an odd choice. Kind of a little weird for the 1970s... were things really that wild and swinging back then? lol

[@paulinepolly3280]

Great information. Stuff I never knew about Abba !

[@karlhaddad2561]

Thanks for another great video. You are an amazing story teller. It's captivating. And by the way, I really like Rock N Roll Band as a song. As much as I obviously love the ladies on lead vocals, I also like a lot of these early songs where the male voices are prominent. I wish we had more Bjorn and Benny on some of the later albums (not too much, but just a little more).

[@falkerlebach4504]

Thanks a lot for your well done movies.

[@AvishayHaviv]

Beautiful! Thank you so much :) From your musical advisor ;)

[@treetoon_]

8:06 Ah, that's Ted explaining to Benny and everyone else the kind of production, sound, instruments and riffs he's looking for in his newly written melody Sol, Vind Och Vatten, one of his greatest masterpieces both melodically, lyrically and sound-wise, a truly deep and philosophical summer classic of utter elegance :]

[@williamgreen6647]

We need an album solely with all their swedish language songs us English fans will love it .❤

[@kingmarshmusic]

The start of Rock ‘N’ Roll Band sounds like the start of a classic 70’s TV Cop Show - someone should have picked it up and used it as such!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

43 years ago, I bought the commercial version of Another town, another train on 45rpm. (double A sided) Playboy records.

[@martinhumble]

Is there any chance to hear any other artists, like we can with Svea Svea and Cecilia for Ska du hänga me (Will you come along) and Som en fjärran stjärna? (Like a distant star) It's quite amazing that the album was released in countries outside Europe like Japan, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Hong Kong and Australia. (Have I missed one?) I actually enjoy Ring Ring more than the Waterloo album. And I love Another town another train and People need love. Though I don't get why they didn't chose a picture from the Djurgården photo shoot instead... Btw there are a Swedish version of Another town another train - en annan stad en annan vän out there - by another artist I'm still looking for the Mexican release to complete my collection. It's seem very tough to find🤔 Thank you for your fabulous work!!!!!!

[@Bernhard2024]

Nina, pretty Batterina peaked at #8 on March 15, 1974 in Austria.

[@marikesl]

Happy Anniversary to the one that started it all🎉 50 years - my God! I'm always so amazed at all the fascinating facts you unearth for your videos, BB! I'm curious, where do you do all your research? I loved Björn and Frida's phone call, BTW! Looking forward to next time, hejdå!!

[@bobbysbrother137]

Hej Marike. I do my research at home, lol. No, but there is a variety of sources that I use as a "template", research that is already done, which I assemble to tell a story, and try to put my own spin to it. Depending on the subjects, the websites raffem and abbaontv are crucial. Of course, the publications of Carl Magnus Palm are absolutely essential, especially when it comes to ABBA's story, and specifications of their recording sessions.

[@marikesl]

@@bobbysbrother137 Thank you very much for the info, BB! Again, I admire your work so much, keep it up!

[@melanchabba]

thank you BOBBY....☎☎☎☎🔔🎶🎼

[@JonWillis1]

I wouldn’t be so hard on Rock’n’Roll Band. The verse has a lovely melody. Lasse Wellander’s guitar work is great. And it shows ABBA’s connection to other glam rock artists of the time, especially Sweet, which becomes clearer as they move into the Waterloo sessions (King Kong Song, Watch Out).

[@jermjerms27]

2 I noticed it says on the album it is in mono & stereo. Not sure what song is in mono. Keep up the good work!

[@malvanlondon8683]

ABBA - the greatest ever singles band not called The Beatles. Congrats on 50 years since the release of this fun album.

[@helenrstephens]

This album has some very catchy songs . I am just a girl is one my favourite and love isn't easy hard enough and disullion. Also it must have been very exciting but nervous entering the Eurovision song contest but not knowing if Agnetha would go into labour with her first baby

[@stinacassel1806]

(Bobby. Här ett tips. Du kan se Björn på kanal 5. Bianca talkshow).

[@UmiNofus-zm4rg]

🙏🙏...Bobby 's Brother trima kasih sudah dibalasan komen saya dri indonesia lake bobby's brother punya frens dari yutup🙏🙏 ..👍👍 daya pelajari balasanya

[@heyeveryoneimcatherine2791]

I don’t think many people have picked up on this, but “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” is about a girl who, on Friday night, becomes queen of the dance floor- sound familiar???

[@МашаЛядя]

I adore Aggy.

[@Paul66able]

9:10-9:16 Who is the bass player?

[@falkerlebach4504]

Will we found out in part 2 how you choose your name BB?

[@rasul01]

It's a reference to a song in ABBA's first album.

[@TRguy64]

Rock N' Roll Band is a really sweet innocent sounding song! Whereas, I like the high energy of Nina Pretty Ballerina and the idea of the quiet unassuming girl having such a dynamic side to her! Though, forgive me for saying this, but for a preteen boy and his fifteen year old butch brother, the song was just a tad bit cringy that I'd often skip over it, though in a way I still had liked the song! 😉

[@emmany5302]

This is by far the best version of Ring Ring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHbFi6SkeJeihJY It has that "wall of sound".

[@tomthomas4292]

People need love made the Billboard usa hot 100 in the 90 to 99 area and i brought my first pre abba single in the usa he was my brother was the follow-up not denting the usa chart at all ring ring relased in America as abba with no success think ring ring released as abba maybe as bba and a ? Waterloo was placed up in new York city wabc for there title streak of the week meaning you voted on the telephone for best new song released and water loo won its first usa award screak of the week once they had a hit screak of the week has to be a never heard artist that year another screak of the week that as waterloo became a usa top 10 hit was uk a the first class and beach baby hitting 4 on the usa pop charts and top 25 on the uk charts

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Thanx for sharing the story about Waterloo in the USA.

[@lamagiduneinstant76]

~@4:50 Come on Boys! You NEED “the girls”. -yikes!😬