Ring Ring
Bjorn Benny & Agnetha Frida
℗ 1973 Polar Music POLS 242 / © PolyGram Recodrs
℗ 1973 Polydor Records 2549 950
If it seems as though the familiar ABBA sound isn't present on this album, that's because there was no entity known as ABBA at the time that the earliest sides here were recorded. Growing out of an attempt by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus to record together with their respective companions, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida "Anni-Frid" Lyngstad, the first side cut here, "People Need Love," featured the two men singing just as prominently as the women, and was credited to "Bjorn and Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid." It was only after its release and the cutting of a further single, "Ring, Ring," that the more familiar sound of the quartet began to coalesce along with the idea of a permanent professional association. Unreleased in the United States until 1995, this album is more of a generic European pop release than an ABBA release; the music has several unusual attributes, including Andersson and Ulvaeus singing lead on several cuts, and also one original song, the moody ballad "Disillusion," co-authored by Agnetha Faltskog. Most of what's here is pleasantly upbeat Europop, with unusually good playing and a lot of spirit, all showing the influence of mainstream American and British pop/rock, including the late-era Beatles and early Elton John, and on the title track, a Phil Spector-proportioned production. Ring Ring was reissued in October of 2001 with extensive notes, state-of-the-art sound, and three bonus tracks: the single B-sides "Merry-Go-Round" and "Santa Rosa" (a smooth piece of California-style rock in the mold of the early Eagles) and the Swedish version of "Ring, Ring" (which charted number one in Sweden to the English version's number two spot). — Bruce Eder. |
- 1. Ring Ring (B. Tommy Andersson — B. Ulvaeus — N. Sedaka — P. Cody — S. A. Anderson) [03:08]
- 2. Another Town, Another Train (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [03:15]
- 3. Disillusion (A. Faltskog — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [03:09]
- 4. People Need Love (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:48]
- 5. I Saw it in the Mirror (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:36]
- 6. Nina Pretty Ballerina (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:55]
- 7. Love isn't Easy (But it Sure is Hard Enough) (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:57]
- 8. Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:54]
- 9. He is your Brother (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [03:21]
- 10. She's my Kind of Girl (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [02:47]
- 11. I am Just a Girl (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus — Stig Anderson) [03:05]
- 12. Rock & Roll Band (Benny Andersson — Bjorn Ulvaeus) [03:12]
Участие в альбоме:
- Benny Andersson: piano, keyboards, vocals, mellotron
- Agnetha Faltskog: vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad: vocals
- Bjorn Ulvaeus: acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals
- Ola Brunkert: drums
- Rutger Gunnarsson: electric bass
- Roger Palm: drums
- Janne Schaffer: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Mike Watson: electric bass
Тексты:
Ring Ring
(B. Tommy Andersson — B. Ulvaeus — N. Sedaka — P. Cody — S. A. Anderson)
I was sitting by the phone I was waiting all alone Baby by myself I sit and wait and wonder about you It's a dark and dreary night Seems like nothing's going right Won't you tell me honey how can I go on here without you? Yes I'm down and feeling blue And I don't know what to do, oh-oh Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall And I sit all alone impatiently Won't you please understand the need in me So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? You were here and now you're gone Hey did I do something wrong? I just can't believe that I could be so badly mistaken Was it me or was it you? Tell me, are we really through? Won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking Please forgive and then forget Or maybe darling better yet, oh-oh Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall And I sit all alone impatiently Won't you please understand the need in me So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? Oh-oh, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? Oh-oh, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call? So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call?…