Congratulations to former ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog, who’s solo album A has been nominated for best album at the World Music Awards.

ABBA is famously an acronym of the first letters of the band members’ first names (Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid). If Benny Andersson and Bijorn Ulvaeus but the “B” and the song writing into ABBA, then Agnetha Fältskog put the “A” and the heart and soul into the band.

For me, Agnetha Fältskog bookended Benny and Bijorn with both the  “A’s” in ABBA, which may seem harsh on Anni-Frid Lyngstad, but that is the reality. Without Agnetha Fältskog I really don’t think that ABBA would have been the force in world music that they became and still are, with sales in excess of 370 million albums and singles worldwide.

For the Record Press author, for many years Agnetha was simply the pretty blonde one in the band, who as a 14 year old I had a crush on in 1976 and 1977. Agnetha and Anni-Frid harmonised perfectly , and for many years I gave them joint credit for Abba’s vocal output. But as time has gone on, it has become apparent to me that the ABBA songs that really move me like “SOS”, “The Winner Takes It All”, “The Name of the Game” and “Thank you for the music” all featured Agnetha as lead vocalist.

Few vocalists do melancholy and high emotion like Agnetha Fältskog. She digs deep into her soul or maybe she doesn’t. Perhaps what makes her such a brilliant balladeer and vocalist is that she can’t mask her vulnerability and sensitivity – her emotions are perpetually close to the surface. Clearly she is a complex woman but we should all be grateful that she chose music as the medium and vehicle to express her deep emotions. Agnetha brought Benny and Bijorn’s songs to life and without her I very much doubt that ABBA would have reached the heights they did between 1974 and 1982.

Lest we forget ABBA’s brilliance, here is the Record Press Top 10 Best ABBA Songs –

Top 10 Best ABBA Songs

1) The Winner Takes It All

2) SOS

3) Eagle

4) Honey Honey

5) Thank You For The Music

6) Dancing Queen

7) When I Kissed The Teacher

8) Hasta Manana

9) Waterloo

10) Name Of The Game

Which are your favourite ABBA songs? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

Celebrate the brilliance of ABBA in your home or office, by ordering your favourite ABBA song in a vinyl or CD format; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records, framed CDs and framed DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  / special occasion ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday ( How about the No1 song on the day of birth? ), a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

For further information, plus other merchandise or memorabilia, go to the ABBA website…… www.abbasite.com/