ABBA formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972 — Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — and after winning Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo became one of the best-selling acts of all time. Arrival (1976) and Super Trouper (1980) hold most of the big singles, and original Polar pressings are seriously collectible. Find ABBA vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
ABBA formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, with a name derived from the initials of the four members: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad. They signed to Polar Music, the Swedish label co-owned by Stig Anderson. After winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, the group achieved sustained international commercial success across the 1970s. The group went on hiatus in 1982 and did not record again until the 2021 reunion album Voyage.
ABBA's sound is grounded in melodic pop with rich vocal harmonies, layered production by Andersson and Ulvaeus, and arrangements drawing on Eurodisco, schlager, and orchestral pop traditions. Their songwriting prominently featured female lead vocals from Fältskog and Lyngstad, often in close harmony.
Original Polar Music pressings of the late-1970s ABBA catalog are among the most sought-after in pop collecting. Multiple anniversary reissues, box sets, picture discs, and remastered editions have been released, including extensive vinyl reissue campaigns.
Listeners new to ABBA typically start with Arrival (1976) or Super Trouper (1980), both containing many of the group's most-recognized singles. Compilations such as Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) are also common entry points.
