ABBA - The Golden Era of Disco

It is hard to place a single defining point to the origintheir own solo recording careers before they became
of Disco, but the first disco style club was opened bya part of ABBA. Agnetha and Bjorn married in 1971
New York city DJ David Mancuso in his house calledwhile Benny and Frida waited till 1978 to tie the knot.
The Loft in 1970. This was a private member-onlyIn the beginning, the upcoming Swedish band called
dance club and proved to be forerunner to discothemselves Bjorn and Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid,
style clubs. The first disco songs were released inand their first collaborated cabaret act Festfolk in
1973; however there are claims that Manu Dibango's1970 failed. Then in the spring of 1972, their song
1972 Soul Makossa was the first disco album being'people need love' became a medium-sized hit in
recorded. Disco was first written about in SeptemberSweden. Encouraged by this, they went on to
of 1974 in the Rolling Stone Magazine by Vince Alettiparticipating in the Eurovision song contest with the
and the first disco radio show was hosted on Newsong 'Ring Ring', though they stood third, the song
York City's WPIX-FM in 1974.became a hit in several European nations and
The disco sounds have soaring, reverberating vocalscompeted for the top slot in Sweden. By the time
over a steady beat and is known to be influenced bythey entered again in 1974, they were calling
funk, soul music and Latin or Hispanic salsa influences.themselves ABBA and their song 'waterloo' became a
A lush background sound is lent by strings, electrichit taking them to the finals in England. From their it
guitars, horns and electric pianos made both singerswas a roller coaster ride with songs like 'SOS',
and music producers equally famous and pivotal to'Mamma Mia', 'Fernando' and 'Dancing Queen' becoming
the entire disco theme. Some of the most famousa rage with the disco world. From 1976 to 1982, they
disco groups from the 70s are the Bee Gees, Dianabelted out hits after hits; songs and albums and tours
Ross, The Jacksons and the ABBAs.of Europe, Japan and USA. Despite the couples
The history of one of the most famous groupsgetting divorced in 1979 and 1981, the ABBAs were
began in 1966 when Bjorn Ulvaeus met Bennyperceived as happy couples making music together
Andersson. Though they came from different musicand they continued working together till 1982 when
genres, they became great partners in composingthey decided to take a break.
songs. Bjorn was a member of the HootenannyThough the ABBAs have not had a very long career
singers and their records were on the Polar Musictogether, just over a decade, Disco would have not
record label owned by Stig Anderson. Stig went onbeen the same without them. Even today if you ask
to become ABBAs manager and contributed lyrics inthe DJ for a disco number, he is sure to play you
the first few years as well. In the spring of 1969,'Take a chance on me' or the 'dancing queen'. Disco
Bjorn and Benny met the two women who becamejust cannot be imagined without the melodious voice
their fiancés and the other half of ABBA.of the ABBA.
Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad both had