ABBA
Sweden, 1972–1982
Swedish group of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, formed in 1972 and winners of Eurovision in 1974. Their multi-tracked vocal harmony and dense production are heard on 'Dancing Queen' and 'The Winner Takes It All'.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced ABBA and 3 artists ABBA influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced ABBA?
- Phil Spector — ABBA's dense multi-tracked productions are Spector's Wall of Sound rebuilt in a Stockholm studio — Björn and Benny's acknowledged model.
- The Beatles — Andersson and Ulvaeus built their songwriting on the Beatles — the melodic and studio ambition beneath ABBA's pop.
- The Beach Boys — The Beach Boys' stacked vocal harmonies were a documented model for ABBA's immaculate multi-part singing.
Which artists did ABBA influence?
- Ace of Base — Ace of Base's gleaming Swedish pop melodies belong to the ABBA lineage — producer Denniz Pop explicitly set out to fuse ABBA-style melody with beat-driven dance production on their records.
- Modern Talking — ABBA's polished, hook-first melodic pop was a foundation for Bohlen's songwriting.
- Ghost — ABBA's glossy Swedish pop melodicism is the pop half of Ghost's 'satanic ABBA' songcraft.