Ian Cole - ABBA: Song by Song

ABBA. Clockwise from top left: Bjrn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fltskog, and Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad. (Photo: Bengt H. Malmqvist Premium Rockshot)

ABBAs first album Ring Ring (1973) was released under the banner Bjrn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida. The album was released in a handful of countries at the time, only receiving full international release in 1992. (Polar Music International)

Waterloo (1974) was the first album released under the name ABBA, and in much of the world, it was the first ABBA album released. Highlights include the single Honey, Honey and the alternate Eurovision selection Hasta Maana. (Polar Music International)

ABBAs self-titled third album (1975) included the worldwide hits SOS and Mamma Mia. Each member of the group had a featured spot on the album. (Polar Music International)

In August 1975, Polydor in the Netherlands released a compilation entitled The Best of ABBA, which was subsequently released in West Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Around the same time, Vogue in France and Belgium released similar albums entitled Greatest Hits. In November, RCA in Australia also released The Best of ABBA. (discogs.com)

Greatest Hits was released in Scandinavia in November 1975. The album featured songs from ABBAs first three albums. The bizarre wraparound cover image was drawn by illustrator Hans Arnold. (Polar Music International)

Greatest Hits was released in the UK in March 1976. The brand-new single Fernando was added to the album, though it was not listed on the first pressing sleeve seen here. Many other countries, including the US, copied this cover for their compilations in 1976. (discogs.com)

Fernando, released in 1976, was never included on one of ABBAs studio albums. During the groups lifetime, it was their most successful single. The photograph on this British sheet music was taken during the filming of the promotional film. (Andy Wetson collection)

ABBA on television, showing off some of their glamorous and memorable costumes. These bubble gum cards were available in Australia in 1976 and 1977, a popular collectors item. (Authors collection)

A rare postcard showing Frida and Agnetha in Metronome Studio, recording new lyrics for Fernando for an advertising jingle for National electronics, 1976. Metronome was ABBAs favourite recording studio, until Polar Music Studios opened in 1978. The studio still operates today as Atlantis Studio. (Authors collection)

Arrival (1976) is ABBAs first classic album and a worldwide No. 1, with hits Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money, and Knowing Me, Knowing You. The albums sleeve, featuring the four members crammed into the cabin of a Bell 47 helicopter, became an iconic image and one of the worlds most recognised album covers. (Polar Music International)

ABBAs first major international concert tour took place between January and March 1977. ABBA performed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Australia. The tour programme features a vivid rendition of the ABBA logo, designed by artist Rune Sderqvist. (Authors collection)

ABBAs fifth studio album ABBA: The Album (1977) was released in conjunction with ABBA: The Movie. More ambitious than previous albums, it included the hit singles The Name of the Game and Take a Chance on Me. (Polar Music International)

ABBA: The Movie (1977) was filmed primarily during ABBAs hugely successful Australian concert tour, with some additional filming in Stockholm. It premiered in Sydney, Australia, on 15 December 1977 and in Stockholm on 26 December. The original poster used the same artwork as