ABBA - Ring Ring [Picture Disc]

Ring Ring is where the ABBA story begins, and this limited edition picture disc puts the 1973 debut's cover art right on the vinyl.

Before Waterloo, before the satin and the stadiums, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were four Swedish musicians figuring out what they sounded like together. The album was credited to all four names rather than a band, and you can hear them testing ideas, swapping lead vocals and discovering that unbeatable blend of harmonies that would soon conquer the world.

Ring Ring is the obvious highlight, a giddy, Spector-style pop rush that came close to representing Sweden at Eurovision and announced their ambitions loud and clear. People Need Love has a sunny, singalong warmth, while Nina, Pretty Ballerina shows off their knack for wistful storytelling. Disillusion, co-written by Agnetha, offers a gentler, more personal moment.

There is a homespun charm to the production, with folk, rock and schlager influences all jostling for space, but the melodic instincts are already razor-sharp.

For ABBA collectors, this is an essential piece of the puzzle, the first sketch of a sound that would soon fill dance floors everywhere. The picture disc makes it a lovely object to display between spins.