Nobody could claim that this is the best Abba album, but it is much better than some would have you believe. Indeed I prefer it to a couple of their later albums.

The title track was a hit in several European countries but not the UK, so this album never got a British release on vinyl. That is a pity, because the songs here are of a remarkably high quality. Five of them appeared on the first Greatest hits album - Ring ring, Another town another train, People need love, Nina pretty ballerina and He is your brother - every one of them superb. It might all have been different if Ring ring had been Sweden's entry in the 1973 Eurovision song contest. It came third in the qualifying contest. The Swedish public thought it should have been their entry. Voting rules were changed and Abba won for Sweden a year later with Waterloo.

Benny and Bjorn both started in Swedish folk groups, while Agnetha and Frida were Swedish pop stars, although Frida was actually born in Norway. At the time of its original release in Sweden, the name Abba had not been invented. This album provides a fascinating insight into the early development of the band. She's my kind of girl just features Benny and Bjorn. People need love features Benny and Bjorn with Svenska Flicka, but Svenska Flicka are actually Agnetha and Frida, so this (it would seem) was the first recording featuring all the Abba members, before the name existed.

This is a great album for Abba fans to have, but anybody not already familiar with their music should try some of their later albums first - I particularly recommend Arrival, The Album and Super trouper - before worrying about this.

Before the went pop all the way, ABBA was a home town group and this album reflects that sound. It is a MUST for ABBA fans to understand the roots of the team.

For me "Another Town, another Train" reminds me of life in northern Europe, where the sun goes down at 3pm in the winter and love blossoms in the spring.

Give it a good try, and after a few times you will enjoy the sound

The first album released by the supergroup is really a mixed bag for me. "Ring, Ring" has a nice pop feel to it and "Disillusion" is a meloncholy song alot which they would be known for in future releases but then there is the "rock" song. "Rock n Roll Band" is ok but rock is not what this group was.

Finishing up third in the Eurovision Song Contest doesn't necessarily mean chucking in a prospective music career. That's what Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid (later Frida) Lyngstadt, the pair of married couples found out after what would become the title track of their debut album, despite it being very popular with the fans, did just that. However, that debut eventually made them one of the biggest groups in the 70's, taking them up to the early 80's. (Note: all songs sung lead by Agnetha unless otherwise noted).

There are two versions of "Ring Ring" here, the Swedish language version and the English language version, the former which at one time, topped the Swedish charts while its English counterpart, with English lyrics contributed by Neil Sedaka, was at #2 and the album being at #3. (Note: I don't know if it's that way still now, but back then, Sweden's chart was of singles and albums combined.) Both versions though have the infectious pop melodies, harmonies by Agnetha and Frida.

Not all of ABBA's songs were the cheery danceable pop songs like the later "Waterloo" or "Mamma Mia." Bjorn sings lead on the sad farewell of "Another Town, Another Train", while the chirpy mellotron contributes to the melody. "Disillusion," the only song with an Agnetha co-contribution, proved their worth at sad "the love is gone" songs, with only the guitar or keyboards to accompany them. Surprisingly, any expected swirling of strings don't come.

"People Need Love," with a peppy beat and "la la la" that recalls Elton John's "Take Me To The Pilot" features all four on harmonies or trading verses and has some silly yodeling by the ladies at the end. This one got to #17 on the Swedish chart. Bjorn sings its B-side, the mid-paced song of loss, "Merry-Go-Round."

Bjorn's "I Saw It In The Mirror" is another slow song with backing from a mellotron, bass, and drums. With a little more instrumentation and production, this could've been a good single.

Who is "Nina Pretty Ballerina"? Just another woman in an office by day, but at night, the queen of the dance floor. Another song that became a single in other countries. Curiously, in the first ABBA reissue, this was tacked on the self-titled one, as was "Ring Ring."

"Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" has Bjorn and Agnetha sharing leads. There is a point when some intense instrumentation comes in with Agnetha's voice, which is something used in "Mamma Mia," for one.

Frida sings lead in the skippy "Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother" which melodically could've been a country song with different instruments. Some ABBA songs lean towards country, such as the later "I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do" and "Why Did It Have To Be Me?"

The latter-day Beatlesque "He Is Your Brother" extols a life of compassion towards one's fellow man. Its B-side is "Santa Rosa," a nostalgic longing for one's home there. Bjorn and Agnetha sing verse 1 and 2 respectively. "She's My Kind Of Girl" by Bjorn resembles 60's Brit-pop, while "I Am Just A Girl" is missing a steel guitar to become a country ballad. Happy trails!

Not a bad start, as releases such as the self-titled release, Arrival, and Super Trouper would be among their best. With more mid-paced songs and ballads and without the production and vocal arrangements that became tighter as time went on, Ring Ring serves as a look at how the Swedish quartet started.

"Ring Ring" was Abba's first album; released in 1973 a year before their international breakthrough with "Waterloo". Although the group at this point appear somewhat immature and without the sharp profile that would later characterize the group's sound, there are nonetheless several fine pop melodies on the album.

The stand-out track is without question the title track "Ring Ring", which sounds like a song that just as well as "Waterloo" could have been a breakthrough song.

In addition to this great pop-song, there are other nice pop-tunes, some of which suffer a little from slightly weak lyrics or uninpiring male vocals. On later albums the girls took the vast majority of the lead-vocals - a clever decision.

"Disillusion" is a fine ballad written and sung by Agnetha Fältskog.

"Another Town, Another Train" is also a fine people inspired ballad - I would have liked to have the lead vocals sung by one of the girls.

"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" - is a little song in the tradition songs like Obladi-Oblada - quite enjoyable, but also rather forgettable.

All in all not a bad debut, though it does not measure up to later releases from the group.