Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson - Lycka (1970)

posted by all-musicrecords

Lycka is a 1970 album released by folk/rock duo Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson, who later became the male half of ABBA. 

Most of the songs feature lead vocals by Björn. 

Lycka is an important album. It gives us a preview of the gestation of ABBA, a very influential and successful pop music act. The song-writing and production are simple and beautiful. Even without the voices of Frida and Agnetha, Bjorn and Benny manage to convey deep emotion and melancholy.

The songs show the influence of Brian Wilson, "Ticket to Ride"-era Beatles and traditional Swedish folk music.

Lycka was produced by Björn and Benny with Bengt Bernhag and engineered by Michael B. Tretow. 

Benny and Björn played on the tracks with two Swiss musicians, drummer John Counz and bassist Gus Horn. 

Sven-Olof Walldoff was responsible for the orchestral arrangements, and on the 2006 re-release a few bonus tracks were added, notably early recordings with the two-girl half of the future group ABBA on backing vocals, Anni-Frid Lyngstad who was engaged to Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog who was married to Björn Ulvaeus. 

Three years later, Ring Ring became the first proper album release of what would become the most famous Swedish pop band ever (though the original album did not use ABBA as the main name of the group). 

Track listing

1.  Lycka - 3:05

2.  Någonting Är På Väg - 2:16

3.  Kära Gamla Sol - 2:24

4.  Det Där Med Kärlek - 2:59

5.  Välkommen In I Gänget - 3:07

6.  Lilla Du, Lilla Vän - 2:49

7.  Hej Gamle Man! - 3:19

8.  Liselott - 2:56

9.  Kalles Visa - 2:35

10.  Ge Oss En Chans - 3:38

11.  Livet Går Sin Gång - 3:49

Personnel

• Benny Andersson - piano, keyboards, vocals
• Björn Ulvaeus - guitars, vocals

Additional musicians

• Gus Horn - bass guitar
• John Cuonz - drums
• Agnetha Fältskog - backing vocals
• Anni-Frid Lyngstad - backing vocals

Credits

• Arranged By – Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Sven-Olof Walldoff
• Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad 
• Bass – Gus Horn
• Coordinator [Project Coordinator] – Mia Segolsson
• Design – Fredrik Hurtig
• Drums – John Cúonz
• Engineer [Lycka] – Michael B. Tretow
• Mastered By – Henrik Jonsson
• Photography By – Ola Lager
• Producer – Bengt Bernhag, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson
• Research, Liner Notes – Carl Magnus Palm
• Technician [Original Masters Digitized By] – Johan Funemyr
• Written-By – B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus

Notes

Released: November 1970 

Genre:  Folk rock 

Length:  30:58 

Producer(s):  Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Bengt Bernhag 

Label - Polar Records