ABBA Conquers The World In The 1970s: How Swede It Was

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1979: Swedish musical group ABBA performing on stage, (L-R:) Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sing while Benny Andersson plays the accordion. All wear blue and lavender spandex outfits. (Photo by Bob Grant/Fotos International/Getty

ABBA was a Swedish pop quartet that became a global phenomenon thanks to hits like "Mamma Mia," "Dancing Queen," "Waterloo" and "Take A Chance On Me." As it turned out, group members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were not just talented musicians, but shrewd marketers as well, figuring out a way to appeal to a worldwide audience without losing their Swedishness. When pop gave way to disco, ABBA was already ahead of the curve. Their story is one of a group that adapted, innovated, and never gave up.