Ted Gärdestad And ABBA
I have been asked about ABBA's involvement in Ted Gärdestad's career, and in particular, how many tracks on the recently released box set (released last Wednesday and yes, I've ordered my copy) have an ABBA connection. A big ask but I'll try what I can. A special mention to Carl Magnus Palm's book "The Complete Recording Sessions" which added detail about individual tracks.
I'll do it album by album. Unless otherwise noted, songs are included on the box set.
UNDRINGAR (1972)
Produced by Benny & Björn. Piano - Benny. Guitar - Björn.
Engineer - Michael Tretow & 2 others. Choir - Agnetha, Anni-Frid,
Benny, Björn, Lena Andersson (on Helena only). 11 songs. 9 are on
box set. Exact songs with Agnetha and Frida unknown but following songs
have female backing vocals:
- Helena
- Jag Vill Ha En Egen Måne
- Ett Stilla Regn
- När Du Kommer
- Hela Världen Runt (not on box set)
TED (1973)
Produced by Benny, Björn & Ted. Piano - Benny, Ted. Acoustic
guitar - Björn, Ted. Cenbala, vibraphone, moog - Benny. Banjo &
mandolin - Björn. Engineer - Michael Tretow & 2 others. Choir
- Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny, Björn, Lena Andersson. Gatefold cover
- photos inside include Björn & Michael at mixing desk and Benny
at piano.11 songs. 8 are on box set. According to TCRS, the following
songs have Frida and Lena on them:
- Jag Ska Fånga En Ängel
- Kaliforniens Guld
- Come Give Me Love
The following songs also sound like they have female backing vocals:
- Oh, Vilken Härlig Da'
- Gitarren och Jag
UPPTÅG (1974)
Produced by Benny, Ted & Björn. Piano, moog & mellotron -
Benny. Engineer - Michael. Choir - Agnetha, Anni-Frid & 3 others.
10 songs. 6 are on box set. According to TCRS, the following songs have
Frida and others on them:
- Silver (not on box set)
- Eiffeltornet
- Fantomen
According to TCRS, Agnetha and Lena Ericsson appeared on:
- Goliat från Gat (not on box set)
According to TCRS, Agnetha, Frida and Lena Ericsson appeared on:
- Buffalo Bill
- Love Comes
ROCKIN' AND REELIN' (1975)
Single only. Ted's entry into the Swedish heats for Eurovision. Produced
by Benny & Björn. Swedish and English versions recorded. Backing
vocals unknown but sounds female so could be Agnetha and Frida.
FRANSKA KORT (1976)
Produced by Benny, Ted, Michael & Björn. Acoustic guitar - Björn.
Piano & other keyboards - Benny, Ted & 1 other.Choir - Anni-Frid
and others. Agnetha is not on the album.11 songs. 10 are on box set.According
to TCRS, the following songs have Frida and others on them:
- Franska Kort
- Humbuggie-Woogie
- Chapeau-Claque (Swedish version of Take Me Back To Hollywood)
- Kejsarens Kläder
- Ring Ding Dingeling Dae (not on box set)
- Klöversnoa
BLUE VIRGIN ISLES (1978)
No ABBA involvement with this album but Ted does thank Stig, ABBA and
the Polar family in the credits. This album was recorded in Hollywood
and Stockholm. Among others, the choir features David Cassidy and Venetta
Fields. 10 songs. 9 are on box set.
SATELLIT / SATELLITE (1979)
Single only. Ted represented Sweden at Eurovision in Jerusalem. No ABBA
involvement. Swedish version is on box set.
STORMVARNING (1981)
Benny produced one song and Frida supplied backing vocals.
- Låt Kärleken Slå Rot
12 songs. 8 are on box set.
I'D RATHER WRITE A SYMPHONY
(1981)
No ABBA involvement. This was another version of the Stormvarning album
with most songs in common.
LYCKA (1992)
Single only. Duet with Harpo. No ABBA involvement. Not the B&B song.
Not on the box set.
KALENDARIUM (1993)
Compilation CD featuring 1 previously unreleased song and 1 new song.
Both are on box set.
No ABBA involvement with these two songs but Anders Glenmark produced
För Kärlekens Skull.
ÄNTLIGEN PÅ
VÄG (1994)
No ABBA involvement. 14 songs. 11 are on box set.
SOLREGN (2001)
This is the box set. Apart from the above there are the following tracks,
all with no ABBA involvement.
- I'd Rather Write A Symphony (2 versions) - previously unreleased from
1981
- Nobody Loves You Now - previously unreleased from 1981
- Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot - Caramba (which was the pseudonym for Ted and
Michael Tretow)
- Jag Vill Ha En Egen Måne (tribute by Janne Schaffer)
Apologies for any errors. This was done fairly quickly. As you can see, most of the songs have Benny and Björn producing and playing, and there are quite a few with Frida and Agnetha's vocals on them. The girls' vocals aren't always that prominent so I wouldn't necessarily buy the whole box set if you're not a fan of Ted.
However, it is a great collection from a very talented singer/songwriter. He was only 15 when he recorded his first album. Amazing stuff. An acknowledgement of Ted's talent is the fact that Benny and Björn kept working with him extensively at a time when ABBA were huge and the group had no time to scratch themselves. B&B scaled back their production work for other Polar artists due to their workload but kept going with Ted.
It was a great loss when Ted died. He hadn't lost his touch, as his 1994 album showed.
And next year, it looks like
his albums will be rereleased with bonus tracks. Something to look forward
to. :-)
Posted on ABBAMAIL, November 18, by Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia
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