The smiling publicity shots hid the crumbling marriages of both couples in the band: Bjorn & Agnetha and Benny & Frida. A song like вЂњPut On Your White SombreroвЂќ doesnвЂ™t exactly command respect.)ДЄnd yet, if we know anything about the group, itвЂ™s that appearances can be deceiving. (Of course, you canвЂ™t completely blame the public. Their squeaky clean image-the silly outfits, the disco dance routines, the somewhat loose grasp of English-has not helped their reputation as bubblegum fluff. ButвЂ¦ albums are what serious artists make, and up until very recently, ABBA were considered pop stars. They recorded eight LPs over the course of nine years, and all of them are pretty terrific. If thereвЂ™s a downside to releasing so many number one singles, itвЂ™s that their albums have been somewhat forgotten. Their songs have been licensed to kingdom come collections of their music have appeared in countless forms and sold in the tens of millions, the most well-known being ABBA Gold and its sequel, More Gold. ДЄs a result, ABBA have never lacked exposure. He fancied himself the Nordic Colonel Tom Parker, brokering deal after deal to increase the bandвЂ™s revenue (and ensure that they held on to it-not an easy task, considering Swedish tax policies), and he was good at his job! It takes more than great music to become the second highest-grossing pop group of all time after the Beatles. And, to be fair, their manager, Stig Anderson, was a remarkably shrewd businessman. The influence is writ large on every one of their records, even their biggest ones, from вЂњWaterlooвЂќ to вЂњTake a Chance on MeвЂќ to вЂњSuper Trouper.вЂќ Д«ut where the commercialism of The Beach Boys was rarely, if ever, held against them, ABBA would be dogged throughout their lifespan by the charge that they were cynical hucksters, always out for an easy buck. There has been no more successful Wilsonite than Benny Andersson of 70s Swedish megastars ABBA. Those who are interested in the craft of pop music-writing, production, arrangement-invariably find themselves in The Beach BoysвЂ™ tractor beam sooner or later. The Church of Wilson has drawn scores of worshippers over the years, including a disproportionate number of musicians. Inspired by Ben SelfвЂ™s wonderful Bruce Cockburn playlist the other day (pts 2-3 coming soon!), hereвЂ™s what IвЂ™ve affectionately been informed is вЂњthe toughest sellвЂќ in A Mess of Help.

One of us is crying abba