Before joining ABBA in 1972, Agnetha Fältskog was one of Sweden's most successful solo pop stars, known for her crystalline soprano voice and her rare talent as a female singer-songwriter in the 1960s.
At age 17, while working as a telephonist and singing for the Bernt Enghardt dance band, her demo tape reached a record producer. Her debut single, “Jag var så kär” (“I Was So In Love”), which she wrote herself, shot to #1 on the Swedish charts in early 1968. Her early sound was a mix of Swedish “schlager” (catchy pop/folk melodies) and pop inspired by English-speaking contemporaries like Dusty Springfield and Cilla Black. Between 1968 and 1972, she also targeted the West German market, recording several singles in German and becoming engaged to producer Dieter Zimmermann.
Unlike many female singers of the era who simply performed songs written for them, Agnetha wrote many of her own hits. This gave her early work a vulnerability and sincerity that resonated with the public. Her first two albums, Agnetha Fältskog (1968) and Agnetha Fältskog Vol. 2 (1969), were rooted in the schlager style—melodic, easy-listening pop that was immensely popular in Northern Europe.
The trajectory of her career changed when she met Björn Ulvaeus in 1969. They performed together in a TV special and eventually married in 1971. Björn began producing her solo work, starting with the album Som jag är (1970). The production became more polished and influenced by the singer-songwriter movement happening in the US and UK.
In 1972, she played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish production of the hit musical. Her performance of “Vart ska min kärlek föra” (“I Don’t Know How to Love Him”) was a massive success and proved she had the theatrical range for more than just pop radio. By the time the four members of ABBA (then known as Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid) released their first single “People Need Love” in 1972, Agnetha was actually the most famous member of the group in Sweden.
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