An independent archive of typography.
to participate.
Topics
Formats
Typefaces

ABBA – Ring Ring album era (1972–1973)

Contributed by Alex Bury on May 31st, 2019. Artwork published in
circa 1972
.
    Ring Ring by Björn Benny & Agnetha Frida, released on 26 March 1973 on Polar Records, Sweden. The cover was designed by Peter Wiking, with photography by Bengt H. Malmqvist and a tightly spaced version of  Extra Bold with enlarged dots. The ampersand appears to be a custom addition.
    Source: abbasite.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    Ring Ring by Björn Benny & Agnetha Frida, released on 26 March 1973 on Polar Records, Sweden. The cover was designed by Peter Wiking, with photography by Bengt H. Malmqvist and a tightly spaced version of Gill Sans Extra Bold with enlarged dots. The ampersand appears to be a custom addition.

    Ring Ring was ABBA’s first album, released in 1973. I will share the fonts used for this album and the related singles. In this early period the band didn’t identify as ABBA yet. Instead, the covers spell out the names of the four members: Björn & Benny with Agnetha & Anni-Frid. In many cases, the women’s names are given as “Anna & Fri(e)da”. “Björn” often has to do without a trema on the o.

    “People Need Love” (1972) was the first ever single released by ABBA. The “Ring Ring” single was released worldwide. “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” was only released in France and Austria. That single gained a #8 in the Austrian charts.

    Released on 1 June 1972, “People Need Love” (Sweden) was the first ever single by ABBA. Fonts in use:  and .
    Source: www.discogs.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    Released on 1 June 1972, “People Need Love” (Sweden) was the first ever single by ABBA. Fonts in use: Annonce / Aurora-Grotesk V and Helvetica.

    French pressing of “People Need Love” on Disques Vogue, featuring  and .
    Source: www.45cat.com Scan: Meandi74 / 45cat. License: All Rights Reserved.

    French pressing of “People Need Love” on Disques Vogue, featuring Neil Bold and Akzidenz-Grotesk.

    German release of “People Need Love” on Polydor. The fonts in use are  and .
    Source: hitparade.ch License: All Rights Reserved.

    German release of “People Need Love” on Polydor. The fonts in use are Churchward Marianna and Helvetica Inserat.

    The sleeve of the Danish version of “Ring Ring” by Polar combines Stencil and .
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    The sleeve of the Danish version of “Ring Ring” by Polar combines Stencil and Compacta.

    In Sweden, the “Ring Ring” single was packaged in Polar’s generic typographic sleeve featuring Sans Serif Shaded.
    Source: www.discogs.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    In Sweden, the “Ring Ring” single was packaged in Polar’s generic typographic sleeve featuring Sans Serif Shaded.

    French pressing of “Ring Ring” on Disques Vogue. Fonts in use:  and , in all caps.
    Source: www.flickr.com Scan: Horst Adomeit. License: All Rights Reserved.

    French pressing of “Ring Ring” on Disques Vogue. Fonts in use: Annonce / Aurora-Grotesk V and Frankonia, in all caps.

    The Dutch sleeve for “Ring Ring” (Polydor) pairs the descenderless  with caps from . Note the “surprised frog” Ö with affixed dots in “Björn”.
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    The Dutch sleeve for “Ring Ring” (Polydor) pairs the descenderless Broadway with caps from Futura Display. Note the “surprised frog” Ö with affixed dots in “Björn”.

    German release on Polydor. “Ring Ring” is in , the rest in the equally squarish .
    Source: www.imdb.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    German release on Polydor. “Ring Ring” is in ITC Pioneer, the rest in the equally squarish Diamante.

    Spanish version by Carnaby. The typeface is  with a two-color fill.
    Source: shop.totallyvinyl.com Totally Vinyl (edited). License: All Rights Reserved.

    Spanish version by Carnaby. The typeface is Pluto with a two-color fill.

    “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” as released in France by Vogue. The font in use is .
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” as released in France by Vogue. The font in use is Windsor Elongated.

    The Austrian version of “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” (Polydor) features  Italic and .
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    The Austrian version of “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” (Polydor) features Normande Italic and Filmotype Flyer.

    Typefaces

    • Gill Sans
    • Annonce / Aurora-Grotesk V
    • Helvetica
    • Neil Bold
    • Akzidenz-Grotesk
    • Churchward Marianna
    • Helvetica Inserat
    • Stencil (ATF)
    • Compacta
    • Thorowgood Sans Shaded
    • Frankonia
    • Broadway
    • Futura Display
    • ITC Pioneer
    • Diamante
    • Pluto
    • Windsor Elongated
    • Filmotype Flyer
    • Normande

    Formats

    Topics

    Designers/Agencies

    Artwork location

    In Sets

    Post a comment