icethesite - Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus news site

Press release: "The legendary Benny Andersson of the world’s greatest pop band ABBA, has been charting history and unforgettable music for the past thirty five years, from 380 million albums sold to the record-breaking musical and blockbuster film Mamma Mia!

For the past twenty years he has also been leading the Benny Andersson Band, a group of sixteen exceptional musicians and singers who share his passion for the Swedish folk tradition, big band, Bach, polka, waltzes, Celtic folk, Fifties standards - and straight-ahead pop music. The Benny Andersson Band’s first U.S. release, Story Of A Heart, will be available everywhere on March 2nd (Decca).

Story Of A Heart is a return to the musical roots of ABBA, with Andersson once again collaborating on all of the songs with long-time song-writing partner Björn Ulvaeus. The title track is the first new pop composition written by the famed duo in 15 years; a fitting occasion on the eve of ABBA’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 15th. 

The 14-track album captures highlights from the three already released albums in Sweden by the Benny Andersson Band - or Benny Anderssons Orkester as they are known there - along with some brand new tracks. “I wanted to make music based on the Swedish folk tradition, but with new songs written by me,” says Andersson, who also plays accordion on the record - something he has done since he was a six-year-old boy with his father and grandfather in Stockholm. 

Vocal duties on the album are shared by Swedish stars Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg, with select tracks translated into English for the first time for this recording. All the lyrics on the album are written by Björn. The additional musicians play a multitude of traditional and non-traditional instruments including the violin, flute, crumhorn, mandolin, bouzouki and the banjo to name a few.

The Benny Andersson Band is a huge live draw in Sweden, touring the country each summer with their own stage and dance floor. The band was appropriately described by the UK’s Daily Mail as “a Scandinavian version of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club.”

Story Of A Heart to be released in the USA

Thanks to Scott for the news.