Waterloo cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Waterloo Songwriting Credits by ABBA

1974 Polar Music 12 tracks 38 min

Produced by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus  ·  Engineered by Michael B. Tretow

Polar Music PopGlam RockEuropop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 12 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether ABBA carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
12 trackswritten by ABBA 0 tracksoutside writers
ABBA's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1974
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 with "Waterloo," representing Sweden at the final in Brighton on April 6, 1974.
Data Insight

Waterloo was ABBA's second album and their international breakthrough, powered by the title track that won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton on April 6, 1974. The win turned the Swedish group into a global act, and "Waterloo" went on to reach number one in the United Kingdom and number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. Every song was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, with manager Stig Anderson contributing lyrics. The record set the template for the bright, hook-driven pop that would define ABBA's career.

Waterloo is ABBA's second studio album and their first released internationally, issued in March 1974. The title track (written by Andersson and Ulvaeus with lyrics co-credited to Stig Anderson) won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 in Brighton, England, launching ABBA as a global act. The album blends glam rock, bubblegum pop, and early Europop, with Andersson and Ulvaeus producing the full record. Stig Anderson contributed as co-lyricist on three tracks: 'Waterloo,' 'Hasta Mañana,' and 'Honey, Honey.' Both Swedish and English versions of the title track appear on the CD edition of the album.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Waterloo (Swedish version)
Björn UlvaeusBenny AnderssonStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn UlvaeusStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
2
Sitting in the Palmtree
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
3
King Kong Song
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
4
Hasta Mañana
Björn UlvaeusBenny AnderssonStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn UlvaeusStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
5
My Mama Said
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
6
Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
7
Honey, Honey #27
Björn UlvaeusBenny AnderssonStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn UlvaeusStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
8
Watch Out
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
9
What About Livingstone
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
10
Gonna Sing You My Love Song
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
11
Suzy-Hang-Around
Björn UlvaeusBenny Andersson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)
12
Waterloo #1
Björn UlvaeusBenny AnderssonStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn UlvaeusStig Anderson Benny AnderssonBjörn Ulvaeus Agnetha Fältskog (Lead Vocals)Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

BA
Benny Andersson
Writer · Producer
On this album12 written
BU
Björn Ulvaeus
Writer · Producer
On this album12 written
SA
Stig Anderson
Writer
On this album4 written
AF
Agnetha Fältskog
Vocals
On this albumGuest
AL
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Vocals
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions Waterloo

Who wrote Waterloo?
"Waterloo" was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who composed the music, with manager Stig Anderson writing the lyrics. The same songwriting team wrote every track on the album. The song won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and became ABBA's first UK number one.
Did Waterloo win Eurovision?
Yes. ABBA performed "Waterloo" for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, held in Brighton, England, on April 6, 1974, and won the competition. The victory launched the group's international career and is widely regarded as one of the most influential wins in the contest's history.
How did Waterloo perform on the charts?
The single "Waterloo" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for two weeks, becoming ABBA's first of nine UK number ones. In the United States it peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the group's highest-charting American hits.
What singles were released from Waterloo?
The title track "Waterloo" was the lead single and the group's Eurovision entry, released in Swedish, English, German, and French versions. "Honey, Honey" followed as the second single and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100, though it was not issued as a single in the UK. "Hasta Manana" was also released as a single in several territories.
Why are there two versions of Waterloo on the album?
The album includes both a Swedish-language version of "Waterloo" as the opening track and the English-language version as the closing track. ABBA recorded the song in multiple languages to broaden its international appeal after the Eurovision win.
Who produced the Waterloo album?
Waterloo was produced by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the group's two principal songwriters. The album was engineered by Michael B. Tretow, whose layered "wall of sound" recording approach helped shape ABBA's signature studio sound. It was released on the Polar Music label in Sweden in 1974.
Was Waterloo ABBA's first album?
No. Waterloo, released in 1974, was ABBA's second studio album, following Ring Ring in 1973. It was, however, the first ABBA album released internationally and the one that made the group a worldwide success.
Data note: Track listing follows the CD edition, which includes both the Swedish original and English version of 'Waterloo.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Waterloo Wikipedia: Waterloo (song) Wikipedia: Honey, Honey MusicBrainz: Waterloo release-group Cover Art Archive: Waterloo front cover Cover Art Archive: Waterloo by ABBA