Benny Andersson revisits classic ABBA tunes on his new album

ABBA’s Benny Andersson is revisiting some ABBA’s greatest hits on his new solo album.

The co-founder of ABBA is about to release an album of solo piano music. The album titled simply Piano will be released on 29 September, 2017 through iconic classical music label Deutsche Grammophon.

Piano will feature 21-tracks creating a journey through Andersson’s acclaimed and celebrated career as songs from ABBA, his musicals and other solo-compositions are re-interpreted as you have never heard them before.

The music on the album is performed unaccompanied by just Benny himself, on his trusted grand piano. The album was recorded with Linn Fijal, engineer and studio manager at his own RMV Studios, on the island of Skeppsholmen, in the heart of his hometown Stockholm.

While many will know Andersson’s work in the iconic 70’s band ABBA, he also wrote some award wining musicals including Chess and Kristina, and has continued making music with his band The Benny Andersson Orkestra.   

The album will feature several ABBA tunes including I Wonder (The Departure), The Day Before You Came, Thank You for the Music, My Love My Life, and Happy New Year. 

Announcing the new album Andersson said recording the album was a musical version of writing his memoirs.

“In the process of recording this album, I have come to realise that the pieces I have chosen to play are an integral part of me. In endeavouring to reach for some core within them, I have found that the more I strip away the clothing, the closer I feel to the music, regardless of whether it was created last year or 40 years ago. In a strange way, I feel like I am playing my memoirs.”

“It was very different to how I’ve made records in the past, and that was part of the joyfulness of it all,” Andersson said. “Even without the bass, drums, guitars, strings and vocals on these songs, I think there is still substance in all of them. That was very pleasing to realise.”

Check out Benny playing the ABBA classic Thank you for the Music.

OIP Staff