Included further below are (YouTube) links to a couple of current favorites from the 1975 album. It is notable that Agnetha composed many of the songs and produced the album (with Michael Tretow's overall guidance) - as a young woman in her early-to-mid twenties. (Bosse Carlgren supplied (interesting) lyrics for most...) That (still) was not commonly done by female singers at the time....
There are some appealing melodies on "Elva Kvinnor..." And an array of them.
Per the article linked above the demands of rising super-group ABBA (and also new motherhood) prevented Agnetha from fully realizing this album project. Her songwriting abilities - (ironically) perhaps improved by working with ABBA's burgeoning songwriter/producers (B. Ulvaeus and B. Andersson) - were not developed further (at the time), as focus narrowed to her primary role with ABBA.
It is difficult to glean the full meaning of the songs unless you are familiar with (the) Swedish (language). Agnetha's sweet, feminine voice is beautifully on display however, as she was further improving in this area as well....The singing star is in fine voice for this entire album. It is subjective but I detect confidence, even happiness and enthusiasm in that voice (here), at times. (Aside from "the usual" sweetness, clarity, brightness, etc., etc.) Plus - it seems - a bit of a "sense of urgency". I.e., perhaps a solo album project that already-very-successful-and-capable, age 'twenty-something' Ms. Fältskog really wanted to create and produce, at that stimulating time within popular music. In short, via vernacular: She's "up for" this album (project). (Agnetha also was pregnant/a new mother during its recording (1973-75). And she reportedly took some singing lessons around this time, as well.)) But various demands upon her probably made it difficult (to achieve her goal, or "vision")....(Note: Ref., C.M. Palm, Bright Lights, Dark Shadows, pp.280-284.)
YouTube video posters 'Ljus85' and 'ji61m' (respectively) have included English lyrics for the two album tracks linked below. Focusing upon the singing and the songwriting: To my ears these are first-rate songs (below) composed by young Agnetha, from an overall 'decent' 1970s album. Please enjoy as a sample - as long as they remain posted. (Some YT song/tribute videos include English translations of lyrics.) :
(YT link, new window) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cWH3JBoNzw
(YT link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRL1XBH8DLE
"Bonus": Current link to a third song....Happy tune; absolutely beautifully done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGKM8L5s5gI
More about this bright song is offered via a recent post (link, new window).
Plus: Another excellent (in-Swedish) effort (from this album, written by Agnetha) is briefly noted/linked via this post (link, new window)....
A somewhat more detailed review of this album is linked here: http://felpin80.tripod.com/ata/id35.html
Additional, worthwhile fan/expert commentary (etc.): http://www.iphpbb.com/board/ftopic-30652567nx61610-9720.html ....AND an in-depth interview with Bosse Carlgren re the making of Elva kvinnor... plus more is detailed in this well-worth-it forum post. (Comments are interesting, too...)
(link, new window) http://www.iphpbb.com/board/ftopic-30652567nx61610-6692.html
And an iTunes link to songs from the album: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elva-kvinnor-i-ett-hus/id290169064
(Note: A couple more links to excellent, additional songs from "Elva Kvinnor..." are included in the previous post here: http://star4abba.blogspot.com/2009/06/agnetha-selected-songs-in-swedish.html)
Note: This post is backdated to better position within the order of entries here. Its actual creation date is November, 2010. Updated, 2011.
Link to my full blog: http://star4abba.blogspot.com/
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