The Seduction Of Inga (or "Inga II")

Björn and Benny's most famous involvement with a musical score was for a Swedish soft porn movie from 1970, a.k.a. Inga II (although this was only a working title and changed before its official release).  For this they wrote 'Inga Theme' which was released as the B-side to their first single "She's My Kind Of Girl". Their names appear in the opening credits over a shot of young Inga getting undressed!

The plot was predictably wafer-thin; a young woman is tired of her daily routine and the lack of excitement in her life so she decides to become a call girl. She wanders from man to man and suddenly discovers the true meaning of her former life. It's one of the most boring films I've ever seen!

"Inga II" is available in the US and Canada only (NTSC format) and was directed by Joseph W Sarno. Marie Liljedahl starred as Inga.  Note that this is NOT "Inga" so save your pennies!

The film is known by different names in various regions. In the USA, where it is available on video, it's known as 'The Seduction of Inga'. It's Swedish title is "Någon Att Älska" (Somebody To Love). In The Netherlands, it's known as "Inga Doet Wat Zij Niet Laten Kan" (Inga Does All The Things She Can't Resist). It's also been known as "Inga & Greta In Their Teenage Years". "Inga II" which it is sometimes known as was just a working title.

The music in the film is credited to Björn & Benny, with extra music from Peter Himmelstrand and Sven-Olof Walldoff.

The incidental music throughout the film was written by Benny, Björn and Peter Himmelstrand and is mainly swirling strings. Occasionally, the main "Inga Theme" appears as well as an early instrumental of "Någonting Är På Väg" (Something's On The Way) from Björn and Benny's "Lycka" album, most notably in the nightclub scenes (which were incidentally filmed at Alexandra's disco, later used as a location by ABBA as well).

One song easily recognisable is "She's My Kind Of Girl", as sung by Björm amd Benny, but MIMED by Tommy Blom - the male lead in the film. He was the heart-throb lead singer of the pop group Tages who were The Hep Stars' main competition in Sweden in the 1960s.

 

Filming started in November 1969 and lasted just over a month.

There are actually three different versions of "Inga Theme" that are featured:-

1. The usual version.
2. A version with a completely different vocal take and partly different orchestration. The phrasing of 'Inga' is different and more clipped than in the released version and there is some keyboard jamming featured as well.
3. An instrumental version on piano that is never played in full, but clips of which occur at various points throughout the film.

It's suspected that the version of "She's My Kind Of Girl" in the film is not the same one released on record. In the one heard in the film, the vocals appear slightly different. You also hear one of the characters playing the guitar in the background and humming along to the tune of "She's My Kind Of Girl".

There are also some other stray pieces of instrumental music - probably the songs that Peter Himmelstrand and Sven-Olof wrote. One of these instrumental pieces that is definitely written by Peter is a piano instrumental (played by Benny?) of what would later become Frida's "Barnen sover".

Other songs played in the film: Greta's theme, Crash, It's You or Nothing, Vem kan segla (Who can say?), Barnen Sover (Love is always Young).  These title are tkan off the Lycka sheet music folio!).

Peter Himmelstrand who died in March 1999. Peter co-wrote the book "The Lovers Who Conquered The World" with Harry Edgington.  Peter also co-wrote some of Frida's early music.

One of these unknown recurring pieces actually has some male backing vocals that sound rather like Björn and Benny. Could this be a long-lost Andersson/Ulvaeus composition that was used for the film?
 

NB. One of the bonus items on the DVD release is a complete promo clip for "Inga Theme", which we assume to be a specially-made compilation of various scenes from the Inga films.

There is also an interview with the producer of the film, Vernon Becker, where he talks about the music for the film. He says that he contacted Stig Anderson with a view to obtaining some 'older rock' recordings from his back catalogue, but that Stig instead recommended that Björn & Benny could write the film soundtrack. After this his story gets a little confused, as he says that it was at this time that Stig was 'putting ABBA together', that the songs for Inga were the first that ABBA recorded together, and how the foursome of "Astrid, Björn, Benny and Anni" later went on to become one of the world's most successful groups.
 

Information from ABBA Report, Issue 18 & special thanks to Paul Carter, Robin Andersson and Filip Jensen & Jason Swan and Paul Campbell c/o ABBAMAIL