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Michael B. Tretow

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Michael B. Tretow
Birth nameBo Michael Tretow
Born(1944-08-20)20 August 1944
Norrköping, Sweden
Died20 May 2025(2025-05-20) (aged 80)
Genres
Occupations
Years active1960s–2015
Labels

Bo Michael Tretow (20 August 1944 – 20 May 2025)[1] was a Swedish record producer and audio engineer, musician, and composer, best known for his work with the Swedish pop group ABBA (1972–1982), and with the musical Chess. He also composed several themes and jingles for Swedish national radio and television.

Tretow was born in Norrköping. He began working at Metronome Studios in Stockholm in 1967. In 1970 he started working in earnest with Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and the three men got on well together.[2] He later worked at GLN (Glenmark) studios for two years before coming to ABBA's Polar Studios in 1978, where he eventually became studio manager.[3] Tretow experimented with different recording techniques, and played an essential part in creating the "ABBA sound".[2][4][3]

Tertlow died on 20 May 2025, aged 80, his son Rasmus Tretow and his wife Malin Hertzman confirmed to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.[5] All four members of the band paid tribute to Tretlow, with Benny Andersson saying: "You meant more to us four in ABBA than anyone else... I hope and believe that you felt it throughout all the years that have passed since we worked (and continuously laughed) in the studio. Our music lives on, it seems, and you are the one who made it timeless. You were a fantastic inspirer and joy-maker. And the finest sound engineer the world has ever seen."[6]

Discography

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As an artist

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  • Mikael & Michael (1966, with Mikael Ramel)
  • Let's boogie (1976)
  • Caramba (1981, with Ted Gärdestad)
  • Michael B. Tretow (1982)
  • Tomteland (1985)
  • Den makalösa manicken (1986, under the pseudonym Professorn)
  • Hystereo Hi-lites (1989)
  • Trafik-Trolle (early 1990s)
  • Greatest Hits (1999)

As producer

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As engineer

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References

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  1. ^ "Abba-stjärnorna hyllar Michael B Tretow: "Du betydde mer för oss fyra än någon annan"" [Michael B Tretow is dead – created the iconic Abba sound]. www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). May 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Michael B. Tretow's biography Archived 19 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, ABBA World, accessed 12 May 2010
  3. ^ a b Jones, Peter (8 September 1979). "Michael Tretow: 'a real source of inspiration"". Billboard. Billboard Publications Group. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ "The genius of ABBA: The incredible production and recording techniques behind the music". 23 September 2021.
  5. ^ Winston, Fran (May 21, 2025). "ABBA legend dies as heartbroken band members pay emotional tribute". Express.co.uk.
  6. ^ Davison, Tamara (May 21, 2025). "Who was Michael Tretow? ABBA honour cherished sound engineer". The Standard.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael B. Tretow | Credits". AllMusic.
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