Polar Studios was a recording studio in Stockholm, Sweden, which operated from 1978 through 2004. The studio was formed by ABBA musicians Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and the band’s manager Stig Anderson, owner of the Polar Music recording label.
The studio was used to record the last three ABBA albums, Voulez-Vous, Super Trouper and The Visitors, as well as their two non-LP singles “The Day Before You Came” and “Under Attack”.
Following the demise of ABBA, all members of the group continued using the studio to record their solo projects.
The studio was used by Mike Rutherford for his first solo album “Smallcreeps Day” and Tony Banks for his first solo album “A Curious Feeling”. It would be used by Genesis for the recording of Duke, and finally by Phil Collins when he co produced the Anni-Frid Lyngstad solo album “Something’s Going On” with Hugh Padgham.
This is a recreation of Studio B, at Polar.
This is a recreation of Studio B, at Polar. View from the Harrison mixing desk
Among the early non-ABBA albums recorded at the studio were the Genesis album Duke (1980), followed by ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s solo album Something’s Going On (which was produced by Genesis drummer Phil Collins).
In addition to ABBA, a range of other well-known artists recorded at Polar. Among the albums to have been recorded at the studio are Led Zeppelin’s In Through the Out Door and Genesis’ Duke
A Curious Feeling, Tony Banks
Initially, producer & engineer David Hentschel couldn’t attend the sessions at Polar Studios due to catching measles from his daughter at the time, so assistant engineer Dave Bascombe did the recording. The recording sessions took place during the spring and summer of 1979, with the album being released on the 12th October 1979.
Smallcreeps Day, Mike Rutherford
Recorded in 1979, with the material written and finalised, Rutherford travelled to Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden to record Smallcreep’s Day with David Hentschel as producer and engineer with David Bascombe assisting. Mike Rutherford and Simon Phillips arrived at the studio first to put down the drum and rhythm tracks. Smallcreeps Day was released on the 15th February 1980.
Duke, Genesis
Duke was the last album to be produced by David Hentschel, after Duke – Genesis would go on to work with Hugh Padgham, and eventually Nick Davis. Duke was originally written during September/October 1979, at Phil Collins’s home. The recording took place at Polar Studios after this. Duke would prove to be more successful, than the previous albums. Duke was released in the UK on the 28th March 1980.
Something’s Going On, Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Frida – Something’s Going On – Album cover
Recording began at Polar Studios, Stockholm, on 15 February 1982 and continued until 31 March. Earth Wind & Fire’s horn players (the Phenix Horns) – also an important part of the Face Value album – came to Stockholm for a two-day visit. Strings, orchestra, and harp were later recorded at George Martin’s Air Studios in London in the attendance of both Martin and Paul McCartney. This album marked the first non Genesis and non solo album to be produced by Phil Collins and assisted by Hugh Padgham. The album was released in the UK on the 10th September 1982.
Plaque about Polar and Genesis, amongst others
The centrepiece of the studio was a 40-channel Harrison 32 Series mixing console, which was modified by technician Leif Mases to give it a unique sound that in some respects resembled a Neve desk. ABBA’s 1981 album The Visitors marked a turning point for Polar, as it was recorded on the studio’s new 3M digital recorder – thus becoming one of the first digital mainstream pop records.
The Harrison HC32 – 40 Channel mixing desk
The original Polar Studios was vacated on the 1st May 2004, as reported on BBC news. This was because a developer wanted to convert the building into residential flats. So the trick was to put the rent up to three times its normal price, forcing Polar Studios to close. After moving around a number of locations the studio was scaled right back. Eventually the equipment was placed into storage, in 2010 there was an ABBA museum opened in Stockholm (as of September 2026, this is thriving). Inside the museum is a recreation of the main room at Polar Studios, including the 40-channel Harrison 32 series console. This mixing desk is certainly from Polar’s Studio B, which maintained a Harrison 40-channel 32C mixing console.
An original analogue reel tape box, from Polar Studios.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Studios
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3608923.stm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something’s_Going_On
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallcreep%27s_Day_(album)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Curious_Feeling
Photographs of a recreated Studio B, Polar Studios – © Mark Kenyon 2026
This feature will be updated, if and when new information becomes available.
