"Love Isn't Easy" is a country-rock song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA

ABBA

ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...

. It was the fourth and last single to be released from their album Ring Ring

Ring Ring (album)

-2001 re-release:Ring Ring was remastered and reissued in 2001 with three bonus tracks :-2005 re-release:...

, but unusually, it wasn't issued in ABBA's home-country of Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

, but elsewhere in Scandinavia

Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

. It was coupled with "I Am Just a Girl" as its B-side

A-side and B-side

A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...

 upon release in 1973. The song was one of the last songs to be recorded for the album Ring Ring

Ring Ring (album)

-2001 re-release:Ring Ring was remastered and reissued in 2001 with three bonus tracks :-2005 re-release:...

. "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" was the first and last Polar single to be issued as 'Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida'.

The song tells of a lovers quarrel, and that while love isn't easy, it sure is hard enough.

History

The song was written by Benny Andersson

Benny Andersson

Göran Bror "Benny" Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...

 and Björn Ulvaeus

Björn Ulvaeus

Björn Kristian Ulvaeus is a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, writer, producer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...

 and engineered by Michael Tretow. All four members of the group share the lead vocals.

Chart performance

The single's limited release did not generate a Top 10 chart placement anywhere, though it was a minor hit in some countries where it was released. In Sweden, it reached #3 on the Tio i topp singles chart.