Abba [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
The success of the jaunty "S.O.S" and bouncy Abba-by-numbers (no insult!) "Mamma Mia" ended a year of uncertainty. For a while, it seemed as if the Swedish quartet wouldn't be able to break free of the stigma of being a pop band that didn't boast English as a first language. "S.O.S" changed all that. Elsewhere, however, the quartet still hadn't quite found their niche: slipping from the great (the truly scary "Hey, Hey Helen," the poptastic "Bang-A-Boomerang," and the unstoppably catchy marriage song "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do") to the ridiculous (the funkified "Man in the Middle" and the sunburned "Tropical Loveland") with alarming ease. The token glam stomper, "Rock Me," this time round, though, was awesome. --Everett True

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Average customer rating: ABBA was/is Top of the Pops. But did you know these? Better music One of the best Swedish imports Make sure this is what you're looking for. Awesome

ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1999 London Cast) The Definitive Collection The Mamas & the Papas - Greatest Hits The Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record The Best of Simon & Garfunkel ASIN: B000001DZO Release Date: 1993-09-21

Tracks:

1. Dancing Queen
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You
3. Take A Chance On Me
4. Mamma Mia
5. Lay All Your Love On Me
6. Super Trouper
7. I Have A Dream
8. The Winner Takes It All
9. Money, Money, Money
10. S.O.S.
11. Chiquitita
12. Fernando
13. Voulez Vous
14. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
15. Does Your Mother Know
16. One Of Us
17. The Name Of The Game
18. Thank You For The Music
19. Waterloo

Amazon.com essential recording

Anyone looking for the key to Abba's enduring appeal should look no further than "Voulez Vous" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" for their answer. There was an innocence to the Swedish quartet, even when they were singing about one-night stands and the invitations to them. Gold establishes that the band, while appreciated as campy, were actually multifaceted in their execution. "S.O.S." has a raw urgency in its chorus, and "Does Your Mother Know" draws its energy from classic '50s rock & roll. Likewise, you don't have to be Priscilla to swoon over "Mamma Mia" or "Dancing Queen." And when it comes to drama, those soaring vocals on "The Winner Takes It All" turn the song into a bitter anthem of every relationship that has ever fallen apart. The much-covered "Lay All Your Love on Me" is practically epic. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

ABBA was/is Top of the Pops. But did you know these?.......2007-07-05

Nothing in this life has brought me more joy that ABBA. From the first time I heard Waterloo, until the fanatic state began with Fernando, they have had my heart like no other group. GOLD is the best essence of ABBA. It has the best of the best sans Summer Night City, which is on the subsequent More Gold. Their only pop rivals in sales were The Bee Gees and the enormously huge pop/disco group Boney M. Relative unknowns in the US. Check them out. Not so much Abba sounding, but if you like good melodies and irresistable hooks, great purchase. Another big, but short-lived pop group was Clout. Much more like Abba. Highly recommended.

Better music.......2007-06-27

I have tried to get some of thier CDs for some time but this CD was worth the wait, sounds are great and are a "sing along with" mode, great CD.

One of the best Swedish imports.......2007-05-24

Abba's Greatest Hits lives up to its title. This is an excellent comp album. All of the hits are here [I am just old enough to remember Abba's heyday]. This is a very good, very well-rounded collection of Abba's recordings. There's not a lame song on here. The album can be listened to straight through without ever being tempted to hit the skip button. Simply some of the best pop music ever, not just from the 70s. Abba was a bright spot of the 70s, countering a bad presidency and wicked gas prices. Hmmmm, we have those back again, come to think of it. Where's our Abba?

Make sure this is what you're looking for........2007-05-16

Abba was a pretty prolific and popular group in the 70s. For those of us familiar with ABBA, this album is great. Those who aren't might want to give this a try. You've probably heard some of their tunes before without even realizing it was ABBA. Note that there is another greatest hits collection called the Definitive Collection. It's a 2 disc set that contains everything on this album, some lesser hits and a remix or two as well. For the die hard fan you might want to check into the Definitive Collection (or the Complete Studio Collection for you ABBA freaks out there). For the passing fan like myself, all of the great stuff is here.

Awesome.......2007-04-12

This compilation contains all of the biggest hits by ABBA. It starts off with a great 1-2 punch of "Dancing Queen" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You". The hits just keep on coming, "Waterloo", "Gimmie a Man After Midnight", "Voules Vouz", "Fernando", "SOS", "I Had a Dream". There are a couple songs I wish were on here like "People Need Love", "If It Wasn't for the Night" and Frida's solo hit "I Know There's Something Going On".

Average customer rating: Mamma Mia Mamma Mia Musical CD JUST GREAT MUSIC Mamma Mia Not good at all

Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1999 London Cast) Benny Andersson , Julian Poole , Jenny Galloway , Nicolas Colicos , Paul Clarkson , Bjorn Ulvaeus , Lisa Stokke , Eliza Lumley , Melissa Gibson , Siobhan McCarthy , Louise Plowright , Jenny Galloway , Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Stig Anderson Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast) Movin' Out (Based on the Songs and Music of Billy Joel) (2002 Original Broadway Cast) Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000031WEN Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

1. Overture/Prologue
2. Honey, Honey
3. Money, Money, Money
4. Thank You For The Music
5. Mamma Mia
6. Chiquitita
7. Dancing Queen
8. Lay All Your Love On Me
9. Super Trouper
10. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
11. The Name Of The Game
12. Voulez-Vous
13. Entr'acte
14. Under Attack
15. One Of Us
16. S.O.S.
17. Does Your Mother Know
18. Knowing Me, Knowing You
19. Our Last Summer
20. Slipping Through My Fingers
21. The Winner Takes It All
22. Take A Chance On Me
23. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
24. I Have A Dream

Amazon.com

Put together by Abba's own Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! manages to cram over 20 of the Swedish supergroup's songs into a threadbare plot. It goes a little like this: Young Sophie is getting married and she's trying to identify which of three men is her father. That's about it. Wisely, the musical doesn't mess around with the songs, save for the insertion of some dialogue or for having some of them performed by a man (it works amazingly well). Abba fans will jump on this import of the London production, but traditional fans of musical theater should consider it as well. After all, Andersson and Ulvaeus's songs have always felt as if they were more than isolated pop gems and actually belonged to a longer narrative. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Mamma Mia.......2007-03-22

I have not stopped playing this cd. It is just great! It makes any trip in my car most enjoyable Happy I bought it!

Mamma Mia Musical CD.......2007-03-21

This is a grand list of songs from the original musical when it was first introduced in England. The songs from ABBA are very recognizable even if you haven't seen the show. But, making a trip to NY to see the Broadway production is a plus. ENJOY!

JUST GREAT MUSIC.......2007-03-08

I RECENTLY SAW THE SHOW MAMMA MIA IN LAS VEGAS. ALWAYS LIKES THE MUSIC OF ABBA, AND THOUGH THE PLOT WAS THIN, THE MUSIC WAS WELL PERFORMED. IN THIS PARTICULAR ALBUM, THE ENGLISH ACCENTS WERE A BIT MUCH, BUT THE SONGS WERE GREAT. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, ABBA.

Mamma Mia.......2007-01-29

Every time I hear the music and songs it brings back memories of seeing the Broadway Show

Not good at all.......2007-01-09

This is not what we wanted. The British accents throw it was off. We just saw it in NY and this is not what we were looking for.

Average customer rating: All the hits, but too many missing album tracks I actually like this ABBA IS THE BEST!!! Mamma Mia Its Abba Excellent Collection

The Definitive Collection ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA: The Definitive Collection Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1999 London Cast) Super Trouper Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition ASIN: B00005QJFL Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

1. People Need Love
2. He Is Your Brother
3. Ring Ring
4. Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
5. Waterloo
6. Honey, Honey
7. So Long
8. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
9. SOS
10. Mamma Mia
11. Fernando
12. Dancing Queen
13. Money, Money, Money
14. Knowing Me, Knowing You
15. The Name Of The Game
16. Take A Chance On Me
17. Eagle
18. Summer Night City
19. Chiquitita
20. Does Your Mother Know

Tracks:

1. Voulez-Vous
2. Angeleyes
3. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
4. I Have A Dream
5. The Winner Takes It All
6. Super Trouper
7. On And On And On
8. Lay All Your Love On Me
9. One Of Us
10. When All Is Said And Done
11. Head Over Heels
12. The Visitors (Crackin' Up)
13. The Day Before You Came
14. Under Attack
15. Thank You For The Music
16. Ring Ring (1974 Remix, Single Version)
17. Voulez-Vous (Extended Remix, 1979 US Promo)

Amazon.com

Is there anything that simply screams the 1970s' most indelible pop cultural clichés--the sunny romanticism, perfect vocal hooks, feathered hair, stacked heels, and flared sateen britches--more than the Swedish pop phenomenon Abba? And while many a pundit snootily dismissed them during their prime as some sort of prefabricated aberration, their worldwide popularity peaked somewhere just south of Beatlesmania. Indeed, Abba's music was as finely tooled and crafted as anything to come from a Volvo or IKEA factory--if occasionally more economically potent. This double-disc, 37-track anthology comes neatly on the heels of Mama Mia!, the smash, if unlikely, Broadway show based on the band's hits, and documents every single released by the band's Polar label in their home country as well as key tracks released internationally.

This is the canon from whence the term "Europop" sprang. With a continental sense of vocal neoclassicism, informed by just the right ethnic clichés (and oft wed to the era's insistent 4/4 disco beat) to make songs like "Mama Mia," "Fernando," "Chiquitita," and "Voulez-Vous" work on a global scale, the writing team of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and their respective partners in music and life, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, developed the seamless, wall-of-sound productions contained herein. The Definitive Collection features a rare single remix of "Ring, Ring" and a 1979 promo-only extended mix of "Voulez-Vous" as bonus tracks, as well as a concise, illustrated history of the band and each track. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

All the hits, but too many missing album tracks.......2007-06-24

While The Definitive Collection does have all of the hit singles, it is missing some very good album tracks like "Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)", "Hasta Mañana", "When I Kissed The Teacher", "Kisses Of Fire", and "Happy New Year". Why waste space on remixes of "Ring Ring" and "Voulez-Vous", when there's many more great ABBA tracks that could've been included?

I actually like this.......2007-05-21

I first got some interesed in them by seeing Pracilla Queen of the Desert and i like the songs i heard from them like Ferando, Dancing Queen, and Mama mia. But it took me years to get enough courage to buy a cd of theirs. They are so chessy and kind of embrasing to admit to liking. I deciede to get this over the single disk Abba Gold because it was a good price and i wanted to hear more songs besides the ones that everyone knows. I also have no desire to buy another ABBA cd. The first songs on here are not that great but they get better. People think of them as a disco act but they acutally did some folk, pop, new wave and some songs like The winner takes it All that are very Broadway. This is actually one of the better 2 cds best offs i have ever listen to. I say to the people like me that dont want to admit that they like this band to check this out. I read that this is suppose to come with liner notes but my new copy did not.

ABBA IS THE BEST!!!.......2007-05-05

La mejor recopilacion de uno de los mejores grupos de todos los tiempos, y todas las canciones ordenadas de forma cronologica, y un folleto donde se resume muy bien toda su historia, con muchas fotos de todas sus etapas de modo que uno puede ir siguiendo toda su trayectoria como grupo musical; las canciones, simplemente INCREIBLES, desde la sencilla "RING, RING" hasta canciones mas complicadas como "THE WINNER TAKES IT AT ALL"; sin faltar piezas inolvidables como "CHIQUITITA", "I DO I DO I DO", "WATERLOO", "DANCING QUEEN" y "TAKE A CHANCE ON ME"; incluso hay canciones que yo no conocia, como "HONEY HONEY", "ONE OF US" y "PEOPLE NEED LOVE", muy buenas tambien; SIMPLEMENTE LO MEJOR!!!

Mamma Mia Its Abba.......2007-04-22

I can recall this band when i was a child having alot of hits.Some of the songs i remember from those days were S.O.S. and Waterloo.My mum bought some of their albums and i just loved a heap of their songs.By the late 70's i started ignoring them as they got so much attention by the media.But i still liked alot of their tunes.Radio stations seemed to ignore this band alot in the 80's here.But i heard some of their songs and after so many years of not hearing them they sounded damn good,so i went and got a few albums.This was 1989 and i got right into them again.I always hoped this band would get back together,but the news is that they will not.Thats a shame,but there is so much music to reflect on.Every now and then i play their songs,Some of my favorites are the 2 i mentioned and Honey Honey,I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do ,Mamma Mia ,Fernando ,Ring Ring ,The Winner Takes It All ,Under Attack and Thank You For The Music.There is also a stack of other songs i like.This is a good collection of their songs.

Excellent Collection.......2007-01-11

If you were in Australia in 1977, then you were certainly subject to "Abbamania." Not since the arrival of the Beatles in 1964 had the Land Down Under scene such a phenomenon. It seemed like all of Sydney lined the streets to herald the arrival of the "Super Swedes." I was 12 years old at the time and I quickly fell under their spell, as did most of the nation's youth. Over the next couple of years they soon conquered the rest of the world, America to a much lesser extent, but the group eventually fell victim to over-exposure and by the early 80's it was clear that ABBA was to go down in history as a super group of the 1970's. It's interesting to me now, listening to this well-chosen collection of ABBA hits, to think that many of these songs have had a second-wind with the hit musical "Mamma Mia." Songs that didn't even originally make a splash in the U.S. are now being hummed across the country as a result of this worldwide stage smash. I love this particular collection. I think it will appeal to those of us who were ABBA devotees and those who are only now becoming familar with their evergreen material. The masterminds behind the songs, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson, are only now being recognized as the great writers that they were/are, and the passage of time only serves as a reminder, at least to me, that once upon a time there used to be GREAT songs on the pop charts.

Average customer rating: Couldn't escape if I wanted to Not new remastering Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again..... It's All About the Money, Money, Money but the Songs Are Incredible. A Flawless Pick!

Number Ones ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: ABBA: Number Ones The Definitive Collection ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits Super Trouper Voulez-Vous ASIN: B000JJRIPM Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

1. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
2. Mamma Mia
3. Dancing Queen
4. Super Trouper
5. SOS
6. Summer Night City
7. Money, Money, Money
8. Winner Takes It All
9. Chiquitita
10. One of Us
11. Knowing Me, Knowing You
12. Voulez-Vous
13. Fernando
14. Waterloo
15. Name of the Game
16. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
17. Take a Chance on Me
18. I Have a Dream

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't escape if I wanted to.......2007-04-12

The writing team of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and their respective partners in music and life, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, basically invented Europop when they pooled their collective talents and became ABBA. One supposes keeping their past-affiliations names (Hep Stars or the Hootenanny Singers) wasn't quite as catchy. But then they wrote "Waterloo" for a Eurovision song contests and the musical universe suddenly altered.

That one song pretty much laid out the template for Abba's world domination to come. Frothy melodies wed to instantly catchy choruses sung with frothy harmonies by the twin female singers. "Number Ones" captures that cotton candy in all its seventies glory, as the band rocketed from pop-stars to international phenomenon. As their songs moved from the catchy singles like "Ring Ring" and "Waterloo" into the later seventies, ABBA wisely embraced disco and created the immortal "Dancing Queen." They were so insanely wealthy from their worldwide hitmaking that they were forced to take payments in commodities instead of cash, that is how omnipresent the likes of "Dancing Queen" and other dancefloor smashes like "Voulez-Vous" and "Gimme Gimme Gimme" became.

Thus we have yet another ABBA greatest hits. The standard before this was "ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits," and at a slightly higher cost (but frankly, with more songs than I needed) was "The Definitive Collection." While "Number Ones" boasts remastered sound over "Gold," we lose "Does Your Mother Know" and "Lay All Your Love On Me." ("The Definitive Collection" includes those as well as "Ring Ring.")

It also becomes obvious why this compilation was released as soon as the first song begins to play. Thanks to Madonna, who nicked the hook for her own "Hung Up," "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)" has opened the door for a whole new generation of ABBA fans. That is all fine by me - if a new crew of kids can learn the value of genuine musical composition, then I am willing to give "Number Ones" a hearty recommendation.

Not new remastering.......2007-01-19

Bad news for reviewer Michael Allen, but the official sources confirm these are the 2001 remasters - none have been done since, so if you have the 2001 album reissues, they will sound exactly the same as this. This is just another repackaging job.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again............2006-12-10

Once again Univeral Music is milking the ABBA cash cow. With the world wide MEGA success of 'ABBA GOLD' why on earth is this compilation needed? With that said, the ONLY territory possibly needing this CD is the USA. Why? The USA is the only country where 'GOLD' has never been remastered or repackaged. In fact, it still has the incorrect ABBA Logo using the wrong font! 3 songs from 'GOLD', "Does Your Mother Know", "Lay All Your Love On Me" & "Thank Your For The Music" have been replaced on 'Number Ones' with "Summer Night CIty" & "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do". For some strange reason, the USA edition only has 18 tracks whereas the European version has inlcuded "Ring Ring" to total 19. (The USA DVD does contain all 19 songs). Another plus for the US is the full versions of "Voulez-Vous" & "The Name Of The Game" are included. (GOLD had the edited versions). If you're looking for a single CD containing most of ABBA's biggest hits, then 'Number Ones' is nice. But for the extra few bucks, I would get double CD 'The Definitive Collection' I choose to give this CD 5 stars because I LOVE ABBA!

It's All About the Money, Money, Money but the Songs Are Incredible........2006-12-09

When a group is as universally popular as ABBA you can rest assured that those in charge of their catalogue will take advantage of this overwhelming popularity. If you were to believe the statistics, the Swedish Super-group has sold more than 360 million units worldwide, making them one of the biggest selling acts in the history of popular music trailing behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. It should not come as a surprise that this compilation was released even though there are several others available that already showcase the talents of this lovable foursome. There's the 20th Century Masters collection (CD) featuring ABBA which was certified Gold in the US, "The Definitive Collection" (CD and DVD) and the most popular of them all "ABBA GOLD: Greatest Hits" (CD and DVD) which was certified 6 x platinum in the US and has sales of over 25 million world-wide. So what is the point of this new release titled "ABBA Number Ones" which like their previous compilations have been released in both CD and DVD format? The title of one of ABBA's hits comes to mind: "Money, Money, Money". For the millions who already own "GOLD" and "The Definitive Collection" purchasing "Number Ones" would be pointless since they already own these songs. However, for the millions of fans (like myself) "Number Ones" is just another compilation to add to your ever growing collection.

"ABBA: Number Ones" showcases all of the songs that topped the charts internationally (The DVD version includes all the videos to these classic songs and as a bonus, they throw in a live version of "Waterloo", 2 other live performances which were sung to a backing track and a Number One scrapbook which lists all the countries the respective singles topped the charts in, although some of the lists are incomplete since it omits countries several of these songs reached the top). Evidence of ABBA's overwhelming international appeal is that if you were to tally up all of their number ones, you would get a number well over 100. Missing in action however is "Does Your Mother Know" which reached # 1 in Belgium and the Top Ten in several other territories including Canada, "Eagle" which topped the charts in Belgium and "Lay All Your Love on Me" which was a top ten hit in the UK and reached # 1 in the US Hot Dance Club Play Charts in the early 80's.

ABBA's success in North America paled slightly to their massive appeal elsewhere however to state they were not successful in the US and Canada will be an inaccurate statement. In the US, the group had 20 singles reach the Billboard Hot 100 within an 8 year time frame out of which 14 reached the Top 40. They also scored a # 1 hit on the singles chart with "Dancing Queen" (featured here), two # 1 hits in the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts with "Fernando" and "The Winner Takes It All" (featured here) and a # 1 in the Billboard Dance/Club charts with "Lay All Your Love on Me" (not featured here). In Canada they scored no less than 14 Top Forty hits out of which 8 reached the Top Ten and 6 consecutive Top Ten albums including a # 1 with Greatest Hit: Vol 2.

To the few who have not been exposed to these timeless and immaculate pop gems, "ABBA: Number Ones" may be a good place to start with since it's reasonably priced and offers their biggest hits but keep in mind that "The Definitive Collective" is far more extensive and may be a better buy. For the millions of ABBA fans out there, what can I say since you already own these songs? But knowing the passion this group inspires among their fan-base, I wouldn't be surprised in knowing that when entering your favorite music store, the first thing you do is extend your arm and grab this CD/DVD off the shelf and pay for it at the counter. I can't blame you since I have done exactly that. That is the power of ABBA's music

A Flawless Pick!.......2006-12-05

As noted by previous reviewers, if you own 'Gold' it's time to update!
The new 2005 remasters by Johan Funemyr, DCM are top-notch compared to the 2001 remasters by John Astley with Michael B. Tretow in my opinion. This collection includes all the great hits from around the world, with the exception of 'Ring Ring' (found on the import double CD release). This album would be flawless if they had used the original single version of 'Summer Night City' because the extended part was added using "non-digital" efforts and has a noticeable drop out when the song picks up at the single version.
Drop this CD in and press play. You will NOT be dissapointed! I can only DARE you to try and turn it off!
Oh, and for you Madonna fans...she's quoted in the forward!

Average customer rating: Tiger!! No arrival to the top -- still being there! (4.5 stars) Good album...but poor re-mastering Pleasant Pop Perfection memories ahh

Arrival ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Voulez-Vous Super Trouper Abba - The Album ABBA Ring Ring ASIN: B00005CDNG Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. When I Kissed The Teacher
2. Dancing Queen
3. My Love, My Life
4. Dum Dum Diddle
5. Knowing Me, Knowing You
6. Money, Money, Money
7. That's Me
8. Why Did It Have To Be Me
9. Tiger
10. Arrival
11. Fernando
12. Happy Hawaii

Amazon.com essential recording

At the height of their success, ABBA were second only to Volvo as Sweden's biggest export earners. Arrival (1977) sees the quartet just finding their stride, after a year of relative obscurity which followed the success of "Waterloo," their 1973 Eurovision Song Contest winner. Like their '70s peers ELO, ABBA knew the value of tunes, tunes, tunes. Arrival's hits include the glistening, full-on sheen of "Knowing Me, Knowing You," the irrepressible, piano-led disco stomp of "Dancing Queen," and the almost Cabaret-esque sarcasm of "Money, Money, Money"--all three cowritten by manager and mentor Stig Anderson. The album ends, meanwhile, on an almost Celtic theme with the soaring, wordless title track. Arrival is superconfident and superpolished, and was an unstoppably chartbound record of its moment. --Everett True

Album Details

24-bit digital remaster with new liner notes, complete lyrics and two bonus tracks: 'Fernando' (US Remix 1974) and 'Happy Hawaii' (Swedish Version).

Customer Reviews:

Tiger!!.......2007-07-12

Everybody knows the hits "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "When I Kissed Teacher"...well at least should know. This album has all those four hits! ABBA, two girls and two men sing very good. The girls are lead singers...especially Agnetha but also Ann-Frida is singing lead parts...like in "Money Money Money". I guess this includes the most important ABBA songs excluding "Waterloo" and "Super Trouper". I have always loved this album. Most of the songs are familiar to me. My favourite song is "My Love My Life" which is so touching that sometimes I begin to cry. "Money Money Money" is a dark song, at least lyrically..."If I Could Find Me a Weathy Man...I wouldn't have to work at all...". "Dancing Queen" is maybe the best-known dance pop song ever. I like also the funny "Dum Dum Diddle". It is so great. "Tiger" is so great too..."What If I Eat You...I am the Tiger". "Arrival" is an instrumental song.
Stars: My Love, My Life, Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money, Tiger, When I Kissed the Teacher

No arrival to the top -- still being there! (4.5 stars).......2007-05-20

This album is thirty years old when I am writing this review. It is, if possible, the best ABBA's proper original album to choose when you want just one (but why should you?). And although, being a kid of the 1980's, I was listening to a slightly different version here in Slovakia ("Intermezzo No. 1" instead of "Dancing Queen" and of course no tracks 11 and 12), this still has probably the most palpable ABBA magic in it. In fact, two big hits, "Knowing me, Knowing You" and "Money Money Money" are more than matched by all other tracks here, notably "My Love, My Life" -- one of the most BEAUTIFUL ABBA songs and "Arrival", so profoundly enhanced by Scottish pipes in so great a way to finish an album. Only "Dum Dum Diddle" and "Tiger" are just a little little bit weaker (that's why it's only 9 points for me out of ten). And personally I prefer "Super Trouper" as the most mature and finest of ABBA's. Yet "Arrival" remains the standard by which all melodic hit pop music can be measured. All the more now, when it seems that nothing good and new is going to appear soon.

Good album...but poor re-mastering.......2007-04-30

I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.

On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.

Pleasant Pop Perfection.......2006-12-24

Abba is a force to be reckoned with. Three decades and many recycled collections later, Abba is still in force and lingering on the stereo. Just like the Beach Boys, they have more collections than original albums, which is understandable because the single was their best suit. 'The Arrival' is unique because it is an excellent studio album. The biggest and best songs were the hits, but the rest makes a solid, connected listening experience.

For starters "Dancing Queen" has to be amongst the most pleasing and hypnotic singles put on the airwaves. Then, if they proved that not all disco is the same nor does it all suck, then "Knowing Me, Knowing You," arguably their best song ever, surely will. With strong rock and pop manifestations, the song is an exhiliarating ensemble of pop music--even if it is, oddly, about the angst of divorce. Although you can get these songs from any major collection, it is good to stick around, for although the album, like others, is dominated by the Moag synthesizer Abba Wall-of-Sound, the variety on 'The Arrival' sticks out. "That's Me" is a shimmeringly glorious piece of pop music beautifully sung. However, "Why Did It Have to Be Me" really rounds out the album. The latter is a vintage rockabilly love song with a fiery saxophone to beef up the refrain. Furthermore, "The Tiger," an early song about the urban jungle, is a jaunty power pop number. "Money, Money, Money" may sound more than a hair like a song from 'Cabaret,' but it solidified their repertoire for music with a Broadway touch (and forshadowed a sizable portion of 'The Album'-the C.D.'s follow-up). Furthermore, the playful, but less substantial "Dum Dum Diddle," is a fun number, even if it is a domestic complaint about becoming second fiddle to music. "The Arrival" may prove that, although the album did make them superstars in America with two number one singles, 'The Arrival' was more about bringing it all back home. They sound more like they're arriving at the Swedish palace than America. "When I Kissed the Teacher" musically has an affinity to Swedish folk music and that's how true they remained.

'The Arrival' has passed the test of time. Before syntho-techno pop was staple in the eighties, Abba broke ground in pop music with their appealing sense of harmony and synthesizer sound that resonates well even today. 'The Arrival' is their best album, by far, with 'Super Trouper,' remaining a worthy, but somewhat distant, second. Being one of the first albums I ever owned, it still appeals to Scandinavian ancestry and to all who love pleasant pop music that won't ever put one to sleep.

memories ahh.......2006-12-09

This is a Great Album, the song Happy Hawaii should have been a single
hit, not an B- side of Knowing me knowing you, but a hit in it's own right. The vocals, and upbeat tempo are still great. And this song cannot be found on many albums, though it is clearly a hit. I remembered it when I was a kid, for I had that 45 of knowing me knowing you and I liked Happy Hawaii better. But this clearly the first Album that brought mutiple hits to the U.S.A. and firmly planted ABBA as a household name.
If I had been a publicist Happy Hawaii would have been on the charts next to Dancing Queen, same great vocals, it only lacked the push to make it one of the greats. Thanks T. Hall

Average customer rating: Great album...but poor re-mastering The best GREAT ALBUM! the masterpiece of ABBA's catalog If it wasn't for the end.

Super Trouper ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Voulez-Vous The Visitors Arrival Abba - The Album ABBA ASIN: B00005CDNJ Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. Super Trouper
2. The Winner Takes It All
3. On And On And On
4. Andante, Andante
5. Me And I
6. Happy New Year
7. Our Last Summer
8. The Piper
9. Lay All Your Love On Me
10. The Way Old Friends Do
11. Elaine
12. Put On Your White Sombrero

Amazon.com

Super Trouper is generally considered Abba's finest album. The overheated disco flourishes of Voulez-Vous were dropped and the sequencing was very nearly perfect. What's more, silly lyrics metamorphose into things of wrenching beauty. The overall tone is rather somber--the unraveling of the band members' relationships underscores every track--but as usual Abba turn melancholy into uplifting pop music. This digipack version of the 1981 album includes two extra songs. "Put on Your White Sombrero" was recorded during the Super Trouper sessions but was replaced on the album by the title track; it's in the band's Spanish vein and comes with a throbbing synthesizer hook. "Elaine," meanwhile, was the B-side of "The Winner Takes It All" single. An uptempo number, "Elaine" is far from being a throwaway. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Details

24-bit digitally remastered digipak edition with extensive liner notes, lyrics and includes two bonus songs: 'Elaine' and 'Put on Your White Sombrero'.

Customer Reviews:

Great album...but poor re-mastering.......2007-04-30

I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.

On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.

The best.......2006-08-10

This is a great album, because it has songs on it that aren't available on the Best of Abba album, like "Happy New Year" and "Our Last Summer" and "Andante, Andante." I'd highly recommend it.

GREAT ALBUM!.......2006-07-10

I just recieved this album today and it is my favorite of all of ABBA's albums. I am a HUGE ABBA fan. I have all their albums. My favorite song on this album is "Andante Andante" because it has a soothing sound. Buy this album!
Best song-Andante Andante
Worst-THERE IS NO BAD ABBA Song! They are all good! But my least favorite song on this album is "On & On & On."

the masterpiece of ABBA's catalog.......2006-01-06

Abba is a group who never truly had a bad album, but they crossed all boundaries with their 1980 release Super Trouper. Toning down the disco-pop from Voulez-Vous and replacing it with a more sophisticated adult new wave pop beat. Abba saved themselves from the disco backlash (although their best disco song, LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME, is featured in this collection)with these set of songs. The Winner Takes It All was the first single released. A tear-jerking ballad about divorce, became Abba's fourth and final US top 10 single (yep, it seems like they had more...), the song is so highly emotional that anyone who has heard it must admit it's power. SuperTrouper is the first song and second US single, a pleasant record although not a great. Our Last Summer is an incredible ballad. Happy New Year is also beautiful. Me & I is an irresistably fun new wave record about cloning (or multiple personalities, however you look at it). The Piper is very Irish sounding and cute. Andante Andante is also a gorgeous soft song. This album is the definitive Abba album.

If it wasn't for the end........2005-06-05

This album has some pretty good songs, but when I said some I mean four - six and that's not even the half of album's 12 songs. But that's not the big problem. All the bad songs is in the end of the album and all the good one in the begining. That's why I don't like it so much.

Average customer rating: Good album...but bad re-mastering Abba's Glorious Achievement. A True Pop Gem ABBA on Top of Their Form. One of Their Best Studio Albums. Pretty Good

Abba - The Album ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Arrival Voulez-Vous Super Trouper ABBA Ring Ring ASIN: B00005CDNH Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. Eagle
2. Take A Chance On Me
3. One Man, One Woman
4. The Name Of The Game
5. Move On
6. Hole In Your Soul
7. 'The Girl With The Golden Hair' 3 Scenes From A Mini Musical: Thank You For The Music
8. 'The Girl With The Golden Hair' 3 Scenes From A Mini Musical: I Wonder (Departure)
9. 'The Girl With The Golden Hair' 3 Scenes From A Mini Musical: I'm A Marionette
10. Thank You For The Music (Doris Day Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

Without a doubt, 1978's The Album is the Swedish pop demigods' finest moment. (Forgive them the film.) From the opening stanzas of the visionary "Eagle" (a "Born Free" for the late '70s) to the pure joyous rush of "Take a Chance on Me" (has a cappella ever sounded so irresistible?) to the drop-dead perfect chorus on "The Name of the Game," not a heartstring is left untouched. The melodies are matchless, the production virtually defining the era. The final three tracks, subtitled "Three Scenes from a Mini-Musical"--the celebratory and often copied "Thank You for the Music," "I Wonder," and the self-deprecating "I'm a Marionette"--merely confirmed what ABBA's fans knew all along: this was pure showtime and Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha, and Frida were masters of the form. --Everett True

Amazon.com

The Album's closing trilogy, "The Girl with the Golden Hair: 3 Scenes from a Mini Musical," was Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus's most ambitious work yet. But despite "Thank You for the Music," a more humble "I Write the Songs," and the barely veiled complaint "I'm a Marionette," it wasn't the 1977 LP's best stuff. That came in two great singles: "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Name of the Game," which continued the two Abba couples' string of growing-up-in-public heartache songs. ("Knowing Me, Knowing You," from the previous Arrival, inaugurated the tradition.) "The Girl," though, hinted that the Bjorn-and-Benny writing team was bent on storming the musical stage, as it did by the mid-'80s with Chess. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Exclusive import limited edition digipak is remastered, has extensive liner notes and lyrics, and includes one bonus song, 'Thank You For The Music'(Doris Day Version)'. 10 tracks in all.

Album Details

24-bit digital remaster with new liner notes, complete lyrics and a bonus track: 'Thank You for the Music' (Doris Day Mix).

Customer Reviews:

Good album...but bad re-mastering.......2007-04-30

I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.

On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.

Abba's Glorious Achievement........2007-02-28

For me in the Seventies, Abba were always a guilty pleasure. I loved SOS, Fernando, Dancing Queen and obscure album tracks like Tropical Loveland, That's Me, Intermezzo #1 and others. They had too much synthesizer and an unreal plastic look, but thirty years on their songs have become pop standards. This album is definitely their peak. They were never more daring and it is a shame they never topped it with their subsequent albums. It is interesting to note that one of the co-writers on some of the songs, Stig Anderson never collaborated with them in writing songs after this album and I think the rest of their albums suffered because of this.

1. EAGLE (5.51): I was wowed by this song when I first heard it and it is still very inventive today. An epic song which probably should have closed the album. It does conjure up images of soaring high in the skies. The production is amazing. Great shared vocals, great guitar work and the synthesizers are used to wondrous effect. Very atmospheric.

2. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME (4.04): Very popular and deservedly so. Great pop song. Enough said!

3. ONE MAN ONE WOMAN (4.31): Frida sings this song with a depressing start but ultimately ends in reconciliation. This would be a rather maudlin song but her vocals do sound full of vulnerability and then joy.

4. THE NAME OF THE GAME (4.54): Probably my favourite single ever released by Abba. This is the full length version of the song with the second verse included. It is a long way from WATERLOO and RING RING. Very complex issues dealt with here but the sharing of vocals by Agnetha and Frida works very well and the chorus is sublime with all the members contributing exquisite harmnonies. Still one of my favourite songs from the Seventies and I am mainly a rock fan!

5. MOVE ON (4.41). Not a bad song but the spoken intro by Bjorn is not necessary. Catchy chorus but the la la las in the chorus could also have benn left out.

6. HOLE IN YOUR SOUL (3.39). More of a rocker. Lyrics are a little cliched but it is nice hear them belt it out. Again the chorus is very catchy.

7. THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC (3.50). The first of three songs from the mini-musical THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN HAIR. One of my least favourite Abba songs. I really wish it was on another album of theirs. I know it was part of a musical but the lyrics are self indulgent and self glorifying. Have to admit I really hate this song. Technically I should only give this album 4 stars because of this song but I do enjoy the other eight tracks very much.

9. I WONDER (DEPARTURE) (4.32). Sometimes we tend to miss the lyrics of their songs because the melodies are so memorable. I moved from Ireland to the USA in 1988 and this song does capture the mood I felt leaving a lot of familiar things behind for a new daunting life. Again Frida does a great job on vocal.

9. I'M A MARIONETTE (4.03). A great way to end the album. It is a fast rocker with bitter, jaded lyrics but they pull it off very well. Includes a great guitar solo and great string arrangement. Powerful stuff!!

I know personal issues started to seep into the band at this time. It was predictable that this would take its toll on the members. They did go on to record some great songs like THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL, LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME, THE VISITORS and SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS. But there were too many songs that were just sub-standard. The album VOULEZ VOUS has no brilliance to it at all and was just a second rate disco album. SUPER TROUPER was a hit and miss affair and the album THE VISITORS was an aural picture of four band members fed up with each other just waiting to go their separate ways ("And now they've come to take me, come to break me and yet it isn't unexpected"). ABBA-THE ALBUM showed their vocal, melodic and musical arrangement capabilities at their best.

A True Pop Gem.......2006-11-14

Released in conjuction with the mock-documentary film of the same name, "The Album" by ABBA ranks as one of their most experimental & fun records of their career.

Benny & Bjorn again handle all of the writing & arranging, setting up the pop landscapes for Agnetha & Frida to navigate through. It was stated that ABBA was very inspired by the California rock/pop of acts such as Steve Miller Band & Fleetwood Mac amongst others, & wanted to incorporate that sound into their own. Already the premiere pop group of the 1970's, it came as no surprise that they wanted to continue to add different sounds, & add they did.

The driving, hypontic "Eagle" opens the record on a very strong note, with beautiful blended harmonies from Agnetha & Frida. "Take A Chance On Me" takes its time with a chorus that will stick in your mind long after the song has finished. "The Name of the Game" probably ABBA's first stab at what could be called "soul" is a melancholic & melodically succesful number.

"Hole In Your Soul" is a an over-the-top ode to cheerfulness in the face of adversity, something the Beach Boys might've come up with. Here the synthesis of the "California sound" with the inescapable Swedish pop hooks, harmonies, & melody makes this cut one of the most successful songs on "The Album".

Also during this period, ABBA was working on the musical "The Girl With the Golden Hair", which featured "I Wonder (Departure)" & "I'm A Marionette", which fit in well with the theme of "The Album". The best song from these sessions, one that would become ABBA's theme & best loved song, "Thank You For the Music" was left off the original pressings of "The Album". It is included here on this record for the first time, along with the "Doris Day" version of that song. "Thank You For the Music" ranks as one of the best written songs about having passion for music today, in all its lovable schmaltz. Agnetha shines here vocally, proving that while Benny & Bjorn set the music up, it was Agnetha & Frida who captivated the audience with their unique vocal work.

From a remastering perspective, "The Album" is a great collector's piece. Released in digi-pak format, with exhaustive liner notes, & full color pictures, lyrics, added songs, & a sharper sound? An ABBA fan couldn't ask for more.

Either way, "The Album" is still one of the most well loved & accomplished records of ABBA's career. It would also be one of the last one's that was totally "carefree", since ABBA would begin to look inward for song inspiration, resulting in some of their most captivating, if dark, music ever. But "take a chance" on this one, it is pure pop perfection. Highly recommended!

ABBA on Top of Their Form. One of Their Best Studio Albums........2006-10-14

By 1977, ABBA was one of the best selling bands world-wide. Both of their previous records; "Greatest Hits" and "Arrival" were world-wide smashes selling several million copies each. ABBA would repeat that phenomenal success with the release of "ABBA-The Movie" (which did well in Europe) and their 5th original album titled "ABBA-The Album".

By the time ABBA released their 3rd album in 1975, Bjorn and Benny had finally decided to let the 2 girls take centre stage since they were the better singers. This turned out to be a great move because a large part of the "ABBA sound" and their success was due to the combination of Agnetha's and Frida's contrasting voices. By 1976, Bjorn and Benny had perfected their sound, their technique and the use of their 2 most powerful weapons; Agnetha and Frida. The end result was one of their most polished original albums- "Arrival". "ABBA-The Album" takes it one step further. It pretty much follows the typical ABBA formula; beautiful melodies, strong harmony singing, and attention to detail but this time around the majority of the songs are longer with meaningful lyrics. The opening track is the under-rated "Eagle" which boasts a soaring melody, interesting lyrics, outstanding vocals and exquisite guitar work. This song has appeared on several other compilation albums but in edited form. This is one of the few albums where you can hear it the way it was intended- uncut. "Eagle" is followed by "Take a Chance on Me" which features yet again, extraordinary vocals and intricate harmonies (Agnetha is especially delightful during her 2 solos in this song). Frida is given her moments to shine as well in "One Man One Woman" and "I Wonder (Departure)". The latter song showcases her talents as a vocalist proving what us ABBA fans knew all along, that these women were more than just eye candy, they had great vocal talent. "I Wonder" doesn't sound like a typical pop song. It sounds more like a theatre piece and that's the way it was intended to sound since it was part of Bjorn and Benny's mini-musical "The Girl with the Golden Hair" which was performed during their 1977 concerts.

Pop soprano Agnetha takes the lead in the interesting, undeniably lovely "Move On" and "Thank You for the Music" (also from the mini-musical). "Move On" is an interesting piece because it has a brief introduction by Bjorn and the inspirational lyrics are very poetic. The song comes to life however, when Agnetha takes the lead in the verses and her "La-la-la-la-la-la-la's" during the song's climax is riveting. "Thank You for the Music" is another famous ABBA tune with a gorgeous melody that is enhanced by Agnetha's powerful voice.

Another major highlight in "The Album" is "The Name of the Game". This song may not grab the listener immediately like ABBA's earlier hits but repeated listening (with good quality earphones) will convince you this is one of the finest songs ABBA ever produced. Several have called it a "masterpiece". It offers beautiful vocals by the girls. They start off singing in unison then they branch off with Agnetha having the first solo in the song which perfectly showcases the texture and delicacy of her instrument. Then all members dig into the chorus in perfect harmony before Frida takes the lead. They adorn this part of the song with some creative orchestrations, vocal tricks and harmonies. This song also clearly showcases the differences between the 2 vocalists. Agnetha's solos are always in a much higher register since it's her upper notes that hold her magic while Frida's sultry lower register is her trademark. One of Bjorn and Benny biggest talents (aside from writing perfect pop songs) was how they skillfully used these womens instruments. They really knew how to display their vocal beauty.

"ABBA-The Album" was a commercial hit world-wide. The album reached #1 in the UK, the Top 10 in Canada and the Top 20 in the US achieving platinum status. The 2 singles that were released in these territories were also major hits. It has been said that "Dancing Queen" was ABBA's biggest selling single in the US since it was certified Gold and it reached #1 on the charts but it has since been stated that "Take a Chance on Me" actually sold more copies in America. Whether this is true or not it was still a big hit climbing to #3 and achieving Gold status in the US. The single also reached #1 in the UK and #7 in Canada. "The Name of the Game" reached #1 in the UK, #12 in the US and #15 in Canada. "Thank You for the Music" has always been regarded as one of ABBA's hits and it was even included in their "ABBA Gold" CD. The song was never released as a single in the UK until 1983 after the groups' breakup peaking just outside the Top Thirty.

"ABBA-The Album" was the turning point in ABBA's career. From this point forward, their albums would mature both musically and lyrically. They would become more sophisticated offering not just pretty melodies but emotional depth as well. Their wonderful sound, remarkable vocal harmonies and powerful ballads would continue to grace their future albums and immortalize their talents that went unrecognized during the groups' hey-day when they were considered by many as just a "flash in the pan". Several decades later the four Swedes' music continues to sell in the millions. To date they have sold between 360-400 million records world-wide (Only The Beatles and Elvis Presley have sold more). That only confirms that ABBA's music is more than just "bubble-gum". ABBA's musical legacy will continue to endure for years to come because music this perfectly crafted only gets better with age. We can now fully appreciate them for their beauty and brilliance and when hardened music critics jump on the ABBA band-wagon and admit the radiance of their tunes only solidifies our claims that several of these songs are masterpieces.

So for the uninitiated, forget about the platforms and those silly, form-fitting costumes. It's all about the music; the timeless melodies, the intricate harmonies, the wonderful sound created when combining Agnetha and Frida's glorious voices. All of these elements helped make ABBA's music transcendent. Enjoy.

Pretty Good.......2006-06-24

I bought this album and it's not bad. My favorite song would have to be "Hole In Your Soul." The Album had a lot of hits like "the Name of the Game" and "Eagle," "Take a Chance on Me."
Overall, the Album is pretty good.

Average customer rating: Good album...but poor re-mastering A Hard Rock Fan's Honest Review I Love ABBA Pop way beyond anything pop can do Abba's Best Original Studio Album

Voulez-Vous ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Disco | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Disco | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Super Trouper Arrival Abba - The Album The Visitors ABBA ASIN: B00005CDNI Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. As Good As New
2. Voulez-Vous
3. I Have A Dream
4. Angeleyes
5. The King Has Lost His Crown
6. Does Your Mother Know
7. If It Wasn't For The Night
8. Chiquitita
9. Lovers (Live A Little Longer)
10. Kisses Of Fire
11. Summer Night City
12. Lovelight
13. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

Amazon.com

Voulez-Vous is Abba's Eurodisco album, and if you decide to go there, be ready for some serious histrionics. Typical of the record's wall of sound is "Does Your Mother Know," in which the disco pulse leads into power guitar riffs laid out over a boogie piano. The sound is equally mammoth on the title track (which had been partially recorded in Miami with disco group Foxy), "Summer Night City," and "If It Wasn't for the Night." Released in 1979, the album showcases the band at its most jet-setting, top-of-the-world glamorous. This CD's bonus tracks include the infamously campy "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" and "Lovelight," the latter the B-side to the "Chiquitita" single. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Exclusive import limited edition digipak version is remastered, has extensive liner notes and lyrics, and includes three bonus songs, 'Summer Night City', 'Lovelight' and 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight)'. 13 tracks in all.

Album Details

24bit digital remaster with new liner notes, complete lyrics and bonus tracks: 'Summer Night City', 'Lovelight' and 'Gimme Gimme Gimme (a Man After Midnight)'.

Customer Reviews:

Good album...but poor re-mastering.......2007-04-30

I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.

On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.

A Hard Rock Fan's Honest Review.......2007-02-21

Being primarily a lover/collector of metal, hard and progressive rock music, how can I explain why I still have a soft spot for this Swedish music machine. First of all I can say that ABBA was a big part of the music I grew up on. I especially remember being fascinated by the constant presence of the song 'Chiquitita' (among others) pouring out of the radio as well as from stereo and music shop speakers in the late 70's/early 80's. As a 12-year old kid, I amassed most of their albums on cassette before discovering more serious media such as vinyl and eventually CD's. Now when I listen to their output on CD with a more mature mind it has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I would say their most mature, consistent and standout album would be 'Voulez-Vous'. From the opening reverbed vocal onslaught on `As Good As New' to the powerful controlled screams on `Lovers (live a little longer)' it does not disappoint. Agnetha's and Anni-Frid's stirring and exquisite vocal harmonies are at their finest. After a typical listen to this album, every one of the tunes on this recording reverberates in my head constantly. Although the songs that went on to be hits (`Chiquitita', `Angel Eyes', `Does Your Mother Know') are top-notch, the remaining tracks such as `If It Wasn't For The Nights, `Lovers...', `The King Has Lost His Crown' etc. are just as good if not better. Without going into in-depth analysis of each song, I would say that IMHO, every single song on this album is memorable and extremely catchy. Whether you consider Voulez-Vous as influenced mainly by disco, funk, or whatever, it doesn't matter. Even though it is a bit dancey, the bottom line is that it's just plain brilliant music!. (interestingly enough I actually consider many 'disco' songs of that era to be of much higher musical quality than a lot the latest rock/pop crap being 'manufactured' today). The bonus tracks, `Gimme Gimme Gimme', `Summer Night City' and `Lovelight' are an especially nice addition to the remastered version (the first two I remember hearing on a long gone cassette copy of `Greatest Hits Vol.2' I had back in the day). If you dig ABBA for whatever reason (don't be ashamed to admit it!) you will not be disappointed by this album, especially the remastered version.

I Love ABBA.......2007-01-10

Any purchaser who enjoys ABBA will enjoy Voulez-vous. My favorites on this CD are "Angel Eyes," and "Voulez-vous." ABBA had a certain type of fans - those of us who loved them in their hey day and still listen to their music now because it never ages.

Pop way beyond anything pop can do.......2005-11-28

I'm no ABBA fan -as you can tell by my other reviews, I'm a big Depeche Mode fan-, but I know a good record when I listen to it. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my parents brought this back from Europe in 1981 and I would listen to it every sunday or so, but this record kicks major butt, and I love the remasterized version. These guys could do anything musically and turn it into brilliant pop tunes. I still don't know the reason ABBA is such an underestimated band amongst a lot of so-called-music-lovers. Voulez-Vous features rock (Does Your Mother Know?), disco done righty-right (title track), beautiful ballads (Chiquitita and Angeleyes) and even brilliant lyrics by today's pop standards. Please pay attention to the brutal production gimmicks of this think, guys. It will blow you away if you truly know what music is about. You will dance, you will sed a tear, and you will even sing along, which is something modern pop tracks don't allow to. This is too brilliant to be true.

Abba's Best Original Studio Album.......2005-11-15

I own all the Abba albums, and this one, recorded at the very peak of their popularity in the late 70's, shows all the reasons why they were the kings and queens of pop.

Abba is often considered by those who don't know them as a "disco" group. The truth is that this is the only album where Abba tried out disco, with stunning results. "Voulez-vous" is quite simply one of the greatest disco singles ever recorded. It masterfully tells the story of a pick-up in a disco, and lyrically it blows most other disco songs out of the water. And the bonus track "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie," released as a single in support of the now unavailable "Greatest Hits Vol 2" is equally good. Madonna knows a good hook when she hears one, and borrowed one of the all-time great ones from "Gimmie" for "Hung Up."

The rest of the album moves deftly through the European music styles that form the backbone of most Abba music. Folk ballads (Chiquitita and I have a dream), country meets a motown backbeat in "Angeleys," the sultry pop sophistication of "The King Has Lost His Crown," the hooked-on-classics opening of "As Good As New." This is Abba songwriting and studio craft at its finest.

Average customer rating: Two Favorites In One Package! ERASUREWONDERFUL one of my favs Andy Bell has a voice that is emotionally intoxicating.... WEBER HIGH SCHOOL IN CHICAGO PROMOTED THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!

Abba-esque Erasure Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Dance & DJ | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Chorus Wild! Wonderland Erasure The Two Ring Circus ASIN: B000000WZ9 Release Date: 1992-06-30

Tracks:

1. Lay All Your Love On Me
2. S.O.S.
3. Take A Chance On Me
4. Voulez Vous

Customer Reviews:

Two Favorites In One Package!.......2007-05-17

Modernizes and Erasurizes your favorite Abba disco songs, if only there were more songs on this album.

ERASUREWONDERFUL.......2005-11-28

Oh Lord! Help me. This EP is an example of a dream come true. Mix the best of the best dance tracks, revisited by Erasure and you've got one of the best dance albums to date.

Don't be lonely, purchase this EP. You'll dig it.

The ONLY missing item here: "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)". Alas, this track can be found on some pressings.

one of my favs.......2005-10-29

I grew up listening to abba. This album is sweet perfection.

Andy Bell has a voice that is emotionally intoxicating...........2004-08-04

Andy Bell is my second favourite male vocalist of all time after Roy Orbison. Both singers have voices that make you feel with only one note that you are transported to a higher plane where angels and gods play. Abba's songs and style of music haven't aged by transcending time and space to endure strongly in the present. You listen to Chiquitita or Fernando or SOS and the emotion still resonates as it did the first time you heard it. Erasure's version of SOS is in my top 5 favourite songs of all time. He is a true singer and talent with no need for computers or tweaking that all the forgeries and frauds of the last 20 years would be nothing without. He has a great range and hearing his voice again and again through the overdubs is heaven to my ears. His emotional range is comparable to Annie Lennox or kd lang. When I listen to him singing, i feel exactly what the words are trying to convey, he can only be eclipsed by Roy Orbison singing The Crowd or It's Over; both songs that leave you breathless. Take A Chance On Me is not bad and Voulez Vous is average. Lay All Your Love On Me is the one i skip. I am a huge fan of electronica and techno. It is amazing that emotion can be conveyed with computers. So Erasure has the perfect balance of technology and true musical harmony in Bell's voice. Another great combination of electronica and great singing ability is the Dutch DJ ATB or 4 Strings. I highly recommend both for the lover of electronic music and harmonious vocals.

WEBER HIGH SCHOOL IN CHICAGO PROMOTED THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-05-15

Why Erasure came to the now closed Arichbishop Joseph Weber High School in Chicago in November of 1992 to promote this album or EP! I remember being there and hearing "Take A Chance On Me" playing in the halls and who do I see but Andy Bell singing it LIVE!!!!!! It was a benefit concert to help fund to help the music department! Thanks to John Cryder, director of music at Weber at the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cryder had been a great fan of Abba!!!!!! Thanks Erasure!!!! The band that really cared about WEBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating: Abba's Magnum Opus Great album...but poor re-mastering wonderful ABBA gets creepy, grown up, and very good. In A Class By itself

The Visitors ABBA Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Swedish Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Compilations | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Euro Dance | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Super Trouper Voulez-Vous Abba - The Album Arrival Waterloo ASIN: B00005CDNK Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. The Visitors
2. Head Over Heels
3. When All Is Said And Done
4. Soldiers
5. I Let The Music Speak
6. One Of Us
7. Two For The Price Of One
8. Slipping Through My Fingers
9. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
10. Should I Laugh Or Cry
11. The Day Before You Came
12. Cassandra
13. Under Attack

Amazon.com

Abba's 1981 swan song is appropriately touched by intimations of loss; The Visitors certainly contains nothing as breezy as "Does Your Mother Know." Far from the listless meanderings of a group on its way out, however, the album is alive with emotion and creativity. The title track fuses a melody reminiscent of the Beatles Indian explorations with a smartly done synthesizer arrangement typical of the disc as a whole. (They could've been the Human League!) Similarly moody cuts like "Soldiers" and "One of Us" help make this that rare thing, an Abba record suited for lonely late nights. This 24-bit remaster boasts four bonus cuts, including the final singles "The Day Before You Came" and "Under Attack," in addition to improved sound quality. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Exclusive import limited edition digipak is remastered, has extensive line notes and lyrics, and includes four bonus songs, 'Should I Laugh Or Cry', 'The Day Before You Came', 'Cassandra' and 'Under Attack'. 13 tracks in all.

Album Details

24-bit digital remaster with new liner notes, complete lyrics and bonus tracks: 'Should I Laugh or Cry', 'The Day Before You Came', 'Cassandra' and 'Under Attack'.

Customer Reviews:

Abba's Magnum Opus.......2007-06-10

Abba had become better and better over the years. I think this album is one of the best released in the 1980s. The strange blend of happiness and sadness that is present on the previous ABBA records is still there, although this record's undertone is really sad. Perhaps that is why it is so beautiful.

Great album...but poor re-mastering.......2007-04-30

I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.

On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.

wonderful.......2007-04-04

I first listened to this album back in the 80s when I was a teen, now I bought the remastered version and I am in my 40s and I think this album is excellent! When I was 18 or 20 I didnt realized what a wonderful material it was, and now I cannot believe it. Frida shows she is an excelllent singer. I strongly recommend it.

ABBA gets creepy, grown up, and very good........2007-01-17

ABBA's final studio album is truly in a class by itself. The title track is about someone alone in their apartment -- which has been surrounded by the secret police -- awaiting their fate for being a political dissident in a communist country. Creepy and brilliant.

This album isn't about disco dancing and teenage crushes, it's about tyranny, watching your children grow up, ending relationships, and war.

If you are an ABBA fan, and you are hesitant to buy this disc because you don't see any charting hits on it, just go ahead and buy it. It's sad that this is the their last album, because I think they could have succeeded with this sould through the decade of the 1980's. They proved that they could change and reinvent themselves.

How many bands have "last albums" that are as great as this one?

In A Class By itself.......2007-01-05

If you're a hardcore ABBA fan like me, you know the history of this album so I won't bore you.

After listing to the album for the umteenth time I have concluded that this is ABBA at their very best. The content of the tracks show an artistic maturity not seen in any previous release. This is ABBA at their finest and I would highly recommend this album to anyone, ABBA fan or not.

I have a lot of albums by a lot of artists, but I would accord "The Visitors" almost a mythical quality. I would willingly part with 99% of my music before i would let this one go.

Buy it, you'll like it! Trust me.

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