Abba - ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: A Prospector's Cache
Hit: 5 Stars
Across the fjords of Norway and the vast stretches of arctic splendor and wasteland, I came upon a pole resembling the archetypal North Pole, much like those found in scenes often seen in stories and pictures. Upon close inspection, I found a set of destination markers protruding from it on all sides done in red letters on white backgrounds.
In words written in (undoubtedly) Swedish, Spanish, Dutch (?), and English, one marker pointed to Helsinki, another to Reykjavik, Iceland, and yet another to Oslo. Walking around the pole, I found still other markers: one pointing (undoubtedly) southwest was written "Lake Woebegon, MN". One slightly askew to it, pointing slightly more west, was written: "Women's Norwegian Volleyball Team, California, U.S.A". I had to smile at that one. Memories of Louis Anderson and Garrison Keillor came flooding into my memory as I mused upon the markers.
Adjusting my eyes to the glory of the green flashes of Northern lights in the sky, I realized that the tears rolling down my frozen face had to do more with sentiment than the piercing cold. (Feeling perhaps like Alex Hailey (in miniature) during his discovery of his ancestor Kunta Kinte, I felt mystically connected to my ancestry.) As is often fashionable today (and should be standard), I also like to be proudly connected to a distinctive ethnicity, which creates variety and should be celebrated by everyone. Through my bleary-eyed vision, one final marker pointed to the short kilometer distance--a number which escapes my memory--to Stockholm.
Which brings us to the flood of musical memories that come from the pop group wunderkinds, ABBA, an acronym for the group members' names.
In their day they gave us gloriously produced syntho-techno pop before Gary Newman or Flock of Seagulls were conceived during the eighties. From the troubadour nature of their first single "Waterloo," a Euro song contest first place winner, to the remarkably slick and engaging "One of Us" from their swan song album `The Visitors,' ABBA ruled the English speaking world like few bands or artists since The Beatles. Nay during the seventies, ABBA's presence was like Queen Victoria: The sun never set on a part of the world that wasn't dominated by their pop reign.
Just a cursory look at their hits should entice the most basic pop hooky appetite: "S.O.S," "So Long," "Dancing Queen," and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" to name only a few. For a more meditative mood, "Fernando," "Chiquitita," and "I Have a Dream" are pleasant and essential. Without dating themselves, disco songs like "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie," "Does Your Mother Know?" and "Take a Chance on Me" still have the power to get 'em out on the dance floor.
While I love their albums, I must concede that the critics are right: Singles were and are ABBA's best suit. I love their best albums, including `Arrival,' and `Super Trouper,' and recommend these and others for their obscure songs ("Why Did It Have to Be Me," "That's Me," "Hole in Your Soul," and "I've Been Waiting for You" are about as essential as anything else.) Still, 'ABBA Gold' is uncluttered and magnificent for its slick resonance. Between their studio pop machine, the songwriting skills of Benny and Bjorn, and the siren voices of former loves Ana-Frid and Agnetha, ABBA made an unmatched collection whose lingering presence has spilled onto Broadway and Hollywood for no small reason. (And, I must note, paraphrasing music critic Dave Marsh's take distinguishing The Rolling Stones' 'Hot Rocks' and 'More Hot Rocks,' `More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits,' if anything, is even more of a prospector's cache.
In the end, ABBA has elicited memories that have little to do with ethnicity. For me it is about driving on scenic roads in a Volvo (Okay, let's not be pretentious; it was a Ford!) listening to ABBA cassettes. For most people, ABBA has little to do with bumper stickers with sayings like "Legalize Lutafisk!" on them. More often than not, ABBA was an influence on the dance floor, in the aerobic studio, and on the turntables of yesteryear. However you remember ABBA, they managed to be a musical phenomenon; one that hasn't been imitated as well and whose timeless appeal can only futilely be argued against.
Free Music Review: BEST
Hit: 5 Stars
One of my fondest memories of childhood is waking on Summer Saturday mornings with the sun streaming through the windows, the North Atlantic ocean crashing against the rugged coast and the music of ABBA on the stereo. This before I could even dress myself. 1976. Greatest Hits (North American Release)-VINYL. Agnetha was sitting under the autumn leaves on a park bench wearing suede boots with the toes pointed inward. The ever amorous Frida was kissing Benny. Mamma Mia, their first Canadian Hit. S.O.S. Fernando. We ate it up and wore out the grooves. Next up, CBC Television Special -ABBA's Canadian TV Debut featuring Frida and Agnetha singing "Mamma Mia" in front of a haystack on a Farm outside Edmonton, Alberta. Low budget TV. LOL! (I was a child and I remember everything in vivid detail!) 1976-Knowing Me, Knowing You. Early Summer Evenings. I can hear the Jukebox at the Local Pool Hall from the yard "Knowing Me, Knowing You; There is Nothing We Can Do" and the equally catchy B Side "Happy Hawaii" (one of my all time favorites, an early version of the inferior "Why Did It Have to Be Me" included on "Arrival"). 1977-The Album. 8 TRACK - Big Mistake. Told Sister, no more 8 Tracks! ("Oh and there's another 8 Track at the store with ABBA in a helicopter. What's that? Don't get it, it's probably 2 Years old!!!" LOL!) "Take a Chance On Me", "The Name of the Game", and another of my all time favorites "Move On" (later used in Canada for "Halo" Shampoo Commercials). ABBA had taken over the world - or so it seemed. 1978 Dryspell. And then they came back. New York City. Winter 1979. Concert for Unicef, United Nations General Assembly. CBC TV. A Wednesday Night. 10:30 PM North Atlantic time. Waiting for an eternity. Suffering through CBC schlock like "Music Camera" and "The Nature of Things". Way, way past my bedtime. Sick with the flu. Refusing to go to bed. Fighting with Mother. Swearing at the CBC (in my head). And then it started. Rod Stewart. Bee Gees. Donna Summer. Olivia Newton John. And Gilda Radner introducing "Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, Ani-Frid or to put it another way, "ABBA"". Agnetha and Frida in skin tight matching catsuits. Pre-pubescent. And frankly confused by the fuss. And the world heard the first chords of "Chiquitita" LIVE. Flashforward. Alexandra Disco in Stockholm, Sweden. Cover Shot for "Voulez Vous". Back to VINYL - 8 TRACK is for the birds! Older sister (Much older. LOL!) getting ready to go out with "Does Your Mother Know" blaring in the background. And a favorite non-Single "As Good as New". CJON Radio. Playing B Side to "Chiquitita", "Lovelight" (between Bette Midler "The Rose" and Donna Summer "Hot Stuff") Sent us scrambling to find out what Album that song was from (the song surfaced in 1997 when ABBA's Canadian Label Remastered all of their CDs and included all of the B Sides as Bonus Tracks on the Remastered CDs). CBC Special from Switzerland Ski resort with Canadian Disco Duo -"The Raes" ("Que Sera, Sera", "Don't Turn Around") and their special guests, "ABBA". ABBA performs Chiquitita in the snow. And then it happens. ABBA comes to Canada! 1979 North American Tour kicks of in Edmonton, Alberta. Now in Toronto. And coming further East and ever closer...MONTREAL! The Forum. Agnetha performs with a Fever. And South they go and forever out of reach. Christmas 1979. ABBA - Greatest Hits, Vol. II. "Rock Me"? Where did that come from? "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" another favorite. "Dancing Queen"? - missed that one the first time around. Yes, REALLY! Maybe that 8 TRACK with ABBA in a helicopter on the cover was worth checking out after all! LOL! 1980. American Top 40 with Casey Casem. "The Winner Takes It All" become ABBA's last U.S. Top Ten. "Our Last Summer", "The Way Old Friends Do". 1981. "The Visitors". "One of Us" and "When All is Said and Done" and a chapter closes in Music History and in one life.
And the world moves on. Flashforward. 2004. Dutch born, New York City resident and Recording Artist AMBER releases "My Kind of World". Sounds nothing like ABBA. But this person who loves ABBA, loves this CD and maybe you will too! Check it out: AMBER - MY Kind of World!
Free Music Review: ABBA Rules
Hit: 5 Stars
FIRST- Of note to people who are obsessed with track length (as I am) is the fact that two songs (Voulez Vous & The Name of the Game) are somewhat shorter than their album versions
I thought I would do it track by track:
1. Dancing Queen (3:52) - probably the best-known song on this album- it is truly a classic. It needs no introduction
It's definitely not the best track on the album, but it is a great song.
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You (4:02) - a classic song. A great performance by Frida
3. Take A Chance On Me (4:04) - A nice song. I love the A'Capella beginning. The live version on ABBA LIVE (CD) is also really great- and it sounds faster
4. Mamma Mia (3:33) - A classic ABBA track. I love it!!!
5. Lay All Your Love On Me (4:34) - To me, this is the best song on the album. It has a great sound to it. Very disco-ish or early 80s-ish. From the classic album Super Trouper
6. Super Trouper (4:14) - A good song. This is the opening track from their masterpiece album of the same name. You really should look into the Super Trouper album
7. I Have A Dream (4:44) - a great song. I actually didn't like it until I heard the live version- so you may want to check that out on ABBA LIVE (CD) or on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD). A beautiful track with a children's choir.
8. The Winner Takes It All (4:55) - another great track from the Super Trouper album- and it's probably the most beautiful song on ABBA Gold
9. Money, Money, Money (3:08) - a great song. It has a cabaret type of sound.
10. S.O.S. (3:21) - Not one of my favorites, but for a lot of people this is one of their best songs. I must say, though, they may have a point- listen to it and you'll see.
11. Chiquita (5:26) - My least favorite song on this album. But, it was a major hit in many Spanish-speaking countries
12. Fernando (4:13) - I love this song. To me, it's one of Frida's greatest performances (and that's saying a lot). If you like it, you should hear the live version on ABBA LIVE (CD).
13. Voulez Vous (4:22 [edit- the album version is 5:09, so we lose 47 secs.]) - A great venture into disco. Very upbeat. If you like it, you should hear the whole Voulez Vous album and you should see the performance on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD)
14. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (4:48) - Another great disco classic. It was recently sampled by Madonna on the song "Hung Up."
If you like Gimme! You may want to see/hear the live version on ABBA LIVE (CD) or on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD) and you may want to hear "Hung Up" by Madonna
15. Does Your Mother Know (3:15) - I used to hate this song, but now it's one of my favorites. The 50s rock type of sound to it is great. From the Voulez Vous album- I just love it. If you like it, you should hear the live version (on ABBA LIVE [CD] or on ABBA IN CONCERT [DVD])- it has a great guitar solo part not found in the studio version
16. One Of Us (3:58) - arguably the best track on The Visitors album. Although I'm not so sure about that, it still is great. Check out that bassline!!!!
17. The Name Of The Game - (4:00 [edit- the album version is 4:53, so we lose 53 secs.]) - a beautiful song (although the full length version on ABBA The Album is much better as it has an extra verse)
18. Thank You For The Music (3:51) - great song. Although it released as a single in 1983, it was a track on 1977's ABBA The Album. It is often seen as a farewell song (which it does serve well as), but it is actually one of four songs from ABBA's mini musical "The Girl With the Golden Hair" (this and two others are available on ABBA The Album. One song is unavailable on any album although it can be heard on ABBA The Movie)
19. Waterloo (2:42) - their first major hit. It has a glam rock-ish sound to it. WOW. If only it were longer
ALSO RECOMMENDED: ABBA LIVE and MORE ABBA GOLD.
(I personally prefer More ABBA Gold to ABBA Gold)
Free Music Review: Everyone Should Own This
Hit: 5 Stars
If you're ever in need of a pure pop collection that you can guarantee everyone will be dancing to, it's ABBA's "Gold: Greatest Hits." Wherever you party this Christmas, it is likely that in the midst of sweat, drink and fags, an ABBA record will be playing somewhere. No matter what your age or musical tastes, ABBA released a string of hits you could sing along to. Whether you were a bouncing baby in a highchair, or you wrinkled with your grand-parents, everyone thanked ABBA for the music. When ABBA entered and won the Eurovision Song Contest in April 1974, many saw them as a one-hit wonder outfit. But the success of ABBA during the 1970's and early 1980's has been compared to that of another famous quartet who made their fortune between 1962 and 1970...
As with that other famous quartet, ABBA's popularity still stands today. This collection of hits was released in the early 1990's and still managed to top the UK album charts in early 1999 when an ABBA revival say thousands of teenagers flock to stores and pick up a copy of this album. The song which single-handidly saw the ABBA mania hit the UK once more was "Dancing Queen," the massive US and UK No.1. Often voted one of the best songs i history, this song is every bit a classic. It still sounds fresh and catchy today as it did more than 25 years ago. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Take A Chance On Me" maintain the catchy camp factor, while "Mamma Mia" is so famous it spawned a popular catchphrase along with a West End musical of the same name. "Lay All Your Love On Me" is a masterpiece of epic proportions. It has such an atmosphere that you can't help be absorbed by.
"Super Trouper" has sunlit vocals and a majestic chorus that swings along, "I Have A Dream" speaks of the perfect world, while "The Winner Takes It All" is an emotional and powerful look at the fall of a relationship. "Money Money Money" not only has a classy piano introduction alongside some wonderful vocals, but a certain sense of irony. Singing of being poor and longing for money as they raked in their millions! "S.O.S." and "Chiquita" are two of my favourite ABBA songs, because they can be listened to at any time of day and at any point in your life. The soaring choruses, melodic verses and emotional vocals go hand-in-hand as the perfect duo. "Fernando" has an almost royal feel to it, with a classy and beautiful chorus filled with love and passion. "Voulez-Vous" is an absolute disco stomper than remains in my Top 3 of favourite ABBA songs ever. I don't understand why this is not their most popular song, because it definitely should be! "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)" shows how incredible coy and innocent ABBA could seem, even when singing about one-night stands.
"Does Your Mother Know" draws its energy from classic 1950's rock 'n' roll, while the lesser known "One Of Us" has a bouncy beat that carries the song along. "The Name Of The Game" is perhaps the only letdown from this album, which is easily forgotten with the majestic "Thank You For The Music." A tribute single entitled "Thank ABBA For The Music" was released in 1999 and peaked inside the UK Top 5, but it has nothing on the original. The album closes with ABBA's first ever song, "Waterloo." The song that won them the Eurovision is where it all began.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
This collection has shifted more than 3 million copies in the UK, and millions more worldwide. No other album spent longer on the album charts in the UK throughout the 1990's. The years just passed by and this album would not budge! America didn't take as much notice of ABBA as the UK did, which I think is a great shame because they are, without question, one of the greatest pop groups ever. There are some greatest hits collections that everyone owns like Madonna's "The Immaculate Collection," and ABBA's Gold: Greatest Hits should definitely be in there! Buy it now, you know you want to.
Free Music Review: Pure GOLD!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is by far the finest compilation album of ABBA's best ever produced. Every song in this album has been No. 1 at some point in time and place, that which you will not find in previous incarnations of "Greatest Hits" compilations. The quality of recording is superb. Its production not only captures the spirit of the greatest Swedish pop band ever, but its sound is enhanced by digital remastering, giving the album a timeless listening pleasure. It also includes a brief history of the quartet from their rise to fame with "Waterloo" to their breakup with "Thank You For the Music". The order of the songs, though not chronological, seemed to convey the personal turbulences the band experienced toward their latter days. The first half of the album begins with the ever popular "Dancing Queen" (which became my personal favorite ABBA track immediately after obtaining the CD), and continues with all the fast popular "happy" hits - "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Take a Chance on Me", "Mamma Mia", "Super Trouper". The mood starts to change from jovial to solemn into the 2nd half, initiated by "The Winner Takes It All". It is followed up by their melancholy yet equally popular hits, like "The Name of the Game" and "One of Us". "Thank You For the Music", released as a single, is their grand finale? Nope. Ironically, the final song of the album is "Waterloo", which sents a distinctive statement that though ABBA is gone, their popularity hasn't and never will be. What better way to reinforce that than by concluding the album with the very hit that pave them on the road to fame. Now the songs themselves, and what a selection here, are a testament to their creativity and talent. While a lot of them are disco-esque in character (considering that it was still the 70's at that time), they vary in color and arrangement. Unlike today's Top Ten hits where most of the chart-toppers sound like each other. Listen to the stark contrast between "Take A Chance On Me" and "Super Trouper" even though both began with acapella choruses. "Chiquitia" and "Thank You For the Music" had solo instrument intro with the full band joining in the chorus, but the former had a crooning quality while the latter a jazz-like feel. Speaking of chorus, know any popular song that had audience participation by children besides "I Have a Dream"? As for classic rock, look no further than "Waterloo", "Does Your Mother Know", "Voulez Vous", all of them similar in genre but diverse in character. Even sounds not normally heard in a pop band are employed, like a string ensemble in "Dancing Queen" and flute-like fill-ins in "Fernando". "One of Us" is as every bit as dramatic as "The Winner Takes It All", though more pessimistic. What I enjoy most from listening to these songs is the piano. It took centerstage in "Chiquitia" and "Thank You For the Music", and also made its presence felt in "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo". As a classically trained pianist, it felt great to hear Benny Andersson utilize this lovely instrument in all of his songs wherever possible, be it rock, pop, dramatic ballads or otherwise. He is a terrific pianist, as well as a very brilliant songwriter and arranger.
The only drawback, a small one, is the omission of "Ring! Ring!", which I personally like (although it appears in the sequel "More ABBA Gold"). Yet with all that it does have, it is a true collector's edition. The sequel compilation is worth to buy if you're a diehard ABBA fan. If not, but you're a true music lover nonetheless, this one is definitely a must!