ABBA, THE HOPE FOR THE SEVENTIES

ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972, comprising Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. ABBA is an acronym of the first letters of the band members' first names and is sometimes stylised as the registered trademark ABBA. I like Abba. I got their records way back when I was still in school uniform. After having been through their two Greatest Hits CDs,I yield for more. I decided that I need to have all their CDs. After all they've only 8 studio albums so that's not too much. Still, I can't listen to too much Abba at one sitting. Great they may be but they are not Beatles. I think an additional CD of their classic album tracks will suffice to tell the whole Abba story.

RING RING : The first album. Abba is still searching for it's sound here. My favorites here are the titled song and 'Nina, Pretty Ballerina', which is those kind of song that stuck to you the first time you heard it. The rest are pretty much run of the mill stuffs. Nothing to suggest the phenomena that they're about to become. This was of course pro ‘Waterloo'. When this album was released, Abba does not even exist technically simply because the name Abba have not being coined yet. The credit on the album was simply named Bjorn, Benny & Agnetha, Frida. Abba was born only on the second album. This re-released came with three bonus tracks. 'Merry-Go-Round’, Santa Rosa' and a version of 'Ring Ring' in Swedish. DOP : 30th August 2011

WATERLOO : With the song, 'Waterloo', their Eurovision Contest Winner, Abba was well on their way. Abba was still searching but not yet finding their style. Still there are more than a few gems to be found here. An old favourite of mine 'Hasta Manana' is here and so is 'Dance ( While The Music Still Goes On )' and 'Honey. Honey'. The songs here can be considered light weight with the true classics being the title track, 'Hasta Manana' and 'Honey, Honey.' There were making their presence felt in the music world but not yet spectacular. I find this album slightly better than their debut with only the closer, 'Suzy-Hang-A-Around' being the least interesting track and also the only Abba track with Benny singing lead vocal which would also explain why this was his first and only vocal in an Abba's song. This one have 3 bonus tracks of their previous hits in Swedish. DOP : 30th October 2011.

ABBA : With their third offering, Abba have finally arrived. This one have 'Mamma Mia', 'SOS' and 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do' three of their most recognisable songs usually featured in their Greatest Hits Collection. 'Hey, Hey Helen' is the kind of song that would raise a smile from you. Not a classic but it show the versatility of Abba. 'Tropical Love Land' is a reggae like track which is listenable too. 'Man In The Mirror' and 'Bang A Boomerang' are not really so good but the latter which was a song I usually skipped during my younger days, I now found a tingle of nostalgia from the familiarity of the past. My favourite album track here by far is 'I've Been Waiting For You'. A tender love song that I can never get tired of. It would surely be another great Abba hit had it being released as a single. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I would have bought this album just for this song. This CD contained two bonus songs here. 'Crazy World' and a rare non original medley 'Pick A Bale Of Cotton / On Top Of Old Smokey / Midnight Special', which is quite an interesting track.  DOP : 3rd November 2011. 

ARRIVAL : Just so that the world take notice, this album was appropriately titled "Arrival'. When this album came out, Abba have truly arrived and was everywhere. I remember in Kuala Lumpur, there were numerous TVs put up in exhibition center with Abba videos playing. This is why the vision of Abba singing their hits have stuck in my mind. The album starts off with a popular non single 'When I Kissed The Teacher' and is also their first album that did not start off with a single. The best and most popular Abba songs can be found here. 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Money, Money, Money', and the most famous of them all 'Dancing Queen' . 'Tiger' is also another popular non single track that features prominently in their concerts.  Bonus tracks includes 'Fernando' which was one of Abba's greatest songs, and 'Happy Hawaii' which is actually the same song as 'Why Did It Have To Be Me'  but with different lyrics. DOP : 3rd, November 2011.

ABBA THE ALBUM: DELUXE EDITION : This album was released in conjunction with the movie of almost identical name, ABBA THE MOVIE . I like the movie too. It incorporated their videos into a strip that have a DJ chasing them all over the globe for an interview. My favorite cuts here are the minor but great single 'One Man One Woman' and the criminally underrated 'Move On' , which is one of those songs that sounded so familiar even when you first hears it. I was struck by the beauty of this song's melody just by hearing snippets of the song and never actually got round to owning it. This album marks the first time I have this song in my possession. The hits here are 'Eagle', 'Take A Chance On Me' and The Name Of The Game'.

Disc Two consist of a DVD of most of the songs here. If you loved Abba, you'll love this. DOF : 28th November 2011.

VOULEZ-VOUS : DELUXE EDITION :  Abba goes disco. This was the first ever Abba album that I got to hear in it's entirety and ironically I just don't like the songs as much as the songs on the other albums. The songs are just not as perfect as the songs on the previous albums. Still 'As Good As New' is the best starter on any Abba's albums. I like the disco 'Voulez-vous' the fairy tale like 'I Have A Dream' and the simply gorgeous 'Chiquitita'. 'Does Your Mother Know' offered a slight option to the girl's vocals. The rest of the tracks just doesn't work for me.

Disc Two contains a DVD of their television spacial titled "Abba In Switzerland" and some music videos of their music here. DOP : 24th November 2911.

SUPER TROUPER DELUXE EDITION : This one have 'The Winner Takes It All ', one of their defining moment. Listening to this song and watching the video, you can't help but formed a lump on your throat. Their personal experiences played out for the world to see. This was of course the time when Bjorn and Agnetha was calling it a day. Benny and Frida was soon to followed. Nevertheless, this album was considered by critics and fans alike to be the greatest Abba album of them all. Seems that adversity does make great inspiration. 'Super Trouper', 'On And On And On', 'Our Last Summer' all destined to be future Abba classics.

Disc Two like the previous two contains a DVD of Abba on Germany TV, and the videos for the featured songs here. DOP : 24th November 2011.

THE VISITORS : With this last Abba album, their eighth in a remarkable 10 years reign in the music world, I closed the chapter on Abba. As with The Beatles before them, this was not a happy album to make. Both the couples have divorced. Nevertheless, the world raised its eyebrows at the decision of Abba to continue recording. But sadly, somehow the magic have disappeared or the world have changed its tastes. Still, this is not to say this is a bad album. Far for it. Though the world's tastes have changed, the composing magic of Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have not diminished. If anything, their lyrics have mature tremendously since the days of 'Waterloo'. Apart from their last major hit, 'One Of Us', the other gems like 'Slipping Through My Fingers', 'Head Over Heels', When All Is Said And Done' and 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room' could stand head on with any songs of the day. The album sleeve says it all. All four were photographed apart from each other. DOP : 17th January 2013

ABBA GOLD : GREATEST HITS : This CD was given to me as a gift by a former colleagues, for what I don't remember for it sure wasn't my birthday. Anyway, this CD is for those casual fans. With 19 tracks, there's all the Abba you'll ever need, for the casual fans that is. Abba is  rather like The Beatles. A Collection of their songs will never be satisfying. You'll just have to get it all. Still, for all their gift in writing almost perfect pop songs, a whole album of Abba's hits is too much to listen to at one go. If you mix them up with other songs, Abba's songs will definitely stands head and shoulder with the best of them. A GIFT : 21th. December 1992 from Samantha Sam.

ABBA : MORE GOLD : The companion piece to the first volume. This one fills the gaps from the first CD. Again for the casual fans, it'll be more than enough. I myself, seldom played this two CD, 'cos playing them all at one go is too punishing for the ears. Still a nice CD to have in your collection. DOP : 29th May 1993.

ABBACADABRA REVIVAL - FLIGHT ONE : Abba's most famous songs remixed for the dance floor. Surprisingly, this CD was quite enjoyable. I bought this partly 'cos it was on discount and partly due to curiosity. Anyway, it was money well spend. DOP : 6th July 2002.

MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK FEATURING THE SONGS OF ABBA : I watched this movie with my family. I like it and my kids loved it especially the songs. So what is the logical thing to do. I went out and bought the album. I don't really like the idea of actors and non singers singing my favourite Abba songs. They worked fine when they go along with the movie but as a CD to listen to, hell, no. I bought this for RM 28.00. If I have waited a while longer, I could have bought the Deluxe Version for only RM 10.00. Ah well. DOP : 20th October 2008.

MAMMA MIA ! ORIGINAL CASE RECORDING : This double CD was the original stage show recording that inspired the movie. It includes all the songs from the movie and then some. I got it for RM 10.00. Though I am not exactly overwhelm with this CD, it's still a nice additional to my collection and a nice way to pass a lazy afternoon. DOP : 24th March 2012.