Abba - ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
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CD Details
Artist: AbbaEdition: Music CD
Audio: German (Unknown)
Published: 1999
CD Release Date: 1993-09-21
Music Label: Polydor / Umgd
Product features:
- Condition: Used - Very Good
- Dancing Queen
- Knowing Me, Knowing You
- Take A Chance On Me
- Mamma Mia
- Lay All Your Love On Me
- Super Trouper
- I Have A Dream
- The Winner Takes It All
- Money, Money, Money
- S.O.S.
- Chiquitita
- Fernando
- Voulez Vous
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
- Does Your Mother Know
- One Of Us
- The Name Of The Game
- Thank You For The Music
- Waterloo
Music reviews of ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
Music Review: Polished and Brilliant. ABBA's music is Enduring.
Rating: 5 Stars
"ABBA GOLD" (along with many of ABBA's original albums) is one of my favorite CD's ever. It always manages to recieve a pretty good reception from its audience whenever it's played. Even the unlikliest of people from all walks of life and with very different tastes, most likely have a favourite ABBA song. Many have wondered why this is but the question is not that hard to answer. Bjorn and Benny (the song writing duo and the B's of ABBA) had the ability to write catchy tunes with glorious hooks and harmonies. Having the exquisite vocals of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) sing (most of) these songs was icing on the cake. Speaking of the girls, these 2 gifted and under-rated singers definitely qualify as two of the greatest singers ever in pop/rock. As soloists, they were/are extraordinary as evidenced by their solo work, but when they sang in harmony- the result was sublime. The sound that was produced when Agnetha's pop soprano and Frida's sultry alto were combined was and is intoxicating. No one has yet to match that awesome sound IMO and the melodies, simply put are some of the most beautiful and original ever produced. Despite what their critics may say, ABBA did not sound like your typical band of the 70's. Their textured sound and slick production values (just listen to any one of their original albums from 1975 onward for examples) combined with the girls outstanding vocals makes ABBA's sound rather unique. I think it was Benny who stated that if you were to take out Frida and Agnetha, and have 2 other girls sing their parts, the "ABBA sound goes out the window". A very thoughtful comment that stressed how important Agnetha and Frida's voices were to their overall sound structure.
This CD contains most of their UK and US hits. The songs range from charming, melodic ditties ("Money Money Money", "Waterloo", "Mamma Mia") to more sophisticated entries ("The Winner Takes It All", "Knowing Me Knowing You", "One of Us"). Lyrically, the songs are simplistic but like every ABBA fan knows, there was an evolution to their music and lyrics. If one is to compare a song taken off their first albums "Ring Ring" (1973) and/or "Waterloo" (1974) for instance, and compare it to any one song taken off their last albums, "Super Trouper" (1980) and "The Visitors" (1981), there is a clear transition and a huge difference lyrically. I get a bit annoyed at the constant references to the groups lack of intelligent lyrics, especially if we were to analyze lyrics of other successful acts of popular music. Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" comes to mind as does The Beatles "Love Me Do", "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" etc. I am by no means trying to pick on these legendary musical acts, just merely picking out a few examples of fun music set to fun lyrics. As previously stated, ABBA did write several cutsie tunes but earlier in their careers, that was their point. They simply wanted to sing in English to gain international appeal. After "Arrival" (1976), their song and lyrical structure did improve immensely and even their fun songs would go on to have good lyrics. "The Visitors" is especially impressive in it's poetic beauty.
Interesting enough, although ABBA sold millions of records internationally and became global celebrities, their success in North America was not as spectacular. It should be noted that not all of ABBA's singles were released in North America between 1974-1982. With that said, it would be inaccurate to state that the group did not gain success in North America. In Canada for instance, between 1974-1981 ABBA had 14 Top 40 Hits in the Canadian Singles chart out of which 8 reached the Top 10 and their albums "Greatest Hits" (1976), "Arrival" (1976) "The Album" (1977), "Voulez-Vous" (1979), "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" (1979) and "Super Trouper" (1980) all reached the Top 10 in the Canadian Album chart ("Greatest Hit Vol. 2" reached #1).
In the US, 20 of their singles managed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 out of which 14 reached the Top 40 with "Dancing Queen" reaching the top in 1977 while "Fernando" and "The Winner Takes it All" would reach #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and "Lay All Your Love on Me" would top the Billboard Club Play Singles chart. Their albums did well also, those receiving a Gold certification in the US were "Arrival", "Voulez-Vous", "Greatest Hits Vol. 2", "Super Trouper" and most recently "20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection" while "Greatest Hits" and "The Album" received Platinum certification, both selling over a million copies. However, ABBA's biggest selling album to date in the US (not taking into consideration the "Mamma Mia" film and stage soundtrack) is this one, "ABBA Gold" having gone 6 times platinum with estimated sales of over 25 million world-wide. Those that haven't been initiated yet, need to give this gem of a catalogue a try. Highly enjoyable, highly theatrical and highly recommended.
Description of ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
Mamma mia! ABBA has never sounded or looked better than on the new CD+DVD package ABBA Gold - Greatest Hits (Special Edition) (Polydor/Polar/UMe), released December 7, 2010. Featuring all of the group's hits and more--and the videos for each of them--this Special Edition package brings together 1992's six times platinum ABBA Gold - Greatest Hits CD and its gold-certified homevideo companion of the same title, both newly remastered.The CD, which as a stand-alone album has sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, embraces 19 classics including the gold #1 anthem "Dancing Queen"; #3 gold "Take A Chance On Me"; Top 10s "Waterloo" and "The Winner Takes It All"; Top 20s "SOS," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Fernando," "Does Your Mother Know" and "The Name Of The Game," and Top 40s "Mamma Mia" and "Chiquitita."
The DVD features all 19 video clips, taking full advantage of the progress in digital technology since they were last remastered. Notably, most of ABBA's videos were directed by Lasse Hallström, since acclaimed for such films as My Life As A Dog, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Chocolat. Also included are bonus selections in the form of "before-and-after" split-screen comparisons of five original film clips and their remastered versions. In addition, the DVD adds a recently discovered cartoon version of "Money, Money, Money," circa 1977. This rarity was briefly screened at the time and has not been available in complete form since.
Nearly 30 years later as one of the most commercially successful pop groups in history, the music of ABBA dances into the future with ABBA Gold - Greatest Hits (Special Edition).
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
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