ABBA (album)

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ABBA
ABBA - ABBA (1975, Original Polar LP).jpg
Studio album by
ABBA
Released21 April 1975
Recorded22 August 1974 – 16 March 1975
StudioGlen, Metronome and Ljudkopia Studios in Stockholm, Sweden
Genre
Length36:09
Label
Producer
ABBA chronology
Waterloo
(1974)		ABBA
(1975)		 The Best of ABBA
(1975)
Singles from ABBA
  1. "So Long"
    Released: 18 November 1974
  2. "I've Been Waiting for You"
    Released: 18 November 1974
  3. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
    Released: April 1975
  4. "Bang-A-Boomerang"
    Released: 21 April 1975
  5. "SOS"
    Released: June 1975
  6. "Mamma Mia"
    Released: September 1975
  7. "Rock Me"
    Released: April 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

ABBA is the third studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released on 21 April 1975 through Polar Music and featured the hits "SOS", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia". [3]

Contents

Overview

Following the Eurovision success of "Waterloo", ABBA saw the band gaining worldwide recognition. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" topped the charts in Australia, as did "Mamma Mia" shortly after. "SOS" and "Mamma Mia" became hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom. [3] The album saw ABBA dabble with reggae on "Tropical Loveland" and includes a grand, pseudo-classical keyboard instrumental in the traditions of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman with "Intermezzo No. 1" (early working title: "Mama"). [4]

ABBA was first released on CD in Japan in 1986 by Polydor Records. [5] This release contains a slightly different mix of "Man in the Middle" not found on any subsequent CD pressing and thus is highly sought after by collectors. [6] ABBA was released on CD throughout Europe in 1987 also by Polydor, with five songs added from the Waterloo and Ring Ring albums, which were not available on CD until 1990. ABBA was released on CD in Sweden by Polar Music in 1988, [7] featuring the original 11 tracks only. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form several times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series with two bonus tracks, [8] in 2001 with updated cover artwork incorporating their ambigram, first used for their next album Arrival , [9] in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and most recently in 2012 as a "Deluxe Edition". [10]

On the original UK cassette release of the album, "Bang-A-Boomerang" was split in two parts, being faded during the second verse at the end of side one and continued at the beginning of side two. [11] [ better source needed ]

On November 19, 2012, ABBA was reissued as part of the Deluxe Edition series with a 2-disc package. [12] [13] [14] The first disc, a CD with special remastered audio, featured the original album with three bonus tracks. [12] The second one, a DVD, contained 60 minutes of previously unreleased TV performances, including: the complete 41-minute ABBA In Australia 1976 television special, in which the band performed twelve songs; performances of "Mamma Mia", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", and "So Long" from the SVT 1975 special Made In Sweden – For Export; a 1975 performance of "SOS" from the Seaside Special ; a 1976 performance of "Mamma Mia" from Top of thePops; two television commercials for The Best of ABBA and Greatest Hits ; and the "International Sleeve Gallery". [12] [13] A 24-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the making of the album was also included. [12]

Jude Rogers of the BBC said that, with this deluxe reissue of the album, "ABBA doubters will be pleasantly surprised to find the band's desire to experiment here" and that "long-term fans will enjoy the accompanying DVD, and be reminded of an interesting juncture in the quartet's career". [14]

Track listing

The information has been adapted from the official ABBA website. [15] All tracks are written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mamma Mia" 3:32
2."Hey, Hey Helen"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:16
3."Tropical Loveland" 3:05
4."SOS" 3:22
5."Man in the Middle"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:00
6."Bang-A-Boomerang" 2:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" 3:15
2."Rock Me"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:03
3."Intermezzo No. 1" (featuring Benny Andersson; instrumental)
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:48
4."I've Been Waiting for You" 3:39
5."So Long"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:06
Total length:35:56
2012 deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Crazy World"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:46
2."Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton - On Top of Old Smokey - Midnight Special"Traditional; arranged by Andersson and Ulvaeus4:21
3."Mamma Mia" (Spanish version)
  • Andersson
  • Anderson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Buddy McCluskey
  • Mary McCluskey
3:34

Non-album tracks

Recorded 18 October 1974 at Glen Studio. The lyrics for the song were later re-written and became "Rock Me". "Baby" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.

"Crazy World" was recorded on 16 October 1974 at Glen Studio during sessions for this album. The track was left unreleased until it surfaced again during the Arrival sessions, and was eventually released as the b-side to the "Money, Money, Money" single in November 1976. "Crazy World" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music , and then appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA. [16]

"Here Comes Ruby Jamie" was recorded on 16 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and is one of the rare occasions where Benny Andersson sings the lead vocals. The song was first released on CD on the box set "Thank You for the Music" as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.

Recording began on 6 May 1975 at Glen Studio. It remains ABBA's only studio recorded release of material not written by themselves, and was originally released on the 1975 German charity album "Stars Im Zeichen Eines Guten Sterns". In 1978, it featured (with a slight audio tweak, for many years mistakenly referred to as a 'remix') as the B-side of the "Summer Night City" single. The song was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music , then the 1978 version appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA. [16]

"Rikky Rock 'N' Roller" was recorded on 15 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section. Later released by Jerry Williams on the album Kick Down in 1976.

Personnel

ABBA

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Sales and Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia—570,000 [37]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [38] Gold25,358 [38]
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) [39] Gold10,000*
Japan—220,000 [40]
Norway—120,000 [41]
Sweden—474,642 [42]
United Kingdom (BPI) [43] Gold100,000^
Summaries
Europe—4,000,000 [44]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Andersson</span> Swedish musician and composer (born 1946)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Me (ABBA song)</span> 1975 single by ABBA

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<i>Greatest Hits</i> (ABBA album) 1975 compilation album by ABBA

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released in Scandinavia on 17 November 1975 and in other parts of the world in 1976, notably the UK on 10 April, and on 18 September in the US and Canada. The 1976 version of the album included the band's most recent single "Fernando".

References

  1. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-84609-856-7.
  2. ↑ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ABBA". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  1. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. 1 2 Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (1991). Guinness Book of Rock Stars. Enfield: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 1. ISBN   0-85112-971-4.
  4. ↑ Scott, Robert (2002) ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song, Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p.67
  5. ↑ ABBA – ABBA (1986, CD), August 1986, retrieved 4 May 2021
  6. ↑ "Polydor P33P series (1986) « Abba on CD". Abbaoncd.wordpress.com. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  7. ↑ ABBA – ABBA (1988, CD), 1988, retrieved 4 May 2021
  8. ↑ ABBA – ABBA (1997, CD), 1997, retrieved 4 May 2021
  9. ↑ ABBA – ABBA (2001, CD) , retrieved 4 May 2021
  10. ↑ ABBA – ABBA (2012, CD), 16 November 2012, retrieved 4 May 2021
  11. ↑ Discogs – ABBA, Epic Records cassette version
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Deluxe Edition Of The ABBA Album Released In November!". ABBA. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  13. 1 2 Sinclair, Paul (28 November 2012). "ABBA Deluxe Edition – SuperDeluxeEdition" . Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  14. 1 2 Rogers, Jude (2012). "BBC - Music - Review of ABBA - ABBA: Deluxe Edition". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Discography". ABBA. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  16. 1 2 Scott, Robert (2002) 'ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song', Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p.69
  17. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4163b". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – ABBA" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  20. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "ABBA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 8. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – ABBA – Mamma Mia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  22. ↑ Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN   978-1094705002.
  23. ↑ "Charts.nz – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  25. 1 2 3 "Swedishcharts.com – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "ABBA Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  28. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 12/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  29. ↑ "Музыкальный парад "Март-78"". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 89. 15 April 1978. p. 4.
  30. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 427. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  31. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1975". Dutch Charts . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  32. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1975 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  33. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 428. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  34. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  35. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  36. ↑ "Звуковая дорожка – 78". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 1. 1 January 1979. p. 4.
  37. ↑ "ABBA – Success Story – RCA Australia 1976". Billboard. 22 January 1977.
  38. 1 2 "Abba" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  39. ↑ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1978". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  40. ↑ "ABBA Cracks Japan Mart; Sales Surge". Billboard. 10 March 1979. p. 76.
  41. ↑ Bakkemoen, Kurt (19 March 1980). "Biggest Norwegian Sellers" (PDF). Billboard. p. 113.
  42. ↑ Schulman, Leif (8 September 1979). "Abba The World". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "British album certifications – Abba – Abba". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  44. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 393. ISBN   0668064595. ABBA's album was a colossal success throughout Europe in 1975, selling four million before release in Britain
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