The ABBA Nearly-But-Not-Quite Hall of Pain

Kisses of Fire. Great song, but the way the first verse is mixed (I.e. way too quiet) takes it from being one of the better Voulez-Vous songs to one of the worst.

I agree with the comments on both Under Attack and Kisses Of Fire.

Apart from Under Attack's undercooked chorus, I think the second verse should have a bit more beef than the first. The track should build. And the synth solo is way too flimsy and nasal. I like the percussion and the bass in the verses, though.

For me, Kisses Of Fire needs a remix. The opening verse is too quiet and the transition to the chorus is a bit sudden. The tune and the singing are all great, but the bass end of the track feels too light. Even the piano sounds a bit tinny. Thicken the kick drum and the bass and you'd be most of the way there.

I'm a big fan of Lovers (Live A Little Longer) but I think the highest pitched of the backing vocals need to be mixed back a notch. In fact, if they were dropped an octave and given to the guys to sing, that chorus might properly smoulder. Love the string arrangement, the sultry vocal, and the way the rhythm track stops and starts without affecting the groove.

I think That's Me needs to be resolved with a proper ending. As it is, the fade feels like they lost their way or got a bit bored.

I'll hear nothing bad about KOF, lol... a firm favourite......

As with all of these topics it's personal preference of course... for me the gentle intro, exploding makes the whole track magical.. should've been the A side.. not that I'm bias..lol

The mention of Kisses Of Fire is interesting. I've been listening to the song quite recently and couldn't help thinking what a banger it is! The quiet intro reminds me of the intro of the long version of Summer Night City - the chorus kicks in the same unexpected way. From then on it's brimming with energy and can't see anything wrong.

I'd probably nominate I've Been Waiting For You - beautiful melody, one of the best Agnetha lead ever, gorgeous backing vocals by Frida... BUT the "howling" sound of the backing track is the ingredient that makes it not as great as it could have been.

It's interesting how the views of the same song can be so diametrically different  For me it's the exact opposite. I love the verses and once the chorus comes, the song is spoilt for me. What we agree on though is that it's a strange song. And Benny will keep telling us, that the incompatibility of the verses and choruses in Just Like That is the main problem, when he doesn't have problem with this one, even choosing it as a bonus track for the recent CD and vinyl box...

I was actually wondering about “I’ve Been Waiting For You” as a contender for this thread but upon reflection, it’s pretty damn close to perfect. Agnetha’s lead vocal is incredibly moving and Frida’s harmonies are splendid. (The live version from ‘ABBA - The Movie’ is outstanding with Agnetha’s slight improvisation and exquisite phrasing). Maybe it could be less 'schlager' during the choruses, but that’s a minor quibble.

Ever since the release of the ‘Voyage’ album and hearing the two ladies harmonise with their mature voices, I’ve had a secret hankering for them to reprise this track in some manner, perhaps as an acoustic reinterpretation? It could be rather gorgeous, maybe even with Frida taking the lead?

Regarding, "Should I Laugh Or Cry ", I must declare it as one of my favourite ABBA tracks, definitely in my top ten. I always thought it was robbed of rightful inclusion on ‘The Visitor’s album, but I do understand that some degree of levity was perhaps required given the overall sombre tone throughout proceedings. That said, I think Frida’s lead vocal is one of her very best, searing through the subject matter with a sense of bitterness and pathos in equal parts. I always thought the juxtaposition of the serious verses with the lighter choruses was genius, but I might be alone in this assessment. Oh and the ‘strangeness’ is precisely what initially drew me to the song, sequestered away on a b-side - the ultimate buried treasure. In fact, this is the type of approach I would hope for if another ABBA album was forthcoming.

I agree that Benny’s issue with the compatibility of verse and chorus during “Just Like That” is perplexing, especially when there are songs in their catalogue that have more extreme twists and turns, but I happen to enjoy these anomalies. The progression of “Just Like That” is fine in my opinion, but whilst I really dig the saxophone during the choruses, I can’t bear it anywhere else in the song, especially the introduction. I always thought that if they had continued to work on the arrangement, it could have been slightly improved, but I’m glad it didn’t materialise as the Gemini version (an atrocity if ever there was one). Whatever the case, there’s no denying that the ladies’ vocals on the 1982 recording are sublime – it was Mr Grumpy who needed to catch up!

If Move On removed Bjorn's spoken introduction or replaced it with Agnetha singing like the Spanish version, it would definitely be in my Top 10.

Hole In Your Soul has an awesome intro and the middle eight is among the best things they ever recorded, but the chipmunk vocals really ruin the song. The vocals are even like that in the Voyage show unfortunately,

I think the breathy vocals in Summer Night City also let it down ("when the night comes with action.."). In the Voyage show the vocals are belted out which make it soo ,much better.

For me HIYS works really well in Voyage, and kinda ballsy to drop what many would consider a deep cut into a show which you woulda thought needs to cover the the lowest common denominator bases.