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Post by johnny on Jun 5, 2024 10:21:21 GMT
A real mixed bag. While it has great tracks in SOS and Mamma Mia it has its fair share of horrors such as Man in the Middle and Rock Me. Bonus tracks are even worse, Medley and Crazy World.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rankings.
1. SOS
2. Mamma Mia
3. I've Been Waiting for You
4. So Long
5. Bang a Boomerang
6. I Do I Do I Do
7. Hey Hey Helen
8. Intermezzo #1
9. Rock Me
10. Man in the Middle
11. Tropical Loveland
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Post by HOMETIME on Jun 5, 2024 12:42:52 GMT
While the album is a massive step up the evolutionary ladder after the first two outings, it's still a giant step behind what comes next. I was given this as a present in 1978 and liked it well enough. Hey Hey Helen was the track that jumped out at me immediately and I still really like it.
I've given it a 3.5 rating (which might be slightly generous). My rankings:
1. I've Been Waiting For You
2. Hey, Hey, Helen
3. Mamma Mia
4. SOS
5. So Long
6. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
7. Tropical Loveland
8. Bang A Boomerang
9. Man In The Middle
10. Rock Me
11. Intermezzo. No.1
I believe they demoed an English language version of Lycka for this album. "To Live With You" is a gorgeous song and could have added a little depth to the set. I'm guessing that having an outsider pen the English lyrics might possibly have been an off-putting factor...? As for the bonus tracks, Crazy World is just a B-side. It can have no pretensions to hidden classic status. The Medley is fun and you can hear that they enjoyed themselves. True, they'd never get away with that recording now, but the vocal energy is irresistible.
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Post by gary on Jun 5, 2024 22:52:59 GMT
I completely agree with Hometime’s first sentence. It was my first ABBA album, bought because SOS (which I had already bought as a single) had had such an effect on me. Even at the time, I knew the album didn’t live up to the promise of SOS. However, it does have four top-notch songs and three other decent songs, but is let down by the remaining four filler tracks. Three stars.
1 SOS
2 Bang A Boomerang
3 I’ve Been Waiting For You
4 Mamma Mia
5 Hey Hey Helen
6 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
7 So Long
8 Intermezzo No. 1
9 Tropical Loveland
10 Rock Me
11 Man In The Middle
As with Voulez-Vous, Frida really got treated badly here!
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Post by jchanabbafan on Jun 6, 2024 1:51:35 GMT
This is the ABBA album that started my fandom in late 1975.
I was hooked after hearing Mamma Mia and the rest is history !
Part of the reason there were so many ABBA songs & albums in the Aussie charts in the mid 70s was that we were catching up with the rest of the world. The 'Ring Ring' and 'Waterloo' albums sold very well once the 'ABBA' album let everyone know who they were. Everyone (myself included) was eager for new material and those first 2 lps were it.
This didn't help the over-exposure that came by early 1977. So to the ABBA lp then:
3 stars from me
1. SOS - perfection still
2. I've Been Waiting for You - excellent vocals
3. Mamma Mia - another classic
4. Hey Hey Helen - mature theme, great to see it on the USA TV performance
5. Rock Me - vocals from the girls make the song
6. So Long
7. Bang a Boomerang - fun video
8. Tropical Loveland
9. Intermezzo #1 - well done in 'ABBA - The Movie'
10. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - at least we finally got to hear the missing verse (albeit unofficially)
11. Man in the Middle - in my bottom 5 and always has been
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Post by truedogz on Jun 6, 2024 9:04:14 GMT
I quite enjoy this album due to nostalgia. I am a bit of the odd man out in that I am someone that for the most part enjoys listening to the Ring Ring album which has a 60s feel to it and varying styles (but not great sonically).
ABBA has one all time great recording (SOS), another excellent recording (MM), two fun recordings (BAB, SL), and IBWFY, HHH and TL (nice harmonies at the end) have their good points. IDo is overproduced but not a bad tune, RM, I#1, MITM leave me a bit cold.
Funny thing is I am probably more likely to put this album on than The Album (cough, cough, wash my mouth out with soap). The latter, along with Arrival, is the best sonically and is far more sophisticated than ABBA and in places is majestic. But this album is fun and The Album has as many tracks that I would skip as this one.
Not as good as Arrival or The Visitors, better than Waterloo.
So for its fun listening and nostaliga I will push it to the limit and give it a 4.
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Post by Alan on Jun 6, 2024 9:07:26 GMT
As with Voulez-Vous, Frida really got treated badly here! I’ve never thought about that before. Is it just the one lead (Tropical Loveland) that she gets? Agnetha gets two strong ones in SOS and I’ve Been Waiting For You. Hey Hey Helen is a joint lead, I think. |
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Post by johnny on Jun 6, 2024 11:03:47 GMT
In documentaries and histories of ABBA some discussion about time lag between the release of The Album and Voulez Vous.
But there was 18 months between ABBA (April 1975) and Arrival (October 1976). Did this extra time allow ABBA to up the quality considerably for Arrival?
Also, mention of single releases with SL, IDx5, SOS and MM and why the last two weren't first.
Am I right in thinking Mamma Mia was recorded shortly before the ABBA album so couldn't have been a first or second single?
So Long was first single in November 1974. Was SOS even finished then?
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Post by Alan on Jun 6, 2024 11:08:10 GMT
I think Voulez-Vous was intended to be released before the end of 1978 but they had writer’s block. It’s known for being the album where more songs were tried out and discarded than any other album.
Mamma Mia wasn’t intended to be a single at all (as unbelievable as that may seem). It was only because Australia wanted it that Polar relented. It was then released everywhere else.
The four videos for the ABBA album were intended to promote the album as a whole and not singles. By chance, three tracks did end up as singles internationally (and the fourth was a single somewhere).
ABBA were still a part-time band between the eponymous album and Arrival, hence the two solo albums released in that time. Not sure if Björn and Benny were still in-house producers for other Polar acts at that time and therefore had other commitments. It seems they were only full time from the start of 1976, after Agnetha’s contract with CBS-Cupol had expired and she was fully signed to Polar.
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Post by johnny on Jun 6, 2024 12:36:23 GMT
Ok. I didn't really think of ABBA as being a part tine band. I know Mamma Mia wasn't considered asca single at first but even if they wanted it as one, it was not finished until near the release date of ABBA
It joins Take a Chance On Me (The Album)
Super Trouper from that album
One of Us (The Visitors) as both late editions to their albums and biggest hits from those albums.
The ABBA album had huge success in Sweden and Australia - and that's about it.
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Post by baab on Jun 6, 2024 17:27:17 GMT
The ABBA Album for me is a bit like the Voyage Album. Hearing it is like a journey through different music styles with (only) some Pop Pearls lighting up.
I became an ABBA Fan with Voulez Vous and Super Trouper and worked me back through the earlier albums. Because of Voulez Vous, ABBA was a Pop Group for me. But the ABBA Album is so un-pop in many cases. It starts with the cover: 4 artists in 1920ies/1930ies clothes in an old Rolls Royce and in a 1930ies designed Hotel Foyer on the Back cover. Very un-pop to me. And songs like I Do I Do, Intermezzo #1, Man In The Middle and Hey Hey Helen. Also So Long, it is no wonder it had a Benny Goodman citate in the live Version. It seemed to me the Pop oriented songs don't have a natural home on this Album...
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Post by gary on Jun 6, 2024 22:45:54 GMT
As with Voulez-Vous, Frida really got treated badly here! I’ve never thought about that before. Is it just the one lead (Tropical Loveland) that she gets? Agnetha gets two strong ones in SOS and I’ve Been Waiting For You. Hey Hey Helen is a joint lead, I think. Yes, yes and yes. |
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Post by eddie on Jun 8, 2024 13:02:46 GMT
When the studio albums were released as part of " The Re-masters " series back in 1997 on CD format I bought a copy of " ABBA ". " SOS " is the stand-out track. " Mamma Mia " and " I've Been Waiting For You " are also top tier quality. " Bang-A-Boomerang " and " I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do " I also hold a deep affection for.
My ranking,
11. " Man In The Middle " A very lacklustre effort. Always dodge this one !
10. " Rock Me " Another I am not fond of at all.
9. " Tropical Loveland " Rather bland and boring.
8. " Intermezzo No 1 " Not really a fan of instrumentals but Benny's talents as a musician shine here.
7. " So Long " Not sure about this energetic number. Just passed me by I guess.
6. " Hey Hey Helen " This punchy slice of glam rock has grown on me recently.
5. " Mamma Mia " A slice of perfect pop. Very catchy too.
4. " Bang-A-Boomerang " Breezy and exhilarating. Love the rhythmic bass which chugs along.
3. " I've Been Waiting For You " Simply stunning. Heavenly vocals from the ladies.
2. " I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do " Such a happy-go-lucky song with a summery vibe. A great shame it wasn't a bigger success for ABBA.
1. " SOS " My ultimate favourite from the album. Pop of the highest standard. From Agnetha's haunting lead to the rousing and dynamic chorus. A classic !
This is where ABBA really started to craft great pop songs with more to follow.
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Post by eddie on Jun 8, 2024 13:09:54 GMT
" ABBA " receives three stars from me.
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Post by angela on Jun 8, 2024 13:29:26 GMT
These are mine.
1. SOS. The song I thought they were the ones who sang Mamma Mia.
2. Rock Me when I thought Bjorn was a spunk.
3. I've been waiting for you, beautifully sung by Agnetha.
4.So Long, energetic and powerful.
5. mamma mia. what can you say I remember hearing this for the first time.
6. Bang a boomerang. love the film clip they look so happy.
7.I Do I Do I Do such a happy song.
8. Tropical Loveland. the film clip was good seeing ABBA relaxing.
9.Hey Hey Helen. beautiful song.
10. Intermezzo N 1 The live version on ABBA the Movie was better.
11. Man in the Middle. a bit MEH reminds me of Geoffrey Edillston, "a socialite in Australia who married women younger then him"
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Post by johnny on Jun 8, 2024 14:42:22 GMT
2. Rock Me when I thought Bjorn was a spunk. Hmmmm, ok. |
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Post by Alan on Jun 8, 2024 20:07:58 GMT
That’s “spunk” in the Australian sense of the word isn’t it? Just that, in UK English, it used to mean something entirely different… 😆
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Post by angela on Jun 9, 2024 1:50:57 GMT
Spunk in Australia meant you think the person was nice.
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Post by Michal on Jun 13, 2024 17:56:23 GMT
After some hesitation I have given it 4⭐️. It may be a bit generous but the album is an immense fun. I actually prefer it to Super Trouper. I can enjoy even Man In The Middle these days. The only song I really don't care for much is I Do.
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Post by rickyrocknroller on Aug 28, 2024 21:28:52 GMT
The Deluxe Edition of "The Album" was labelled "The Watershed Album", and I think it would be even more appropriate for "ABBA". It sits between "Ring Ring"/"Waterloo", from which it takes a noticeable leap, but is not yet there at "Arrival". It's still varied in style, but a consistent listen; it got timeless ABBA classics on top with their best stuff ("SOS", "Mamma Mia"), but is sub-par in places ("Man In The Middle"). Overall, I'd give it a 3,5/5. My ranking:
1. SOS - top-notch stuff
2. Mamma Mia - classic ABBA pop
3. I've Been Waiting For You - heartfelt, engaging, beautiful
4. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - courageously un-pop single, excellent
5. Bang-A-Boomerang - lovely happy pop song, the recording is a tad overproduced though (the early version could come out better)
6. Intermezzo No. 1 - difficult to rank within the album but great Benny showcase and thoughtful composition
7. Tropical Loveland - doesn't go anywhere much but nice soundscape and relaxed feel
8. Rock Me - comes out better in the Movie live version
9. So Long - effective album closer but the song itself feels a bit laboured and unauthentic to me
10. Hey, Hey, Helen - remarkable take on funk, never really got me though
11. Man In The Middle - they were obviously trying something, it didn't come out that well
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Post by johnny on Aug 29, 2024 8:34:47 GMT
Rickytocknoller, I notice your rankings are led by the Singles for the most part in the three polls you have responded to.
I reckon that will be the same with Arrival. After that, perhaps not.
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Post by rickyrocknroller on Aug 29, 2024 19:00:50 GMT
Interesting observation, johnny. We shall see.
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