Abba

Here’s the thing, I have always loved Abba, I am genuinely excited about the imminent release of Voyage, their new album which should arrive here this coming Friday morning.

I remember watching the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1974 and immediately liking ‘Waterloo’ although not loving it, the song brought them to my attention.

Some of the songs that followed the breakthrough hit didn’t really resonate with me, they were a bit too sugary pop for my taste, at this time in my life I was still listening primarily to T.Rex, my mainstay, my mainman. Ring Ring and I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do passed me by. But them came the magnificent SOS and everything changed, suddenly Abba were creating (for me) really beautiful, meaningful songs.

I liked the fact that they mixed things up, from bubblegum to ballads and tear jerkers, with the odd disco track thrown in for good measure, and as they progressed so their sound became more and more glorious.

My musical tastes are varied and I’ve never been a music snob, if I like something or someone, I like them, fashion and public opinion doesn’t affect my decision one way or another. Even when it was totally uncool to admit liking Abba, I did, because I absolutely did! Now it’s seen as cool to be an Abba fan… for me, it’s much more than that, they are, simply put, part of my musical landscape.

Some of the singles didn’t really do it for me, and that’s okay, for example Dancing Queen isn’t for everyone.

But Knowing me knowing you, Name of the game, Summer night city, The winner takes it all, Super trouper, Lay all your love on me, One of us, The day before you came and Under attack were all very pleasing to my ear ….. and yes I know I’ve omitted some of the biggest sellers, but they weren’t for me.

From an album perspective, I enjoyed the band much more. Albums always seemed to showcase a much more varied style of music. Arrival is a great 70’s album, it fits the time perfectly, that bagpipe playing, who else could fit that onto a pop album??

Abba, the album, is one of my favourites, if you have never heard the Move on, Hole in your soul, or I’m a marionette, do yourself a favour and check them out, The album and includes my all time fave Abba song, click here: EAGLE 

Voulez Vous and Super Trouper (including the gorgeous The piper) are both excellent albums with some wonderful tracks.

And then there is The Visitors, the last studio album, a mature opus with a strong track listing. It’s an album I still play frequently. Of Course there are many other albums and greatest hits compilations, but this for me, is the best, most comprehensive collection of Abba songs that they released.

I never got to see them in concert, a shame but, just one of many favourite groups I missed along the way. Will I go and see the ABBAtars? Of course I will, I can’t wait, it will be interesting to see what the virtual experience delivers.

As for Abba Voyage, the final album, I cannot wait. So far we have had three single releases, the utterly brilliant Don’t shut me down, the gorgeous I still have faith in you and the pretty average Just a notion …. it’s pretty much par for the course that a song will come along that doesn’t do it for me, and ‘Notion’ is one of them. So I still have 7 brand new tracks to look forward to, including a mooted festive track, which just has to be epic, after all is has to beat Super trouper, which, if memory serves was released round about Christmas time.

And yes, of course I got the t.shirt!

It’s so good to have Abba release new music this year, only one artist could have made me more excited… and if you know me, you know who that is.