Abba - Number Ones [DVD] [2006]

When a group is as universally popular as ABBA you can rest assured that those in charge of their catalogue will take advantage of this overwhelming popularity. If you were to believe the statistics, the Swedish Super-group has sold more than 360 million units worldwide, making them one of the biggest selling acts in the history of popular music trailing behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. It should not come as a surprise that this compilation was released even though there are several others available that already showcase the talents of this lovable foursome. There's the 20th Century Masters collection (CD) featuring ABBA which was certified Gold in the US, "The Definitive Collection" (CD and DVD) and the most popular of them all "ABBA GOLD: Greatest Hits" (CD and DVD) which was certified 6 x platinum in the US and has sales of over 25 million world-wide. So what is the point of this new release titled "ABBA Number Ones" which like their previous compilations have been released in both CD and DVD format? The title of one of ABBA's hits comes to mind: "Money, Money, Money". For the millions who already own "GOLD" and "The Definitive Collection" purchasing "Number Ones" would be pointless since they already own these songs. However, for the millions of fans (like myself) "Number Ones" is just another compilation to add to your ever growing collection.

"ABBA: Number Ones" showcases all of the songs that topped the charts internationally. The DVD includes all the videos to these classic songs and as a bonus, they throw in a live version of "Waterloo", 2 other live performances (which were sung to a backing track) and a Number One scrapbook which lists all the countries the respective singles topped the charts in. Evidence of ABBA's overwhelming international appeal is that if you were to tally up all of their number ones, you would get a number well over 100. What's even more impressive is that not all of the countries they scored a number 1 hit in are listed. For instance, not all the countries "Dancing Queen" reached the top in are included. Also the Spanish version of "Chiquitita" reached the top of the charts in several countries in South America including my native Chile and none are listed on the scrapbook and according to statistics "Waterloo" topped the charts in 14 countries but only 9 are listed on the DVD. Also missing in action is "Does Your Mother Know" which reached # 1 in Belgium and the Top Ten in several other territories including Canada, "Eagle" which topped the charts in Belgium and "Lay All Your Love on Me" which was a top ten hit in the UK and reached # 1 in the US Hot Dance Club Play Charts in the early 80's.

ABBA's success in North America paled slightly to their massive appeal elsewhere however to state they were not successful in the US and Canada will be an inaccurate statement. In the US, the group had 20 singles reach the Billboard Hot 100 within an 8 year time frame out of which 14 reached the Top 40. They also scored a # 1 hit on the singles chart with "Dancing Queen" (featured here), two # 1 hits in the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts with "Fernando" and "The Winner Takes It All" (featured here) and a # 1 in the Billboard Dance/Club charts with "Lay All Your Love on Me" (not featured here). In Canada they scored no less than 14 Top Forty hits out of which 8 reached the Top Ten and 6 consecutive Top Ten albums including a # 1 with Greatest Hit: Vol 2.

To the few who have not been exposed to these timeless and immaculate pop gems, "ABBA: Number Ones" may be a good place to start with since it's reasonably priced and offers their biggest hits but keep in mind that "The Definitive Collective" is far more extensive and may be a better buy. For the millions of ABBA fans out there, what can I say since you already own these songs? But knowing the passion this group inspires among their fan-base, I wouldn't be surprised in knowing that when entering your favorite music store, the first thing you do is extend your arm and grab this CD/DVD off the shelf and pay for it at the counter. I can't blame you since I have done exactly that. That is the power of ABBA's music

It seems everyone took credit for the first rock video. It was ABBA who created the form. The Ring Ring, Waterloo and SOS clips are definitely recognizable as rock videos. ABBA fully defined the musical format which would prevail into the 21st century. If this is not understood in the States, it is because their videos had no forum. In the 1970s, rock video had not yet taken over television. This happened with the rise of cable. The early clips display the raw energy which characterized ABBA in the '70s. Later ones are situational, more a product of the format itself. As with the albums, the videos capture a maturing process.

1 People Need Love - The beginning.

2 Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough) - They are walking toward us. They will walk away in Under Attack.

3 Waterloo - ABBA began their onslaught right after Eurovision. A bust of Napoleon is flashed. Agnetha wears her blue cap and pantaloons. Frida has on her cowboy shirt. Benny is on the upright piano. Bjorn plays his Star Wars guitar. All are young and eager. There is a museum in Stockholm which houses these costumes. Swedish Waterloo is performed in a bandshell.

4 Ring Ring - ABBA used the peacock fashion of the disco years to an advantage. The wide lapels and platform shoes did not distract from the music. Agnetha's two-piece showcases her assets well.

5 SOS - Shots of the group looking up. They are dressed for cold weather. Blurred double images.

6 Mamma Mia - Agnetha's white outfit laces up. She and Frida turn back to back. I like the shot of them looking perpendicular to one another, a profile against a full face. They used this technique often. The video accents the staccato effect of Benny's keyboard.

7 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - Benny and Bjorn play saxophones, the ladies with glossy sex appeal.

8 Bang-A-Boomerang - Going for a comic book effect. The impact of lovers coming together is compared to the wallop packed by super heroes.

9 So Long - Rare clip in cat costumes.

10 Fernando - Around a campfire. The setting sun and the stars keep props to a minimum.

11 Dancing Queen - Note Benny's keyboard introduction. The girls wear dark jumpsuits in a disco. They sing "see that girl" and point to the dancers. Frida bobs, and Agnetha uses her eyes.

12 Knowing Me, Knowing You - Winter scenes. Both couples hugging and kissing. An alternate clip uses boating scenes. Sailing is a favorite sport among Stockholmers and a pastime enjoyed by the quartet. Stockholm is on the Baltic Sea.

13 Money Money Money - Frida's lead in a wide-brimmed hat. Benny drives the car. Swedish crowns, U.S. dollars.

14 When I Kissed The Teacher - Agnetha kisses him twice, once at the skeleton and again over her geometry.

15 My Love, My Life - Agnetha's reflections close up. Where is Frida?

16 Tiger - Agnetha drives.

17 That's Me - In our face. We get to know them. Seven clips came out of Arrival.

18 Eagle - The girls, wind-blown with scenes of a soaring eagle. Swirling colors and Agnetha's searching eyes! The alternate was in The Movie.

19 Take A Chance On Me - The girls dance around the guys, who sit moping. They roll their eyes and wink seductively. Agnetha is a knockout. The long curve of her back is incredibly sexy. She wears a red flower in her hair. An alternate aired on The Midnight Special in the States.

20 One Man, One Woman - Frida looking great. Overlapping faces.

21 The Name Of The Game - Swedish parcheesi. The alternate is part of The Movie. That ABBA was able to make two clips of several songs during this period is evidence of their strength.

22 Thank You For The Music - Agnetha in her rabbit outfit. Tongue, eye and hand movements. The girl with the golden hair.

23 SummerNight City - The girls stroll through images of night. Frida jives, and they sing back to back. Dawn appears, and they crawl home. We glimpse the Royal Palace and Af Chapman in Skeppsholmen.

24 Voulez-Vous - Discotheque atmosphere with dancers. Agnetha shakes it in tight pants. She smiles and lights up the world.

25 Chiquitita - In front of a snowman.

26 Does Your Mother Know - Bjorn's lead.

27 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - In the studio. We get our first look at Michael B. Tretow. This was done the day they left for the U.S. tour. The instrumental interlude is absent.

28 Super Trouper - ABBA stands in the midst of a circus troop. The Super Trouper is the spotlight, and Agnetha points to it during the song.

29 Happy New Year - Agnetha sings after the party. She is a living doll, the flower of womanhood. She joins a depressed Bjorn at the window. The circus people again.

30 The Winner Takes It All - Agnetha's sad face is reflected in Benny's piano. Red heels and blue eye shadow. Black and white photos recall the past.

31 Lay All Your Love On Me - Terry Byrne did this for club promotions in Chicago. He packed action shots into the framework of The Day Before You Came, a condensation of ABBA's career.

32 On And On And On - Stills before a concert audience. The ladies are butterflies. An extra verse is tacked on. Humpty Dumpty.

33 Head Over Heels - Frida is Agnetha's friend. She primps and goes shopping. Bjorn is her henpecked husband.

34 When All Is Said And Done - Frida in green looking out to sea from a rocky coast. Looking over their shoulders while walking away foreshadows a breakup.

35 One Of Us - Agnetha moves into her new flat after leaving Bjorn. She paints and hangs wallpaper. Among her things is a book called The Divine Garbo. When the Swedish press wants to irritate Agnetha, it calls her the new Garbo. Greta Garbo was Sweden's great movie star during who became known for her reclusiveness. Youth and beauty are fleeting. There is this idea of becoming different people at different times. It derives from the failure of art to capture life. No sooner is the picture taken or the ink dried on the line than we have outgrown it.

36 The Day Before You Came - Agnetha makes eyes and has an affair with a man she meets on a train.

37 Under Attack - Flashing red light. Warehouse setting. They converge and exit through the front door. Droidlike demeanors forecast techno.

I've been an ABBA fan since I was 6. This has a lot of my favorite songs on it. Just a few missing that didn't make it to number one. "Angel Eyes", "One Man One Woman" and "So Long." I still don't understand why ABBA weren't more popular here in the United States. Oh, well. I highly recommend this to any ABBA fan.