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4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio CD
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • ASIN: B00005CDNF
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 362,452 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Product Description

Description
ABBA's third album, released in 1975, finds the group at the end of the first phase of their career. Having scored massive world-wide success with the bubblegum classics "Ring Ring" and "Waterloo" in the previous two years, the Swedish foursome continued that streak with the sweet "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", the silly "Tropical Loveland" and "Bang-A-Boomerang". However, "Mamma Mia" and the grandly-titled "Intermezzo No. 1" showcased a new compositional maturity somewhat reminiscent of Brian Wilson's 1964 productions.
Several songs, including the brilliant, enormous hit "S.O.S". and theexcellent "Hey Hey Helen" (covered by Lush 15 years later),contained the first inklings of the melancholy that would become such a fundamental part of their later albums. ABBA's self-titled album is the first key turning point of their long and exceptional career.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing early album, 17 Feb 2003
By Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This album was released when Abba's future was uncertain. They might have been just another one hit wonder. Waterloo had been a worldwide smash hit, but the other singles from that album flopped. Depending on your viewpoint, this album demonstrates Abba's versatility (if you like it) or it is a mixed bag (if you don't). I love it.

The original album (the first eleven tracks) yielded three singles that met with varying degrees of success. I do I do I do I do I do was a big hit in Australia and a number one in New Zealand but a modest hit in Britain. It eventually went top 20 in America. S.O.S. was much more successful in Britain, where it was a top ten hit. It went top 20 in America, where it was the first single taken off the album.

Mamma Mia, on the other hand, was a number one hit in Britain and gave Abba a direction to go in for their next album, which would be Arrival. It wasn't very successful in America, where it was only a minor hit. Abba were never able to achieve consistent success in America, perhaps because they rarely visited. They were kept busy elsewhere.

Of course, those songs can be found on various Abba compilations, so it is the other tracks that are the reason to buy this now. Tropical loveland and I've been waiting for you are lovely ballads. Rock me and Hey hey Helen veer almost into glam-rock territory. Intermezzo No. 1 is an instrumental that sounds like Benny and Bjorn were trying to write a classical piece - I wonder what it would sound like if played by a philharmonic orchestra. Contrast that with the medley of traditional folk songs - one of two bonus tracks listed here. Apparently this medley was recorded for charity. As far as I know, this is the only time that Abba covered anybody else's songs.

So, this is a very varied selection of songs. My version of the CD has a further five bonus tracks, but these can all be found on either the Ring ring or Waterloo albums. This particular album has been re-issued several times on CD, originally with no bonus tracks, then with the five added, then with those five plus Crazy world and the medley, but now with those last two but not the other five. Since anybody who buys this album is likely to buy the two earlier albums anyway, the current track listing with just two bonus tracks makes the most sense.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A*Star Album, 28 Feb 2004
This album is in one word, Abbatastic... The songs on here mix together to form one of the best albums of the 70's which should have got more recognition.

1. Mamma Mia

One of Abba's biggest hits starts the album off, usually this is a bad thing but with the greatness of the album, some song did have to start the album off!

(08/10)

2. Hey, Hey Helen

One of the greatest non-released songs on here, it's hard to see what they're singing about, but the song about liberty really is one to listen to again and again.

(08/10)

3. Tropical Loveland

In my opinion this is the best song on the album, it has layers upon layers of chill-out flavouring, this song is actually in my top 10 abba songs! :)

(10/10)

4. Sos

Another classic Abba hit, the big follow up to Waterloo, after the Eurovision they had to follow up with a good tune, and the vocals to this are chilling as are the special effects used here and there

(08/10)

5. Man in the Middle

This seems to be a song written about Peter Stringfellow... Maybe not the strongest song on the album but it doesn't get on your nerves even after the 100000th play.

(06/10)

6. Bang-A-Boomerang

This is my second favorite song on the album, it was originally written for a Norwegian Eurovision Hopeful, who sadly didn't make it into the final draft of finalists. This song is cheesy I do admit, but isn't that why we love Abba so much. You'll be bouncing on your head when you hear this track.

(09/10)

7. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do

This song could have been released as a single as it has the same calibre and selling appeal than SOS and Mamma Mia. It's not in the top 5 of this album but i love hearing it every time

(08/10)

8. Rock Me

This Abba meets Bon Jovi song is a classic, Abba didn't produce many songs like this, and it was a good attempt to cross cheesy pop with modern rock. The lyrics are effective and this song could be realeased by The Darkness any day :D

(09/10)

9. Intermezzo No. 1

Is this Beethoven I hear you ask? No, it's Benny having a good time on the Piano, bashing the keys in, to my delight, after all the rocking tracks so far, you will need to relax and listen to Benny and his creation.

(07/10)

10. I've Been Waiting for You

The 'Fernando' of this song is absolutely tear-jerking. The only problem is, it songs to much like Fernando and Chiquitita. That's not a bad thing, just be thankful that all three aren't on this album together. An easy listen if you're sad, but have a hanky or two ready.

(07/10)

11. So Long

Along with Rock Me, this track is what makes this Album stand out from the previous Waterloo release. Sound effects and fast paced lyrics make this song a runner for best song on this album.

(09/10)

12. Crazy World [*]

I didn't really take to this song, and I haven't yet, it isn't catchy, it isn't cheesy, it just isn't Abba, maybe they should have left the album with So Long and leave the listener to rock out.

(05/10)

13. Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton/On Top of Old Smokey/Midnight Special [*]

This is another track that didn't need to be added, But I suppose that Abba wanted to prove they could sing anything, well they could, it just didn't work out very well..

(05/10)

-----

Overall this album rocks and I think you should buy this album right now :D

Good Luck

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good for having fewer tracks..., 24 Jul 2001
By Simon McEnery (Salisbury, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Bizarrely, this CD in the newly reissued Abba CD collection, is worth getting for the hardened Abba fan because it doesn't have the handful of tracks from Waterloo tacked on the end. Instead we have Crazy World and the Pick A Bale Of Cotton medley that were recorded at around the same time as bonus tracks, so this is a more authentic release. What this really represents, though, is a part of an excellent series release - buy the lot!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars ABBA's best album
In my opinion this is ABBA's best album. Sure, they had many hits after this release but the true, at least classic, ABBA sound is all over the place here. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2002 by Birthe Jrgensen

5.0 out of 5 stars Seriously underrated album...
For years I had all of the other 8 ABBA albums, and never bothered with this one...but am so glad I took the plunge in the end. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Great fun
This album is so much better than their first two and yet they would get even better with their subsequent albums. Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars The Seventies Abba
This is the last album released by Abba which does not quite gain the timeless charm of their later releases as the sound remains distinctly seventies. Read more
Published on 24 Jul 2001

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