In seemingly random order, GOLD contains fourteen of Abba's twenty American hits (the remainder are on MORE ABBA GOLD); which is to say, it contains fourteen of the most delectable pop productions of the '70s and early '80s. "Dancing Queen," "Waterloo," "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and the other landmarks of upbeat melancholy are complex concoctions--all layered harmonies and brilliant keyboard arrangements. These songs don't easily fit into any pop timeline, which may be why Abba received much of their acclaim long after breaking up. What may have seemed like Euro-pop fluff in its day, has been revealed by time to be truly classic studio pop.
The Swedish band's songs had show-tune and '60s-pop roots, skirted around the edge of disco, and were an unspoken influence on new wave. Without them, Madonna's very existence would be highly unlikely. With its Latin beat and gospel harmonies, "Lay Your Love All Over Me," one of the five songs here that didn't chart in the U.S., sounds like the very source of "Like A Prayer." Like Madonna, Abba had a grandiose vision of pop's place in the world--"who could live without it, I ask in all honesty," is how they put it in "Thank You For The Music," their Broadway-like farewell gesture. Hearing these singles, its hard to imagine anyone ever did.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (12/23/93, p.156) - "...these Swedes are a factor in the general revival of that silly decade, their giddiness a twist on the escapism that in more urgent form fueled disco and glam...."
Q (10/00, p.154) - Included in Q's "Best Best Of... Albums Of All Time" - "...Confirms that Sweden's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson made a Faustian pact circa 1972..."
Musician (11/93, p.93) - "...ABBA proved slickness and seething passion could coexist...."
Format:
Compact Disc
UPC:
0731451700729
Studio/Live:
Studio
Release Date:
20 May, 2002
Tracks
1. Dancing Queen
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You
3. Take A Chance On Me
4. Mamma Mia
5. Lay All Your Love On Me
6. Super Trouper
7. I Have A Dream
8. The Winner Take's It All
9. Money, Money, Money
10. S.O.S.
11. Chiquitita
12. Fernando
13. Voulez Vous
14. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (Am Man After Midnight)
15. Does Your Mother Know
16. One Of Us
17. The Name Of The Game
18. Thank You For The Music
19. Waterloo
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Reviews
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Saw the movie Mamma Mia and decided I had to have an Abba album. I didn't want the movie soundtrack, just because apart from Meryl Streep the other vocalists weren't a patch on the original. This album has most of the songs from the movie (but not Money Honey, or I do I do I do) and a couple of other favourites that weren't in the movie, like Fernando. Great stuff. I hadn't realized how Mediterranean a lot of the original songs sounded.
I ordered this gift early (14/1/09) so that it would reach my sister for her birthday (27/1/09) well on time. It ended up being about 4 days late. The point of me ordering from a NZ company (since I live in the US) is so I know (at least I thought I knew) that company will get it to the final destination (Wellington) a lot faster than an overseas company. You have proved me wrong. 17 days to deliver? Ridiculous. I am very loath to use fishpond again.
Fabulous fabulous - was never a great Abba fan but the revival of their music thanks to Mamma Mia is fabulous. Great to uplift, high energy. . . music to lift the spirits into joy
It is now as uncool NOT to like Abba as much it was considered uncool to like them in their heyday. Thank goodness for common sense. With the passing of time it is obvious that, along with maybe the Beatles, Abba produced some of the best songs ever written. Listen closely to their music and you will hear intricate layers and touches created by slick production work that were mostly missed at the time. Add to that two of the most distinctive and talented voices around and the recipe was sheer perfection. Long live the Swedes.
I am the right age to have known ABBA in its early years, but I didn't. I've always been out of synchrony with music trends, but I enjoy what I enjoy, when I enjoy it. I "discovered" ABBA in the late twentieth century (Man, that makes me feel old!), and still enjoy them. At first, they come off as "ear candy, and a few of their songs are just pretty fluff, but an examination of the lyrics (yes, there are real words accompanying that powerful beat and those lush melodies) shows that there is some depth there. Not always, but more often than you might think, and not always where one might expect it.
An excellent album consisting of some of their best songs, a great complication. I enjoyed the majority all of the tracks on here, but felt some of their best work was missing. In spite of this is still a must have to any fan and for the great price you can’t go wrong. A must have
By this CD and find out why ABBA are as hot today as they were thirty years ago! The original and the best Eurovision song contest winners, this was one of the few bands to go on and prove that they had more than a Euro song in them! Includes the hits Dancing Queen, Waterloo and many many more. Great!
Everyone must own an abba CD, and this one has to be it. What else do you listen to on dress up nights? All the all time favourites, that everyone knows and can bounce around the lounge is whilst screaming into a hairbrush. Essential for everyone.
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