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To all of you who love ABBA and all great music from the 70's and 80's, this CD does not disappoint. ABBA is so much more than just the songs you most associate readily with the group, and this collection just goes to prove that. I LOVED this CD, and was so glad to be able to add it to my collection again - in fact, I still have the original album. So please, if you are a fan of all great music and ABBA is certainly that - buy this CD - you won't regret it.
Getting "Mamma Mia." standards and favorites out of the way first:Super Trouper- A great song that just feels magical.The Winner Takes It All- the greatest of the relationship songs is one that anyone (including me) can relate to.Our Last Summer- Another personal one from Bjorn detailing a young romance in Paris is another song a person can relate.Lay All Your Love On Me- An upbeat dance song that gives a hint to the techno sound music would have in the eighties.As for the others, "Me and I" was an excellent song about the dual nature of people and the others were excellent. I can understand why this is the number one ABBA album for most fans but this is my third.
Strange as it may seem, but this chart-topping album is very underrated. Musically, the album sees ABBA taking note of the passing of disco, and returning to the straight-forward pop sound heard on the albums "Arrival" and "ABBA", but with much increased use of synthesizers, as well as some bold songwriting. Never fully appreciated by critics, this is actually as good as pop music gets. Filled with excellent album-only tracks like "Happy New Year", "Andante, Andante", "Me And I", every track here could of been a Top 40 hit if released as a single. The result sounds very much of it's time, yet somehow is also timeless. Also, unlike some other artists of the time, ABBA also used live drums (played by Ola Brunkert) instead of a drum machine.Overall, this is a fine album, and one that still pleases today.
This album was amazing when it came out in the 80's, and sounds even more amazing on th CD. The songs are beautiful and timeless and I wore out the tape when I had it-let's see how long this CD lasts. :)
in Paris."Super Trouper" is ABBA still at the top of their game, even though the future of the group at the times of its release started to be uncertain. Within this track, as well as in "The Piper" and "Happy New Year", ABBA unconventionally used simple structure of three verses and choruses instead of inserted bridges.
It does not mean, however, that it's the group's best offering by far. This honor would go rather to "Arrival", which contains crisper, stronger songs and also more immediate and catchy hits.
"Super Trouper" is an album where all the previous experience and successes of ABBA show, making it the most accomplished release the group has ever put out. The super hits of this record are the worldwide smash, a quintessential breakup tune "The Winner Takes It All", the title track with wonderful backup vocals and flawless melody and the majestically synth-ed "Lay All Your Love On Me".
Moreover, ABBA albums rarely (if ever) worked as one cohesive piece (to this they came close on "The Album").That said, the penultimate studio album is still as close to perfection as ABBA could get. Arrangements are maybe the best Benny and Bjorn ever wrote and they work especially well on songs that as such were not among the album's cream ("On and On and On" or Me and I").
Although the record is rather dancey, there are great ballads thrown in ("Andante Andante"), as well as the nostalgic "Our Last Summer", reflecting on a happy youthful times back in the late 1960's (). It's a solid, smooth and catchy effort that you won't regret buying.
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