ABBA (album)

ABBA is the third studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released on 21 April 1975 through Polar Music and featured the hits "SOS", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia".[3]

This article is about the 1975 album. It is not to be confused with ABBA: The Album, released in 1977.

ABBA
Studio album by
ABBA
Released21 April 1975
Recorded22 August 1974 – 16 March 1975
StudioGlen, Metronome and Ljudkopia Studios in Stockholm, Sweden
Genre
Length36:09
Label
Producer
ABBA chronology
Waterloo
(1974)		 ABBA
(1975)		 The Best of ABBA
(1975)
Singles from ABBA
  1. "So Long"
    Released: 18 November 1974
  2. "I've Been Waiting for You"
    Released: 18th November 1974
  3. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
    Released: April 1975
  4. "Bang-A-Boomerang"
    Released: 21st April 1975
  5. "SOS"
    Released: June 1975
  6. "Mamma Mia"
    Released: September 1975
  7. "Rock Me"
    Released: April 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

Overview

Following the Eurovision success of "Waterloo", ABBA saw the band gaining worldwide recognition. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" topped the charts in Australia, as did "Mamma Mia" shortly after. "SOS" and "Mamma Mia" became hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom.[3] The album saw ABBA dabble with reggae on "Tropical Loveland" and includes a grand, pseudo-classical keyboard instrumental in the traditions of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman with "Intermezzo No. 1" (early working title: "Mama").[4]

ABBA was first released on CD in Japan in 1986 by Polydor Records.[5] This release contains a slightly different mix of "Man in the Middle" not found on any subsequent CD pressing and thus is highly sought after by collectors.[6] ABBA was released on CD throughout Europe in 1987 also by Polydor, with five songs added from the Waterloo and Ring Ring albums, which were not available on CD until 1990. ABBA was released on CD in Sweden by Polar Music in 1988,[7] featuring the original 11 tracks only. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form several times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series with two bonus tracks,[8] in 2001 with an updated cover artwork,[9] in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and most recently in 2012 as a "Deluxe Edition".[10] On the original UK cassette release of the album, "Bang-A-Boomerang" was split in two parts, being faded during the second verse at the end of side one and continued at the beginning of side two.[11]

Track listing

Source:[12]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mamma Mia"
3:32
2."Hey, Hey Helen"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:16
3."Tropical Loveland"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:05
4."SOS"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:22
5."Man in the Middle"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:04
6."Bang-A-Boomerang"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:05

[13]

Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:15
2."Rock Me"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:03
3."Intermezzo No. 1"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:48
4."I've Been Waiting for You"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:39
5."So Long"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:06
Total length:35:56

[14]

1987 CD edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Waterloo"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
2:44
13."Hasta Mañana"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
3:09
14."Honey, Honey"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Anderson
2:55
15."Ring Ring"
3:06
16."Nina, Pretty Ballerina" 2:53
1997 CD edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
17."Crazy World"
  • Andersson
  • Ulvaeus
3:48
18."Pick a Bale of Cotton"/"On Top of Old Smokey"/"Midnight Special" (medley)
  • Traditional
  • Andersson[a]
  • Ulvaeus[a]
4:21
2001 CD edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Crazy World" 3:48
13."Pick a Bale of Cotton"/"On Top of Old Smokey"/"Midnight Special" (medley)
  • Traditional
  • Andersson[a]
  • Ulvaeus[a]
4:21
The Complete Studio Recordings / 2012 deluxe (The Breakthrough Album) edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Crazy World" 3:46
13."Pick a Bale of Cotton"/"On Top of Old Smokey"/"Midnight Special" (medley)
  • Traditional
  • Andersson[a]
  • Ulvaeus[a]
4:21
14."Mamma Mia" (Spanish version)
  • Andersson
  • Anderson
  • Ulvaeus
  • Buddy McCluskey
  • Mary McCluskey
3:34
2012 deluxe edition DVD
No.TitleLength
1."ABBA in Australia" (television special)40:59
2."Made in Sweden – For Export" (SVT)10:54
3."SOS" (Seaside Special, BBC)3:21
4."Mamma Mia" (Top of the Pops, BBC)3:21
5."The Best of ABBA TV Commercial"0:58
6."Greatest Hits TV Commercial"0:33
7."International Sleeve Gallery"3:35

Notes

  • ^a signifies arranged by

Non-album tracks
  • "Baby"

Recorded 18 October 1974 at Glen Studio. The lyrics for the song were later re-written and became "Rock Me". "Baby" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.

  • "Crazy World"

"Crazy World" was recorded on 16 October 1974 at Glen Studio during sessions for this album. The track was left unreleased until it surfaced again during the Arrival sessions, and was eventually released as the b-side to the "Money, Money, Money" single in November 1976. "Crazy World" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music, and then appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA.[15]

  • "Here Comes Ruby Jamie"

"Here Comes Ruby Jamie" was recorded on 16 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and is one of the rare occasions where Benny Andersson sings the lead vocals. The song was first released on CD on the box set "Thank You for the Music" as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.

  • "Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton/On Top of Old Smokey/Midnight Special"

Recording began on 6 May 1975 at Glen Studio. It remains ABBA's only studio recorded release of material not written by themselves, and was originally released on the 1975 German charity album "Stars Im Zeichen Eines Guten Sterns". In 1978, it featured (with a slight audio tweak, for many years mistakenly referred to as a 'remix') as the B-side of the "Summer Night City" single. The song was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music, then the 1978 version appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA.[15]

  • "Rikky Rock 'N' Roller"

"Rikky Rock 'N' Roller" was recorded on 15 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section. Later released by Jerry Williams on the album Kick Down in 1976.

Personnel

ABBA

  • Agnetha Fältskog – Lead vocals (4, 10) Co Lead Vocals (1, 2, 6, 7, 11) Backing Vocals
  • Anni-Frid Lyngstad – Lead vocals (3) Co Lead Vocals (1, 2, 6, 7, 11) Backing Vocals
  • Björn Ulvaeus – guitars, Lead vocals (5, 8) Backing Vocals
  • Benny Andersson – piano, marimba, accordion, organ, clavinet, synthesizers, Backing vocals

Additional musicians

  • Roger Palm – drums, tambourine, timpani
  • Ola Brunkert – drums on "SOS", "Man in the Middle" and "So Long"
  • Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
  • Mike Watson – bass on "Mamma Mia", "Tropical Loveland", "SOS", "Man in the Middle", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "So Long"
  • Janne Schaffer – guitar on Mamma Mia, "Hey, Hey Helen", "SOS", "Man in the Middle", "Bang-A-Boomerang" and "So Long"
  • Finn Sjöberg – guitar on "Mamma Mia", "Rock Me", "Intermezzo No. 1" and "I've Been Waiting For You"
  • Lasse Wellander – guitar on "Tropical Loveland", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", "Rock Me" and "Intermezzo No. 1"
  • Ulf Andersson  – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Bruno Glenmark – trumpet
  • Björn J:son Lindh; Sven-Olof Walldoff – string arrangements
  • Björn J:son Lindh – horn arrangements

Production

  • Benny Andersson; Björn Ulvaeus – producers, arrangers
  • Michael B. Tretow – engineer
  • Ola Lager – photography
  • Sten-Åke Magnusson – original album design
  • Jon Astley; Tim Young; Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 1997 Remasters
  • Jon Astley; Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 2001 Remasters
  • Henrik Jonsson – Remastered for The Complete Studio Recordings box set

Charts

Sales and Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia — 570,000[35]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[36] Gold 25,358[36]
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[37] Gold 10,000*
Japan — 220,000[38]
Norway — 120,000[39]
Sweden — 474,642[40]
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Gold 100,000^
Summaries
Europe — 4,000,000[42]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
  2. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ABBA". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 1. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (1991). Guinness Book of Rock Stars. Enfield: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 1. ISBN 0-85112-971-4.
  4. Scott, Robert (2002) ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song, Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p.67
  5. ABBA – ABBA (1986, CD), August 1986, retrieved 4 May 2021
  6. "Polydor P33P series (1986) « Abba on CD". Abbaoncd.wordpress.com. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  7. ABBA – ABBA (1988, CD), 1988, retrieved 4 May 2021
  8. ABBA – ABBA (1997, CD), 1997, retrieved 4 May 2021
  9. ABBA – ABBA (2001, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
  10. ABBA – ABBA (2012, CD), 16 November 2012, retrieved 4 May 2021
  11. Discogs – ABBA, Epic Records cassette version
  12. "Album abba « ABBA | Albums | ABBA". Abbasite.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  13. RCA Victor VPL1-4013A – 1975 Polar Music AB
  14. RCA Victor VPL1-4013B – 1975 Polar Music AB
  15. Scott, Robert (2002) 'ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song', Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p.69
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4163b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – ABBA" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  19. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "ABBA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 8. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – ABBA – Mamma Mia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  21. Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN 978-1094705002.
  22. "Charts.nz – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  23. "Norwegiancharts.com – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  24. "Swedishcharts.com – ABBA – ABBA". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  26. "ABBA Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  27. "Музыкальный парад "Март-78"". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 89. 15 April 1978. p. 4.
  28. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 427. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1975". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  30. "Top Selling Albums of 1975 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  31. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 428. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  32. "Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  33. "Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  34. "Звуковая дорожка – 78". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 1. 1 January 1979. p. 4.
  35. "ABBA – Success Story – RCA Australia 1976". Billboard. 22 January 1977.
  36. "Abba" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  37. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1978". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  38. "ABBA Cracks Japan Mart; Sales Surge". Billboard. 10 March 1979. p. 76.
  39. Bakkemoen, Kurt (19 March 1980). "Biggest Norwegian Sellers" (PDF). Billboard. p. 113.
  40. Schulman, Leif (8 September 1979). "Abba The World". Billboard.
  41. "British album certifications – Abba – Abba". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  42. Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 393. ISBN 0668064595. ABBA's album ws a colossal success throughout Europe in 1975, selling four million before release in Britain
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