ABBA Definitive Collection CD

Additional Tracks

ABBA: Bjorn Ulvaeus (vocals, guitar); Benny Anderson (vocals, keyboards);
Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog (vocals).
Producers: Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Anderson
Compilation producer: Marko Soderstrom
Recorded between 1972 and 1982. Includes liner notes by Carl Magnus Palm.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Audio Remasterers: Jon Astley; Michael B. Tretow.
Liner Note Author: Carl Magnus Palm.
Photographers: Ola Lager; Anders Hanser; Bengt H. Malmqvist.
The titles of hits compilations always deal in superlatives: "Greatest," "Best," "Very Best" -- but the compilers of this ABBA collection have a special problem justifying the release of yet another such album after the multi-platinum success of 1992's ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits and its 1993 follow-up, More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits. (Indeed, the band was never shy about repackaging, issuing a Greatest Hits LP in 1976 as only its third U.S. album, followed by Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 in 1979 and The Singles [The First Ten Years] in 1982.) They have settled on The Definitive Collection and done their best to live up to the name. The 37-track double CD contains "for the first time exclusively collected in one package, each and every single as conceived and released by ABBA and their record company Polar Music between 1972 and 1982," writes annotator Carl Magnus Palm. That accounts for 30 tracks, with another five consisting of songs individual countries released as singles, notably "When All Is Said and Done" and "The Visitors," which Atlantic in the U.S. put out for chart entries. The remaining two tracks are a single remix of "Ring Ring," being given its first American release, and an extended dance remix of "Voulez-Vous," not previously released commercially. The remastered sound is excellent, and the nearly chronological order of the sequencing allows an appreciation of the band's development from light Europop to a disco-influenced sound and onto a more energetic, new wave-influenced approach, all with compelling melodies and dense arrangements in a Phil Spector Wall of Sound production style. Palm's informative liner notes tell the ABBA story single by single. (Who knew that "The Visitors" is about "the fears of dissidents in the Soviet Union"?) If this doesn't satisfy you, go ahead and buy the group's entire catalog. ~ William Ruhlmann
Released to coincide with the arrival on Broadway of Mamma Mia!, (a musical based on the songs of Abba), THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION packs two CDs with every single ever released by this Swedish guilty pleasure between 1972 and 1982. Chronologically arranged and expertly remastered, this package kicks off with the flower-power sentiments of "People Need Love" and "He Is Your Brother." These preceded the breakthrough "Waterloo" that won the 1974 Eurovision competition and proved to be Abba's springboard to international superstardom.
From there, it's an infectious ride overflowing with hooks, harmonies and stellar arrangements that bubble over from much-loved songs like "Fernando," "Dancing Queen," "SOS," Take A Chance On Me," and "Winner Takes It All," chronicling Abba's move from Europop to impressive Wall-of-Sound flavored disco. Capped off with a 1974 remix of "Ring Ring" that's getting its American debut and a 1979 extended dance remix of "Voulez-Vous" that was never commercially available, THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is pure pop manna for die-hards and novices alike.

Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.136) - Ranked #180 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time"