DESCRIPTION
On the innerring of the CD is mentioned:
℗ 2000 POLAR MUSIC INTERNATIONAL AB © 2000 UNIVERSAL RECORDS, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. 314 543 948-2
CD Insert text:
Only a handful of acts in the history of popular music have scaled the lofty heights of worldwide renown that characterized the overwhelming success of the Swedish supergroup ABBA.
They dominated the 1970s with a string of chart-topping singles and platinum-selling albums that showcased one of the most infectious sounds ever captured on record. Some considered their music to be the apotheosis of "bubblegum pop," but there's no denying that ABBA's masterful blend of beguiling melodies, beautiful harmony singing and flawless studio production resulted in performances with daunting commercial appeal (in 982 they were Sweden's single largest earner of foreign currency!). In addition to transcending international borders, their music performed the even more impressive feat of bridging the generation gap, and devoted fans of all ages eagerly snapped up each new release and flocked to their elaborately choreographed concerts. Today, nearly two decades after their breakup, ABBA's mystique doesn't merely endure. It continues to grow.
The name ABBA is an acronym using the first initials of four performers who were already well established in the music business before they ever came together as a group. In the '60s, Benny Anderson played piano and sang with a popular Swedish beat group known as the Hep Stars. Toward decade's end, he struck up a songwriting partnership with Bjorn Ulvaeus, who played guitar and sang with a folk group called the Hootenanny Singers. Both men landed jobs as house producers at Polar Records, an outfit owned by songwriter Stig Anderson (whose mentoring would later make him ABBA's "fifth member'). In 1970, they recorded an album together that featured background vocals by their respective romantic partners. Bjorn was involved with Agnetha Fältskog, who'd enjoyed a number one Swedish pop hit as a solo artist in 1968. Benny was seeing Anni-Fried Lyngstad (who later went by 'Frida'). She was born in Norway but had been performing on the Swedish pop scene as a vocalist since her early teenage years.
The foursome formed a quartet with the uninspiring name of Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida. In 1973 they entered the annual Eurovision song contest and placed third. The following year they returned as ABBA and won the competition with their performance of "Waterloo." The group decided to write and sing their material in English in order to maximize their impact in the lucrative U.S. and British markets (they would eventually record their hits in a variety of languages for different audiences). "Waterloo," the title track of their debut album, became a top ten hit throughout Europe and earned ABBA a deal with Atlantic in the U.S., where the single rose to #6. Their self-titled second album yielded massive hits with "SOS," "l Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia," songs that topped the charts in many countries (and were all top forty hits in the U.S.). Benny and Bjorn penned all of the group's major successes, which were relentlessly sunny and upbeat. The appeal of their romantic ballads was heightened by the fact that both couples within the group eventually married, though they subsequently divorced.
ABBA was disappointed that their impact in America hadn't quite measured up to the rapturous reception accorded them elsewhere in the world, but in 1976 they finally managed to capture the top spot on the U.S. charts with their recording of the disco era anthem "Dancing Queen." They nearly replicated this achievement Two years later when "Take A Chance On Me" went to #3. In 1978 they enjoyed international success with the film ABBA — The Movie, and by the dawn of the '80s there few worlds left for the group to conquer. In 1980 they scored their last U.S. top ten hit with "The Winner Take All," which also topped the adult contemporary chart. ABBA made its final live appearance at a concert in Stockholm in 1982 and had informally disbanded by the end of the year.
— Joseph F. Laredo
TRACKLIST
1. Waterloo 2:45
2. SOS 3:23
3. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 3:17
4. Mamma Mia 3:34
5. Fernando 4:15
6. Dancing Queen 3:52
7. Knowing Me, Knowing You 4:03
8. The Name Of The Game 4:01
9. Take A Chance On Me 4:05
10. Chiquitita 5:28
11. The Winner Takes It All 4:53
Barcode and Other Identifiers:
Barcode 731454394826
Barcode 7 31454 39482 6
Other MADE IN USA BY UML
Matrix / Runout 314 543 9482 01@ R
Mastering SID Code IFPI L006
Mould SID Code IFPI 0345
Matrix / Runout 314 543 9482 01@ W
Mastering SID Code IFPI L006
Mould SID Code IFPI 0382
Phonographic Copyright (p) Polar Music International AB
Copyright (c) Universal Records
Distributed By Universal Music & Video Distribution, Inc.
Mastered At Universal Mastering Studios
Made By UML
Data provided by Discogs
