ABBA Album: “The Album [Remaster]”

this album is the studio soundtrack to their cringeworthy 1977 "Abba The Movie". As embarrassing as the rockumentary is, the actual record is a keeper. Eagle has wonderful vox from the 2 girls. Song is a work of art both musically and lyrically. Take A Chance On Me and The Name Of The Game were both hits in the US and UK. Move On is very Hawaiian styled. But the centerpiece on the album is the 3-piece Girl With The Golden Hair mini-musical. The beautiful tracks I Wonder (Departure) and Thank You For The Music as well as the uptempo I'm A Marrionette makes this album distinguishable from everything else Abba cut in the 70's. This is Abba at their commercial peak and is a darn good record by them. Personally I'd rank it third behind The Visitors and Super Trouper

This album is a gem. It also happens to be one of the few CDs to feature the long version of "The Name of the Game" with an extra stanza which was not on the single version. That track alone is worth the price of admission! Great production, arrangements and harmonies throughout. This album also features some of Benny and Bjorn's experimentation with musical theatre which would bring them great success in the decades following the group's breakup.

this album is the studio soundtrack to their cringeworthy 1977 "Abba The Movie". As embarrassing as the rockumentary is, the actual record is a keeper. Eagle has wonderful vox from the 2 girls. Song is a work of art both musically and lyrically. Take A Chance On Me and The Name Of The Game were both hits in the US and UK. Move On is very Hawaiian styled. But the centerpiece on the album is the 3-piece Girl With The Golden Hair mini-musical. The beautiful tracks I Wonder (Departure) and Thank You For The Music as well as the uptempo I'm A Marrionette makes this album distinguishable from everything else Abba cut in the 70's. This is Abba at their commercial peak and is a darn good record by them.

Released in conjuction with the mock-documentary film of the same name, "The Album" by ABBA ranks as one of their most experimental & fun records of their career.

Benny & Bjorn again handle all of the writing & arranging, setting up the pop landscapes for Agnetha & Frida to navigate through. It was stated that ABBA was very inspired by the California rock/pop of acts such as Steve Miller Band & Fleetwood Mac amongst others, & wanted to incorporate that sound into their own. Already the premiere pop group of the 1970's, it came as no surprise that they wanted to continue to add different sounds, & add they did.

The driving, hypontic "Eagle" opens the record on a very strong note, with beautiful blended harmonies from Agnetha & Frida. "Take A Chance On Me" takes its time with a chorus that will stick in your mind long after the song has finished. "The Name of the Game" probably ABBA's first stab at what could be called "soul" is a melancholic & melodically succesful number.

"Hole In Your Soul" is a an over-the-top ode to cheerfulness in the face of adversity, something the Beach Boys might've come up with. Here the synthesis of the "California sound" with the inescapable Swedish pop hooks, harmonies, & melody makes this cut one of the most successful songs on "The Album".

Also during this period, ABBA was working on the musical "The Girl With the Golden Hair", which featured "I Wonder (Departure)" & "I'm A Marionette", which fit in well with the theme of "The Album". The best song from these sessions, one that would become ABBA's theme & best loved song, "Thank You For the Music" was left off the original pressings of "The Album". It is included here on this record for the first time, along with the "Doris Day" version of that song. "Thank You For the Music" ranks as one of the best written songs about having passion for music today, in all its lovable schmaltz. Agnetha shines here vocally, proving that while Benny & Bjorn set the music up, it was Agnetha & Frida who captivated the audience with their unique vocal work.

From a remastering perspective, "The Album" is a great collector's piece. Released in digi-pak format, with exhaustive liner notes, & full color pictures, lyrics, added songs, & a sharper sound? An ABBA fan couldn't ask for more.

Either way, "The Album" is still one of the most well loved & accomplished records of ABBA's career. It would also be one of the last one's that was totally "carefree", since ABBA would begin to look inward for song inspiration, resulting in some of their most captivating, if dark, music ever. But "take a chance" on this one, it is pure pop perfection. Highly recommended!

In the late 1970's, record reviewers from Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines, referred to this album as "Abba's best and most ambitious album". If one listens to the original Abba's Greatest Hits (1976), one can see why the reviewers said that. Most of the songs from the original compelation, were mostly moderate hits, in Europe. The lyrics were mostly silly and the music simple and upbeat.

"The Album" was a departure, from what critics referred to as the "Abba formula". The lyrics were more serious and the music was complex. "The Girl with the Golden Hair" suite was a revelation. It was Bjorn and Benny's attempt to write a muscial. Agnetha opens the set with Thank You For the Music. A beautiful song that became an Abba staple. But, it was Frida who was a revelation. I Wonder (Departure) is a broadway show stopper. She shows a new musical range, that is dark, opraretic and heart felt.

Before The Album, Frida gave us a glimpse of her musical talent in songs like Fernando, Money Money Money, and Gonna Sing you My Love Song. Her mature sound is visable through out this album. Eagle and One Man, One Woman have a new found depth to them. Harmonies with Agnetha are clear and beautiful. Her voice will only get better with the albums Super Trouper and the sublime and haunting The Visitors.