Disco de ABBA: “Thank You For the Music [Box]”

If you are looking for a 'Complete' Abba Collection, then "Thank You For the Music" is the set for you. From reading the book that came with the CD set, it appears that most of Abba's released material is on here. The released material is contained on 3 CDs and a 4th CD contains rare unreleased material.

It seems that nowadays everything that is above 2 CDs that is considered a "Boxed Set". There really have become 2 categories of Boxed Sets. The first is a "Classic Boxed Set". This comes in a covered box about the size of an LP and contains CDs (sometimes in jewel cases, sometimes just on the bottom of the box) and a book about the same size. The second type is more like a 5.5" x 10" hardcover book which I term "Hardcover Box Set'. The CDs basically are stored in the hardcover binding and the book is in the middle. I much prefer what I call the Classic Boxed Set to the Hardcover format. The ABBA set is a Hardcover format. This is disappointing to me because for a 'Complete' collection, I would have liked to see the better presentation. Each CD has an A or B on it and a corresponding pseudo autograph of one of the band members first name.

But don't let the presentation deter you. The content is in this set. What is nice is that the first 3 CDs contain the released material. All of the released material is in sequential order of the release dates. ABBA Gold which is a greatest hits CD did not do this. In the attached book, Carl Magnus Palm has an outstanding disocgraphy that tells when and where every song was recorded and a brief abstract containing some useful information on the song. The discography is also contains pictures of ABBA album covers and singles.

The real gem of this set is the 4th CD - this contains the rare and unreleased material. There are 2 medleys - "Pick a Bale of Cotton" and "Abba Undeleted". The Abba Undeleted medley is fantastic. It basically has raw unmastered recordings melded together - outstanding. There are also non English versions of Waterloo, Ring Ring, and Honey Honey.

The attached book is also a nice thing to have in your collection. There is a 'brief' foreward from Frida, Agnetha, Benny, and Bjorn to introduce the collection. Manager and lyric writer Stig Anderson also writes a brief preface. On the page with the Stig Anderson preface is a photo of the band in which Agnetha and Frida wear the kitty shirt/dresses from the SOS video. In general, I wish all of the photos were larger - especially that one. The whole booklet contains lots of pictures and photos that really embelish it nicely. There are then 3 articles by various writers the chronicle the history and impact of the band, a section on ABBA memorabilia (that includes a photo of the ABBA action figures), a section devoted to ABBA outfits (yes the kitty shirt/dresses are mentioned), the discography, and a section on credits to the box set.

There is something for everyone on this boxed set. It is good for the deep fan as well as good for the casual fan. Highly recommended.

This is a great greatest hits collection for all you Abba fans from around the world. The 4 CD box set called "Thank You For The Music" is "Abba Gold" and "More Abba Gold" put together, plus add some b-sides, unreleased songs, and Abba in the studio (on disc 4), and you've got a collection of some of the greatest songs ever heard. Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid (or Frida as she is called) has created some wonderful music in the 70s and early 80s with their style of harmony and creating a sound all their own. In the 66-page booklet, you will find photos, liner notes, and stories on how they got started, their videos and photos of the costumes they wore from their concerts. Highlights include "Dancing Queen," to me that is their signature song. "You can dance/you can jive/having the time of your life" is all I can say about it. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is one of their serious songs about broken relationships and heartbreak. "Take A Chance On Me" is one my favorite songs from Abba, especially the a capella intro at the beginning. Of course you have to have some rare Abba recordings like their b-sides. Take "Lovelight" for example, this song is a flip side of "Chiquitita" from the "Voulez-Voul" album. The song itself is typical Abba singing about love and romance and like the song says "your love is shining like a lovelight" or something like that. "Happy Hawaii" is probably the best original version of "Why Did It Have To Be Me." It almost sounded like "California Girls" from the Beach Boys but when they recorded the former song for the "Arrival" album, they felt it was unsatisfied and re-recorded it as the latter instead. I guess it shows us how little we know about the group and how they re-invent a song. Disc 4 has "Abba Undeleted," which has the group behind the scenes in the studio and how Benny and Bjorn (the priciple songwriters)put their heads together and just experiment melodies, harmonies and instruments and you'll hear demos of "Take A Chance On Me," "Baby" (later called "Rock Me"), a Swedish Tango version of "Fernando," a try out version of "Just Like That" and more. This song and "I Am The City" were both recorded for a new studio album at the time, but by the time they broke up in 1983, they never finished it. "I Am The City" ended up on "More Abba Gold" and "Just Like That" is the only song you'll hear on this collection. They may never reunite for a tour, but with Benny and Bjorn's words and Frida and Agnetha's singing, they're some things better left unsaid about them and I'm glad their music has touched us all. Thanks, Abba, for the music.

Having been exposed to Abba during my youth in the 70's, I realized how profound their influence has been on my sense of music scope and appreciation. Before the unoffical 'ressurection' and revival of everything Abba in pop circles during the early to mid 90's, I stumbled upon a cassette of their greatest hits and gave it a cursory listen. It was at that point I realized that they had a LOT more dimension than what I initially gleaned from radio and previous exposure.

I was unable to find anything on cd at my record store at the time (this was summer of 1992) excepting an import of 'Abba -The Singles' which served nicely. Then of course came the second coming of Abba of sorts with 'Abba Gold' and such and then finally this box set "Thank You For The Music".

Most would say that a box set would likely be a bit superfluous and only for a hardcore fan. That assesment may be correctly stated but anyone who is an afficianado of popular music in general would likely benefit from the exposure this collection has to offer. I won't go on and say every song is superb - there are some 'throwaways' on the last disc. But it warrants the 5 (*****) star review on the merits of the sheer expansiveness and breadth of the output of one of pop music's finest.

Everything is captured here - the swirling elegance of 'Dancing Queen' (which transcends the oft affixed 'disco' label to it with a nicely understated piano track in the background while the vocals and violins swirl around it), to the rollicking rush of 'Waterloo', the plaintive melodies of 'S.O.S.', the earnest balladry of 'Fernando'(if you consider it cheesy then you haven't listened to it fully), to the mystique of 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', the great pop harmonies of 'Take A Chance On Me', and onward. To add, some of the musical arrangements and production is of the highest order of magnitude. A pop guilty pleasure to be sure - if one were to consider appreciating music of this caliber something of a secret.

Half the pleasure of listening to this box set is (especially for the unitiated) listening to the material that garnered little or no media exposure. There's many a tune on here that I have found on an equal if not at times superior standing to some of the singles that cracked the charts. To elaborate on them would take up too much space here but that alone makes it worth the 'price of admission'.

To close, it baffles me at times of the seemingly commonly quoted statement of how Abba never made headway in North America. They may have not had the penetration of say, The Beatles or even The Bee Gees and Olivia Newton-John. But they DID get a foothold into American music. Chart statistics will show that they had 14 top 40 hits including 4 top 10s and a #1 (Dancing Queen) here in the US - none too shabby at all. When I started listening to their catalogue, what astonished me was the songs that I had heard from them before of which according to the charts, failed to make impact.

I would venture a guess and state that during their heyday Abba may have been overshadowed somewhat by other musical entities in North America but by no means were they compromised. This stuff is enduring the test of time and has put them in an echelon occupied by very few peers and contemporaries. Don't be surprised if Abba continues to be observed in a new light, perhaps kindling a reappreciation for their efforts as well as converting new legions of fans.

To close 2 words - Great Stuff.

It is very true that North Americans, especially those in the USA, do not appreciate Abba enough. In fact, many people I know here in the US have never heard of Abba... "oh, yeah, I think I've heard that Dancing Queen song before."

Abba was too often criticized as being a fabricated pop group, and dismissed for their 70's fashions and weak lyrics. But that "fabricated pop" was actually rock and roll's most complicated and professional music composing, something not even Elton John could achieve. And the neither the clothes they wore nor the lyrics they sang matters; for their music was the important part, not the words. And as far as the clothes... well, if you judge music by a musician's clothes you are REALLY stupid.

Here you get all of Abba's classic hits in one outstanding package, together with a selection of album tracks, B-sides and rarities. Famous songs dominate the first three CD's including Waterloo, SOS, Mamma Mia, Fernando, Dancing queen, Money money money, Knowing me knowing you, Name of the game, Take a chance on me, Summer night city, Chiquitita, Does your mother know, Voulez-vous, Angel eyes, Gimmie gimmie gimmie, I have a dream. Winner takes it all, Super trouper, Lay all your love on me and One of us. Of course, these songs are generally available on other compilations but the advantage of this set is that you get all the minor hits and other important recordings as well as all the big hits. Honey honey was a hit for Abba in some countries but not Britain, where Sweet Dreams (a duo featuring Polly Browne, former lead singer of Pickettywitch) had a top ten hit with it.

Within those first three CD's, all tracks are presented in chronological order and clearly illustrate the development of the group from its early folk-influenced pop music through the disco era and beyond. Much of the music on the first two CD's is happy, cheerful music, reflecting the joy and pleasure they had in being together. Sad songs were a rarity in those days, though there were some - like Knowing me knowing you. When the strains in their relationships surfaced, sadder songs became a more significant part of their repertoire and this shows on the third CD - there are plenty here.

Among the album tracks, everybody (except those who are only interested in the hits) has their personal favorites. Some of mine (The piper, Why did it have to be me, Move on, Nina pretty ballerina) are not here but others (Another town another train, When I kissed the teacher, Dance while the music still goes on, The way old friends do) are here. I see other reviews in which others name their favorite omissions. I love those tracks too, but even four CD's cannot include everything. All the original albums (often with extra tracks) are available at a reasonable price and that is the only way to get all the great album tracks.

The final CD is devoted to rarities but is clearly designed to appeal to a much larger audience than Abba's die-hard fans - it isn't filled with boring alternate takes that are only slightly different from the standard versions. Some of these tracks have since become less rare - Put on a white sombrero and the folk medley have since been added as bonus tracks to re-mastered original albums - but it's still great to see these tracks here.

A truly comprehensive boxed set has since been released containing nine CD's and two DVD's but its price will deter all but the most die-hard fans. This boxed set was designed for a mass market and succeeds brilliantly in that. Die-hard fans may decide to buy this box anyway, whatever reservations they may have. For everybody else, this is the ultimate Abba compilation.