I loved ABBA when i was a kid. Since then, my taste has evolved in different directions, but i still have a great admiration for what they did, they were brilliant, although i remember that at the time, some of my friends used to tell me "Oh, they are too commercial". And so what? Music can be commercial and good at the same time, and within the pop genre they were very good.
Here is MY ranking: 8. Waterloo 7. Super Trouper 6. Ring Ring 5. ABBA (1975) 4. ABBA-THE ALBUM (1977) 3. Voulez-Vous 2. Arrival 1. The Visitors (I like the visitors about 0.03% more than Arrival 😉😆)
Great stuff, mate. You will never reach an agreement with ABBA fans over this but it's fun to discuss. The albums are weaved into each individual's history and often their childhood. Arrival does it for me. One look at the cover and I'm back in mum and dad's front room, trying to blast the speakers off the big wooden unit they were stood on top of!
Great video, and an interesting perspective from someone that was there when all these great albums were released... I was born in 1981, when their last album came out, but shortly after high school I picked up Gold on the recommendation of a friend, and got hooked immediately. I actually had a lull in enjoyment when the Mamma Mia movies came out, almost the exact opposite reaction from most people my age... LOL. I was mostly happy with just having Gold, but when I saw the news of the Colored Vinyl Studio album box set, I pulled the trigger to go all in... the box features the original Scandinavian covers and tracklists. I just finished listening to all 8 albums, amd I personally rank them as follows: 1. The Visitors 2. Voulez-Vous 3. ABBA: The Album 4. Ring Ring 5. Arrival 6. Super Trouper 7. Waterloo 8. ABBA All of the albums are keepers for sure, though.
I agreed with your list order and your track commentaries EXCEPT for The Visitors. I think the engineering and programming were amazing on that album, second only to Super Trouper. It is also my #1 fave. The standouts for me were I Let The Music Speak and The Visitors. ILTMS lyrics are amazing... “I’m hearing images, I’m seeing songs, no poet has ever painted” is beautiful. And Frida’s vocal was stunning.
The Visitors last? What? That’s close to their best! That and Voulez Vous are my two favourites. Good job ranking them though, as you said, nobody else seems to have.
As a jazz and art music oriented person, I like the last few Abba records best too. However, the taste is like the but, as we swedes say (it's split, divided).
Kind regards I was very interested in your ranking of all the ABBA albums ABBA is, along with The Beatles, my favorite and at the same time most influential group in rock and pop music BEATLES were the leaders of the 60s and ABBA of the 70s We all have different tastes, for albums and songs My order for ABBA albums is (without recopilations): #8 Waterloo the Masterpiece that won Eurovision stands out clearly from the rest I like them too Honey honey, Hasta mañana & Dance (while the music still goes on) #7 Ring Ring when they were not yet ABBA it's a very even album My favorites are: Ring Ring, He is your brother, People need love, Disilussion, Love isn't easy, Nina pretty ballerina & Another town Another train #6 The Visitors an album in difficult context due to the separation of Benny and Frida with no biggest hits, my favorite is the most emotional Slipping through my fingers followed by Head over heels, One of us & When all is said and done #5 Voulez Vous ABBA's difficult to record mad album due to the separation of Agnetha and Björn dominacla disco music with As good as new & If it wasn't for the nights as the best exponents But the best song is the masterpiece Chiquitita (ABBA's greatest success in Latin America) #4 Super Trouper two singles stand out the masterpiece heartbroken The winner takes it all and the musical beauty Super Trouper other wonders Happy new year & The way all friends do and the surprise The Piper #3 ABBA perhaps the most underrated album has the best and most important song, the masterpiece: S.O.S. the dynamite single: Mamma Mia the best sweet ballad of love : I've been waiting for you and other brilliant ones: Bang a boomerang, I do I do I do I do I do & So long #2 Arrival ABBA's Pop Music Masterpiece has the biggest hits Dancing queen (the ABBA insignia) My Love my life & Knowing me knowing You (the heartbreaker ballads) Tiger and That's me (two powerful numbers) When I kissed the teacher & Money money money (two great starts aside) #1 The Album the Masterpiece of ABBA versatility impossible to choose only one, each song is different and brilliant, it is even at the highest level The name of the game : is the boldest single Eagle & Move on : the most exotic and complex Hole in your soul : it's bizarre and powerful Take a chance on me : the most happiest Thank you for the music : is the hymn
That’s true, but my list was based on ABBA’s output during their time together as a band. ABBA as a group ceased working together at the end of 1982. Their performance on Noel Edmonds’ Late Late Breakfast Show was their last together. The only reason I included the Singles compilation is because there were 2 then current singles included, The Day Before You Came & Under Attack, and we all lived in hope of a new album for 1983 which didn’t come. From then on, it was compilation albums and reissues until Voyage, sadly. That’s why I didn’t mention the TYFTM 1983 single.
Crazy World and Two for the Price of One are two dreadful tracks. Medley is really ghastly. I love I Wonder (Departure). I'm ambivalent about Waterloo (single). I like Sitting in the Palmtree, it's funny and musically strong. Greatest Hits was my first Abba Album and I loved it, only I couldn't work out why it was called Greatest Hits and they hadn't had any songs before. The Visitors is my favourite album, and perhaps because it is miserable! Really interesting video. Now where would you put Voyage on your list?
Fun video, thanks for sharing - although I quite strongly disagree with some of your rankings but hey, it's fun :) Regarding "Dancing Queen", the 1992 Gold is remastered - the original version, as on the vinyl, appears on the original 80's Polydor CD pressing and Polydor CD's of "Greatest Hits Vol 2" and "The Singles: The First 10 Years". There's good versions on "ABBA International" and the Pickwick UK complilation, "The Hits", taken from the CBS single master. The other track that's problematic is "The Name of The Game", which almost always appears either as the US radio edit or quite badly distorted on the second verse - the exception being the 1997 and 2001 remasters, which present their own set of problems. Pick your poison with that one! Even the original LP pressing contains the distortion.
Because it wasn't a UK general release and that was one of the parameters I set for this video. I've made videos bout the Spanish versions before. Look at my earlier Abba Videos, especially the Thank You For The Music anomalies.
You should have included what should have been opus 10 album ( should I laugh or cry, The day before you came, you owe me one, cassandra and under attack
The live version of 'I Wonder (Departure)' is only on the Deluxe Edition of ABBA The Album and there is an Alternate Mix of 'Lovelight' on More ABBA Gold the full version is on the Voulez Vous CD re-issues.
The live version if "I Wonder" is also on the Thank You For The Music boxset and on Polydor's "ABBA International" compilation. "Lovelight" was corrected on the 1999 re-issue of "More Gold".
Drasut I could have just read out the track listings for all the albums, the songs are that good. But The Visitors is my least favourite because I was sad about them all splitting up, and the songs by and large are so sad on this album. STMF basically reminds us of life slipping away! Yes, it’s about Björn and Agnetha’s little girl starting school, but the subtext is, “Listen folks, we’re dying!!” 😂😂
its a generation thingy -visitoros are my least listened abba album sicneits when they sing and act like the almost 40 year olds they are - like we are tired and no fun here anymore or other late adult things , to a 21 year old as i was then.. i would have said i dont liten to my parents music and even if it brilliant it stuck
I loved ABBA when i was a kid. Since then, my taste has evolved in different directions, but i still have a great admiration for what they did, they were brilliant, although i remember that at the time, some of my friends used to tell me "Oh, they are too commercial". And so what? Music can be commercial and good at the same time, and within the pop genre they were very good.
Ooh brill, thanks, Mark! Never noticed there were no videos ranking the albums until you mentioned it! Some interesting placements, too!
Here is MY ranking:
8. Waterloo
7. Super Trouper
6. Ring Ring
5. ABBA (1975)
4. ABBA-THE ALBUM (1977)
3. Voulez-Vous
2. Arrival
1. The Visitors
(I like the visitors about 0.03% more than Arrival 😉😆)
Great stuff, mate.
You will never reach an agreement with ABBA fans over this but it's fun to discuss.
The albums are weaved into each individual's history and often their childhood.
Arrival does it for me. One look at the cover and I'm back in mum and dad's front room, trying to blast the speakers off the big wooden unit they were stood on top of!
Great video, and an interesting perspective from someone that was there when all these great albums were released... I was born in 1981, when their last album came out, but shortly after high school I picked up Gold on the recommendation of a friend, and got hooked immediately. I actually had a lull in enjoyment when the Mamma Mia movies came out, almost the exact opposite reaction from most people my age... LOL.
I was mostly happy with just having Gold, but when I saw the news of the Colored Vinyl Studio album box set, I pulled the trigger to go all in... the box features the original Scandinavian covers and tracklists.
I just finished listening to all 8 albums, amd I personally rank them as follows:
1. The Visitors
2. Voulez-Vous
3. ABBA: The Album
4. Ring Ring
5. Arrival
6. Super Trouper
7. Waterloo
8. ABBA
All of the albums are keepers for sure, though.
I agreed with your list order and your track commentaries EXCEPT for The Visitors. I think the engineering and programming were amazing on that album, second only to Super Trouper. It is also my #1 fave. The standouts for me were I Let The Music Speak and The Visitors. ILTMS lyrics are amazing... “I’m hearing images, I’m seeing songs, no poet has ever painted” is beautiful. And Frida’s vocal was stunning.
Agree with your first choice but I'd put The Visitors at number 2 :)
My ranking
1. The Visitors
2. Waterloo
3 Voulez-vous
4. Voyage
5. Super Trouper
6. ABBA
7. Arrival
8. The Album
9. Ring Ring
The Visitors last? What?
That’s close to their best! That and Voulez Vous are my two favourites.
Good job ranking them though, as you said, nobody else seems to have.
As a jazz and art music oriented person, I like the last few Abba records best too.
However, the taste is like the but, as we swedes say (it's split, divided).
@@richhopkins6968 Just ridiculous that he put it last.
Kind regards
I was very interested in your ranking of all the ABBA albums
ABBA is, along with The Beatles, my favorite and at the same time most influential group in rock and pop music
BEATLES were the leaders of the 60s and ABBA of the 70s
We all have different tastes, for albums and songs
My order for ABBA albums is
(without recopilations):
#8 Waterloo
the Masterpiece that won Eurovision stands out clearly from the rest
I like them too
Honey honey, Hasta mañana & Dance (while the music still goes on)
#7 Ring Ring
when they were not yet ABBA
it's a very even album My favorites are:
Ring Ring, He is your brother, People need love, Disilussion, Love isn't easy, Nina pretty ballerina & Another town Another train
#6 The Visitors
an album in difficult context due to the separation of Benny and Frida
with no biggest hits, my favorite is the most emotional
Slipping through my fingers
followed by
Head over heels, One of us & When all is said and done
#5 Voulez Vous
ABBA's difficult to record mad album due to the separation of Agnetha and Björn
dominacla disco music with
As good as new & If it wasn't for the nights
as the best exponents
But the best song is the masterpiece
Chiquitita (ABBA's greatest success in Latin America)
#4 Super Trouper
two singles stand out
the masterpiece heartbroken
The winner takes it all
and the musical beauty
Super Trouper
other wonders
Happy new year & The way all friends do
and the surprise
The Piper
#3 ABBA
perhaps the most underrated album
has the best and most important song,
the masterpiece: S.O.S.
the dynamite single: Mamma Mia
the best sweet ballad of love : I've been waiting for you
and other brilliant ones:
Bang a boomerang, I do I do I do I do I do & So long
#2 Arrival
ABBA's Pop Music Masterpiece
has the biggest hits
Dancing queen (the ABBA insignia)
My Love my life & Knowing me knowing You (the heartbreaker ballads)
Tiger and That's me (two powerful numbers)
When I kissed the teacher & Money money money (two great starts aside)
#1 The Album
the Masterpiece of ABBA versatility
impossible to choose only one, each song is different and brilliant, it is even at the highest level
The name of the game : is the boldest single
Eagle & Move on : the most exotic and complex
Hole in your soul : it's bizarre and powerful
Take a chance on me : the most happiest
Thank you for the music : is the hymn
1 super trouper,
2 the album
3 arrival
4 abba
5 waterloo
6 vistors
7 voulez vous
8 ring ring
Nice job, Mark. Keep up the good work. :)
Thanks Mark...just done mine....i respect your choices though we differ of course as is only natural!
Thank you for the music was actually released as a single in 1983 in the UK. It's available as a picture disc.
That’s true, but my list was based on ABBA’s output during their time together as a band. ABBA as a group ceased working together at the end of 1982. Their performance on Noel Edmonds’ Late Late Breakfast Show was their last together. The only reason I included the Singles compilation is because there were 2 then current singles included, The Day Before You Came & Under Attack, and we all lived in hope of a new album for 1983 which didn’t come. From then on, it was compilation albums and reissues until Voyage, sadly. That’s why I didn’t mention the TYFTM 1983 single.
The Visitors is a masterpiece
No doubt, just not my favourite ABBA LP. :-)
I liked the singles compilation.have had it since new.
Hi Mark. Lay all you love on me -biggest selling 12 till blue Monday. So it was a big hit.
1.Super Trouper: almost whole album 2.The Album: Eagle (1.side + Move on) 3. Arrival
Crazy World and Two for the Price of One are two dreadful tracks. Medley is really ghastly. I love I Wonder (Departure). I'm ambivalent about Waterloo (single). I like Sitting in the Palmtree, it's funny and musically strong. Greatest Hits was my first Abba Album and I loved it, only I couldn't work out why it was called Greatest Hits and they hadn't had any songs before. The Visitors is my favourite album, and perhaps because it is miserable! Really interesting video. Now where would you put Voyage on your list?
Fun video, thanks for sharing - although I quite strongly disagree with some of your rankings but hey, it's fun :)
Regarding "Dancing Queen", the 1992 Gold is remastered - the original version, as on the vinyl, appears on the original 80's Polydor CD pressing and Polydor CD's of "Greatest Hits Vol 2" and "The Singles: The First 10 Years". There's good versions on "ABBA International" and the Pickwick UK complilation, "The Hits", taken from the CBS single master.
The other track that's problematic is "The Name of The Game", which almost always appears either as the US radio edit or quite badly distorted on the second verse - the exception being the 1997 and 2001 remasters, which present their own set of problems. Pick your poison with that one! Even the original LP pressing contains the distortion.
Ring Ring is my favourite ABBA album how come you didn't include their 1980 Spanish album 'Gracias Por La Musica' in your video.
Because it wasn't a UK general release and that was one of the parameters I set for this video. I've made videos bout the Spanish versions before. Look at my earlier Abba Videos, especially the Thank You For The Music anomalies.
@@MarkPMus Ok thank you for replying
Arrival and Voulez Vous I like best.
You should have included what should have been opus 10 album ( should I laugh or cry, The day before you came, you owe me one, cassandra and under attack
I did acknowledge those songs by including The Singles. I also have made a 2.0 ABBA ranking video that includes Voyage. 🙂🙂
The live version of 'I Wonder (Departure)' is only on the Deluxe Edition of ABBA The Album and there is an Alternate Mix of 'Lovelight' on More ABBA Gold the full version is on the Voulez Vous CD re-issues.
WHWERE IS THE S[RING ANG YHRD
SPRING Conner
The live version if "I Wonder" is also on the Thank You For The Music boxset and on Polydor's "ABBA International" compilation. "Lovelight" was corrected on the 1999 re-issue of "More Gold".
What about Slipping thru my fingers?
Drasut I could have just read out the track listings for all the albums, the songs are that good. But The Visitors is my least favourite because I was sad about them all splitting up, and the songs by and large are so sad on this album. STMF basically reminds us of life slipping away! Yes, it’s about Björn and Agnetha’s little girl starting school, but the subtext is, “Listen folks, we’re dying!!” 😂😂
Arrival and Voulez Vous are their best. Followed by The Visitors
watching atm and am rather shocked the album is not in your top 3
its a generation thingy -visitoros are my least listened abba album sicneits when they sing and act like the almost 40 year olds they are - like we are tired and no fun here anymore or other late adult things , to a 21 year old as i was then.. i would have said i dont liten to my parents music and even if it brilliant it stuck
Abba is fine
On and On and On is a belter of a chorus. Dreadful lyrics of course.
The visitors is my fave lol