Following the Eurovision success of "Waterloo", ABBA saw the band gaining worldwide recognition. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" topped the charts in Australia, as did "Mamma Mia" shortly after. "SOS" and "Mamma Mia" became hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom.[3] The album saw ABBA dabble with reggae on "Tropical Loveland" and includes a grand, pseudo-classical keyboard instrumental in the traditions of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman with "Intermezzo No. 1" (early working title: "Mama").[4]
ABBA was first released on CD in Japan in 1986 by Polydor Records.[5] This release contains a slightly different mix of "Man in the Middle" not found on any subsequent CD pressing and thus is highly sought after by collectors.[6]ABBA was released on CD throughout Europe in 1987 also by Polydor, with five songs added from the Waterloo and Ring Ring albums, which were not available on CD until 1990. ABBA was released on CD in Sweden by Polar Music in 1988,[7] featuring the original 11 tracks only. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form several times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series with two bonus tracks,[8] in 2001 with an updated cover artwork,[9] in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordingsbox set, and most recently in 2012 as a "Deluxe Edition".[10] On the original UK cassette release of the album, "Bang-A-Boomerang" was split in two parts, being faded during the second verse at the end of side one and continued at the beginning of side two.[11]
Recorded 18 October 1974 at Glen Studio. The lyrics for the song were later re-written and became "Rock Me". "Baby" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.
"Crazy World"
"Crazy World" was recorded on 16 October 1974 at Glen Studio during sessions for this album. The track was left unreleased until it surfaced again during the Arrival sessions, and was eventually released as the b-side to the "Money, Money, Money" single in November 1976. "Crazy World" was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music, and then appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA.[15]
"Here Comes Ruby Jamie"
"Here Comes Ruby Jamie" was recorded on 16 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and is one of the rare occasions where Benny Andersson sings the lead vocals. The song was first released on CD on the box set "Thank You for the Music" as part of the ABBA Undeleted section.
Recording began on 6 May 1975 at Glen Studio. It remains ABBA's only studio recorded release of material not written by themselves, and was originally released on the 1975 German charity album "Stars Im Zeichen Eines Guten Sterns". In 1978, it featured (with a slight audio tweak, for many years mistakenly referred to as a 'remix') as the B-side of the "Summer Night City" single. The song was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music, then the 1978 version appeared as a bonus track on the CD re-issue of the album ABBA.[15]
"Rikky Rock 'N' Roller"
"Rikky Rock 'N' Roller" was recorded on 15 September 1974 at Glen Studio, and was first released on CD on the box set Thank You for the Music as part of the ABBA Undeleted section. Later released by Jerry Williams on the album Kick Down in 1976.
Personneledit
ABBA
Agnetha Fältskog – Lead vocals (4, 10) Co Lead Vocals (1, 2, 6, 7, 11) Backing Vocals
Anni-Frid Lyngstad – Lead vocals (3) Co Lead Vocals (1, 2, 6, 7, 11) Backing Vocals
Björn Ulvaeus – guitars, Lead vocals (5, 8) Backing Vocals
^"Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – ABBA" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "ABBA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 8. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
^"Offiziellecharts.de – ABBA – Mamma Mia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
^Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN 978-1094705002.
^"ABBA Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
^"Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 12/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^"Музыкальный парад "Март-78"". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 89. 15 April 1978. p. 4.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 427. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^"Jaaroverzichten – Album 1975". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^"Top Selling Albums of 1975 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 428. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^"Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
^"Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
^"Звуковая дорожка – 78". Московский комсомолец (in Russian). No. 1. 1 January 1979. p. 4.
^"ABBA – Success Story – RCA Australia 1976". Billboard. 22 January 1977.
^Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 393. ISBN 0668064595. ABBA's album ws a colossal success throughout Europe in 1975, selling four million before release in Britain
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