 "A Prospector's Cache" | 2008-09-28 |
| - Reviewed By jpski3332002 |
Across the fjords of Norway and the vast stretches of arctic splendor and wasteland, I came upon a pole resembling the archetypal North Pole, much like those found in scenes often seen in stories and pictures. Upon close inspection, I found a set of destination markers protruding from it on all sides done in red letters on white backgrounds.
In words written in (undoubtedly) Swedish, Spanish, Dutch (?), and English, one marker pointed to Helsinki, another to Reykjavik, Iceland, and yet another to Oslo. Walking around the pole, I found still other markers: one pointing (undoubtedly) southwest was written "Lake Woebegon, MN". One slightly askew to it, pointing slightly more west, was written: "Women's Norwegian Volleyball Team, California, U.S.A". I had to smile at that one. Memories of Louis Anderson and Garrison Keillor came flooding into my memory as I mused upon the markers.
Adjusting my eyes to the glory of the green flashes of Northern lights in the sky, I realized that the tears rolling down my frozen face had to do more with sentiment than the piercing cold. (Feeling perhaps like Alex Hailey (in miniature) during his discovery of his ancestor Kunta Kinte, I felt mystically connected to my ancestry.) As is often fashionable today (and should be standard), I also like to be proudly connected to a distinctive ethnicity, which creates variety and should be celebrated by everyone. Through my bleary-eyed vision, one final marker pointed to the short kilometer distance--a number which escapes my memory--to Stockholm.
Which brings us to the flood of musical memories that come from the pop group wunderkinds, ABBA, an acronym for the group members' names.
In their day they gave us gloriously produced syntho-techno pop before Gary Newman or Flock of Seagulls were conceived during the eighties. From the troubadour nature of their first single "Waterloo," a Euro song contest first place winner, to the remarkably slick and engaging "One of Us" from their swan song album `The Visitors,' ABBA ruled the English speaking world like few bands or artists since The Beatles. Nay during the seventies, ABBA's presence was like Queen Victoria: The sun never set on a part of the world that wasn't dominated by their pop reign.
Just a cursory look at their hits should entice the most basic pop hooky appetite: "S.O.S," "So Long," "Dancing Queen," and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" to name only a few. For a more meditative mood, "Fernando," "Chiquitita," and "I Have a Dream" are pleasant and essential. Without dating themselves, disco songs like "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie," "Does Your Mother Know?" and "Take a Chance on Me" still have the power to get 'em out on the dance floor.
While I love their albums, I must concede that the critics are right: Singles were and are ABBA's best suit. I love their best albums, including `Arrival,' and `Super Trouper,' and recommend these and others for their obscure songs ("Why Did It Have to Be Me," "That's Me," "Hole in Your Soul," and "I've Been Waiting for You" are about as essential as anything else.) Still, 'ABBA Gold' is uncluttered and magnificent for its slick resonance. Between their studio pop machine, the songwriting skills of Benny and Bjorn, and the siren voices of former loves Ana-Frid and Agnetha, ABBA made an unmatched collection whose lingering presence has spilled onto Broadway and Hollywood for no small reason. (And, I must note, paraphrasing music critic Dave Marsh's take distinguishing The Rolling Stones' 'Hot Rocks' and 'More Hot Rocks,' `More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits,' if anything, is even more of a prospector's cache.
In the end, ABBA has elicited memories that have little to do with ethnicity. For me it is about driving on scenic roads in a Volvo (Okay, let's not be pretentious; it was a Ford!) listening to ABBA cassettes. For most people, ABBA has little to do with bumper stickers with sayings like "Legalize Lutafisk!" on them. More often than not, ABBA was an influence on the dance floor, in the aerobic studio, and on the turntables of yesteryear. However you remember ABBA, they managed to be a musical phenomenon; one that hasn't been imitated as well and whose timeless appeal can only futilely be argued. |
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| "Fabulous CD!" | 2008-09-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3561L7VOQCQ8X |
| This is a great CD to work out with. It takes me back to my childhood. |
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| "ABBA Gold - really great!" | 2008-09-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2M8G8ZMXVTOJK |
| After I saw "Mamma Mia" in the theater, I remembered how much I liked ABBA songs, so I immediately ordered ABBA Gold. The CD came within a few days, and I have been playing it ever since. It has all the songs I love, and the quality is outstanding. I was also very pleased with the prompt delivery. |
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| "Bobby" | 2008-09-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3UYD87R8M3M28 |
| This is another digitally re-mastered ABBA CD and it sounds great. It brings back a lot of good memories too. I am glad I bought it. Five stars. |
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| "The Original ABBA" | 2008-09-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3JXTP9A1O9EAT |
Ordered product after seeing movie "Mamma Mia"...wanted to listen original music. Great music for all age groups...from my mom of 72 to my youngest of 11.
Received package in a timely fashion & undamaged. Very reasonable price too. Thanks. |
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| "ABBA and Momma Mia" | 2008-09-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWOJA4M5ZUQZO |
| Recently viewed the movie Momma Mia which featured many ABBA songs. Loved the move and loved the ABBA CD. Waiting for the release of the recording from the movie |
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| "Who doesn't love ABBA?" | 2008-09-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2W4Y7TO0KTXWV |
| After seeing "Mamma Mia" this summer, I was craving more ABBA in my life. I think you forget how many great songs in our pop culture vernacular come from this group. This is a great collection of all the well known and best-loved tunes. If ABBA's sweet harmonies and earnest lyrics don't make you want to get up and dance and sing along - something must be wrong with you! :) |
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| "wyfan" | 2008-09-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2QB643TECMNR |
| This is a great album..if you like ABBA then this is for you! It has all their hits!!! I especially got into it more since Mamma Mia, the movie, came out. I could listen to the great harmony of ABBA all day! I never grow tired of them. |
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| "Abba and "Mamma Mia"" | 2008-09-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1OXWC1XY9OV77 |
| I bought this album after watching Mamma Mia. The most of the song of the movie are in this album. Very glad to have it. Received on time! |
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 "Quality of sound" | 2008-09-01 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1BE34F03QPNBV |
| The song selections on this CD are great. HOWEVER, the quality of the sound is poor. |
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