Top 5 ABBA Albums

[@erikskifte8862]

ABBA THE VISITORS ALBUM, THE MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM OF ALL TIME🤔

[@Vates104]

Absolutely! I like the Deluxe Edition with the added tracks. They make a great album even greater.

[@helenstephens1246]

My favourite ABBA album is super trouper I just love the melodies. Next Is arrival as it is a masterpiece from beginning to the end. Next is abba the album brings back so many memories of watching abba the movie. Then I love voulez vous . And the abba album 1975 and I love voyage

[@tuijakarttunen9164]

I love all their albums. Voulez-Vous is fantastic. So are all the rest of them. I have never understood how insecure people must be not to be able to say which band they like. I` ve been an Abba- fan since the 70`s and always told everybody about it. I`m proud of my idols. They make the best pop music there is. Or ever was.

[@bope1617]

Robert Plant used to hang out with them. Abba is great.

[@paulecrosby2006]

Their music is far superior nd as stood the test of time while the green eye others have been forgotten. The Day before you came nd Ode to freedom are heart wrenchingly beautiful Masterpieces ♥ The Gods Of Pop.

[@alexioverdo5225]

OTF!A heartbreaking farewell finale.The very final album track of their very last album ever.Get's me on ma knees after its ending.

[@helenstephens1246]

I love all their albums

[@top5records796]

Really all?

[@helenrstephens]

Yes really.

[@petraalink3204]

Very Nice Dennis!

[@alexioverdo5225]

I don't find the "ST" cover photo kitsch at all.It's a "circus atmosphere" they originally tried to create publicly in London's Picadily.But autrorities denied permission due to possible hysteria and fuss that might be caused by fans and animals existing.It's a beautiful cover and an iconic A class album.

[@mikediiorio3737]

Great job!! Love your insights and passion.

[@top5records796]

Thank you!

[@bailklausbiehler6379]

The best ABBA album to me is THE ALBUM! It is like Pink Floyd making an ABBA-album.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Actually It was influenced from American music scene.Prog-pop/rock scented the Abba way, totally different to the previous Europop earcandy excellence of ARRIVAL.A fascinating transition.Abba"s body of work was a "multicolorful" music garden.Each flower a seductive new scent.For me its possibly their best album lyricwise.

[@Karamazov12]

Grew up with ABBA, because my sister played it all the time. And I am grateful for that. Not just being able to sing along their many hits, but also their lesser known compositions. And that’s ABBA for me…compositions, lyrics and two beautiful voices. I have no favorite album to be honest, but The winner takes it all and Happy new year move me. It hits home. Beatles, Queen and ABBA. My top 3 ever.

[@mariotato8345]

The visitors have One of us which was number one all over Europe . True this álbum wasnt so succesfull as the rest but still number one too. And forgot to tell about their real more accomplished Abba the album

[@piramis7615]

...so cool! i don´t know in witch area of the world do you stay ;-) but from "the visitor" album was "one of us" a big hit!

[@popcult]

John Lord was not only an ABBA fan but also worked with Frida....The Sex Pistols, The Who Elvis Costello were always fans....anyone who understands music will appreciate ABBA

[@top5records796]

I can imagine loads of other artists also being fans. They were even covered by Yngwie Malmsteen and U2!

[@Funkywallot]

Even Pete Townshend (The Who) . He met Björn at a VIP-mingle in London and congratulated him for the most perfect Pop song ( S.O.S)

[@Funkywallot]

@@top5records796 I´ve seen Bono sing Dancing Queen on stage with Björn and Benny. I was one of the most ...........cringe moment in my life as a Abba fan. I would pay a lot to erase the memory out of my head. The man cant sing a clean note without grunting and swallowing words . It was a nightmare Judge yourself kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYWViKOBj6iGo6c

[@lukashahn6883]

@@Funkywallot If you pay attention to the things that Pete Townshend has said then that was likely not meant as a compliment.

[@MidosujiSen]

Slipping Through My Fingers is the only song that can make me cry, genuine masterpiece.

[@top5records796]

It makes me cry.

[@neonlight294]

ALWAYS NR 1 THE VISITORS....

[@russellrenneberg6578]

I was surprised abba the album was not on the list I know it was top 5 but that one was truly a good album with the hits take a chance on me and the name of the game plus a true gem one man one woman and eagle

[@top5records796]

I gave The Album another listen some days ago because of all the comments I got here… to be honest it just doesn’t really work for me…

[@top5records796]

Correction (or not really); the pressing of ABBA (or also called ‘Mamma Mia’) says the albums is called ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’. That is because it is the South African pressing which was named differently.

[@Bandido894]

Missing The Album. And the cover of Super Trouper is NOT horrible, it's one of their best album covers(after the Album) representing the spotlight of title track! :/

[@Funkywallot]

I like Voulez Vous a lot ... because it contains my nr. 1 with Abba : Lovers (live a little longer) smoking hot smash hit. Also the intro for the album "As good as new" . Kisses of fire , Chiquitita , king has lost his crown ... Summernight city (CD bonus track) Im surprised Voulez vous was not on your list

[@davidandtom8238]

The title of the first album you held up is ABBA.

[@invisiblesun6595]

My favorite two albums remain Waterloo and Arrival. Mum had Arrival, got used to her playing it as a wee tike coming back home from pre-school. Oddly enough I liked Waterloo due to the fact they were still discovering their sound as this point, yet those early experiments took them in directions they never did again as their "sound" crystallized.

[@eduardooscar309]

Kind regards Congratulations for your great review and history of ABBA I was interested in the ranking of the 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: #9 Waterloo (6pts) the Masterpiece that won Eurovision stands out clearly from the rest I like them too Honey honey & Dance (while the music still goes on) follow by Hasta mañana & Gonna sing you my love song #8 Ring Ring (6,5 pts) when they were not yet ABBA it's a very even album My favorites are: Ring Ring, He is your brother, follow by People need love, Disilussion, Love isn't easy, Nina pretty ballerina & Another town Another train #7 Voulez Vous (7pts) ABBA's difficult to record mad album due to separation of Agnetha & 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) #6 The Visitors (7 pts) 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 ABBA (7,5pts) 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 #4 Super Trouper (7,5pts) 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 "Voyage" (7,5pts) It's new to put in the right order, I"m still listening and discover new things until now I put "Voyage" in the middle better than The Visitors or Voulez Vous almost so good as Super Trouper or ABBA favourite song: "Don't shut me down" only a level bellow: I still have faith in you Just a Notion Ode to Freedom When you danced with me #2 Arrival (8pts) 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 (8,5pts) 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 Special comment of " In facts, until now: #1 The Album #2 Arrival #3 Voyage #4 Super Trouper #5 ABBA #6 The Visitors #7 Voulez Vous #8 Ring Ring #9 Waterloo Thanks a lot for your video and review My best regards from Buenos Aires, Argentins

[@top5records796]

Thank you for your comment and interesting list! Somehow I never really got into The Album, but I love your list!

[@eduardooscar309]

@@top5records796 Thank you for your nice words Just a clarification I included only the 9 studio albums in English, but they also have one in Spanish "Gracias por la Música" (1980) which is very good (I say it as a Spanish speaker) and the live album is fantastic, one of the best in history (I agree with you) even more so with the doubts and prejudices that there were about ABBA, which was considered a study group that could not live repeat the meticulousness of its recordings, but here it demonstrated its absolute quality

[@top5records796]

@@eduardooscar309 I did not know about the Spanish one! I will try to find it and give it a listen!

[@eduardooscar309]

@@top5records796 the history of ABBA singing in Spanish is like this for the great success of "Chiquitita" in Latin America, executives from the RCA recording company in Argentina traveled to Sweden with an adaptation of the lyrics into Spanish ABBA accepted and recorded it in Spanish, it was an even greater colossal success, so ABBA recorded a second song "Estoy soñando" ("I have a dream") with official video the album "Voulez Vous" is released in Latin America with "Chiquitita" in Spanish and finally in January 1980 Agnetha & Frida recorded their voices in Spanish for the album "Gracias por la Música" ("Thank you for the music") with the help of a Spanish journalist for phonetics the next album "Super Trouper" has two more songs in Spanish "Felicidad" (Happy new year) with official video, and "Andante andante" and the latest album "The Visitors" adds two more songs in Spanish: "Cuando todo está dicho y hecho" (When all is said and done) with official video, and "Se me esta escapando" (Slipping through my fingers) Finally in 1992 the album Oro (Gold) is released, which includes the unreleased "Ring Ring"

[@yussepig6629]

You seem to think everything’s ‘kitsch’ 🙄 Also The Visitors did have hits. One of Us in particular was a huge hit.

[@top5records796]

I don’t think everything is kitsch. For example I love the records on this list (and the ones in my other videos). I just do think that sometimes, within the work of ABBA, an element of kitsch comes around the corner.

[@garethhusband1372]

The big question is: Where does Voyage now fit in your list????.....based on the fact it is produced 40 years on by 70 year olds who can still deliver brilliance in melody, lyrics and harmonies

[@top5records796]

A very good question. Though I do not think it is a bad record it ranks amongst their weakest records. There is still a beautiful melody to be found in the song 'I Still have Faith in Me' which proves (as the entire album does) that their voices have aged beautifully (like wine). They have grown more characteristic without losing the gentleness. Most of the melodies are just rather boring or even kitch. And the sound of the band has not developed enough to stay away from the association of simple synthesizer popsongs. This does not sound unique in it's time (while the old ABBA most definitely did). Still, it's not terrible. It contains one good song but overall I though it was quite boring really.

[@frankly-he1kf]

@@top5records796 you need to listen again and open your 👂 ears....

[@trevorbrown2813]

Arrival is my fave album.

[@segunsaba7646]

Voulez-Vous is my best ABBA album

[@adriankeppel3698]

It's surprisingly hard to come up with a top 5. My two favourites are The Visitors and The Album. So that's relatively easy. I think I will put The Album on No. 1, because of Eagle, One man one woman, Move on, I wonder and above all The name of the game. Pure magic! So that's spot 1 and 2. Arrival should be in the top 5, it's the album I grew up with. But I've already grown to like Voyage as well (didn't like it much the first couple of listens but the melodies really grow on you). Thinking it over I will also put Super Trouper in my top 5, because it is better, I think, than their older work and also better than Voulez-Vous, which does have some beautiful music on but also stuff I don't care for that much (like the title track and Does your mother know). So here goes: 5 Super trouper 4 Voyage 3 Arrival 2 The Visitors 1 The Album I like it how you're so enthusiastic about the live album. As a rule I don't like live albums and I've never heard this particular one, but I take your word for it that it will be good.

[@top5records796]

You know what? I’ll give The Album another spin if you give Live at Wembley another try! Sounds like ABBA has more up their sleeve than one top 5 list can contain.

[@adriankeppel3698]

@@top5records796 Ha, I was so intrigued after your comments on the live album that I listened to it on youtube straight after watching your video. I do like it, even more than I thought I would! It has a got a lot of energy, much more than the DVD of the tour. But it won't make my top 5 though, sorry! :-)

[@Vates104]

My favorite is The Visitors (Deluxe).

[@Wojact_Taki]

In my opinion Super Trouper is their best album. Their best single is The day befor you came. I agree that Voyage is not a bad record and it is interesting to hear them again but it is not the same this time around :-).

[@MarcByrne]

Thanks for Your interesting views, but ..... I don't understand your repeated selection of the word KITSCH when referring to their music. What exactly do you mean? Is that really the word to use?

[@top5records796]

Hello Marc, that’s a good question! First of all; I wouldn’t call their music kitsch as a hole but sometimes it leans towards that or a single song or specific sound/production might come across as it (a lot on the new record I’m afraid). Google gave me this definition of ‘kitsch’; “art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality” In my personal experience I would like to add to that; something meant as art but with no other goal than to create senseless or meaningless beauty. Because for me art is an alternative form of communication, if someone has no other purpose than to create ‘beauty’ I’m reluctant to call it art (although art can be beautiful ofcourse and it often is). When I look at the videoclips and albumcovers of ABBA I often get the impression they try to communicate nothing but to look nice and beautiful. And on some songs, also the way some songs are being sung, there is no other goal than to find shallow, polished beauty. I think they are on their best when their songs, instruments and the way they are sung contains storyline and struggle. A song like ‘The Day Before You Came’ reflects this perfectly. The approach of that song was also different; I believe Bennie said in an interview that the vocal-take that was used was the one that was being sung with the approach of singing from the perspective of a normal girl who is stuck in her life. Not the most ‘technically’ perfect or ‘beautiful’ one. To me it has to do with storytelling. Is ABBA telling a story or are they posing? They do both within their body of work but they are incredibly strong, challenging and on top of the world when they tell a story like in The Winner Takes It All, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Dancing Queen (and loads of others).

[@MarcByrne]

@@top5records796 Interesting comments. If you say kitsch is meaningless beauty, beauty for the sake of beauty only, then it's because that music may mean nothing to you, it communicates nothing to you, but surely the composers' intention is to communicate something, not just produce something. And it will to another person surely. I think the embarrassment of someone admitting they like ABBA is not an ABBA problem, it's a social problem, it's a personality problem, it's a stereotype problem. I get what you mean about some of their covers being kitschy, because they're posing, but in those days they very much became famous also for showing their faces the way they did, from all sides (as in their videos, hahaha). By the way, regarding Eurovision, take into account that in the past there was less taboo attached to it than nowadays or in the 90s. It was much more respected. One last little thought: is it completely fair to include a LIVE album (almost a Greatest Hits) as an album in a band's top 5?🤔😉 It's a collection of all the best of the rest, don't you think? Thanks again for the great video!

[@top5records796]

@@MarcByrne offcourse my use of the word kitch is subjective, just as me praising of their music is subjective. Also; a song might mean a lot to the artist themselves. It does remind me of a quote by Orson Welles who said the press referred to his acting performance in ‘Othello, The Moor of Venice’ as not being actually an acting-performance but as being photographed (posing). And later on, looking at his motivation as an actor and the way he approached it, he said; ‘that might be true’. The same can be the case with songs and music; does a song mean a lot to an artist because it actually tells an intimate story? Or just because they worked hard on it (or even struggle for existence through that song). Your comment about their fame and the kitschy covers is for me not an odd one; Kitsch can become famous. Not every audience is looking for art, people can also seek amusement. Take Liberace for example; he might be the definition of kitsch but had a wildly successful career. Regarding the live-album. I really take a live-album seriously and I think it is something completely different than a greatest hits compilation. I see recording live music as an alternative way to get a certain sound and feeling across on a record. I know live albums have, in pop-music, sometimes been used as a cashcow but if you take a look at the world of jazz and classical it have always been regarded as unique recordings that can stand out in their own regard. There are also a lot of ‘studio’ albums that include live recordings like The Beatles’ ‘Let it Be’, Neil Youngs ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ or the entire body of work of Frank Zappa. To me an album also doesn’t only have to include ‘new’ material (for example what Taylor Swift is doing, David Bowie re-used and re-invented songs from time to time). When I take a look at an artist and wonder about a top 5 I try to think of what record consistently has something special to offer. Greatest Hits or compilations rarely have that but a live record can give you something completely fresh and impressive. If anyone would like to start listening to a band like Deep Purple, The Who or Slade for example, the first records I would advise are ‘Made in Japan’, ‘Live at Leeds’ and ‘Alive’. Although all three of them have great studio albums, these live records capture something that is impossible to capture otherwise and go to the core of what their music is about. ABBA at Wembley is that kind of record. And not because of a greatest hits element.

[@top5records796]

@@MarcByrne also; very good point regarding the social problem and stereotype problem. It beats me why anyone would like to frame music to a stereotypical personality.

[@MarcByrne]

@@top5records796 Thanks !!👏👏 I get it!

[@Angel-bn2xn]

Interesting, but I can't imagine any list of the best Abba records without Abba-The Album

[@top5records796]

Thanks for your comment! I have heard a lot of people mention that so I gave the album a second shot and even a third shot. It just doesn’t seem to do it for me I’m afraid.

[@helenrstephens]

My favorite ABBA album is super trouper and voyage

[@Vates104]

The Visitors is their best album.

[@Kevin-1969]

So what is masculine music, please clarify. I have always liked ABBA.

[@top5records796]

Good question, first of all I hope that it’s obvious I am not a big believer in categorisering music in terms of feminine and masculine (as I think it’s useless with most things). But; there are bands which are more popular among certain genders than others. Not only because of the lyrics (like Deep Purple or Frank Zappa) but also because of a certain vibe. Or lack of emotional debt.

[@Kevin-1969]

@@top5records796 Thanks for that reply, that clarity’s it

[@hibernius]

Bizarre choice of favourite album. Never saw that chosen before. Usually rankings are done on the studio albums.

[@citeriorcf]

ABBA has some great songs, some ok songs and some awful songs. But the great song songs and freaking great, some of the best pop songs ever.

[@top5records796]

I agree!

[@graphiquejack]

Your number five choice is usually just referred to as 'ABBA'... it's a self titled album but I guess in other markets it had different names? Interesting... and your number one choice is a bit of a cheat... the Live at Wembley album is not considered a studio album, and of course a recording of a live show is going to focus on all their hits, primarily.

[@top5records796]

Indeed! It’s mostly referred to as just ABBA! But it goes by many name, I coincidentally got hold of the South African pressing. I think live-albums can capture a unique element of a band, and some bands have their best moments on live records, why exclude them?

[@graphiquejack]

@@top5records796well, I guess I wouldn’t include a greatest hits or live album in a ‘top five list’ because it’s comparing apples and oranges. Obviously an album with all hits collected from other albums is going to be more favorably compared to one studio album with deep cuts or maybe even some skip/throw-away songs on them. It’s just not a fair comparison. They are two very different types of albums.

[@graphiquejack]

@@top5records796well, I guess I wouldn’t include a greatest hits or live album in a ‘top five list’ because it’s comparing apples and oranges. Obviously an album with all hits collected from other albums is going to be more favorably compared to one studio album with deep cuts or maybe even some skip/throw-away songs on them. It’s just not a fair comparison. They are two very different types of albums.

[@top5records796]

@@graphiquejack I really think there is a difference between a greatest hits album and a live album. A live album can capture a complete different vibe and experience of a band. A greatest hits is just a compilation a live album is a moment in time.

[@BilKojak]

ABBA Arrival should be higher...

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

I love how these kids have opinions about the era, but were NOT THERE.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Agree.It's a totally different sense if you've lived the whole thing in real time,I;m so so lucky to have lived the thrill of it.

[@ronjetten6535]

What a ridiculous comment!

[@BO_Riddle]

Update yourself. Nobody had a bad thing to say about Abba for the last 30 years! Wtf.

[@top5records796]

So you have spoken to everybody about ABBA the last 30 years?

[@barrymoore4470]

I love ABBA myself, but plenty of folks in recent decades denigrated them as kitschy or too poppy. They are indeed pop (at least in their biggest hits), but represent some of the best pop music ever made.

[@falcotol9299]

Voyage?

[@top5records796]

Didn’t make my Top 5, does it make yours?

[@mariotato8345]

Oh man , u dont know much about abba , dont u, jeeeje. And by the way , there is no better album tham Abba the album , that was their real peak. Though i love the live album

[@oliverwittofficial4997]

No one in the world would choose this live ABBA album as number one. The sound is terrible, the songs are played to fast etc.