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| ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits | 
 enlarge | Artist: Abba
Label: Polydor / Umgd
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $2.25
You Save: $11.73 (84%)
New (51) Used (51) Collectible (4) from $2.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  322 reviews
Sales Rank: 75
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 517007
UPC: 766487202923
EAN: 0766487202923
ASIN: B000001DZO
Publication Date: 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: WORKS AND PLAYS 100% FAST USPS SHIPPING IN BUBBLE ENVELOPE
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| Customer Reviews:
 Re-Mix, not Greatest Hits December 2, 2003
22 out of 26 found this review helpful
I recently bought the ABBA Gold Greatest Hits CD and something just doesn't sound right! I have the original recordings on LP and 45, so I have a reference other than memory. Someone has done some serious re-mixing on this compilation. It almost sounds like they are singing in a living room with overstuffed chairs. The rhythm track sounds like someone beating on a plastic garbage can with a broom. The originals had heavy compression on the vocals and lush reverb which was an integral part of the ABBA sound. It sounds like in this version they are using some sort of noise gate on the vocals, because they tend to unnaturally disappear between syllables. I was amazed that of all the 173+ reviews only one shared my disappointment with this compilation from a technical standpont. I certainly agree with that review. that "the new (1993) version is extremely boring and in no way reproduces the musical excitement of the real ABBA from the 70s and 80s." The recordings, as originally released, were masterpieces that did not need to be "improved upon".The A-Teens recordings sound closer to the originals in terms of production technique than this collection does.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ONE YEAR LATER, November 26, 2004..... I wrote my original review of ABBA Gold back on December 2, 2003, and my opinion of it has not changed. It does not sound like the original ABBA recordings, even though Michael Tretow, the original recording engineer produced this CD. I have gained some insight into the magic Michael Tretow put into the original mixes. I recently purchased The Winner Takes it All (The ABBA Story) DVD. Michael talks about doubling up the instruments and the vocals to make the recordings sound bigger than life. The doubled instruments and voices were also changed in pitch slightly to enhance the sound. If you listen closely to the original ABBA vinyl recordings, you can hear this chorusing effect. The sound is sort of like a choir of angels singing along with the 4 ABBA vocalists. This effect is lacking on the ABBA Gold CD, where the vocals tend to get lost in the mix, particularly low listening levels. It has nothing to do with some special ethereal quality of phonograph records versus compact discs. ABBA Gold is a re-mix. It is nearly impossible to duplicate all of the aspects of the original mix, a decade and a half later. I wonder if the original 2-track mix tapes that were sent to the record pressing plant are still in a vault somewhere. It would be wonderful if they could be put on CD. You think ABBA Gold is good? The original mix on CD would blow you away!
 THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC! May 14, 2006
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
Abba's music is electric, vibrant and fresh despite the passage of time. The group, as Amazon so correctly points out, had a special versatility that enabled them to produce many different types of songs. There's the classic "Dancing Queen" that almost everybody recognizes as being distinctly Abba with their 1970's pop sound; but there's also the rock and roll style of "Does Your Mother Know." "Does Your Mother Know" is just one of the many songs on this CD that has a great musical arrangement as well.
Abba was also very capable of capturing the intensity of one's feelings about love affairs and romance. I enjoyed how they compared a romance to Napoleon's infamous battle with their song entitled "Waterloo." "The Winner Takes It All" also captures the intense bitterness of a lost romance. They sing of other universal themes such as the quest to become rich ""Money, Money, Money" and the sheer delight of celebrating love without ties with "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)."
"Lay All Your Love On Me" has a beautifully haunting disco flavor that deserves recognition all on its own. Powerful! The musical arrangement is strikingly beautiful and very sensitively delivered. I also particularly enjoyed the somewhat autobiographical song entitled "Thank You For The Music." The lyrics are very well written:
I'm nothing special; in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud
So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Although some people may be tempted to say that the lyrics to Abba songs are just too sugary sweet to be enjoyable; I for one disagree. There is a refreshing honesty to the lyrics that reminds me of a naivet? I myself once had and lost when I learned some painful lessons along the way in my life. That nostalgia probably helps me enjoy Abba's music even more; and I would imagine that at least some other people would feel the same way that I do.
One note: if you want longer "dance" versions of some of these songs, you'll be disappointed here. The CD gives you 19 songs so there's not much time for longer versions. That's a minus, admittedly, but this CD remains quite strong anyway. Hey, the proof is in the pudding: despite being released years ago, the CD is still a big seller! SMILE
The quality of the sound is excellent and the song set is nicely laid out.
The liner notes are excellent. John Tobler contributes an extensive essay about the history of the group that also includes some information about their personal lives. The liner notes include song credits, pictures of the covers of their record albums and quite a few nice color pictures of the group. You won't get the lyrics to the songs, though.
All in all, this is an awesome CD for Abba fans as well as people who want to get to know Abba. I would also recommend this CD for fans of great pop music with a 1970's flavor to it. Try this CD--you won't be disappointed.
Perfect Pop That Will Last Forever July 13, 2000
15 out of 22 found this review helpful
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF ABBA AND THEIR MANY FANS: I am telling you that this album represents an excellent jump-off point for some of the greatest popular music of all time. BOY, I'm not kidding. The sheer craftsmanship and joy with which this music was created and performed is plain to hear. The songs of ABBA are as fresh sounding and as darn good now as they were 20-plus years ago. This is perfect pop music that deserves even more acclaim now than then; for we live in an era that is a desert of creativity where pop music is concerned. It should be songs that matter and freshness of melody. My God, if you are new to the joys of ABBA, then enter their world with this fine compilation and you'll forever thank them for the music. Such is the power of their music and vocal performance that even an old metalhead like me can have his head turned by `SOS', `THE NAME OF THE GAME', `FERNANDO' or `DANCING QUEEN'. And that's just for starters. There are many like me who wait, hopefully not in vain, for a limited set of celebratory/farewell concerts someday soon. Will Agnetha, Bjorn, Frida and Benny take the stage at least one or two more times, to say adios to the people who love them so much? A concert broadcast to a world that so richly rewarded them, but took so much from them as well? My dear Agnetha, how you must have hurt so, consumed by the business you were in for so much of your life. Would I be insulting your intelligence if I asked, do you realize just how much so many people love you? Will you one day rejoin your former partners, if only briefly? You're all still young enough with all your considerable gifts still intact. I am not alone in believing this. If we want you wonderful people back it's not for selfish nostalgia. We want to celebrate with you. And would we ever!
Abba........They are truly Gold! September 19, 2000
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
I believe that there is a new genertaion of ABBA fans emerging, I'm on of them, I'm only 18, the reason for this new generation of fans is simply the timeles quality of ABBA's music especially their music on the Gold album. I can still remember the first time I heard "Dancing Queen". The song had a tremendous effect on me. I feel that song is their best one. "The Winner Takes It All" is a break up song but the thing that make the lyrics so poignant is that this was actually happening to ABBA and they sang about it! "SOS", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Voulez Vous", are some of the great dance songs of ABBA. The CD is just awesome. The sound is still fresh after all these years and you can credit Benny and Bjorn for that. I cannot recommed this CD high enough! Go out and get it today!
ABBA Rules March 22, 2006
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
FIRST- Of note to people who are obsessed with track length (as I am) is the fact that two songs (Voulez Vous & The Name of the Game) are somewhat shorter than their album versions
I thought I would do it track by track:
1. Dancing Queen (3:52) - probably the best-known song on this album- it is truly a classic. It needs no introduction
It's definitely not the best track on the album, but it is a great song.
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You (4:02) - a classic song. A great performance by Frida
3. Take A Chance On Me (4:04) - A nice song. I love the A'Capella beginning. The live version on ABBA LIVE (CD) is also really great- and it sounds faster
4. Mamma Mia (3:33) - A classic ABBA track. I love it!!!
5. Lay All Your Love On Me (4:34) - To me, this is the best song on the album. It has a great sound to it. Very disco-ish or early 80s-ish. From the classic album Super Trouper
6. Super Trouper (4:14) - A good song. This is the opening track from their masterpiece album of the same name. You really should look into the Super Trouper album
7. I Have A Dream (4:44) - a great song. I actually didn't like it until I heard the live version- so you may want to check that out on ABBA LIVE (CD) or on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD). A beautiful track with a children's choir.
8. The Winner Takes It All (4:55) - another great track from the Super Trouper album- and it's probably the most beautiful song on ABBA Gold
9. Money, Money, Money (3:08) - a great song. It has a cabaret type of sound.
10. S.O.S. (3:21) - Not one of my favorites, but for a lot of people this is one of their best songs. I must say, though, they may have a point- listen to it and you'll see.
11. Chiquita (5:26) - My least favorite song on this album. But, it was a major hit in many Spanish-speaking countries
12. Fernando (4:13) - I love this song. To me, it's one of Frida's greatest performances (and that's saying a lot). If you like it, you should hear the live version on ABBA LIVE (CD).
13. Voulez Vous (4:22 [edit- the album version is 5:09, so we lose 47 secs.]) - A great venture into disco. Very upbeat. If you like it, you should hear the whole Voulez Vous album and you should see the performance on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD)
14. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (4:48) - Another great disco classic. It was recently sampled by Madonna on the song "Hung Up."
If you like Gimme! You may want to see/hear the live version on ABBA LIVE (CD) or on ABBA IN CONCERT (DVD) and you may want to hear "Hung Up" by Madonna
15. Does Your Mother Know (3:15) - I used to hate this song, but now it's one of my favorites. The 50s rock type of sound to it is great. From the Voulez Vous album- I just love it. If you like it, you should hear the live version (on ABBA LIVE [CD] or on ABBA IN CONCERT [DVD])- it has a great guitar solo part not found in the studio version
16. One Of Us (3:58) - arguably the best track on The Visitors album. Although I'm not so sure about that, it still is great. Check out that bassline!!!!
17. The Name Of The Game - (4:00 [edit- the album version is 4:53, so we lose 53 secs.]) - a beautiful song (although the full length version on ABBA The Album is much better as it has an extra verse)
18. Thank You For The Music (3:51) - great song. Although it released as a single in 1983, it was a track on 1977's ABBA The Album. It is often seen as a farewell song (which it does serve well as), but it is actually one of four songs from ABBA's mini musical "The Girl With the Golden Hair" (this and two others are available on ABBA The Album. One song is unavailable on any album although it can be heard on ABBA The Movie)
19. Waterloo (2:42) - their first major hit. It has a glam rock-ish sound to it. WOW. If only it were longer
ALSO RECOMMENDED: ABBA LIVE and MORE ABBA GOLD.
(I personally prefer More ABBA Gold to ABBA Gold)
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