It was half a century ago on precisely 6^th April 1974, that Swedish quartet ABBA triumphed at the 1974 Eurovision Contest with the peppy love song Waterloo. Telling the story of someone who "surrenders" to a lover, the song references Napoleon's surrender at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. To mark this great moment in history which took place in the English coastal city Brighton, England that year, there were various fan meet ups to mark the occasion on its 50^th Anniversary early this month.

The group's win was the first for Sweden in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition was first staged in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland.

As for this fortnight vinyl review, we pick up an old ABBA release titled simply ‘The Album’. Released in December 1977, ABBA’s fifth studio album, ‘The Album’, stands as one of the Swedish pop group’s most iconic and enduring records. Filled with infectious melodies, harmonious vocals, and a blend of disco and pop influences, ‘The Album’ has top production qualities, not forgetting top class songs to talk about.  

The songs are packed with excellent arrangements. The selection of songs here compared to their earlier albums, marks a turning point in their career, offering a more adventurous and mature selection of songs, rather than their usual pop offerings, which sounds refreshing and different.

Songs like Eagle introduced a cinematic and symphonic quality to their repertoire, while tracks like Take A Chance On Me and The Name Of The Game embrace the disco trend that was sweeping the globe. This versatility not only allowed ABBA to appeal to a broad audience, transcending genre boundaries and resonating with fans of all ages, but is also the very reason why their music is enduring and timeless.

Going to the track list and you have the opening track, Eagle just as majestic as it sounds. Featuring soaring vocal harmonies and a lush orchestral arrangement, Eagle is a song that will capture your soul from the very first note to the last. The lyrically satisfying piece is a must listen. Take A Chance On Mehas a good shade on vocal duties between Agnetha and Frida, while the slow and steady, One Man, One Womanis a beautiful melancholic ballad that is sure to pull at the heartstrings. The up-tempo The Name Of The Game blends pop and disco elements seamlessly with its repetitious chorus which is catchy.  My favorite track on the album, Move On shows the band in a new light, with the opening piano bars and the male vocals hitting in majestically. The peppy Hole In Your Soul is a spirited energy-packed tune with a rock-inspired sonic presentation with an insane infectious rhythm, and incredible lyrical harmonies. Thank You For The Musicis a song that has today become an anthem for music lovers worldwide; sung at parties and music events everywhere, it’s a never forget song for musicians who have learnt music and love music. The ballad I Wonder (Departure) opens slowly but hits off with high vocals. Racy instrumentation and lyrics make I'm A Marionette an upbeat presentation, what with its theatrical sound, with ABBA experimenting different styles. A beautiful tune nevertheless and a good end to an amazing album.  

This album is great, took me back a few decades and the sound was great. Listening to this album on vinyl is pure delight. Buying a vinyl album such as this one, you’d really need a good stereo analog set up to experience the warmth with fine dynamic range. The Indian pressing recording has no much static noise whatsoever, even though its over 40 years old and kept securely in my collection. When I checked on the re-mastered version of this LP, I found it to be a cool Rs. 4000/-, simply unbelievable. A classic album that sounds as fresh today as it did way back then.

From start to finish, ABBA’s ‘The Album’ is a masterful collection of tunes that demonstrate the group's ability to try new ways to make music. Every song on this album showcases ABBA's talent and enduring appeal, its timeless melodies and heartfelt lyrics. You can safely describe it as all killer and no filler. The Swedish super troopers haven't lost their appetite for emotional-crisis soundtracks and it’s all here.

Release: December 1977

Label: Polydor (Indian Pressing)

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira