“Feeling like a number one…… yeah there you go…. Super Trouper…..” the lines might sound odd, but that’s ABBA’s seventh studio album that features this title song and a few of the hits they are so famous for.

The songs are beautiful, all of them. You have that incredible, emotive vocal performance of The Winner Takes It All which is their masterpiece. It must be mentioned that the song is inspired by Bjorn and Agnetha's divorce, but more about the pain of such a split-up. The song veers from the couple's split to an analogy to the judge’s decision in some competition. There's a biting sense of predestination, of one not being in control of one's destiny: The lyrics are tearjerkers. "The gods may throw a dice/their minds as cold as ice/and someone way down there/loses someone dear." This song follows stomping drums in the repetitious On and On and On, with the tempo slowing down, with the ladies then taking control as they croon Andante Andante; all nostalgic moments, while the joyously pompous synth-brass blasts of Me and I closes Side One.

Side Two opens with the reflective ballad Happy New Year, where wishes and greetings are abundant. Their lyrics once again stand tall….. "a world where every neighbour is a friend." The fact is that, it had just turned 1980, and ABBA was a group of the 70's, on the verge of a new decade. Our Last Summer with choir-like harmonies in the chorus gives this song a kind of hallowed atmosphere. One of my favorites here. Lay All Your Love on Me is the big one here. The odd one we’d say is The Piper. Up through the closing piece The Way Old Friends Do (Live) is like an Auld-Lang Syne set, recorded live at Wembley Stadium, with the harmonies, orchestra, and synths reaching a heavenly pitch. The farewell-type aura of this song seems to herald their imminent dissolution.

This album nevertheless shows them still in top form, with stronger sounds, well-constructed songs and melodies. The album cover has ABBA in a spotlight surrounded by circus performers gathered at Piccadilly Circus, London. Several of ABBA's friends were also invited to take part in this event with all appearing on the cover.

If you didn’t know, this was ABBA's penultimate album; no one ever knew that their next album (The Visitors - 1981) would be their last. The 'Super troupers' had made music, only the way they could.

Label: Atlantic

Released: 1980

Duration: 42.06

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira