I had Arrival at no.1. That's quite a consensus that those are the top three.
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 4 June 2012 17:06 (eleven years ago) link
all of their albums received at least one vote, except for "more abba gold" which didn't get any
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Monday, 4 June 2012 17:11 (eleven years ago) link
and um, neither did 'gracias por la musica'
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Monday, 4 June 2012 17:12 (eleven years ago) link
:( i would have voted for that if i had votedmy high school spanish teacher used to play it for us de vez en cuando and it was heaven -- "chiquitita" es mil veces mejor en español.
― game of crones (La Lechera), Monday, 4 June 2012 17:22 (eleven years ago) link
i think one of my current best friendships was cemented by a mutual love of "ABBA oro"
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Monday, 4 June 2012 17:25 (eleven years ago) link
Arrival wins why bcz helicopter
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 4 June 2012 18:11 (eleven years ago) link
I remember Bill Magill grumping when Arrival beat Black Sabbath's Vol. 4 in the alt 70s album poll. Fun day!
On what planet is some Abba record better than Black Sabbath Vol. 4????― Bill Magill, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:13 PM (2 years ago)
― Bill Magill, Tuesday, January 5, 2010 3:13 PM (2 years ago)
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 4 June 2012 19:31 (eleven years ago) link
I prefer the French cover of Arrival:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/ABBA_-_Arrival_%28France%29.jpg
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 4 June 2012 21:00 (eleven years ago) link
That's the back cover of all the other issues. Is the back cover of the French issue the front cover of the others?
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 4 June 2012 21:14 (eleven years ago) link
Arrival is not better than Vol. 4. The Visitors might be better than Paranoid though.
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Monday, 4 June 2012 21:35 (eleven years ago) link
ok, time for the tracks! 45-31 today
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:28 (eleven years ago) link
:D
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:31 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.virginmedia.com/images/abba-madonna-gal-431.jpg45 (tie). Soldiers The Visitors, 1981(59 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec2dCvoext0
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:37 (eleven years ago) link
http://members.multimania.nl/abbadfs/hpbimg/LP%20Honey%20Honey%20(1974).jpg45 (tie). Honey HoneyWaterloo, 1974(59 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg7ZsOFSV7c
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:39 (eleven years ago) link
love Honey Honey!
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:41 (eleven years ago) link
I find Soldiers kinda boring? idk
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:42 (eleven years ago) link
if nothing else this poll allows me to present the dizzying array of amazing outfits they wore over the years
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:43 (eleven years ago) link
I love "Soldiers" so much! lovely chorus, overlapping vocal lines, like a much better version of "Fernando" which i don't care for a ton.
but i got drunk and didn't get my vote in so :(
― typhus in Corfu (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:44 (eleven years ago) link
yeah of all their "war" songs it's probably my least favorite
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:44 (eleven years ago) link
that's ok! i hope there is a lot of discussion here anyhow
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iOCgghMIKjE/0.jpg42 (tie). Two for the Price of One The Visitors, 1981(63 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2APDCyVZ2zA
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:46 (eleven years ago) link
such a funny little song, that groaner of a punchline undercutting the beauty of the melody itself almost. i dig it a lot.
― typhus in Corfu (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/0/0f/ABBA_-_That42 (tie). That's Me Arrival, 1976(63 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_dk429rbc
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
whoops, that img should be
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/0/0f/ABBA_-_That
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5CU6hthppL4/0.jpg42 (tie). I've Been Waiting for You"So Long" b-side, 1974(63 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ7C127Q-GY
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:50 (eleven years ago) link
love the beginning of the "that's me" video so much when everyone's heads peek out from behind agnetha's
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:53 (eleven years ago) link
also that song's grown on me quite a bit since doing this poll
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:54 (eleven years ago) link
aw I love That's Me -- I used to play Arrival all the time on Mum & Dad's stereo as a kid.
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 16:58 (eleven years ago) link
Soldiers is great, and narrowly missed my ballot. But I LOVE I've Been Waiting for You!
That's Me is almost great but for some reason I feel like it comes up a bit short on the payoff...
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:02 (eleven years ago) link
http://abba_music.tripod.com/solong_s.jpg41. So Long ABBA, 1975(64 points / 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbRB2Cjr_Wo
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:04 (eleven years ago) link
yaaaaaargh
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3841266768_ce1bd1a149.jpg
Incredibly rocking song. That's a little low!
― timellison, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:05 (eleven years ago) link
"rockin'" ABBA is kind of a mixed bag to me (my disco sympathies lie deep) but "so long" is a scorcher
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:06 (eleven years ago) link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/Thank_You_ABBA.jpg40. Thank You for the MusicABBA: The Album, 1977(66 points, 4 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dcbw4IEY5w
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:12 (eleven years ago) link
one of these days i'll format like a real boy
40. Thank You for the MusicABBA: The Album, 1977(66 points, 4 votes)
So Long: another one that narrowly missed my ballot
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:14 (eleven years ago) link
wd've left off "Thank You", too stage-y for me
― typhus in Corfu (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:16 (eleven years ago) link
i tend to really like songs that are about how other songs (or how music in general) are great so i love "thank you for the music"
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:18 (eleven years ago) link
I don't like Thank You For The Music as such, but the way the long melody is constructed in the chorus is nothing short of masterful.
― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:21 (eleven years ago) link
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2321350687_ab353d6cb5.jpg39. Me and ISuper Trouper, 1980(71 points, 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF040OpxTyM
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:27 (eleven years ago) link
It really is, though xp - I don't know how you continue after that, I'd be hanging up my songwriting pen and thinking 'yep, that's music done'.
― Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:28 (eleven years ago) link
Agree w Noodle about Thank You: though Agnetha saves it for me. Didn't vote for it though.
Did vote for Me & I though. Yay!
― freebroheem (loves laboured breathing), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:30 (eleven years ago) link
I like it, but I'd probably question "Me and I" over most of Voulez-Vous.
― timellison, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:34 (eleven years ago) link
(A lot of which I don't expect to make this top 45!)
― timellison, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:35 (eleven years ago) link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/SUPER_TROUPER_-_single_cover.jpg38. Super TrouperSuper Trouper, 1980(75 points, 4 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BshxCIjNEjY
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:45 (eleven years ago) link
su-pa-pa trou-pa-pa
i love that for a song that's ostensibly about How Hard It Is Being Famous that it's such a vulnerable performance ("how could anyone feel so lonely?")
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:47 (eleven years ago) link
and the piano melody KILLS me
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
All of the tracks so far are so great I thought I'd had a couple of them on my ballot, but no. None of my votes have placed yet. I <3 ABBA.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
http://cherryouth.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/imagens-da-abba.jpg?w=600&h=40037. Should I Laugh or Cry"One of Us" b-side (1981)79 points, 4 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_uiKm7wsmI
― yorba linda carlisle (donna rouge), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
'I'm a Marionette' fucking rules.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Friday, 10 March 2017 23:43 (seven years ago) link
Was amazed when SOS won this. Was it on an ad in America or something? One of their most forgettable singles to me, had to remind myself how it goes.
― Supposed Former ILM Lurker (WeWantMiles), Friday, 10 March 2017 23:48 (seven years ago) link
I can completely understand why 'S.O.S.' won... it's absolute perfection.
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:01 (seven years ago) link
The idea of it being "forgettable" is just completely alien to me!
― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:03 (seven years ago) link
yeah SOS is beautiful cmon
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:10 (seven years ago) link
so... you wish you understood
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Saturday, 11 March 2017 00:43 (seven years ago) link
there are not many songs better than "SOS".. so i would say that WeWantMiles is wrong
was it in an ad in america or something... phhbbbttt how insulting!!
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:15 (seven years ago) link
i also did not vote in this but my boring ballot would contain (unordered)
hey hey helensosdancing queenknowing me knowing youtigerfernandotake a chance on mevoulez-voussummer night citygimme gimme gimmethe winner takes it alllay all your love on meshould i laugh or crythe day before you came
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:17 (seven years ago) link
+ waterloo+ honey honey
― a but (brimstead), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:18 (seven years ago) link
not surprised to see the first album's songs get zero votes because there is some absolute shit on there (if I go to hell it would probably be a loop of "Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother" occasionally interrupted by "I Saw It in the Mirror," like that "What's New Pussycat" sketch), but it was my father's favorite ABBA album so I have a soft spot for it
― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:20 (seven years ago) link
just re-read this thread again, this poll was so much fun
― donna rouge, Saturday, 11 March 2017 01:48 (seven years ago) link
I was amusing myself by wondering how ABBA would sound if Frida's voice was replaced by Marlene Dietrich, in particular on 'Tropical Loveland' :D― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:17 AM (two years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:17 AM (two years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― hardcore dilettante, Saturday, 11 March 2017 02:38 (seven years ago) link
lol that is a perfect choice
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 11 March 2017 03:27 (seven years ago) link
i can't remember if i voted in this poll or not but my list now would be something like
soldiersone of ustigerknowing me knowing youme and iunder attackon and on and onthat's meshould i laugh or crythe day before you camehead over heelsdoes your mother knowlay all your love on mesosas good as new
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Saturday, 11 March 2017 16:09 (seven years ago) link
ah god i forgot if it wasn't for the nights
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Saturday, 11 March 2017 16:24 (seven years ago) link
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/29/all-abbas-uk-singles-ranked
― nxd, Friday, 29 June 2018 10:53 (five years ago) link
Can’t really argue with their top 10 picks. Name Of The Game at 10 is much too low though, that would be my no 1. As soon as I saw the post, it started playing in my head. Love that song so much. Immediately after I’m all: B-b-but... Dancing Queen? ...Knowing Me, Knowing You? ...Winner Takes It All? All three are at least as good, Dancing Queen is one of the best records ever, but I’m NOTG for life, I guess - that song moves me. My only gripe is with Day Before You Came, it’s way overrated imo. I mean, it’s great, but not top-10-great. I would replace it with Chiquitita. Beautiful song, and the coda takes it next level.
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 21:50 (five years ago) link
(So I checked: ILM’s ranking is quite similar, with one notable exception: where the Guardian has Super Trouper, here it’s Waterloo - better choice perhaps, although I wasn’t mad at ST placing)
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 22:13 (five years ago) link
Soldiers would be my #1
― music saved my life (Ross), Friday, 29 June 2018 23:13 (five years ago) link
And of the singles, which one would be your pick?
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 23:23 (five years ago) link
dancing queen :)
― music saved my life (Ross), Friday, 29 June 2018 23:29 (five years ago) link
Can’t say you’re wrong
― breastcrawl, Friday, 29 June 2018 23:31 (five years ago) link
Super Trouper wd make my ballot now
― bedraggled vorticist (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 June 2018 03:55 (five years ago) link
I love Name Of the Game but Under Attack would be number one for. me. NOTG number 2
― Hotdogs Killcars (dog latin), Saturday, 30 June 2018 21:22 (five years ago) link
Gonna have to search some singles bins for that (Day Before You Came too, I guess)
― albvivertine, Saturday, 30 June 2018 21:34 (five years ago) link
"Angel-eyes" came up on a playlist today and surprised me, I hadn't heard it in years. Good tune.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 1 July 2018 04:07 (five years ago) link
this poll was such a joy to participate in, and so much fun to put together a ballot. abba are the fucking besti’m gonna listen to more abba this week
― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 1 July 2018 06:04 (five years ago) link
"One of Us" is low-key their best single, IDGAF if no one else but Brad agrees. If not that, it's "The Day Before You Came." And for a supposed singles act they certainly had a lot of great album cuts - Ross and Brad OTM on "Soldiers," which would def make my top 10 ABBA tracks if not top 5.
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:03 (five years ago) link
I mean ABBA got game with deep cuts all the way back to the debut album - "Disillusion" and "Another Town, Another Train" are worlds better than their first two singles ("People Need Love," and "He Is Your Brother," both among the worst songs they ever released). Anybody know why Agnetha never wrote an ABBA song again?
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:10 (five years ago) link
'Soldiers', 'One of Us' and 'The Day Before You Came' are all fantastic, I agree, although I'm not sure I could choose one single that stands above all the rest. I know that 'Dancing Queen' wouldn't be it because I've heard it far too many times at this point.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Sunday, 1 July 2018 07:48 (five years ago) link
Yeah actually I don't really have one favorite, it's just that that was my first favorite when I got into ABBA half a dozen years ago. I resent the fact that "Dancing Queen" is the only ABBA song I ever hear on the radio, because I heard it many times before I ever "got" ABBA and though I like it a lot better now than I did before I saw the light, I'm never going to be able to hear it with fresh ears. I mean it's transcendent, but there's always going to be that residue of those benighted years when I thought it was fluff.
― It's like an Christian pop (thewufs), Sunday, 1 July 2018 08:07 (five years ago) link
"Under Attack" in last place out of all their singles? Löjlig!
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Sunday, 1 July 2018 11:52 (five years ago) link
"Angel-eyes" came up on a playlist today and surprised me, I hadn't heard it in years. Good tune.― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, July 1, 2018 12:07 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, July 1, 2018 12:07 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
My three year old and I listen to a lot of ABBA on the way to school and I’m really surprised that out of their entire catalog of hits her favorite song is “Angel Eyes” followed closely by deep cut “Elaine.”
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Sunday, 1 July 2018 12:18 (five years ago) link
Guardian Top 5 OTM.
― dorsalstop, Sunday, 1 July 2018 12:40 (five years ago) link
Disillusion is a fantastic song
― bedraggled vorticist (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 5 July 2018 07:59 (five years ago) link
Their best albums.
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 September 2018 01:48 (five years ago) link
^ This would probably be my ranking exactly. It's nice that both you and the ILM poll gave a shout out to "When I Kissed the Teacher," which I think is the one ABBA album track that most deserved to be the A-side of a single
― Josefa, Monday, 17 September 2018 02:13 (five years ago) link
Agreed, solid list.
Apropos of nothing, my love of the Mamma Mia movies knows few bounds. There should be a thread for chrissakes.
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link
How I'd rank their British top forty singles.
― recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 21 May 2019 00:40 (four years ago) link