In 1974, ABBA grew to become the primary Swedish group to win the Eurovision Tune Contest with Waterloo. Their victory catapulted them into the limelight; over the following decade, they grew to turn into one of many largest bands on the planet. The group separated in 1982, however this 12 months, shocked us all with the discharge of their first new materials in over 40 years. Broadly thought to be one of many best and most influential acts of all time, they’re estimated to have offered between 150 million and 385 million information worldwide, making them one of the crucial commercially profitable teams in music historical past. Right here’s how we rank all 9 ABBA albums for worst to greatest.
9. Ring Ring
Described by thegreatalbums.com as simply the least important ABBA album, Ring Ring has a handful of fairly songs and loads of promise. However that promise may be very a lot in its infancy, as is the band’s signature sound. Launched in Scandinavia and a restricted variety of European international locations in March 1973, it reached No. 2 in Sweden and loved Prime 40 success within the Netherlands, Norway, and South Africa.
8. Voyage
In November 2021, ABBA shocked the world by asserting Voyage, their first album of latest materials in 40 years. Expectations have been excessive, the hype was big, and the potential was immense. It was only a disgrace the album proved such a bitter disappointment. A bland, banal assortment of pop ballads, it’s distinctly underwhelming. To their credit score, age doesn’t appear to have weathered their vocals, they usually sound a lot the identical immediately as they did 40 years in the past. Sadly, even the stunning harmonies can’t make up for the skinny materials. For all that, it nonetheless managed to turn into the band’s highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200, the place it peaked at No. 2.
7. Waterloo
Inside a 12 months of releasing their debut album, ABBA have been again with Waterloo, their first album to be launched internationally. Their signature sound remains to be a piece in progress, however there’s loads of pop gold to be discovered. The title minimize, which went on to turn into a world hit after profitable the 1974 Eurovision Tune Contest, is the plain attraction, however deep cuts like Hasta Manana and Dance (Whereas the Music Nonetheless Goes On) are simply as charming. There’s far an excessive amount of filler for it to rank amongst their greatest albums, but it surely’s nonetheless an honest effort.
6. ABBA
After Waterloo launched their worldwide careers, ABBA threw every little thing however the kitchen sink at their self-titled third album. The productions are greater, the hits are catchier, and their signature sound is lastly in place. The album produced three Prime 40 hits within the US (together with the stainless and deservedly iconic Mamma Mia), however even the deep cuts are catchy and enjoyable sufficient to warrant consideration. Launched on 21 April 1975, it topped the charts throughout Scandinavia and Australia and reached No. 13 within the UK Albums chart.
5. Voulez-Vous
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Voulez-Vous, ABBA’s sixth and most disco-oriented album, was a business hit, topping the charts within the UK, Germany, France, and Scandinavia and reaching No. 19 on the US Billboard 200. There’s loads of wonderful moments scattered throughout the album, from the mushy Europop of I Had a Dream and Chiquitita to the Bee Gees-inspired title monitor and insanely hooky Angeleyes. If it has a fault, it’s that there are just too many disco-flavored numbers. Dancing Queen could also be considered one of their greatest songs, however disco wasn’t ABBA’s forte, and right here, there’s slightly an excessive amount of of it for consolation.
4. Tremendous Trouper
ABBA ushered within the Nineteen Eighties with one more business blockbuster. Launched on 3 November 1980, Tremendous Trouper stormed to the highest of the charts within the UK, Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, and quite a few different territories, and peaked at No. 17 on the US Billboard 200. Its singles, together with The Winner Takes It All, the title monitor, and Lay All Your Love on Me, have been all equally profitable. The critiques have been favorable, with The Day by day Vault calling it “presumably their greatest album” and Blender saying that whereas it exhibits a “darkish facet,” it has a “lot of pleasure.” The stress throughout the group is apparent, specifically on the painfully trustworthy, devastatingly lovely breakup track, The Winner Takes It All. However whereas the lyrics could also be world-weary and melancholic, there’s nonetheless loads of easy, dance-oriented pop, leading to a mature however nonetheless eminently enjoyable album.
3. The Album
By their fifth album, ABBA had grown from a Europop outfit into one of many largest rocks acts on the planet. On The Album, they keep true to their Eurovision pop roots whereas additionally taking inspiration from what was taking place elsewhere within the charts, with the mellow sounds of Fleetwood Mac and even some flashes of prog rock permeating the album. Buoyed alongside by the chart success of its singles (Take a Likelihood on Me, The Title of the Sport, Eagle, and Thank You For The Music), the album was a smash hit, spending seven weeks on the high of the charts within the UK (and finally turning into the third largest promoting album of the 12 months) and hitting the No. 1 spot in a number of different international locations.
2. The Guests
Regardless of the most important private shakeups that have been taking place across the band on the time The Guests was recorded, it was by no means meant to be their swansong – one thing that will clarify why, quite than feeling rushed or threadbare, it’s a superbly made, subtle album characterised by daring songwriting, lovely harmonies, and plush arrangments. The songs are severe however not downbeat, with When All Is Mentioned and Finished, the title monitor, and the ethereal nearer Like an Angel Passing Via My Room standing out as explicit highlights. A beautiful, if sudden, means for the band to bow out.
1. Arrival
Some bands by no means outdo their debut. ABBA was minimize from a distinct fabric. With every new album, they received stronger, extra assured, and braver of their strategy. After the success of their self-titled third album, expectations have been driving excessive for its follow-up. Arrival didn’t disappoint. Artistically, it’s very a lot in the identical vein as its predecessor, however every little thing is larger and higher than earlier than. From the tremendous catchy pop of the opener After I Kissed The Instructor to the retro-rock of Why Did It Need to Be Me, the album floats from one attractive track to the following. There are a few slight missteps, however they’re simple to miss in an album that’s residence to the likes of Dancing Queen, Cash, Cash, Cash, and Figuring out Me, Figuring out You.
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