Is there anything that simply screams the 1970s' most indelible pop cultural clichés--the sunny romanticism, perfect vocal hooks, feathered hair, stacked heels, and flared sateen britches--more than the Swedish pop phenomenon Abba? And while many a pundit snootily dismissed them during their prime as some sort of prefabricated aberration, their worldwide popularity peaked somewhere just south of Beatlesmania. Indeed, Abba's music was as finely tooled and crafted as anything to come from a Volvo or IKEA factory--if occasionally more economically potent. This double-disc, 37-track anthology comes neatly on the heels of
Mama Mia!, the smash, if unlikely, Broadway show based on the band's hits, and documents every single released by the band's Polar label in their home country as well as key tracks released internationally.
This is the canon from whence the term "Europop" sprang. With a continental sense of vocal neoclassicism, informed by just the right ethnic clichés (and oft wed to the era's insistent 4/4 disco beat) to make songs like "Mama Mia," "Fernando," "Chiquitita," and "Voulez-Vous" work on a global scale, the writing team of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and their respective partners in music and life, Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, developed the seamless, wall-of-sound productions contained herein. The Definitive Collection features a rare single remix of "Ring, Ring" and a 1979 promo-only extended mix of "Voulez-Vous" as bonus tracks, as well as a concise, illustrated history of the band and each track. --Jerry McCulley
Customer Rating: 
Summary: wonderful collection
Comment: This really is the ABBA definitive collection, al the songs I remember from them are here, the quality of the sound is wonderful. I know that after releasing Mamma Mia some other collections are selling, but this one contains more than 30 songs, and it's great.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Very complete collection
Comment: While this is an excellent CD collection which even includes some rather unfamiliar tunes, I thought the DVD of the same title was by far superior. The DVD was GREAT, and I highly recommend it for any ABBA fan!
Customer Rating: Summary: Amazing ABBA
Comment: This product was spottless. It had no scratches, no markes, no skips. It was just as brand new as if you would of bought it at the store. I was pleased.
Customer Rating: Summary: Amazing Collection
Comment: When you get all the Gold & #1 ABBA songs in one collection the only thing that can beat it is a live concert from them. Amazing collection you should go for it.
Customer Rating: Summary: Fun, Catchy, Splendid Songs in the best CD Format!
Comment: ABBA. The name conjures up nostalgic feelings of glittery, sequence-covered costumes, 70s dancing, and clean and catchy pop songs. Who created these genius songs? ABBA. Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andresson, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstand (they're Sewdish) made up this sensational band.
Most people love the songs. Some people don't. I do. You might not. [...]
But if you do, this is the CD for you. This CD contains 37 pure-gold songs, most of which aren't featured on the much hyped-up ABBA: GOLD CD, which only includes the songs from MAMMA MIA! and a few others. This is the best CD to get, and I completely agree with the reviewer who said: "If you get one ABBA CD, this is it".
This is a good buy.
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