Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 16:25:12 GMT
Hi, What is your favourite ABBA compilation that you enjoy listening to ? Not counting ABBA Gold or More ABBA Gold, I like to listen to Icon and Classic ABBA for the simple reason that you have a good collection of hits on Icon and a mixed assortment of gems on Classic ABBA. Basically I opt for compilations that exclude Super Trouper, Does Your Mother Know and Money Money Money, the three songs which I don't like at all. The worst compilation to be released was Number Ones in November 2006. The quality and sound of the songs on this compilation is dreadful. The recordings are very muffled. One of ABBA's compilations to avoid. Please let me know which you enjoy listening to the most.
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jun 20, 2019 17:47:16 GMT
I don’t really need ABBA compilations, but if I ever do, it’s the historical ones. Greatest Hits (ending with Fernando) and Greatest Hits Vol 2. The first one especially was the first time many people had bought those songs. The second one was less interesting as all songs were familiar. I have both albums on my phone and if I do listen (which is rare) it will be in the original running order from start to finish.
More Gold was OK as it did have a “new” track on (I Am The City) but I’ll generally avoid any compilation from the 1980s onwards.
|
|
|
Post by josef on Jun 20, 2019 18:05:52 GMT
I don't listen to any compilations, if I'm honest. I'm not sure I've ever even played Gold all the way through. However....I love Greatest Hits (park bench) and used to play that from start to finish. I may do that again soon, for old time's sake.
|
|
|
Post by HOMETIME on Jun 20, 2019 18:43:09 GMT
I'm not a fan of compilations generally. Of those released by ABBA, The Definitive Collection is the one I always recommend for innocent bystanders. It has everything: all the hits from Gold, plus the gems that couldn't be included; everything is in chronological order, so that the band's growth can be appreciated; and the packaging is elegant.
I was doing a clear out some months ago and reacquainted myself with More ABBA Gold and i was far better and more enjoyable than I remembered. Yes, the random track sequencing is bonkers, but it's nice that some of the lesser-known songs get an airing.
Apart from Gold, I think it's fair to say that Greatest Hits (perk bench) is iconic.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2022 17:47:57 GMT
I much prefer it when compilations are in chronological order and you can see how an artist progresses - or not!
|
|
|
Post by Astrid on Jan 26, 2024 20:29:51 GMT
I always adored The Very Best of Abba double album. All those gorgeous glossy, colour photos.
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jan 27, 2024 13:05:53 GMT
On the subject of compilations, I didn’t know until a few years ago that the Australian “The Best of ABBA” was identical to the European one other than the artwork. The Australian one wins hands-down in terms of the latter - it would seem their cover inspired the international one for Greatest Hits, complete with the black border and panel. They even use the same font as on the Waterloo album. The West German one, whilst having an interesting photo, has the garish artwork that their single releases were known for. The European version later added Fernando as the opening track (as on the example depicted in this post). The Australian one never did, so they included it on Arrival instead. The official Greatest Hits included all 12 tracks from The Best of (not in the same order) adding He Is Your Brother and Another Town, Another Train. Fernando was added as an opening track on some Polar versions, but as the closing track on international ones. The US version oddly excluded Hasta Mañana - did they think people might be put off in case they thought the whole track was in Spanish??
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2024 13:30:08 GMT
I'm not generally 'wowed' by compilation albums, to say the very least. Generally, I like to hear songs in their natural habitat (i.e. the original album), although compilations can be handy in terms of sweeping up standalone singles etc. In fact, I even held out from succumbing to ABBA Gold until 18 months ago, when an ill-timed adrenalin rush coincided with a visit to the Amazon website. I did once have the picture disc version of The First Ten Years, picked up for next to nothing from a bargain rack in Our Price (remember them?) in the mid-80s. That only reinforced my suspicion of compilations in general, as the first disc was a significantly better listen than the second and we all know that ABBA only got better as they went along, don't we?
|
|
|
Post by jchanabbafan on Jan 27, 2024 22:10:29 GMT
I have both of these albums and have always disliked the front cover of the Australian LP. That album has 'Ring Ring' taken from the 'Ring Ring' LP version. I much prefer the 'Ring Ring' 74 single remix version that I heard first (maybe that is why). So I was very happy to hear that it is that 74 remix version that is on the German 'Best Of Abba' - mine omits Fernando. So they are not quite the same ! My German LP has the sides as 'Seite 1' and 'Seite 2' for another little difference !
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jan 27, 2024 22:18:01 GMT
Interesting to hear that, jchanabbafan. The version of Ring Ring that was a hit in Australia (though not until 1976) was the remix, whereas in Europe (not the UK) it was the original version.
|
|
|
Post by evilincarnate on Jan 28, 2024 3:31:43 GMT
On the subject of compilations, I didn’t know until a few years ago that the Australian “The Best of ABBA” was identical to the European one other than the artwork. The Australian one wins hands-down in terms of the latter - it would seem their cover inspired the international one for Greatest Hits, complete with the black border and panel. They even use the same font as on the Waterloo album. The West German one, whilst having an interesting photo, has the garish artwork that their single releases were known for. I'm quite partial to the Australian 'The Best Of ABBA' edition, primarily because it was all I knew growing up. I still love the front cover image and glossy laminated finish, along with the border and font. I always thought they looked great during this session (well perhaps not Bjorn), especially that the women were barefoot, whilst the men were wearing colossal platforms! Wasn't an alternative shot from this session used for the single cover of "Bang-A-Boomerang" in some territories?
|
|
|
Post by Michel on Jan 28, 2024 10:21:14 GMT
So I was very happy to hear that it is that 74 remix version that is on the German 'Best Of Abba'. Are you sure the 1974 remix is on the German "Best Of ABBA" LP? The Dutch pressing of the same LP has the album version which had also been a top 5 hit in 1973. I have the LP that includes Fernando. It was the first ABBA album my parents bought for me.
|
|
|
Post by Michel on Jan 28, 2024 10:38:52 GMT
I always adored The Very Best of Abba double album. All those gorgeous glossy, colour photos. I love that one too! I got it from my parents in 1976 or 1977. The double LP tied in with the Musikladen TV special which is also one of my favorites and was broadcast on TV several times at that time. I got this LP before the Waterloo and ABBA albums so there were lots of new songs to discover. Those two albums were almost entirely included on this double LP, only excluding King Kong Song, Watch Out and Man In The Middle. It was released on CD in the eighties but unfortunately the 24-track LP was cut down to a 20-track CD spread over two discs. Never understood why those 4 songs were left off the CD when there was obviously more than enough room on two CD's. The LP was also released in France with a different cover and title (Golden Double Album) and the sides of the album were swapped. It's not going to happen but I would love The Very Best Of ABBA to be re-released on CD in its entirety in a cardboard replica sleeve with one disc containing all 24 tracks from the LP and the second disc a DVD with the Musikladen special.
|
|
|
Post by Michel on Jan 28, 2024 10:46:43 GMT
I'm quite partial to the Australian 'The Best Of ABBA' edition, primarily because it was all I knew growing up. I have a CD of the Australian Best Of ABBA but unfortunately it's of an atrocious quality. Some intros are cut off and there are sudden volume changes. Don't know how this got through quality control.
|
|
|
Post by evilincarnate on Jan 28, 2024 13:20:18 GMT
Michel, I think the cd version of the Australian 'Best Of ABBA' was licenced through a cheap subsidiary company, with no emphasis upon quality. I remember it was issued in local stores as a 'low price' cd from the very beginning, most probably due to ABBA no longer being in vogue by that stage (1988), but due to its scarcity, now commands very high prices. A subsequent cd issue corrected the truncated intros, but the audio was never regarded to be of great quality.
|
|
|
Post by lamont on Jan 28, 2024 21:07:08 GMT
Always loved the Thank You For The Music release from 1983, lovely flow of songs, loved the fade in/out of songs. I even loved the album cover, so 80’s and all four look amazing.
|
|
|
Post by jchanabbafan on Jan 28, 2024 22:15:33 GMT
To answer Michel's question "Are you sure the 1974 remix is on the German "Best Of ABBA" LP?" the answer is a resounding YES ! I have just played the song on that record and it is definitely the 74 remix complete with added sax (that I don't mind here) run time of 3.01 shown on the label. I remember buying it in a Sydney second hand record store (probably in the early 1980s) - really only for the different cover - then playing it and finding the RR remix on it - I had the Australian released single but it was getting a bit worn by then. It is interesting that there are a few versions of Ring Ring - the original album, the 74 remix, the USA remix, so 3 at least. The latest remastered video for the song also has the (?slightly slowed down) original album version whereas most of the time I believe the 74 remix was used on previous videos.
|
|
|
Post by johnny on Jan 29, 2024 13:18:12 GMT
I like best The Singles and The Definitive Collections - songs are in chronoligical order. The latter does have somr classics - and a few duds too.
There are lots of artists I like bit only have compilations. I have neither the time nor inclination to go through all their studio albums.
Attists like Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Bob Marley, Dolly Parton, Queen, Manic Street Preachers, Carpenters, Dusty Springfield.
There's of course many ABBA fans who only know or want to know the familiar hits and have Gold or any of the multitude of other compilations.
|
|