The Singles – The First Fifty Years

Swedish pop phenomenon Abba; have released many Best of/Greatest hits compilation albums throughout their music career - both together,post split and together again (in 2021-22) confused already folks!!🤔😂I'll now get straight to the point and say a few words regarding - Abba The singles The first fifty years (1972-2022).It's a two cd collection divided into CD1: 1972-1979 and CD2: 1979-2022.Opening track on cd1: People need love - gets the ball rolling,and continues with Honey Honey (UK hit for female duo Sweet dreams in 1974),then world-wide breakthrough hit Waterloo - Eurovision song contest winning entry also in '74.Familiar hits and UK #1 singles; Mama mia,Fernando,Dancing Queen (perennial classic) and Knowing me knowing you,The name of the game and Take a chance on me - continue the fine form of Abba's huge success during this period.D2: doesn't disappoint either: kicking off with; Voluez/Angel eyes (double A-sided single),Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and the self-hope anthem - I have a dream - with beautiful children's choir in evidence.Abba's two remaining #1's The winner takes it all (relationship breakup theme) and Super Trooper (highlighting some group members dislike of touring) are essential inclusions on second CD disc.All the familiar hits you've come to know and love are included on The singles...album,with the rather strange ommission of Thank you for the music - belated UK release,lesser successful hit in 1983.The advantage this latest compilation has over other Abba collections (including the record breaking Abba Gold - Greatest hits) is the inclusions of four tracks from their long awaited comeback album - Voyage - in 2021.IE: I still have faith in you,Don't shut me down,Just a notion and Little things - all single releases.Concluding with final track on this compilation album - No doubt about it - 'released to radio in 2022',as mentioned in the excellent sleeve notes by a Swedish sounding music writer (appropriately).The package is presented in hard back book format and contains pages of; colour and B&W group photos of various stages of their time together,song writing and release date info for all tracks,montage of singles' sleeves and excellent (digitally re-mastered?) sound quality throughout).When Abba The singles The first ten years - was first released in 1982 - it was a quite a success -UK#1 album,and this long-awaited follow-up of The first fifty years - although the most thorough of all Abba's compilation albums - only made a brief appearance on the UK official albums chart in November 2024 at no 17 - then nose-dived and (to date) never seen again - a great pity!Still highly recommended though.and an excellent celebration of the super swedes AKA: ABBA's continuing musical and ever-lasting legacy.

great recording of thre best hits

Firstly, for the ABBA fan there is nothing new on here. But the inclusion of tracks from the album Voyage does make this an up to date album.Good quality package.Is it worth the £100 - possibly. Definitely for the completist collector.

Received this Tuesday, listen to it today Thursday. Unlike some reviews, it is nice to have all their singles in one place and in order, in which to listen how they evolved during the first 10 years and then again in 2022. Till I listened to the last side and the singles from Voyage, did I realise how much I liked them as for me listening to them and enjoying this last side the most. A considered purchase I agree, but worth it. Highly recommended.

A definitive collection of all Abba's work apart from "Thank You For The Music" which inexplicitly is missing.

In terms of quality, this is a good product. It has all of the hit singles, it is well made, looks good. So on that level it can't be faulted.The problem is two fold. Firstly, it is very expensive. £99.98 for 4 LPs? Certainly not cheap.Secondly, why was it released? Everything has been released multiple times before. Even the "new" tracks have had lots of exposure. ABBA Gold is still in the album charts. Who is it targeted at? Well, it's not going to be an impulse by, so it looks like a cynical attempt to fleece fans. Record companies need to realise that such exploitation has to end.

Great car music when the radio disappoints . Cracking Playlist , tune after tune to relish .

I’m happy with it but it is a Xmas gift for my mom so no response yet