ABBA

Arrival

Top Notch!!!!!

Review Score:

(10/10)
An internationally massive release this highly enjoyable album is a fan favourite and with good reason. The album spawned 3 big singles and even the filler songs included are melodic & vibrant.

The first song on the album is the charming "When I Kissed The Teacher". The song soars with melody and outstanding harmonies. It is followed by "Dancing Queen" an enduring classic that has reached almost mythic proportions. Anyone who has not heard of this song must be living a very sheltered life. The single was released in 1976 and reached #1 in almost every territory- the US included. One of the countries where it did NOT top the charts was in Canada where the single stayed in the # 2 spot for 5 weeks. Agnetha takes the lead in "My Love My Life", a beautiful ballad and one of ABBA's most under-rated songs. Agnetha really knows how to convey emotion in her voice which is probably why she was always given the lead in most of ABBA's tearjerker ballads- "SOS", "I've Been Waiting For You", "The Winner Take's It All", "One of Us", "Chiquitita". That combined with her extraordinary voice makes "My Love My Life" one of the album highlights. "Dum Dum Diddle" is the song that follows and is in sharp contrast. No sorrowful vocals here. Instead we are treated to a 2 and half minute ditty with a gorgeous tune. Many have complained about the lyrics but what is the big deal? I can name SEVERAL songs written by many respected artist's with lyrics that make no sense. Appreciate the song for what it is and boring it is not. Proceeding is one of ABBA's masterpeice's "Knowing Me Knowing you" (a-haaaa) which was another world wide smash reaching #1 in the UK, #2 in Canada and #14 in the US followed by the much loved "Money Money Money" a UK top 3 hit and a minor US hit (#56). The song's that follow are also worth mentioning, "That's Me" (one of Agnetha's favourites) offers yet again, a soaring melody and great harmonies, "Why Did It Have to be Me" has Bjorn sharing the vocals with the girls, "Tiger" is a heavy duty "almost" rock track and the lyric-less "Arrival" is a haunting celtic flavoured track.

Bonus tracks include the UK chart-topper "Fernando", which was ABBA's biggest selling single here in Canada where it reached #2, the single also reached #13 in the US singles charts and #1 on the Billboard AC charts and an earlier version of "Why Did it have to be Me" titled "Happy Hawaii" finishes off the CD.

"Arrival" was ABBA's first record to break into the US Top 40 of the Billboard Album charts. It peaked at # 20 and earned them a gold disc. The album was MASSIVE in Canada where it reached the Top 10 and in the UK where it topped the album charts for several weeks. Although "Arrival" is one of ABBA's finest albums, it is not my favourite, that crown goes to "Super Trouper" and "The Visitor's", however this is definately high on the list because the music is melodious and the girls voices are first rate.

When first released in 1976, many critics tore this album apart, especially in the US. Reading today's reviews from today's critics and it's a whole other story. It's about time music critics admitted the obvious- ABBA's music is enduring and (as one critic geniusly pointed out) very difficult to dislike. Not many pop/rock bands can match the sheer brilliance of ABBA's perfect pop.

So for the non-fans out there, get past the platforms, the feathered hair, the blue eye-shadow and form fitting polyester suits, it's about the music and the music is majestic.

Enjoy!

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