Following the Deluxe edition of Abba’s ”The Visitors”, the band’s 1975 album ”Abba” is being given the Deluxe edition tratment. The album features classic hits such as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘SOS’ and ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’.
The first disc in the package is a remastered version of the original album plus three bonus tracks – Crazy world, Medley: Pick A Bale Of Cotton – On Top Of Old Smokey – Midnight Special, and a Spanish version of Mamma Mia. The three bonus tracks have been available before – the first two were on at least two of the re-issued versions, and the Spanish version of Mamma Mia was on the COmplete studio recordings box set.
The second disc is a DVD, featuring 60 minutes of previously unreleased television performances, including the complete 1976 television special ABBA In Australia – the export version of the famous The Best Of ABBA special, which had higher viewer ratings in Australia than the moon landing! 6 of the 12 songs in the special are performances of tracks from the ABBA album. In addition, there are three songs from the 1975 television special Made In Sweden – For Export, along with two great performances from the BBC archives: ‘SOS’ on Seaside Special, first broadcast in 1975, and ‘Mamma Mia’ on Top Of The Pops (1976). To round off the DVD there are two vintage television commercials, one for the Australian hits album The Best Of ABBA (along with the other albums released by ABBA in Australia up to that point) and the other for ABBA’s Greatest Hits album.
The package also includes a 24-page booklet featuring an extensive essay on the making of the album, for which ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have contributed fresh insights and stories.
So, is it worth buying? If you haven’t got the album then yes it’s definitely worth getting this version as you get the album plus the bonus tracks and the DVD. If you’ve got the album already then the main attraction will be the DVD. Personally I’d say yes it’s worth getting but it all depends how much of an ABBA fan you are and if you’re likely to watch the DVD more than once.
A very good reissue of a great album.
Track listing:
Disc: 1 (CD)
1. Mamma Mia
2. Hey, Hey Helen
3. Tropical Loveland
4. S.O.S.
5. Man In The Middle
6. Bang-A-Boomerang
7. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
8. Rock Me
9. Intermezzo No.1
10. I’ve Been Waiting For You
11. So Long
12. Crazy World
13. Medley: Pick A Bale Of Cotton – On Top Of Old Smokey – Midnight Special
14. Mamma Mia (Spanish version)
Disc: 2 (DVD)
1. ABBA In Australia
2. Made In Sweden – For Export
3. SOS
4. Mamma Mia
5. The Best Of ABBA
6. Greatest Hits
7. International Sleeve Gallery
8. Menu / Still Image / ABBA Deluxe Edition
