Waterloo [50th Anniversary] [2 LP]

by ABBA

Overview

ABBA's second (and U.S. debut) album contains the American Top Ten title track, as well as "Honey, Honey," a minor U.S. hit that deserved better. This album is rather unusual in the group's output, however, for the fact that the guys are still featured fairly prominently in some of the vocals, and for the variety of sounds -- including reggae, folk-rock, and hard rock -- embraced by its songs. The reggae number "Sitting in the Palmtree" is quite remarkable to hear, with its perfect Caribbean beat and those radiant female voices carrying the chorus behind the beat. "King Kong Song" is a good example of hard rock by rote, going through the motions of screaming vocals and over-amplified guitar (courtesy of Janne Schaffer), although even here, when the women's voices jump in on the choruses, it's hard not to listen attentively; the quartet knew what a powerful weapon they had, but not quite how to use it. They get a little closer to their winning formula on the catchy, folky-textured pop song "Hasta Manana," which sounds like a lost Mary Hopkin number. "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)" is on the money as the embodiment of the Euro-disco sound that the group would embrace on their future albums, although it also hints at a vague oldies sound, with a melody that somehow reminds this listener of both the Four Seasons' "Dawn" and the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby." ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	04/05/2024
Label:	Capitol
UPC:	0602455777195
Rank:	41902

Album Credits

Performance Credits

ABBA   Primary Artist
Benny Andersson   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Phil Cody   Composer
Yves Dessca   Composer
Anni-Frid Lyngstad   Composer
Stig Anderson   Composer
Bjoern Ulvaeus   Composer
Benny Andersson   Composer
Neil Sedaka   Composer