ABBA - Super Trooper Deluxe Edition

ABBA, one of the greatest music groups of the 20^th Century, have rereleased their 1980 hit album Super Trooper in a new deluxe addition. Off the back of the successful Mamma Mia film and stage show, the producers having realised that there are still a lot of fans to make a quick bob off. This album features the original 10 tracks plus 5 bonus ones. The set also includes a DVD with outtakes and interviews, but this was not available for this review.

THE CD

The ten original tracks have been masterfully digitally restored to a quality only an live audience would have heard at the time. The beautiful singing Freda and Agnetha is crisp, clean and very powerful. ABBA is often associated with cheesy pop, but this is total rubbish. Although it’s clearly of its time, it still very relevant with the issues that are being sung about

Track One is the title song, Super Trooper. The song opens with wonderful acappella singing from the two girls followed by a great synthy-drum based intro. The lyrics are catchy and upbeat. I love the sections when the two males go Super Trooper in really low beefy voices! The tune is very clear and easy to follow, and the bells really add an orchestral feel to the score, complementing the drums, keys and bass well. This is a great piece of music, uplifting and bright, getting you into a party mood.

Track Two, The Winner Takes It All, demonstrates in a song that ABBA isn’t a cheesy pop band. Soft, sad piano music and strumming guitars is a real different feel to the upbeat drums of Super Trooper. Sung so powerfully by Agnetha, it really tells a story. A story of those who have loved and lost. As the beats get fast, the words get deeper: The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall, it’s simple in its play, why should I complain? I love the bit when she asks whether her partner’s new lover‘s kiss the same as hers. It’s like, you find this new bird…but is she as good as me? The greatest musical moment is about three quarters in when she sings THE WINNER TAKES IT ONNN… The note is long but constantly on pitch. No auto tune need, pure talent.

Track Three, On and On and On, is a more mishy-mashy dance track that was popular in The States. It’s clearly influenced by The Beach Boys, and other bands of that era. It doesn’t have any lyrics that are partially memorable and is mainly about the music. That said, this song is very interesting, in that it shows the other styles that ABBA experimented with in the height of their popularity.

Track Four, Andante. Andante, is a wonderfully over-looked ballad played to a mix of keys, synths and drums. The lyrics and tune are very catchy and it has a wonderful musical theatre feel to it, so may be when they make a sequel to Mamma Mia, this would be an ideal choice as a number.

Track Five, Me and I, opens with a slightly odd synth brass trumpet fanfare, like the old 1970’s ITV indents. But again, an over-looked piece. This is an uplifting dance number, similar to Super Trooper. All the group joins in with the lyrics. Again, another good choice for Mamma Mia 2, maybe even as a closing number.

Track Six, Happy New Year, opens as a lovely slow ballad about a New Year party, going into a more upbeat tempo. The song is sung well, with a nice melody and a strong score. It’s the song a group of friends would link arms to sing, after a few drinks! It is properly the most dated song, referring to 1981, but it has a good relevant message about friendship and neighbourship.

Track Seven, Our Last Summer, has had a rise in popularity after Mamma Mia. however during its original release; it received mixed reactions from critics. This original version is female lead, compared to the male trio on the film, which gives it another perspective, the way the writers intended: the love affair of a young woman on holiday.

Track Eight, The Piper, is probably the weakest track, a retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It sounds like an eighties children’s music cassette tape. Lyrical “highlights” include: We’re following the piper; we’re dancing beneath the moon!

Track Nine, Lay All Your Love on Me, is classic ABBA. A great opening intro, followed by a cool drum beat. The classic line: Don’t go wasting your emotion; LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME is so iconic you just find yourself singing along every time you hear it in Tesco’s, driving you round the fish counter. It’s a passionate song, full of gusto and flair.

The final track of the original album, Track Ten, The Way Old Friends Do, is a live recording from ABBA at Wembley. It symbolises the end of ABBA, when they decided it was time to split themselves up and leave them focused on their other work.

BONUS TRACKS

The CD also contains bonus tracks such as B-sides (Elaine), abandoned songs (Put on Your White Sombrero) and Spanish versions of Andante, Andante & Happy New Year. The most interesting of these songs is the full length version of On and On and On, which includes a clap beat.

These recordings give us an insight into the stage ABBA songs went through and which few became big hits, due to the power of the words and lyrics. Each of these songs has their merits, even the Piper which I found myself humming along to the other day. ABBA is a symbol of well written songs and talented performers.