Better before and after
bobby morrow | United Kingdom | 07/11/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Abba's 'disco' album from 1979 has been released on CD many times but this is definitely the best one yet. Unlike the previous reviewer, I followed them from 'Waterloo' onwards. None of that nasty punk stuff for me!
Following 'Abba-The Album' and 'Arrival' was never going to be easy. The group were trying to move with the times and 'Voulez-Vous' was the danciest album they were to put out. After the aforementioned previous LPs, it was considered something of a disappointment and was the first of their UK released albums not to spawn a #1 single. Of course many acts would kill to have anything nearing the quality of this set of songs but by Abba's standards, it wasn't their best.
The excellent booklet makes mention of the group's struggle to put the record together. There was a general lack of inspiration around the project and initial lead single, 'Summer Night City' was left off the LP after it performed poorly (by Abba standards) on the charts. 'If It Wasn't For The Nights' was set to be the new first single but this never came to pass. Like much of the LP, it has a shrill, trying-too-hard feel to it and I'm not convinced, unlike other fans, that this track would have been the album's salvation.
'Chiquitita' became the lead single with the proceeds going to Unicef at the start of 1979. I've always seen it as a poor man's 'Fernando' and like several tracks on 'Voulez-Vous', it's far too long. The second single, the rocky 'Does Your Mother Know', was better but 'only' made #4 in the UK charts. Indeed, the biggest hit came at the end of the year, 'I Have A Dream' got to #2.
31 years on, the album still isn't one of my favourites. This edition is actually far stronger than the original release adding 5 bonus tracks, including 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme', 'Lovelight' and the wondrous 'Dream World', a song Benny and Bjorn hated and which remained unreleased for years.
I say this album is disappointing only as an Abba one, mind. The production, harmonies and often the song construction are mind-blowing to say the least, but I have to say the subsequent 'Super Trouper' album was far better to my ears.
The DVD is hit and miss, I suppose. The 'Abba In Switzerland' TV special is OK (but omits guest appearances by Kate Bush and Roxy Music) and guest slots on 'The Mike Yarwood Show, the Unicef concert and 'Multi Coloured Swap Shop' are fun to see again though the group steadfastly mime through all these shows for some reason. A few ads and a sleeve gallery are also included but these weren't of enormous interest to me.
Although it's not my favourite Abba release, this Deluxe Edition of 'Voulez-Vous' is is absolutely worth getting and is beautifully packaged. Also, in light of how little more was to come from the band, it's more important than ever."
Late to the Party
Aaron M. Richardson | Marble Falls, TX USA | 07/06/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I am a contemporary of ABBA. However, when ABBA were performing and touring, I was too cool for their purely "Pop" music. If you asked me in the late 70's - early 80's, to name an ABBA song, I would have been hard pressed to come up with anything other than "Dancing Queen" or "Fernando". It's not all my fault though - Top 40 radio played very little of their music.
Now 30 years later, thanks to the play and movie of Mamma Mia, I have become thoroughly aware of ABBA - finally. But I still feel cheated that I wasn't aware at the time. In 1979 I was living in St. Louis, MO, and although ABBA did not play there, they did play in Chicago, which was close enough to drive.
After seeing both the play and the movie, I first bought the ABBA Gold CD. That was a good start as it contains all of their really big hits - many more than I was aware of. But it wasn't enough - I wanted more.
This remastered version of their Voulez-Vous album is well worth the price. Not only is the sound great, it has brought me new ABBA music that I never heard before. My new favorite is "The King Has Lost His Crown". I guess there are advantages to being late to the party - what is "old hat" to original fans is all new to me.
The DVD includes a television special that ABBA filmed in Switzerland in 1979 that is great. Even though they are lip syncing to a playback of the recording, it is great to see them up close - since I missed the real concert (Darn it).
"
