Search - Abba :: Waterloo (Digipak)

Second album features some great songs

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never bought this album in my vinyl days, content with the tracks that were included on their first Greatest hits album, though I did buy it on CD. As with the Ring ring album, the selection of songs to be included on Greatest hits was spot on. The four selected (Waterloo, Hasta manana, Honey honey and Dance while the music still goes on) are easily the best tracks on this album. Not that there's anything wrong with the other songs here, just that the other four are exceptional.The title track is by far the best known - this up-tempo song easily won the Eurovision song contest and quickly topped the British chart. It also topped the charts in many other countries and was also a top ten hit in America.Hasta manana was considered as an alternative to Waterloo for Eurovision. It might have won, but it is unlikely that it would have been as big a hit as Waterloo turned out to be. Indeed, I'm not even sure if it was ever released as a single - but it is an enjoyable song.Honey honey was a top thirty hit for Abba in America, but Sweet dreams (a duo featuring ex-Pickettywitch singer Polly Browne) covered the song and had a top ten hit with it in Britain. Apart from Dance while the music still goes on, perhaps the best of the rest are My mama said and Gonna sing you my love song.As with so many of Abba's albums, this is generally upbeat. Despite several wonderful songs, it is not as strong as several of their later albums. This is one for Abba's committed fans like me - and there are plenty of those around the world to ensure steady sales for years to come."

Abba, Hitting Their Stride

Brian D. Rubendall | Oakton, VA | 01/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though occasionally derided for being a bunch of lightweights, Abba reigned supreme during the late 70s and early 80s as the world's most popular rock band since The Beatles. The reason was simple, they were capable of writing and performing great pop songs. Having said that, Abba was also first and foremost a singles band. Any of their various Greatest Hits and anthology collections are better buys for most fans that their original albums, which contain less than first rate filler material in between the hits."Waterloo" is actually one of their better original albums. The title track and "Honey Honey" are the big hits, but there are a number of solid less well known songs, including "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On," "What About Livingstone," "Gonna Sing You My Lovesong" and a decent regge attempt with "Sitting in a Palmtree." There are also a few out and out duds, particularly the silly "King Kong Song," a lame attempt at hard rock. Overall, "Waterloo" is a good album for Abba fans, but I would recommend that casual listeners start with a Greatest Hits collection first."

ABBA has their victory and Waterloo at the same time

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 02/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Swedish foursome's second album topped their debut in having more upbeat songs and better production. As again, Agnetha sings lead unless otherwise noted.It was the galloping title track with catchy hooks and lyrics, jingling guitar, Agnetha's strong vocals combined with Frida's, and some tenor sax, that bettered "Ring Ring" by winning the next Eurovision song contest. As with that song, it was released in Swedish and English versions, and it's interesting to hear both. It was their first #1 UK hit.The slow tropical sounding "Sitting In The Palmtree" sung lead by Bjorn is about a heartbroken guy sitting in that tree amid the coconuts waiting for his girl despite being made fun of by passersby.A hard guitar permeates "King Kong Song," which veers towards a hard doo-wop rocker, and things get silly with the basso doo-wop vocals as Bjorn sings about writing a song about watching a gorilla movie on TV, and gives an uncharacteristically rowdy shout about "a big black wild gorilla." Agnetha takes on the next verse. One of the best songs here.One of Agnetha's heartfelt mid-paced ballads is the farewell song "Hasta Manana." Or rather, goodbye till we meet again. There's a nod to a brief Shangri-La's type monologue (q.v. "Leader of the Pack") in the middle, as well as Connie Francis.With the pulsing bass and drums as a backing, "My Mama Said" seems a precursor to the disco sound they would produce with "Dancing Queen." Didn't think a clean-cut group like them would do a rebellion song, as the protagonist, a teenager, wants a life of her own, but is nagged at by her parents."Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)" is a nod to romantic 60's-type pop like the Ronettes or the Crystals, a mid-paced dance floor number that foreshadows material from ABBA or Arrival. The harmony vocals towards the end meshed with the wall of instrumentation puts an ethereal magic touch on things.One of my favourite ABBA songs: the brisk and danceable "Honey Honey" replete with strings and synths, also done in Swedish on this CD. Bjorn sings a few lines here."Watch Out" is more a rocker with some funky bass motifs which Bjorn molds his voice to in the verses. The refrain of "And I'm tired of waiting/yes it's driving me crazy" has counterharmonies from the girls going "ooh la la la" like the Beatles."What About Livingstone" is dance pop set to a reggae-like beat and praises sacrifices made in the name of progress and testing their courage for a greater cause.It's Frida's turn to sing lead, and "Gonna Sing You My Lovesong" is a ballad comforting someone who's girl (or it is spouse?) is mad at him."Suzy-Hang-Around" is Benny's only lead vocal in ABBA period. It's one of those cruel childhood situations, where some mean boys who are "right at the time when boys like to think they're men" tell the title character to go away and find her own friends and playground(!!) Pity he didn't do any more lead vocals, as he isn't bad. The US remix of "Ring Ring" is included here as a bonus track. I tend to favour the original versions.With this album, they became known by the acronym of their first names, Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, and Anni-frid being quite a mouthful.When the self-titled album was issued, for some reason, the title track, "Hasta Manana," and "Honey Honey" were tacked on there along with "Ring Ring" and "Nina Pretty Ballerina." Odd, really. Better than Ring Ring, Waterloo succeeds from more great songs and showing them able to do rock, a bit of tropical, and a precursor to disco."