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ABBA

Gold: Greatest Hits Anyone looking for the key to ABBA's enduring appeal should look no further than "Voulez Vous" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" for their answer. There was an innocence to them, even when they were singing about one-night stands and the invitations to them. Gold establishes that the band, while appreciated as campy, were actually multifaceted in their execution. "S.O.S." has a raw urgency in its chorus, and "Does Your Mother Know" draws its energy from classic '50s rock & roll. Likewise, you don't have to be Priscilla to swoon over "Mamma Mia" or "Dancing Queen." And when it comes to drama, those soaring vocals on "The Winner Takes It All" turn the song into a bitter anthem of every relationship that has ever fallen apart. The much-covered "Lay All Your Love on Me" is practically epic. --Steve Gdula

Customer review from Amazon

Reviewer: Gregory A McKinney from United States. Abba was always in the sonic background of my days in the 70s. I did not consider myself a fan per se, considering the fact these girls wore such rediculous stage costumes and all. However, after listening to GOLD I was made aware of just how much I loved the music, fashion sense be damned. Benny and Bjorn were-- and are-- the finest pop craftsmen in the world. Paired with the incomparable voices of Agnetha and Frida, they made melodic magic. I, too, would max my credit card to have the chance to see them perform, as I did not appreciate the opportunity as a teenager in the their touring days. But if that chance never comes, at least I can imagine what it would be like to hear Angetha sing "Thank You For The Music" to me, eye to eye, from the stage. To sum it up, this is the finest pop compilation ever produced... not to be missed.