Does your mother know - Abba

Abba's 'Does your mother know' was recorded in February 1979 and released as a single in April of that year. Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the song is something of a pastiche to 1950s/early 1960s-style rock & roll, incorporating some modern disco rhythms as well. The lyric of the song touches on the subject of a man responding to the flirting of a much younger girl. For the first time in a long time, the song's lead vocals were not performed by female vocalists Agnetha and/or Frida, but by Björn Ulvaeus.

The single was still a big hit for the Swedish superstars, peaking at number 4 in the Netherlands and the UK, also reaching number 19 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2044
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, October 30, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Does your mother know' / 'Kisses of fire'

The visitors - Abba

The title track from Abba's last album 'The visitors' (1981) was released as a single in the USA, after the band participated in an American TV show, 'Let Poland Be Poland', broadcast via satellite around the world on January 31, 1982. The show, which also featured Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Orson Welles, Henry Fonda and US President Ronald Reagan, was a public protest against the then-recent imposition of martial law in Poland. Abba performed this song, which is a protest against the mistreatment of political dissidents in the Soviet Union back then.

This promotional 7" single contains both the full length version of the song and an edit, which is 80 seconds shorter than the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 3996
Found: eBay.com, received August 6, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'The visitors' / 'The visitors (short version)'

Eagle / Thank you for the music - Abba

Released as a double A-side, 'Eagle' and 'Thank you for the music' got equal attention at its release, but in later years, it's 'Thank you for the music' that has become an Abba classic, and not 'Eagle'. I don't really understand. While 'Thank you for the music' certainly has a universal appeal, 'Eagle' comes with a much better production and sound overall.

The single became a number 1 hit in Belgium, but peaked lower in all other countries. In the Netherlands it made number 4, while in the UK it was not released. I got my copy from my sister as a result of a swap. I do not recall which single I swapped but I do know it was an improvement.

My collection: 7" single no. 18
Found: Den Haag
Cost: -
Tracks: 'Eagle' / 'Thank you for the music'

Money, money, money - Abba

'Money, money, money' was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and at first had the working title 'Gypsy girl'. The dramatic structure of the song suited well for Anni-Frid Lyngstad's lead vocal. The song is an early indication of Björn and Benny's abilities to write dramatic music suitable for a musicals.

'Money, money, money' was the second worldwide hit from Abba's album 'Arrival'. The single topped the charts in Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, West Germany, Mexico and New Zealand, and reached the Top 3 in Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria and the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 174
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1980
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Money, money, money' / 'Crazy world'

Super trouper - Abba

'Super trouper' is a name for gigantic spotlights used in stadium concerts and such. While Abba were never fond of performing live, the lyric seems to suggest that they 'feel like a number one' when they perform live. But in typical Abba style, the happy and upbeat song hides a darker and sadder subtext.

The music video for 'Super trouper' featured the largest number of artists the group ever used in a video. Other than Abba and their friends, the rest were from a circus troupe based in the UK. Group photos were made for the sleeve of this single and also for the album cover of 'Super trouper', where this single was drawn from. The single topped the charts in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 173
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Super trouper' / 'The piper'

Chiquitita - Abba

Before the song 'Chiquitita' was created, it existed in various working forms. Titles like 'Kålsupare', 'Three wise guys' and 'In the arms of Rosalita' all passed by. The song was finally recorded as 'Chiquitita' in December 1978 and released a month later, as the first single from the album 'Voulez-vous'.

Upon its release it was featured in the 1979 UNICEF charity event, the 'Music for UNICEF' concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. The single subsequently became a charttopper in Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Mexico and New Zealand. In the UK, the single peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 2247
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Chiquitita' / 'Lovelight'

Dancing queen - Abba

Originally titled 'Boogaloo', 'Dancing Queen' was recorded in August 1975. During the sessions, Benny Andersson brought a tape home with the backing track on it and played it to his fiance, singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who apparently started crying when listening. She commented later: 'I thought the song was so beautiful'.

'Dancing Queen' became Abba's only American number one hit in April 1977. Before that, the single had already been a number one hit in Sweden (where it spent 14 weeks at the top), Norway, Ireland, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1993, on the occasion of Queen Silvia's 50th birthday, Abba's Frida performed an accapella version of the song together with The Real Group. A video recording of this performance exists on 'Frida - The DVD', a documentary DVD released in 2005.

My collection: 7" single no. 2256
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, March 22, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Dancing Queen' / 'That's me'

Mamma mia - Abba

While never released as a single in their native Sweden, Abba's 'Mamma Mia' (1975) was the band's first song to make a breakthrough in Australia, even reaching number one for no less than 10 weeks. At the time, it was rumoured that every third citizen of the country owned an Abba record.

It was almost entirely due to this overwhelming success that the single was subsequently released in the UK and other territories. It took the single nearly two months after it was released to top the UK charts. "Mamma Mia" also reached No.1 in Ireland, Switzerland and West Germany. In 1999 the musical 'Mamma Mia', featuring songs by Abba opened in London's West End. Since then, production has spread to many other countries, with over 1500 performances on Broadway alone.

My collection: 7" single no. 2724

Found: Record fair, September 2, 1996

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Mamma mia' / 'Intermezzo no. 1'

Summer night city - Abba

The recording sessions for 'Summer night city' began in early 1978. Abba's new Polar Music recording studio had opened in May, but had not been ready to use initially, so the primary backing track had been recorded at Metronome Studio. A 43-second ballad-style introduction to the song had been edited out to improve the overall quality, but nothing seemed to work. Allegedly, mixing the single took at least a week, far more than it took to mix any other track in ABBA's recording history. A reluctant Abba decided to release the song as a single in September despite their disappointment with the track as it was.

Although the band was critical of their own song, the record-buying audiences were impressed. The single topped the charts in Finland, Ireland and Sweden and peaked at number 5 in the UK and the Netherlands.

The B-side medley was actually a remix of the original 1975 version that had been issued on the German charity album 'Stars im zeichen eines guten sterns'. It was a medley of the traditional songs 'Pick a bale of cotton', 'On top of old smokey' and 'Midnight special'. The recording is unique because it's the only cover version(s) that Abba have ever recorded in the studio.

My collection: 7" single no. 2299
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, May 27, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Summer night city' / 'Medley: Pick a bale of cotton/On top of old Smokey/Midnight special'

Fernando - Abba

The song 'Fernando' was originally written for Anni-Frid Lynstad's solo album 'Ensam' (1975). The lyric of this version, which was written in Swedish, differed substantially from the English version recorded by Abba. Bjorn Ulvaeus from the band comments: 'That lyric is so banal and I didn't like it. It was a love lyric, someone who loved Fernando, but I inherited the word 'Fernando' and I thought long and hard, what does Fernando tell me? I was in my summerhouse one starry evening and the words came, 'There was something in the air that night' and I thought of two old comrades from some guerrilla war in Mexico who would be sitting in the porch and reminiscing about what happened to them back then and this is what it is all about. Total fiction.'

The single became one of Abba's best selling singles, reaching the top of the charts in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

My collection: 7" single no. 1939

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Fernando' / 'Tropical loveland'

Head over heels - Abba

'Head over heels' was the second single taken from Abba's 1981 album 'The visitors'. The song was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The lead vocal was sung by Agnetha Fältskog, singing about her 'very good friend', played in the accompanying music video by Anni-Frid Lyngstad, an overactive high-society woman who rushes through the shops, with her hapless and exhausted husband (played by Ulvaeus) following behind.

The single was not the big success previous singles were, only managing a top 10 placing in France, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the UK, the single only peaked at number 25, breaking a run of 18 consecutive top 1o hits in that country.

I bought the single as soon as it came out, as had become usual for Abba singles around that time. Fourteen years later, I found the UK edition with a different - but beautiful - picture sleeve (pictured below).

My collection: 7" single no. 107 / no. 2700
Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1982 / House of Rhythm, London, July 3, 1996
Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Head over heels' / 'The visitors'

Knowing me, knowing you - Abba

Recorded in 1976 at the Metronome studio in Stockholm, 'Knowing me knowing you' was released as a single in February 1977. The B-side was 'Happy Hawaii', an early version of 'Why did it have to be me'. Group member Benny Andersson named 'Knowing me, knowing you' as one of Abba's best recordings in a 2004 interview, along with 'Dancing queen', 'The winner takes it all' and 'When I kissed the teacher'.

The single became a number 1 hit in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Mexico and South Africa. In the Netherlands and Switzerland it peaked at number 3. It was a top 10 hit in eight further countries.

My collection: 7" single no. 233
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Knowing me, knowing you' / 'Happy Hawaii'

S.O.S. - Abba

'S.O.S.' was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. The title itself was coined by Stig, though the lyrics he provided were re-written by Ulvaeus. 'S.O.S.' was among the first three songs recorded for the group's upcoming 1975 album, ABBA. Despite the song's catchiness, it was passed over as the lead single from the album; the track 'So long' was chosen instead. 'So long' was chosen primarily because it had the same uptempo beat as their 1974 hit single, 'Waterloo'.

After 'So long' performed less well than expected, 'S.O.S.' became Abba's comeback single. It was a number one hit in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa. In the UK, the single peaked at number 6 and in the Netherlands at number 2. Abba would from then on remain a force to be recogned with in pop music.

I have two versions of the single: I first bought the French edition (pictured above) during a record fair. 18 months later I bought a Dutch pressing (pictured below). When I bought the cd-singles box set a few years ago, the sleeve of 'S.O.S.' was different. So now I'm still looking for the German edition...

My collection: 7" single no. 2049 / no. 2298

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, November 13, 1993 / Record fair, Utrecht, May 27, 1995

Cost: 3 guilders / 2 guilders

Tracks: 'S.O.S.' / 'Man in the middle'

Take a chance on me - Abba

Much has been said about Abba's later years, when both couples had divorced and their music took on an increasingly serious tone. It's easy to forget that it all started out as great fun. 'Take a chance on me' is one of those upbeat tracks. The song's origins sprang from Ulvaeus, whose hobby was running. While running, he would sing a "tck-a-ch"-style rhythm to himself over and over again, which then evolved into "take-a-chance" and the eventual lyrics.

'Take a chance on me' was a number one hit in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and the UK, and peaked at number 2 in the Netherlands. The song was covered by Erasure on their 'Abba-esque' EP (1992).

My collection: 7" single no. 2117

Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, June 11, 1994

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Take a chance on me' / 'I'm a marionette'

Bette Davis Eyes EP - Various artists

The thing I like most about my record collection is that I've got some singles from strange countries. And this one is from a country that doesn't even exist anymore: the German Democratic Republic, otherwise known as East Germany. There have been some fascinating documentaries about life in that country recently, but there's not so much information about the state record company Amiga.

Which is why this EP is pretty hard to find background information on. It contains cover versions of four hits from the year 1981. 'Bette Davis Eyes', originally by Kim Carnes, Kim Wilde's 'Chequered love', 'Hands up' , originally by Ottawan and Abba's well-known song 'Lay all your love on me'. I bought this EP when I saw it because of the cover of 'Chequered love'. Interestingly, Petra Zieger is still in the music business these days as a singer of German Schlagers. That's a long way from this 'painting by numbers' cover of 'Chequered love'.

The quality of the vinyl leaves a bit to be desired, but the tracks are incredibly rare.

My collection: 7" single no. 2925

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 13, 1997

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Bette Davis Eyes' (Familie Silly), 'Chequered love' (Petra Zieger) / 'Hands up' (Cantus Chor), 'Lay all your love on me' (Cantus Chor)

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Abba

'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus as a new track for the compilation album 'Greatest Hits vol. 2'. It was also released as a single to promote this new compilation. The release coincided with Abba's live tour of North America and Europe.

Originally, Abba had recorded another song, 'Rubber Ball Man', which was planned as a single. However, they felt that 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!', with its disco sound, would be a better choice, and thus 'Rubber Ball Man' remained nothing more than a demo. 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' was a number one hit in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland and Switzerland, and became a top 10 hit almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 31

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1979

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' / 'The king has lost his crown'

Download: Album 'Voulez-vous', including both tracks

I have a dream - Abba

'I have a dream' was released in December 1979, but it wasn't a Christmas song. Still, the European sleeve of the single states that it is a 'Special Christmas Souvenir edition'. It may have originated from the 'Special Souvenir edition' pictured here. The folded sleeve, released in the UK, contains a special statement from the members of the band, saying that 'November 1979 will always be full of fond memories of our UK tour. Releasing this single gives us the opportunity to thank the thousands of you who made our visit so memorable. In 1979, The Year Of The Child, 'I have a dream' had a special meaning for us and enabled us to perform the song with choirs of British schoolchildren who joined us on stage each night.'

Together with a live recording of 'Take a chance on me' as performed in Wembley, London, this single was not so much a Christmas Souvenir as a UK Tour souvenir.

My collection: 7" single no. 3245

Found: London, 2000

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'I have a dream' / 'Take a chance on me (live)'

Download: here

Lay all your love on me - Abba

As I wrote before, the first 7" single I ever had will always remain a mystery. Fortunately, this isn't the case with my 12" singles. The very first one I had is still in my collection and is still proudly number one. And I remember how I got it, too.

I was a big fan of Abba. Then, sometime in 1980, they released a single on 12" only. It was a track taken from their album 'Super trouper' and this maxi single didn't even contain a remix. But still, the fact that I didn't have it bugged me. My brother, one day, offered his copy to me - but at full price. Greedy as I was to want to have it, I paid it, too. I was, and still am, the proud owner of a very collectable item - or so I thought.

My collection: 12" single no. 1

Found: My brother's record collection, at home, 1981

Cost: 15 guilders

Tracks: 'Lay all your love on me' / 'On and on and on'

Download: Album 'Super trouper', including both tracks

The winner takes it all - Abba

My sister and I were both Abba fans. We also had a record collection each. As she's older than me, her collection was bigger than mine for a long time. I was always jealous. One holiday I had an opportunity to beat my sister to the punch. On the last day, when she said she had spent all her money, I spotted a new single by Abba. And I still had some money left. If my parents would give me the equivalent of 1 euro, I would actually have this single!

It was my sister who talked me out of it. I might not like this song, I'd never heard it, and how was I to know it would be any good? We were both Abba fans, as I said, but it kindof made sense. And so the single stayed in Vienna. A week later, my sister bought the single at home. And I had to wait for months to get mine after it left the charts for half price... The single was 'The winner takes it all', one of my all time favourite Abba tracks. There's some irony in that.

My collection: 7" single no. 67

Found: Wouters, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'The winner takes it all' / 'Elaine'

Download: Album 'Super Trouper', including both tracks

Waterloo - Abba

When I was a child, Abba was probably the most popular band in the world. I was always listening to them, whether it was on the records of my sister, on television or on the radio. I've bought the majority of their singles in my life, although I'm still not complete. When I bought this particular single, though, it was mostly for sentimental reasons. I don't think I ever played it. I don't think I could hear anything new if I played Waterloo once again.

This single was released in 2004 to commemorate the fact that Abba won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest 30 years earlier. Sounds like a record company ploy, like most Abba releases these days. I think the third version of their 'Complete Albums' boxset was released recently. Thank God I'm not a hardcore Abba fan.

My collection: 7" single no. 3404

Found: hmv.co.uk website, 2004

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Waterloo' / 'Watch out'

Download: Album 'Waterloo', including these two tracks (password: sanmarino)