SUPER TROUPER - ABBA

YEAR: 1980

LABEL: Atlantic

TRACK LISTING: Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All, On and On and On, Andante Andante, Me and I, Happy New Year, Our Last Summer, The Piper, Lay All Your Love On Me, The Way Old Friends Do (Live)

IMPRESSIONS: The pop juggernaut! This album was given to me as a birthday present by my grandmother in 1980 (along with the "GLENN MILLER - A MEMORIAL" record mentioned elsewhere on this blog; click the Glenn Miller label for more info). It is the only actual ABBA album (not being a "best of compilation") that I own and its pop wonderfulness got a lot of play back then. It contains probably my favourite ABBA song "The Winner Takes It All" and the album has something of an autumnal feel. After all, "The Winner Takes It All" was ABBA's last huge hit single and SUPER TROUPER was their last chart topping album. Even the upbeat songs have a hint of melancholy about them and there's an "end of the party" feel to the album (made explicit in the song "Happy New Year" and its accompanying video as well as the literal approach of autumn found in "Our Last Summer"). "On and On and On" is one of my favourite stompers and it's got a wonderful cynical edge to it not usually found in ABBA's oeuvre. The medieval silliness of "The Piper" is a lot of fun and I think channels the fascination with Dungeons & Dragons that was high in 1980 cultural consciousness.

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All, On and On and On, Happy New Year, Our Last Summer, The Piper

FACT SHEET: SUPER TROUPER is ABBA's seventh album. "Super Trouper" is a registered trademark owned by Strong Entertainment Lighting referring to their brand of directional spotlights used to follow an entertainer while performing on stage. The cover was designed by Rune Söderqvist and utilizes the "spotlight" theme with the band surrounded by the members of two circuses filmed at Europa Studios in Stockholm; the original concept was to have the cover photo staged in London's Piccadilly Circus until it was discovered there was a law preventing entertainers and animals in Central London. "The Winner Takes It All" made reference to the divorce of Agnetha and Björn the year before. "On and On and On" is about the band's experiences of Stockholm's night life. "The Way Old Friends Do" was recorded live during ABBA's 1979 world tour; it was usually performed at the end of the concert with the band members linking arms around Benny's accordion. On the original vinyl LP, the audience applause at the end continues into the run-off groove meaning that it will play continuously if your turntable doesn't have an autostop feature.