ABBA - The Complete Studio Recordings (2005) [9CD + 2DVD] Box Set

ABBA The Complete Studio Recordings Box Set (2005 UK Strictly Limited Deluxe Edition 11-disc box set comprising NINE digitally remastered CDs from 'Ring Ring' to 'The Visitors' with a host of amazing bonus tracks & rarities including B-Sides, remixes, versions in Spanish, German, French and Swedish and more; plus TWO BONUS NTSC DVDs featuring THIRTY TWO videos, 'The History' - Documentary and Selections From Abba's Final Live Concert!. Also includes two hardbackbooks with silver embossed titles - one 108-page booklet of lyrics and a 48-page 'Timeline & Disc Contents'.

Ring Ring was first released in Sweden on March 26, 1973. Recording sessions began in March 1972 and continued until March 1973.

The Ring Ring album shows ABBA coming together. At the time of its original release the group wasn’t even called ABBA, but used the name Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida. When the first song to appear on the album was recorded - ‘People Need Love’ in the spring of 1972 - the group was just one of many projects the four members were involved in. Only after the title track, ‘Ring Ring’, became a hit, did the four decide to go on working together as a permanent group.

Track Listing

01. Ring Ring (3:06)
02. Another Town, Another Train (3:13)
03. Disillusion (3:06)
04. People Need Love (2:45)
05. I Saw It In The Mirror (2:35)
06. Nina, Pretty Ballerina (2:53)
07. Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough) (2:56)
08. Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother (2:52)
09. He Is Your Brother (3:19)
10. She's My Kind Of Girl (2:46)
11. I Am Just A Girl (3:03)
12. Rock'n Roll Band (3:14)

BONUS TRACKS

13. Ring Ring (Bara Du Slog En Signal) (Swedish Version) (3:08)
14. Åh, Vilka Tider (2:33)
15. Merry-Go-Round (3:26)
16. Santa Rosa (3:01)
17. Ring Ring (Spanish Version) (3:01)
18. Wer Im Wartesaal Der Liebe Steht (German Version of ''Another Town, Another Train'') (3:21)
19. Ring Ring (German Version) (3:09)

Waterloo was first released in Sweden on March 4, 1974. Recording sessions began in September 1973 and continued until February 1974.

Sessions for what was to become the Waterloo album were well under way when Björn, Benny and Stig Anderson were invited to submit an entry to the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The song they came up with was, of course, ‘Waterloo’.

This second ABBA album was the first to really show the group as a unified entity - indeed, it was the first album to be released under the new group name. Apart from ‘Waterloo’ the album spawned a hit in ‘Honey, Honey’.

Track Listing

01. Waterloo (2:45)
02. Sitting In The Palmtree (3:39)
03. King Kong Song (3:14)
04. Hasta Mañana (3:11)
05. My Mama Said (3:13)
06. Dance (While The Music Still Goes On) (3:13)
07. Honey, Honey (2:56)
08. Watch Out (3:48)
09. What About Livingstone (2:57)
10. Gonna Sing You My Lovesong (3:39)
11. Suzy-Hang-Around (3:16)

BONUS TRACKS

12. Ring Ring (US Remix 1974) (3:06)
13. Waterloo (Swedish Version) (2:46)
14. Honey, Honey (Swedish Version) (2:59)
15. Waterloo (German Version) (2:44)
16. Hasta Mañana (Spanish Version) (3:09)
17. Ring Ring (1974 Remix, Single Version) (3:10)
18. Waterloo (French Version) (2:42)

The ABBA album was the group’s third collection, and was arguably where they finally came into their own. With hits like ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘SOS’, the multi-layered 1970s take on early 1960s pop idioms showed ABBA as a group with a unique sound and approach.

It was with the hits from this album - which also included ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ - that ABBA first made a considerable impact in Australia. ‘Mamma Mia’ occupied the top position for no less than 10 weeks!

Track Listing

01. Mamma Mia (3:32)
02. Hey, Hey Helen (3:17)
03. Tropical Loveland (3:06)
04. SOS (3:23)
05. Man In The Middle (3:03)
06. Bang-A-Boomerang (3:04)
07. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (3:17)
08. Rock Me (3:06)
09. Intermezzo No.1 (3:48)
10. I've Been Waiting For You (3:41)
11. So Long (3:10)

BONUS TRACKS

12. Crazy World (3:46)
13. Medley: Pick A Bale Of Cotton - On Top Of Old Smokey - Midnight Special (1978 Mix) (4:21)
14. Mamma Mia (Spanish Version) (3:34)

Arrival was first released in Sweden on October 11, 1976.

ABBA’s fourth album featured some of their biggest hits: ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Money, Money, Money’ and ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’. The album sessions also spawned ‘Fernando’ which was only released as a separate single in most parts of the world, although it was included on Arrival in Australia and New Zealand.

This was the album where ABBA pushed their classic, direct pop style to the limit. The album could be classified as the group’s “exam paper” in the school of International Pop. On Arrival, almost every track could have been a hit single.

Track Listing

01. When I Kissed The Teacher (3:03)
02. Dancing Queen (3:53)
03. My Love, My Life (3:54)
04. Dum Dum Diddle (2:55)
05. Knowing Me, Knowing You (4:02)
06. Money, Money, Money (3:07)
07. That's Me (3:17)
08. Why Did It Have To Be Me (3:22)
09. Tiger (2:57)
10. Arrival (3:06)

BONUS TRACKS

11. Fernando (4:14)
12. Happy Hawaii (Early version of "Why Did It Have to Be Me?") (4:25)
13. La Reina Del Baile (Spanish version of "Dancing Queen") (4:03)
14. Conociéndome, Conociéndote (Spanish version of "Knowing Me, Knowing You") (4:04)
15. Fernando (Spanish Version) (4:17)

ABBA - The Album was first released in Sweden on December 12, 1977. Recording sessions began in May 1977 and continued until November 1977.

On their fifth album, ABBA showed a new sense of ambition: longer tracks, more complex structures, and lyrics that aspired to be more than just words that fitted the melody.

Alongside hit singles like ‘The Name Of The Game’ and ‘Take A Chance On Me’, the album offered three songs from ABBA’s mini-musical, The Girl With The Golden Hair. One of them was ‘Thank You For The Music’, one of ABBA’s most well-known songs but actually never a big hit single.

ABBA - The Album was issued in conjunction with the cinema release ABBA - The Movie. Several of the songs on the album were also featured in the film.

Track Listing

01. Eagle (5:49)
02. Take A Chance On Me (4:00)
03. One Man, One Woman (4:34)
04. The Name Of The Game (4:54)
05. Move On (4:42)
06. Hole In Your Soul (3:41)
"The Girl with the Golden Hair" - 3 Scenes from a Mini-Musical -
07. Thank You For The Music (3:49)
08. I Wonder (Departure) (4:33)
09. I'm A Marionette (4:09)

BONUS TRACKS

10. Al Andar (Spanish version of "Move On") (4:43)
11. Gracias Por La Música (Spanish version of "Thank You for the Music") (3:49)

Voulez-Vous was first released in Sweden on April 23, 1979. Recording sessions began in March 1978 and continued until March 1979.

When ABBA’s sixth album was recorded, the popular music world was in the midst of a disco craze. This certainly left its mark on Voulez-Vous, which was characterized by dance beats and rhythmic inflections. As if to emphasize this tendency, the title track was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, USA, where The Bee Gees made their disco-era records.

Other hits on the album included ’Chiquitita’, ’Does Your Mother Know’, ’Angeleyes’ and ’I Have A Dream’.

Track Listing

01. As Good As New (3:23)
02. Voulez-Vous (5:08)
03. I Have A Dream (4:44)
04. Angeleyes (4:22)
05. The King Has Lost His Crown (3:34)
06. Does Your Mother Know (3:15)
07. If It Wasn't For The Nights (5:10)
08. Chiquitita (5:26)
09. Lovers (Live A Little Longer) (3:31)
10. Kisses Of Fire (3:21)

BONUS TRACKS

11. Summer Night City (3:36)
12. Lovelight (3:49)
13. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (4:51)
14. Estoy Soñando (Spanish version of "I Have a Dream") (4:40)
15. Chiquitita (Spanish Version) (5:35)
16. ¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame! (Spanish version of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)") (4:49)

Super Trouper was first released in Sweden on November 3, 1980. Recording sessions began in February 1980 and continued until October 1980.

On the seventh ABBA album, the group presented themselves as a more overtly mature group. The previous year’s divorce between Björn and Agnetha was explored in ‘The Winner Takes It All’, and the members’ lives in Stockholm high society circles coloured the lyrics for ‘On And On And On’.

Other well-known songs on the album include the hit single title track, as well as the electro-dance of ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’.

Track Listing

01. Super Trouper (4:15)
02. The Winner Takes It All (4:56)
03. On And On And On (3:42)
04. Andante, Andante (4:41)
05. Me And I (4:56)
06. Happy New Year (4:25)
07. Our Last Summer (4:21)
08. The Piper (3:27)
09. Lay All Your Love On Me (4:35)
10. The Way Old Friends Do (2:59)

BONUS TRACKS

11. Elaine (3:45)
12. Andante, Andante (Spanish Version) (4:40)
13. Felicidad (Spanish version of "Happy New Year") (4:24)

The Visitors was first released in Sweden on November 30, 1981. Recording sessions began in March 1981 and continued until November 1981.

ABBA’s eighth and final album was their very bleakest, but has emerged as a favourite among many of the group’s hardcore fans. With Benny and Frida going their separate ways, the pain of splitting up was explored yet again in ‘When All Is Said And Done’.

The major hit single on the album, ‘One Of Us’, also depicted the end of a love story. Elsewhere there were current cold war themes - highly topical at the time - and further songs of isolation and regret.

Track Listing

01. The Visitors (5:46)
02. Head Over Heels (3:48)
03. When All Is Said And Done (3:18)
04. Soldiers (4:40)
05. I Let The Music Speak (5:21)
06. One Of Us (3:56)
07. Two For The Price Of One (3:37)
08. Slipping Through My Fingers (3:53)
09. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room (3:39)

BONUS TRACKS

10. Should I Laugh Or Cry (4:32)
11. No Hay A Quien Culpar (Spanish version of "When All Is Said and Done") (3:14)
12. Se Me Está Escapando (Spanish version of "Slipping Through My Fingers") (3:54)
13. The Day Before You Came (5:51)
14. Cassandra (4:54)
15. Under Attack (3:49)
16. You Owe Me One (3:26)

CD 9 contained a selection of rarities, most of which were originally released after the band’s heyday.

Track Listing

01. Waterloo (Alternate Mix, briefly available as a single A-side in Sweden) (2:45)
02. Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton - On Top of Old Smokey - Midnight Special (Original German Charity Album Mix, released in 1975) (4:22)
03. Thank You For The Music (Doris Day Version) (4:03)
04. Summer Night City (Full Length Version, first released in 1994) (4:18)
05. Lovelight (Alternative Mix, first released in 1993) (3:24)
06. Dream World (Outtake from Voulez-Vous sessions, first released in 1994) (3:36)
07. Voulez-Vous (Extended Remix, 1979 US promo) (6:10)
08. On And On And On (Full Length Version, issued as video soundtrack in 1980) (4:13)
09. Put On Your White Sombrero (Outtake from Super Trouper sessions, first released in 1994) (4:28)
10. I Am The City (Outtake from 1982 album sessions, first released in 1993) (4:02)
11. ABBA Undeleted (Medley of Outtakes, first released in 1994) (23:28)

The Complete Studio Recordings also included two DVDs, featuring all the promo videos ever released by the band, a documentary entitled The History, and a five selections from a previously unreleased concert, which was originally a part of the television special Dick Cavett Meets ABBA.

Track Listing

01. Waterloo ℗ 1974
02. Ring Ring ℗ 1974
03. Mamma Mia ℗ 1975
04. SOS ℗ 1975
05. Bang-A-Boomerang ℗ 1975
06. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do ℗ 1975
07. Fernando ℗ 1976
08. Dancing Queen ℗ 1976
09. Money, Money, Money ℗ 1976
10. Knowing Me, Knowing You ℗ 1977
11. That's Me ℗ 1977
12. The Name Of The Game ℗ 1977
13. Take A Chance On Me ℗ 1978
14. Eagle ℗ 1978
15. One Man, One Woman ℗ 1978
16. Thank You For The Music ℗ 1978
17. Summer Night City ℗ 1978
18. Chiquitita ℗ 1979
19. Does Your Mother Know ℗ 1979
20. Voulez-Vous ℗ 1979
21. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) ℗ 1979
22. I Have A Dream ℗ 1979
23. On And On And On ℗ 1980
24. The Winner Takes It All ℗ 1980
25. Super Trouper ℗ 1980
26. Happy New Year ℗ 1980
27. Lay All Your Love On Me ℗ 1981
28. When All Is Said And Done ℗ 1981
29. One Of Us ℗ 1981
30. Head Over Heels ℗ 1982
31. The Day Before You Came ℗ 1982
32. Under Attack ℗ 1982

BONUS TRACKS

33. Estoy Soñando ℗ 1979
34. Felicidad ℗ 1980
35. No Hay A Quien Culpar ℗ 1981
36. Dancing Queen (1992 Version) ℗ 1992
37. The Last Video ℗ 2004












THE HISTORY
Documentary made in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of ABBA's Eurovision Song Contest victory

Subtitles: English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish

LIVE IN APRIL 1981
Selections from ABBA's final live concert, originally broadcast as part of the television special Dick Cavett Meets ABBA,
filmed by Sveriges Television (SVT). Note: Although the original concert consisted of nine song, when this DVD was
prepared SVT was able to locate video masters for only five of those songs.

01. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
02. Super Trouper
03. Two For The Price Of One
04. Slipping Through My Fingers
05. On And On And On





Credits

• Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Anders Glenmark, Björn Ulvaeus, Bo Dahlman, Finn Sjöberg, George Terry, Hasse Rosén, Ish Ledesma, Janne Schaffer, Lasse Wellander, Michael Areklew
• Banjo, Mandolin - Björn Ulvaeus, Lasse Wellander, Rutger Gunnarsson
• Bass - Arnold Paseiro, Mike Watson, Per Sahlberg, Rutger Gunnarsson, Stefan Brolund
• Brass - Anders Stengård, Arnold Johansson, Bengt Sundberg, Björn Borg, Bosse Persson, Bruno Glenmark, Christer Danielsson, Christer Torgé, Gunn Wennberg, Gunnar Gunrup, Gustavo Bergalli, Gösta Nilsson, Jan Jansson, Jan Kohlin, Jörgen Johansson, Lars Samuelsson*, Lasse Olofsson, Lennart Axelsson, Lennart Löfgren, Nils Landgren, Torbjörn Kvist, Torgny Nilsson, Walter Brolund, Weine Renliden
• Coordinator [Project] - Mia Segolsson
• Design - Niclas Håkansson
• Design [Orignal Album] - Peter Wiking, Ron Spaulding, Rune Söderqvist, Sten-Åke Magnusson
• Drums - Derek Skinner, Jan Bandel, Joe Galdo, Kjell Jeppsson, Ola Brunkert, Per Lindvall, Roger Palm, Rolf Alex
• Engineer - Björn Almstedt, Lennart Karlsmyr, Michael B. Tretow, Rune Persson, Åke Eldsäter
• Film Producer [DVD Production] - Mpeg Production AB Stockholm*
• Harp - Gloria Lundell
• Illustration [The Album] - Björn Andersson (5), Rune Söderqvist
• Mastered By [CDs] - Henrik Jonsson (2)
• Mastered By [Original Recordings Digitalized By] - Johan Funemyr
• Mixed By [5.1 Surround Sound] - Bernard Löhr
• Percussion - Malando Gassama, Åke Sundqvist
• Photography By [Book] - Bubi Heilemann, Polar Music International AB*, Premium Publishing, Torbjörn Calvero
• Photography By [Original Album Sleeve] - Barry Levine (2), Bengt H. Malmqvist, Lars Falk*, Lars Larsson (2), Ola Lager
• Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer - Anders Eljas, Benny Andersson, Kjell Öhman, Paul Harris (2)
• Producer, Arranged - Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus*
• Remastered By [Live In April 1981 Soundtrack] - Janne Hansson
• Remastered By [The Videos Soundtrack; Previously Available] - Jon Astley
• Research, Liner Notes, Other [Timeline] - Carl Magnus Palm
• Saxophone - Christer Eklund, Halldór Pálsson*, Håkan Jansson, Johan Stengård, Kajtek Wojciechowski, Lars O. Carlsson, Raphael Ravenscroft, Ulf Andersson
• Steel Guitar - Janne Lindgren
• Strings - Alfred Pisuke, Alm Nils Ersson, Anders Dahl (2), Bengt Ericson, Bengt Svensson, Bernt Nilsson, Bernt Nylund, Bertil Andersson, Bertil Orsin, Birgitta Brigerte, Bo Hellman, Bo Söderström, Claes Nilsson, Eduard van der Kwast, Erik Dybeck, Eva Isaksson, Gert Lundberg, Gideon Roehr, Gunnar Klinge, Gunnar Michols, Gunnar Östling, Gösta Lax, Hans-Göran Eketorp, Harry Damgaard, Harry Teike, Herbert Konvicka, Hubert Reinholdson, Håkan Roos, Inge Boström, Inge Lindstedt, Jan Neander, Kjell Bjurling, Kjell Nilsson, Kristina Andersson, Krzysztof Zdrzalka, Lars Arvinder, Lars Blomberg, Lars Brolund, Lars Stegenberg, Lars Widén, Leandr Pfeiler, Lennart Fredriksson, Magda Fürst, Martin Bylund, Miroslav Jovic, Niels Heie, Olle Gustafsson, Per Sandklef, Per-Erik Olsson, Sixten Strömvall, Snorri Thorvaldsson, Sylvia Starck, Tullo Galli, Ulf Engström, Åke Arvinder, Åke Hendlund, Åke Jelving, Åke Olofsson, Örjan Högberg
• Supervised By [5.1 Surround Sound Mix] - Benny Andersson
• Woodwind - Bo Eriksson, Börje Mårelius, Eje Karlsson, Jan Kling, Jan Risberg, Lars-Erik Rönn, Yngve Sandström
• Vocals - Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus

Notes

133 Track Collection - every piece of studio-recorded music commercially released by ABBA
- The 8 Original Studio Albums (plus bonus tracks)
- 1 Rarities CD
- 1 Video DVD
- 1 Documentary & Live Concert DVD
- 108 Page Lyrics Booklet
- 48 Page Timeline Booklet

Hardback light blue velvet box set with silver lettering and lift-off lid.
Tracing paper on back listing box contents. Sticker on front cellophane.
Individual slots for the sleeves and booklets to slide into.
Discs in spined card sleeves, CD1 to CD8 (the albums) with card inner sleeves.
Hardback booklets. Booklets and sleeves of CD9 and DVDs are silver foiled on fronts.

Many thanks to the original uploader: gMf