With Abba, it is almost unnecessary to fill in the blanks and just focus on the music. So many of their hits are emotional triggers for most of us who were out dancing and buying records in the 1970s and early 1980s.. The popularity of the film Mama Mia in 2008, with a sequel currently in production, is just one indication of the band’s appeal to fans of all ages.
I am going to hand you over to William now to share some of the hot hits of the late 1970s for the band. Time to get up and get dancing.
The group’s fourth studio album, “Arrival,” a number-one bestseller in Europe and Australia, represented a new level of accomplishment in both songwriting and studio work, prompting rave reviews from more rock-oriented UK music weeklies such as “Melody Maker” and “New Musical Express,” and mostly appreciative notices from US critics.
“Knowing Me, Knowing You” was one of the first ABBA songs to deal with the break-up of a relationship and proved to be one of ABBA’s most successful singles, hitting #1 in West Germany (ABBA’s sixth consecutive chart-topper there). In the UK, “Knowing Me, Knowing You” was the biggest single of 1977. Group member Benny Andersson named “Knowing Me, Knowing You” as one of ABBA’s best recordings in a 2004 interview.
“Dancing Queen” is a Europop song and the lead single from ABBA’s fourth studio album, “Arrival.” It was a worldwide hit, topping the charts in more than a dozen countries including ABBA’s native Sweden (where it spent 14 weeks at the top) and became ABBA’s only number one hit in the U.S. Musically, “Dancing Queen” is a Europop version of American disco music. As disco music dominated the US charts, the group decided to follow the trend, replicating Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” arrangements. The song alternates between “languid yet seductive verses” and a “dramatic chorus that ascends to heart-tugging high notes.” Lyrically, the song concerns a visit to the discotheque, but approaches the subject from the joy of dancing itself, thus having a greater emotional content than that of many other disco songs of that period.
“The name of the game” was released in 1977 and was the first single from the group’s fifth studio album, “ABBA: The Album.” It was their most complex composition yet – with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sharing the lead vocals. The song also contained influences of the laid-back California sound of the day. It became a UK number one, topping the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in November 1977.
“Take a chance on me” is the second single from their fifth studio album “ABBA: The Album.” 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” proved to be one of ABBA’s most successful chart hits, becoming the group’s seventh UK #1 (their third consecutive chart-topper in the country).
“Chiquitita” (a Spanish term of endearment for a woman meaning “little one”) was released in January 1979 as the first single from the group’s “Voulez-Vous” album. Agnetha Fältskog sang the lead vocals. In the UK, “Chiquitita” debuted at #8 in the singles chart, making it the highest place début for any ABBA single release. ABBA recorded “Chiquitita” in Spanish by phonetics and it was one of the featured tracks on the Spanish-language release “Gracias Por La Musica.”
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” was a very successful song for ABBA. It hit #1 in Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, and Norway. It also proved to be ABBA’s most successful song in Japan, peaking at #17. The lead vocals are sung by Agnetha Fältskog.
Additional sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA
ABBA’s Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/ABBA/e/B000APR9C2
About William Price King
William Price King is an American jazz singer, musician and composer. Originally he studied classical music and opera but over the years his style has evolved to what many refer to as the ‘sweet point’ where music and voice come together so beautifully.
His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Torme. His jazz album, ‘Home,’ is a collection of contemporary songs and whilst clearly a homage to their wonderful legacy it brings a new and refreshing complexity to the vocals that is entrancing.
His latest album Eric Sempe and William Price King is now available to download. The repertory includes standards such as “Bye Bye Blackbird” (a jazz classic), Sting’s “Englishman in New York,” Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and other well-known jazz, pop, and rock classics.
William and Eric Sempe have also brought their own magic to the album with original tracks such as Keep on Dreaming and Red Snow with collaboration with Jeanne King
Download the new album. http://cdbaby.com/cd/williampriceking
William is currently in France where he performs in popular Jazz Venues in Nice and surrounding area.
Connect to William
Website – http://www.williampriceking.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPriceKing
Twitter – https://twitter.com/wpkofficial
Regular Venue – http://cave-wilson.com/
ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-price-king/id788678484
You can find all of William’s posts on Jazz, Classical and Contemporary artists in this link: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/william-price-king-a-man-and-his-music-jazz-classical-and-contemporary-legends/
Thanks for dropping by and we hope you have enjoyed this week’s performances.. Your feedback is always welcome. Sally
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