ABBA CD reissues
Just in time for the July opening of the MAMMA MIA! movie, Universal Music is re-releasing the popular compilations ABBA Gold, More ABBA Gold and the 4 CD box set Thank You For The Music.
ABBA Gold and More ABBA Gold will be repacked in Super Jewel Boxes. Both have updated liner notes and booklets, especially More ABBA Gold, which was last available in 1999, still in its original 1993 format.
Thank You For The Music will be repackaged in a similar format to 2005’s Frida 4xCD 1XDVD box set. It will contain new photographs and the same essays as the original 1994 set, with some “gentle” corrections.
The disc contents will feature the latest remastered versions of the songs.
Reaction to the news is typically split - some fans see the reissues as a “rip off of loyal fans”, while others see them as repromoting ABBA for new markets.
ABBA Gold has reportedly sold 26 million copies to date, while MAMMA MIA! (the stage musical) has been seen by 30 million people - that’s several million who have seen the musical who haven’t bought ABBA’s most popular CD. Many millions more will be seeing the movie in coming months, and may be inspired to go in search of the original ABBA songs.
I think that anything that spreads ABBA music to new audiences is a good thing.
ABBA Gold and More ABBA Gold are released at the end of May. Thank You For The Music is released in early June.
More information at ABBA - The Site.
Tags: ABBA, ABBA GOLD, Mamma Mia! The Movie, More ABBA Gold, Thank You For The Music
3 May 2008 at 2:31 am
I quite agree. Anything that promotes and markets the original ABBA songs is fine with me. Naturally, there is no need for me to go out and buy the re-re-re-releases, but I can certainly sit back and delight in seeing new generations of fans finding their way to the original masters. This is exactly what Mamma Mia! (film and stage version) and tribute bands the world over instigate: the re-awakening of ABBA.
4 May 2008 at 4:23 am
My first reaction to this was a loud groan at another perceived rip-off from Universal (couldn’t they have rereleased CHESS instead?). After thinking it through, however, it makes sense:
I think the big thing here is that the current major ABBA Gold version, from 2002, was not released as widely as it should have been — mainly in Europe, I hear. The current version of ABBA Gold here in Canada is the lackluster 1999 version, and for Pete’s sake, the only one available in the USA is the original 1992 version. Neither of them have particularly good sound quality or packaging, and still have the incorrect ABBA logo.
It’s also nice to see the renewed push on More ABBA Gold. It was always neglected by Universal — tragically so, since it has the songs that more self-professed “ABBA fans” should know.
Which leaves the old friend Thank You For the Music. Call me crazy, but I think it’ll be nice to have it in a corrected and more accessible version, as a nice middle-of-the-road between the selective The Definitive Collection and the expensive CSR box.
Too bad average consumers won’t care much for any of this, though.