ABBA's first masterpiece.

Released in December 1976 following the hugely successful Greatest Hits album, "Arrival" took things to the next level for ABBA.



Leading off with the catchy "When I Kissed The Teacher" (why this wasn't a single is beyond me... I think it could've been a second US #1 had it been released right after "Dancing Queen"), Arrival ups the ante even though Waterloo and ABBA were already great albums.



The track that follows... "Dancing Queen", is not only the greatest recording of ABBA's entire catalog, but frankly, one of the greatest songs in history. It is just one of those songs that everything about it is right. The melody is beautiful to the point of tears, the song is so unbelievably catchy, the production is immaculate and the song really took ABBA from "hitmakers" to "superstars" and to this day is a classic.



Two more singles were released from the album. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was the followup to Dancing Queen in the US. In the UK, it was another #1 hit, but unfortunately it didn't get higher than #14 in America, which is a shame because it is definately in my top three ABBA tracks. The song in many ways is a precursor to the divorce ballads on Super Trouper and The Visitors.



"Money Money Money" was the followup to Dancing Queen in the UK, but wasn't released in the US until late 1977, when they were getting ready to release "The Album". The song is a great, almost sinister ode to money, I bet they played this song a lot in Vegas.



Non-singles are great too! "My Love My Life" is beautiful. "That's Me" is another track that could've (and should've) been a single, this song had smash all over it. ABBA did record a video for the song but it wound up the b-side to Dancing Queen in both the US and UK. "Tiger" is a rock side to ABBA. "Arrival" is an instrumental. "Dum Dum Diddle" and "Why Did It Have To Be Me?" are probably the two weak links on the album, but both songs are both good.



From here until their disbandment in 1982... ABBA ruled! Move on to "The Album" and all that follows after this. Forget "Abba Gold", the seperate albums are just as good. Overall, I'd rank this album fourth (but a very strong fourth) behind "Super Trouper", "The Visitors", and "The Album".

How About This- An ABBA Album With No Filler!

The ABBA album was such a huge success that it was possible to think that ABBA would never have been able to top its quality, since it is often believed (at least by the cynical) that artists who have a huge commerical success on the level of ABBA's eponymous album sell out and gradually fade away from the public view with future work. But that observation offers on respect to ABBA?s eponymous album, since it saw the group finding its core sound and flourishing with it. With ARRIVAL, their fourth album, ABBA thankfully expanded with that core sound, turning out what is arguably the best album the group ever made. The fact is, composers Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson show themselves here as great songwriters in their own right; not a single track is weak or filler-worthy, even if some of the tracks aren?t as strong as others.



Of course, like in any other ABBA record, it was the big singles that stood out, and one of them, ?Dancing Queen,? stood out far more any anybody could have ever imagined. Decidedly the group?s best record, it is a timeless masterpiece; with indelible harmony parts from Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, and a beautiful backing instrumental track containing hooks from start to finish, it is a soaring celebration of having the time of your life while swinging, jiving, digging, or whatever your style. ?Money, Money, Money? is a fascinating piece of cabaret-pop, and ?Knowing Me, Knowing You? is a somber, straight-faced ballad which becomes more poignant with each listen. The rest of the tracks weren?t bad themselves, such as the gorgeous ?My Love, My Life,? the silly ?Dum Dum Diddle? and ?When I Kissed the Teacher? (both of which would later be disparaged by the group, but are still solid songs nonetheless), the sweet ?That?s Me,? the snarling ?Tiger,? and the lush title track, the best instrumental Benny ever composed. The fact is, ARRIVAL is one of the exceptions in Europop- in a genre best known for its singles, not its frequently uneven albums, ARRIVAL is the rare Europop album that is strong from start to finish, never containing a dull moment. It all adds up to not just what is ABBA?s finest record, but also one of the best pop albums of its time.

Music Queens...and Kings

Everybody knows the hits "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "When I Kissed Teacher"...well at least should know. This album has all those four hits! ABBA, two girls and two men sing very good. The girls are lead singers...especially Agnetha but also Ann-Frida is singing lead parts...like in "Money Money Money". I guess this includes the most important ABBA songs excluding "Waterloo" and "Super Trouper". I have always loved this album. Most of the songs are familiar to me. My favourite song is "My Love My Life" which is so touching that sometimes I begin to cry. "Money Money Money" is a dark song, at least lyrically..."If I Could Find Me a Weathy Man...I wouldn't have to work at all...". "Dancing Queen" is maybe the best-known dance pop song ever. I like also the funny "Dum Dum Diddle". It is so great. "Tiger" is so great too..."What If I Eat You...I am the Tiger". "Arrival" is an instrumental song.

Stars: My Love, My Life, Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money, Tiger