ABBA - The Definitive Collection

Der Titel ist nicht übertrieben, denn The Definitive Collection versammelt erstmals alle offiziellen ABBA-Videos in einer Veröffentlichung. Dafür hat man sämtliche Filmclips zu Singles der schwedischen Gruppe in diversen Archiven aufgestöbert und danach mit Bild- und Tontechnologien von heute nachbearbeitet. Jetzt erstrahlen sie optisch im neuen Glanz und tönen nach dem digitalen Remastering besser denn je.

Natürlich dürfen bei solch einer Sammlung Titel wie "Mamma Mia" (einst auf der Spitzenposition der englischen Hitparade), das im seinerzeit angesagten Diskorhythmus gehaltene "Dancing Queen" (Platz eins der US-Charts im April 1977) und "The Winner Takes It All" (vom 1980er-Album Super Trouper) nicht fehlen. "Take A Chance On Me", das vor Kinderzuschauern gedrehte "Thank You For The Music" sowie "Waterloo", 1974 Siegertitel beim Grand Prix in Brighton, sind selbstverständlich ebenfalls mit von der Partie.

Obwohl es damals noch kein MTV und somit auch keine Erfahrungen in Sachen Videoclip-Ästhetik gab, haben Björn, Benny, Agnetha und Anni-Frid die ihnen zur Verfügung stehenden filmischen Mittel schon sehr raffiniert genutzt. So wurde beispielsweise "SOS" mit originellen optischen Effekten ausgestattet, die zu ihrer Zeit beinahe revolutionär wirkten. "Fernando" wartet mit einer die Musik unterstützenden Szenerie am nächtlichen Lagerfeuer auf. Und für "Chiquitita" zu guter Letzt hat man sich trotz des südländischen Sounds ein ins Auge springendes Ambiente in einer Schneelandschaft ausgedacht.

Dass man all diese Videos auch heute noch mit viel Genuss sehen kann, liegt nicht zuletzt an Lasse Hallström. Der Regisseur, der inzwischen mit Filmen wie Mein Leben als Hund, Chocolat und Schiffsmeldungen die Karriereleiter steil nach oben geklettert ist, produzierte nahezu alle ABBA-Clips und bewies schon damals sein außergewöhnliches visuelles Talent. --Harald Kepler

Die DVD-Ausgabe erfreut den Fan mit zahlreichen Extras. Eine umfangreiche Diashow findet man hier ebenso wie fünf Bonustracks. Da gibt es z. B. "When I Kissed The Teacher" in einer Aufzeichnung des schwedischen Fernsehens, und "Dancing Queen" liegt in der Version vor, die ABBA anlässlich der Hochzeit des Königspaares Carl Gustav und Sylvia vorgetragen haben. Mit "Felicidad" ("Happy New Year"), "Estoy Soñando" ("I Have A Dream") und "No Hay A Quien Culpar" ("When All Is Said And Done") sind des Weiteren kuriose Raritäten in spanischer Sprache vertreten. Zum Lieferumfang gehört darüber hinaus ein liebevoll gestaltetes 20-seitiges Booklet mit einer Biografie, Erklärungen zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Videos und einigen Farbfotos. --Harald Kepler

Two decades after they last recorded together, ABBA remain as one of the most popular music acts of all time. Hits like Waterloo, SOS, Fernando, Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, The Winner Takes It All and Super Trouper are as loved today as they were when the four Swedes ruled the charts worldwide. But for all the billiance of their music. ABBA are remembered as much for their glittery costumes and general 1970s appearance - and perhaps this part of their legacy was never better exposed than in their groundbreaking music videos. Made at a time when MTV didn't exist and very few artists produced "promo clips" - as they were known at the time - ABBA have been hailed as pioneers in the field. Most of the videos were made by award-winning director Lasse Hallström, who today is well-known for movies such as My Life As A Dog, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Cider House Rules. The Definitive Collection features every official ABBA video in one package for the first time, including three Spanish clips that have never been commercially released before. Two additional bonus selections form ABBA's television appearances have also been included: When I Kiss The Teacher, and a performance of Dancing Queen at The Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. All clips have been digitally remastered from the original negatives and synchronized with 24 bit remastered sound, making them look and sound better then ever before. The Definitive Collection is an amazing journey through ABBA's string of hits, and a wonderful celebration of their timeless appeal. Sit back and enjoy! Tracklist: -Waterloo -Ring Ring -Mamma Mia -SOS -Bang-A-Boomerang -I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do -Fernando -Dancing Queen -Money, Money, Money -Knowing Me, Knowing You -That's Me -The Name Of The Game -Take A Chance On Me -Eagle -One Man, One Woman -Thank You For The Music -Summer Night City -Chiquitita -Does Your Mother Know -Voulez-Vous -Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) -On And On An On -The Winner Takes It All -Super Trouper -Happy New Year -When All Is Said And Done -One Of Us -Head Over Heels -The Day Before You Came -Under Attack Bonus Tracks: -When I Kissed The Teacher -Estoy Sonando (I Have A Dream) -Felicidad (Happy New Year) -No Hay A Quien Culpar (When All Is Said And Done) -Dancing Queen (at The Royal Swedish Opera) -Videos -Bonus Tracks -Picture Gallery -Booklet incl. Biography, Video Stories and Footage

Two decades after they last recorded together, ABBA remain as one of the most popular music acts of all time. Hits like Waterloo, SOS, Fernando, Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, The Winner Takes It All and Super Trouper are as loved today as they were when the four Swedes ruled the charts worldwide. But for all the billiance of their music. ABBA are remembered as much for their glittery costumes and general 1970s appearance - and perhaps this part of their legacy was never better exposed than in their groundbreaking music videos. Made at a time when MTV didn't exist and very few artists produced "promo clips" - as they were known at the time - ABBA have been hailed as pioneers in the field. Most of the videos were made by award-winning director Lasse Hallström, who today is well-known for movies such as My Life As A Dog, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Cider House Rules. The Definitive Collection features every official ABBA video in one package for the first time, including three Spanish clips that have never been commercially released before. Two additional bonus selections form ABBA's television appearances have also been included: When I Kiss The Teacher, and a performance of Dancing Queen at The Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. All clips have been digitally remastered from the original negatives and synchronized with 24 bit remastered sound, making them look and sound better then ever before. The Definitive Collection is an amazing journey through ABBA's string of hits, and a wonderful celebration of their timeless appeal. Sit back and enjoy! Tracklist: -Waterloo -Ring Ring -Mamma Mia -SOS -Bang-A-Boomerang -I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do -Fernando -Dancing Queen -Money, Money, Money -Knowing Me, Knowing You -That's Me -The Name Of The Game -Take A Chance On Me -Eagle -One Man, One Woman -Thank You For The Music -Summer Night City -Chiquitita -Does Your Mother Know -Voulez-Vous -Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) -On And On An On -The Winner Takes It All -Super Trouper -Happy New Year -When All Is Said And Done -One Of Us -Head Over Heels -The Day Before You Came -Under Attack Bonus Tracks: -When I Kissed The Teacher -Estoy Sonando (I Have A Dream) -Felicidad (Happy New Year) -No Hay A Quien Culpar (When All Is Said And Done) -Dancing Queen (at The Royal Swedish Opera) -Videos -Bonus Tracks -Picture Gallery -Booklet incl. Biography, Video Stories and Footage

Best-of der schwedischen Popsensation. CD 1: 1. People Need Love 2. He Is Your Brother 3. Ring Ring 4. Love IsnT Easy (But Is Sure Is Hard Enough) 5. Waterloo 6. Honey, Honey 7. So Long 8. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 9. S.O.S. 10. Mamma Mia 11. Fernando 12. Dancing Queen 13. Money, Money, Money 14. Knowing Me, Knowing You 15. The Name Of The Game 16. Take A Chance On Me 17. Eagle 18. Summer Night City 19. Chiquitita 20. Does Your Mother Know CD 2: 1. Voulez-Vous 2. Angeleyes 3. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) 4. I Have A Dream 5. The Winner Takes It All 6. Super Trouper 7. On And On And On 8. Lay All Your Love On Me 9. One Of Us 10. When All Is Said And Done 11. Head Over Heels 12. The Visitors (Crackin Up) 13. The Day Before You Came 14. Under Attack 15. Thank You For The Music 16. Ring Ring (1974 Remix, Single Version) 17. Voulez-Vous (Extended Remix, 1979 Us Promo)