ABBA was first released on CD in Japan in 1986 by Polydor Records. This release contains a slightly different mix of "Man in the Middle" not found on any subsequent CD pressing and thus is highly sought after by collectors.[8]ABBA was released on CD throughout Europe in 1987 also by Polydor, with five songs added from the Waterloo and Ring Ring albums, which were not available on CD until 1990. ABBA was released on CD in Sweden by Polar Music in 1988, featuring the original 11 tracks only. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form several times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series with two bonus tracks, in 2001 with updated cover artwork incorporating their ambigram, first used for their next album Arrival, in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordingsbox set, and most recently in 2012 as a "Deluxe Edition".
On the original UK cassette release of the album, "Bang-A-Boomerang" was split in two parts, being faded during the second verse at the end of side one and continued at the beginning of side two.
Disc magazine gave the album a mixed review on release, saying that ABBA were a good singles band but were "a mediocre albums band". It said "on the good side there are ultra-poppy tracks 'Bang a Boomerang', "I Do" and the excellent 'So Long'", but said "the other material isn't worth mentioning" (completely ignoring future hits "SOS" and "Mamma Mia"). They awarded it one star out of four. [9] Another mixed review was given in Record Mirror which did mention "SOS" and said it would make a good single. It said that it was more adventurous than Waterloo but said it was "patchy in parts" and "flash, pash pop for under fifteens".[10]
On 19 November 2012, ABBA was reissued as part of the Deluxe Edition series with a two-disc package.[11][12][13] The first disc, a CD with special remastered audio, featured the original album with three bonus tracks.[11] The second one, a DVD, contained 60 minutes of previously unreleased TV performances, including: the complete 41-minute ABBA In Australia 1976 television special, in which the band performed twelve songs; performances of "Mamma Mia", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", and "So Long" from the SVT 1975 special Made In Sweden – For Export; a 1975 performance of "SOS" from the Seaside Special; a 1976 performance of "Mamma Mia" from Top of thePops; two television commercials for The Best of ABBA and Greatest Hits; and the "International Sleeve Gallery".[11][12] A 24-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the making of the album was also included.[11]
Jude Rogers of the BBC said that, with this deluxe reissue of the album, "ABBA doubters will be pleasantly surprised to find the band's desire to experiment here" and that "long-term fans will enjoy the accompanying DVD, and be reminded of an interesting juncture in the quartet's career".[13]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
.jpg)
[2]