ABBA Gold Hits [Paperback]

Craig Halstead (Author), Chris Cadman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2005

So far as most people are concerned, ABBA burst on the music scene in 1974, when they swept to victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo. It is true, prior to Eurovision, the Scandinavian quartet was largely unknown internationally - in fact, they hadn't officially used the name 'ABBA' before. But it is equally true Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida (as the group was billed on their early releases) were not an overnight sensation. All four members had tasted success - as a group and separately - before they started recording together as ABBA. Numerous books have been written over the years, telling the ABBA story - but this book is different. This book focuses on the songs - the 'Gold Hits' as we have called them, and details Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida's chart successes on six continents, in no less than 22 countries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Authors OnLine Ltd. (May 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755201760
• ISBN-13: 978-0755201761
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,262,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation of chart data - A must for ABBA Fans who want chart facts, July 6, 2005

By 

Jorge "Music Fan" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: ABBA Gold Hits (Paperback)

Most of the book is dedicated to the chart position that each song reached in Europe, America, Australasia, Africa, and Asia. Here is a sample of what each song's page looks like:

DANCING QUEEN

Written and produced by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus

On album: Arrival, Greatest Hits Vol 2, The Singles, Gold

No. 1 in Australia, Belgium, germany, Holland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zeland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, UK, USA, & Zimbabwe.

In Europe:

Germany chart entry: 16 Aug 1976

Date # 1: 20 Sept 1976 (for 1 week)

Previous # 1: Daddy Cool by Boney M.

Next # 1: Jeans On, by David Dundas

Chart life: 26 weeks (plus 17 weeks 1992)

UK chart entry: 21 Aug 1976

Date # 1: 4 Sept 1976 (6 weeks)

Previous # 1: Don't go breaking my heart by Elton John & Kiki Dee

Next # 1: Mississippi by Pussycat

Chart life: 15 weeks (plus 5 weeks in 1992)

In the Americas:

**The authors include the same info as above

Canada peak date

Peak position

Chart life

Mexico release date

Peak position

USA chart entry

Date # 1

Previous # 1

Next # 1

Chart life

In Australasia:

**The authors include the same info and uses same format as UK

In Africa:

**The authors includs the same info and uses same format as UK

In Asia:

Japan release date

Peak position

Chart life

Other Chart action:

***the authors give you the peak position of Dancing Queen in Finland, Switzerland, Autria, France, Spain, and Italy.

The authors also include fun Trivia for many songs.

The book has chart information on songs related to ABBA, not just ABBA songs, for example:

Frida, Agnetha, Chess, Kristina Fran Duvemala, Hep Stars, and even covers such as Westlife, Steps, Erasure, etc.

The authors also has lists of Top 50 ABBA hits of all times worldwide (based on chart stay), and ABBA trivia and chart lists per country (for 20 countries). For example, ABBA in France section includes:

Bjorn & Benny songs that charted (peak position)

ABBA songs that charted (peak position)

Frida songs that charted (peak position)

Agnetha songs that charted (peak position)

Top 10 hits with ABBA Connection (I.E. One Night In Bankog)

ABBA and ABBA related # 1s in France

ABBA songs with most weeks at # 1 in France

ABBA songs with most weeks in chart in France