Customer Reviews

Voulez-Vous

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Abba's 'disco' album from 1979 has been released on CD many times but this is definitely the best one yet. Unlike the previous reviewer, I followed them from 'Waterloo' onwards. None of that nasty punk stuff for me!

Following 'Abba-The Album' and 'Arrival' was never going to be easy. The group were trying to move with the times and 'Voulez-Vous' was the danciest album they were to put out. After the aforementioned previous LPs, it was considered something of a disappointment and was the first of their UK released albums not to spawn a #1 single. Of course many acts would kill to have anything nearing the quality of this set of songs but by Abba's standards, it wasn't their best.

The excellent booklet makes mention of the group's struggle to put the record together. There was a general lack of inspiration around the project and initial lead single, 'Summer Night City' was left off the LP after it performed poorly (by Abba standards) on the charts. 'If It Wasn't For The Nights' was set to be the new first single but this never came to pass. Like much of the LP, it has a shrill, trying-too-hard feel to it and I'm not convinced, unlike other fans, that this track would have been the album's salvation.

'Chiquitita' became the lead single with the proceeds going to Unicef at the start of 1979. I've always seen it as a poor man's 'Fernando' and like several tracks on 'Voulez-Vous', it's far too long. The second single, the rocky 'Does Your Mother Know', was better but 'only' made #4 in the UK charts. Indeed, the biggest hit came at the end of the year, 'I Have A Dream' got to #2.

31 years on, the album still isn't one of my favourites. This edition is actually far stronger than the original release adding 5 bonus tracks, including 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme', 'Lovelight' and the wondrous 'Dream World', a song Benny and Bjorn hated and which remained unreleased for years.

I say this album is disappointing only as an Abba one, mind. The production, harmonies and often the song construction are mind-blowing to say the least, but I have to say the subsequent 'Super Trouper' album was far better to my ears.

The DVD is hit and miss, I suppose. The 'Abba In Switzerland' TV special is OK (but omits guest appearances by Kate Bush and Roxy Music) and guest slots on 'The Mike Yarwood Show, the Unicef concert and 'Multi Coloured Swap Shop' are fun to see again though the group steadfastly mime through all these shows for some reason. A few ads and a sleeve gallery are also included but these weren't of enormous interest to me.

Although it's not my favourite Abba release, this Deluxe Edition of 'Voulez-Vous' is is absolutely worth getting and is beautifully packaged. Also, in light of how little more was to come from the band, it's more important than ever.

I am a contemporary of ABBA. However, when ABBA were performing and touring, I was too cool for their purely "Pop" music. If you asked me in the late 70's - early 80's, to name an ABBA song, I would have been hard pressed to come up with anything other than "Dancing Queen" or "Fernando". It's not all my fault though - Top 40 radio played very little of their music.

Now 30 years later, thanks to the play and movie of Mamma Mia, I have become thoroughly aware of ABBA - finally. But I still feel cheated that I wasn't aware at the time. In 1979 I was living in St. Louis, MO, and although ABBA did not play there, they did play in Chicago, which was close enough to drive.

After seeing both the play and the movie, I first bought the ABBA Gold CD. That was a good start as it contains all of their really big hits - many more than I was aware of. But it wasn't enough - I wanted more.

This remastered version of their Voulez-Vous album is well worth the price. Not only is the sound great, it has brought me new ABBA music that I never heard before. My new favorite is "The King Has Lost His Crown". I guess there are advantages to being late to the party - what is "old hat" to original fans is all new to me.

The DVD includes a television special that ABBA filmed in Switzerland in 1979 that is great. Even though they are lip syncing to a playback of the recording, it is great to see them up close - since I missed the real concert (Darn it).

You will love the bonus material. The only disappointment is that Just A Notion wasn't added but other than that the quality of the cd is excellent.

Many have classified ABBA as pure disco but this is the closest they ever got to that particular music genre. Their other albums were mostly pop with maybe a few disco flavoured tunes thrown in. Whether you're a fan of disco or not, VOULEZ-VOUS is music to the ears. The songs offered are all catchy with exquisite vocals and tight intricate harmonies. Agnetha and Frida never sounded better than on this CD. The contrast between their voices is clearly evident in this album even more so than their other records.

Frida's sultry and sexy lower register is at it's vocal best in "The King Has Lost His Crown" and "Lovers(Live a Little Longer)". Agnetha's voice is at its most stunning in "As Good as New". Her high pitched belt is energetic, and lively. Not many singers can belt out those high notes but Agnetha makes it sound easy. Her vocal work in "Chiquitita" is also outstanding. She starts off softly but really digs in to the chorus and Frida adds her trademark vocals into the harmony. One of my favourite songs on this album is the appealing "If it Wasn't for the Nights". The song itself is completely over the top in every conceivable way but it's irresistable nontheless. This song is definitely one of the albums highlights and showcases the raw talent of both female singers. Although they're both singing in unison for the most part during the verse, we still get to hear the delightful contrast of their voices. Frida's Mezzo soprano is predominant during the sections "Keeping me so busy/All the day through/They're the things that keep me from thinking of you"..etc while Agnetha impresses and is predominant during "Ohhh baby I miss you so/I know I'm never gonna make it...." and during the chorus. This song is outstanding and should have been released as a single. It may have been a little too long for radio play but that could have been easily remedied by skillful editing.

VOULEZ-VOUS (the album) did good business internationally. It reached #4 on the Album charts here in Canada, it reached #1 in the UK and made the Top 20 in the US.

The song "Summer Night City" was originally intended for the album but was left out. I guess they didn't think the song was good enough to be included. ABBA would make this a habit as "Lovelight" and "Dream World" were also recorded but kept off the album (and some wonderful songs would be archived including the now mythic-among-fans "Just Like That" which can be heard on YOUTUBE BTW in it's various versions). However they still released "Summer Night City" as a single in 1978 (before the album was released) and it peaked in the Top 5 (UK) and the Top 40 (Canada). It was never released as a single in the US. The singles released from the album also did well. In the UK- "Voulez-Vous", "Angeleyes", "Chiquitita", "Does Your Mother Know" and "I have a Dream" all reached the Top 5. Another single released that year, "Gimme Gimme Gimme" peaked at #3- however that single was not included in the original album.

In North America, the songs did fairly well also, "Does Your Mother Know" reached #8 in Canada and #19 in the US. "Chiquitita" reached #17 in Canada and #29 in the US. "Angeleyes" (CAN #39, US #64) & "Voulez-Vous" (CAN #42, US #80) were both minor hits.

The bonus tracks on this album are "Lovelight", orginally a B-side to "Chiquitita" but kept off the original album. It features some great harmonies by the girls with solo passages by Agnetha. The version included on this deluxe edition differs from the versions released in previous recordings. This mix is a bit longer and the sound is different. Just when you thought you've heard every ABBA song imaginable, along comes a new version and it's always a welcome surprise. Another great addition to the album is the previously archived "Dream World". The song may not be a favourite amongst members of the group but it is beautifully sung by the girls and the melody is wonderful (love the carnival-esque intro and Agnetha's solo passages). The longer version of "Summer Night City" and "Gimme Gimme Gimme" are the other bonus tracks.

The reason I purchased this deluxe edition, even though I already own a previosly remastered version of this album was for the DVD. It includes segments of their 1979 special "ABBA In Switzerland" and features several mimed performances. Despite performing to playback, the girls are delightful and both look wonderful. Prior to this release, the only way of seeing these performances was through YOUTUBE.

The only actual live performance included is an extended version of "I Have a Dream". The DVD also features a couple of commercials for their upcoming (1979) "Greatest Hits: Vol 2" record (also available on Cassette LOL) and a rather interesting interview with the boys (minus the girls) in a European TV show.

My only disappointments are the exclusion of the Spanish versions of "Chiquitita", "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and "I Have a Dream". To some, this may seem like overkill but considering the deluxe editions of "Arrival" and "The Album" both included the Spanish versions of its songs ("Arrival" also included the Swedish version of "Fernando"), I think it would have made this volume more complete.

VOULEZ-VOUS is one of ABBA's most energetic albums. The songs are fun and melodic but in my opinion, one of the greatest assets to this recording is the wonderful vocals by the girls. ABBA fans may cite other albums such as "Super Trouper", "Arrival" or "The Visitors" as their most accomplished but no other album really showcases the beauty and brilliance of their vocals like this one. It doesn't hurt that the songs they are singing are fantastic.

Excelente grabacion y buen video del viaje a Suiza, que antes solo tenia en version betamax, lo unico es la falta de incorporacion de las canciones "chiquitita" y "I have a dream" en español, buen folleto explicativo de las vivicitudes para grabar dicho disco. Son ediciones deluxe que han sacado con buena calidad en su presentacion y grabacion...... incorporacion de la cancion "summer noght city" version completa y "dream world"

CD+DVD buena combinación cuando se habla de grupos leyenda como lo son ABBA, The Beatles, Carpenters, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc y este ser trae un sonido muy fresco y bueno el DVD trae por alli algunas rarezas interesantes y el embalaje de muy buena calidad vale la pena.