Hi Steve, sorry for late reply here. I do tend to prefer ABBA's disco material overall, guess it's the stuff I remember best from the charts of the day.
That was fantastic James. You could do a ranking video on just about anyone and make it enjoyable. I did not wish you a happy new year yet. So I wish you and your family nothing but the best and more in 23. Lots of love from here in New England~ Rob/Boston
One special comment about ABBA songs I think that ABBA have 'Seven Wonders' masterpieces 10pts: Waterloo S.O.S Dancing Queen The name of the game Chiquitita The winner takes it all Don't shut me down follow by greatest songs (9pts) I've been waiting for you Mamma Mía Fernando Knowing me knowing you My love my life Take a chance on me Thank you for the music If it wasn't for the nights Super Trouper Happy new year One of us Slipping through my fingers I still have faith in You Just a Notion And bellow a lot of also good songs (8pts) That's my ABBA Top20 songs no one under 9pts That's the excellence of ABBA songs I wish you a great new year My best regards from Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷 South America Happy new year 2923
I really enjoyed that James, thanks for posting! I love the albums, but for me their greatest song is “The Day Before You Came”, one of their many stand alone singles. Have a Happy New Year and I look forward to more of your videos in 2023.
Cheers Phil, glad you enjoyed it. I love 'The Day Before You Came' also . I did toy with the idea of including the non-album tracks as part of my rankings, but I chickened out in the end. Maybe that's a sequel video.
Lol, I bow to you James, you used a mathematical formula to figure out this list. That is wonderful. Dum de dum is worst than I do I do haha. This was great. I use to have all of their albums but after the flood I got a greatest hits and Arrival.
Lovely video! As an analytical category I feel The Banger has great potential and deserves much wider application. Love those skiers on the jumper too!
Oh dear, I'm at quite a disadvantage here...perhaps one of those lingering musical biases formed in my youth that I've not yet shed but I have always kept ABBA at a distance. Have never owned a single piece of their music and was surprised how many of the songs you mention didn't ring a bell at all, guess I am only really familiar with the overplayed ones like Dancing Queen. Odd in a way as otherwise I do appreciate a bit of well crafted pop every now and then...especially from the 60's or 70's...happy new year James!
Brilliant video James. I love the idea of giving a extra point for each of the "bangers". I liked that you mentioned the tracks "Why Did It Have To Be Me?", "Arrival" and "As Good As New". I was expecting you to be more scathing of the catalogue so I'm more than pleased. I didn't know Super Trouper was one of your favourite singles. It's my second favourite just behind Fernando. I'm now off to play Arrival! Cheers - Richard
I had to watch this again, I enjoyed it so much. I tried to work out the 3 you give a miss to on Arrival and I think one is My Love My Life which in my view is their greatest ballad and one of Agnetha's finest vocal performances. i'm glad you said you weren't as keen on their slower numbers otherwise virtual tomatos would have been thrown, just kidding lol.
Thanks Richard! Yeah, I just find My Love My Life too soppy I'm afraid. The one I was more worried about was 'When I Kissed the Teacher', which I remember quite enjoying when I first got to know the 'Arrival' album, but on this re-visit I just found it didn't do much for me at all. Glad you enjoyed the video, I just wish I'd be able to discuss a few of the non-album singles and extra tracks a bit , but I'll save that for next Crimbo!
Happy new year, James! While not my subject of choice (more of the same reasons as not having heard yellow brick Road than any intense dislike), I do enjoy your rankings given the methodical, even-handed approach you take. The wildcard 'banger' scores were a nice differentiating touch that makes sense to me!
Hey Dean sorry for very late reply here - just been madly busy since new year. Glad you enjoyed this little nostalgia fest, fascinating to hear that you're not familiar (or too familiar) with ABBA. I was pleased with the 'banger'/'belter' concept overall...trying it now with McCartney albums but it's proving more difficult. Hope you have a great 2023!
Haven't heard all of their albums. I think i could go with your choice of number 1 at least i don't have any other that i feel must be on top. Arrival for the contender anyway. Two points; I don't understand Frida's haircut on the sleeve of Waterloo and yes, you must like Thank You For The Music. Happy New Year James. Pasi
Hard to argue with most of your choices James but I would definitely put the Super Trouper higher up the list. Our Last Summer is a beautiful song and one of my favourites 😉👍
HNY James, I now hear in my head an idea for 'now that's what I call Celtic ABBA' the visitors is different yes the hipster one and is very melancholic can't say I've heard them much outside of Abba Gold or other best ofs. Apparently my first cinema trip was the abba movie but I have absolutely no recollection of it.
Hi Martin, happy new year. It's worth hearing the ABBA albums at least once in your life...I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan but their pop hooks can't be argued with. Treated myself to Spotify recently so am going to be working my way through the Church catalogue (assuming it's on there) soon.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic there's alot! Certainly cheaper than buying them as even the CD only releases are pricey. We eagerly await the new one this spring apparently.
Happy New Year James, thank you for your videos during the past year, i wish you every success for your videos for 2023. i am going to be a bit controversial here...but i think S.O.S is probably the greatest ever pop song ever written...so i apologize if i have upset any Beatles, Robbie Williams!, Joni Mitchell, Carole king etc fans. however my favourite Abba track is The Visitors just a belter of a song.
Kind regards It is the first time that I see your page and I was interested in the ranking of the ABBA albums ABBA is, along with The Beatles, my favorite and at the same time most influential group in rock and pop music BEATLES were the leaders of the 60s and ABBA of the 70s We all have different tastes, for albums and songs That's why is interesting to see your order, so different of my order, that is: #8 Waterloo the Masterpiece that won Eurovision stands out clearly from the rest I like them too Honey honey, Hasta mañana & Dance (while the music still goes on) #7 Ring Ring when they were not yet ABBA it's a very even album My favorites are: Ring Ring, He is your brother, People need love, Disilussion, Love isn't easy, Nina pretty ballerina & Another town Another train #6 The Visitors an album in difficult context due to the separation of Benny & Frida with no biggest hits, my favorite is the most emotional Slipping through my fingers followed by One of us, The Visitors, Headoverheels & When all is said and done #5 Voulez Vous ABBA's difficult to record mad album due to the separation of Agnetha & Björn dominacla disco music with As good as new & If it wasn't for the nights as the best exponents But the best song is the masterpiece Chiquitita (ABBA's biggest success in Latin America) #4 Super Trouper two singles stand out the masterpiece heartbroken The winner takes it all and the musical beauty Super Trouper other wonders Happy new year & The way all friends do and the surprise The Piper #3 ABBA perhaps the most underrated album has the best and most important song, the masterpiece: S.O.S. the dynamite single: Mamma Mia the best sweet ballad of love : I've been waiting for you and other brilliant ones: Bang a boomerang, I do I do I do I do I do & So long #2 Arrival ABBA's Pop Music Masterpiece has the biggest hits Dancing queen (the ABBA flagship song) My Love my life & Knowing me knowing You (the heartbreaker ballads) Tiger and That's me (two powerful numbers) When I kissed the teacher & Money money money (two great starts aside) #1 The Album the Masterpiece of ABBA versatility impossible to choose only one, each song is different and brilliant, it is even at the highest level The name of the game : is the boldest single Eagle & Move on : the most exotic and complex Hole in your soul : it's bizarre and powerful Take a chance on me : the most happiest Thank you for the music : is the hymn Special comment of "Voyage" It's new to put in the right order, I"m still listening and discover new things until now I put "Voyage" in the middle better than The Visitors or Voulez Vous almost so good as Super Trouper or ABBA favourite song: "Don't shut me down" only a level bellow: I still have faith in you Just a Notion Ode to Freedom When you danced with me In facts, until now: #1 The Album #2 Arrival #3 ABBA #4 Super Trouper #5 Voyage #6 Voulez Vous #7 The Visitors #8 Ring Ring #9 Waterloo
Great video. Interesting method you used for this, unconsciously I would consider the ‘bangers’ more than general likes/dislikes when ranking albums so instinctively my favourites would be the visitors (at least 3 bangers on there for me) and the album. Voulez vous has never been a huge favourite, because I’m not as keen on the singles from it but no denying it is very consistently good throughout
Good comment Ross. In my previous attempts to rank the albums I tried an approach more like the ones you suggest, but it didn't work somehow. For me an album has to be more than just a handful of great songs and then filler...but it was difficult to arrive at a definitive answer. Happy new year.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic definitely agree, I do find whenever I do album ranking videos (either of an artist or a year) my list doesn’t tie up with order they get in scores from my reviews, some cases opinions change over time but other cases a couple of standouts can bump an album up a bit, good example for me is McCartneys Flowers In The Dirt and Off The Ground, I genuinely like every track on Off The Ground (yes even Biker Like An Icon) but I’d always put flowers higher due to a few standouts which top anything on off the ground.
That was really interesting. I liked the methodology, even if the maths was a bit dodgy. I grew up with ABBA everywhere and came to the conclusion that you only need two albums: Gold and More Gold. You need More Gold because one of the greatest songs ever written, The Day Before You Came has been dumped there. It’s like a Swedish Joy Division, which is high praise in my book. That song is one of those that I originally got to like via a cover version (Blancmange) and this leads to an interesting question: what songs did you learn as through the cover version, not the original? I never appreciated Smells Like Teen Spirit until I heard the Tori Amos cover. Keep up the great work in 2023.
so we agree on the #1!! i personally love 'MyLove My Life' and 'Andante Andante" which you seem to have passed on.....good choice not to rate Voyage seeing as youve only just bought it!! Horses for courses as they say!!
Cheers John. I don't mind 'Andante Andante' really, but I had to consign certain songs to the 'no' pile or I'd never have been able to arrive at a list.
Voulez Vous was such a dance floor classic. In college we would go to the disco and this songs would be played a lot.
Hi Steve, sorry for late reply here. I do tend to prefer ABBA's disco material overall, guess it's the stuff I remember best from the charts of the day.
That was fantastic James. You could do a ranking video on just about anyone and make it enjoyable. I did not wish you a happy new year yet. So I wish you and your family nothing but the best and more in 23. Lots of love from here in New England~
Rob/Boston
Thanks so much Rob and sorry for late reply. Wishing you all the very best for 2023, keep it rockin'!
One special comment about ABBA songs
I think that ABBA have 'Seven Wonders'
masterpieces 10pts:
Waterloo
S.O.S
Dancing Queen
The name of the game
Chiquitita
The winner takes it all
Don't shut me down
follow by greatest songs (9pts)
I've been waiting for you
Mamma Mía
Fernando
Knowing me knowing you
My love my life
Take a chance on me
Thank you for the music
If it wasn't for the nights
Super Trouper
Happy new year
One of us
Slipping through my fingers
I still have faith in You
Just a Notion
And bellow a lot of also good songs (8pts)
That's my ABBA Top20 songs
no one under 9pts
That's the excellence of ABBA songs
I wish you a great new year
My best regards from
Buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷
South America
Happy new year 2923
Thanks sharing your lists, and thanks also for watching!
I really enjoyed that James, thanks for posting!
I love the albums, but for me their greatest song is “The Day Before You Came”, one of their many stand alone singles.
Have a Happy New Year and I look forward to more of your videos in 2023.
Cheers Phil, glad you enjoyed it. I love 'The Day Before You Came' also . I did toy with the idea of including the non-album tracks as part of my rankings, but I chickened out in the end. Maybe that's a sequel video.
Lol, I bow to you James, you used a mathematical formula to figure out this list. That is wonderful. Dum de dum is worst than I do I do haha. This was great. I use to have all of their albums but after the flood I got a greatest hits and Arrival.
Lovely video! As an analytical category I feel The Banger has great potential and deserves much wider application. Love those skiers on the jumper too!
Thanks Phil! I kept switching between bangers and belters, couldn't quite make up my mind....
😂❤
Oh dear, I'm at quite a disadvantage here...perhaps one of those lingering musical biases formed in my youth that I've not yet shed but I have always kept ABBA at a distance. Have never owned a single piece of their music and was surprised how many of the songs you mention didn't ring a bell at all, guess I am only really familiar with the overplayed ones like Dancing Queen. Odd in a way as otherwise I do appreciate a bit of well crafted pop every now and then...especially from the 60's or 70's...happy new year James!
Brilliant video James. I love the idea of giving a extra point for each of the "bangers". I liked that you mentioned the tracks "Why Did It Have To Be Me?", "Arrival" and "As Good As New". I was expecting you to be more scathing of the catalogue so I'm more than pleased. I didn't know Super Trouper was one of your favourite singles. It's my second favourite just behind Fernando. I'm now off to play Arrival! Cheers - Richard
I had to watch this again, I enjoyed it so much. I tried to work out the 3 you give a miss to on Arrival and I think one is My Love My Life which in my view is their greatest ballad and one of Agnetha's finest vocal performances. i'm glad you said you weren't as keen on their slower numbers otherwise virtual tomatos would have been thrown, just kidding lol.
Thanks Richard! Yeah, I just find My Love My Life too soppy I'm afraid. The one I was more worried about was 'When I Kissed the Teacher', which I remember quite enjoying when I first got to know the 'Arrival' album, but on this re-visit I just found it didn't do much for me at all. Glad you enjoyed the video, I just wish I'd be able to discuss a few of the non-album singles and extra tracks a bit , but I'll save that for next Crimbo!
Happy new year, James! While not my subject of choice (more of the same reasons as not having heard yellow brick Road than any intense dislike), I do enjoy your rankings given the methodical, even-handed approach you take. The wildcard 'banger' scores were a nice differentiating touch that makes sense to me!
Hey Dean sorry for very late reply here - just been madly busy since new year. Glad you enjoyed this little nostalgia fest, fascinating to hear that you're not familiar (or too familiar) with ABBA. I was pleased with the 'banger'/'belter' concept overall...trying it now with McCartney albums but it's proving more difficult. Hope you have a great 2023!
Haven't heard all of their albums. I think i could go with your choice of number 1 at least i don't have any other that i feel must be on top. Arrival for the contender anyway. Two points; I don't understand Frida's haircut on the sleeve of Waterloo and yes, you must like Thank You For The Music.
Happy New Year James.
Pasi
Hard to argue with most of your choices James but I would definitely put the Super Trouper higher up the list. Our Last Summer is a beautiful song and one of my favourites 😉👍
Thanks Paul. I was surprised that ST ended up so low as I love the singles.
HNY James, I now hear in my head an idea for 'now that's what I call Celtic ABBA' the visitors is different yes the hipster one and is very melancholic can't say I've heard them much outside of Abba Gold or other best ofs. Apparently my first cinema trip was the abba movie but I have absolutely no recollection of it.
Hi Martin, happy new year. It's worth hearing the ABBA albums at least once in your life...I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan but their pop hooks can't be argued with. Treated myself to Spotify recently so am going to be working my way through the Church catalogue (assuming it's on there) soon.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic there's alot! Certainly cheaper than buying them as even the CD only releases are pricey. We eagerly await the new one this spring apparently.
Happy New Year James, thank you for your videos during the past year, i wish you every success for your videos for 2023. i am going to be a bit controversial here...but i think S.O.S is probably the greatest ever pop song ever written...so i apologize if i have upset any Beatles, Robbie Williams!, Joni Mitchell, Carole king etc fans. however my favourite Abba track is The Visitors just a belter of a song.
Cheers Alex...it's comments like yours that encourage me to keep going, so it is appreciated. Happy new year!
@@jamesgriffithsmusic Your welcome James, are their any albums you are keen to buy in 2023?
@@alexbillington6813 Stay tuned to find out!
Who doesn’t love a bit a ABBA? You have to hand it to Bjorn and Benny, they certainly know how to knock out a belter.
They certainly do Andy. Thanks!
Kind regards
It is the first time that I see your page and I was interested in the ranking of the ABBA albums
ABBA is, along with The Beatles, my favorite and at the same time most influential group in rock and pop music
BEATLES were the leaders of the 60s and ABBA of the 70s
We all have different tastes, for albums and songs That's why is interesting to see your order, so different of my order, that is:
#8 Waterloo
the Masterpiece that won Eurovision stands out clearly from the rest
I like them too
Honey honey, Hasta mañana & Dance (while the music still goes on)
#7 Ring Ring
when they were not yet ABBA
it's a very even album My favorites are:
Ring Ring, He is your brother, People need love, Disilussion, Love isn't easy, Nina pretty ballerina & Another town Another train
#6 The Visitors
an album in difficult context due to the separation of Benny & Frida
with no biggest hits, my favorite is the most emotional
Slipping through my fingers
followed by
One of us, The Visitors, Headoverheels & When all is said and done
#5 Voulez Vous
ABBA's difficult to record mad album due to the separation of Agnetha & Björn
dominacla disco music with
As good as new & If it wasn't for the nights
as the best exponents
But the best song is the masterpiece
Chiquitita (ABBA's biggest success in Latin America)
#4 Super Trouper
two singles stand out
the masterpiece heartbroken
The winner takes it all
and the musical beauty
Super Trouper
other wonders
Happy new year & The way all friends do
and the surprise
The Piper
#3 ABBA
perhaps the most underrated album
has the best and most important song,
the masterpiece: S.O.S.
the dynamite single: Mamma Mia
the best sweet ballad of love :
I've been waiting for you
and other brilliant ones:
Bang a boomerang, I do I do I do I do I do & So long
#2 Arrival
ABBA's Pop Music Masterpiece
has the biggest hits
Dancing queen (the ABBA flagship song)
My Love my life & Knowing me knowing You (the heartbreaker ballads)
Tiger and That's me (two powerful numbers)
When I kissed the teacher & Money money money (two great starts aside)
#1 The Album
the Masterpiece of ABBA versatility
impossible to choose only one, each song is different and brilliant, it is even at the highest level
The name of the game : is the boldest single
Eagle & Move on : the most exotic and complex
Hole in your soul : it's bizarre and powerful
Take a chance on me : the most happiest
Thank you for the music : is the hymn
Special comment of "Voyage"
It's new to put in the right order, I"m still listening and discover new things
until now I put "Voyage" in the middle
better than The Visitors or Voulez Vous
almost so good as Super Trouper or ABBA
favourite song: "Don't shut me down"
only a level bellow:
I still have faith in you
Just a Notion
Ode to Freedom
When you danced with me
In facts, until now:
#1 The Album
#2 Arrival
#3 ABBA
#4 Super Trouper
#5 Voyage
#6 Voulez Vous
#7 The Visitors
#8 Ring Ring
#9 Waterloo
Glad to welcome you to the channel!
Great video. Interesting method you used for this, unconsciously I would consider the ‘bangers’ more than general likes/dislikes when ranking albums so instinctively my favourites would be the visitors (at least 3 bangers on there for me) and the album. Voulez vous has never been a huge favourite, because I’m not as keen on the singles from it but no denying it is very consistently good throughout
Good comment Ross. In my previous attempts to rank the albums I tried an approach more like the ones you suggest, but it didn't work somehow. For me an album has to be more than just a handful of great songs and then filler...but it was difficult to arrive at a definitive answer. Happy new year.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic definitely agree, I do find whenever I do album ranking videos (either of an artist or a year) my list doesn’t tie up with order they get in scores from my reviews, some cases opinions change over time but other cases a couple of standouts can bump an album up a bit, good example for me is McCartneys Flowers In The Dirt and Off The Ground, I genuinely like every track on Off The Ground (yes even Biker Like An Icon) but I’d always put flowers higher due to a few standouts which top anything on off the ground.
Always had a soft spot for the pure cheese that is Chiquitita myself. I love the piano in it.
Hi Chris. I like the verses more than the chorus! Thanks for tuning in for this one, happy new year!
That was really interesting. I liked the methodology, even if the maths was a bit dodgy. I grew up with ABBA everywhere and came to the conclusion that you only need two albums: Gold and More Gold. You need More Gold because one of the greatest songs ever written, The Day Before You Came has been dumped there. It’s like a Swedish Joy Division, which is high praise in my book. That song is one of those that I originally got to like via a cover version (Blancmange) and this leads to an interesting question: what songs did you learn as through the cover version, not the original? I never appreciated Smells Like Teen Spirit until I heard the Tori Amos cover. Keep up the great work in 2023.
Thanks Michael! Maths was never my strong point. There's a whole other video to be done on great ABBA songs that were not part of the original albums.
so we agree on the #1!! i personally love 'MyLove My Life' and 'Andante Andante" which you seem to have passed on.....good choice not to rate Voyage seeing as youve only just bought it!! Horses for courses as they say!!
Cheers John. I don't mind 'Andante Andante' really, but I had to consign certain songs to the 'no' pile or I'd never have been able to arrive at a list.
Can you rank beegees albums next
Good idea! Haven't heard all the album yet though.
Loved s o s