What is your history with the “Abba” album ?
The ABBA album was the first ABBA album I bought when it first came out in 1975 when I was ten years old. It was an album I played constantly on my parent’s old stereogram. It turned me into a life-long ABBA fan. I purchased it for AU$6.99 and I still have the vinyl with the original price tag on it! Over the years, I also bought the CD version of the album and the deluxe version to add to my collection.
What was the decision behind starting with this particular Abba album ?
Firstly, as I mentioned, it was the first ABBA album I bought, so I know it inside out, but also because that album is where ABBA’s signature sound was crystalised. Though to many it may seem not as consistent in style as the next album Arrival would be. This is due to ABBA dabbling in a diverse variety of styles on the album, which on here ranges from glam rock (‘Rock Me’) to funk-rock (‘Man In The Middle’) to prog-rock (‘Intermezzo No.1) and beyond. But to me, it still is a consistent outing, as no matter what style ABBA put their hand to, they were able to ABBA-ize it. It also showed the group were not one to follow trends. They were leaders, not followers. Which is why their music is timeless.
Did you know any of the musicians involved in the “Abba” album ?
Yes, I have come to know guitarist Janne Schaffer over the past few years as we’ve recorded together on several recordings. Janne played lead guitar on my 2021 song, ‘Take A Look’ (he appears in the song’s official video, too) and we’ve both co-written and played lead guitar on an instrumental we composed and recorded in 2023 titled ‘Continental Meeting”. Both tracks can be checked out on You Tube and Spotify.
What is your favourite track on the album and why ?
‘SOS’. I agree totally with Pete Townshend’s statement that ‘SOS’ is ‘the greatest pop song ever written’. No other pop song by any other artist comes near it. It is a sonic text book that every musician will learn something from if they want to know how to write and record a truly great pop song. It’s such an addictive piece of ear candy.
My first copy of the “Abba” album was on cassette where from memory the track “Bang-a-boomerang” was split across two sides of the cassette which was very odd - did you find out any history as to why this decision was made ?
It was to make both side A and side B of equal lengths. Back in the Seventies, it was common practice for cassettes to have their tracks rearranged in order to make the two sides as equal in length as possible. The reasonings being that it avoided wasting any tape and also, if one side was shorter, after the last song on that side, there would be nothing but silence until it came to the tape side’s end. Most times it wasn’t the decision of the artist to do this, but that of the record company. I’m sure ABBA wouldn’t have wanted one of their songs split in this manner.
I have always thought that the biggest progression in Abba albums is between “Abba” and “Arrival” - what do you think ?
Absolutely, on ABBA the group found their feet and sound and were able then to build upon that with their next album Arrival. I explain and detail this process in my book and the reasons why it was a huge step forward musically for the group.
Do you intend to continue this as a series to other albums ?
I would love to, as it was such a labour of love to write this book. And when I went to Stockholm to do some additional research my book, there’s other info I found regarding other ABBA albums, so the possibility of making it continuing as a series is definitely there. I guess I will wait and see how the response to this book is first before making that decision.
Where does “Abba” rank in terms of your favorite albums by the group.
It’s number one, which is also why I decided to write a book on it!
‘The Making Of Abba: The Story Behind The Band's 1975 Breakthrough Album’ by Joe Matera will be published by Sonicbond Publishing and released on October 31st in the UK, December 19th in the USA and Australia. The book will be available wherever good books are sold in stores as well as online from Amazon.
