And it did give them two more UK #1 singles, making a total nine. One is the title track, sung by Frida, about a singer who's going to be blinded by the giant spotlights on the stage of her concert, but won't mind, because somewhere out there, among the thousands of people, is her loved one. "Feeling like a number one?" Chartwise, definitely. Its B-side is the galloping "Elaine." This was a B-side? Should've been an A-side, as its frantic energy recalls other barnburners like "So Long" and "Tiger."

The other #1 is the bittersweet "The Winner Takes it All," a song inspired by Bjorn and Agnetha's divorce, but more about the pain of such a split-up. The song veers from the couple's split to an analogy to the judges decision in some competition. There's a biting sense of predestination, of one not being in control of one's destiny: "The gods may throw a dice/their minds as cold as ice/and someone way down there/loses someone dear."

The Top Ten single "On And On And On" with a mighty insistent stomping drums and synth rhythm, blaring synths, and an energy rivalling their previous albums.

"Andante Andante" is indeed an andante song. In music, it means moderate tempo, faster than adagio, but slower than allegretto. It makes a leisure slow-dance song, highlighted by the usual harmonies by the ladies.

With a fanfare like keyboard synth opening that continues throughout the song, "Me and I" explores the dual nature many people have, Jekyll/Hyde, and how normal it can be is encapsulated in the snappy chorus, "We're like sun and rainy weather, sometimes we're a hit together/me and I/gloomy moods and inspiration, we're a funny combination/me and I." And not to worry: "I don't think I'm different or in any way unique/think about yourself for a minute/and you'll find the answer to it/everyone's a freak." One of the best songs here, and it's definitely allegretto allegretto.

Another andante andante song is "Happy New Year" and the group is definitely one for New Year's Resolutions and new starts, where the vision of "a world where every neighbour is a friend." The fact that it had just turned 1980, and how ABBA was a group of the 70's, makes Agnetha wonder "what lies waiting down the line, in the end of 89." Oh, if only they knew!

Frida sings in the wistful "Our Last Summer," a personal song by Bjorn, the fond remembrance of a teenage summer in Paris during the Summer of Love, and how the feelings haven't changed years later.

I first heard "Lay All Your Love On Me" when the Information Society covered it on their first album. After hearing the original, I detect a hint towards 80's techno in this song of how an initial meeting with someone yields possessiveness and jealousy on the part of the affected party. The choir-like harmonies in the chorus give this song a kind of hallowed atmosphere. One of my favourites here. Definitely allegretto allegretto.

And now for an adagio adagio song, the Auld-Lang Syne atmosphere of "The Way Old Friends Do," recorded live at Wembley Stadium, with the harmonies, orchestra, and synths reaching a heavenly pitch. The farewell-type aura of this song seems to herald their imminent dissolution.

"Put On Your White Sombrero," sung by Frida, was only put on the Thank You For The Music box set and finally here when Bjorn finally decided that it was actually a good song. There are cowboy motifs in this goodbye song of someone who thinks life is a movie and rides off into the sunset for some meeker senorita.

However, ABBA's penultimate album shows them still in top form, with stronger sounds, well-constructed songs and melodies, with little indication that their next album would be their last. And it's official: instead of Arrival, I deem this my favourite album by them. It's super, troupers!


I was shocked by how much I liked this   November 6, 2004
Eric Bukowski
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Ever since I bought a turntable, a whole new realm of cheap music that I would never have dared paid a rediculous CD price for (or thought of buying in the first place) opened up to me.

Looking through some used album bins, I found some ABBA stuff, and hey, for a dollar a piece there's no reason not to buy them! So I picked them up, laughed at myself, and brought them home and listened.

I bought The Album and Arrival, besides one or two good album cuts they were just all about the hits. "Eh, just what I expected, a singles band with mediocre albums" I thought to myself. Then for some unexplained reason, I bought Super Trouper. There was just something about the oh-so-glamourous cover I guess.

So I drop the needle, and "Super Trouper" starts, which I already knew but never cared much for. For some weird reason, it sounded really good! Then "Winner Takes It All," which I've never heard before, completely nailed me with that incredible, emotive vocal performance. By the time I got around to the chorus of "On And On And On" and found myself dancing furiously as only a white guy can furiously dance I knew I was in the presence of one incredibly stupid-fun album.

By the time I got through the joyously pompous synth-brass blasts of "Me And I," the reflective ballad "Happy New Year," the quasi-Gentle Giant recorder breaks of the absurd track "The Piper" up through the over-the-top closing piece "The Way Old Friends Do" I came to the conclusion that I had just experienced one of the most rediculously entertaining albums I've heard for a while.

There isn't a single song on this album that I don't enjoy immensely, with the exception of "Our Last Summer" which I think kind of kills the otherwise perfect flow of the album. The other ABBA albums I have (Arrival, The Album, and Voulez Vous) are nowhere close as far as having the tremendous hooks, variety, and entertainment value that Super Trouper offers.

I never thought I'd see the day, but my Yes, Genesis, Led Zeppelin and King Crimson albums sit comfortably and proudly next to ABBA albums, Super Trouper in particular. Get it today!


the masterpiece of ABBA's catalog   January 6, 2006
Da Man (Pekin, IL)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Abba is a group who never truly had a bad album, but they crossed all boundaries with their 1980 release Super Trouper. Toning down the disco-pop from Voulez-Vous and replacing it with a more sophisticated adult new wave pop beat. Abba saved themselves from the disco backlash (although their best disco song, LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME, is featured in this collection)with these set of songs. The Winner Takes It All was the first single released. A tear-jerking ballad about divorce, became Abba's fourth and final US top 10 single (yep, it seems like they had more...), the song is so highly emotional that anyone who has heard it must admit it's power. SuperTrouper is the first song and second US single, a pleasant record although not a great. Our Last Summer is an incredible ballad. Happy New Year is also beautiful. Me & I is an irresistably fun new wave record about cloning (or multiple personalities, however you look at it). The Piper is very Irish sounding and cute. Andante Andante is also a gorgeous soft song. This album is the definitive Abba album.


ABBA ROCKS in a sophisticated, Europop kind of way!!   June 11, 2004
E. Valero (Woodbridge, Ontario Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

One of ABBA's best loved orginal albums, SUPER TROUPER entered the UK album charts at #1 and spawned three major hit singles.

There's not much I can say about this album that ABBA fans don't already know. All the songs offered are exquisite supertunes sung masterfully by Agnetha and Frida and the melodies are intoxicating- not one bad song in the bunch. Bjorn's lyrics have matured and some of these songs are lyrically quite poetic and beautiful. The lovely Frida impresses with "Our Last Summer", "Andante Andante" and the title track and Agnetha shows the world that she is more than just eyecandy. Her vocals are superb on "Happy New Year", "Lay All Your Love on Me" and of course, "The Winner Takes It All." Their voices are strong, unique and dramatic and the vocal harmonies are perfect. Just listen to the chorus of "Super Trouper", "Our Last Summer", and "The Piper" and you will see what I mean. Other album highlight are the much cherished "The Way Old Friend's Do" which was recorded live at Wembley, the lovely latin-esque "Put on your White Sombrero" and the very interesting "Elaine".

SUPER TROUPER (the album) was an international best seller. As mentioned previously, the album debuted at number 1 in the UK, it also became ABBA's sixth consecutive Top Ten album in Canada where it peaked at #4 and it reached the US Top 20. The biggest single to emerge from the album was "The Winner Takes It All" which became the group's 8th #1 in the UK. In North America, the single reached the top ten in Canada and the US. The single also became ABBA's second US #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts ("Fernando" was their first). Another UK #1 was "Super Trouper" which was a minor US hit (#45) but it should be noted that that single along with "On and On and On" (US #90) became ABBA's 17th and 18th single to reach the Billboard Hot 100 in 7 years.

What amazes me about many of ABBA's albums is how they managed to create so many great songs. I guess there is a reason why the group is still popular 23 years after their break-up and why they continue to sell several million records every year- their total record tally for 1999 was 350 million sold, it must be far more than that now. This album is a testament to their talents as recording artists. In my opinion, they are the greatest pop group that ever existed. Frida and Agnetha's voice will never be duplicated and these songs can never be topped. As far as pop music is concerned, this is perfection and it will never get better than this.


Feeling Like A Number One   March 6, 2009
D. Reed (Elkton, MD USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Getting "Mamma Mia!" standards and favorites out of the way first:
Super Trouper- A great song that just feels magical.
The Winner Takes It All- the greatest of the relationship songs is one that anyone (including me) can relate to.
Our Last Summer- Another personal one from Bjorn detailing a young romance in Paris is another song a person can relate.
Lay All Your Love On Me- An upbeat dance song that gives a hint to the techno sound music would have in the eighties.
As for the others, "Me and I" was an excellent song about the dual nature of people and the others were excellent. I can understand why this is the number one ABBA album for most fans but this is my third.