Sure, it’s Scandinavian Vanilla. BUT WHO DOESN’T LOVE VANILLA?

ABBA has been in the background of my life, for most of my life. I remember hearing them as a wee lad in County Bergen, hearing them on the radio, and of course seeing them on TV, especially once or twice on Casey Kasem’s America’s Top 40 show on WNYW.

Then came new wave and the disco back lash. Which, I was swept up in, and gratefully so. Yet.. yet there was some collateral damage. As the over produced, soulless dance music and Osmondization of 70’sa culture was being rebelled against, some acts were caught up in the blast wave of scorn. ABBA and the Carpenters were cast aside. Spit upon, as it were. Fleetwood Mac went popular, and survived the 80’s, arguably, but ABBA was on the dustbin of history. To be mocked at.

They stayed in the subconscious. But it took a couple of things to tip them back into music fans good graces. One, of course.. AUSTRALIA!

“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” started the wave of Aussie movies using ABBA joyfully and without shame. And well, those queer gender bending indie Aussie bloke’s and shelia’s seemed to be having so much fun. Speaking of Gay’s Advocating ABBA, real life and incredibly Gay Men Erasure released their “ABBA-Esque “ cd in 1992. Now, if the Kings & Queens of 80’s Dance Pop & New Wave were in on how much fun ABBA was, maybe there was something there.

And, well, all these grunge and indie rock artists started mentioning how much they liked the music of their youth.. the early to mid 70’s.

The era… of ABBA.

I’m not saying it was the final moment, but just as Pope John Paul II finally forgave Galileo, Elvis Costello also redeemed ABBA, citing their great harmonies and intricate melodies. And that was it.

ABBA was forgiven. For their own music. Argue amongst yourself about whether CHESS deserves acclaim or condemnation. Don’t own it, never seen it, won’t say.

My interest was piqued by “Priscialla” and “Murielle’s Wedding,” and when I got ABBA “GOLD”, well I was instantly converted by the sheer pop joy. Yeah, it’s cheese. Yeah, it’s Eurovision Crack. But it’s the finest of cheeses, and the finest of European crack.

The drug, not the… never mind.

ABBA could get points off, because after you a buy one of their best of’s, you probably won’t feel the urge to buy the actual albums. But you need ABBA in your collection.And with the amount you will replay even their best of... 5 stars, all the way.

Artist: ABBA

Album:Gold
Year: 1992
Date Listened in Tour:7/15/09
Rating: *****
Best Song: Knowing Me, Knowing You