When in December, ITV broadcast the results of it’s “Nation’s Favourite Abba Song” survey, it threw up a surprise in that “Dancing Queen” did not top the poll, as opposed to “the pole” we associate with the most popular dancers in today’s society!! However it also confirmed the Swedish’s group’s enduring global appeal, which is of little surprise.

The ITV poll revealed that the UK’s Top 3 favourite Abba songs were “The Day before you came” at No3, “Dancing Queen” at No2 and the nation’s favourite was “The Winner takes it All”. For what it’s worth, I would go along with the No1 choice, with “SOS” and “The Name of the Game” just behind it.  Whatever the permutations, the point is that we all have our favourite Abba songs, regardless of whether it fits in with our self image, “street credibility” or  “cool”  music tastes!!

Abba were one of those rare phenomena, that not only totally permeated our social fabric, but became part of the main design of the mid to late 1970s musical tapestry, holding their own against the decadent, anarchic and radical punk and new wave movement that despised everything Abba and their like represented!! Understanding their mass populi appeal across all generations, and over four decades, is another issue. Essentially they have the “Beatles Factor” – although they didn’t have the cheeky, witty and charismatic personalities of the “Fab Four”, they share the same musical pedigree.  Firstly, Bjorn and Benny were able to match John and Paul when it came to writing and producing a wealth of well crafted pop songs. Secondly, the perfect harmonisation of Agnetha and Anni-Frid’s vocals made them peers of the Beatles in terms of their harmonies. And thirdly, like the Beatles, Abba were equally comfortable producing  great ballads as well as high tempo, joyful tunes – for “Something”, see “The Winner takes it All”; for “She Loves You”, reference “Dancing Queen”.

However, unlike the Beatles, after their initial chart success with the Eurovision Song Contest Winner “Waterloo” in  May 1974, Abba disappeared from the UK Chart radar for eighteen months. The re-released “Ring Ring” and it’s follow up “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” merely flirted with the outer reaches of the Chart Solar System. Their star was definitely waning, and in today’s market their record company Epic would almost certainly have dropped them!!  By the summer of 1975 it was looking as if they were to share the same fate as Napoleon, with “Waterloo” becoming their own Waterloo!!. However their next release, “SOS” peaked at No5, and the rest is history. The follow up, “Mamma Mia” reached number one, as did the next two single releases “Fernando” and “Dancing Queen”. The following four years saw Abba reach the top of the charts five more times with “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “The Name of the Game”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “The Winner takes it all” and “Super Trouper”. Nine Number Ones in six years cemented Abba’s place in the Music Hall of Fame, and more importantly cemented their place in our hearts and minds.

Who knows what might have happened had the British record buying public not heard Abba’s desperate “SOS” call and cry in the Autumn of 1975, and come to their rescue? Maybe Benny and Bjorn would still have had a No1 ranking and entry in the Stockholm Yellow Pages, with a taxi firm “Abba Cab”!! As for the girls, Agnetha and Anni-Frid……..well many a red blooded male fantasised about them as dancing queens, pirouetting around that pole……………And you know who you are!!

So why not preserve some of the Abba back catalogue for posterity as a souvenir?…………Get your favourite Abba vinyl records or compact discs ( singles or albums ), framed and mounted, by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively you can buy an Abba “Song Souvenir” for a family member, or friend……this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a 40th or 50th Birthday, A Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

Just in case you are struggling to recall all Abba’s vinyl singles because of the sheer volume, here is a chronlogical list, with chart position and year of release-

* Waterloo – No1 (1974)

* Ring Ring – No32 (1974)

* I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do – No38 (1975)

* S.O.S. – No6 (1975)

* Mamma Mia – No1 (1975)

* Fernando – No1 (1976)

* Dancing Queen – No1 (1976)

* Money, Money, Money – No3 (1976)

* Knowing Me, Knowing You – No1 (1977)

* The Name Of The Game – No1 (1977)

* Take A Chance On Me – No1 (1978)

* Summer Night City – No5 (1978)

* Chiquitita – No2 (1979)

* Does Your Mother Know – No4 (1979)

* Angeleyes/Voulez-Vous – No3 (1979)

* Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – #3 (1979)

* I Have A Dream – No2 (1979)

* The Winner Takes It All – No1 (1980)

* Super Trouper – No1 (1980)

* Lay All Your Love On Me – No7 (1981)

* One Of Us – No3 (1981)

* Head Over Heels – No25 (1982)

* The Day Before You Came – No32 (1982)

* Under Attack – No26 (1982)

* Thank You For The Music – No33 (1983)

Have you selected the Abba vinyl single / song of your choice? Order now, by clicking on…… http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/framed-singles/

For all other Abba merchandise, memorabilia and souvenirs, click here –  www.abbauk.co.uk/ www.abbafanclub.nl/ www.abbasite.com/