2024 is a signature year for ABBA and all group fans, because we will celebrate 50th anniversary of their Eurovision triumph.

 

Many years ago I represented a full ranking of all (on that moment of time) 100 ABBA songs. Now I want to concentrate on lesser known tracks and introduce a short list with "10 most underrated ABBA songs".

 

Short spoiler : all ten selected songs are in my top 30.

Edited January 18, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

This could be interesting

 

10. Another Town, Another Train

 

 

This song was released as single in Japan to promote the group's debut album "Ring Ring".

 

9. Me and Bobby and Bobby's Brother

 

 

It's simple, but very cute song. The lyrics based on Frida's memories about her children's years.

 

They’re both pleasant little songs but in general I think they were still finding their sound in this period and they definitely weren’t producing pop classics. :)

8. Nina, Pretty Ballerina

 

 

It's "Ring Ring" track again. Don't know why but their debut album is very underrated and obviously need more attention. I strongly disagree with 2/5 stars from the most critics.

"Nina, Pretty Ballerina" was released as single in some countries and reached top 10 in Austria.

Edited January 12, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

Ring, Ring is probably a little underrated, but it sounds extremely dated and is a long way off the timeless and universal sound they would come to represent. Disillusion, Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough) and People Need Love are the main tracks I would call underrated from it.

 

I think most of their underrated songs are towards the end of their career and are album tracks/b-sides from Super Trouper and The Visitors. Songs like Cassandra, I Am The City, Should I Laugh or Cry, Soldiers and Me & I are all quintessential ABBA but feel among the lesser discussed tracks of that era.

These are all nice tunes, especially Another Town, but I'd like to see how they sound with later more full-bodied Abba production sounds too, I think they wouldnt be a million miles away from Head Over Heels and some of their more cheerful later tracks :)

I think most of their underrated songs are towards the end of their career and are album tracks/b-sides from Super Trouper and The Visitors. Songs like Cassandra, I Am The City, Should I Laugh or Cry, Soldiers and Me & I are all quintessential ABBA but feel among the lesser discussed tracks of that era.

Yeah I completely agree. For people who aren’t fans as such but want to listen beyond “Gold” I generally recommend “More ABBA Gold” which has quite a few of those later underrated tracks.

Yeah I completely agree. For people who aren’t fans as such but want to listen beyond “Gold” I generally recommend “More ABBA Gold” which has quite a few of those later underrated tracks.

 

In top 15 favourite ABBA songs I have six "More Gold" tracks and only three from "Gold" (Knowing Me, Knowing You, The Winner Takes It All, Waterloo).

 

 

7. Two For The Price Of One

 

 

Yes, I love the lyrics (possibly my # 1 favourite from all ABBA songs) and especially the unpredictable end.

 

He had what you might call a trivial occupation

He cleaned the platforms of the local railway station

With no romance in his life

Sometimes he wished he had a wife

 

He read the matrimonial advertising pages

The cries for help from different people, different ages

But they had nothing to say

At least not until the day

When something special he read

This is what it said

 

If you dream of the girl for you

Then call us and get two for the price of one

We're the answer if you feel blue

So call us and get two for the price of one

If you dream of the girl for you

Then call us and get two for the price of one

We're the answer if you feel blue

So call us and get two for the price of one

 

He called the number and a voice said, "Alice Whiting"

The voice was husky and it sounded quite exciting

He was amazed at his luck

The purest streak of gold he'd struck

He said, "I read your ad, it sounded rather thrilling

I think a meeting could be mutually fulfilling

Why don't we meet for a chat?

The three of us in my flat

I can't forget what I read"

This is what it said

 

If you dream of the girl for you

Then call us and get two for the price of one

We're the answer if you feel blue

So call us and get two for the price of one

If you dream of the girl for you

Then call us and get two for the price of one

We're the answer if you feel blue

So call us and get two (For the price of one...)

 

He said, "I'm sure we must be perfect for each other

And if you doubt it you'll be certain when you meet my mother"

 

The lyrics remind me some ... Divine Comedy tracks. Also I can imagine myself on the place of Bjorn's character.

People Need Love was my favourite pre-fame single from ABBA.

 

Two For The Price of One is interesting lyrically. Musically I've always liked it the least of everything on The Visitors, it feels like it belongs on another (earlier) album.

Two For The Price of One is a perfectly fine song by any metric, but it should not have been on The Visitors, not when Should I Laugh or Cry was in the wings. As Rich says, it feels like it belongs to a much earlier period in their discography. It feels most aligned with ABBA to me sonically.

 

6. Dream World

 

 

"Dream World" was released only in 1994 year for "Thank You For The Music" box set.

 

 

 

I bought that CD box set in 1994 - my takeaway fave obscurity was Just Like That, but annoyingly they only included a short segment of it. Long overdue a proper full-length version was released! Two For The Price Of One was set up to be a single and was amusing and upbeat, so I can see why Should I Laugh Or Cry is more in with the more sombre mood of The Visitors. I think it should have been a non-album double A side with Head Over Heels, which might have boosted that single a bit more after 2nd single When All Is said And Done (in my ideal world), I think that might have grabbed 2 more top 10's and halted the drop in singles chart positions a bit longer.

Dream World is wonderful, obviously a small portion got re-used but I think it stands alone as an equal. At the same time, I don’t think it had a place on Voulez-Vous (as much as wishful thinking would ditch I Have A Dream and the nightmare choir).

Dream World is really good - definitely my favourite thing so far here!

The Gemini version of Just Like That is good:

 

 

Surprised a full ABBA take didn't turn up on Voyage.

 

Agreed that Dream World is a good one too.

Edited January 13, 20241 yr by gooddelta

 

5. I'm A Marionette

 

 

"I'm a Marionette" was part of a mini-musical called "The Girl With The Golden Hair" that ABBA performed at several of their live concerts.

 

This song grew up for me very much in last five years. Dutch TV mini-musical "ABBAcadabra" from 1985 boosted my love to the amazing original. Dutch language version of "I'm A Marionette" ("Geef Die Banden Terug") was used as a main theme for a witch, played by Marga Scheide (mostly known as a member of girl pop group Luv'). Also it's very rare chance to see Frida with blonde hair. :blush:

Ah I love I'm A Marionette, remember annoying my room-mates at Uni playing The Album over and over...loudly. :lol: It's only fair as I had to sit through Judas Priest. :lol: