Arrival

A little story behind this album... I was in the USAF, stationed in Iceland, when this album came out. I had become friends with the gentleman who ran the record shop in Keflavik, and I was in his shop on my birthday. When he got this album in, he set a copy aside for me, and made me a birthday present of it! The record was the original Swedish pressing, on the Polar label, and it sounded wonderful. What I didn't know at the time was that I still hadn't really heard this album until I got this new, half-speed mastered version of it.What half-speed mastering does is to allow more time for the groove to be cut accurately, allowing better high frequency response and more detail in the sound. The master tape is played at half its original speed, into the lathe that cuts the master acetate. That lathe is turning the blank disc at 22.5 RPM, so the records, when played at 45RPM, sound better than ever. Using 45 as the playing speed allows the sound to be more open and dynamic, but requires more space on the record to do it right. That's why this album is spread over two records. The difference is worth it! In other words, ya gotta hear it!There's not a bad track on this album, and your toes will be tapping as you listen. Yes, this album is expensive, but you'll never hear this album sound better, even on CD.

Wonderful album. A gift

Loooove Abba

This ABBA album has always been one of my favorites. Most of the songs are happy and put me in a good mood anytime I listen to it. It definitely has it sad songs like My Love, My Life and Why Did it have to be me. Other than that one of their best albums.

It’s sounds perfect, but it came in just a plastic bag. It was all bent up which was disappointing.

Every original song on this album is great! The bonus tracks are ok. Fantastic album! one of their best!

One of Abba's best, presented in the best version you'll ever hear. By no means an audiophile classic, with rather harsh upper mids, this 45 rpm pressing improves by leaps and bounds every other version (vinyl and CD) I've ever heard. Those upper mids have been sweetened and rendered SO much more listenable, while the bottom end is tighter and better defined, all the better to hear Phil Wain's GENIUS bass playing on "Knowing Me, Knowing You." AND to hear the best version of "My Love, My Life", inarguably Abba's most underrated song, as well as being one of the most beautiful pop songs ever written.

Like other times.....at first I wasn't so sure about a lot of the songs, many of which were new to me. However, as I listened to them I began to love them all. The melodies, and of course the harmonies, the arrangements......some songs are quite simple and others contain wonderfully complex harmonies and movements. I have been listening to this album almost exclusively in my car as I drive a lot. Just makes me appreciate ABBA's talents and creativity more and more.