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Disco Music > Disco History 101 Index > Unlikely Artists > Abba
Abba
Abba (Swedish pop group of the 70s)
Although not really a Disco group, Abba enjoyed tremendous success in the dance clubs with the three songs below, which appeared on 12 inch singles. "Lay All Your Love" even received a special remix by the team at Disconet and is highly collectible today by both fans of Abba and DJs.
Dancing Queen (1976)
Lay All Your Love (1980)
Voulez Vous (1979)
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YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS
Abba's late '70's shift from bubblegum pop to disco was subtle, but their impeccable song craft suited the genre. "Dancing Queen" wasn't thought of as a huge disco hit at the time, but today epitomizes the era.
Abba's outstanding contribution lies not with "Dancing Queen", but with "Lay All Your Love On Me". This was a definite move toward a more dance-orientated sound. While this was espected with the "Voulez Vous" album, this was only really limited to the title track.
What makes LAYLOM stand out is the timing. Disco was moving into the 80s and was meeting a lot of mainstream opposition. However, as a track it came at the beginning of Hi-NRG. It was a point of reference for a lot of Eurpoean dance music which followed.
The fact this track, along with "The Visitors", was remixed shows how important it was.
"On and On and On" was another track for the discos. You know they were at the end if you listen to the lyrics of "The Visitors". Such a happy sounding song about going insane.
ABBA should be considered one of the greatest dance bands of all time, not to mention one of the greatest bands period. It wasn't until 1979's Voulez-Vouz album that they blatantly set out to make an Americanized disco album, but their catalog of songs is full of disco and dance greats. It's a shame they haven't been voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet.....they have sold over 350 million records! they are only behind the Beatles and Elvis....let's give them the respect they deserve and nominate them to THIS Hall of Fame at least!
Another interesting thing was that ABBA didn't officially remix any of their singles. They refused to. "Lay all your love on me' was a promo mix for Disconet. And also a very hot bootleg. Most of their 12" singles had single mixes like the 7". Of course, Abbacadabra (Abba cover group; Almighty records) is getting all the credit now....shame shame
Abba sure sounds like true disco to me. The songs Waterloo, SOS, Mamma Mia, Fernando, I Do I Do I Do, Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, The Name of the Game, Take a Chance on Me, and The Winner Takes it All sound like disco. They have the correct steady beat at about 120 bps, a steady 2/2 rhythm, and use real instruments. That is the basic definition of disco. For sure, if you do not have this and you like disco, you are missing out on some good music.
I was in West Hollywood's STUDIO ONE the first time I heard this...the DJ was so into it, that he turned the sound UP every time they sang the line "lay all your love on me"; with Studio's sound system, the whole building shook !!! Sounded like a thousand voices...for years we refered to it as "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Does Disco". Wonderful !
Sorry Bernie, I totally disagree with you. ABBA was a very LIKELY artist to jump on the DISCO scene, in fact they were there from the beginning. most of their early work was always played in DISCOS, and DANCING QUEEN is a contender for the BEST DISCO SONG EVER! Then later, they gave us the GAY NATIONAL ANTHEM, "Lay all your love on me". The fact that they were very POP contributed directly with them also becoming DISCO. But all their DISCO CLASSICS should prove my point. Re-classify them, they were very DISCO!!
Do you realize that DANCING QUEEN is so well made. The music sharp and crisp, the vocals a perfect example of unity. The arranging again right on the money. Smooth sounding, a blend of ABBA'S POP past and the new DISCO wave that had become the trend of the time. A great evolution, made simple by their talent. Like Rolling Stone Magazine has said, "The PERFECT DISCO SONG!" You aware that ABBA didn't come to the US until 1979? They didn't NEED US, they already ruled the rest of the world. The Best Band Of The SEVENTIES.
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