''Number Ones'' is a compilation album of recordings by Swedish
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
group
ABBA
ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
, released by
Polar Music
Polar Music is a Swedish record company founded in 1963 by Stig Anderson and his friend Bengt Bernhag.
Background
The first act that Polar Music signed was the Hootenanny Singers featuring Björn Ulvaeus. Polar eventually gained prosperity pr ...
in 2006.
Whereas ''
ABBA Gold
''ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits'' is a compilation album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released on 21 September 1992 through PolyGram, making it the first compilation to be released after the company had acquired Polar Music, and thus the righ ...
'' pulls together 19 of the group's biggest hits and most familiar songs, ''Number Ones'' is a variation on this concept, collecting 18 tracks that were #1 hits in many of the countries where ABBA were successful. In the end, only three tracks from ''ABBA Gold'' do not make the cut: "
Does Your Mother Know
"Does Your Mother Know" is a song by the Swedish recording group ABBA, recorded for their sixth studio album ''Voulez-Vous'' (1979). It was taken as the second single from the record on 27 April 1979 via Polar Music; in North America, the song wa ...
", "
Lay All Your Love on Me
"Lay All Your Love on Me" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA for their seventh studio album, '' Super Trouper'' (1980). The song was not intended to be a single but after a remixed version gained popularity in nightclubs, it was relea ...
", and "
Thank You for the Music
"Thank You for the Music" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally featured on the group's fifth studio album, '' The Album'' (1977), and was released as a double-A sided single with "Eagle" in May 1978 in limited territories ...
".
In the UK, the track list includes the full length version of "
Summer Night City
"Summer Night City" is a song recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus as a tribute to their hometown of Stockholm. It is the group's second non-album single, released on 6 September 1978. It was reco ...
" (originally released on the ''
Thank You for the Music
"Thank You for the Music" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally featured on the group's fifth studio album, '' The Album'' (1977), and was released as a double-A sided single with "Eagle" in May 1978 in limited territories ...
''
box set
A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit.
Music
Artists ...
) and an additional track "
Ring Ring", which, oddly enough, was never a big hit in that territory.
A limited edition, also released in the UK, includes a bonus disc with 12 tracks from ABBA's #1 albums.
In Taiwan, a hidden track follows "
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a Public speaking, public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, Kin ...
". This hidden track, titled "ABBA
Remix
A remix, also sometimes called reorchestration or rework, is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, poem, or photograph ca ...
" and running for 3:31, is a medley of the choruses of the 18 songs on the CD.
Track listing
International track listing
# "
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" is a song by Swedish recording group ABBA. A disco song, it was first recorded in August 1979 to promote the group's North American and European concert legs of ABBA: The Tour. It was released on 1 ...
"
# "
Mamma Mia"
# "
Dancing Queen
"Dancing Queen" is a song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, '' Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus also produced the ...
"
# "
Super Trouper"
# "
SOS
SOS is a Morse code distress signal (), used internationally, originally established for maritime use. In formal notation SOS is written with an overscore line (), to indicate that the Morse code equivalents for the individual letters of "SOS" a ...
"
# "
Summer Night City
"Summer Night City" is a song recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus as a tribute to their hometown of Stockholm. It is the group's second non-album single, released on 6 September 1978. It was reco ...
"
# "
Money, Money, Money
"Money, Money, Money" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with Anni-Frid Lyngstad singing lead vocals. It was released on 1 November 1976, as the second single from the group's fourth stu ...
"
# "
The Winner Takes It All
"The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish music recording group ABBA. Released as the lead single from the group's seventh studio album, '' Super Trouper'' (1980) on 21 July 1980, it is a ballad in the key of G-flat major, reflect ...
"
# "
Chiquitita
"Chiquitita" ("Little Girl" in Spanish) is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in January 1979 as the first single from '' Voulez-Vous'' (1979), the group's sixth album. Agnetha Fältskog performs the lead vocals. Origin ...
"
# "
One of Us"
# "
Knowing Me, Knowing You
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in February 1977 as the third single from the group's fourth album, '' Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with ...
"
# "
Voulez-Vous
''Voulez-Vous'' (; French for "Do you want (to)?") is the sixth studio album by the Swedish supergroup ABBA. Released on 23 April 1979, the album yielded five hits, all of them big 1979 singles in Britain – " Chiquitita", " Does Your Mother ...
"
# "
Fernando
Fernando is a Spanish and Portuguese given name and a surname common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, and former Spanish or Portuguese colonies in Latin America, Africa and Asia (like the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka). It is e ...
"
# "
Waterloo
Waterloo most commonly refers to:
* Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces
* Waterloo, Belgium
Waterloo may also refer to:
Other places
Australia
* Waterloo, New South Wale ...
"
# "
The Name of the Game"
# "
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
"I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was the third single to be released from their third studio album, ''ABBA'' (1975). The song was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and their manager Stig Anderson, a ...
"
# "
Take a Chance on Me
"Take a Chance on Me" is a song by Swedish recording group ABBA, released on 27 January 1978 in the United Kingdom, by Polar Music, as the second single from their fifth studio album, '' ABBA: The Album'' (1977). Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Fr ...
"
# "
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a Public speaking, public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, Kin ...
"
UK track listing
# "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
# "Mamma Mia"
# "Dancing Queen"
# "Super Trouper"
# "SOS"
# "Summer Night City (Extended version)"
# "Money, Money, Money"
# "The Winner Takes It All"
# "Chiquitita"
# "One of Us"
# "Knowing Me, Knowing You"
# "Voulez-Vous"
# "Fernando"
# "Waterloo"
# "
Ring Ring"
# "The Name of the Game"
# "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
# "Take a Chance on Me"
# "I Have a Dream"
Limited Edition Bonus Disc: Classic Tracks from Number Ones albums
# "
When I Kissed the Teacher
"When I Kissed the Teacher" is a song by the pop band ABBA. It is the opening track on their 1976 album '' Arrival''.
Synopsis
The song's recording sessions began on 14 June 1976 with the name "Rio de Janeiro". Eventually, the track was renamed " ...
"
# "
Hole in Your Soul"
# "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)"
# "
Me and I"
# "
The King Has Lost His Crown
"The King Has Lost His Crown" is a song by Swedish group ABBA, released on their 1979 album ''Voulez-Vous''. It was also the B-side of the non-album single "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".
Synopsis
The song is a "vengeful ballad" wh ...
"
# "
Rock Me"
# "
Tiger
The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is a large Felidae, cat and a member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is ...
"
# "
I Wonder (Departure)
"I Wonder (Departure)" is a song by ABBA, released on their 1977 album '' ABBA: The Album''. It was originally part of the ABBA-produced mini-musical ''The Girl with the Golden Hair'', which they performed at the end of each of their 1977 concert t ...
"
# "
Another Town, Another Train
"Another Town, Another Train" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA at KMH Studios.
The song was released as a 7" vinyl single in Japan in March 1973 to promote the group's debut album '' Ring Ring''; the single was also released with t ...
"
# "
Our Last Summer"
# "
Kisses of Fire
"Kisses of Fire" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, released on their 1979 album ''Voulez-Vous''.
Production and release
On 22 January 1979, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson went abroad to the Bahamas on a working trip to write new so ...
"
# "Slipping Through My Fingers"
Personnel
*
Agnetha Fältskog
Agneta Åse "Agnetha" Fältskog (; born 5 April 1950) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and a former member of the pop group ABBA. She first achieved success in Sweden with the release of her 1968 Agnetha Fältskog (album), self-titled debut alb ...
– lead vocals , co-lead vocals , backing vocals
*
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (born 15 November 1945), also known simply as Frida, is a Swedish singer who is best known as one of the founding members and lead singers of the pop band ABBA. Courtesy titles ''Principality of Reuss-Gera, Princess Re ...
– lead vocals , co-lead vocals , backing vocals
*
Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish musician, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA. He is also the co-composer of the musicals ''Chess (musical), Chess'', ''Kristina från Duve ...
– lead vocals , co-lead vocals
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked, its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
, backing vocals
*
Benny Andersson
Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, composer and producer best known as a member of the pop group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess (musical), Chess'', ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', and ''Mamm ...
– synthesizer, keyboards, backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Number Ones (Abba Album)
2006 greatest hits albums
ABBA compilation albums
Compilation albums of number-one songs
Polar Music compilation albums
Albums produced by Björn Ulvaeus
Albums produced by Benny Andersson
Albums recorded at Polar Studios