Super Trouper (album)
Encyclopedia
Super Trouper is the seventh studio album by Swedish
pop group ABBA
, first released in 1980 (see 1980 in music
).
box set and as a Deluxe Edition (containing a bonus DVD) in 2011. The previous year's divorce between Björn and Agnetha was explored in "The Winner Takes It All", and the members' lives in Stockholm high society circles coloured the lyrics for "On and On and On". Other well-known songs on the album include the hit single title track "Super Trouper
", as well as the electro-dance of "Lay All Your Love on Me
".
Probably due to the disco backlash of the time, the album saw ABBA returning to a more straight-forward pop sound, as opposed to the preceding (and noticeably more dance-oriented) Voulez-Vous
album.
, i.e., directional spotlights used to follow a performer on stage. Album cover designer, Rune Söderqvist, decided to use the spotlight theme and photograph the group, surrounded by circus performers, at Piccadilly Circus
, London. After discovering that there was a law preventing any entertainers or animals appearing in central London, they instead invited the members of two local circuses to Europa Film Studios, Stockholm to take the photograph there. Several of ABBA's friends were also invited to take part and the following also appear on the cover: Görel Hanser (vice-president of Polar Music
who subsequently married the band's photographer Anders Hanser), Berka Bergkvist (another Polar Music employee), Tomas Ledin
and Anders Anderson (ABBA's manager's son).
At the same time, Lasse Hallström
also filmed scenes that were eventually used in the videos for "Happy New Year" and "Super Trouper
" even though the latter had not even been composed at the time.
& Björn Ulvaeus
.
Side A:
Side B:
(P) 1980 Polar Music International AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
On the vinyl LP, the audience applause following the end of the "The Way Old Friends Do" continues into the run out groove meaning that it plays continuously if the turntable does not have an auto stop function. On the Cassette version and the subsequent CD re-issues, the applause simply fades out.
The 1997 remaster of the album also included "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
", but the 2001 remaster did not, the song being shifted as a bonus track onto the Voulez-Vous
album.
Super Trouper was remastered and reissued again in 2005 as part of the The Complete Studio Recordings
box set with three bonus tracks:
Tracks 12–13 are from the Spanish and Latin American version of the album Super Trouper.
Super Trouper was reissued once again in 2008 as part of the The Albums
box set but without any bonus tracks.
As announced, the album will be remastered and reissued again as part of the Deluxe Edition series. It will be released on May 9, 2011.
also sang this song along with ABBA as a short part of the concert telecast.
Although not released as a single with this album, the song was later released as a single in 1992 to promote the compilation "More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits
".
The song was later covered by The Alexander Brothers, the Kingston Trio, Philomena Begley
and Faryl Smith
.
A country/rockabilly song recorded in 1980 with lead vocal by Ulvaeus. A brief excerpt of this track was released in the box set Thank You for the Music.
A song based on waltz with a latin american sound recorded in 1980 with lead vocal by Lyngstad. Originally the track was intended to be released on the 1980-album Super Trouper. It was however replaced by that albums' title track. The song remained unreleased until 1994, when it was included in the box set Thank You for the Music and the promo-cd-single "Dream World". It has since apperared as a bonus track on various versions of reissues of Super Trouper-and in the box set The Complete Studio Recordings.
Additional personnel
According to The Official Charts Company, the album spent 17 consecutive weeks in the Top 40 from 22 November 1980 to 14 March 1981. It then charted for another four weeks in the lower reaches of the Top 40 between March and August 1981. It went straight into the Top 40 at Number One.
Weekly chart positions from 22 November 1980 and 14 March 1981:
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-5-10-13-24-22-23-36-36
United Kingdom
The UK release of Lay All Your Love On Me was limited to a 12" Single only. No 7" version was available. The 12" cut was the same length as the album track.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
pop group ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
, first released in 1980 (see 1980 in music
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
).
Overview
Led by the international hit "The Winner Takes It All", Super Trouper was the group's sixth chart-topping album in the UK. It was also the best-selling album in Britain for 1980. Super Trouper was first released on CD in 1983 by Atlantic Records, again in the 1980s by Polar International, and in the 1990s by Polydor in the USA. The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form four times; first in 1997, then in 2001, again in 2005 as part of the The Complete Studio RecordingsThe Complete Studio Recordings (ABBA album)
The Complete Studio Recordings is a box set of all of the studio material released by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released on 7 November 2005 and consists of 9 CDs and 2 DVDs, plus a full colour booklet with timeline and photos. Another booklet containing the complete lyrics was also...
box set and as a Deluxe Edition (containing a bonus DVD) in 2011. The previous year's divorce between Björn and Agnetha was explored in "The Winner Takes It All", and the members' lives in Stockholm high society circles coloured the lyrics for "On and On and On". Other well-known songs on the album include the hit single title track "Super Trouper
Super Trouper (song)
-A-Teens version:"Super Trouper" was A-Teens' second single from their 1st album The ABBA Generation, a cover of ABBA's song. When the single came out in the fall of 1999, it became a hit around the globe, just as its predecessor "Mamma Mia", also an ABBA cover...
", as well as the electro-dance of "Lay All Your Love on Me
Lay All Your Love on Me
"Lay All Your Love on Me", is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA in 1980 for their Super Trouper album. It was released only as a 12-inch single in 1981 in limited territories, rather than as a standard 7-inch record. At the time, it was the highest selling 12-inch record in UK chart...
".
Probably due to the disco backlash of the time, the album saw ABBA returning to a more straight-forward pop sound, as opposed to the preceding (and noticeably more dance-oriented) Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous
-CD re-issues, bonus tracks:Voulez-Vous was remastered and reissued in 1997 with two bonus tracks:"Summer Night City" – 3:34 "Lovelight" – 3:18Voulez-Vous was remastered and reissued in 2001 with three other bonus tracks:...
album.
Album cover and title
Super Trouper is a registered trademark owned by Strong Entertainment Lighting, for their brand of followspotsSuper Trouper (spotlight)
Super Trouper is the registered trademark of a series of follow spotlights manufactured by Strong Entertainment Lighting of Omaha . They provided the inspiration for the hit ABBA song of the same name....
, i.e., directional spotlights used to follow a performer on stage. Album cover designer, Rune Söderqvist, decided to use the spotlight theme and photograph the group, surrounded by circus performers, at Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly...
, London. After discovering that there was a law preventing any entertainers or animals appearing in central London, they instead invited the members of two local circuses to Europa Film Studios, Stockholm to take the photograph there. Several of ABBA's friends were also invited to take part and the following also appear on the cover: Görel Hanser (vice-president of Polar Music
Polar Music
Polar Music is a Swedish record company founded in 1963 by Stig Anderson and his friend Bengt Bernhag. The first act that it signed was the Hootenanny Singers featuring Björn Ulvaeus. Polar eventually gained prosperity producing Ulvæus' next group, international superstars ABBA...
who subsequently married the band's photographer Anders Hanser), Berka Bergkvist (another Polar Music employee), Tomas Ledin
Tomas Ledin
Tomas Folke Jonas Ledin is a Swedish singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He grew up in the town of Sandviken.Tomas Ledin started his career in 1972 when his first single, Då ska jag spela, was a big hit...
and Anders Anderson (ABBA's manager's son).
At the same time, Lasse Hallström
Lasse Hallström
Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström is a Swedish film director. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for My Life as a Dog and later for The Cider House Rules .-Life and career:...
also filmed scenes that were eventually used in the videos for "Happy New Year" and "Super Trouper
Super Trouper (song)
-A-Teens version:"Super Trouper" was A-Teens' second single from their 1st album The ABBA Generation, a cover of ABBA's song. When the single came out in the fall of 1999, it became a hit around the globe, just as its predecessor "Mamma Mia", also an ABBA cover...
" even though the latter had not even been composed at the time.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Benny AnderssonBenny Andersson
Göran Bror "Benny" Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
& Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Ulvaeus
Björn Kristian Ulvaeus is a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, writer, producer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
.
Side A:
- "Super TrouperSuper Trouper (song)-A-Teens version:"Super Trouper" was A-Teens' second single from their 1st album The ABBA Generation, a cover of ABBA's song. When the single came out in the fall of 1999, it became a hit around the globe, just as its predecessor "Mamma Mia", also an ABBA cover...
" – 4:11 - "The Winner Takes It AllThe Winner Takes It All"The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's Super Trouper album on July 21, 1980, it is a ballad in the key of F-sharp major, reflecting the end of a romance...
" – 4:55 - "On and On and OnOn and On and On"On and On and On" is a pop song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA in 1980 for their Super Trouper album.The track, which had working titles "Esses vad det svänger när man spelar jazz" and "'Til the Night is Gone", was released as a single in a few countries, namely the United States, Japan,...
" – 3:40 - "Andante, Andante" – 4:39
- "Me and I" – 4:54
Side B:
- "Happy New YearHappy New Year (song)"Happy New Year" is a popular song by Swedish pop group ABBA from their 1980 album Super Trouper. The song's working title was all the more festive and humorous; "Daddy Don't Get Drunk on Christmas Day"...
" – 4:23 - "Our Last SummerOur Last Summer"Our Last Summer" is a song by ABBA from the group's seventh studio album, Super Trouper. It was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.Recording for this track began on 4 June 1980 in Polar Music Studios...
" – 4:19 - "The Piper" – 3:26
- "Lay All Your Love on MeLay All Your Love on Me"Lay All Your Love on Me", is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA in 1980 for their Super Trouper album. It was released only as a 12-inch single in 1981 in limited territories, rather than as a standard 7-inch record. At the time, it was the highest selling 12-inch record in UK chart...
" – 4:33 - "The Way Old Friends Do" (Live) – 2:53
(P) 1980 Polar Music International AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
On the vinyl LP, the audience applause following the end of the "The Way Old Friends Do" continues into the run out groove meaning that it plays continuously if the turntable does not have an auto stop function. On the Cassette version and the subsequent CD re-issues, the applause simply fades out.
CD re-issues, bonus tracks
Super Trouper was remastered and reissued in 1997 and 2001 with two bonus tracks:- "Elaine" (B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus) – 3:44
- "Put On Your White SombreroPut On Your White Sombrero"Put On Your White Sombrero" is a song by pop group ABBA recorded during sessions for the band's album Super Trouper released in 1980. Under the working titles...
" (B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus) – 4:34
The 1997 remaster of the album also included "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ", originally titled "Been and Gone and Done It", is one of Swedish pop group ABBA's biggest disco hits. It was recorded and released in 1979 with "The King Has Lost His Crown" as the B-side. It appears on ABBA's Greatest Hits Vol...
", but the 2001 remaster did not, the song being shifted as a bonus track onto the Voulez-Vous
Voulez-Vous
-CD re-issues, bonus tracks:Voulez-Vous was remastered and reissued in 1997 with two bonus tracks:"Summer Night City" – 3:34 "Lovelight" – 3:18Voulez-Vous was remastered and reissued in 2001 with three other bonus tracks:...
album.
Super Trouper was remastered and reissued again in 2005 as part of the The Complete Studio Recordings
The Complete Studio Recordings (ABBA album)
The Complete Studio Recordings is a box set of all of the studio material released by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released on 7 November 2005 and consists of 9 CDs and 2 DVDs, plus a full colour booklet with timeline and photos. Another booklet containing the complete lyrics was also...
box set with three bonus tracks:
- "Elaine" – 3:45
- B-side of "The Winner Takes It AllThe Winner Takes It All"The Winner Takes It All" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released as the first single from the group's Super Trouper album on July 21, 1980, it is a ballad in the key of F-sharp major, reflecting the end of a romance...
".
- B-side of "The Winner Takes It All
- "Andante, Andante (Spanish version)" (B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus); (Spanish translation - Buddy McCluskey, Mary McCluskey) – 4:40
- "Felicidad" (B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus); (Spanish translation - B. McCluskey, M. McCluskey) – 4:24
- Spanish version of "Happy New Year".
Tracks 12–13 are from the Spanish and Latin American version of the album Super Trouper.
Super Trouper was reissued once again in 2008 as part of the The Albums
The Albums
The Albums is a box set of recordings by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released on November 11, 2008 through Universal Music. The box set includes nine discs, the first eight are all of the original studio albums the way they were originally released between 1973 and 1981 while the ninth disc...
box set but without any bonus tracks.
As announced, the album will be remastered and reissued again as part of the Deluxe Edition series. It will be released on May 9, 2011.
The Way Old Friends Do
"The Way Old Friends Do" was recorded live from ABBA's 1979 tour. The anthemic song was performed towards the end of each show with the four members linking arms around Benny's accordion. Video footage of ABBA performing the song in Wembley was screened in Japan and the United States as part of the "ABBA in Concert" TV special. The song is included as an extra feature on the DVD of the special. All of the musicians involved with the Music for UNICEF ConcertMusic for UNICEF Concert
The Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song was a benefit concert of popular music held in the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on January 9, 1979. It was intended to raise money for UNICEF world hunger programs and to mark the beginning of the International Year of the Child. The...
also sang this song along with ABBA as a short part of the concert telecast.
Although not released as a single with this album, the song was later released as a single in 1992 to promote the compilation "More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits
More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits
More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits is compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA. Released in 1993, it was the follow-up to the highly successful ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, released the previous year, and went on to sell 3 million copies....
".
The song was later covered by The Alexander Brothers, the Kingston Trio, Philomena Begley
Philomena Begley
Philomena Begley is an Irish country music singer.-Background:Philomena Begley was born and grew up in Pomeroy Co. Tyrone and worked in a shirt factory in Cookstown before her break into music.-Career:...
and Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
.
Singles
- "The Winner Takes It All"/"Elaine" (July 1980)
- "Super Trouper"/"The Piper" (November 1980)
- "Happy New Year"/"Andante Andante" (November 1980)
- "On and On and On"/"The Piper" (December 1980) (Japan only)
- "Andante Andante"/"The Piper" (1981) (South America and South Africa only)
- "Lay All Your Love on Me"/"On and On and On" (July 1981)
Non Album Tracks
- "Burning My Bridges"
A country/rockabilly song recorded in 1980 with lead vocal by Ulvaeus. A brief excerpt of this track was released in the box set Thank You for the Music.
- "Put On Your White Sombrero"
A song based on waltz with a latin american sound recorded in 1980 with lead vocal by Lyngstad. Originally the track was intended to be released on the 1980-album Super Trouper. It was however replaced by that albums' title track. The song remained unreleased until 1994, when it was included in the box set Thank You for the Music and the promo-cd-single "Dream World". It has since apperared as a bonus track on various versions of reissues of Super Trouper-and in the box set The Complete Studio Recordings.
Personnel
ABBA- Benny AnderssonBenny AnderssonGöran Bror "Benny" Andersson is a Swedish musician, composer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
– synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Agnetha FältskogAgnetha FältskogAgnetha Åse Fältskog is a Swedish recording artist. She achieved success in Sweden after the release of her début album Agnetha Fältskog in 1968, and reached international stardom as a member of the pop group ABBA, which to date has sold over 375 million records worldwide, making it the fourth...
– vocals - Anni-Frid LyngstadAnni-Frid LyngstadAnni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss von Plauen , is a Norwegian-born Swedish pop singer...
– vocals - Björn UlvaeusBjörn UlvaeusBjörn Kristian Ulvaeus is a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, writer, producer, a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA , and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia!...
– acoustic guitar, vocals
Additional personnel
- Ola BrunkertOla BrunkertOla Brunkert was one of the main session drummers for ABBA. Brunkert and bassist Rutger Gunnarsson are the only two side musicians to appear on every ABBA album....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Lars Carlsson – horn
- Rutger Gunnarsson – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar - Janne Kling – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Per Lindvall – drums
- Janne SchafferJanne SchafferJan Erik Tage Janne Schaffer is a Swedish songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his work as a session guitarist for ABBA but he has also recorded with artists such as Bob Marley, Johnny Nash, Art Farmer and Tony Williams...
– guitar - Åke Sundqvist – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Mike Watson – bass
- Lasse Wellander – guitar
- Kajtek Wojciechowski – saxophone
- Producers: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
- Engineer: Michael B. TretowMichael B. TretowBo Michael Tretow is a swedish record producer and audio engineer, Musician and composer, best known for his work with Swedish pop group ABBA , and with the musical Chess. Tretow experimented with different recording techniques, and played an essential part in creating the famous "ABBA-sound"...
- Arranger: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
- Design: Rune Söderqvist
- Mastering for 1980's USA Atlantic CD version by Zal Schreiber of Atlantic Studios, NYC
- Remastered for the 1997 Remasters by Jon Astley and Tim Young with Michael B. Tretow
- Remastered for the 2001 Remasters by Jon Astley with Michael B. Tretow
- Remastered for the 2005 Complete Studio Recordings Box Set by Henrik Jonsson
Album
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Argentina Album Chart | 2 |
| Australia Album Chart | 5 |
| Austria Album Chart | 3 |
| Belgium Album Chart | 1 |
| Canada Album Chart | 4 |
| Dutch Album Chart | 1 |
| Finland Album Chart | 2 |
| France Album Chart | 8 |
| Italy Album Chart | 13 |
| Japan Album Chart | 8 |
| Mexico Album Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Album Chart | 5 |
| Norway Album Chart | 1 |
| Spain Album Chart | 4 |
| Sweden Album Chart | 1 |
| Switzerland Album Chart | 1 |
| UK Album Chart | 1 |
| The Billboard 200 | 17 |
| West Germany Album Chart | 1 |
UK Chart Position by Week
According to The Official Charts Company, the album spent 17 consecutive weeks in the Top 40 from 22 November 1980 to 14 March 1981. It then charted for another four weeks in the lower reaches of the Top 40 between March and August 1981. It went straight into the Top 40 at Number One.
Weekly chart positions from 22 November 1980 and 14 March 1981:
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-5-10-13-24-22-23-36-36
United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "The Winner Takes It All" | UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| "Super Trouper" | 1 | ||
| 1981 | "Lay All Your Love on Me" | 7 |
The UK release of Lay All Your Love On Me was limited to a 12" Single only. No 7" version was available. The 12" cut was the same length as the album track.
Norway
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "The Winner Takes It All" | Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| "Super Trouper" | 2 | ||
| 1981 | "Happy New Year" | 11 |
United States
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "The Winner Takes It All" | Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| Adult Contemporary | 1 | ||
| "Lay All Your Love on Me"/"Super Trouper"/"On and On and On" | Club Play Singles | 1 | |
| 1981 | "Super Trouper" | Billboard Hot 100 | 45 |
| Adult Contemporary | 14 | ||
| "On and On and On" | Billboard Hot 100 | 90 |