ABBA – The History Book on the Shelf
Record Collector|Christmas 2022
For years, music fans have debated about which are the finest songs ever by the likes of The Beatles, the Stones, Bowie, Springsteen, and Kate Bush - those artists widely regarded as all-time greats. But how about ABBA? Surely, postMamma Mia! the movie and musical and decades of mainstream adoration, they have earned their place in the pantheon and their catalogue merits serious evaluation. Pete Paphides believes so and, in this ABBA Special, picks their 40 (plus one) Best Songs. Then, on page 100, RC enjoy a rare encounter with one half of the group's peerless songwriting partnership...
By Pete Paphides
ABBA – The History Book on the Shelf

40. Honey, Honey (from Waterloo, Epic EPC 80179, LP, yellow labels, UK) £15 While ABBA struggled to find a hit successor to Waterloo, British studio band Sweet Dreams, fronted by Pickettywitch’s Polly Browne, were quick to seize on the potential of the album track Honey Honey, scoring a Top 10 hit with it in the summer of 1974. Though bereft of the sonic signifiers that render later ABBA hits instantly recognisable, it’s long been established it as a fan favourite. Indeed, emerging from a Swedish music scene where critical reverence was reserved for socially conscious groups who set store by their desire to tackle major themes, ABBA’s explicit desire to write songs in the “bubblegum” tradition was almost subversive. Honey singlehandedly vindicates ABBA’s militant fidelity to the pure pop ideal.

Denne historien er fra Christmas 2022-utgaven av Record Collector.

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Denne historien er fra Christmas 2022-utgaven av Record Collector.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

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