Waterloo (album)

Waterloo
Studio album by ABBA
Released	4 March 1974 (1974-03-04)
Recorded	24 September 1973 – 20 February 1974
Studio	Metronome, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre	Europop rock
Length	38:10 (original release) 44:47 (reissue 2001)
Language	English and Swedish
Label	Polar Epic (UK) Atlantic (US original release)
Producer	Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus
ABBA chronology
Ring Ring (1973) Waterloo (1974) ABBA (1975)
Singles from Waterloo
"Waterloo (Swedish Version)" Released: 4 March 1974 "Waterloo (English Version)" Released: 4 March 1974 "Honey, Honey" Released: April 1974 "Hasta Mañana" Released: April 1974 "Waterloo (German Version)" Released: 5 April 1974 "Waterloo (French Version)" Released: 10 May 1974 "Ring Ring (1974 Remix Version)" Released: 21 June 1974

Waterloo is the second studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA, and the first released internationally. It was originally released on 4 March 1974 in Sweden through Polar Music. The album's title track won ABBA the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and became a global hit, launching the group's career.^[1]

Recording

Recording sessions for Waterloo began on 24 September 1973 with the track "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)". This song was unusual in that it is the only ABBA track not to feature member Benny Andersson on keyboards, instead featuring American pianist John "Rabbit" Bundrick who was in Sweden at the time.^[2] Bundrick, however, was not credited on the album. Three weeks later the next two songs ("Suzy-Hang-Around" and "My Mama Said") went into the studio. A recording sheet from the day credits the artist as "ABBA", the first time the name was ever used in writing (the group had previously been called "Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid"), although their manager Stig Anderson had informally been calling them ABBA with the media for some time. The former of these songs marks the only time Benny Andersson sang lead on a track. Two more tracks were recorded on 17 October; "What About Livingstone" and "Honey Honey" – the latter being the second single released from the album in most countries. "King Kong Song" was recorded on 14 November, a song which members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus today single out as one of their weakest tracks.^[2] This was also the date in which it was announced that ABBA were to appear at the Swedish selection for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

From that point, recording sessions sped up and the rest of the tracks were recorded. Two songs were up for consideration for their Eurovision entry; "Waterloo" and "Hasta Mañana". The group preferred the former but felt the latter was a safer bet. Ultimately they chose "Waterloo" as it was more the direction they wished to take the group. "Waterloo" and "Watch Out" were recorded on the same day, with the latter becoming the B-side to the former.^[2]

Release

Waterloo was released in March 1974. It was first released on CD in Sweden in 1988 alongside Ring Ring and the self titled album. It is the only CD version of the album to follow the original Scandinavian LP's running order.^[3] Polydor first released Waterloo, along with Ring Ring, throughout Europe in 1990, with the discs being pressed in West Germany. These discs follow the running order of the Waterloo LP that was released in The Netherlands, swapping Watch Out and What About Livingstone? in the tracklist.^[4][5] In 1995, Polydor reissued their pressings of all of ABBA's albums in the United States.^[6] The album has been reissued in digitally remastered form several times: in 1997 as part of "The ABBA Remasters" series,^[7] then in 2001 with an updated cover artwork and some bonus tracks,^[8] again in 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and most recently in 2014 as a 40th anniversary "Deluxe Edition" reissue.^[9] This version of the album entered the UK album charts.^[10]

On April 5th, 2024, a new collection of vinyl products was released for the album's 50th anniversary celebration, featuring: a double-LP 45rpm half-speed mastered gatefold version of the album; a seven-inch box set with colored discs (red, white and blue) of "Honey, Honey" / "King Kong Song", "Waterloo"/ "Watch Out" and "Waterloo (Swedish Version)" / "Honey, Honey (Swedish Version)", respectively; and individual 7" picture discs of these same three singles.^[11][12][13] A 10" limited edition "Waterloo" single was also released, featuring the four different language versions of the track.^[14] The half-speed high-quality audio was mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.^[11]

Deluxe edition

On April 7th, 2014, Waterloo was reissued as a 2-disc deluxe edition package for its 40th anniversary.^[15][16] The first disc consisted of a CD version of the original album, expanded with eight bonus tracks, and featuring: all the language versions of "Waterloo" (including an alternate mix of the English version), the Swedish version of "Honey, Honey", and the 1974 US remix of "Ring, Ring".^[15][16]

The second disc, a DVD, contained the "International Sleeve Gallery" along with thirteen TV appearances, eight of which were performances of "Waterloo": two from the Eurovision Song Contest, with a preview performance on SVT; two from Melodifestivalen, three from Top of the Pops, and one German performance from NDR's Musik aus Studio B.^[15][16] The remaining TV content included performances of "Honey, Honey" on Disco (ZDF), Spotlight (ORF), and Ein Kessel Buntes (Fernsehen der DDR), as well as an interview with Frida and Stig Anderson, following the band's Eurovision victory.^[15][16]

The set also came with a 20-page illustrated booklet with an essay on the making of the album.^[15] It is the last release from the ABBA Deluxe Edition album series.^[17]

Album cover

The album's cover features the sub-title "Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida" although some editions replaced 'Agnetha' with 'Anna' – by which Agnetha Fältskog was known in some countries.^[18] The cover photo was taken at Gripsholm Castle, in Mariefred, Sweden,^[19] and features bass player Mike Watson [sv] dressed as Napoleon.^[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[21]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[22]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[23]

"Waterloo" swept to victory at the Swedish heats and the group represented Sweden in Brighton for the Eurovision Song Contest 1974. ABBA won the contest and "Waterloo" became not only a massive hit in Europe but all over the world (peaking at No.6 in the US for example).^[1] In Sweden, the album had already been released and topped the Swedish album charts for 12 weeks, becoming one of the biggest-selling Swedish albums ever to that point. In the UK the album made No.28,^[1] the first time a foreign Eurovision act had charted an album and it performed well in the rest of Europe.^[2]

Reviews of the album were positive with Phonograph Record's Greg Shaw stating that it "might just turn out to be one of the classic début LPs of the '70s". Rolling Stone also gave the album a favourable review.^[2] In a 3-star review, Bruce Eder from AllMusic said that it "is rather unusual in the group's output, however, for the fact that the guys are still featured fairly prominently in some of the vocals, and for the variety of sound" and that, in relation to "King Kong Song", "when the women's voices jump in on the choruses, it's hard not to listen attentively; the quartet knew what a powerful weapon they had, but not quite how to use it".^[24]

Track listing

The information is based on the Swedish version of the album and has been adapted from the official ABBA website.^[25] All tracks are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Waterloo" (Swedish version)	Andersson Stig Anderson Ulvaeus	2:45
2.	"Sitting in the Palmtree"		3:39
3.	"King Kong Song"		3:14
4.	"Hasta Mañana"	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus	3:05
5.	"My Mama Said"		3:14
6.	"Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)"		3:05

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Honey, Honey"	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus	2:55
2.	"Watch Out"		3:46
3.	"What About Livingstone"		2:54
4.	"Gonna Sing You My Love Song"		3:35
5.	"Suzy-Hang-Around"		3:11
6.	"Waterloo" (English version)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus	2:46
Total length:			38:10

The international edition of the album opens with the English version of "Waterloo" and closes with the English version of "Ring Ring". The American edition uses a 1974 US remix of "Ring Ring".

Deluxe edition

Released for the album's 40th anniversary, this edition also features the Swedish version of "Waterloo" as a bonus track. All tracks are written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, except where noted.

Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ring Ring" (US remix 1974)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus Neil Sedaka Phil Cody	3:06
2.	"Honey, Honey" (Swedish version)		2:59
3.	"Waterloo" (German version)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus Gerd Müller-Schwanke	2:44
4.	"Hasta mañana" (Spanish version)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus Buddy McCluskey Mary McCluskey	3:09
5.	"Waterloo" (French version)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus Alain Boublil	2:42
6.	"Ring Ring" (1974 remix, single version)	Andersson Anderson Ulvaeus Sedaka Cody	3:10
7.	"Waterloo" (alternate mix)		2:45

Personnel

• Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (4, 6), co-lead vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12), backing vocals
• Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (10), co-lead vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12), backing vocals
• Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, guitar (1-12), lead vocals (2, 8), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7), backing vocals
• Benny Andersson – piano, keyboards (1-5, 7-12), Moog synthesizer, mellotron, clavinet, lead vocals (11), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7), backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Ola Brunkert – drums (1-12)
• Malando Gassama – congas (2), güiro (2), tambourine (4)
• Rutger Gunnarsson – bass (1-5, 7-12)
• Janne Schaffer – electric guitars (1-12)
• Per Sahlberg – percussion (6), bass (6)^[26]
• John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards (6) (not credited on the album sleeve)
• Christer Eklund – tenor saxophone (1, 12)^[26]
• Sven-Olof Walldoff – string arrangement (7)^[26]

Production

• Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus – producers
• Michael B. Tretow – engineer
• Ola Lager – photography
• Ron Spaulding – original album design
• Jon Astley; Tim Young; Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 1997 Remasters
• Jon Astley; Michael B. Tretow – remastering for the 2001 Remasters
• Henrik Jonsson – remastering for The Complete Studio Recordings box set

Charts

Weekly charts Original release Chart (1974) Peak position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[27] 18 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 74 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 6 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31] 38 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[32] 1 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[34] 28 US Billboard 200[35] 145 40th Anniversary Edition Chart (2014) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[36] 83 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[37] 159 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 49 UK Albums (OCC)[39] 71

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[40] 24

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41]	2× Platinum	100,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[42]	Silver	25,000[43]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[44]	Gold	25,035[44]
Germany (BVMI)[45]	Platinum	500,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[46]	Diamond	349,938[41]
United Kingdom (BPI)[47]	Silver	60,000^^
Yugoslavia[48]	Silver	18,000[48]
Summaries
Europe	—	3,000,000[49]
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (1991). Guinness Book of Rock Stars. Enfield: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 1. ISBN 0-85112-971-4.
2. Sleeve notes, Waterloo re-issue, Carl Magnus Palm, 2014
3. ABBA – Waterloo (1988, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
4. Björn, Benny, Anna & Frida, ABBA – Waterloo (1974, Vinyl), retrieved 4 May 2021
5. ABBA – Waterloo (1990, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
6. ABBA – Waterloo (1995, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
7. ABBA – Waterloo (1997, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
8. ABBA – Waterloo (CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
9. ABBA – Waterloo (2014, CD), retrieved 4 May 2021
10. "waterloo | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
11. "Waterloo (2LP Half-Speed Master)". Polar Music. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
12. "WATERLOO - THE SINGLES (50TH ANNIVERSARY): EXCLUSIVE 3 X 7" COLOUR VIN". Polar Music. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
13. Sinclair, Paul (16 February 2024). "ABBA / Waterloo 50th anniversary reissue – SuperDeluxeEdition". Retrieved 19 August 2024.
14. "Waterloo 50th Anniversary (Limited Edition 10")". ABBA Official Store. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
15. "Waterloo Deluxe Edition - The 40th Anniversary Of ABBA's Eurovision Victory". Universal Music Publishing Group Scandinavia. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
16. Sinclair, Paul (13 January 2014). "ABBA / Waterloo deluxe edition – SuperDeluxeEdition". Retrieved 19 August 2024.
17. "Discography". ABBA. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
18. Abba The Book. Aurum Oress Ltd. 2000. p. 9. ISBN 1-85410-698-8.
19. "Benny Andersson hänger snart på Gripsholms slott". Mynewsdesk (in Swedish). 3 June 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
20. Smallman, Etan (5 April 2024). "'Just another bubblegum band': the day Abba won Eurovision". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
21. Allmusic Review
22. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
23. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ABBA". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 1. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
24. Waterloo - ABBA | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 11 September 2024
25. "Discography". ABBA. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
26. Scott, Robert (2002) 'ABBA: Thank You for the Music – The Stories Behind Every Song', Carlton Books Limited: Great Britain, p.38
27. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
28. "Dutchcharts.nl – ABBA – Waterloo" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
29. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "ABBA". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 8. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
30. "Offiziellecharts.de – ABBA – Waterloo" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
31. "Charts.nz – ABBA – Waterloo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
32. "Norwegiancharts.com – ABBA – Waterloo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
33. "Swedishcharts.com – ABBA – Waterloo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
34. "Abba | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
35. "Abba Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
36. "Ultratop.be – ABBA – Waterloo" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
37. "Ultratop.be – ABBA – Waterloo" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
38. "Swedishcharts.com – ABBA – Waterloo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
39. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
40. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1974. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
41. "ABBA The History". Billboard. 8 September 1979.
42. "Copenhagen Awards". Billboard. 21 December 1974. p. 56.
43. "Gold/Silver Record Chart". Billboard. 26 December 1974.
44. "Abba" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
45. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (ABBA; 'Waterloo')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
46. "Polarization". Billboard. 2 November 1974. p. 50.
47. "British album certifications – ABBA – Waterloo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
48. "ABBA fenomen ili fenomenalna ABBA". Džuboks. No. 33. April 1977. p. 5. Retrieved 16 March 2023 – via Popboks.
49. Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 379. ISBN 0668064595. Following their staggering success with the single of the same title, this album sold 400,000 in Sweden and amassed thrree million in European sales

External links

• Waterloo at Discogs (list of releases)