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ABBA

What's in a name? Plenty, if it is ABBA's Complete Studio Recordings [CD/DVD] (2006) you are after. However, caveat emptor for those sonic sticklers who won't be pleased unless they are given absolutely everything. While this admittedly pricey package makes such all-encompassing claims, there are a few omissions that will be dealt with momentarily. Otherwise, housed within this quaint collection are a total of 11 discs -- nine CDs and two DVDs -- presenting as comprehensive a multimedia anthology as exists in one place. The long-players Ring Ring (1973), Waterloo (1974), ABBA (1975), Arrival (1976), The Album (1977), Voulez-Vous (1979), Super Trouper (1980), and The Visitors (1981) have been miniaturized -- with all the pertinent artwork and credits intact -- into reproductions of the original albums. In a further retro salute, the actual discs have been pressed on black-surfaced blanks to re-create the vintage vinyl vibe. Rather than include all the harder-to-locate stuff on a separate volume, each respective title comes with supplementary sides that are relevant to the LP -- mirroring the same tune stacks as the 2001 catalog reissues. Noteworthy too is that the contents of this box set have been upgraded since then, although it would take a trained ear to discern the difference. The rarities installment gleans much harder to find goodies, such as early mixes of "Waterloo," "Lovelight," and a monaural "On and On and On" that is significantly different. Plus, there are accompanying books with lyrics and the band's epic saga. The DVDs will be particularly interesting to collectors as several performances on the Dick Cavett Show have been excerpted. That said, the rest of the music videos and the documentary are available on their own. As this is the Complete Studio Recordings, it would be unwise to expect ABBA Live (1979) or ABBA: In Concert (1981). And for those completists, don't look for any unreleased material or holy grail acquisitions such as "Just Like That," the extended version of "Dancing Queen," or the oft-circulated audio from their various TV appearances. Again, perhaps owing to the studio-bound nature of the set. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide