I don't think I have ever heard a POP band sound so hard-core LIVE on stage.

Ever.

It doesn't surprise me because I alway knew the 4 members of ABBA were truly talented individuals. But this CD may surprise those ABBA detractors who love to hate them and brand them as a "sugary" pop band.

Anybody who is an ardent ABBA fan will know that they covered various styles of music throughout their 10 year career but for those close-minded critics who listen to track's like MAMMA MIA and DANCING QUEEN and state that ABBA was only capable of executing bouncing pop ditties underestimates the talent of this group and not many artists are able to pull off a LIVE recording CD so successfully.

ABBA LIVE only proves that ABBA could rock even better than most rock bands.

These were truly skilled musicians and there talents is evidenced on this recording. From the girls solid vocals to the blistering guitars and the hard-core drums.

Frida's vocals are superb during her solos- I HAVE A DREAM, FERNANDO, SUPER TROUPER and MONEY MONEY MONEY. Her voice is soulful and strong and when combined with Agnetha's unique sound, the result is sublime.

And speaking of Agnetha, her voice rocks during her solo in TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, GIMME GIMME GIMME and her lovely intro to CHIQUITIA is gorgeous but her rendition of THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC is where she reigns supreme. The live version is almost as good as the studio recording.

Several of the songs are given a harder edge, making them sound less ABBA-esque but still retain their original charms due to the girls unique sound. Most notably WATERLOO, THE NAME OF THE GAME/EAGLE and ON AND ON AND ON. The latter especially is quite different from the studio version. The pace and beat is faster, the sound is edgier and the girls hard vocals makes this one of the standouts of the album.

The vocal harmonies are also outstanding. Agentha's harmony on Fernando is spot on and the acapella intro to SUPER TROUPER is spine-tingling.

This is a great CD and I encourage everyone, not just ABBA fans to purchase this CD. It is a rare opportunity to listen to one of the greatest pop bands that ever graced the world stage on top of their game.

I also recommend getting their LIVE DVD's, ABBA LIVE (some of the songs are featured here) and ABBA-THE MOVIE. ABBA didn't need any hi-teck pyro-technic's and on stage special effects or lavish stage set's. Aside from some colourful costumes, it was just their music and voices that made their live shows exciting.

This CD only proves what us ABBA fans knew all along, that ABBA rocks and their music is unparralled.

If you like Abba, you are going to love the live versions of their hits. This CD compiles songs from 3 tours - Australia - 1977, Wembley Arena - 1979, and Dick Cavett's TV Show in 1981. The quality of the music is great. A few things on the disappointing side:

1-Only 14 songs (actually 15 including a bridge between Name of the Game and Eagle). The Big Hits are on here. Many songs are missing, most notably is S.O.S (which I think is their best song) and Voulez-Vous.

The live version of "Name of the Game and Eagle" is worth the price of this CD alone. Abba does an incredible job at bridging Name of the Game with Eagle. I was real glad to see that Eagle was included on here because it is one of the underrated ABBA songs.

Anyone who has written ABBA off as a lightweight pop group who somehow got lucky with a few hits is in for a big surprise when they hear "ABBA Live", a 15 track sampling of what the Swedish superstars could do in concert.

If this album proves anything, it's that - and I'm not putting this lightly - can rock. If ABBA sounded restrained behind the studio walls, then the raw energy that drives this record proves that they were capable of being just the opposite. As one reviewer pointed out, just listen to the version of "Does Your Mother Know": the loud guitars, the crashing drums, the screeching vocals - this epitomizes everything ABBA isn't. Similarly, the added intensity to the live versions of "Dancing Queen" and "Take A Chance On Me" easily make these the definitive versions of these songs. While the whole album is a wake up call to all of ABBA's critics, the real surprise of the album may well be the "Name Of The Game/Eagle" medley. I mean, here's a group known for three minute straightforward pop tunes doing an epic nine minute workout, complete with a blistering guitar solo. Shocking.

Though I think I may have gotten carried away in my praise of the album, I still think that this album will change a lot of peoples' opinions on ABBA, as well as appeal to the group's fans. Definitely worth owning.

abba's production techniques (endless vocal overdubs) left some doubt as to whether the lead vocalists can actually sing. this album proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that our nordic divas CAN sing.

"live" however suffers from the choice of material.

much of the songs are from their wembley arena gig in 1979 with a few takes from their 1981 appearance on U.S. TV (the dick cavett show) and at least 2 from their successful 1977 tour of australia. they weren't exactly active in the tour circuit, but they are not lacking in live material either. more live performances from australia or from japan could've been used in lieu of those takes from 1979's wembley tour where performances were bordering on the hurried and exhausted.

one good reason to own this set however lies in the technical side. apart from superior sonics, the new 1997 remaster was re-edited to give this a "seamless" feel even though the tracks are from different sources and years.

As a long-time fan (I'm that old) I saw ABBA on TV years ago performing "live" in lip-synch Bandstand mode. Surprise! This disc blows away any doubt that the ABBA sound was no more than a production engineer's ultimate triumph. Surprisingly intense guitar & drum riffs, up-tempo versions of already up-tempo songs, perfect pitch singing; in a word, tight. In 100 years, music historians looking at this period will list Bjorn & Benny with Lennon/McCartney and John/Taupin as the greatest pop music writers of the day; ABBA the band deserves recognition as one of the premiere performing units of that time as well.