Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is a compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA, released on 29 October 1979 to coincide with their tour of North America and Europe (taking place between September and November 1979). It was ABBA's second chart-topping album of the year, the first being Voulez-Vous, and contained the brand new single "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", recorded in August 1979.
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | 29 October 1979 | |||
Recorded | October 1974 – August 1979 | |||
Genre | Pop, disco | |||
Length | 58:25 | |||
Label | Polar (Sweden) Epic (UK) Atlantic (US) | |||
Producer | Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus | |||
ABBA chronology | ||||
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Singles from Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C[2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
History
A round-up of ABBA's hits since their first Greatest Hits album (released in 1975), the album exclusively included material recorded between the years 1976 and 1979 (albums Arrival, The Album and Voulez-Vous plus non-album single "Summer Night City") - with one exception, "Rock Me" from 1975 album ABBA, issued as a single and became a top 5 hit in Australia and New Zealand after the release of the band's first hits package Greatest Hits and also part of the setlist on the 1979 world tour.
"Angeleyes" was included primarily due to its success as a single in the UK, where it was the lead track of a double A-side with "Voulez-Vous". Elsewhere, "Voulez-Vous" had been the A-side in its own right but it was not included on the album. However, the track "I Wonder (Departure)" was not believed to have been released as a single anywhere, but was featured.
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was released on CD in 1982 by Polydor but was deleted from their ABBA CD range in 1992 when it was replaced with ABBA Gold. It was also released in the US by Atlantic Records in 1983 with the same mastering as the Polydor CD but was discontinued there in the late 1980s as well.
Commercial reception
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 received massive commercial success in Japan, selling in excess of 920,000 units on the chart (it was the best-selling album by non-domestic artists at the time, until Michael Jackson's Thriller each sold over 1 million copies in the 1980s). It is certified Gold in the U.S.
Track listing
All songs written by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" | 4:49 | |
2. | "Knowing Me, Knowing You" | Andersson, Stig Anderson, Ulvaeus | 4:01 |
3. | "Take a Chance on Me" | 4:05 | |
4. | "Money, Money, Money" | 3:06 | |
5. | "Rock Me" | 3:03 | |
6. | "Eagle" | 5:48 | |
7. | "Angeleyes" | 4:17 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dancing Queen" | Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus | 3:48 |
2. | "Does Your Mother Know" | 3:12 | |
3. | "Chiquitita" | 5:21 | |
4. | "Summer Night City" | 3:31 | |
5. | "I Wonder (Departure)" | Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus | 4:31 |
6. | "The Name of the Game" | Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus | 4:50 |
7. | "Thank You for the Music" | 3:47 |
Personnel
- Agnetha Fältskog - lead vocals (1, 10, 14), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad - lead vocals (2, 4, 12), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus - lead vocals (5, 9, 11), acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
- Benny Andersson - keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Rolf Alex - drums
- Ola Brunkert - drums
- Lars Carlsson - horn
- Christer Danielson - horn
- Andrew Eijas - horn
- Malando Gassama - percussion
- Rutger Gunnarsson - bass
- Gloria Lundell - harp
- Roger Palm - drums
- Halldor Palsson - saxophone
- Janne Schaffer - guitar
- Bengt Sundberg - horn
- Åke Sundqvist - percussion
- Mike Watson - bass
- Lasse Wellander - guitar
- Gunnar Wenneborg - horn
- Kajtek Wojciechowski - saxophone
Production
- Producers: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
- Arrangers: Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
- Engineer: Michael B. Tretow
Charts
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[24] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[25] | Gold | 25,000[25] |
France | — | 100,000[26] |
Germany (BVMI)[27] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[28] | Gold | 10,000* |
Netherlands (NVPI)[29] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Platinum | 1,000,000[30] |
United States (RIAA)[32] | Gold | 500,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 2,000,000[30] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |