ABBA - The Visitors

[Joaco95 1,631]

ABBA's last studio album before their 40 years break and their actual final album "Voyage".

Released on 30 November 1981, it was one of the first records to be digitally tracked, mixed and pressed on CD format.

The album took a even more mature sound lyrics from their previous work (Super Trooper) and touched some political themes.

It was re-released in 2012 as a Deluxe Edition included a b-side (from the same album session) and songs that were mean to be on their next follow up album but instead were released on another greatest hits compilation (The Singles: The First Ten Years).

 

Original release track list:

1.  "The Visitors"
2.  "Head over Heels"
3.  "When All Is Said and Done"
4.  "Soldiers"
5.  "I Let the Music Speak"
6.  "One of Us"
7.  "Two for the Price of One"
8.  "Slipping Through My Fingers"
9.  "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room"

2012 re-relese bonus tracks:

10.  "Should I Laugh or Cry"     
11.  "I Am the City"     
12.  "You Owe Me One"     
13.  "Cassandra"     
14.  "Under Attack"     
15.  "The Day Before You Came"     
16.  "From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel" (Demos)

Spanish tracks:

"No hay a quien culpar" (When All Is Said and Done") 

"Se me está escapando" ("Slipping Through My Fingers")

 

I wanted to create this topic some weeks ago on the anniversary of the album but was kinda bussy with work.

I really LOOOVE this album, along with Super Trouper it takes the top stop on my fave albums from ABBA.

Some hightlights (IMO) are The Visitors, When All is Said and Done, One of Us and LAAPTMR. Special mention to "Passing Angel" disco demo, I wish some day they released it in full 'cause it sounds so good and kinda reminds me to a slower "That's Me". I Let The Music Speak has this theatrical kind of feel with a wonderful performance from Frida. Also fun fact, she was the only member of the group to have a full solo song ever on the group (LAAPTMR).

I think this album could've been a major hit with better single choices, as much as I love Hell Over Heads I don't think it was proper promoted and the videos from this album were kinda meh compared to their previous works, plus they seemed to be in a hurry since the four were divorced at the time and the tension between them was very clear (Björn asked permission to Frida and Benny before continue working on WAISAD, since it was about their divorce and only a month had passed since) and also the pressure from the company to have more hits (I guess that's why they decided to go for another compilation album instead of a brand new album studio).

So, have you heard this album? Thoughts? Fave songs? I really recomend it, it's short if you go only for the original release, but I recomend to listen the deluxe tracks too, they are so good, specially Under Attack and The Day Before You Came.

[Starmie25 18,591]

I can't believe people weren't on board witu this record when it dropped. So many wicked tracks. Title track alone. 

[SS77 2,000]

LOVE this album

[DelusionalGaga 29,579]

The Day Before You Came is my favorite. It's so captivating and has a darkness to it 

[Celloo Deng 54,971]

This is my favourite ABBA album, and my favourite song by them is The Day Before You Came. The Visitors has so many excellent tracks 

[Anderson123 38,293]

I love this album so much. I used to be a fan of ABBA's Gold for years but going through their albums and discovering the other songs has been quite a journey that it's been enjoyable and The Visitors is probably their most interesting album, my second favorite after Super Trouper.

When All I Said And Done, One of Us, The Visitors and I Let The Music Speak are my favorites but it's so good from start to finish even with bonus tracks.

[berlinforme 5,300]

It's an excellent and absolutely slept on album. I usually find about two new Abba songs I like each year and recently because of the Voyage release, I actually listened to their discography. And oh wow, The Visitors has so many good tracks on it. Also it was the first I really noticed how dark the lyrics are despite their kinda uplifting sound. I choked when I listened to the lyrics of Two for the Price of One. 

[Celloo Deng 54,971]

21 minutes ago, berlinforme said:

I choked when I listened to the lyrics of Two for the Price of One. 

Haha I love that song, so charming and a bop!

[Joaco95 1,631]

2 hours ago, berlinforme said:

I choked when I listened to the lyrics of Two for the Price of One. 

IKR I was like "chileeeee"

But I really loooove the production, minus the controversial lyrics, it would had been a good single for the album.

[Economy 49,655]

Wait so The Day Before You Came wasnt on any albums before the 2012 bonus? Was it just a single?

 

Its one of my favs!

[bionic 50,081]

8 minutes ago, Economy said:

Wait so The Day Before You Came wasnt on any albums before the 2012 bonus? Was it just a single?

 

Its one of my favs!

It was on a few greatest hits

[Joaco95 1,631]

19 minutes ago, Economy said:

Wait so The Day Before You Came wasnt on any albums before the 2012 bonus? Was it just a single?

 

Its one of my favs!

It was on The Singles: The First Ten Years (compilation album).

It was a single from it along with Under Attack.