Illinois Entertainer July 2022 | Page 18

18 illinoisentertainer . com july 2022 difficult album for Ulvaeus and Andersson to write , the band ultimately crafted a lush and engaging album – ironically breaking through tensions and writer ’ s block following the divorce of Ulvaeus and Fältskog . “ Chiquitita ” is infused with Spanish guitar and baroque piano , as Fältskog and Lyngstad sing a song of encouragement to a heartbroken friend . The optimistic ballad “ I Have a Dream ” concludes with a children ’ s choir . Ulvaeus took a comparatively rare turn as ABBA ’ s lead vocalist for the dance / rock hybrid “ Does Your Mother Know ,” when the group decided that his studio guide vocal best suited the song . The band ’ s stellar initial arc concluded with 1981 ’ s The Visitors , a strong but difficult effort that met diminishing success . The band had experienced another breakup , this time between Andersson and Lyngstad . The mood crept into the music and writing , reflected in songs like “ When All is Said and Done ” ( sung by Lyngstad , who captures a performance of genuine sadness alongside quiet strength ). Sung by Fältskog , the regretladen single “ One of Us ” became the group ’ s final international # 1 single . ABBA unofficially dissolved in 1983 , but maintained acclaim through the success of the compilation album ABBA Gold and ventures like hit musical and film Mamma Mia ! After 40 years , the group surprised countless fans by returning with 2021 ’ s Voyage . The album ’ s success was undeniably stoked by nostalgia , but the fact remains that Ulvaeus and Andersson still know their way around a catchy tune and engaging arrangement . Many songs were relatively fresh compositions , although the swinging “ Just a Notion ” had been written for Voulez-Vous with vocals tracked in 1978 . The gentle “ Little Things ” celebrates the joy of Christmas morning and family time . The grandly orchestrated piano ballad “ I Still Have Faith in You ” speaks to enduring bonds and foundational friendships through times good and bad , and can be applied to the band itself . The song builds from a quiet opening movement to a stellar crescendo .
The CD box is a compact package with each disc housed in a card sleeve mimicking the original LP jackets . A 40-page booklet includes credits for each album , separated by famous publicity photos of the quartet . The albums are also available as limited-edition picture disc LPs . This collection presents the essentials for an essential group from the heyday of escapist and imaginative 1970s FM-radio pop .
– Jeff Elbel
8
Follow us on Twitter @ ie _ entertainer
THE ROLLING STONES Live at the El Mocambo 1977 ( UMe )
The Rolling Stones do steady business releasing live albums and concert films , but El Mocambo stands out for the pivotal period it documents . It would be more than a year before the release of Some Girls in the summer of 1978 , and the band was in their prime as feral rock-and-rollers while becoming established as a stadium-filling juggernaut . In early March 1977 , however , the Stones played their only concerts of the year at a pair of secret shows billed as the Cockroaches and ostensibly in support of Canadian rockers April Wine . The venue was the 300-capacity El Mocambo club in Toronto , Canada . Four of these songs have appeared on 1977 ’ s Love You Live , but Live at the El Mocambo premieres the full 20-song set from March 5 , 1977 , in addition to three bonus songs that were unique to the March 4 , 1977 performance . This 4xLP set arrives in a prestige-format die-cut slipcase , including color photo sleeves and liner notes revealing the story behind the scenes . The band ’ s 1976 album Black and Blue is represented by five songs drawn from both nights , including “ Hand of Fate ,” “ Fool to Cry ,” “ Crazy Mama ” ( a boozy lost gem featuring fluid guitar licks by Ron Wood and Billy Preston ’ s fluttering synthesizer ), and “ Hot Stuff .” Mick Jagger duets with Preston on the latter ’ s piano feature “ Melody .” The disco-adjacent R & B of “ Hot Stuff ” is perhaps a throwaway despite Bill Wyman ’ s display of nimble bass , but the other four tracks are worthy and welcome . The Black and Blue songs alone will be worth the price of admission for many Stones diehards since all of them have been scarcely played in the 46 years since their original release . But these are hardly the only attractions . The band goes deep into its roots for a clutch of cover songs by key blues influences . The band plays hot takes of Chicago blues classics including Willie Dixon ’ s “ Little Red Rooster .” Keith Richards makes his guitar bark like a dog in response to Jagger ’ s saucy vocal . Jagger ’ s growling vocal on Muddy Waters ’ “ Mannish Boy ” is heightened by searing harmonica licks , Ian Stewart ’ s sparkling piano , and Preston ’ s funky clavinet . The song ’ s swaggering groove is anchored by Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts . The Stones also notched their