ABBA Happy New Year

Ring Ring / Deluxe Edition CD+DVD

Amazingly ABBA’s first album (originally issued under the Björn, Benny & Agnetha Frida moniker) wasn’t issued in the UK until 1992. This 40th anniversary edition issued in autumn 2013 includes quite a few interesting early versions of songs from embryonic versions of the band including the 1970 recording There’s A Little Man, featuring Agnetha on backing vocals (her first contribution to a recording written and produced by Björn and Benny) and Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan, a 1972 hit single for Frida featuring backing vocals by her fellow ABBA members. The DVD is perhaps a little thin and comes with the now obligatory (and boring) ‘International Sleeve Gallery’ but still worth picking up for less than £7.

• • Order Ring Ring (Amazon UK)

Waterloo / Deluxe Edition CD+DVD

Released earlier this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band winning the Eurovision Song Contest, the CD element of this Waterloo deluxe has lots of familiar foreign language versions as bonus tracks, but unlike Ring Ring boasts a really good DVD packed full of clips and interviews including the iconic Eurovision performance. Again this is a no-brainer for under £7.

• • Order Waterloo Deluxe Edition (Amazon UK)

Waterloo  / Seven-inch single picture disc

This was issued around the time of Record Store Day in Spring this year, although it wasn’t actually an RSD-only release. The A-side has the Swedish version of the Eurovision-winning single while the flip-side sports the familiar English language recording.

• • Order Waterloo picture disc

ABBA The Essential Collection (2CD+DVD)

This set was issued a couple of years back (see our review) and by all accounts was something of a flop, probably because EVERYONE IN THE WORLD already has ABBA Gold. That said, you do get all the promos on a DVD and this comes in decent ‘bookset’ packaging. Even better it was over £20 originally but can now be yours for under £7!

• • Order The Essential Collection (Amazon UK)

Agnetha Fältskog / A Deluxe Edition (CD+DVD)

Agnetha’s 2013 ‘comeback’ album was very well received and includes the very good, but creepily titled, I Should Have Followed You Home Gary Barlow duet. This CD+DVD deluxe feels like a future collectible but has never been particularly cheap UNTIL NOW – you can pick it up for under £9 at the time of writing. The DVD includes a promo video and a really good, hour-long BBC documentary about the making of the album.

• • Order A Deluxe Edition (Amazon UK)