Released soon: 'Gracias Por La Musica'

ABBA’s Spanish-language album, Gracias Por La Música, receives the Deluxe Edition treatment and is available from November 10th onwards. This could be perceived as slightly barrel-scraping but there’s a certain logic to the reissue. The original record was recorded in 1980 after the group had released a Spanish language version of their 1979 hit Chiquitita. That single had been an attempt to break into Latin America – a territory where ABBA were not yet enjoying the massive success they’d enjoyed everywhere else. The song became their biggest hit ever in the region – and because it did very well the album was commissioned.

The CD features the original record along with five bonus tracks including Spanish language versions of Slipping Through My Fingers and When All Is Said And Done.  Incidentally, neither of these tracks were included on the most recent deluxe edition of 'The Visitors'. 

The album features seven great songs with Agnetha on lead vocals:

-Gracias Por La Musica (Thank You For The Music)

-Al Andar (Move On)

-Dame! Dame! Dame! (Ginmme! Gimme! Gimme!)

-Hasta Manana

-Felicidad (Happy New Year)

-Se Me Esta Escapando (Slipping Through My Fingers)

-Chiquitita

And three joint leads:

-La Reina Del Baile (Dancing Queen)

-Mamma Mia

-Ring Ring

Frida sings lead on five more songs. The album was recorded by Agnetha and Frida with Michael B. Tretow while Benny and Bjorn were abroad working on new material. At the time of the original release Agnetha said: "We love to record in the Spanish language. Benny and Bjorn were not that eager, but Frida and I were so they said ' if you want to do it, go ahead', and so we did and had a great time re-recording all the vocals". 

The deluxe edition includes a nice DVD that features the five official promo clips and three previously unreleased TV segments: two performances of Chiquitita from 1979 and a 1980 interview with the group made for Spanish TV which includes a unique performance of ' Dame! Dame! Dame!'  And an ‘International Sleeve Gallery’.

At a later stage of her career Agnetha also recorded three of her solo hits in Spanish. Two of these are not yet available on cd or digital download.