Hip to be
Square
“Take a Chance on
Me” by Abba (1977)
Back in the day, I would sometimes buy
albums on spec. I had maybe heard one song on the album; not really knowing
what it was. Sometimes you were pleasantly surprised. This was one of those
times.
Peeling it out of its cellophane the album cover showed (to me) a more mature set of two couples enjoying some
champagne in the back of a limo....So I threw on the album (o.k. gingerly
placed), not expecting a lot really.
A funky piano intro and this weird sound
on the stereo leading into this punchy bass beat and this exotic euro sound floating
around on top of it with those voices. Those voices – controlled yet somehow
evocatively emotional. What was going on? Who the hell was this band? ‘Mamma
Mia’ what the hell is that? Some Italian thing?
