Arrival is the fourth studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released in Sweden on 11 October 1976 by Polar Records. It became one of ABBA's most successful albums to date, producing three of their biggest hits: "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You". The track "Fernando", which had been released as a single in March 1976, was included on the Australian and New Zealand versions of the album. Arrival was the best-selling album of 1977 in the United Kingdom and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
In 2024, the album was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Background and production
By the time ABBA began working on their fourth album in August 1975, they had achieved a modest level of success around the world. It was with Arrival however, that they would achieve global superstardom. Recording sessions began in August 1975 and continued until September 1976 at Metronome and Glen studios in Stockholm, Sweden.
The first song to enter the studio was a track called "Boogaloo" on 4 August. Taking inspiration from the current disco sound (and in particular George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby"), the backing track was laid down. The group knew that they had something big on their hands, as member Agnetha Fältskog remarked: "We knew immediately it was going to be massive". With re-written lyrics, the song became known as "Dancing Queen", and would go on to be ABBA's biggest ever hit. Work on the song continued intermittently until December 1975 due to the group's increasing commitments in the latter half of the year. This was a result of the sudden surge of popularity that they found in the United Kingdom and Australia. During this time they also recorded a song (in Swedish), "Fernando", for member Anni-Frid Lyngstad's solo album, Frida ensam.
In March 1976, "Fernando" was re-written with English lyrics and released as an ABBA single, becoming the group's biggest hit to date – hitting No.1 in many countries, including a 14-week stay at No.1 in Australia. "My Love My Life" was recorded next. Originally a more upbeat song titled "Monsieur Monsieur", it became a lush ballad with backing harmonies inspired by 10cc's hit "I'm Not in Love". The album was first released on compact disc (CD) in 1984 and then re-issued in digitally remastered form a total of four times; first in 1997, then in 2001, 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and again in 2006 (as a special Deluxe Edition).
On 7 October 2016, the album was reissued for its 40th anniversary as a multi format release that included: a 45 rpm half-speed mastered double vinyl edition of the album, done by Abbey Road Studios on 12-inch black 180 g vinyl; a seven-inch box set of the singles "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Fernando" and "Money, Money, Money", pressed on colored vinyl; and 7" picture discs of each of these four singles. The liner notes on the double LP release featured new liner notes by Swedish journalist Jan Gradvall, who also conducted a new interview with Michael B. Tretow. The first disc consisted of the original album, expanded with five bonus tracks. The set also contained a 28-page booklet with an essay on the making of the album.
Album cover
The album cover shots were taken of the group posing in and out of a Bell 47 helicopter at the Barkarby Airport, northwest of Stockholm.
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| rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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| rev4score = 7.5/10
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| rev5score = 8.6/10
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| rev8score = 9/10
| rev9 = The Village Voice
| rev9score = C
Arrival received mixed reviews upon release. In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, music critic Ken Tucker panned Arrival as "Muzak mesmerizing in its modality" and wrote, "By reducing their already vapid lyrics to utter irrelevance, lead singers Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog are liberated to natter on in their shrill voices without regard to emotion or expression." Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave the album a "C",
Record Mirror gave the album a five-star review saying it was "their best yet" and singled out tracks "Arrival", "My Love My Life" and "Money Money Money" as being "excellent". It finishes saying that "all the songs are ace".
In a review upon the album's 2001 reissue by Universal Records, AllMusic editor Bruce Eder found the material "brilliant" and complimented the reissue's "upgraded sound" as well as "those dramatic musical effects that this group played for maximum effect, which gave their music a raw power that their detractors usually overlooked; in the new edition, it's impossible to ignore." In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), music journalist Arion Berger recommended its Universal reissue to consumers. becoming the top-selling album of 1977 in both the UK and West Germany, among others.
Track listing
The information has been adapted from the official ABBA website.
Deluxe edition
Released for the album's 30th anniversary. The information has been adapted from the official ABBA website.
ABBA
- Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (1, 3), co-lead vocals (2, 4, 7–9), backing vocals
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (5, 6), co-lead vocals (2, 4, 7–9), backing vocals
- Björn Ulvaeus – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals (8), backing vocals
- Benny Andersson – synthesizers, marimbas, chimes, accordions, pianos, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Rutger Gunnarsson – bass guitar
- Ola Brunkert – drums
- Roger Palm – drums (2)
- Malando Gassama – percussion
- Janne Schaffer – electric guitar (3, 7, 8)
- Anders Glenmark – electric guitar (6)
- Lasse Wellander – electric guitar (5, 9), acoustic guitar (4)
- Lasse Carlsson – saxophone (8)
Production
- Benny Andersson; Björn Ulvaeus – producers, arrangers
- Michael B. Tretow – engineer
- Rutger Gunnarsson – string arrangements (3)
- Anders Dahl – string arrangements (10)
- Sven-Olof Walldoff – violin arrangements (2)
- Rune Söderqvist – cover layout and idea
- Ola Lager – cover layout and idea, photography
Chart positions
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1976–77)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
|1
|-
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|-
!scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Humo)
|1
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Danish Albums (Denmarks Radio)
|1
|-
<!-- -->
|-
! scope="row" | Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (IFOP)
|9
|-
<!-- -->
|-
! scope="row" | Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
| 11
|-
!scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|3
|-
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|-
<!-- -->
|-
<!-- -->
|-
!scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Musikmarkt)
| 39
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2006)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
<!-- -->
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
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|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
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|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2022)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1976)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
|21
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (IFOP)
|47
|-
!scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
|5
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums (OCC)
| 41
|-
!Chart (1977)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
|17
|-
!scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
|27
|-
!scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
|6
|-
!scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
|1
|-
!scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|37
|-
!scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
|11
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)
|1
|-
!scope="row"| US Billboard 200
|34
|-
!Chart (1978)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|28
|-
!scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)
|38
|-
!Chart (1979)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|8
|-
|}
Decade-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1970–79)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|-
|Australia
|15 November 1976
|RCA Victor
|LP · cassette
|VPL1-4034
|
|}