Abba - The Essential Collection (2012) DVD9

The whole point of ABBA Gold, when it was released in 1992, was to replace all those ‘bargain bin’ licensed compilations that were prevalent during the 1980s with something definitive, something that exuded quality. This was clearly very successful, because the hits collection has sold over five million copies in the UK alone.
Since that time there has been a spate of further compilations with More Gold (1993), The Definitive Collection (2001), 18 Hits (2005) and Number Ones (2006). If you add to the mix box sets such as The Complete Studio Recordings from 2005 it is clear that there have been quite a few options for collectors and casual fans alike over the years.
This brings us to The Essential Collection, another hits compilation that is available in 2CD edition, a standalone DVD and a ‘limited edition’ 2CD+DVD version.
The two CDs contain 39 tracks between them and cover well trodden ground. It’s very similar to owning both ‘Gold’ compilations – indeed, all of ABBA Gold is here and 13 of the 20 More Gold tracks are included. A notable omission is Our Last Summer from Super Trouper which is quite well known now, thanks to its inclusion in the Mamma Mia musical/film. The Essential Collection also includes a few very early tracks like People Need Love and He Is Your Brother (both from debut Ring Ring), that wouldn’t normally make it on to a greatest hits.
In the likely event that you own an ABBA hits compilation already, there doesn’t, on the face of it, appear to be much reason to purchase just the standard 2CD set, although if you are looking for a reason, it’s worth pointing out that the excellent remasters from the recent deluxe editions of Super Trouper and The Visitors and used for tracks from those albums. These are far superior to previous remastering.