Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is a compilation album by Swedish pop group ABBA, released on October 29, 1979, to coincide with their tour of North America and Europe, which took place between September and November 1979. It was ABBA's second chart-topping album of the year (after Voulez-Vous) and featured "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", a brand new single, recorded in August 1979.
Overview A round-up of ABBA's hits since their first Greatest Hits album (released in 1975), the album exclusively included material recorded between 1976 and 1979: from Arrival, The Album, Voulez-Vous, and the non-album single "Summer Night City"). The only exception was "Rock Me", from the 1975 ABBA album, which was issued as a single, became a top 5 hit in Australia and New Zealand after the release of Greatest Hits, and was also included as part of their 1979 world tour set list.
"Angeleyes" was included primarily due to its success as a single in the UK, where it was released as a double A-side with "Voulez-Vous". Although "Voulez-Vous" had been released as a single in other parts of the world, it was not included on the album. "I Wonder (Departure)", a track not released as a single (excluding the live version that served as the B-side to "The Name of the Game"), was also featured.
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was released on CD in 1982 by Polydor but was deleted from their ABBA CD range in 1992 when it was replaced with ABBA Gold. It was also released in the US by Atlantic Records in 1983 with the same mastering as the Polydor CD but was discontinued there in the late 1980s as well.
Commercial reception
Greatest Hits Vol. 2 was certified Gold in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Track listing All songs are written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, except where noted.
Personnel
Agnetha Fältskog – lead vocals (1, 10, 14), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals Anni-Frid Lyngstad – lead vocals (2, 4, 12), co-lead vocals (3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13), backing vocals Björn Ulvaeus – lead vocals (5, 9, 11), acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals Benny Andersson – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals
Additional musicians
Rolf Alex – hi-hat percussion on "Summer Night City" Ola Brunkert – drums Lars Carlsson – horn Christer Danielson – horn Andrew Eijas – horn Malando Gassama – percussion Anders Glenmark – electric guitar on "Money, Money, Money" Rutger Gunnarsson – bass Gloria Lundell – harp Roger Palm – drums and percussion on "Take a Chance on Me", "Dancing Queen" and "Thank You for the Music", drums on "Rock Me" Halldor Palsson – saxophone Janne Schaffer – guitar Bengt Sundberg – horn Åke Sundqvist – percussion Mike Watson – bass on "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (...)", "Angeleyes" and "Does Your Mother Know?" Lasse Wellander – guitar Gunnar Wenneborg – horn Kajtek Wojciechowski – saxophone
Production Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus – production and arrangement Michael B. Tretow – engineer
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Chart (1979–81) Peak positionArgentinian Albums (CAPIF)1 Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 20 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 4 Israeli Albums (IBA) 4 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 2 Spanish Albums (AFE) 3 US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) 44 US The Album Chart (Record World) 39
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Chart (1980) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 3 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 26 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 25 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 5 UK Albums (OCC) 17
Certifications and sales
References