![]() ![]() ![]() As I've said before, even When All Is Said and Done got zero airplay where I lived (Tampa) but apparently in other markets it did well.Ĭassandra is a good, if not great track - but its not very catchy or hummable. I admit my slice of America is tiny and I cannot speak for the entire gigantic and fragmented market. I dont think so, not where I lived in America anyway. Will have to think about this one, but are there many examples of bands who flooded the singles charts yet SIMULTANEOUSLY made serious, well-crafted albums with genuine depth? Did ABBA themselves come closest, with 'The Album' ? Not sure. Mott the Hoople, to take one example, went in the opposite direction, churning our classic underground albums (including the peerless 'Brain Capers') before heading for the mainstream, with brilliant hits like 'All the Young Dudes' and 'Honaloochie Boogie'. Even Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, for instance, started (to a significant extent) as singles-focused bands before ditching all that in favour of a purely album-centric approach. But that kind of thing has happened with many, many bands who evolved from 'hit machines' to 'makers of serious music'. Their everything-we-touch-turns-to-singles-chart-gold moment had truly passed - even though they saved their finest album to the very last. But then again, to be honest, I'd say the same about 'Under Attack'. 'Cassandra' certainly had zero A-side potential, in my view, especially in terms of its potential ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with ABBA's previous body of work. Although I myself thought it a great track way back in 1982, and a favorite today, the recording itself does not stand up against ABBAs classic hits. No, I do not think 'Cassandra' could have been an A-side and a huge hit. ![]() ![]() haunting melody lines and catchy arrangement, but no huge pop song -perhaps for ABBA fans only. It could have worked if the lyrics in the chorus were better: the protagonist is a bit unclear, and it does not become clear if the Cassandra we meet is the mythological figure or some other story? Perhaps that's why the song does not quite make it big: its concept is unclear. While the album 'The Visitors' seemed to want to direct the group in a new direction, and 'Under Attack', 'The Day Before You Came' and 'I Am The City' were new ideas, 'Cassandra' was clichée. To write songs for their youngest fans and the 'schlager' audience seemed a step backwards, as if to repeat an old idea. ABBA was mega, they had pushed bounderies, written and produced classic pop music. 'Cassandra' sounds by 1982 dated, however. Lena Anderssons 'Visa I Citruslunden' as produced by Björn and Benny did it the greek way, 'Chiquitita' the spanish way, 'Money Money Money' and 'Thank You For The Music' have elements from cabaret music. Like 'I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do' flirted with 1950's schlager, 'Happy Hawaii' did it with ocean waves and swaying guitars. 'Fernando' proved that borrowing from 'El Condor Pasa' as recorded by Simon & Garfunkel: the latin American setting and lyrics combined were strong elements. The backing track obviously takes off where 'Put On Your White Sombrero' left it: Björn and Benny knew from way back in their carreer that pastiche and images in arrangement are strong elements in a classic 'schlager': Anni-Frid delivers heartwarm vocals, and together the girls harmonize at their best. That said, I think I'd have hated it if ABBA had released Gemini's first album.Ī lot of effort was put into 'Cassandra' : I think the group must have felt this song was a return to something very familiar, with classic 'schlager' written all over it. After ABBA and the public had gotten used to that development, I think there could have been a new and rather more respected place for them in the music industry. Given ABBA's sudden growth spurt in the maturity department, I think it's probably fair to say that anything they would have released would have been hitting lower-than-usual parts of the singles charts. Cassandra got a fair bit of airplay here in Ireland and ABBA must have held it in some esteem to consider performing it on TV. It feels a little like they were trying to recreate Chiquitita. But the release of "The Singles - The First Ten Years" suggests that they had abandoned the planned album (probably telling themselves they'd come back to it in a year or so).įor me the chorus is far too busy - I think the verses are beautifully performed and arranged. I think it was way too good for B-side status and, had there been another album, it would have been a strong album track. I liked Cassandra a lot back in the day, but it hasn't stayed with me. ![]()
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