1980-11-03
Super Trouper
ABBA
By Maeve C.
Super Trouper’s cover was planned for Piccadilly Circus. When permission for central London was refused, designer Rune Söderqvist invited performers from two local circuses to Europa Film Studios in Stockholm instead.
The songs inside are more grown-up than that picture suggests. “The Winner Takes It All” explored the previous year’s divorce of Björn and Agnetha, while the members’ lives in Stockholm high society coloured the lyrics of “On and On and On”. “Lay All Your Love on Me” brings an electro-dance pulse. Recorded at Polar Studios between February and October 1980, it became the UK’s best-selling album that year.
Sources
Official ABBA discography: “Super Trouper was first released in Sweden on November 3, 1980. Recording sessions began in February 1980 and continued until October 1980”; divorce theme of “The Winner Takes It All”; high-society lyrics of “On And On And On”; electro-dance of “Lay All Your Love On Me”.Independent: released 3 November 1980 (Polar); Polar Studios; Piccadilly Circus plan and Europa Film Studios shoot by Rune Söderqvist; best-selling UK album of 1980.
Rights-holder metadata (Polar Music International AB) lists 3 November 1980.
Sweden (Polar) and France (Vogue) release events dated 1980-11-03.