Think you know everything about ABBA? A brand-new documentary, ABBA: 50 Years of Pop, is on Channel 4 tonight at 8.50pm, with famous industry figures diving into their songwriting and enduring influence.
Fans can also immerse themselves in the spectacular ABBA Voyage show, which uses cutting edge technology to allow digital ABBAtars to preform a full concert in a purpose-built arena. Our critic loved ABBA Voyage in his review (with a few minor gripes!)
And then, of course, the megamusical Mamma Mia just celebrated its 30th Birthday in London’s West End earlier this month on April 6, the exact same day that also marked the 50th anniversary of the band’s historic Eurovision win in Brighton with Waterloo.
Years and decades may pass but we all still know all the songs and lyrics to the cavalcade of iconic hits – but what about the hidden treasures? It’s wonderful swaying to Dancing Queen for the thousandth time, but how about something old but new with some sneaky Spanish influences?
Back in ye olden days (literally, the previous century!), artists would release singles and albums. Sometimes rare tracks would pop up on the B-side of a single and not always make it onto the actual albums. Many tracks would also be recorded but then discarded and never released.
With the advent of streaming and the ability to scour through various re-releases and bonus extras, hidden delights can be found. And this ABBA one is a total treat. Perhaps not their coolest song ever, but just listen to the harmonies.
This rare track was cut from the original Super Trooper chart-topping album, and parts of it were recycled for a track on the band’s final album. Caballeros and seńoritas, it’s time to Put On Your White Sombrero – and it really is a cheesy and fantastic as it sounds, complete with mariachi trumpets and guitars strumming as only a Swedish supergroup can. Take a listen below and follow the link for months of free music.
Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus for an album that would include such elegant classic as The Winner Takes It All, Happy New Year, Our Last Summer and the title track, Put On Your White Sombrero doesn’t really fit in.
Not wanting to completely waste the gorgeous harmonies and arrangements, the band reused them in 1992’s Cassandra. Listen to the track below and compare.
As for the original, it would remain unreleased until 1994 when it debuted on the ABBA box set Thank You for the Music. Soon after, it was included as a bonus track on most CD reissues of the Super Trouper album.
For those of us growing up with our treasured original 1980 albums or cassettes of Super Trooper it remained undiscovered until the digital age.
PUT ON YOUR WHITE SOMBRERO LYRICS:
Put on your white sombrero, Saddle your horse my dear, And ride off into the sunset.
You’d better go for there is no, Place for you here.
Like an old fashioned hero, You stand before me.
Oh, you think our life is a movie, My world is real I live and feel, And I can do without you.
Put on your white sombrero, Your red bandanna too.
Think of this day as a showdown, Goodbye my friend, this is the end, For me and you.
Now be a bold vaquero, Don’t show your feelings.
I’ll cry while you’re disappearing, Into the night, all dressed in white, Unchained and free, without me.
Put on your white sombrero, Like all the cowboys do.
Go find a sweet señorita, Somebody meek, who’ll never speak, Harshly to you.
You’re such a caballero, Proud, never bending.
I want someone who will take me, Just as I am, I need a man, Who is in rhyme with his time.
Oh, you’ll never take me, Just as I am.
I need a man, Who is in rhyme with his time.
