Richard Ward

The Visitors wasn’t just another ABBA album it was their farewell.

Released in 1981, it captured a band at the crossroads: marriages over, friendships strained, and the glitter of the ’70s fading. What emerged was a haunting, sophisticated record that revealed the human side of pop superstars. From the Cold War paranoia of The Visitors (Crackin’ Up) to the heartbreaking intimacy of Slipping Through My Fingers, and the ghostly stillness of Like an Angel Passing Through My Room, this was ABBA as the world had never heard them before.

In this definitive study, Richard Ward explores the album track by track, uncovering the personal stories, political undercurrents, and lasting legacy of ABBA’s final masterpiece. With insights into the band’s decline, their solo ventures, and the long silence that followed, this book shows why The Visitors remains one of the most extraordinary pop albums ever made.

Emotional. Elegant. Enduring.

ABBA’s quiet goodbye – until the world’s most unexpected reunion.

Published:

First published UK 19 August 2025