Song selection on compilations 1974-1977

The selection of songs on ABBA’s first Greatest Hits volume has long been a discussion point among fans

Here are possible explanations of why each song was included

Note:

All songs marked * were included on The Best Of ABBA compiled by Polydor in the Netherlands (also released West Germany, Austria, Switzerland, other countries in South East Asia and Africa, and released by RCA in Australia and New Zealand) and Greatest Hits by Vogue in France and Belgium, which predate Polar’s Greatest Hits LP

People Need Love *

Single released in Denmark, France, Sweden, West Germany, USA, New Zealand

He Is Your Brother

Single released in Sweden, New Zealand

Ring Ring *

Single released worldwide

Ring Ring [1974 single remix] *

Single released in Australia, UK, West Germany (single flipped for B-side Honey, Honey). Possibly also as A or B-side in Turkey, Yugoslavia, at least one other Polydor territory
This remix was included on the first version of The Best Of ABBA in West Germany only. It was replaced by the original 1973 version on the 1976 reissue

Another Town, Another Train

Single released in Japan, South Africa, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Nina, Pretty Ballerina *

Single released in Austria, Belgium, France

Waterloo *

Single released worldwide

Honey, Honey *

Single released in Scandinavia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, USA. B-side of Ring Ring [1974 single remix] West Germany (single flipped for Honey, Honey, which was the chart hit)

Hasta Mañana *

Single released in Italy, Japan, Portugal. B-side of Honey, Honey in Netherlands, Spain. B-side of So Long in Australia (where it charted in its own right in 1976). Later single in New Zealand

Dance (While The Music Still Goes On) *

B-side of Honey, Honey in Australia, Canada, USA. Later also B-side of Fernando in France. Apparently was a potential single release in 1974

So Long *

Single released worldwide

I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do *

Single released worldwide

SOS *

Single released worldwide

Mamma Mia *

Single released in Australia, then worldwide

Bang-A-Boomerang *

Single released in France, South Africa, Rhodesia, Madagascar

Fernando

Single released worldwide
Added to compilation albums in Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, West Germany after first release
Included on most other compilations released after March 1976, in some cases replacing one of the other 14 songs
Not included or added on The Best Of ABBA album in Australia and New Zealand

Other songs that were released as singles in the same time period (excluding B-sides and songs in languages other than English):

Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)

Single released in Denmark

I Am Just A Girl

Single released in Japan

Rock’n Roll Band

Single released in USA

I’ve Been Waiting For You

Single released in Australia