The Magic of ABBA - ABBA

It is incredible that after all these years I still have the original cover and the tape and when I peep into the inside of the cover find that I actually wrote my name, date and place of purchase. Even I am shocked that its 36 years gone and I still have a well-preserved piece of history with me. In fact two.

The Magic of ABBA, which I bought with no hesitation at all first with songs like Dancing Queen, Take a Chance On Me, Waterloo, Ring Ring, SoS, Fernando, Mamma Mia, Voulez Vous, Chiquitita and we knew the lyrics of every single song.

My favorite among the lot is 'Waterloo' closely followed by 'Ring Ring' which I distinctly remember Mohan's sister Asha playing when as a medico she did a guest stint at Yuvavani.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_9CiNkkn4 (Waterloo - ABBA)

A favorite memory was playing ABBA over and again on a New Years Eve at home. Four of us - Mythily, Chanti, me and Ram boxed ourselves in the last room and celebrated the big day. We were still in school and wanted to celebrate - did not know how - and possibly bought some potato chips (the ultimate symbol of rebellion) and orange juice, played ABBA and slept at 11. And at an ABBA night at Parth's place a few years ago in Pune.  I rediscovered 'Tiger' which made a big impact in "ABBA the movie".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4 (Fernando - ABBA)

My all-time favorite was 'Eagle' a song with a dreamy sound and many hours have I spent in All Saints, on the library floor, perhaps waiting for Abhijit Dutta to come after reading his book, looking at the eagles and kites flying high above and imagining ABBA's song and a flight to freedom. However 'Eagle' took some time in coming into my possession. For now these wonderful songs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unfzfe8f9NI (Mamma Mia - ABBA)

At around the time of this cassette I had just cleared my tenth exams, attended a one-month long cricket coaching camp at Bangalore conducted by the BCCI for the South Zone Under 19 players by Mr. Rehmath Baig, (who is still my coach). I remember it being a tough camp but I was totally changed physically and skill wise. I became a good out swing bowler from a predominantly in swing bowler and became fit enough for my sister Mythily to exclaim - 'Wow, you look so fit!' 

College as in Intermediate which was seen as a breeze by the back benchers awaited me. Freedom, cricket, ABBA, growing up years and all seemed well with the world. Life never looked as easy and as high as then.