Benny Andersson (ABBA keyboardist) will release a new CD called Piano on Sept. 29

ABBA album breaking news: Benny Andersson announces NEW release Piano

 

I will bump this thread.

 

Well this sounds like a dull project...

 

Thanks Brad, Happy New Year sounds nice. 30 second samples -
Piano by Benny Andersson

 

Classical piano versions of ABBA, Chess, etc. songs. He was always a classical music fan.

 

I just listened to all the samples and they sound great. They sound like more than simple transcriptions for piano.

I really admire Benny's solo work and the Benny Andersson Orchestra CDs. In everything he does, it sounds like he's having great fun.

This is an auto buy for me.

 

I thought he went through a folk accordian period not so long ago?

 

I'd love for Benny to dust off his old Yamaha GX-1... From what I've seen, it's still a major attraction of his studio, though I suspect he avoids using it too much because of how closely associated with the later period ABBA sound this is.

 

If I was in a restaurant and these came on I wouldn't given them a second thought. I know it's Benny but it just has that tribute CD taste to it. Maybe hearing the complete CD will be more compelling.

 

I hope it gets decent distribution, it looks wonderful.

Benny Andersson – ‘Piano’ released 29 September

A piano version of I Gott Bevar (from Kristina Från Duvemåla) alone would be worth the price of the CD. Benny played a solo piano version of it in an Abba documentary years ago (The Winner Takes It All - The ABBA Story ??), and it was incredible.

 

I was excited when I heard the rumours about a new Benny album. Being released on Deutsche Grammofon I was hoping for something more like "Klinga mina klockor". He is an accomplished composer and a great pianist, but most of the songs on the new album - well, I never thought I needed instrumental piano versions of ABBA songs. Will give it a listen, anyway.

 

Found a nice interview on YT. (yes he talks about ABBA).



Darryl

 

I have listened to the entire CD of "Piano" and for ABBA fans and lovers of solo piano music, this is a pure delight.

 

Great record.

 

Nice versions. Finally "Tröstevisa" (Song of Solace) got the right treatment! "Midnattsdans" (Dance at Midnight) also sounds fab. Think I have to pick this one up. Anyone compared the CD to the vinyl yet?

 

Fantastic album both musically & artistically, IMO. Great CD transfer, too (with all dynamics preserved & moderate noise-shaped dither used): the sound is excellent.

 

Understatement of the year Benny is one of the greatest living (pop) songwriters. His peers are McCartney or Bacharach. I'm waiting for the Piano vinyl to be released.

 

Piano is a joy to hear. Being a swede I must admit ABBA was not my thing back in the seventies but nowadays I sort of admire their music. Being a swede I also must admit that Benny Andersson has been a household name since 1965 when he started as a member in HepbStars the most popular swedish band at the time.
Nowadays I look upon Benny as a true musical genius and when it comes to melodies one of the true greats-almost in the McCartney league.
The new album showcases this melodic gift-with all the vocals and musical bells and whistles gone their is only the music. For the most part it really works wonders here. This is a beatiful musical experience from one of the all time great composers of popular music.

 

I came to this project late and you can really tell that a great musician is playing the music. Although it isn't technically demanding, there's such taste in the arrangements and restraint in the performance. Sure, it's sentimental music but the sentiment isn't weighed down with syrupy performance. If it weren't for the fact that many of the pieces are so well known it would be fascinating to find someone who could hear this without knowing the originals.

 

I liked it. Was especially curious to hear The Day Before You Came. It translated well.
Not something I will listen to every day, but it is beautiful music, played by a man who obviously enjoys making it!
Might be relaxing enough to help me fall asleep..........

 

A wonderful album and a true genius at work. Simply sublime and beautiful.

 

Got this today on vinyl and really enjoying it.
Funny though, is You & I the same tune as the ABBA song? I don’t recognize it.
The Day Before You Came works much better for me as a solo piano piece than what they did as a group.

 

“You & I” is from the musical “Chess”. The song you are referring to, which is indeed completely different, is “Me and I” which is from the Super Trouper album (1980).

 

Yes indeed! I realized that later after I posted. I got to see Chess when I was in London in 1986.