Introduction
ABBA’s “I Am The City” might surprise even their most devoted fans. Released in 1993 on the compilation album “More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits,” the song has a fascinating backstory that stretches back to the band’s earlier days.
The origins of “I Am The City” lie in an unreleased ABBA song simply titled “The City.” Recorded sometime before 1982, this earlier version never quite fit the bill for the band. They decided to shelve it, but the melody lingered.
Fast forward to 1982. Working on new material, ABBA took a fragment of “The City” and reworked it into the song we know today, “I Am The City.” This new version embraced a more electronic sound, reflecting the musical trends of the early 80s.
However, “I Am The City” wasn’t destined for immediate release. ABBA placed it on the backburner once more. The song finally emerged over a decade later, finding its home on “More ABBA Gold” – a collection of previously unreleased or rare ABBA recordings.
“I Am The City” stands as a unique entry in the ABBA catalogue. It showcases their ability to adapt and evolve, even incorporating elements from a much earlier composition. The song offers a glimpse into a different direction ABBA might have explored, with its pulsating synthesizers and driving beat.
So, the next time you hear “I Am The City,” remember its hidden history. It’s a song reborn, a testament to ABBA’s enduring creativity and their ability to make the past resonate with the present.