With ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ riding high in the cinemas, Steven Russell thought he’d list his top five ABBA songs. Has he got it all wrong?

East Anglian Daily Times: Abba on BBC show Top of the Pops in April, 1976. Picture: BBC/PAAbba on BBC show Top of the Pops in April, 1976. Picture: BBC/PA (Image: Archant)

1 Dancing Queen (1976): A wall of sound, lyrics that build to a crescendo, and the piano notes of Benny Andersson ringing out like bells. Can’t be bettered

2 Waterloo (1974): April in Brighton, and Sweden win the Eurovision Song Contest with this super-cheerful song that doesn’t let up. The glam rock touches (Agnetha’s high-heel silver boots and Björn’s starburst guitar) contrast with staid dress of sit-down crowd. Haven’t times changed?

3 SOS (1975): Getting a bit serious now (‘Where are those happy days, they seem so hard to find’) but jangly and rocky too. Perfect mix

SEE: Mamma Mia! - Magical or moronic?

4 Take a Chance on Me (1978): Constantly up-tempo and constantly changing gear. And, when you’re 15 years old, the lyrics are written for your life as you spend double-chemistry gazing at Sarah Anderton (or so a friend tells me)

5 Summer Night City (1978): Bet that surprised you. Boppy, disco-y, adulty, slightly mysterious(y). Apparently a tribute to Stockholm, but ‘Waiting for the sunrise, soul dancing in the dark’ fitted Beccles just as neatly 40 years ago

n We’d love to hear your choices. Email your list, including reasons, to steve.russell@archant.co.uk or write to him at Features Desk, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS