ABBA - The Album was first released on December 12th, 1977 in Sweden and was recorded between May 1977 and November of the same year. ABBA's fifth album, revealed a new maturity with longer tracks, sophisticated lyrics and more complex structures.

Apart from the chart topping 'Take A Chance On Me' and 'The Name Of The Game' the album included three songs from ABBA's mini-musical - The Girl With The Golden Hair. One of ABBA's best loved anthems 'Thank You For The Music' and the hauntingly beautiful 'Eagle' were also tracks from ABBA The Album.

ABBA The Album was released in concurrence with ABBA The Movie, which featured many of the album tracks.

The album was issued in both a classic LP format, with an inner picture sleeve, and in a gatefold LP format in Israel, the UK, Ireland and Greece. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the sleeve was rather unique, with an additional 'blue sky' on the cover and extra artwork and photos. In Czechoslovakia a photo from the ABBA 'Chess Board' photo session was included on the back cover and in the USSR additional colours were added to enhance the artwork.