"The Visitors" (1981) was ABBA's eighth and final studio album before their long hiatus, and its recording was marked by personal and professional tensions within the group. By this time, both couples in ABBA were going through divorces: Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog had divorced in 1980, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad announced their split in early 1981. These strained relationships affected the recording process, with Björn noting that the sessions sometimes felt "frosty," and Frida admitting that the band was beginning to tire of working together.
The recording of The Visitors also involved technical challenges, as ABBA was transitioning to digital recording. The band's sound engineer, Michael Tretow, had to adjust to using a new 32-track digital recorder at Polar Music Studios, which presented issues with the sound being "too clean" and lacking warmth. As a result, Tretow had to transfer tracks between digital and analogue formats to maintain consistency in sound quality.
Upon its release, The Visitors reached the top of the charts in several countries, but it was not as commercially successful as ABBA's earlier albums. However, it has since been regarded as a more complex and mature album, with darker themes of isolation, breakup, and political commentary.
The album was reissued several times. In April 2012, a deluxe edition was released, featuring a remastered version of the original album along with bonus tracks, including demos, the 9-minute "From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel" medley, and TV performances. This reissue also included a DVD of television appearances and promotional material, offering fans a deeper look into the album's creation and ABBA's final years together. The deluxe edition was well received, with Pitchfork praising it for showcasing ABBA's perfectionism, even as the band’s personal relationships were unraveling.
In 2023, The Visitors was reissued again in celebration of its 40th anniversary. This version included a half-speed mastered double LP, colored vinyl 7" singles, and individual picture discs of tracks like "Head Over Heels" and "One of Us," marking the album's continued legacy in ABBA's discography.
