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Post by Alan on Mar 16, 2024 13:22:02 GMT
You might find this topic of interest. All the various UK label variants are included. What you describe as ink jet are termed injection-moulded or plastic in the thread, but refers to the same thing. abbachat.com/thread/1597/abba-epic-single-label-variantsI acquired the Chiquitita one last year. Take A Chance On Me comes up quite often on eBay and appears to be much less rare than the Chiquitita one. There is one on there now at £4.25 buy-it-now. They’re not test pressings though. A couple of blue-label singles even had two versions of it. The most rare UK label variant is I Have A Dream Dutch-pressing. Later singles Super Trouper and Head Over Heels were widely issued on the variant but I Have A Dream is virtually impossible to find. I know someone that has it but they only saw it for sale the once and got lucky.
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Post by Alan on Mar 16, 2024 10:17:02 GMT
Sorry, 19mark62, but I disagree with you completely on every point. I get that people like to blame the local record company - to me it’s akin to football fans blaming the referee because their team is losing (“Are you blind, ref?” etc). ABBA were winding down and not giving the companies much to play with. CBS were actually helping to keep them afloat by all the picture discs and special issues. If mistakes were made, they were Polar’s/ABBA’s. Have you not considered that these supposed imports may just have been localised? Also, if they were imports, surely they’d retail for more than a UK-issued single would? With no video or promotion, the single was never destined to do that well. Number 7 was extremely respectable, even if it was their lowest since before SOS. I doubt a 7” (import or otherwise) would have helped it that much, except in people’s imaginations.
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Post by Alan on Mar 16, 2024 10:06:41 GMT
I read the Voyage section of CMPs book and find it very exciting that there maybe a lot more tracks considered for the album. At least they exist in an early stage. And 'Hit By A Train' is really not a rumour anymore! It’s only exciting if they’re going to be released. It would seem that they aren’t. Hit By A Train wasn’t a rumour - Little Boots mentioned it several years ago so there’s no revelation there. I gather that anything in the book about that song is from what Little Boots said. It seems the Voyage chapter was a mere afterthought, and not the primary focus of the book. 45 pages isn’t that much. He isn’t talking or writing in any official capacity (that’s proven by the fact he can’t use the ABBA logo), but my expectations for this year have rather fallen flat now.
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Post by Alan on Mar 16, 2024 1:33:43 GMT
I am no fan of CMP. His writing style makes reading a telephone directory seem exciting and he had sod all in revelations. I couldn’t have put it better myself. Sadly there seem to be some fans that hang off his every word. He has very little/zero credible competition though, so he has the market stitched up. And having the AT lot onside is a bonus. He knows what he’s doing.
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Post by Alan on Mar 15, 2024 16:41:31 GMT
The Winner Takes It All 12” was a proper UK issue on Epic, that’s the difference.
I’m sorry, but even if what you say is true, this wasn’t widespread as it’s the first anyone else has heard of it. I’m not sure imports of a different single on a different label could even count towards UK sales or charts. It’s highly questionable that a UK record company would import a single of the same two tracks (albeit reversed) by a completely different record company to supplement their own 12” (which I believe retailed at a similar price?). If it wouldn’t count in the charts, it would harm both CBS’s own sales (Epic was/is merely an imprint label, CBS - now Sony - was ABBA’s UK licensee) and the single’s chart position. A single with the listed A-side of On and On and On is NOT the same.
I would also strongly disagree that CBS made that many mistakes. They often get blamed but mostly it’s the restrictions put in place by Polar that could be perceived as the problem. They could take the odd liberty here and there but mostly had to toe the line (though as with the all the European record companies, they did have some influence).
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Post by Alan on Mar 15, 2024 15:26:25 GMT
It’s unlikely that imports would have been extensive. It was a different record company, so CBS would have stamped on them as it would have affected their own sales. Also, it wasn’t the UK licensee’s choice to only issue the the single on 12”. That’s a myth that’s stuck, but the single was only released on 12” in West Germany, France and the Netherlands. It was most likely that Polar didn’t want the single releasing at all (for reasons unknown) so put restrictions in place - no promotion or video - so if the single failed it could be blamed on the 12” format and not any commercial decline of ABBA. I can’t see any 7” issues (other than more recent issues) of Lay All Your Love On Me on Discogs. As HOMETIME says, there was the US On and On and On but that wouldn’t count.
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Post by Alan on Mar 15, 2024 11:37:01 GMT
In his Recording Sessions book, he sometimes tries to describe something only he will be permitted to hear. It's a fool's errand in many respects, because it relies on the reader being able to reconstruct that description as an imagined sound. Who among us can really do that? I never really understood why they let him do that. To me it was like Jim Bowen on Bullseye [1980s darts-based cheap game show] saying “come and look at what you could have won” and on comes the car or boat that the contestants failed to win. If these songs aren’t going to be released, then why let someone (whose musical knowledge appears to be limited) hear them and try to describe them? That was trolling the fans (and all parties doing that, not just CMP). The fact he has done that before but apparently not with the unreleased Voyage songs does offer a tiny glimmer of hope though… they won’t let him hear them because sooner or later everyone else will. Or maybe not…
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Post by Alan on Mar 15, 2024 10:48:39 GMT
Nothing much revealed then. How to spend five years writing a book, take the money at the start, and then finally issue it but have very little on Voyage to say?
Was “My Story Ends With You” as a song title just a myth then, if he’s only aware of Hit By A Train? Has he even heard that song? Guessing not.
I’m curious… how does anyone get excited by his books?
It’s a difficult one… if he had heard them, and given titles, I’d see that as the ultimate trolling of the fans unless they were released. On the other hand, to only have the one title we all knew anyway, and apparently no info on any others, isn’t enough.
I’d be surprised if there’s much info that we hadn’t worked out for ourselves. To be fair, Björn and Benny largely treat the fans as though they think we’re stupid, so can’t fully blame CMP for doing the same. In fact, that’s what the media in general seems to do these days with everything.
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Post by Alan on Mar 9, 2024 17:27:08 GMT
Michel, you were right, it is in the official photo book. Page 89. Can’t see any differences between that and the front of the box, other than the box has a tighter crop.
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Post by Alan on Mar 9, 2024 14:32:38 GMT
A warm welcome to the forum, flynnic. Almost every new account lately has been a spammer so it’s nice to see a long post that isn’t some unfathomable nonsense that I have to delete! Reading through six pages is some commitment! I hope you’re right. It’s too hard to believe that all we’re going to get this year is the Waterloo anniversary stuff that’s merely part of an ongoing series. That would be such a damp squib.
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Post by Alan on Mar 8, 2024 8:32:19 GMT
The Artwork is part of the heritage of ABBA and it seems to Fall apart. I find it quite alarming. There have been some improvements in recent years. At one point, the entire artwork - text and all - was being scanned. And dodgy scans at that. The text didn’t look as sharp as it would in a re-creation. That issue has been addressed - all text is now recreated (and very obviously in some cases as there are differences between original fonts/placings and new ones) - but it falls down because the photos still - somehow - appear to be scans. What’s even more unfathomable is how The Visitors and Waterloo photos are unavailable/lost on CD artwork, but still used on much larger vinyl albums. A scan of a vinyl cover would be much less obvious if used on smaller CD artwork. To be fair, CDs still use the 2001 artwork, which was reproduced for the later deluxe issues. They won’t issue new CD versions now as the music industry seems hell-bent on killing off the format, but if they did, they might use the original artwork.
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Post by Alan on Mar 7, 2024 21:02:45 GMT
It’s disappointing to see that thisboycries appears to have deleted his profile along with some posts. The promotion of his book amused me, and I liked johnny’s post because it was a humorous, harmless comment. I didn’t think for a second that any offence was caused. Promotion of anyone’s own creative work is fine, even when it’s blatant, but doing so can invite criticism.
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Post by Alan on Mar 7, 2024 21:00:44 GMT
It’s disappointing to see that thisboycries appears to have deleted his profile along with some posts. The promotion of his book amused me, and I liked johnny’s post because it was a humorous, harmless comment. I didn’t think for a second that any offence was caused. Promotion of anyone’s own creative work is fine, even when it’s blatant, but doing so can invite criticism.
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Post by Alan on Mar 7, 2024 14:37:15 GMT
In the last Abba fanclubdag it is written dat none of them will attend the celebrations I read. That’s so that, if they did appear, it would be a complete surprise, and if they didn’t, no one could be disappointed. It covers them on all angles. That’s why it’s best to take what is said with a pinch of salt (or perhaps a whole truckload). Not expect anything but not completely rule it out either. Did someone mention a bit ago that right up until the album announcement in 2021, Görel was still saying there were only two songs? I do think they’ll say anything to throw people off the scent. I also suspect they think the fans are stupid. Björn’s comment about “every snippet has been released” is an extreme case of that, as we know that’s not true. It’s not helpful really. I think Agnetha’s attitude is perhaps the best one - not say anything at all about ABBA.
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Post by Alan on Mar 6, 2024 9:23:03 GMT
Abba is no more said Bjorn. I doubt if there will be a new reals this year containing unreleased tracks. Abba is no more. ABBA have been “no more’ since the end of 1982, apart from a brief return (mostly in secret) between 2017 and 2021. The fact they are “no more” is completely irrelevant, as it doesn’t stop previously unreleased recordings being issued, or ABBA appearing together in public again. In any case, you can take much of what Björn says with a pinch of salt, being as he said recently that every “snippet” ABBA ever recorded has been released. We know that’s not true. Anyway, isn’t it about time you gave one of your other two guest profiles an airing? You’ve rather tainted the Tinneke one by your fairly recent comments about Frida.
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Post by Alan on Mar 5, 2024 20:30:18 GMT
Yes, but to me this isn't at all about Eurovision but celebrating 50 years of remarkable success. I completely agree, but unfortunately the association remains. As someone who can’t stand Eurovision, I can understand their reluctance. The anniversary of the issue in Sweden of the Waterloo album was yesterday, but it’s 6 April that’s marked. The average person might think that ABBA were hell-bent on winning it, being as they tried twice, but as we know, the reality was that it was the only way they could get an international audience. If ABBA was emerging now, they wouldn’t have had to go anywhere near it. It’s a pity the 1972 anniversary (People Need Love) or the 1973 Ring Ring album anniversary isn’t marked, but I suppose neither of those brought them to a fully international audience. It was used in 1982 purely as an excuse to release yet another compilation (and only after a new album had been abandoned). But you’re absolutely right. 1974 was when a fully-formed ABBA (complete with the name) arrived in most countries. That’s what we’re celebrating. Eurovision is a part of it, and the reason it happened, but shouldn’t be the focus.
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Post by Alan on Mar 5, 2024 18:57:37 GMT
It’s easy to forget this now, but for 30 years prior to January 2016 they weren’t seen together in public (at least not all four of them together at once). There was the Mamma Mia thing in 2008 but even though they were all on the same photo, only Agnetha and Frida were stood together. For a long time it seemed like that 1986 This Is Your Life appearance for Stig might be the last time it ever happened.
We’ve been spoilt these last few years by seeing them together quite regularly. We can’t give up hope but ultimately it’s unreleased recordings that we want. If they never appear together in public again, it would be a shame but I can live with it.
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Post by Alan on Mar 2, 2024 10:08:06 GMT
Lol this is more "bullstuff" from the person with multiple names? Can we add septic peg? I was thinking the same but I checked and apparently not. We have had over 1,200 “guests” viewing the forum in the last 24 hours so I suppose it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that one or two trolls will post…
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Post by Alan on Feb 27, 2024 21:18:13 GMT
Absolutely no way would you think this was Benny’s elder son, Peter. 😆
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Post by Alan on Feb 26, 2024 21:19:12 GMT
What Records (who I’d not heard of until recently) have the picture discs at £11.99 each. Quite competitive until postage of £6.50 is added. I enquired whether they would have the coloured vinyl box but apparently that’s “D2C” (direct-to-consumer) so they won’t be getting it. Even Amazon doesn’t appear to list it, but The Sound of Vinyl does.
The previous boxes weren’t D2C were they?
What Records also have five of the album picture discs for £16.99 each (with two others at £19.99, the only one they don’t have being Super Trouper). Really not sure I want them though, even at those prices! Their maximum postage charge is £8 so it would be worthwhile but…. I just don’t find album issues as interesting as singles.
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Post by Alan on Feb 24, 2024 10:29:08 GMT
Just watched the footage of Frida at Voyage. That was lovely, almost brought a tear to my eye. Out of all four of them, Frida seems to be the one with the most affection for their legacy. There’s no sense of her doing it out of obligation, everything she does for ABBA is with love and affection (I’m not saying the other three don’t, but with Frida there seems so much warmth).
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Post by Alan on Feb 19, 2024 11:34:43 GMT
Frida lives with William Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden, in Switzerland. He has two grown-up daughters that I think live in the UK, so he probably pops over regularly to see them and other family. Plus Frida did live in the UK for a few years during the 1980s so it’s possibly become like a second home to her.
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Post by Alan on Feb 19, 2024 10:46:48 GMT
So you asked the question so you could tell us. Well done. Thanks for bringing a nice vibe to this forum. I hope your snide, negative posts get deleted. It is tempting to delete them and if there’s a general indication that I should, then I will, but as enough of us have called “Tinneke” out on it, I’m tempted to leave the comments in. I’m intrigued about what the other two guest profiles are…
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Post by Alan on Feb 18, 2024 21:23:11 GMT
She has a puffiness face. Anyone can see that. Er… no, I can’t. I agree with lamont, I think she looks amazing.
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Post by Alan on Feb 16, 2024 19:25:07 GMT
If I'm not mistaken it's in the Official Photo Book. Thanks, I’ll have to check that out. I’ve got the book but probably looked through it just the once. Probably the last ABBA or ABBA-related book that I got, or will ever get. But hey, apparently we’re not allowed to discuss such things for fear of being labelled “seriously dedicated” / ridiculed by someone that seems to be seriously dedicated to chart stats or Eurovision… (yes, you, foreverfan 😄 )
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Post by Alan on Feb 16, 2024 12:57:31 GMT
I’m not sure if this Sound of Vinyl 10% discount code is still valid. I used it to order The Visitors issues last year. Looks like it can only be used once as I tried it again this morning for Waterloo but no luck.
HELLOSOV10
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Post by Alan on Feb 16, 2024 12:41:17 GMT
I wonder if the clothing and other merchandise is a sign of things to come? We’d already had it with Voyage, of course, so it was no real surprise, but in the past, the Waterloo anniversary was used as a try-out for future issues. In 2004 there was the Waterloo 30th Anniversary edition, a proto-type deluxe, then in 2014 a 7” picture disc. For Arrival’s 50th anniversary in 2026, it seems we’ll get more clothing and merchandise.
I’m not interested in any of that, but as all vinyl and CD options appear to have been exhausted, I can’t imagine what else they’ll do.
Going back to Graham’s comment about stuff going to charity shops after we’re gone… I hope not as some of it is worth a lot! The Arrival coloured vinyl box appears to fetch prices of over £300 (one sold on Discogs in December for £315). I think there’s only Arrival and The Album (£80 Discogs sale in December, but has previously fetched £257 on there) that are attracting interest as they were issued in lower numbers than later sets and have thicker vinyl (and arguably much nicer colours).
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Post by Alan on Feb 16, 2024 12:28:55 GMT
I’m fine with it being focussed on those five years. As johnny says, events of 1972-1975 and 1981 and beyond will likely get mentioned but not dwelled upon. If they tried to do the whole 10 years and more in one documentary, it would be heavily condensed. By focussing on those five years there’s a chance it will be sufficiently detailed. It doesn’t say how long it will be, does it? I’m hoping for 90 minutes at least.
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Post by Alan on Feb 15, 2024 20:45:14 GMT
…but personally I found that Frida moving her thumb by a fraction , was beyond as they say... but hey if anyone wants to spend their money on that, who am I... Fill your boots.... I think you misunderstood? The thumb thing was on the 2001 CD issue compared to the original sleeve photo. Nothing to do with these issues.
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Post by Alan on Feb 15, 2024 18:48:40 GMT
Sorry but.... OMG... Frida has moved her thumb.... there are some seriously dedicated fans out there... I need a life...... It was simply to point out that the two photos were different, that was all. Frida’s thumb is merely the easiest way to spot it. It’s not an example of being “seriously dedicated”. The Visitors also had a different photo on 2001-and-onwards CD issues.
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