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Post by Michal on Apr 22, 2024 10:56:36 GMT
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Post by Michal on Apr 20, 2024 4:54:28 GMT
HOMETIME, the inner sleeve is plain paper white - a slight disappointment. The vinyl is beautiful though. I have a soft spot for clear vinyls, which was one of the reasons for buying it.
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Post by Michal on Apr 19, 2024 15:54:03 GMT
Those Argentinian releases are just CD-Rs but they have professionaly printed covers. The sound is really good on all releases I have (this is an almost complete list of what they ever produced: www.discogs.com/label/724029-Quaver-Records-2?page=1 - one Marie Fredriksson CD is missing but it seems it was withdrawn very soon after its release, as it's not possible to find it anywhere. The guy, who makes them is a Roxette fan, so I suppose he was asked not to keep selling that one). It’s a bit like the “Frida” album. It’s had a vinyl re-release but no CD. I know all the tracks were on that yellow 1967-72 CD but that’s long out of print. We seem to be heading for a time when if you want something physically, it’s vinyl or nothing. I've been in touch with the Music on CD label recently and they told me they would like to release the "Frida" album on CD. So if they get the permission, it may happen. However, I suppose it will be similar to Agnetha's Swedish albums - very simple booklet and no bonuses. I really hope that you're wrong with your prediction of "vinyl or nothing" - I would hate that to happen! But maybe that's the way to finally force me to stop collecting
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Post by Michal on Apr 17, 2024 18:54:32 GMT
...Two further tracks - Ljuva Sextital and Nu Ska Vi Opp, Opp, Opp - remain unavailable... Nu Ska Vi Opp, Opp, Opp was actually released on CD once but it is extremely rare today, as it was withdrawn later due to copyright issues. It appeared as a bonus track on the Royal Records' reissue of her second solo album (Agnetha Fältskog Vol.2).
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Post by Michal on Apr 17, 2024 6:47:35 GMT
After some hesitation I gave 4,5 stars. Initially I wanted to give 5 but it would mean there is nothing to improve. I've seen the concert three times already and will see it twice this May again. The first time I was close to tears. It's overwhelming and so real. I like the songs choice too and would like to see some added, rather than switched. I agree that the animations are not necessary but I don't mind them. The sound level could be a bit lower - I find the concert too loud - to the point where I find it difficult to tell that it's actually Agnetha and Frida singing. I even used earplugs last year but it's not ideal of course. However, it is a fantastic experience and I recommend to ABBA fans and non-fans alike.
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Post by Michal on Apr 1, 2024 18:59:52 GMT
Four stars for me. I listened to it just yesterday. It is a fine album. Not up there with their original output but still very good. The only real problem I have with it is the lousy mixing. I miss the crisp, clear mixes of the old days with perfectly separated layers and the individual instruments and backing vocals coming from different chanels, creating a beautiful surround atmosphere. They were not able to recreate this and I guess the absence of Michael B. Tretow is much to blame....
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Post by Michal on Mar 31, 2024 18:37:29 GMT
I can imagine that the fans, who have the tickets to the 2nd anniversary concert, will be given an opportunity to submit their question(s) via e-mail or through a special link and selected ones will be presented to B&B to answer. It would hardly be possible to ask questions directly at the Arena. I'm really looking forward to it. I bought a ticket for the 2nd anniversary concert and for the afternoon performance the day before, so I'll make the most of my visit this time 🙂
I would also like to see A&F there but I think they would not announce their attendance officially - it would cause a havoc among fans. So we may yet be pleasantly surprised...
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Post by Michal on Mar 18, 2024 6:24:17 GMT
I don't see a reason for pesimism (yet). In 2014 the celebratory releases were spread throughout the whole year. It's true that we knew about some of them as early as winter 2013 (if I'm not mistaken, Benny himself revealed some of the plans in an interview) but I would not take the complete silence now as a proof that there's nothing happening. There were several hints last year but if there's something big coming, I'm not surprised that they want to keep it secret. I haven't expected any revelations about future releases in Palm's book. He would definitely not be allowed to do it even if he knew. The Waterloo reissues coincide with the actual anniversary (it would be really strange if nothing was released on 6th April) but they are just the beginning, I think.
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Post by Michal on Mar 7, 2024 13:14:05 GMT
I don't think they have a problem with the Eurovision connection - if they had, they would have stopped celebrating the anniversaries long ago. I don't see why they would suddenly decide to ignore the 50th anniversary, when they gladly celebrated the 40th (and the earlier ones as well). It doesn't make sense to get stubborn now...
I'm curious if none of them really attend any of the events. I somehow can't imagine that Björn would miss such opportunity as the SVT gala. Unless they are all locked together in Benny's studio, putting finishing touches to the new album 🙂 Or all four of them agreed to make a joint appearance somewhere else later on and they don't want to take part of the magic away by appearing together too often...
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Post by Michal on Feb 15, 2024 21:35:21 GMT
foreverfan, I believe you really misunderstood Alan 's point here and you still don't get it. That "Frida thumb" thing was never meant as a selling point. It's never even been mentioned anywhere or advertised as an alternate shot. It just happens to be there, as the original is probably lost and this one was the closest they could find. I don't think anybody bought any reissues because of this (but rather in spite of this 😉)
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 13:11:03 GMT
I completely forgot about the MCB anniversary. It's indeed a year full of anniversaries both ABBA and solo. The Chess one was celebrated 10 years ago with the expanded edition of the original album. The question is what more can be done with it. Are there any outtakes left? Except for Every Good Man, which I think will never be released. Maybe the original Chess in Concert could be released (that is, if the footage is available) - it would be great to have that moment, when Karin Glenmark saves the performance, on DVD.
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 11:55:02 GMT
justabba, I've learned about this just a couple of days ago from a friend. It seems Regina from Intermezzo doesn't know more than anybody else. I don't know about Anita and Helga but obviously all of them think that the right place to be on 6th April is Stockholm...
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 10:33:00 GMT
By the way, as far as I know, the heads of the official ABBA fan club and of ABBA Intermezzo are going to the gala. It may mean nothing but it may indicate that something is about to happen there, rather than in London. But it's just my personal feeling, which may be completely wrong of course.
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 10:28:21 GMT
⬆️ It's not directly from SVT actually. They even have the date wrong. The gala takes place on 6th April. And unless I missed something, the article doesn't reveal anything we already don't know.
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Post by Michal on Feb 4, 2024 19:52:43 GMT
I believe that IF there is something "big" happening this year (such as new music released), it will be announced at a special event again. And the SVT gala may be the right place and time - it will be broadcast but also streamed live, so the potential audience is very large. On the other hand, if they wanted a maximum impact, they would have to hint that something would happen during the gala. It's too early for that though, I think.
I believe that the most we will get by 6th April are the Waterloo re-issues. There's still time to announce them. Anything else would come later, in my opinion.
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Post by Michal on Feb 3, 2024 18:46:39 GMT
This year's 40th anniversary of Shine may be a good reason for releasing the outtakes. What about a nice little box like the one we got for Something's Going On?
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Post by Michal on Feb 3, 2024 10:25:14 GMT
Just recently I stumbled upon a performance of the song on German TV. I was very suprised to see the members of the choir (see 1:24)! It seems Frida was in Germany to promote Shine (as her dress is the same as in her performance for Come To Me) so she was probably asked to join in. It still feels weird... Judge for yourself.
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Post by Michal on Feb 2, 2024 13:28:36 GMT
Agnetha moved far too well in this that I couldn’t pretend it was her back in the day. Actually that's one of the aspects of Voyage I really love. For me Agnetha finally overcame her stage fright and the stiffness of her heavily rehearsed movements is gone! This is how I always wanted to see her. I'm really not sure up to this day if she was only shy or she just wasn't a natural dancer. However, if it was a complete lack of talent for dancing in the first place, she wouldn't have been able to learn the dance routines at all, I believe. So in Voyage she finally lets loose! I agree that Björn is the least realistically looking of the four.
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Post by Michal on Feb 2, 2024 13:15:19 GMT
Don't Shut Me Down was definitely behind the curtain. I can clearly remember that during my first visit (which was the VIP opening) I was seriously worried that something went wrong, because the curtain blurred the Avatars and it looked like a broken TV-set from our viewing angle. The following night it was the same but by then I realized it was the curtain that made the undesirable effect. They must have fixed it in the meantime, as the "broken-TV" effect was not there on the 1st anniversary performance.
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Post by Michal on Feb 1, 2024 11:24:26 GMT
Nothing wrong with I do ido ido ido ido with saxophone what is wrong with you You like it? Good for you. But there's nothing wrong with those who don't. For me it's not a favourite either. A question of personal taste and preferences, nothing more. If you have nothing better to say than "what's wrong with you", stay silent. It adds nothing to the discussion.
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Post by Michal on Jan 31, 2024 20:59:36 GMT
⬆️ If you haven't bought a ticket for the gala yet, it's resolved. There are none left.
The question is what you expect of the two events. Voyage is definitely a much better entertainment than listening to Swedish artists doing ABBA covers (there are some I'm really looking forward to though, such as Helen Sjöholm or Peter Jöback - not that it's confirmed they will be here but I expect them to be).
However, if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the ABBA members, than it's much more likely at the gala I think. I can't imagine they would turn down the official invitation in their hometown and fly to London instead. Unless some of them make appearance in London and some attend the event in Stockholm.
Also, if there are any official announcements concerning the anniversary, I would bet they will be done at the televised and live-streamed gala.
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Post by Michal on Jan 31, 2024 11:56:25 GMT
I haven't heard Svenne and Lotta's version before. It's much better than Alcazar's. However, if my memory doesn't fail me, there were no vocals recorded by ABBA. They gave the song to Svenne and Lotta quite early because they already had Dancing Queen and this one was too similar in style.
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Post by Michal on Jan 31, 2024 11:50:59 GMT
Shame there probably won’t be any new music released. Waterloo is one of my least favourite ABBA hits! We don't know that. I bet it won't be just Waterloo half-speed, whatever Björn said
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Post by Michal on Jan 31, 2024 11:49:44 GMT
Almost sold out already. I'm going!
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Post by Michal on Jan 29, 2024 17:35:49 GMT
I found this: secondhandsongs.com/artist/3170/allIt's better but not complete either. Isn't It Easy To Say is not there, many songs written for Frida are missing, there's no Josefin Nilsson, no Hjälp Sökes... I'm afraid you will have to do the research yourself. Start with ABBA, add Benny solo and BAO, the musicals, Gemini, Josefin, Frida, Hep Stars and Hootenanny Singers... and when you have all of this, the most interesting task of locating everything they've ever written for the likes of Lill-Babs, Lena Andersson and other obscure Scandinavian artists begins 😄
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Post by Michal on Jan 29, 2024 17:04:55 GMT
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Post by Michal on Jan 29, 2024 17:02:02 GMT
⬆️ Yes, this is far from complete - and the author probably didn't care much about the list, as even their very first composition "Isn't It Easy To Say" is not included (and it's well known). Another glaring omission is Slowly (actually, no songs written for Frida are there, not even the compositions from the Lycka album, most of Gemini songs, no Josefin Nilsson, no Kristina Från Duvemåla...)
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Post by Michal on Jan 27, 2024 10:49:04 GMT
Tropical Loveland is beautifully arranged and mixed too - something you appreciate especially when listening to it on headphones. The accordion playing, the xylophone, backing vocals from one channel than the other... the layers are perfectly separated like on the later ABBA recordings, which can't be said about many other songs on the ABBA album. The songs such as Bang-A-Boomerang or I Do are just a terrible racket coming from all directions, attacking your eardrums - better avoid the headphones!
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Post by Michal on Jan 26, 2024 15:43:54 GMT
I had no idea they traslated it to German. I'm tempted, even if it is a 10hrs journey by train. I saw the concert version at the Royal Albert Hall and it was one of the best musical experiences of my life.
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Post by Michal on Jan 26, 2024 15:40:56 GMT
Carl Magnus Palm has just confirmed that his new book will start shipping from mid-March, so if there is any news in there about upcoming releases, I'm guessing it will be officially revealed to us by then at the latest. Carl-Magnus Palm has no official function within the ABBA circle. His book is a die-hard fans only release and certainly NOT reveal any possible ABBA releases later this year. True but he can be seen as an insider though. I think what bjorenny meant is that if Palm was allowed to write e.g. about the two outtakes from Voyage (which he hinted at a few times), then we must learn about them from the official sources before the book is published. He will certainly not reveal any future releases in the book of course.
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