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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 29, 2014 22:37:33 GMT
www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-28/abbas-bj-rn-ulvaeus-does-his-part-to-make-sweden-cashlessAn ABBA Star's Campaign for a 100% Cash-Free Sweden On a gray Friday morning in Stockholm, Björn Ulvaeus arrives at ABBA The Museum through an emergency exit, carrying a take-out cup of coffee. Ulvaeus doesn’t come here often—”It is kind of strange to build a museum about yourself,” he notes—but he makes an exception now and again. Dressed in a navy blue suede jacket with epaulets, a closely cropped beard, and thin black and red glasses, Ulvaeus, 69, weaves through the exhibits, humbly recounting his band’s history, as if he were talking about some college a cappella act. ”We were not really good singers,” he says in a genteel, Nordic-tinged accent. “So the melodies had to be really, really good.” Since the ribbon-cutting in the spring 2013, more than half a million people have come here to revisit those preposterously catchy melodies and learn more about the upbeat foursome that became one of the top-grossing acts of all time, selling close to 400 million albums and singles worldwide. Clownish ’70s outfits; vinyl album covers from all over the globe; booths in which visitors record themselves singing along with the band; and a replica of the remote island cottage at which Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote some of the group’s biggest hits. It’s all here. But fans should take heed: Tickets for the museum cannot be purchased with cash. In recent years, Ulvaeus has become concerned about the hidden social and economic costs of cash money, so much so that he decided to do something about it. With the museum’s no-cash policy, media interviews, opinion writing, and a few pointed questions aimed at the country’s central bank, Ulvaeus is doing his part to make Sweden the world’s first cashless country. “The concept of money is really a very abstract one,” he says. “It doesn’t need that physical thing attached to it, I don’t think. Not in 2014 and beyond.”
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 28, 2014 12:15:40 GMT
This was a change of direction. After the mega success of Greatest Hits and Arrival - the anticipation was huge. Even though most of Europe had this album for Christmas, in Ireland and the UK we had to wait until January 1978. The artwork - so much going on: kangaroos, marionettes, planes, claws etc. Great cover but what did it mean? The inside of the gatefold sleeve was a giant AirMail envelope. I agree that the rest of the world artwork is better. The opening track Eagle - wow. Just classy from start to finish, soaring, perfection. Big, west Coast USA feel to it. Take A Chance - brilliant. A No.1 single written all over it, and so it came to be a few weeks later. One Man, One Woman - had a rawness to it. Great guitar work and Frida perfect for the vocal. The Name of the Game - already one of my all time favourites, played incessantly back in October 1977. Move On - liked this track on and off over the years. I think the chorus sounded a bit like a TV commercial, don't know why. Hole In a Your Soul - heavy! Great track but as had been mentioned many times by other commentators, the vocals are a tad squeaky. Thank You For a The Music - I think this is a masterpiece - love the blend of the mandolins and harmonies and one of Agnetha's best vocals. Never tire of this track. I Wonder (Departure) - probably the biggest let down ever. After the brilliant live version from Sydney (b-side on NOTG) this sounded clinical and sterilised. The live version is so much better. I'm a marionette - dark and mysterious. A grower - I've come to appreciate it more over the years, although I like the alternative version in the Movie slightly better.
Definitely a transition album, but another classic - so many memories of that time in my life are linked to that album.
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 28, 2014 11:57:38 GMT
Remember buying this on release day in April 1979 and taking the bus home eagerly awaiting to place it on the turntable. The artwork was very Scandinavian - those triangular mountains and sparkly graphics. As Good As New is a great opener, still sounds good today. Voulez-Vous sounded extremely well produced and catchy, top quality. I have a dream - a timeless song really and I love the way they build it up in three sections (first Frida, then Frida and Agnetha and finally both girls with the choir). Angel eyes is okay, I think the vocals are a bit squeaky to be honest, but a top melody. The King Has Lost His Crown - an underrated gem, love this track. DYMK - I actually preferred the version performed on the BBC special in Switzerland. IIWFTN - should have been a single, a missed opportunity - classic pop. Chiquitita - this hasn't aged well, not as well as Fernando anyway. But a good vocal from Agnetha and a rollicking musical ending. Lovers (LALL) - this sounds terrific even today - clean, strong production and Frida with the sultry overtones, brilliant. Kisses of Fire - good track but noisy in places, especially at the start where the low vocal meets the chorus. Love the 'losing you' part - great. At the time a lot of the reviews in the media slagged this album off, saying ABBA had jumped on the disco bandwagon - but hey, it's up there with the best if them and still holds up today, 35 years on.
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 27, 2014 17:36:09 GMT
A glorious return to form for ABBA at the end of 1980. From the rich artwork to a 'complete' album. Every track is excellent. On first hearing it was so good. The harmonies on Andante, Andante, the great synthesiser on Me and I. Happy New Year was an instant classic. Our Last Summer - Frida on top form vocally, and a nice story to go along with the melody. The Piper had the medieval atmosphere and great production. Lay All Your Love on Me was THE show stopper - what a track. Played this repeatedly on release day. The Way Old Friends Do evoked memories of the 79 concert. This album was a massive success, especially in the UK where it topped the charts for 9 consecutive weeks and was only toppled by John Lennon's Double Fantasy album after he was killed.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 27, 2014 17:28:34 GMT
A brilliant, underrated final album. Still sounds very fresh today. Stand-out tracks are: Like An Angel Passing Through My Room, Slipping Through My Fingers, I Let The Music Speak. A lot of critics claim this album would be a masterpiece if 'Two for the price of one' wasn't included. When I first heard this track I thought the ending was similar to the end of Chiquitita - jolly Sally Army Band type.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 27, 2014 17:22:59 GMT
And the classic 'Greatest Hits' released early 1976 in Ireland and the UK. This album was the biggest seller in the UK in 1976.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 27, 2014 10:02:03 GMT
Watched it live last night - painful viewing. Amazing they got through to the next round. I hate the way they can change lyrics from the original version as well.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 26, 2014 22:45:56 GMT
Lovers Live A Little Longer (obvious choice!) (although Doktorn! Is a great track, too).
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 26, 2014 8:51:27 GMT
A great, underrated track. Definitely up there with Agnetha's best solo work.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 26, 2014 8:48:25 GMT
Bohemian Rhapsody is a masterpiece, but I still find it a melancholic song - especially the first half. The amount of times I have seen people run to the dance floor at weddings and parties when Dancing Queen comes on is amazing - almost like a massive group lift. For that reason I would say it should be No.1 - that's just my opinion.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 24, 2014 22:04:14 GMT
practice makes perfect ) It's amazing how little footage (and photos) are available from this dance routine during the drum segment in the 'Girl with the Golden Hair' section of the tour. It would be great to see the full routine someday.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 24, 2014 10:14:15 GMT
Interesting interview. Bjorn looks happy and healthy. Thanks for sharing, Roxy.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 22, 2014 22:48:40 GMT
Oh, it's walking in the moonlight, is it? I'm a bit embarrassed now about my recent karaoke performance
Well, it's an old chestnut and this is the lyrics discussion thread. What do we reckon? I've set the clip to start at what is prob'ly the most contentious example:
Yeah - it's well dodgy alright, and I reckon Bjorn knew exactly what he was singing at the time (still controversial to this day).
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 22, 2014 14:21:32 GMT
Summer Night City: Walking in the moonlight A-HA love making .....
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 20, 2014 22:03:24 GMT
Wow - some amazing photos, fafner, thanks for sharing. It's great to see 'new' photos from so long ago, when you think you've seen then all. There's an innocence about those Brighton photos - on the cusp of super-stardom.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 20, 2014 21:01:44 GMT
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 17, 2014 21:29:30 GMT
Benny Andersson, the most high-profile opponent of a controversial plan to revamp a major road junction, has reacted with delight to news that Stockholm’s political leaders have moved to block the project. m.thelocal.se/20141017/abba-star-thrilled-at-total-slussen-roadblockThe new red-green majority in City Hall said they would shelve the multi-billion kronor project pending a new inquiry, newspaper Dagens Nyheter reports. “This is the best news I’ve heard for a long time,” the former Abba star told news agency TT. Andersson was so enraged by the divisive redevelopment plans that he once threatened to resurrect the supergroup and write a song about Slussen, a clover-shaped junction that links the historic Gamla Stan island with the southern part of the city. Slussen on Friday. Photo: The Uppsala Koala/Twitter The decision by the Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party to block the plan means a 20-year-old dispute looks set to rage on for some more years. In a joint statement, the three red-green parties said none of Slussen would now be demolished, while any ongoing works – such as the laying of new cables – would only be completed if necessary for compelling reasons such as safety. After concluding that the Slussen redevelopment would cost 1.3 billion kronor ($181 million) more than planned, the new majority in City Hall decided to slam on the brakes. Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 17, 2014 14:40:19 GMT
Totally agree, Roxy. No advertising whatsoever is rather strange. But it's such an unbelievable treat to have a proper live concert recording for fans. I wonder (pardon the pun) if we will ever get access to the 1977 concerts in their entirety? The one thing that gives me hope is that the rare Beatles material (such as the BBC sessions) were released many decades later. So I believe there's still hope. There probably won't be any promotion for the forthcoming Deluxe version of 'Gracias' either, but the powers that be are still taking the time and effort to release it. For me, the holy grail would be the full live 1977 show in glorious stereo. Maybe in another year or two in could happen.
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 16, 2014 13:32:45 GMT
Wow - looks great! Thanks for sharing.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 14, 2014 17:30:57 GMT
Love this classic photo - remember seeing it for the first time around Christmas 1977.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 14, 2014 17:25:17 GMT
Definitely a must-have collector's item!
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 12, 2014 22:26:16 GMT
Wow - that huge ABBA album cover! it also has the original font. I hate the way they updated it for recent releases, just doesn't work.
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 12, 2014 22:21:53 GMT
What do other members think of this radio station? I have listened a lot over the last few days, and on occasion it throws up a couple of gems Rock versions of SOS from some heavy metal groups!
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 12, 2014 22:18:05 GMT
Get On The Carousel, definitely.
Martin, Ireland.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 12, 2014 13:05:20 GMT
1. Arrival 2. The Album 3. Super Trouper 4. The Visitors 5. ABBA 6. Voulez-Vous 7. Waterloo 8. Ring Ring
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 11, 2014 18:11:00 GMT
Thanks for sharing - good review.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 9, 2014 15:26:46 GMT
Timeless...
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 9, 2014 15:18:12 GMT
Classy lady.
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 7, 2014 17:54:05 GMT
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Post by 15/11/79 on Oct 3, 2014 16:42:21 GMT
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