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Post by evilincarnate on Sept 11, 2022 3:12:24 GMT
I should clarify that, in my opinion, ABBA would not issue a contemporaneous deluxe album edition. I realise that it has been a convention for the last 25 years or so to reissue albums in deluxe/tour edition form within 6-12 months of the original release but I just can't imagine Bjorn and Benny thinking it appropriate. I would suspect their attitude would be that an album needs to gestate for quite some time to warrant a 'deluxe' or commemorative version. For all we know, they may believe that all the different coloured vinyl and various other format editions qualify as being akin to deluxe - wasn't the 'Eco Box' version touted as deluxe by some distributors upon release?
I agree that the running time of 'Voyage' is a little on the mingy side and that the addition of two (or more) tracks recorded during the album sessions would augment it well but that doesn't mean it's going to happen. I just believe that Bjorn and Benny in particular would not entertain the thought of the album being reissued this soon. I'd certainly be more than happy to be proven wrong on this count though as I suspect there is probably another album's worth of material (outtakes, alternate versions) that could be plundered. As others here have previously mentioned, a bonus disc of the ABBA-tar 'live' recordings would be gratefully received but even that idea doesn't seem likely at this stage given that the UK residency has been extended to 2026.
My money is still on another album being produced at some point - perhaps within the next 2-3 years - but as we learned from 'Voyage', everyone concerned is particularly reliable at keeping a lid on things so we won't know until a formal announcement is forthcoming.
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Post by Henry on Sept 14, 2022 7:03:03 GMT
Ludvig favorite abba songs are the winner takes it all and the day before you came. Billie Walsh favourite abba song is the day before you came. Maybe this one will turn up at the show
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Post by HOMETIME on Sept 14, 2022 7:49:30 GMT
[...] the UK residency has been extended to 2026. My money is still on another album being produced at some point - perhaps within the next 2-3 years - but as we learned from 'Voyage', everyone concerned is particularly reliable at keeping a lid on things so we won't know until a formal announcement is forthcoming. I'm wondering if the live show will change in 2024. Some revision of the visuals, maybe. Maybe even a new costume. Or even a recreation of the Waterloo costumes for an ABBAtar performance? Like you say, the show offers fantastic scope to promote anything new that comes along. And the 50th anniversary of Waterloo's ESC win seems like a great hook to hang a celebration on. That could be a celebratory resissue package and/or a whole new album (it'd be three years since Voyage - a decent time in which to get new material together #JustSayin). All in all, it seems like a fair interval at which to plump the cushions, dryclean the ABBAtars' cossies, and remove dust bunnies from the stage. I mean, in real life, any self-respecting FridaTar would have had at least four completely different new hairstyles by then. |
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Post by BAAB on Sept 15, 2022 19:12:28 GMT
I never really thought a deluxe version of 'Voyage' would be issued - it's not really ABBA's style. That’s hardly true though is it? They released deluxe versions of all eight studio albums (plus Gracias Por La Música) and even the post-1997 standard album issues were all expanded. Obviously the five non-album singles but also some b-sides that would never have made it to an album otherwise. In ABBA’s day, deluxe issues didn’t exist. It was therefore no one’s “style”. But it was ABBA's Style to include new songs on Compilation Albums. I believe Benny said that the 2 remaining songs "are pretty good stuff" but Björn and Benny said that they do not fit on the Voyage Album. Then why issue a Voyage Deluxe Album with 2 songs which do not fit? On the other hand, ABBA Gold has another anniversary this year. In 2 years, 50 years of Waterloo will be celebrated. Maybe they will come up with a different compilation plus the 2 remaining songs. Otherwise we might hear them sonetime in the future as BAO songs, although I remember they made some noise on "Crush on you" as a song from the ABBA vaults, but it was not a very impressive release... |
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Post by Alan on Sept 15, 2022 22:41:35 GMT
But it was ABBA's Style to include new songs on Compilation Albums. I believe Benny said that the 2 remaining songs "are pretty good stuff" but Björn and Benny said that they do not fit on the Voyage Album. Then why issue a Voyage Deluxe Album with 2 songs which do not fit? Oh, so Just A Notion (written and partially recorded in 1978) and Little Things (a Christmas song that no one wants to hear except in December) do fit then? If they said that about these other two songs then it’s just an excuse. As they were recorded during the sessions for Voyage, then ultimately that album is the only eventual home for them. It wasn’t especially ABBA’s style to include new songs on compilations. Fernando wasn’t originally on Greatest Hits. It was a record company ploy to sell such albums to fans who would otherwise have all the tracks. Most acts that were still recording would have a new song on a compilation. The trouble is, Gold has made any new ABBA compilation redundant (see The Definitive Collection or Number Ones). Streaming has also made them much less important than they once were, and fewer get released these days. Still, if they did put these two tracks on a new compilation then of course I’d buy it. Eventually though, they would belong on Voyage (just as Summer Night City and Gimme do on Voulez-Vous, Fernando on Arrival and The Day Before You Came and Under Attack on The Visitors). |
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Post by BAAB on Sept 16, 2022 3:16:13 GMT
But it was ABBA's Style to include new songs on Compilation Albums. I believe Benny said that the 2 remaining songs "are pretty good stuff" but Björn and Benny said that they do not fit on the Voyage Album. Then why issue a Voyage Deluxe Album with 2 songs which do not fit? Oh, so Just A Notion (written and partially recorded in 1978) and Little Things (a Christmas song that no one wants to hear except in December) do fit then? If they said that about these other two songs then it’s just an excuse. First of all, that JAN and LT do not fit on the album is your personal taste. I like LT and like it out of the Christmas Season. Secondly, how do you know it is just an excuse, do you know the songs? It's all about guessing, we do not have any proof at this time point. Finally, I know that Fernando wasn't pre-released on the Greatest Hits Album, however they did this trick on the Greatest Hits 2 Album with Gimme Gimme Gimme and on the The Singles Album. And with Fernando and Summer Night City not being released on the original Albums it is quite a collection of songs not released on their original albums. If those two songs every see the light of day, releasing them as singles with todays streaming would likely not be successfull. Actually, Benny has done today's Deluxe Edition release Strategy with his Piano Album, releasing a 2 songs plus Deluxe version after one year of it's original release. Will they release a Voyage concert live recording? Because of the original voice recordings I doubt if it makes sense, however there are changes here abd there from the original recordings which I would love to hear on a live Album. |
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Post by HOMETIME on Sept 16, 2022 14:17:36 GMT
Looks like Frida attended the Voyage show again last night. A couple of nice pictures are doing the rounds   |
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Post by Bart on Sept 16, 2022 15:11:07 GMT
Agnetha would never do it like this.
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Post by HOMETIME on Sept 16, 2022 15:18:56 GMT
I don't understand...?
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Post by Alan on Sept 16, 2022 18:33:00 GMT
Agnetha would never do it like this. Can you explain what you mean? Frida wasn’t there to promote it but because she wanted to be and had every right to be. She lives in Switzerland with an English peer so presumably he comes to the UK quite regularly. Plus she lived in London for a few years herself. It’s therefore far more likely for Frida to attend the venue than Agnetha. |
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Post by Alan on Sept 16, 2022 18:37:45 GMT
  Some actual photos of the Australian green and yellow vinyl. Not quite as earlier illustrations indicated (these are off the web, and not mine). |
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Post by HOMETIME on Sept 16, 2022 19:53:45 GMT
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Post by lycka on Sept 16, 2022 21:53:39 GMT
I imagine Bart just meant that Frida is a bit more extrovert than Agnetha. On that basis her appearance today at the Voyage concert and the great photos is something Agnetha is much less likely to do.
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Post by Bart on Sept 17, 2022 6:01:08 GMT
Yes indeed and she loves the attention much more. At the end of the show it was announced she was there. Not like B and B for example who were there at the first night without anyone noticing. Agnetha would never pose like that
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Post by undertheappletree on Sept 17, 2022 7:16:17 GMT
Loving Pics of Frida, she looks radiant and full of joy, Maybe she is going to pay respects to Our Queen With the Swedish Royalty also. One of my Sister's and Nieces set of on a 250 mile drive to London last night to do the same.
With Reference to Agnetha, she seemed to be the most openly emotional one at the Voyage' Première, we know she likes to keep a low profile, but she is a lovely soul equal to Frida. Long live the Abba Kings and Queens in my reality.
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Post by lycka on Sept 17, 2022 8:26:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 12:35:11 GMT
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Post by bennybjorn on Sept 21, 2022 23:35:13 GMT
A shame the Voyage CD sales were behind Adkins' but still a good performance. Anyone much looking forward to the new album by Boo? It's been 30 years since Boo's last album - not an Abba-length gap, but still a long old time. Radio 2 have been playing her new stuff but, like Voyage, I expect pretty much no-one else has. |
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Post by Alan on Sept 22, 2022 17:29:53 GMT
Anyone much looking forward to the new album by Boo? It's been 30 years since Boo's last album - not an Abba-length gap, but still a long old time. Radio 2 have been playing her new stuff but, like Voyage, I expect pretty much no-one else has. I’m assuming you mean Betty Boo (as in “Doin’ The Do”)? Is no pop star allowed a first name in your world? Why not go a step further and refer to her as “Clarkson” (her real surname) thereby completely confusing us? The joke was that Alison Clarkson’s stage name comes from the cartoon character, Betty Boop, so using “Boo” alone doesn’t make too much sense. |
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Post by BAAB on Sept 23, 2022 4:45:31 GMT
It was the 2nd best seller on CD behind Adele.[/quote]
And 3rd best in combined sales after Adele and Ed Sheeran, meaning VOYAGE was the most successful album of a GROUP in 2021.
Very impressive!
Seeing "I still have faith in you" at #7 in the annual Vinyl Singles charts, makes me wonder, if "Don't Shut Me Down" would have scored even better in the singles charts had it been issued on vinyl, however with a more "ABBA personalized" cover, e.g. released as 4 different picture discs, each with another ABBAtar on it.
I definitely would have bought all four 😆
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2022 14:10:35 GMT
Ed Sheeran's album was second "best seller" of 2021 if we include Streams. In pure sales - physical and download combined, ABBA were 2nd with Voyage. www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-albums-of-2021__34858/I Still Have Faith in You only sold about 2,500 in vinyl. The singles vinyl market is tiny. Had there been a vinyl version of Don't Shut Me Down it wouldn't have added much to sales. *Maybe* only a chart placing of 7 or 8 and not 9 - if most bought week 1. Where it could have made a difference is the Singles Sales Chart. It's probable Don't Shut Me Down would have been #1 not I Still Have Faith in You. ABBA needed to release an album as singles sales are a fraction of what they were. Had the two singles been released without knowledge of a new album, would they have done better? I guess not really, but we'll never know. |
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Post by chronington on Sept 23, 2022 17:04:14 GMT
A shame the Voyage CD sales were behind Adkins' but still a good performance. I'm sure at this stage of the game Ulvaeus and Andersson can accept being 'pipped' with good grace. And it must be a fair shout that both Lyngstad and Fältskog would at least be broad fans of her modus operandi (it would be harder to claim the same on behalf of more left-field artists such as Bush and Mitchell). |
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Post by Alan on Sept 23, 2022 17:08:33 GMT
And it must be a fair shout that both Lyngstad and Fältskog would at least be broad fans of her modus operandi (it would be harder to claim the same on behalf of more left-field artists such as Bush and Mitchell). Not you as well! Translated, this must be Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell you’re referring to? Your avatar - there’s a story that Kate (sorry, “Bush”) asked the Queen for her autograph when she got her CBE isn’t there? I think Kate confirmed it - she pretty much would have done anything for her son, including making a complete fool of herself. The Queen would probably have seen the funny side though. |
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Post by chronington on Sept 23, 2022 17:15:54 GMT
Not you as well! Translated, this must be Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell you’re referring to Decent guess. Actually I was referring to Bush Tetras and Kim Mitchell. |
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Post by Henry on Sept 23, 2022 20:37:21 GMT
I still have faith was a good album track but not a lead off single. Don't shut me down should have been released as the first only single with a good video.
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Post by BAAB on Sept 24, 2022 13:03:34 GMT
Maybe I Still Have Faith In You was not a good choice in Charts terms but I think that this was not so important to ABBA.
It is much more the song which bridges the 40 years gap in the history of this group and that seemed to be more important.
I remember that when ISHFIY was plaid during the live stream, I received messages of friends who even were not big Fans but were shedding tears while the song was playing.
It's not all about Charts, especially not nowadays with streaming.
If they would be calculating chart places, Frida and Agnetha would have done a duet with Ed Sheeran LOL..
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Post by chronington on Sept 24, 2022 18:00:15 GMT
I agree with BAAB - they really had to launch this second coming with I Still Have Faith. 'Shut Me Down is too offhand and quirky for a lead-off in comparison. I Still Have Faith is an invitation to reacquaint, a sort of processional, the indication of something coming into bloom again. 'Smoke 'em if you got 'em', and ABBA had 'em in ISHFIY.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2022 12:47:04 GMT
I am not sure of the wisdom of the first two Voyage songs being released at the same time. A double A side perhaps? They still could have charted separately because of dowmloads/streaming.
Yes, I Still Have Faith in You is about a reunion but then so is Don't Shut Me Down. It probably is more album tracky but then any ABBA song in the 2020s is going to be more album than like todays singles chart song.
I think DSMD as a single, could have been edited. The first 30 seconds about sitting on the park bench could have been dropped. The single edit, could have started with that glissendo (correct music term?) with the lyrics starting about you look bewildered. It takes too long to get going. Fine for a musical or album track but not single.
I guess ABBA weren't too fussed about the commercial performance of the singles. They were a taster for an album - which they probably did care how it was received by the public.
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Post by Henry on Sept 26, 2022 12:01:54 GMT
They did care but they are out of touch what works these days. DSMD should have been the only single with a video with real appearances. Not some footage with no make up and glasses on from the studio that were filmed with a phone. So unprofessional.
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Post by HOMETIME on Sept 26, 2022 15:27:30 GMT
I am not sure of the wisdom of the first two Voyage songs being released at the same time. A double A side perhaps? They still could have charted separately because of dowmloads/streaming. Yes, I Still Have Faith in You is about a reunion but then so is Don't Shut Me Down. It probably is more album tracky but then any ABBA song in the 2020s is going to be more album than like todays singles chart song. I think DSMD as a single, could have been edited. The first 30 seconds about sitting on the park bench could have been dropped. The single edit, could have started with that glissendo (correct music term?) with the lyrics starting about you look bewildered. It takes too long to get going. Fine for a musical or album track but not single. I guess ABBA weren't too fussed about the commercial performance of the singles. They were a taster for an album - which they probably did care how it was received by the public. Absolutely johnny . I think they missed a trick by not releasing the songs separately. We all have our personal preferences and, as much as I love, DSMD, I think that ISHFIY was the perfect comeback single. It told a great story, was chockful of heart and emotion and it didn't really hark back to any obvious ABBAisms in the ways that DSMD did. If they had released it first and kept people on tenterhooks for a few weeks and then released DSMD (with a video and on vinyl/CD too), I think they could have had much more impact - possibly even a slightly higher preorder number? I think we'd still have gotten JAN as the third single, because it's in much the same "classic ABBA" genre as DSMD and the label probably pushed for that. I can see your point about the length of DSMD. But, in its favour, I think it does the same thing as ISHFIY by giving you a familiar voice within seconds. For me, the glissando felt slightly cynical but that's just personal. The chorus is the money shot for me - especially the second chorus, which comes in on that glorious surge of energy supplied by a key change. By today's standards, both songs really do keep the listener waiting for the chorus. It takes two minutes for the chorus on ISHFIY to come in. Looking at the chart performances of recent releases by heritage acts - I'm thinking Madonna and Steps as easy examples off the top of my head - the albums splashed high in the charts in the first week before plummeting. Neither scored a singles-chart entry. I know that neither had the newsworthy novelty of a comeback after 40 years, but it all speaks about how difficult it is for older acts to catch a break. ABBA's return to the singles charts - even the lower placings by JAN, NDAI and LT - are pretty remarkable in that context. |
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