ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

Quick update on the formats…

The green, white and ABBATar picture disc vinyls are all currently showing as out of stock in the official store. Only the artwork picture disc appears to be currently available.

Over on Amazon, the orange picture disc was showing as out of stock last week, was in stock yesterday, but now out of stock again.

I’m assuming the blue one from independent stores is still on offer.

The HMV yellow presumably can’t sell out as they’ll have to have some in-store when it’s released.

It will be interesting to see which ones will be the more sought-after in years to come. We could see very steep price increases and some selling for extortionate prices. I wouldn’t be interested in selling (that’s for someone else to do after I’m gone!) but would be nice to have one or more that will be worth something.

Of course, the fact that they’re sold out now doesn’t mean they will necessarily remain so. They could produce some more. I tend to think it’s a deliberate ploy to make people desire them more and order as a soon as they’re available again.

Pre Chess,from memory they wanted to do a musical in collaboration with John Cleese centred around a New Year party. He could not do it and the idea was shelved. But so was Just a notion. So who knows what could lie ahead. Don't know why they had John Cleese in mind? Would not have been my first choice.Also a soundtrack does not have to have the actors singing, just the artists music playing in the background. Can't wait for 5th November. Going to pre order a physical copy as I have reluctantly moved over to streaming to help the Abba cause. I will not be able to collect to later that day but my understanding of streaming is that when the 5th begins just after midnight the album is available for streaming. So I will be listening till the early hours before picking up my physical copy. Now I will only ever buy physical copies of Abba releases. I have over 200 cds and about 100 vinyl albums and probably the same with singles so I am now seeing the advantages of streaming. No storage headaches.

Colin, thank you very much for posting how the members of ABBA felt when they got back together to record the new songs. It was very interesting to read. I agree with Tony as I dislike the " Mamma Mia " movies with a passion. Lily James ( the young Donna ) may be hot but unfortunately she is no singer. Her version of WIKTT is an abomination. Exactly the same can be said of Meryl Streep performing TWTIA and Pierce Brosnan SOS. When I saw the first film at the cinema I was very disappointed. However, I did enjoy the stage musical of " Mamma Mia " in London. All the songs were performed well but without Agnetha or Frida somehow the sparkle wasn't there. Only ABBA themselves have the gift of leaving the listener completely hooked. Personally, I wouldn't mind attending The ABBAtars Concert but I can't drive so I would rely on the trains to get to London and when you consider the cost of tickets and also, paying for train fare it leaves a large dent in one's wallet especially as I have retired from work ( 10 years ago ). I will have to think long and hard and Johnny has a point as the admission costs ( tickets ) are on the very expensive side depending on where you sit. I'm not that bothered if I decide not to go. Not long to wait before the release of ABBA's " Voyage ".

Some valid points there, Richard. But will their interpretations of ABBA songs keep the listener hooked or lose the sparkle that was Frida and Agnetha ?

It does seem expensive but then there is a wage bill to be paid too...all the musicians, technicians , front of house staff and security and the tax and rates on top of the technology. I like an occasional visit to London and usually book a show or two to enjoy on my visit as well as doing some touristy things. Tickets for the shows are not cheap either. Will probably not bother with the shows on that future visit and use the money for Voyage instead. To get the cost down they would need a bigger arena. I remember going to see Madonna at Murray field stadium . The tickets were not cheap and I was that far back i could barely make her out. Unfortunately it might be too costly for a lot of Abba fans.

I know it appears to be expensive and it is for some, but i gather there are £20 tickets ( or there about ) yes you have to get in early and yes not many.. but...
Also i think sometimes we tend to forget how much " Entertainment is " Theater" for example is very expensive, even cinema, so I feel its all comparative.. we all spend a fortune on our phones !!!

So for myself yes its expensive ( I'm retired, ) but its a one off for me, Hopefully something i wont forget...and enjoy..

After all it is a business and needs to at least break even, otherwise we wouldn't have these events and especially we are living through the final act of ABBA and new material.. So each to there own, and like so many other ABBA related events , eg Mamma Mia etc .. not everyone's taste...

I know i generalize and mean no offence to anyone, some will not be able to afford and therefore understand.....

It's unlikely to tour like the stage musicals so it means I will need to stay over in London. But quite enjoy a week in London. Usually travel by train a lot less stressful than airports. Would like to experience it first hand.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know roughly how many have been sold for both new singles...
I'm guessing not very much especially for ISHFIY.. lucky if both over 50,000 in the UK ??

The two singles sold just shy of 50 000 combined in week 1. Not seen any figures since.

Just been mentioned on PopJustice that Just A Notion will be the next single, and out next week (I’m assuming 22 October).

Great, if that turns out to be true, Alan. Out of curiosity, I've just listened to Arrival's version of the old Just A Notion, which I quite like. So greatly looking forward to what ABBA have now done with the song. If I find it on a par with ISHFIY and DSMD in terms of musical quality, then my high hopes for the whole Voyage album will be increased. Maybe that's a bit presumptuous, but there it is!

I think it's a clever strategy. It's a "classic ABBA" sounding song, twin vocals (I presume) that puts the women front and centre together. Radio friendly, age-appropriate, dignified. It's also the one track on the album that the longtime fans know. So the fans still have the maximum amount of album to discover while the group/album/show/revival is promoted. It's a teaser that doesn't give too much away. The scene is also better set for a "gentle" Christmas single (if there's to be one) if it's following two upbeat songs.

I could be wrong - someone with a better memory can probably correct me - but I don't think it's that the song wasn't good enough in either 1979 or 1994. In 1979, its 1950s-country-pop feel was at odds with the disco direction of the Voulez-Vous album. In 1994, I think they found that the track was "unmixable" - it probably needed to be re-recorded and, at that time, that must have felt like more trouble that it was worth. I suspect the original recording was abandoned when it became clear the song was in the wrong style.

Based on what we've heard so far, I think Voyage is probably more eclectic than other ABBA albums and allows for the inclusion of a number of styles. Maybe??

Really? Where did you hear that?