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Post by gamleman on Nov 9, 2021 9:21:43 GMT
Alan, what excuse is the ABBA Voyage Store giving for not delivering your Deluxe CD box? They haven't delivered my vinyl bundle. I got the e-mail about the printing press fire - they said it affected one of the formats I ordered, which I assumed was the vinyl sleeves, even though most other suppliers seem to have them.
JeniLP, picture-discs usually have a lot of surface noise and are really just ornaments. I won't even play mine (when they eventually arrive).
I was also confused about the labelling of Sides A and B on the vinyl, and have been looking at the inscriptions in the lead-out grooves for that, as well as the length of track 1, so I'm glad that I've now been enlightened.
Has anybody noticed that the lead-out groove inscriptions indicate that the album has been half-speed mastered at Abbey Road Studios? It's strange that they haven't made a selling point of this like they did with the 40th anniversary releases.
However, I'm not sure that the actual pressings have been done with care. My yellow and orange copies are very warped, especially the orange one. I have seen other grumbles about the Amazon orange edition, which is a pity as it's the most fitting colour - I don't know why the ABBA Voyage Store didn't keep that one for themselves, or the blue and yellow to correspond to the colours of the Swedish flag.
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Post by JeniLP on Nov 9, 2021 9:49:28 GMT
...grumbles about the Amazon orange edition, which is a pity as it's the most fitting colour... Well, the black one is another fitting colour and seems to be the best option for playing. Especially since it is the only which is 180g, right? (its supremacy being questionable though) The blue one is the weirdest. I would understand the colours of abbatars featuring, but there is no red, so... |
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Post by Alan on Nov 9, 2021 9:58:04 GMT
Alan, what excuse is the ABBA Voyage Store giving for not delivering your Deluxe CD box? They haven't delivered my vinyl bundle. I got the e-mail about the printing press fire - they said it affected one of the formats I ordered, which I assumed was the vinyl sleeves, even though most other suppliers seem to have them. Just that part of my order was affected, so they sent me the download code. It is all quite poor really, especially as (like you say) other suppliers have them. |
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Post by gamleman on Nov 9, 2021 10:09:25 GMT
...grumbles about the Amazon orange edition, which is a pity as it's the most fitting colour... Well, the black one is another fitting colour and seems to be the best option for playing. Especially since it is the only which is 180g, right? (its supremacy being questionable though) The blue one is the weirdest. I would understand the colours of abbatars featuring, but there is no red, so... I didn't realise that the black edition is 180g. The heavier record has no effect on the sound quality but probably helps prevent warping. I rather like the blue, but blue is very much my colour, although it doesn't actually match anything on the cover. I find the white and green the most puzzling - these just seem odd choices of colours, particularly the green. In fact, this whole marketing campaign is not at all 'green' in an environmental sense. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 10:34:54 GMT
After my 1 - 10 list yesterday, where I Can Be That Woman was number 7, I can't stop it going around in my head today?!
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Nov 9, 2021 11:17:07 GMT
I Can Be That Woman has grown on me a lot in the past couple of days. It has definitely gone up in my ratings. (9.5/10). Been playing it loads on Spotify.
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Post by Alan on Nov 9, 2021 11:48:47 GMT
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Post by lamont on Nov 9, 2021 12:56:56 GMT
ITV are showing 'Mamma Mia!', (Film 1), at 6-m on Saturday. So, with the 8pm onwards BBC2 ABBA Themed 'Shows', there is an awful lot of ABBA on UK TV, on Saturday. Hopefully, this will be enough 'ABBA Advertising', to keep 'Voyage' at No.1 for a 2nd Week. There will be Universal's ABBA Promoting too, of course. I wonder if the real big guns will be wheeled out soon: Frida & Agnetha… |
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Post by Alan on Nov 9, 2021 13:22:31 GMT
I wonder if the real big guns will be wheeled out soon: Frida & Agnetha… That’s not going to happen as it was part of the deal that they wouldn’t have to get involved in the promotional side. Agnetha did do that Swedish radio interview, but as she rang in from her home and it was in Swedish, she didn’t have to make much effort. However, I am getting a bit bored of seeing Björn and Benny. The trouble with media these days is that they’re given a script of questions to ask (they might ask it slightly differently to vary it) and the answers are invariably the same. We saw that with Agnetha’s A album where she gave lots of interviews, but the same questions and same answers. I’ve seen it with Kate Bush too. If you’ve seen/heard/read one interview, you don’t really need any others. There was a hint that all four of them should be at the opening night of the Voyage shows though. I think that’s really all we can hope for. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 13:54:08 GMT
ITV are showing 'Mamma Mia!', (Film 1), at 6-m on Saturday. So, with the 8pm onwards BBC2 ABBA Themed 'Shows', there is an awful lot of ABBA on UK TV, on Saturday. Hopefully, this will be enough 'ABBA Advertising', to keep 'Voyage' at No.1 for a 2nd Week. There will be Universal's ABBA Promoting too, of course. Ideal time for a few commercials for Voyage. I don't watch much TV. Has anyone seen any commercials? I have seen one - last Monday or Tuesday. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 14:15:20 GMT
Apologies if someone has already posted this, but Voyage is BBC Radio 2's Album Of The Week. Ken Bruce played When You Danced With Me yesterday and Bumblebee today.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 14:15:22 GMT
You will be able to see which 'Voyage' Tracks are 'Selling' the best, if you look at the UK's Top 100 Sales Singles Chart, at 5.45pm, on Friday. An Artist is allowed far more than 3 Tracks in that Chart. As long as they are 'Selling' enough to get into that Top 100. In the latest Sales Chart, Ed Sheeran has 12 Entries. 11 are from the 14 Tracks on his New Album. Interesting. There will be some people who are not ABBA fans but like Irish/Folk/Country music and may download When You Danced With Me or I Can Be That Woman. Equally, ABBA fans who only like the uptempo songs and may download No Doubt About It. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 14:20:34 GMT
Apologies if someone has already posted this, but Voyage is BBC Radio 2's Album Of The Week. Ken Bruce played When You Danced With Me yesterday and Bumblebee today. With only 5 tracks to play I would not have chosen Bumblebee. My choices would be: When You Danced With Me Keep an Eye on Dan No Doubt About It I Can Be That Woman Don't Shut Me Down or I Still Have Faith in You What tine does he play the tracks? |
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Post by Michel on Nov 9, 2021 14:37:41 GMT
The trouble with media these days is that they’re given a script of questions to ask (they might ask it slightly differently to vary it) and the answers are invariably the same. We saw that with Agnetha’s A album where she gave lots of interviews, but the same questions and same answers. Yes, I remember those A interviews. It seemed like every interview - no fail - started with the remark that her voice had been a bit rusty at first, so she had to take a couple of singing lessons to loosen it up. Maybe that's the only way that Agnetha could be fairly comfortable with doing an interview in English, by knowing the questions (and answers) beforehand. |
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Post by gazman on Nov 9, 2021 14:56:51 GMT
Regarding 'Yoyage' as BBC2 Record of the Week - be aware that BBC Radio 2 may not want to play 'I Can Be That Woman', since it contains the phrase 'S*rew you'. Or they might play it, but 'bleep out' the offending phrase.
There are still various sensitivities at the BBC.
More likely we'll hear 'Keep An Eye On Dan', 'Ode To Freedom' or one of the singles, I feel...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 15:01:04 GMT
The Independent, ipaper and NME all reporting ABBA on course for #1 and outselling all others in Top 40.
Yeah, I guess I Can Be That Woman won't be played on Radio 2. Abba banned by the BBC!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 15:16:24 GMT
Hi Johnny
To save you having to listen to the whole show, you can hear it after it has aired - if you go to the BBC Radio 2 schedule website, picking up Ken Bruce's show/play list you can skip to roughly where the song is (I like to hear what they say about it as well, if they do)!
Hi Gazman
Gosh, I never thought about that! quite true! I'm quite surprised that Bjorn used that lyric actually. I can't see that being a single now! Although, maybe Radio 1 will play it now lol!!
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Post by foreverfan on Nov 9, 2021 15:16:58 GMT
Hello everyone...
Well I thought its about time i had my little say.....
To be honest there's nothing to really say that hasn't already been put into words by someone or another, good and bad...
So I'm not going to give a track by track critic. Just an overall impression.
Possibly the hardest part for a fan of lets say a certain age like myself and liking from around 1975/76, is getting your your head around the 40 year gap..
So initially i knew Voyage wasnt going to be DQ, KMKY LAYLOM etc but really didn't know what to expect.
The singles...DSMD and JAN are brilliant , ISHFIY, as nice as it is and emotional , personally, shouldn't have been a single, a great album track.
Apart from the singles....
The first track to get my fingers tapping and try to sing-a-long to is When You Danced With Me.. just love it, and agree another verse would have been nice.
Little Things ... being honest, and all my hopes dashed as I wanted an upbeat Christmas Single, was initially disappointing ( sorry Joesph ..lol ) a bit Twee and Children !!! its definitely a IHAD counterpoint .. but hey that did brilliantly.. Lets say its grown on me , and that last sentence sums up the whole album for me.. I think you need to listen to the whole album 5-10 times and its keeps on getting better and better.
I Can Be That Women , brought tears to my eyes, Dan.. is a grower, quite different, No Doubt About It, is perhaps the hardest for me to get into, surprising as I tend to go for up tempo.
However Bumblebee and boy did we have reservations on this track before release.. is a beautiful simple ( he says !! ) track growing on me more and more
Ode To Freedom, so un-Dancing Queen as you could get, but utterly brilliant, so melodic, and If it is their last song ( I doubt it ) its a fitting ending....
I cant comment on voices, Lyrics , music composition etc apart from knowing if it pushes my buttons and I'm happy to say they all do, with some pressing that button harder than others.
I'm so glad , that avoiding a huge disaster, Voyage will be Number one this Friday in the UK , as well as many other countries such a fantastic achievement .
A controversial statement, apart from my health unable to take much more ..lol, I hope that this is the end,( It has to end at somepoint ) I can see those two tracks being finished for a deluxe version coming in May ? A great way to finish their career...on Top......(There's bound to be many more compilations though).
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Post by Alan on Nov 9, 2021 15:24:56 GMT
Maybe that's the only way that Agnetha could be fairly comfortable with doing an interview in English, by knowing the questions (and answers) beforehand. It’s not specific to Agnetha. I’ve seen it with so many others. PR (or A & R, whatever you call it) is so controlled these days that it makes most interviews quite boring. Terry Wogan in the 1980s seems so amateurish compared to now, there was a sense of spontaneity about it. You got the impression interviews weren’t rehearsed and there was no script. Like when he asked Agnetha to sing a Swedish Christmas song (in 1988). She looks at him as if to say, “it’s February, why on earth are you asking for that?” |
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Post by gamleman on Nov 9, 2021 15:50:45 GMT
I am probably looking too far ahead with this, but if B&B don't want to put out another ABBA album, I wonder whether they would consider supporting an 'Agnetha & Frida' album, assuming the ladies are willing. I mean a kind of "Frida Ensam" for the two of them and in English, possibly produced by Benny. So, it might consist of cover versions (including some of B&B's own songs, like "Story Of A Heart") and a couple of new B&B compositions.
In fact, I think Benny has back-tracked on his "This is it" statement in The Guardian article, as he has since said in a BBC interview that he might be persuaded to do another ABBA album if someone twisted his arm, especially the two ladies. I can understand if they don't want to do another one, as I see "Voyage" as a fitting end. But an A&F album would be a way forward. The only trouble is A&F wouldn't want to promote it, at all if "Voyage" is anything to go by, and B&B couldn't really promote it for them.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 16:01:57 GMT
ForeverFan
No Doubt About it - not doing well on streaming/downloads. Looks like the least popular track - despite being the most uptempo track.
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Post by madonnabba on Nov 9, 2021 17:57:03 GMT
Abba have been banned before by BBC... with Summer night city because of the misheard lyric ...sounded like f****** in the moonlight.
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Post by sikejsudjek on Nov 9, 2021 19:27:49 GMT
Youtube is a hoot with the 'reaction' videos. One 'record producer' who didn't like it turned out to have one rather crap dance album with 170 views. Plenty of 'ABBA fans' who only have listened to Gold making reaction videos too. Good grief, I'll have to stick out a reaction video myself, at least I've had all the ABBA albums over the years and can play a lot of the parts!
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Post by matt on Nov 9, 2021 19:54:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2021 20:30:07 GMT
Can I answer? Both were awarded gold discs for 500,000 sales. So, yes their positions seems low if you add downloads and stream equivalent sales. One of Us - it looks like the final week of 1981 is excluded - about 90,000 sales. Money Money Money - sales for 1977 seem to be excluded. It's chart run split evenly between 1976 and 1977 but sales higher in December than January. pure sales. In the post on ABBA's top albums they say downloads of 69,000. No way were physical sales over 800,000. www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/abbas-studio-albums-ranked__26063/Gimme Gimme Gimme seems low. It should be over 800,000. About 400,000 pr more from 1979. It was awarded a digital gold disc for 400,000 sales too. So over 800,000. Waterloo seems a bit low too. |
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Post by johnb on Nov 9, 2021 20:44:43 GMT
Money Money Money - sales for 1977 seem to be excluded. It's chart run split evenly between 1076 and 1977 but sales higher in December than January. That would be shortly after the Norman invasion. ABBA go back further than I thought.  |
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Post by bennybjorn on Nov 9, 2021 21:01:38 GMT
I am probably looking too far ahead with this, but if B&B don't want to put out another ABBA album, I wonder whether they would consider supporting an 'Agnetha & Frida' album, assuming the ladies are willing. I mean a kind of "Frida Ensam" for the two of them and in English, possibly produced by Benny. So, it might consist of cover versions (including some of B&B's own songs, like "Story Of A Heart") and a couple of new B&B compositions. In fact, I think Benny has back-tracked on his "This is it" statement in The Guardian article, as he has since said in a BBC interview that he might be persuaded to do another ABBA album if someone twisted his arm, especially the two ladies. I can understand if they don't want to do another one, as I see "Voyage" as a fitting end. But an A&F album would be a way forward. The only trouble is A&F wouldn't want to promote it, at all if "Voyage" is anything to go by, and B&B couldn't really promote it for them. There are two main reasons why another Abba is unlikely, and they begin with an A and an A (well an A and an F!). Bjorn and Benny have never really stopped working and I'm sure they'd love to do more Abba stuff given the level of commercial (and even critical) success that Voyage is enjoying. The deal has been that they've kept Agnetha and Frida out of the limelight (no tour or promotional duties) and that this would be one last hoorah, hence Benny saying that this is the end. So, the two women doing an album together doesn't really make sense in any context. I'm hoping A&F have both really enjoyed singing the new Abba songs, and have realised they can do it for relatively little hassle and intrusion into their lives, and might well be up for doing more stuff if a similar set-up can continue. Time will tell. |
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Post by Alan on Nov 9, 2021 23:09:50 GMT
Finally got a despatch email from the official store tonight, for my main order. Anyone else?
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Post by hejiranyc on Nov 10, 2021 2:48:00 GMT
Okay... now that we've had the chance to marinate in "Voyage" for a bit, is it too soon to rank it compared to their other albums? I have to admit that my initial reaction to the "other 7" new tracks was kinda "meh." But after forcing myself to listen to it on repeat, it has crept into my soul. When I first heard "Ode to Freedom," I thought it was such a strange, depressing dirge. But after reading the lyrics and listening again carefully to the layered vocals and orchestration, I am just in awe that ABBA still had it in them to create such a beautiful, meaningful work of ART. The whole album is full of moments like this. Sure, there are a few nods to their initial run of albums here and there, but I love the fact that although it sounds like quintessential ABBA, they took musical risks and zigged when everyone expected them to zag. Benny and Bjorn never shied away from the corny and twee in the past and "Voyage" is no exception, but it is done with such heart, finesse and sincerity. Bjorn's idiosyncratic, non-native English verbosity is still intact and that makes him such a gift to the world - nobody else writes lyrics like his, and nobody can interpret them like the girls.
Anyway, I'll take the first stab at ranking Voyage among all of their albums (from best to worst):
1. The Visitors (deluxe edition)
2. Voulez Vous (deluxe edition)
3. Voyage
4. Super Trouper (deluxe edition)
5. The Album (deluxe edition)
6. Arrival
7. ABBA
8. Waterloo
9. Ring Ring
...which places "Voyage" in the top third of their body of work for me. That is a phenomenal achievement after 40 years of not working together. I don't think there is another artist or band who has managed to get better and better with age like ABBA.
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Post by angela on Nov 10, 2021 5:36:12 GMT
I bought ABBA's Voyage today what a great album I've now got "Ode to freedom" going around my head they are all beautiful songs.
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