Waterloo 50th / BBC Documentary / Other Anniversary Events

Assuming reports about the two unfinished Voyage songs are finished and set for release (and I have no reason to doubt this) where should they be homed?

A deluxe edition of Voyage?

An Anthology

A re-vamped More Gold (along with first 2 Voyage singles and maybe Slipping Through My Fingers). Goodbye to The Way Old Friends Do, I Wonder, Loverlight, Cassandra and one other (or whatever your choices are!)

An Alternative Definitive Collection. 2 CD set of alternate recordings of the songs eg Voyage versions, live versions, remix etc as well as a few original.


Or whatever album you think. 

Good summary foreverfan. A revamped More Gold seems the best option to me. It would have to include ISHFIY and DSMD too.

HOMETIME ,you're right about chart eligibilty of any More Gold revamp. You are allowed up to 20% different tracks, so just 4 tracks. But with More Gold perhaps maintaining sales isn't so important as it would be for Gold.

In my opening post I did mention an alternative Definitive Collection including Voyage versions Yep, your suggestions of the Voyage set list and others seems the way to go if you opt for double CD type compilation. Alternate versions would have the two distinct advantages . 1. Getting interest in a new compilation and 2.As you suggest Hometime  not affecting Gold's longevity- because they aren't the original versions. This would also be a good option.

As for anthologies, apart from B+B probably not wanting this there's the issue of it would have very limited appeal. It worked for The Beatles as their fan base (in UK) may not be as wide but it's deeper - as shown by their Anthologies success and studio albums still selling.

If More Gold is allowed only 4 track changes, then it would work with addtion of ISHFIY and DSMD plus those 2 new tracks....
What to omit would be the next question...

Do you think anyone in Universal taps into our conversations ?

Hometime, I picked 3 of your recommendations for ejection from More Gold. Would happily opt for I am the City too.Pretty sure a lot of common agreement on this The running order is a bit of a 'mare.

Foreverfan - Agree with your four choices for inclusion. They really are the obvious ones.

I think a deluxe edition of Voyage and Anthology are the non-runners here.

Oh no! You've inadvertently rained on my parade, Tony, pointing to the uncomfortable reality that the album has likely had its day!         

I was about to make the case that a final 50th Anniversary album is the best place for these new songs rather than what I think would be their messy and unsatisfactory placement on pre-existing albums and compilations. But Bjorn has ruled it out, pretty emphatically, such an album, so I accept it won't happen.

Nevermind, I'm so looking forward to hearing these songs if and wherever they turn up.

Regarding "My Story Ends With You, I like your idea, Johnny, of it being a positive ballad - kind of an antidote to TDBYC. But I also think such a title would work with a wonderfully tuneful uptempo song. Maybe both of these unreleased songs could be uptempo.

I guess another feasible option would be a deluxe version of 1982's 'ABBA - The Singles', which to my knowledge, has not been reissued in remastered form and/or appended with bonus tracks.

Of course, the sub-title 'The First Ten Years' would need to be revised, shifting attention to the Eurovision 50th anniversary in order to expand the track-listing, but I've always wanted this collection to be revamped, particularly if a vinyl version could be forthcoming, taking its cues from the original deluxe box version.

In addition to "I Still Have Faith In You", "Don't Shut Me Down" and the two new tracks/singles, other originally omitted singles would need to be considered for inclusion, particularly latter-day singles such as "Eagle", "On And On And On", "Lay All Your Love On Me" and "When All Is Said And Done". Could be an impressive package.

Why not add DSMD, ISHFIY and the two new songs to ABBA Gold?

I would like IATC replaced with JLT on a More Gold reissue and Voyage getting a deluxe edition with the 2 new tracks and some other goodies.

Not so sure about The Singles. As they couldn’t fit all of them onto a vinyl album, they picked the 23 that had been released in most countries (hence why So Long is on it but not Honey Honey or Eagle). The omissions were all singles that hadn’t been released everywhere. Definitive/Essential filled in the blanks and was therefore an expanded The Singles in all but name.

I don’t think a new compilation is a great idea. Gold / More Gold swiftly saw off any competition, such as Number Ones (a pointless compilation if ever there was one) and The Definitive/Essential Collection. It’s therefore likely that any new compilation would be short-lived, even if it did include new tracks. Gold would quickly wipe the floor with it and send it packing with its tail between its legs.

Would a compilation sell more or less than a deluxe version of Voyage? I think that will be a key consideration when it comes to mapping out releases for 2024. 

A compilation (as we've been imagining it) already has two hooks: it contains new material; it's (largely) reflective of the show. Voyage has both those hooks in that ISHFIY and DSMD are in the show, and it contains new music. They'd likely sell at the same price. They're not going to not release something to mark 50 years - a third hook for a compilation - so my money is on a compilation. And my money is also on that compilation being directed at people like us who bought multiple editions of Voyage. The more casual fan whose copy of Gold has become dogeared or stuck in the CD player of the old car might shell out for one. People who've travelled for the show might buy one as a souvenir - especially if the artwork is ABBAtar based.

I don't honestly think there'll be too much stress expended on the tracklist. Madonna, Pet Shop Boys and virtually every other heritage act is releasing lavishly packaged multi-vinyl compilations these days, with compacted 1- or 2-disc editions included for the casual fan. At this point, I think that even we want Gold to continue to be an immortal being. I think it's better to view a new release - compilation or not - in the way ordinary people look at studio albums. Does it sound great? Does it look great? Are the collectors' editions lavish enough to make us consider flogging a kidney on the dark web? Will it hit No.1? With the 50th anniversary as part of the sales pitch, I can't see why it wouldn't. Ultimately, it adds to the list of No.1 albums. And it's better placed to receive glowing reviews than any previous compilation (assuming the curators don't make a donkey's dick of it).

From Universal's point of view, the main consideration will be whether they recoup the costs - design, mastering, pressing, marketing and distribution. I can't imagine it'd be a loss-maker.

Ultimately, I'd love for something truly unique and exciting to emerge. My imagination is limited to what we've all discussed so far, but maybe there's some innovation that we haven't considered. I think the biggest release will be something for the general public, but I also think there'll be more niche, fan-focused stuff too.

It’s a very odd comparison that you’re making, gassi. ABBA Gold is a catch-all for the masses. A six-disc anthology is a niche release for fans only.

1 and 2 have been done many times, notably in the 1994 Thank You For The Music 4-CD set. We seriously don’t need to go there again.

3 and 4 are much more interesting. I’m kind of hoping we may see something like this next year, but I wouldn’t put money on it.

I'm not greedy, I'll just take all 7 suggestions 😄, although old songs revamped could be replaced with alternative takes of old tracks - I don't want modern remixes of old songs.