Waterloo 50th / BBC Documentary / Other Anniversary Events

I don’t see 7) happening. Gold has got that market sewn-up forever and streaming has reduced the need for compilations. Definitive/Essential and Number Ones were all quickly shown the door by Gold.

2) I wouldn’t want to see. Fine if there are existing alternative versions recorded at the time, but I don’t want to see any modern remixes.

3) Possible, but would probably be the usual celebrity talking heads. No thanks.

4) and 5) possible, but not necessarily with all of ABBA there, so a no from me.

1) Yes, yes, yes! Or at least the two previously incomplete tracks finished and released in some form.

Edit: That Independent article appears to confirm the TV documentary.

I like the title, “My Story Ends With You”. Fitting for a final ABBA song.

That Independent article makes it look like the documentary is more than a rumour? To me, it seems like a platform for everything else: it promotes/celebrates the group, their output, the Voyage show, any new material or other releases. Any event at the ABBA Arena on 6 April would probably be a launchpad for everything, given the date. Depending on what's released - a new album (very unlikely, IMO) or a compilation (more likely, IMO), but I think it'd have to function as a companion to Gold, not a successor or replacement.

The two Voyage album offcuts + a couple of the Voyage show "live" tracks + some old hits +/- some alternat(iv)e versions = a release that is a compilation and a kindasorta new album in one. It offers lots that Gold doesn't. It has enough new material to generate interest in a standalone release, and possibly appeal to more than us anoraks. It could/should dovetail with the TV documentary. A deluxe edition of this release could include a DVD/BluRay of the documentary.

I know that we deal a lot in wishful thinking here, but I'm hopeful that many of the wishes we've expressed here have enough logic to them that they could become a reality. Or did I just put too much sherry in the trifle?

Just came across an article on ABBA referring to their ever growing popularity and The Voyage Concert. The editor was somewhat sarcastic and scathing. The title of the article " If you hate ABBA than 2024 is not the year for you ". I am rather saddened by this article. It seems to me there are still those who perceive ABBA as nothing more than a pop act. They cannot accept the fact that a band outside of the UK and America are geniuses in writing, composing and recording timeless and unforgettable songs rivalling The Beatles and Queen. I have read some comments made on various other discussion forums particularly Digital Spy. One in particular " No way can you compare ABBA to The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. They are a singles band " What a load of rubbish ! Without ABBA pop music would never have been the same. They have left an everlasting legacy of music and an outstanding contribution to pop. Obviously a minority don't see it this way and prefer to pour scorn on our beloved Swedish band because they hail from Europe. This irks them. The realisation deep down ABBA were and still are an iconic band and equally superior. On You Tube i also, stumbled across a blog " ABBA my 30 year hatred of the band " OK so ABBA aren't your " cup of tea " but there is no need to take swipes at them and of an unfounded opinion pop music could have survived without them. I don't think so. ABBA have heavily influenced so many pop successors as have The Beatles. What a moron ! He clearly relishes in hurling insults at ABBA. I guess there will always be a few ABBA haters emerging from " the rotten woodwork ".

On the subject of The Voyage Concert there are those who consider it a vast money making business as per views expressed within the above mentioned article and think the concept of creating digital holograms is absurd and bizarre. I don't agree. It is one of the best concerts I have experienced. We need escapism from an increasingly disturbed and violent world. Unfortunately not everyone is willing to share my views. More fool them. ABBA fans or not.

Alan you're absolutely right. I took the title to be tongue in cheek and he clearly is a fan and knowledgeable. I showed it to a fellow fan (not on here) and he literally said it looks like sections of ABBA chat have been lifted for the article! Perhaps our influence is bigger than we think!

So far everyone seems to think there will be the release of the 2 unfinished Voyage tracks. So the next question is will they be on an extended Voyage release or new compilation. I can't see them being standalone singles.

Back in 1982, TDBYC and UA were put on a compilation. ISHFIY and DSMD were on a new studio album. It seems to be either a new compilation or Voyage with bonus tracks.

We can rule out, and so far all but ine person has,a new studio album.

A TV docunentary and special event at the ABBA Arena have effectively been confirmed. The latter by no tickets on sale for the public.

I am sure *something* will happen at ESC - but maybe more about ABBA than having ABBA themselves.

And the teasing has started....

Just posted on the official ABBA Instagram account:

http://instagram.com/p/C1joo_csIII

Yes, I like that it puts the focus on the song.

I sort of get what Ed was saying earlier in this thread. I also see regular indications that ABBA is still seen by many as a bit of insubstantial fluff. A "guilty pleasure" (I hate that classification by the way).

In the Netherlands we have a big yearly radio event called the Top 2000. It has been on since 1999. Between Christmas and twelve o'clock New Year's Eve the 2000 songs most voted for by listeners are played non-stop day and night. This event gets a lot of coverage on TV as well. On one TV programme they announced which acts had the highest number of entries in the list. When ABBA was announced at number 3 (with no less than 25 songs) there was even some booing by some of the studio audience. None of the other acts in the top 5 received such a reaction (The Rolling Stones at number 5, Coldplay at number 4, The Beatles at number 2 and Queen at number 1).

There has also been a Top 2000 themed quiz on TV where 3 teams of 2 Dutch celebreties answer questions. In this quiz there's also a segment where all participants are asked what their number one song is. One of the participants' favourite was "Dancing Queen" and just before this was revealed by starting a clip of ABBA singing the song, he said "Don't laugh". Well, that's exactly what they all did and his teammate even asked him "Are you serious".

I've thought about why this is and I think it's probably because ABBA is simply regarded as too perfect by many. All their recordings are impeccably produced, arranged and executed. There's nothing rough around the edges. No sex, drugs and Rock & Roll. No roaring improvised guitars or ad-libbed vocal lines. No matter the magnitude of ABBA's success and legacy, I guess they will never be accepted by so-called "serious music connoisseurs".

I do think abba will feature at Eurovision, but I think it will be prerecorded, and shown as if it’s real time. I don’t think Agnetha would put herself under that pressure to perform live.

I also, think a new compilation album with the two leading singles from " Voyage " is on the cards. A deluxe edition of " Voyage " would be great but I don't see it happening. Brilliant work devised by Johnny.

Whatever we may think about yet another compilation, I think it's inevitable. I believe the two outtakes from Voyage are going to be released and as I don't think that a deluxe edition of Voyage is likely, where else should they go? I just hope that they won't use the excuse of the 30th anniversary of the Thank You For The Music box set to just update that one. It's already been reissued and it would be the most boring solution. I really hope for some kind of anthology.

Referring to the previous poll, I do love the idea of an anthology. This, in my mind, would not feature any widely available track. It wouldn’t need to. Instead, the two Voyage outtakes along with other early versions or demos of old tracks (so, yes, Just Like That and full versions of what’s in ABBA Undeleted etc).

If we’re not going to get a new album, then an anthology would be the next best thing. As I say, nothing previously released should be on it unless it was quite rare (such as the alternative mix of Andante Andante that turned up ten years ago, but only in a vinyl single boxed set and download code).

We’ve become conditioned to expect little, hence those saying a new compilation of old tracks with new ones added. Even a deluxe of Voyage fits in with this as it’s asking people to buy an album again just for a few new tracks added to it. The music industry has been selling us what we already own for years (and continue to do so) but I would hope that for this anniversary, and because it follows up a new album just three years ago, that we might get something a bit special and not more of the (very boring) same.

I actually think this is the likeliest place for the two unreleased songs to show up—at least initially. B&B have always said the reason they started working on new material in the first place was to have new songs to premiere in the Voyage concert—as things turned out, the Voyage songs were already ‘old’ by the time the show opened. The easiest thing would be to include the new songs—either against the existing animations, or with new animations to replace the existing ones. If the new songs were only available to hear at the concert this would be great promotion for a relaunch of the show—and might even drive fans who have seen the show already back for another look, or even abrosd to another location

Yes, I’d have to agree with BAAB that the new songs shouldn’t be in the show, and certainly not in the show and no where else. Bearing in mind that I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down get a lukewarm reception from audiences (as they’re much less familiar) putting brand new songs in this would not be the right move.

We should remember that more work went into Faith and Shut than any other track on the album. They had to be good to match the quality of the older songs. And it’s the reason most us (rightfully) rank them above any of the other eight tracks. The two unreleased tracks were previously unfinished - though described as “quite good” by Benny, I’d have to question why the likes of Just A Notion were resurrected over them. Quite good is what I’m hoping for but that wouldn’t mean good enough to be in the show.

(Sorry, twelvty66, I know they were your first posts and I’m not trying to put you off posting. It’s a discussion worth having so thank you for contributing).