Singlar och andra sidor - New Vinyl Release 2024

It certainly is the case that the Warner Music stuff has been neglected. The Polar/Universal albums have at least had expanded CD reissues (in 2005) and later coloured vinyl releases.

Sony must be running out of Agnetha albums to issue, having done all her studio albums plus several historic compilations over the years. However, I think there are only about two tracks on this singles/b-sides compilation that can’t be found on either Tio År Med or Sjung Denna Sång, both of which have been reissued on vinyl in recent years.

The two exclusives are "Borsta tandtrollen bort" and "Tio mil kvar till Korpilombolo", though the latter was released on CD on “My Very Best” in 2008. The only other “exclusive” is the radio interview (this is not included in the vinyl version).

Two further tracks - Ljuva Sextital and Nu Ska Vi Opp, Opp, Opp - remain unavailable, though the latter is probably Agnetha’s most famous Swedish solo song as it has the film clip, so is often wheeled out whenever an ABBA documentary wants something to represent Agnetha’s pre-ABBA career.

Tracklisting:

”När du tar mej i din famn" (A. Fältskog/Ingela "Pling" Forsman) – 4:07
"Tio mil kvar till Korpilombolo" (A. Fältskog/B.Ulvaeus/P.Himmelstrand) – 3:00
"Vart ska min kärlek föra" (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice/Britt G Hallqvist) – 3:20
"En sång om sorg och glädje" (Mario Capuano/Giosy Capuano/Mike Shepstone/S. Anderson) – 3:45
"Någonting händer med mej" (Alan Moorehouse/Bo-Göran Edling) (with Jörgen Edman) – 2:35
"Litet solskenbarn" (Peter Howlett Smith/Karl Gerhard Lundkvist) (B-side of "Om tårar vore guld") – 3:10
"Så glad som dina ögon" (A. Fältskog/Kenneth Gärdestad) (B-side of "Tio mil kvar till Korpilombolo") – 3:00
"Nu ska du bli stilla" (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice/Britt G Hallqvist) – 3:48
"Sjung denna sång" (Sonny Bono/Charles Greene/Brian Stone/A. Fältskog) (with Jörgen Edman) – 2:40
"Vi har hunnit fram till refängen" (Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield/S. Anderson) – 4:06
"Here For Your Love" (A. Fältskog/Bosse Carlgren) – 2:54
"Golliwog" (A. Fältskog/Bosse Carlgren) – 2:55
"The Queen Of Hearts" (A. Fältskog/Ingela "Pling" Forsman) – 3:20
"Det var så här det började" (Intervjuer och radioinslag) – 4:58 (not on this vinyl release)
"Borsta tandtrollen bort" – 1:52

"Nu ska du bli stilla" and "Vart ska min kärlek föra" are reworked studio versions of the Jesus Christ Superstar stage versions.

A handsome release!

I understand the urge to treat ABBA, Agnetha, Frida, Benny (incl. BAO), and Benny/Bjorn as distinctly separate entities. But I wish Universal, Polar, Mono, and ABBA themselves would realise that the fans who snap up reissues, coloured vinyl and picture discs would love some properly curated solo reissues too. The SGO box and the commissioned remixes were fantastic, so I don't understand why the idea had to stop there. Whether it's 40-year anniversaries or landmark birthdays, there's definitely a market for the more glamorous reissues. And, yes, the solo releases all sold less than the ABBA albums but that's beside the point. Many heritage releases on specialist vinyl or multi-disc CD sets are being released by acts with significantly smaller fanbases. It seems that slapping the label "limited edition" on anything makes it instantly more desirable and permissibly expensive. Certainly many of us here have fallen for that particular marketing ruse. I know that there are different labels involved, and no two seem to have the same level of interest or commitment, but I don't think there'd be any difficulty selling 3,000 units of a box set for any of the solo projects internationally. Maybe the strategy is for the artists' agents to pitch the re-releases and special editions to the labels?

In the meantime, Universal could still do matching boxes for Shine and Agnetha's WYAAM and EOAW albums. Chess needs a vinyl reissue too. Maybe fans should engage in some pester power with Warners for Agnetha's other albums?

I hadn't heard that particular myth. But someone I know in the industry - whose job was re-issue projects - told me (about 3 years ago) that he was hopeful he'd be able to start work on expanding and reissuing ISA. He didn't mention any issues with missing tapes but indicated that there were myriad legal and technical issues to navigate. Surprisingly, it seems these projects take an average of about five years? He has since moved to another record company, so gawd knows what the status of that project is now. Infuriating.

Would that be this one? Seems to originate from Argentina. It’s quite a good tracklisting, I’d buy an official version of this if all the tracks were sourced from master tapes and not vinyl rips. I like how they have what looks a bit like a WEA logo and quote the old company name. If this was official it would carry the “Warner Music Sweden AB” name.

Sidenote… she’s wearing a wig on the front cover isn’t she? Way too much hair, and bears little resemblance to how it looks on the back cover.

That’s a good recommendation, HOMETIME, I’m almost tempted, but I don’t fancy ordering from Argentina (seems to be the only one I can find for sale).

Back to Singlar och andra sidor… it’s a pity there’s no CD version of this being released. I’d be interested if there was. Countless times I nearly bought De Första Åren. I got the cheapo 5-CD box when that came out, I’d already got Tio År Med, and then Sjung Denna Sång filled in most of the blanks. I even got My Very Best for that one track, and then reconstructed Singlar och andra sidor on my phone from them. I’d still get a separate CD release though.

It does seem like the music industry is moving away from releasing these kind of things on both vinyl and CD (even if the CD was just an afterthought).

It’s a bit like the “Frida” album. It’s had a vinyl re-release but no CD. I know all the tracks were on that yellow 1967-72 CD but that’s long out of print. We seem to be heading for a time when if you want something physically, it’s vinyl or nothing.

Photos of the vinyl from an eBay listing… a pet hate of mine is that ringwear already appears to be forming (unless it’s just the lighting). The cellophane/shrink wrap is so tight, and the vinyl so thick, that it’s often unavoidable.

According to Discogs, limited to 1,500 copies.

I don’t have “Frida”, but it does have beautiful artwork. The “ABBA For The Record” book in 1980 was when I discovered that all of ABBA existed as artists before ABBA itself. The Frida, Agnetha, Hep Stars and Hootenanny Singers photos/record covers shown in that book seemed like these almost mythical releases I’d never hear. And being as I was only nine years old in 1980, if meant that all members of ABBA may as well have been around for at least a hundred years in an adult timeline!

That clip is hilarious, baab. I genuinely laughed out loud!

HOMETIME, the inner sleeve is plain paper white - a slight disappointment. The vinyl is beautiful though. I have a soft spot for clear vinyls, which was one of the reasons for buying it.

It follows up Agnetha’s A+ (double vinyl edition) and Under Attack in The Visitors singles box, both of which were on clear vinyl (I can hear my dad saying “colourless” not “clear” as any colour can also be “clear”!).

Yes, the Discogs images aren’t helpful, it’s on a black turntable isn’t it?

It was described as “crystal clear” and yes, very easily readable through the run-off groove. “Crystal clear” was an accurate description.

That looks great.

Well, the release was an official Polar Music AB release.
In that respect there was another interesting Release : The "Äntligen Sommarlov" CD release, with a Benny Andersson Solo Instrumental piece " Den Blomstertid Nu Kommer"
And - also interesting - ABBA's Summer Night City in a 1979 live Version from the Wembley Concert.

www.discogs.com/release/1945842-Various-%C3%84ntligen-Sommarlov