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Post by Alan on Apr 27, 2024 16:42:41 GMT
I finally ordered the coloured vinyl singles box yesterday and it arrived today.
It’s quite underwhelming. The red, white and blue have been done before and the two company sleeves are a bit boring.
This is the tail-end of an ongoing series begun in 2016. It was always set to be the most boring of the issues so far, but the fact that it’s the only set of releases in this anniversary year makes it worse. The picture discs are slightly more interesting but you have to wonder why they seem so disinterested in doing much.
(My box is number 1,785. If that means the previous 1,784 have been sold, that still leaves 1,015 left. The issue is limited to 2,800… a pity they didn’t make it 1,815 as that was the year the battle of Waterloo was fought. And would have made it as limited as it perhaps deserved…)
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Post by Alan on Apr 26, 2024 20:10:52 GMT
ABBA - Against The Odds trailer:
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Post by Alan on Apr 26, 2024 18:41:31 GMT
This photo came up on a social today. Not sure if Frida really is asleep or pretending* (otherwise why is Benny laughing?) but it amused me. *My money would be on the latter.
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Post by Alan on Apr 26, 2024 13:18:13 GMT
All the flops with the exception of The Day Before You Came which is Top 5. And this is where I would have liked it to be just one vote allowed per song. I’ve got nothing against that song at all, but I can’t help but feel it’s the hardcore fans giving five votes to it that’s caused it to be so high. As HOMETIME says, it’s a bit cringey. Then again, I Have A Dream seems to do quite well in these things and I can’t imagine there are any hardcore fans giving that five votes. Or Thank You For The Music for that matter.
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Post by Alan on Apr 26, 2024 7:15:59 GMT
The Radio 2 ABBA list, voted for by listeners: 1. Dancing Queen 2. The Winner Takes It All 3. Thank You For The Music 4. Slipping Through My Fingers 5. The Day Before You Came 6. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) 7. Waterloo 8. Knowing Me, Knowing You 9. Super Trouper 10. Eagle 11. Mamma Mia 12. Fernando 13. Chiquitita 14. Voulez-Vous 15. SOS 16. The Name Of the Game 17. Take A Chance On Me 18. Does Your Mother Know 19. Lay All Your Love On Me 20. I Have A Dream 21. One Of Us 22. Angeleyes 23. Andante, Andante 24. Summer Night City 25. Money, Money, Money 26. My Love, My Life 27. Our Last Summer 28. Honey, Honey 29. The Visitors 30. Don’t Shut Me Down I wonder how different this list would have been had it NOT been possible to vote for the same song five times? www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/your-ultimate-abba-song-results-announced
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Post by Alan on Apr 25, 2024 7:39:46 GMT
A reminder of what Björn said last year, in full:
—— And this just in! A new interview with Bjorn in the Netherlands...
Ulvaeus has sporadic contact with the other three ABBA members, now a little less than two years ago when the new album Voyage was released. As fun and lucrative as that was, it really was the final piece. That was definitely our last album. Not our last activity, because now we have to start thinking about next year, when it will be fifty years ago that we won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo.”
Thanks to compatriot Loreen and her hit Tattoo, that party is at least celebrated in our own country. ,,Amazing, right? Our anniversary and the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden coincide beautifully. Yes, that's a coincidence. I know there are people who think it's intentional, but it's not planned. I'm glad Loreen won, although unfortunately I missed it myself. I was writing that night. Although I had seen her perform in our national preliminary round, so I am familiar with her act and her song.”
Oh this is perfect! This is all I need, do you think we can rent this? Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) about Royal Theater Carré
It is inevitable that ABBA will have a role in the Eurovision song contest next year. ,,Hopefully in Stockholm, our home city”, Ulvaeus gives a cross. ,,ABBA and the Eurovision Song Contest belong together and next year even more so. How are we going to do it? We have no idea yet. We're just now thinking about that. Our record company recently started talking about it. We have to do something with it, it will not be a re-release, we find that very boring. We need to be more resourceful.”
They don't want to perform anymore, not even on this occasion. Or it must be the ABBAtars, that is of course possible. “We will also think about that. I am especially happy that we can celebrate this next year, it feels unreal that it has already been fifty years.”
——
(The interview - or at least this part of it - can no longer be found online).
It can be argued that the Waterloo reissues don’t count in what Björn said, as these are merely part of an ongoing series and would have happened anyway.
I’d still say that the record company working on this year’s releases from the start of last year may be nothing unusual or significant, and that perhaps they’re always working a year in advance on anything. There was, at one point, a backlog on vinyl due to not enough pressing plants. If that is still the case then these things have to ge ordered early (and with three lots of ABBA vinyl reissues released in the space of 12 months, that’s not too surprising).
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Post by Alan on Apr 24, 2024 16:00:57 GMT
Apparently, the ABBA: Against The Odds documentary is scheduled to be shown in the UK on BBC One at 10.40pm on Wednesday 8 May.
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Post by Alan on Apr 24, 2024 15:56:28 GMT
Ludwig (interviewed with Svana about the voyage project) is pretty adamant that there are no new surprises to come from the band. I wonder if a “surprise” includes a setlist change for the show? Everyone seems be speculating that they will make some changes at some point but I don’t *think* there’s been any indication that it will happen? I hope they don’t regret this in years to come… letting a 50th anniversary pass without much fanfare. I don’t think many of us are even placing much hope on Eurovision. On the other hand, Voyage was released in 2021, which wasn’t an anniversary year (other than 40 years since their last studio album, but that was more of a coincidence). It therefore doesn’t have to be this year. Realistically though, if they can’t be bothered with this milestone, I think that really could be it.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 21:24:02 GMT
I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Not getting my hopes up for anything interesting as it’s been a disappointing anniversary year so far. Yep, there’s still plenty of time, and major 1994 and 2014 releases didn’t happen until later in the year, but I’m not optimistic.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 19:26:58 GMT
Sorry, I must have missed/forgotten that bit. Thanks for clarifying.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 17:29:59 GMT
I don’t think he actually said “more work from me” did he? I thought he just said they were “quite good but needed more work”. I think in a previous discussion on here we may have speculated that he meant just him but that wasn’t actually said.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 14:04:53 GMT
Some photos of the actual disc have appeared on Discogs:
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 10:39:44 GMT
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.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2024 9:50:24 GMT
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”!).
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 22:18:44 GMT
That clip is hilarious, baab. I genuinely laughed out loud!
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 18:54:04 GMT
I got the RSD release of "Frida" (the sound is incredible - as good as any of the half-speed masters) but I'm not sure how readily available it is now. 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!
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 17:25:59 GMT
Correction: The Missing 40 Years was first shown on 21 May 2022, so dates from the opening of the Voyage show.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 17:21:00 GMT
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.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 16:34:55 GMT
Two ABBA programmes on Channel 5 tonight 22.30 - ABBA: How they won Erovision 23.30 - ABBA - The missing 40 years I think they were both on last Saturday as well? I caught the Eurovision one. I thought it was quite good for Channel 5, but then I found out most of the interviews had been recycled from a 2019 programme. I think the missing 40 years one dates from 2021.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 11:14:46 GMT
The ABBAtars can't perform at Eurovision, that is technically not possible. Marnix, that’s not you is it? I seem to remember your guest username from a previous forum.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 11:08:58 GMT
That would be most boring! What would be the point of a video of the ABBAtars which they have always said cannot be viewed in video format? But if you’re watching it on TV, as most people will be, it will be in that format anyway? Or am I missing something? Plus, it can be viewed on TV. All the existing footage of it used for advertising/publicity purposes, along with the video for I Still Have Faith In You.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 9:43:49 GMT
Was anyone actually suggesting they bring the technology over? Surely they’d just send a film, as they did for the 30th (The Last Video). As most people would be viewing it on TV, it wouldn’t make any difference anyway.
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2024 9:41:16 GMT
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.
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Post by Alan on Apr 18, 2024 21:53:09 GMT
I Stand Alone... Same Deluxe Treat with all Remixes, Spanish Versions, etc. I'm happy with the bootleg Version... 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.
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Post by Alan on Apr 18, 2024 21:35:12 GMT
What other songs were done in capture motion? I seem to recall some titles being mentioned, but can’t remember what they were. The dismissal of Money Money Money was done without much explanation by Benny, other that it wouldn’t work (no reason given as to why not). Also it was left ambiguous as to whether the 24 songs included the ones already in the show that don’t have ABBATar performances (as we know, only 16 of the current 20 do).
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Post by Alan on Apr 18, 2024 19:19:02 GMT
I don’t think anything has changed, has it? All along they’ve only made batches of dates available at a time? If the 2026 end date is still on, I’d still put money on that being extended. It’s still quite telling that, after all the speculation, there still hasn’t been any confirmation of a second location or even a setlist change. I suspect the real hope is that they can secure a decent extension beyond 2026. Someone (I think johnny ?) mentioned Money, Money, Money being added? Benny once dismissed that, saying it wouldn’t work. It wasn’t one of the (alleged*) 24 songs they did the motion capture stuff for. [* I say, “alleged” because, as we know, some of what Björn and/or Benny say can be taken with a significant amount of salt.]
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Post by Alan on Apr 18, 2024 9:32:29 GMT
Yes, I agree completely, HOMETIME. The idea that there isn’t a market for these is nonsense. I follow SuperDeluxeEdition and there are so many of what I would consider “obscure” acts getting such releases. I’m probably being unfair as they won’t be obscure to their fans, but I’d be very surprised if they had anything like the fanbase that ABBA have, or even their solo projects. Warners seem to be happy to collaborate with Universal or Sony on compilations (That’s Me, My Very Best) but don’t seem to be interested in reissuing their two albums. Did I read somewhere that they’d misplaced the I Stand Alone master tapes or is that a myth? Or perhaps it only relates to the different mixes and Spanish versions.
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Post by Alan on Apr 17, 2024 11:36:23 GMT
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.
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Post by Alan on Apr 13, 2024 16:35:21 GMT
jj - Ha! No not really. He doesn’t take much interest in it but sometimes remarks that they look nice. I don’t tell him how much I pay for some things - the recent I Have A Dream Dutch pressing for instance - but he knows it’s not excessive. Anyway, I’m planning to stop next year once the ABBA album picture discs/coloured vinyl box are in my hands Unless an original Epic Ring Ring single turns up at a reasonable price of course.
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Post by Alan on Apr 13, 2024 13:16:38 GMT
The ABBA Waterloo 50th celebrations continued last night with a showing of the episode of Top of the Pops from 1974 featuring ABBA’s first appearance.
Although BBC Four is showing the ongoing repeats of the show (currently at late 1995) as well as two random episodes each week from the late 1970s onwards, this episode was significant as I don’t think it’s been shown since its original broadcast? In April 2011, they began re-showing episodes from April 1976 onwards (from that point they had almost a complete archive of them, even though, for various reasons, they couldn’t re-show some).
This was the episode shown on the Thursday after Eurovision, so Waterloo hasn’t yet charted and ABBA are on it merely because they were the contest winners. They’re getting full use out of those Waterloo costumes (I wonder how many of each they had? It’s unrealistic that they only had the one).
The Wombles were also on, so presumably ABBA met them for the second time in a week. Apparently Mike Batt gave Agnetha a Wombles badge to wear amongst the others on her Waterloo costume.
Also on were Mud, Slade, Mungo Jerry, Bill Haley & His Comets (a re-release) and Terry Jacks.
Noel Edmonds presented, so he was there almost from the start of ABBA’s UK career, just as he was at the end.
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