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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 18, 2021 18:05:07 GMT
I checked out those Random Hero 81 videos, Alan, and found them really interesting. They highlight something that's baffled me from the first time I heard the new material: some of the mixing is a bit muddy - especially when it comes to vocals. I bet Micke Tretow would never have let those masters leave the studio. In his day, those backing vocals would have been crisp and audible no matter where they stood in the mix. If they were more prominent in KAEOD, it might have made the song feel more like a dialogue than a report. These BVs are virtually wasted in the official mix. I was expecting that the stripped back mix of ISHFIY might leave Frida quite exposed but, if anything, she sounds even stronger. Pulling back some of the production bombast made the song a little more melodic and it actually feels shorter (to me). Listening to KAEOD in this setting made me want the exposed instruments to be the main feature of the track. That gurgling synth line juxtaposes beautifully with the strings and the guitars seem to sit a little more comfortably with everything. I must keep an eye on that channel in case he unpicks any more of the songs.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 18, 2021 14:45:02 GMT
Hometime - you made a good case for a deluxe edition if it contained visual element. Personally I feel a documentary, videos, etc would be good for the more serious ABBA fan. I remain against new songs as I feel that would be a "rip off". Why do this just months after release. Any deluxe can't have new songs but enhance what we have already. Each to their own, I suppose. But I'd like a deluxe edition that includes hefty DVD content AND new songs. Otherwise, why not make the DVD a standalone release (something to which I wouldn't be opposed). My star rankings: I Still Have Faith In You ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When You Danced With Me ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Little Things ⭐⭐ Don't Shut Me Down ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just A Notion ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I Can Be That Woman ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Keep an Eye on Dan ⭐⭐ Bumblebee ⭐⭐⭐⭐ No Doubt About It ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ode To Freedom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ That gives an overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐ average. I wonder if it'd be worth applying the star system to the other albums?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 17, 2021 19:00:22 GMT
Going back to the possibility of a Deluxe edition of "Voyage", if they do it then I hope they will do better than just adding two or three extra tracks. In the past, some artists (including ABBA) have included visual content on a DVD - a concert, music videos, a documentary, even a video of new versions of the album's songs being performed at Abbey Road Studios (e.g. James Blunt, Take That). But somehow I don't think we would get any of that. Not only is the DVD format now fading away, but there is very little visual material associated with this album. Anyway, if there is a Deluxe edition, I for one shall be exercising much more self-control (I hope). I definitely agree that a deluxe Voyage would need more than two songs - otherwise it will look bad. I think the visual material is being withheld right now. There is no way that film crews will have followed their every move - including in the studio (Benny said they were even filmed eating lunch). I'm willing to bet that there is a documentary ready to go. Probably something that'll be issued in the spring, ahead of the shows, to boost ticket sales. It might even be something that will pop up on the Christmas TV schedules. If there isn't, I will eat my hat with a side salad. It really should be two documentaries. The album deserves its own standalone chapter, given its impact and given its importance in the story of ABBA. Either way, a documentary that pushes the show is surely a given? When you consider how much of this kind of work was devoted to Mamma Mia!, I'd be shocked if they didn't put at least equal effort behind this new venture. And that's in addition to what we already have: the videos for ISHFIY and the promised video for LT; the live stream from 2 Sept (it should be edited, ideally). Then there are the interviews that B&B did on TV and for Apple music. They could even bung on the lyric videos and ads for the album and the show. They have absolutely no excuse not to deliver a quality deluxe.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 17, 2021 16:35:28 GMT
With regard to the hypothetical chat about a deluxe edition, I wonder if there's a chance that a couple of carefully chosen 'live' tracks from the shows might be added as a form of advertising? Ideally in addition to a couple of new songs, naturally.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 17, 2021 9:37:21 GMT
Update: it seems it's a UK-only release. The official shop won't deliver to other countries. Noticing a number of disgruntled people on ABBA's social media. It's not UK-only release. Only UK Amazon seems to have it (so far) but it's available at the official store again (the German version for me). You're probably right that this release was kind of given. Pity they stick to the one-track-only format. But I will buy it anyway to have a complete set. The artwork is nice. I wonder if the photo from the booklet of Voyage could be from making the video for Little Things - you know, they're gathered around the piano... it resembles the Happy New Year video made for SVT (the piano version in white outfits). The Voyage site says "UK only" and refuses to deliver to Ireland. I tried ordering from the German and Belgian versions and was refused service too. I was eventually able to order from the ABBF fanclub shop (it seems to be some kind of link to the Voyage/Universal site with the payment/delivery managed by Platenzaak - P&P is three times the price of the CD - ugh). Yeah, it's a shame that it'll be a one-track release. Like you, I'm getting it to complete the set. I won't be surprised if a vinyl edition surfaces at some point in the future, maybe even with Happy New Year on the flipside. Red vinyl or a picture disc would be nice. And gawd knows that many of us fans are easily parted from our money.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 16, 2021 15:34:54 GMT
I'm looking forward to the video. I wonder if it will change anyone's feeling about the single release? The artwork is lovely.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 16, 2021 13:17:20 GMT
Wasn't this release almost inevitable? At least there's a video in the offing. It's interesting that Amazon is factored in this time: none of the previous singles had this support. I wonder if the CDs will be available in record shops - it feels like a bigger release.
I'm a little surprised that the song is not being paired on vinyl with Happy New Year. It seems like a missed marketing opportunity. It's something that could be pressed year after year on a variety of coloured vinyls and picture discs...
Update: it seems it's a UK-only release. The official shop won't deliver to other countries. Noticing a number of disgruntled people on ABBA's social media.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 16, 2021 0:06:47 GMT
I like that video, joseph . His take on the songs is clearly that of a fan but the big thing about this video is the visuals. It's 100% clear to me now that the design was built around the black vinyl. The cover image and the labels are the perfect foil for the sleek elegance of the black vinyl. The black makes the labels pop; the labels make the black look inviting and desirable. And to think I spent my hard-earned moolah on translucent orange vinyl (second only to black in terms of sound quality and second only to black in terms of visual sympathy with the design) and yellow vinyl in the "Tron" cover. The yellow is too vibrant and only Benny's suit/frame chimes with the colour scheme of the logo. The other three clash. The album has grown on me and around me. I'm almost ready to slip it into my album rankings. Almost. The album and I are still in the can't-keep-our-hands-off-each-other stage of a new romance. As ever, one has to hope the romance lasts.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 15, 2021 21:13:17 GMT
VOYAGE: 1. No Doubt About It 2. Ode To Freedom 3. Don't Shut Me Down 4. I Still Have Faith In You 5. Just A Notion
ABBA GOLD: 1. The Name Of The Game 2. Knowing Me, Knowing You 3. Lay All Your Love On Me 4. Take A Chance On Me 5. Dancing Queen
MORE ABBA GOLD: 1. The Visitors 2. The Day Before You Came 3. Angeleyes 4. When All Is Said And Done 5. Lovelight
Top 5 Albums (excluding Voyage, because it's too soon): 1. The Visitors 2. Voulez-Vous 3. Arrival 4. Super Trouper 5. The Album
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 15, 2021 21:02:30 GMT
[...] Sales not very impressive for her first week. I dunno. Given that it's a rerecording of an old album that already sold very well, I think it's a pretty good outcome. Maybe I'm missing something? Have her other reboots done well? I both Taylor Swift and Little Mix will do really well on streaming. I see that Little Mix have issued their album in multiple physical formats too - clearly, it's the go-to strategy for record companies chasing chart positions. I wonder if the whole Jesy Nelson debacle will have affected their sales?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 15, 2021 15:13:17 GMT
The deluxe edition phenomenon has been going for years. I heard that it was first done with the Christmas market in mind, encouraging people to buy the deluxe edition CDs as gifts. Some people stream albums and hold out for the expanded editions: that's what I did for my favourite album of last year, Jessie Ware's sublime "What's Your Pleasure." The deluxe edition came with 8 bonus tracks that matched the parent album for quality.
I read that the new Steps album started life as a bunch of tracks to add to their "What The Future Holds" album, but they had so many tracks they liked that they ended up with a whole new album and called it "What The Future Holds Pt. 2."
I suspect it'd be a bit of a stretch to hope that we could get a complete new album, but a couple of new songs with maybe a remix or two from Voyage might make a nice EP... or an expanded reissue. As long as they don't issue eleventy bajillion separate editions it mightn't be too bad?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 15, 2021 9:06:05 GMT
Nice interview with Benny here:
Sorry if it was posted before.
That's a great interview, jj - I hadn't seen that before. It's nice to hear Benny open up a bit. The interviewer was good too: I'd love it if she got to interview the others as well.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 15, 2021 8:41:35 GMT
It's sad that Eddie left but I have my fingers crossed that he'll return. He has been brave in telling us of the difficulties he faces and how they affect his ability to manage things in an environment like this. I have my fingers crossed that he'll return (I hope he's reading). He knows that we're all bound to have differing opinions - he has said before that he understands that - and I wonder if things might just have gotten a little too much for him? I hope he's doing well and that he'll rethink his decision to leave.
As for KAEOD, I stand by my view of it. My view doesn't make it a good or bad single: I can't stand Thank You For The Music and look how popular that is! I personally wouldn't pick Dan as a single. But that's kind of irrelevant. Anything issued as a "single" now will be something the PR team tries to get radio stations to play as a means of refreshing interest in the album. It's not for the singles chart - it's to keep the album buoyant.
I'll use Alison Moyet as an example: when her album The Minutes came out, it was seen as a bit of a comeback (it wasn't, but no matter). She and her team had chosen a lead single. It was brilliant, a perfect ambassador for the album. But BBC Radio 2, having been given an advance listen to the album, wanted a different song. A great song, but not necessarily representative of the album. They said they'd play their favourite, not Alison's. And so it was that the biggest radio station in Europe dictated which single came out first. It was playlisted. The album went Top 5. The preferred single eventually came out but wasn't playlisted.
So my guess is that another "single" might be chosen on what a station like Radio 2 says. Not saying that ABBA will be dictated to, but stations will only play what they want to. Maybe the rumour is based on something someone heard from a radio station...? Maybe KAEOD has fans among the DJs?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 14, 2021 18:48:31 GMT
Hmm. I'm one of the few who hasn't connected with KAEOD. A purely personal view, but I find the chorus weak and lyrically clunky. But it's the view of the wider public that will matter, not mine. If it's pushed as a single, I hope it's a hit and elevates the profile of the album.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 13, 2021 19:05:23 GMT
My orange vinyl was delivered today (quick turnaround by Amazon.fr) and it's gorgeous. I think it's my favourite edition. At my age, you'd think I'd be less impressed by this kind of frippery. But no!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 13, 2021 17:32:41 GMT
I doubt anyone expected anything remotely different from Zoe Ball, hejiranyc . I think the issue is her enthusiasm and general perkiness: her personality seems to grate with some people. I only meant to muse on what kinds of interviewers might pull something different from all four, in the event that they ever granted a non-PR, non-frothy interview. Interesting piece about the issue of CDs, Alan . I think richard might be right about the industry looking for a cheaper format (and their disingenuous environmental "reasoning"). But I know from research for my own project that vinyl is much more difficult and expensive to produce now. It's very trendy, very desirable - but pricey. And surely they can't peddle the notion that it's somehow more environmentally friendly than CDs??
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 13, 2021 12:07:33 GMT
I'm pretty sure he would! You either get his style or you don't, and I suspect his acidic brand of humour might not translate. I can imagine Bjorn trying to be game and the others glaring at him. Benny would probably do a Barry Gibb and walk off. It'd be hard to blame him, really. Hmm. I really saw that hypothetical scenario through to the bitter end, didn't I?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 13, 2021 11:11:00 GMT
You won’t like this, joseph and HOMETIME but I’m afraid I can’t stand Zoe Ball. She’s so sycophantic and fawns over anyone she interviews. I don’t often listen to her radio show but when I have it’s all “I love her” or “he’s brilliant” and it wears a bit thin after a while. I know it’s her job, she can’t say “I can’t stand her” but it comes across as quite insincere. To be fair, her interview with Frida was fine but as soon as I saw her in the live stream in September I was like, “oh please, not her!” and she did irritate me in that interview with Björn and Benny. She isn’t the only one though. Jonathan Ross and Steve Wright are just as bad, and Graham Norton (on TV) seems to spend half his time laughing at his guests as though they’re the comedians and he isn’t. The great interviewers are long gone. We're all going to have different likes/dislikes on that front. I admire Graham Norton in many ways, but he sometimes misses the mark as an interviewer. He has a schtick: he'll make humorously snarky remarks about celebs in the news in some shows and then will fawn over them when they finally appear as interviewees. I know that, to extent, it's part and parcel of a comedian's work but it also seems very disingenuous. As I've been writing this, I've been wracking my brains for examples and the one that pops immediately to mind is Tom Cruise. I personally can't stand him, but it's cringey to see Graham lovebombing him when he'll have made some crack about him weeks before. And Graham's cracks are not some affectionate leg-pulling: they can be quite bitchy. ANYWAY! I have gone off on too much of a tangent. With the Frida interview, Zoe asked precisely no original questions but she did let Frida speak and it was Frida who provided all of the interest (well duh, Tony, of course she did!). I imagine that a breakfast show interview needs to be reasonably light (some are masterclasses in toe-curling) and this particular one kind of exceeded its brief in terms of the overall quality. It would be nice to have a wishlist of interviewers - journalists who are respectful without being fawning; people who can recognise ABBA as real people and can look at things from a fresher perspective. I think Pete Paphides has shown that he'd be great - he's a fan, but he cares enough about music not to be pressured into saccahrine hagiography. I'd be interested to see where someone like Louis Theroux could take things if he could spend time with them. I suspect that Ruby Wax could pull some interesting answers from Agnetha and Frida. Oprah could be interesting but I doubt she knows or cares enough to reach the kinds of depths that would make an interview more than a fancy TV special.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 19:56:50 GMT
Some people are mean about Zoe Ball. Why? I don't get it. It seems she's just a bit star struck, both meeting Benny and Björn and getting to interview Frida. Of course she's going to be a little nervous. Maybe there's something I missed. I don't get it either. I saw someone reply to her Frida tweet, saying she was "too enthusiastic." Personally, I find Zoe to be quite likeable. It's nice that she is honestly star-struck. During the big reveal back on 2 September, there was a short moment where Benny seemed a little brusque with her during their interview and I winced a little. There's no arrogance about her. I like the balance she provides to the chin-stroking of the "serious music journos" and critics - she's like the ordinary person on the street who can't believe their luck.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 15:34:49 GMT
Wow. 23 different editions is a lot. And I know there are fans who probably will accumulate all of them - possibly even multiple times. Blimey!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 9:56:53 GMT
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 11, 2021 8:57:44 GMT
Frida's interview with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 was just fabulous. She is so warm so articulate and chatty, so utterly adorable. Hearing her talk about her bond with Agnetha, praising her storytelling singing and referring to her as her little sister... it was quite emotional. And she seems so unaffected and normal. If only this had been a video interview!
Her "never say never" to new music was very telling. It felt like she was dropping a heavy hint, to be honest. And if Benny has already said much the same thing...? Have we entered a parallel universe?!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 16:07:39 GMT
There's an official Spotify playlist with more than a million likes that may be quite influential on that ranking. It's frontloaded with 8 of Voyage's ten tracks - NDAI and OTF are omitted (incidentally, my two most streamed tracks right now. They're very addictive.)
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 15:07:20 GMT
I set my 'puter to translate French to English when I was shopping in Amazon.fr - it even translated the album title!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 14:34:03 GMT
That's not unreasonable at all, Alan. If you weren't fussed about shrinkwrap, you could suggest that they simply send you a new sleeve? My worry is that they'd say they don't have the stock of coloured vinyl to replace it.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 11:39:54 GMT
That's an impressive haul, gamleman ! The various items have been made very attractive, so I can see why so many of us were tempted to part with our hard-earned rent money. I think my deluxe CD box is finally on the way: I got a bill from our Customs people: an extra €8.44 because it's coming from the UK (outside the EU). Infuriating when the damn thing is on the shelves of the record shops. So I promptly cancelled my orange vinyl from Amazon's UK shop and re-ordered from the French site instead. Turns out it's cheaper there too - and I won't be hit with customs charges. It's an expensive lesson to order from EU sites only from now on. I currently have the standard softpack CD and the yellow vinyl... The orange vinyl and possibly a picture disc still to come... I really should know better.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 9:18:06 GMT
With all that in mind, bennybjorn, I hope that there's a documentary and/or TV special in the offing. I suppose that the likes of Radio 2 and the dedicated Christmas stations might playlist Little Things in the run-up to Christmas. A physical release on single would only get them so far, as it's really not a song for the streaming generation. If Frida and Agnetha are appearing on radio shows, I hope it suggests that they might have taken part in something visual for broadcast on TV too.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 8:49:04 GMT
Frida will be speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio tomorrow?!!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 8:39:48 GMT
Those are some impressive figures. The chaos in the Voyage shop makes me wonder if they were expecting a significantly smaller response. The only item I managed to order from their frustrating system is the deluxe CD box doohickey. I placed an order within hours of the shop opening and still have heard nothing to say that they're even getting it ready to be shipped. It's on the shelves in my local record stores, but there isn't even a "cancel my order" facility. I ordered the yellow vinyl alternative artwork edition from Fnac on Wednesday and it arrived yesterday. The shop is a disaster.
Roll on the No.1 chart placing! With the streaming sales numbers very much at the bottom of that impressive list of stats, should we brace ourselves for a big drop thereafter?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 8, 2021 19:17:27 GMT
Sheeran had two songs in the Airplay Top 10 last week (and one just outside) when his album was released, powering the album sales through the week. Abba only have one in the Top 40 and it's outside the Top 10- Just a Notion at 11. Note this is still an impressive achievement - I think it's a bigger airplay success than the first two songs and at this position means they must be getting at least a few plays from stations other than Radio 2. So, Voyage will continue to shift copies throughout the week, and I reckon it might well still beat Ed's week 1 tally, but not a foregone conclusion as they have a much lower presence on the nation's radio stations than Ed. Just A Notion is the song I'm hearing most on the radio. I've been keeping an ear on BBC Radio 2. JAN got a couple of plays today and Ken Bruce played When You Danced With Me. It's remarkably radio friendly. It seems to be doing considerably better than the other album tracks on Spotify too. Yesterday, ABBA had 13 songs in the Irish iTunes singles chart - 7 from Voyage (DSMD and WYDWM scoring the highest) and the others from Gold (mostly 1979 singles). Today, there is only one ABBA track in the Irish iTunes singles chart: I Still Have Faith In You at #24. Looking at those reaction videos that suddenly* seem so popular on YouTube, Little Things is attracting way more affection that I expected. It'll be interesting to see how things pick up once radio stations start playing seasonal tracks again. *maybe not 'sudden' for anyone else, but it's new to me
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