About My Blog

I created this blog to help share ABBA information with other fans and to show off my new collection items :)


Please note: Collection item photos are from my own personal collection. These are not stock photos. If you wish to use any of my photos elsewhere, please have the courtesy to ask first - Thank you :)

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Agnetha Magazine Interview 2010

Our fabulous Agnetha has done an amazing new interview for M Magasin.
Here is a translation of part of the interview plus some of the wonderful pictures featured in the magazine.

A big Agnetha feature was published in the Swedish magazine "M magasin" available from December 28th, 2010 in Sweden. Agnetha was posing as a model for the magazine as well as she gave an interview in which she describes herself as a happy and stable person being 60.

She says that the most important thing is to be healthy. She goes long walks, training at the gym. She eats everything and she does not follow any diet but she tries to eat good stuff. She still loves ice-cream. She is talking about her favorite clothes.

About flying: it is getting better after a special therapy. She celebrated her 60th birthday on Mallorca together with her family and they went there by plane. It takes about 3 hours and it was ok...

Music: she's got lots of unfinished own compositions lying in a bag at home. She plays piano and sings.

ABBA: Sometimes she is listening to ABBA music and when she hears "The Winner Takes It All" she feels that they did it very well. Another favorite song is "Our Last Summer" performed by Frida. Strange that it did not become a world hit - such a good song, she says.

ABBA comeback: "No and yes. - A one-time basis reunion, perhaps in connection with any charity, I think maybe we all could imagine", says Agnetha.
- We will hardly be reunited for a tour as the Rolling Stones and other old bands do now. But however, I can imagine that we could do something together in the future, she says.
- It's just a feeling I have that it would be fun to get together, talk a bit about the past and may be do something together. But then it has to be something special.
I am open to see the others and do something, she adds, but points out that she had not had contact with Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.







ABBAWORLD Opening Night - ABBA Quiz Part 2

This is Part 2 of the ABBA Quiz - this was filmed by my hubby John

ABBAWORLD Opening Party - Quiz Video Part 1

The Opening Night at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney was just fabulous !
Part of the evening's activities involved an ABBA Quiz with the host Julia Zemiro - a very popular comedian and TV Show Host here in Australia.
The contestants were my friends Trudy and Ian plus myself ... enjoy !
This is Part 1


Friday 24 December 2010

Sunday 19 December 2010

ABBAWORLD Sydney Opening Night


A fabulous fun Opening Night Party for ABBAWORLD at Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Julia Zemiro was the host - love her !!
During the night they she did a 'Rockwiz' style quiz of ABBA trivia.
The contestants were myself, trudy Wilkie and Ian Cole ...
it was great fun !!

Can you believe she is wearing Frida's Waterloo costume ?? Fabulous
Posted by Picasa

Thursday 2 December 2010

Stars in concert for ABBA at the Powerhouse Museum

A ONE-OFF concert celebrating one of the greatest 70's pop groups, ABBA, will be held in Sydney to mark the launch of the new ABBA exhibition.

The three-hour exclusive Sydney event will be hosted by Julia Zemiro, acclaimed comedienne, radio star, actor, SBS TV’s RocKwiz host and lover of Europop, promising an evening of pure ABBA fun!

Prominent Australian singers and songwriters Katie Noonan, iOTA and emerging artist Andy Bull will each perform a selection of their favourite ABBA songs, reinterpreting them to present contemporary versions of the 70s hits.

Director, Dr Dawn Casey, commented that “The artists have been especially selected to deliver a vibrant, fun evening of great music that replicates the pure pop, pure joy and energy that ABBA delivered so well to audiences across the globe in the 70s.

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Gorgeous ABBA Artwork

My lovely artwork has arrived ... Brian Tones is the artist ... just beautiful !






Tuesday 30 November 2010

ABBAWORLD Sydney

ABBAWORLD is opening on 17th December in Sydney !
So Trudy and I are off to Sydney for a couple of days for the opening .. some of my collection will be on display there ! Very exciting :)
Looking forward to catching up with everyone once again and seeing the difference between the Melbourne exhibition and Sydney ... they are apparently focusing more on the Australian side of things so it should be great !
Will take lots of photos and add them to my website so be sure to check for updates :)

Monday 29 November 2010

Saturday 27 November 2010

ABBA - The Story Of Musikladen Box Set 1972-1976




This is the latest addition to my collection - The Story Of Musikladen Box Set No. 1  1972-1976.

Released in Germany.

This fabulous box set contains 10 DVD's with all epoisodes from 1972 to 1976 including the amazing ABBA Special "The Best Of ABBA".

DVD number 10 has the complete German Special 'The Best Of ABBA' ... the sound and quality are great - much better than any bootlegs getting around.

Unfortunately, after a very short release time this month, this set is now no longer available due to a pending lawsuit with a record company .... apparently they didn't have full rights to release this material ... there are many artists featured so it could be in relation to any of the, including ABBA no doubt. 

Full details including the tracklist for all 10 dvd's can be found here:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Story-Of-Musikladen-No-1-1972-1976/release/3523363




There were 2 other volumes released also - and withdrawn from market at the same time.




Sunday 21 November 2010

ABBA's Songwriting Cottage For Sale !

The summer cottage where Benny and Björn worked on hits such as Fernando and Dancing Queen has been put up for sale.

The cottage as we recall it

The cottage has played a rich part in ABBA’s cultural heritage. It has been featured in TV specials, many pictures and even ABBA The Movie.
The fact that it has been so pivotal in the ABBA story is borne out by the inclusion of a faithful recreation of the cottage’s interior in the ABBAWORLD touring exhibition.
The ‘songwriters hut’ belongs to a larger property on the island of Viggsö in Stockholm’s archipelago. It is this property, for sale at SEK 7,000,000 and the property next door that are now for sale.
It is believed that Björn and Lena currently own both properties. Maybe they just didn’t get over there much this Summer?!

Thursday 18 November 2010

ABBAWORLD GOING TO SYDNEY !

After more than 30 years since ABBA’s first live performance in Australia at the Sydney Showgrounds in Moore Park on that wet evening of 3 March 1977, ABBA will return to Sydney in the first official exhibition about the 1970s global pop sensation. The exhibition, ABBAWORLD, is showing exclusively in Sydney at the Powerhouse Museum from 17 December 2010.
The exhibition will capture the music, memories and magic that made the Swedish group a worldwide phenomenon and whose music almost four decades later continues to attract new generations of fans.

Band member Björn Ulvaeus said: “It always seemed to me that people in the music press and also in the music industry sort of took it for granted that ABBA would be a one hit wonder. Why would we be different from any other Eurovision winner?

“We really had an up-hill struggle after Waterloo and our follow-up singles didn’t do well. Then the Australians came to our rescue. They released SOS and Mamma Mia and both songs made the charts in a big way down under. Suddenly everyone else around the world realized there was life in the band that was supposed to be dead. I’m forever grateful to the Australians for that!”

ABBAWORLD will examine where the four members of the group came from, the formation and success of ABBA and the post ABBA years. It will feature ABBA’s first major international live performance and Sweden’s first win at the Eurovision Song contest in 1974, their highly acclaimed concert tours including the Australian tour in 1977, and the impact of their music that has inspired several hit movies and a stage show -  Muriel’s Wedding, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Mamma Mia!.
The exhibition will feature more than 20 original costumes, the epitome of 70’s glam, live concert footage, promotional and behind the scenes photographs, album artworks and other ABBA memorabilia, as well as exclusive interviews with members Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog.

Replicas of an ABBA concert dressing room where a team of costume makers and make-up artists worked; the writing studio on Viggsö - an island in the Stockholm archipelago  - where many of ABBA’s most popular songs were written; and ABBA’s own state of the art recording studio - Polar Studio in Stockholm - where they recorded their last two albums, will feature in the exhibition.

Visitors will be able to relive ABBA’s music and sing and dance their way through the exhibition using a series of interactives. These will include performing on a stage with ABBA, dancing in an ABBA video, recording a sing-a-long with ABBA and photographing yourself on an ABBA album cover.

The exhibition comes from Sweden, following its successful debut in London last January and a season at Federation Square in Melbourne earlier this year.  For the Sydney season, new content about the group’s appearances in Australia and their impact on Australian pop culture will be added to the exhibition by the Powerhouse Museum.

According to Magnus Danielsson, President of Touring Exhibitions, the producers of ABBAWORLD: “No group has ever had such crossover success, bringing together fans of all ages together, bridging generation gaps and cultural differences. This is a unique opportunity for the people of Sydney to see original ABBA material." Danielsson continues, "The Sydney exhibition will be running in parallel with a run of ABBAWORLD in Györ, Hungary. ABBAWORLD has a universal appeal and we work hard to make it available to fans around the globe.”

For more than 35 years, ABBA has maintained international success with their songs that remain a fixture on radio playlists today. ABBA is one of the top three selling artists in the world, having sold 375 million records worldwide. They still sell over 3 million records a year.

On View: ABBAWORLD
Date: 17 December 2010 to 6 March 2011
Address: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney
Telephone: (02) 9217 0111 or infoline (02) 9217 0444
Website: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/
Hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm (closed Christmas Day)
Admission: Adult $22/member $12; child $12/member $6; family $50/member $25; Concession / seniors $16

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Frida's Birthday !

Today, 15th November 2010, Frida Lyngstad turns 65 ! Still gorgeous - still loved - and still thrilling everyone when she sings ! Happy Birthday dear Frida - you are forever in our hearts xx





Saturday 13 November 2010

Latest ABBA Collection Addition - Chu-Bop's




Chu Bops Display Box

Pretty cool item - display box for the Chu Bops ... as we know, there were 2 ABBA albums - Voulez Vous & Super Trouper

Thursday 4 November 2010

Friday 29 October 2010

ABBA The Vinyls Box Set Winners Announced

Winners for the ABBA The Vinyl Box Set - Autographed by all 4 members of ABBA have been announced .... and the winners are ....
Me !!  and Rick Vasen ....
I am so excited !!!!

Wednesday 27 October 2010

ABBAWORLD Goes To Hungary

The story of ABBAWORLD continues; from London by the way of Melbourne, the interactive multimedia exhibition is about to arrive in Györ, 100 kilometers west of Budapest, Hungary. Through the collaboration between promoters ShowTime Budapest, ETO Park in Győr and Viva Art Music, ABBAWORLD will open at Eto Park on the 4th of December.
"The ABBAWORLD exhibition has been a success both in London and Melbourne," says Marton Brady, Managing Director of ShowTime Group. "We are now ready to bring this exciting event to Hungary, and we are very much looking forward to hosting this exhibition."

Magnus Danielsson, president of Touring Exhibitions, the producer of ABBAWORLD, is confident that the exhibition will bring joy and happiness to all its visitors. "ShowTime Group and Viva Art Music have all the experience needed to make ABBAWORLD into a successful event," he says. "ABBA was hugely popular in Eastern and Middle Europe in the 70s, and ABBAWORLD will generate a lot of interest among all age groups – and you don’t need to be a fan of ABBA to enjoy the exhibition. It's fun for everyone!”

For the original members of ABBA, the exhibition in Hungary is a form of compensation for the past.

"We are very happy to see ABBAWORLD come to Hungary," the group says in a joint statement. "We never managed to tour Eastern Europe, and it feels great to finally give our fans there the opportunity to recreate the experience through ABBAWORLD."

The interest in ABBAWORLD not only spans generations, it crosses borders all over the world. Marton Brady hopes ABBAWORLD will do just that. "We will be perfectly situated geographically in Györ," he says. "We are as close to Budapest as we are to Vienna, and we are just 50 kilometers south of Bratislava. Six million people live within an hour's distance from ABBAWORLD. It will be the perfect day trip for anyone looking for a unique experience.

Showtime Budapest has promoted several large exhibitions in Hungary, such as the Titanic, Dinosaurs, Diana, Beatles and the CSI exhibition. ShowTime is currently running a Da Vinci exhibition at the ETO Park that will end in November. Details on tickets for ABBAWORLD will be disclosed in the near future.

-Ends-

ABOUT ABBAWORLD
ABBAWORLD is multi-media exhibition and an emotional journey spanning the successful career of the Swedish supergroup ABBA. The exhibition in Hungary spans a total of 1,000 square meters bursting with music, exclusive footage, images and never-before-displayed memorabilia from the personal collections of the world’s most cherished pop icons; Anni-Frid, Benny, Björn and Agnetha. Following the successful runs of ABBAWORLD in London and Melbourne in 2010, ABBAWORLD will open on the 4th of December 2010 at ETO Park in Györ, Hungary.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

ABBAWORLD - Next Stop Sydney !

We now have unconfirmed reports that ABBAWORLD will go to Sydney after Melbourne. Reports say that it will be at the Powerhouse Museum and will open January/February 2011 ....
Look out Sydney, here we all come !!

Saturday 16 October 2010

Agnetha and Bjorn Together in Denmark

Mamma Mia premiered in Denmark on 15th October and Agnetha appeared with Bjorn ! How wonderful to see Agnetha at an ABBA related event and looking so happy !


Tuesday 12 October 2010

ABBA Treasures !




Fabulous book ! I just received my copy - it's not avaialble in stores until November - but I contributed pictures of memorabilia so was lucky enough to be sent a copy from the Publisher.
They have replicated some items and these can actually be removed from the book  -  the last pic shows replicas of concert tickets and tour itinerary from the 1977 Tour - these are mine.
The book comes in a beautiful slipcase.

New ABBA Collection Item - Pix/People


Pix People Magazine from Australia - 1976

Monday 13 September 2010

Saturday 11 September 2010

ABBA:The Vinyls Box Set

Limited Edition - Release Date: 6 December

ABBA: The Vinyls Box Set

Pre-order ABBA: THE VINYLS box set now. Be one of the first 2,000 and get your name featured in the pages of the ABBA: THE VINYLS book !
http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/Box-Sets/Abba-Vinyl-Box-Set/invt/0602527346465


This is an exclusive opportunity for fans to be immortalised alongside the ABBA legend and is only available by pre-ordering here before September 25th 2010.

More about this product:

ABBA: THE VINYLS is a limited edition box set containing ABBA’s eight studio albums, originally released 1973–1981: Ring Ring, Waterloo, ABBA, Arrival, ABBA: The Album, Voulez Vous, Super Trouper and The Visitors. The box set also contains a bonus album, entitled ABBA Tracks, the A-side of which contains the five single A-sides not included on the original studio albums. The B-side of ABBA Tracks features a further five non-album songs, personally selected by ABBA's Benny Andersson.
Going back to the analogue master tapes for each individual album, as originally prepared by ABBA and their associates, the albums in the ABBA: THE VINYLS box set have been remastered for vinyl especially for this release. The track listings of the albums mirror the original Swedish releases, as originally planned and conceived by ABBA. Similarly, the eight studio albums are presented in replica covers featuring the original art work and inner sleeves – exactly as they looked when they first hit record shops back in the '70s and early '80s.

Saturday 28 August 2010

ABBA Museum Gets Green Light In Stockholm

Sweden's capital Stockholm gets its own museum for the legendary pop quartet Abba - but only temporary.

As the newspaper 'Svenska Dagbladet' reported that the urban 'Schönheitsrat' has given the green light for the construction of a huge, long black tent with tin roof in the picturesque district of Djurgården.
"We expect the opening of the ABBA museum in the next year," said Magnus Danielsson, chief organizer of the exhibition 'Abbaworld'. "We expect half a million visitors per year in the plant next to the amusement park Gröna Lund".
Earlier plans for a museum with original costumes, instruments, and the first recording studio with "Waterloo" had shattered.
Instead, 'Abbaworld' is now at first presented as a traveling exhibition. Since June, the show has been in Melbourne Australia.
The ex-Abba members Benny Andersson (63), Björn Ulvaeus (65), Agnetha Faltskog (60) and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (64) have given the project modeled after the Beatles Museum in Liverpool their blessing. The official approval for the tent construction is initially valid for five years and may be renewed for the same period.

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Arrival Promo Poster - Australia

Newest addition to my collection ... 1976 RCA Promo Poster for Arrival - Australia
I just love this !

Monday 23 August 2010

ABBA Australian Trading Card Display Box

Pride & Joy Of My Collection
Store counter display box for the Australian Trading cards
1976

New To Blogging

Hi ... this is my first post .. I will add pictures etc soon of my ABBA collection ... hope to see you back again !