ABBA The Vinyls Box Set

Here is a pic of the fabulous ABBA The Vinyls Box Set that I won - signed by all 4 ABBA Members !!

ABBA's Songwriting Cottage May Be Saved !

Following on from the original news that ABBA’s ‘songwriting cottage’ is up for sale comes an intriguing and exciting development reported today by the Swedish press.
Björn Ulvaeus and his wife Lena have offered the municipality of Värmdö their famous writers cottage on Viggsö. The municipality is positive to the plans.
Both ABBA-couples and their manager Stikkan Andersson bought properties on Viggsö during the seventies. In 2007 the Ulvaeus family bought another house on the island from Stikkan Andersson’s son Lasse Andersson. It is these two properties that have now been sold. Combined these beach properties are 14,540 square meters in size plus a large water area. The Ulvaeus family bought a farm in January 2010 on the island of Hölö, outside of Stavsnäs.
“This is a place with a lot of history that could be quite good to secure for the general public. It could possibly be turned into a mini ABBA-museum”, said the head of the culture department Lena Gullmert.
In December the municipality was contacted by the well-known real estate broker Christer Magnusson, who had earlier sold the two Ulvaeus family properties on Viggsö.
“No cottage is a world famous as this one, so I highlighted this specifically in our ad”, said Christer Magnusson.
A significant number of ABBA’s hits were created in this very cottage.
The offer came as a very welcome surprise for Värmdö. The municipality recently announced plans that to strengthen its brand and to position itself better as a tourist destination.
We have confirmed to the family that we are positive and that it would be great if all would indeed work out. In the ideal scenario we could turn the writers hut into an attraction with a mini-exposition of objects from the ABBA era, says newly appointed mayor Stellan Folkesson.
Just before Christmas a meeting was held between the mayor, the culture department head and the Ulvaeus family. Initially the idea was that the municipality would get the opportunity to open the writers cabin to the general public. But after discussions the agreement was made to leave that decision to the new owners of the property.
Johan Bengtsson, buyer of the Ulvaeus family property on Viggsö is unaware of the details of the discussions.
“We think it’s important and have set as a goal that the cottage shall be protected. We have engaged in a discussion with the municipality if and if so, how it can be made available for showings to the public or can be used in another way. It has to happen though in a way that is satisfactory for all parties”, he says to NVP.
The Bengtsson family owns several properties and museums, among others the museum of flight F15 in Söderhamn. They also invite the general public to “Byarnas Dag” in the province of Hälsningland once a year.
Initially there were plans to include the famous writers cottage in the ABBAWORLD exhibition that goes on at the moment. However the plans were rejected as the location and its history was seen at least as important as the cottage itself.
“It is a memorable place, which in my opinion is getting more and more interesting as time goes by”, says Stellan Folkesson.
Real estate broker Christer Magnusson hopes that the plans for a mini-museum on Viggsö will become reality: “If done properly, this can be really, really good”, he says
Björn Ulvaeus has declined to comment on the project.

Wanted ABBA Memorabilia

Here are a few of the items I am specifically looking for .. if you have any of these items, please let me know !

I am always after Australian merchandise so if you have anything at all, drop me a line ....

The Best Of ABBA Promo Poster - Australia

Scanlens Cello Wrap for Trading Card Packs - Australia

Mirror - Australia

Anna & Frida Perfumes

ABBA The Movie Jacket - Germany

 Doodle Art Kit - Australia

Rubik's Cube

Amnesty International Picture Discs

Silver Ingot - UK

Silver Medallion - UK

Waterloo - Domino - Complete Performance 1974

So many great new clips showing up - where have they been hiding ?

I Do I Do I Do - Ring Parade 1975

Just gorgeous !

So Long - Ring Parade 1975

Another great colour version of a previously black and white clip

Money Money - Top Club 1978

Money Money Money - Les Rendez-Vous Du Dimanche 1976

SOS - Top Club 1978

SOS - Ring Ring Parade 1975

Previously only seen in black & white

Real treasure !

Fernando - Ring Ring Parade 1976

ABBA Newspaper Clipping 1978

I just love this picture and the headline ...

I am sorting through all the scrapbooks I have and hope to upload a lot of articles to my ABBAFanatic website very soon ...

ABBA Maybe Reuniting For Glastonbury

While this at this point in time, an ABBA reunion for Glastonbury is merely hearsay, it's at least educated hearsay.

According to a report on Gigwise, bookmakers ("bookies" in American slang) William Hill are setting odds at 33/1 that ABBA will play the Glastonbury festival, scheduled this year for June 22-26 in Somerset, England. This comes in the wake of ABBA singer Agnetha Faltskog saying she would consider reuniting with the group sometime in 2011, possibly for the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Mama Mia! (Sorry.)

William Hill's odds for a possible ABBA one-off London reunion this year went from 100/1 to 20/1 amid growing reports and speculation. Place your bets now.