Friday, 28 February 2014

New ABBA Box Set For May 2014 !

News of a new Box Set has just been announced.

The box set will contain 40 singles - for the 40th Anniversary.

Very little info yet but looks like the price could be around 300 euro !!

Can't wait to see more detail which I will post as it becomes available.

Thursday, 27 February 2014

ABBA "They're Here !" - Australia 27 February 1977

'They're Here !'

How excited were we ??

On 27th February 1977, ABBA arrived in Sydney for their Australian Tour.
They checked into the Sebel Town House Hotel in Elizabeth Bay where they faced the Australian media for a Press conference. Very cringe worthy ......

There had been much outrage in the Australian press that tickets for the concerts would cost $9 or more! When tickets went on sale in October 1976, fans all over the country queued for hours to secure tickets and every single concert was sold out.

A total of 160,000 Australians attended these concerts out of a population of 14 million.

My family accounted for 5 of the tickets sold for the first Sydney concert :)

Newspaper images are from my personal collection.

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

New ABBA Collection Item - Reg Grundy Necklace

This is the 3rd necklace I have from this set of jewellery sold in Australia in the 70's.
Official Reg Grundy merchandise and in great condition.
I have all pairs of earrings from the set - the necklaces are harder to track down.

New ABBA Collection Item - 'National' Cardboard Poster

The latest addition to my 'National' collection - this stunning cardboard promo poster from Australia.
One of my favourite ABBA images - and these posters are just stunning :)

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

ABBA The Museum Press Release - Choir Performance

ABBA The Museum celebrates the 40th anniversary of ABBA's international breakthrough. A day for fans and family!

Press Release • Feb 18, 2014 13:16 GMT

ABBA The Museum celebrates the 40th anniversary of ABBA’s international breakthrough in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974. The museum invites the whole family to take part in new exhibits and experience a special tribute to ABBA fans through the premier performance of the museum's own choir: ABBA The Museum/The Choir.

On Sunday, April 6 - the day on which, 40 years ago, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton - the museum will offer various activities for children and adults, but especially for ABBA fans. In addition to the exhibition and all of the interactive installations where visitors can go up and sing with the band members or virtually try on their stage costumes, the museum will also present some new ways to celebrate ABBA's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo:

“We have new exhibits to unveil concerning Waterloothat I personally am very happy about,” says the museum’s curator Ingmarie Halling. “For example, we have a Viewmaster containing images from Brighton in 1974. As you click through the images you will listen to Benny Andersson read from the diary entry he wrote on that day in Brighton. We will even have brand new articles on display for the first time, like the silvery black platform shoes that Benny was wearing when ABBA won the Swedish Melodifestivalen with Waterloo.”

Visitors will also have the possibility, with the help of professionals, to crochet their own ABBA cap like the one worn by Agnetha Fältskog on that day in Brighton in 1974.

Guitar builder Göran Malmberg built the famous star-shaped guitar that Björn Ulvaeus used during the performance in Brighton in 1974. On Saturday, the museum has invited Göran to hold a master class in how to build a guitar. The museum is also offering an opportunity for those interested to order an exact replica of Björn’s “star” guitar. The star guitar is being produced in a limited edition under the supervision of Göran Malmberg and signed by both him and Björn Ulvaeus.

“Björn’s star guitar is a hallmark of Waterlooand an important symbol of the pop sensation, ABBA. We are extremely proud that the builder of that guitar will be on the premises. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to place dibs on your own numbered, limited edition copy of the star guitar - a memory for life,” says Mattias Hansson, CEO ABBA The Museum.

Just in time for the anniversary, Björn Ulvaeus has written a pop-saga: it is the tale of four young artists who became two couples in love, formed a pop band called ABBA and created music that touched the whole world. The story, which is aimed at children but even adults can appreciate, is illustrated by Ola Skogäng. The illustrations are filmed with Björn himself playing the role of the narrator and will premier at the museum on April 6.

The premier of the museum's own choir will also take place on April 6 when the singers will perform a special concert for the first time, under the direction of Karin Bäckström from Adolf Fredrik's Music School. The choir will sing several of ABBA's greatest hits such as Waterloo,Thank You For The Music and Chiquitita. The songs will be presented with newly composed choral arrangements by Göran Arnberg. Göran has worked for many years as Benny Andersson’s musical notator and arranger and is a member of the BAO (Benny Andersson’s Orchestra).

“Since we are not going to reunite for the 40th anniversary, I thought a choir singing ABBA would be exciting,” says Björn Ulvaeus. “A really good choir singing songs that Benny and I have written is a dream for us as authors.”

Choir singers from Sweden and all over the world have applied for the sought-after choir positions. Interest has been great, with applications coming in from over 50 countries.

The winner of the global competition; The Missing Member in which one international chorist could win a place in the choir and get the trip to Stockholm for free, was concluded recently. Ms Grace McCullum from Australia was selected the happy winner with the motivation; “ABBA has always held a very special place in Australians hearts, and I know I can bring passion all the way from Australia to ABBA The Museum/The Choir”. For the jubilee Grace is flown in from Hobart, Australia to participate in the performance.

Mattias Hansson adds:

“The story of ABBA is a story that touches the whole world. So it feels natural to allow people from all corners of the world to share their personal memories of ABBA and the songs. With the help of our competition The Missing Member, we are collecting stories through social media and these fascinating accounts will then form the framework for the choir's performance.”

To be guaranteed a spot at the choir's performance, visitors are adviced to have an admission ticket to the museum on April 6th between the hours of 10:00 and 14:00. For anyone who does not have a ticket for April 6th, entrance will be subject to availability. The choir will appear at 3 pm. Tickets are available at the museum at Djurgårdsvägen 68; on the museum's website,www.abbathemuseum.com; and through the museum's ticket partner, SJ, www.sj.se/abbathemuseum

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/abba-the-museum/pressreleases/abba-the-museum-celebrates-the-40th-anniversary-of-abba-s-international-breakthrough-a-day-for-fans-and-family-962416?utm_source=channel&utm_medium&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_content

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Aussie Wins Museum Choir Competition !

Our very own fellow Australian, Grace McCallum, has won ABBA The Museum's competition to become the final member of the ABBA The Museum Choir !
Grace will travel to Stockholm in April to perform at the Museum with the choir - in celebrations taking place for the 40th Anniversary of Waterloo.

Congratulations Grace !

Very proud that Australia will be represented during this most auspicious occasion in the history of ABBA and ABBA fandom.
Thank you Grace for putting yourself out there - and for being such a beautiful singer :)

Wishing you all the best in the upcoming weeks - and hope you are able to savour every magical moment of this journey.

Can't wait to see you performing with the choir in April !!

Go get 'em girl !

Aussie Aussie Aussie ......

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=544052675707987&set=vb.247052962074628&type=2&theater

Friday, 14 February 2014

ABBA Gold Gets Another Release - 40th Anniversary Edition

ABBA‘s 1992 greatest hits album ABBA Gold will be reissued in April this year as part of the band’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
There have been various versions of this evergreen compilation over the years, including a 2CD edition and a CD+DVD offering. This new edition will actually be a three-CD set, presented in a digi-pack, and will feature the standard 19-track compilation on disc one, the More ABBA Gold set on disc two, and a third CD made up of B-sides (see full track listing below).

Around the same time a limited edition Waterloo seven-inch vinyl picture disc will be issued and as previously reported a deluxe edition of the Waterloo album will also be released.
It’s going to be a busy year for ABBA fans with a singles vinyl box coming up later in the spring and the autumn promising a Live At Wembley release.
ABBA Gold 40th Anniversary Edition will be released on 7 April 2014, and can currently be pre-ordered from Amazon in Germany. This post will be updated when it’s available elsewhere.

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/abba-gold-3cd-anniversary-set/

Track listing:

Disc 1 ABBA GOLD

1. Dancing Queen
2. Knowing Me, Knowing You
3. Take A Chance On Me
4. Mamma Mia
5. Lay All Your Love On Me
6. Super Trouper
7. I Have A Dream
8. The Winner Takes It All
9. Money, Money, Money
10. SOS
11. Chiquitita
12. Fernando
13. Voulez-Vous
14. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
15. Does Your Mother Know
16. One of Us
17. The Name of The Game
18. Thank You For The Music
19. Waterloo

Disc 2 MORE ABBA GOLD

1. Summer Night City
2. Angeleyes
3. The Day Before You Came
4. Eagle
5. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
6. So Long
7. Honey, Honey
8. The Visitors
9. Our Last Summer
10. On And On And On
11. Ring Ring
12. I Wonder (Departure)
13. Lovelight
14. Head Over Heels
15. When I Kissed The Teacher
16. I Am The City
17. Cassandra
18. Under Attack
19. When All Is Said And Done
20. The Way Old Friends Do

Disc 3 ABBA GOLDEN B-SIDES

1. She’s My Kind Of Girl (B-side to Ring Ring)
2. I Am Just A Girl (B-side to Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough))
3. Gonna Sing You My Lovesong (B-side to Waterloo French Version)
4. King Kong Song (B-side to Honey, Honey)
5. I’ve Been Waiting For You (B-side to So Long)
6. Rock Me (B-side To I Do, I Do, I Do)
7. Man In The Middle (B-side to S.O.S.)
8. Intermezzo No.1 (B-side to Mamma Mia)
9. That’s Me (B-side to Dancing Queen)
10. Crazy World (B-side to Money, Money, Money)
11. Happy Hawaii (B-side to Knowing Me, Knowing You)
12. I’m A Marionette (B-side to Take A Chance On Me)
13. Medley: Pick A Bale of cotton.. etc. (B-side to Summer Night City)
14. Kisses of Fire (B-side to Does Your Mother Know)
15. The King Has Lost His Crown (B-side to Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight))
16. Elaine (B-side to The Winner Takes It All)
17. The Piper (B-side to Super Trouper)
18. Andante, Andante (B-side to Happy New Year)
19. Should I Laugh Or Cry (B-side to One Of Us)
20. Soldiers (B-side to When All Is Said And Done)

ABBA The Backstage Stories - Book Sneak Peek

Carl Magnus Palm has received his copy of the Swedish language version of 'ABBA The Backstage Stories' from the Publishers and has shared a few sneak peeks ! See pics below.

I love that it comes in a box :)

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/news-container/abba-the-backstage-stories-a-sneak-peek

ORDER FROM

Carlton's English-language edition, entitled ABBA - The Treasures:

Amazon.com (US)
Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Amazon.de (Germany)
Amazon.fr (France)

Swedish and English editions published by Bonnier Fakta in Sweden. At this point, only the Swedish version is available for pre-ordering (and only from CDOn), but both are listed on these Swedish websites:

CDOn (Swedish edition)
CDOn (English edition)
Adlibris (Swedish edition)
Adlibris (English edition)

Danish edition, available for pre-ordering:

CDOn (Danish edition)

Adlibris (Danish edition)

German edition, available for pre-ordering:

Amazon.co.uk (UK)
Amazon.de (Germany)
Amazon.fr (France)

Thursday, 13 February 2014

ABBA The Museum Choir Australian Finalist !

Grace McCallum from Australia has made it as a finalist in the ABBA The Museum Choir Competition !

The competition winner will be announced on 18th February so there is still time to 'Like' Grace's audition video on facebook.

Winner will be decided by a jury based on the videos but the 'Likes' and comments will also be taken into consideration.

If Grace wins she will travel to Stockholm in April to perform with the Museum Choir for ABBA's 40th Anniversary Celebrations.

Check out her video here:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=539594676153787&set=vb.247052962074628&type=2&theater

and hit 'Like' !!!!

Good luck Grace !

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

ABBA The Official Photo Book

Max Strom (publisher & producer of the book) showing Mia from Polar Music the first samples of ABBA The Official Photo Book.
Not long now !! :)

Sunday, 9 February 2014

ABBA Waterloo 40th Anniversary Starts Today !

Today, 9th February, marks the start of ABBA's historic win with Waterloo at Eurovision.

Before being able to represent Sweden at Eurovision, ABBA had to win Melodifestival in Sweden.
Which they did, on 9th February 1974.

Watch their performances (first round and winning performance), in Swedish, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivKzYEOOYjY

Melodifestivalen 1974 was the selection for the 15th song to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was the 14th time that this system of picking a song had been used. 10 songwriters were selected by SR for the competition. The final was broadcast on TV1 but was not broadcast on radio. ABBA went on to win that year's Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, Sweden's first Eurovision win.

Results from the show:

Artist	Song	Songwriters	Points	Place
1	Lena Ericsson	En enda jord	Håkan Elmquist	185	3rd
2	Östen Warnerbring	En mysig vals	Bengt Hallberg, Östen Warnebring	10	10th
3	Göran Fristorp	Jag minns dej nog	Georg Riedel, Stig Claesson	16	7th
4	Titti Sjöblom	Fröken Ur sång	Torgny Söderberg	148	4th
5	ABBA	Waterloo	Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson	302	1st
6	Lasse Berghagen	Min kärleksång till dej	Lasse Berghagen	211	2nd
7	Inger Öst	En grön dröm om dej	Bo Sylvén, Bo Carlgren, Bitte Carlgren	61	5th
8	Sylvia Vrethammar & Göran Fristorp	En dröm är en dröm	Lars Färnlöf, Lasse Bagge	31	6th
9	Lena Bergqvist	Den sista sommaren av mitt liv	Björn Isfält, Lena Bergqvist	11	9th
10	Glenmarks	I annorlunda land	Bengt-Arne Wallin, Anja-Notini-Wallin	15	8th

ABBA Fanatic - My Website

Check out my website ABBA Fanatic - now updated !

Some updates were necessary due to changes in the site format - which I am not happy about.

Other updates were necessary due to it being so long since I updated ! lol

Lots to see - but still lots more work to do :)

http://www.abbafanatic.com/