ABBA Scania Muller Truck Ready Soon !

For those who pre-ordered this beautiful truck back in August 2014, it has been a long wait - but the wait is nearly over !

Word from Tekno is that this item will be ready next week ! (first week of September 2015)

I can't wait to see this lovely truck in person :)

http://www.tekno.nl/en/67964-muller.html#

Replica ABBA Costumes To Be Sold At The Museum ?

This tweet from ABBA The Museum is totally suggesting the possibility of replica costumes being sold at the Museum Shop !

I am excited if this is the case - cannot wait to see what they come up with ! :)

ABBA 2016 Calendars

A selection of 2016 ABBA Calendars - which one will you buy ?
Maybe all of them ?

Fan club Calendar:

http://www.abbafanclubshop.nl/cgi-bin/user/show_article.pl?item=488

Red Star Calendar:

http://www.calendarclub.co.uk/p-1916-abba-a3-calendar-2016.aspx?

Ganymede Calendar on Lulu:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/ganymede/the-2016-ganymedes-calendars-abba/calendar/product-22067703.html

New ABBA Collection Items - Various

I haven't added any images of my new collection items lately, so here are a few of the latest additions:

Greatest Hits LP - Red Vinyl - RCA El Salvador

Wrapping Paper - UK - makes a beautiful poster :)

ABBA Logo Letters - I already had the set from ABBAWORLD but these ones are from ABBA The Museum. Both sets are the same, only the packaging is different:

Gorgeous set of the ceramic dolls:

Large iron-on transfer from Australia - I thought I had all of these - but I didn't !

Amazing Lois t-shirt - these were worn by ABBA in the 70's during a promotional campaign by Lois. In 2012, Lois did a short run of 'Lois Legends' t-shirts, and this was one of those released:

A beautiful book from Poland - all about ABBA's visit to Poland and TV Special in 1976:

CD Box Set from Germany:

2 gorgeous posters of Agnetha & Frida in Switzerland 1978:

Another pillow case from Australia - image is the same as a previous one I have, but the logo etc is different:

Greatest Hits LP - Israel:

Just a few random items - all lovely additions to my collection.
More images will be added soon :)

The ABBA Grand Piano To Be Auctioned !!

““The Bolin Grand, one of a kind and a great source of inspiration while working in the recording studio during the ABBA sessions!””

BENNY ANDERSSON OF ABBA

LONDON - It may come as a surprise to many that the iconic piano that has featured in such timeless ABBA pop classics as “Mamma Mia,” “Waterloo,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Dancing Queen” was actually built for the great American jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans. The instrument’s creator, innovative Swedish designer Georg Bolin, was originally a cabinetmaker before becoming a celebrated guitar and piano craftsman. The Bolin Grand Piano, as it was called, was arguably one of his most inventive designs. A 1964 New York Times article refereed to Bill Evans’ “Space-Age piano,” and noted, “the new piano represents Mr. Bolin’s ultimate desire – to produce an instrument that gives the pianist the sensation of playing ‘directly on the strings’ as a guitarist would.”

 In 1967 the piano was purchased by Metronome Studios (now Atlantis Grammofon) in Stockholm. At the recording studio, at that point the only professional recording studio of its size in Stockholm, the instrument came to the attention of Benny Andersson of ABBA. It soon became known as “The ABBA Grand Piano” and featured on virtually all of their recordings in the period 1973-77. The piano was showcased on ABBA’s first five studio releases, placing it at the centre of the musical output of one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music. ABBA are estimated to be one of the best-selling music artists of all time, second only to The Beatles. It is rare for any ABBA-related material to be sold and this is the first major ABBA piece to be offered at auction.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video/blogs/all-blogs/sotheby-s-at-large/2015/08/abba-grand-piano.html?cmp=social_twitter_blog+post_LDN_27_aug_15

ARTICLE FROM SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

ABBA's Dancing Queen piano to go under the hammer in London

he piano used to play the glissando that kicks off ABBA's disco hit 'Dancing Queen' will be one of the star attractions at a rock and pop auction at Sotheby's next month where it is expected to sell for up to $US1.24 million.

 The instrument comes with a certificate of authentication from ABBA co-founder Benny Andersson, who describes it as "one of a kind and a great source of inspiration".
It was designed by Swedish instrument-maker Georg Bolin and comes from the collection of Atlantis Grammofon, formerly known as Metronome Studios, in Stockholm where ABBA recorded the song released in 1976, Sotheby's said on Thursday.

Bolin's piano was built for the American jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans, who died in 1980. It was described in the New York Times in 1964 as a "Space-Age piano" that "gives the pianist the sensation of playing 'directly on the strings' as a guitarist would," Sotheby's said.

"The piano itself is an instrument of real importance and with the added ABBA provenance we expect it will have worldwide appeal," Philip Errington, Sotheby's Specialist in Books and Manuscripts, said in a statement. The London sale is scheduled for Sept 29.
Sotheby's said John Lennon's Steinway upright piano, on which he composed "Imagine", sold for 1.67 million pounds in 2000 while the upright piano in Rick's Cafe in the movie "Casablanca" sold for $3.4 million in 2014.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/abbas-dancing-queen-piano-to-go-under-the-hammer-in-london-20150827-gj9i5t.html#ixzz3k1Xz8XHi

Mamma Mia! The Party - Tickets On Sale 25 August 2105 !

The tickets for MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY go on sale tomorrow (August 25th).

Read more about the party and how to buy tickets on our brand new website mammamiatheparty.com



Take part in a brand new experience.
A greek taverna. A Mediterranean menu.
ABBA’s songs and a party that never wants to end.
Welcome!

A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS

• Food is included in the ticket price.
• Age limit is 18, 13 if accompanied by an adult.
• The party will last for at least four hours.
• Your whole group will be seated together.
• The dialogue is in Swedish, with ABBA songs in English.
• Drinks are not included with ticket and can be purchased at Tyrol.
• Time of arrival varies, but can be found on your ticket.
• Tables are reserved in the order they are booked.
• Contact Tyrol for special requests regarding food.
• For larger groups, email ticket@mammamiatheparty.com.

http://mammamiatheparty.com/#mammamia

A Childhood ABBA Memory From Australia

For some reason, this particular image has always been stuck in the back of my mind since the 70's - I remember seeing it again for the first time as an adult after not seeing, or looking at, ABBA things for a very long time, and my heart did a little bit of a flutter. I remember so clearly absolutely loving this picture in the 70's. Apart from the few film clips, and the Bandstand Special, we saw very few images of ABBA before the memorabilia market went crazy in this country in late 1976. So, of course, once the memorabilia became available, it was heaven :)
All these new images of ABBA ! Pictures of ABBA in other countries, doing all sorts of things including performing on stage - amazing and wonderful. For some reason though, among all of this new amazing ABBA imagery, this picture hit my heart at the time. And when I think about it, I think it is because it made me believe that one day I could be that close to ABBA, getting an autograph - this was not just a staged group shot - this was ABBA walking in a normal street among people and you could get that close to them ! I reckon that all Aussie kids had this image of ABBA in their minds when they toured here in 1977. Maybe that's why we seemed so crazy at the time - we all believed we would be able to get up close and personal to them. Unfortunately for us though, there were too many of us, which made that impossible - unlike the situation in this picture :)
Tens of thousands of adoring fans could make walking the streets a little overwhelming I guess lol
This picture was used on the Aussie bubblegum cards, which I adored (and still do) and the card was where I first saw this image - and that was all it took - one very small picture on a trading card. It always brings back those wonderful feelings and memories of being a young girl in Australia at the beginning, and at the height of, ABBAmania in this country. It was something to behold. I know there are many ABBA fans around the world - all with their own memories of the beginning of the love. But I really do feel that nothing could possibly compare to the love affair Australia had with ABBA in the 1970's - and I feel so blessed - not only that I was lucky enough to be there for that most amazing time - but that I was one of those that felt the love - so deeply that it has continued for 40 years. What an absolutely magical time it was in my life - the most profound and deeply moving time. Apart from all the obvious reasons, this is why I am still such a devoted ABBA fan - because one image can evoke such a range of memories and emotions that they sometimes make me cry. I am truly lucky.

Scanlens Bubblegum Trading Card

And how perfect that they put this beautiful photo on a t-shirt as well :)

and in 'The Fabulous ABBA' Poster Book - although reversed:

 

and on the Sticker Sheet :)

Frida Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set - Pre-Order Now !

Limited Edition ! Only 2000 copies available - don't miss out !

For those that trust Amazon even without images, some are pre-ordering from them when the item can be found on that site.

Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0116F2PDM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B0116F2PDM&linkCode=as2&tag=superdeluxeed-21

Amazon Italy:

http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0116F2PDM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=3370&creative=24114&creativeASIN=B0116F2PDM&linkCode=as2&tag=superdeluxe0d-21

* Appears to be sold out on all sites at the moment - I will update here if any more show up.

Frida 'Something's Going On' Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set !

Pre-order now from ABBA The Museum Webshop here:

http://www.abbathemuseum.com/en/shop-en

Price is approximately $64.00AUD plus postage.

This autumn Frida of ABBA will celebrate her 70th birthday. To honour this special occasion, Polar Music will release a super limited edition version of the 1982 album "SOMETHING'S GOING ON" on October 23rd 2015.

The boxed set is strictly limited to 2000 copies and contains liner notes written by Frida, as well as a hand-signed art card!

The full contents includes a remastered CD version of "Something's Going On", a DVD featuring a "Making Of" documentary, promo videos and interviews from 1982, a signed art card, a 7" single of the song "I Know There's Something Going On/You Know What I Mean", and a booklet with liner notes written by Frida.

When first released in September 1982, "Something's Going On" reached number one on the album charts in Sweden, went Top 5 in Norway and Belgium, as well as going Top 10 in Australia, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. The single "I Know There's Something Going On" has sold over 3 million copies alone since release. The album is produced by Phil Collins.


CD

1. Tell Me It's Over
2. I See Red
3. I Got Something
4. Strangers
5. To Turn The Stone
6. I Know There's Something Going On
7. Threnody
8. Baby Don't You Cry No More
9. The Way You Do
10. You Know What I Mean
11. Here We'll Stay
12. I Know There's Something Going On (Single Edit)
13. Here we'll stay (solo version)

DVD
1. Something's Going On - The Making Of A Record Album [Documentary]
2. I See Red [Promo Video]
3. To Turn The Stone [Promo Video]
4. I Know There's Something Going On [Promo Video]
5. Here We'll Stay [Promo Video]
6. Kanal 3, Interview with Lars-Ragnar Forssberg [Interview]
7. Casablanca, Interview With Helen Benno [Interview]

7" SINGLE
1. I Know There's Something Going On [A-side]
2. You Know What I Mean [B-side]

Universal Working On New Frida Releases !

Apparently Universal are working on a few projects scheduled for release around October, in preparation for Fridas' 70th birthday. A vinyl single edition of "Slowly" (B-side to be confirmed) and a box set edition of Something's Going On are allegedly on the cards. We'll let you know more when we have any definite news.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/633284996695782/

+++ Information +++
A lot of you have been contacting the site in recent days after seeing on-line stores advertising things such as a vinyl release of Slowly and a box set edition of Something's Going On.
We cannot tell you much about these items at this stage.

But Frida has confided in us that Universal is putting together something special to mark her 70th birthday later this year.
However we are not allowed to reveal much more at this stage.
But please keep an eye on this site because when there is news that we can officially release then we will certainly post this for you.

https://www.facebook.com/homagetoannifridlyngstad?fref=ts 

Trundle ABBA Festival 2016 - Tent Town

COO-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

It’s time to organize your costumes as it’s on again in 2016

Hello to the campers of Trundle ABBA Festival – 2015

One would hate you to miss out …….

Tent numbers for the 2016 event have already surpassed this years’, 2015 event (thanks to the Landline exposure)

Registration is a must – priority will be given to those that attended this year..

Organise your groups and pay later, if need to.

http://www.tent-town.com.au/trundle-abba-festival/

Trundle have organized further ABBA activities for Late PM Friday and Sunday AM.

Confirmation will be displayed on their website in the very near future – stay tuned.

http://www.trundleabbafestival.com/

or

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trundle-ABBA-Festival/222733167816456

This years’ winner for free tent accommodation at 2016 is Sue L. (winners name was drawn from a hat).

Sue will be notified by mail later today.

More tents will be given away and no doubt refunds will occur.

2016 will be more organized than this year - the Gallipoli trip took care of that.

Sorry for any inconvenience, if any.

For those that have enquired of my child bride – thank you.

Vicki is now back home after a 4 month stay in hospital (was real sick and still is…..)

The last 4.5 weeks have been testing to say the least and unfortunately one does not know what the future holds.

Please do not forget that Trundle need your help.

Your attendance means the world to them.

So, on behalf of the towns folk we thank you all in anticipation,

Peter Crewes

                                                  P.O. Box 9357    BATHURST    2795

                                                              0428 - 378 – 088

                                                          peter@tent-town.com.au

                                                            www.tent-town.com.au