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 :)

Sunday 11 December 2016

ABBA Photographer Torbjörn Calvero Passes Away December 2016



IN MEMORIAM: TORBJÖRN CALVERO

1949 - December 10th 2016

Sweden’s true rock photographer was without a doubt Torbjörn Calvero. His photographs were never over-arranged but rather reflect private encounters with the person on the other side of his lens. Torbjörn followed ABBA through their careers.

Torbjörn Calvero was born in 1949. His career as a photographer of artists began when he was still in his teens. In 1966 he took pictures of American singer P. J. Proby – it was the first time one of his photographs was published. This encouragement of his talent made him decide on a career in photography.

Torbjörn started socialising with Swedish artists such as Tommy Körberg, later one of the stars of Björn and Benny’s musical Chess. Tommy began using Torbjörn’s pictures for publicity purposes, while Torbjörn himself gradually became all the more popular with the Swedish weeklies.

In 1970, Torbjörn Calvero began taking pictures for Swedish record sleeves; his first such assignment came in 1970. This led to a successful collaboration with the major Swedish labels, and up until the mid-Eighties he photographed some 100 album sleeves. During the second half of the 1970s he also travelled regularly to the American west coast to photograph the mega-stars of the time, such as The Eagles and Emmylou Harris. His pictures were published regularly in Swedish weeklies.

Torbjörn took his first ABBA photographs in 1974 and was especially active with the group in the years 1978 and 1979. For example, it is his picture that adorns the sleeve of the Chiquitita single.

His fabulous little book of ABBA photographs and Limited Edition signed prints can still be purchased at ABBA The Museum Webshop here:

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

Some of the photo sessions with ABBA with links:

1978 Studio session with tights - 13 images










































Friday 9 December 2016

ABBA Album Reaches Number In Australia - 1975 !



Today in 1975, the ABBA album reaches number one in Australia, staying there for 11 weeks.


This was ABBA's third album release - second international release - and has the wonderful songs that shot them to the top in Australia - and finally around the world.

Hits include:

I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do - No. 1 in Australia
SOS - No. 1 in Australia
Mamma Mia - No. 1 in Australia

But it also contains other greats like I've Been Waiting For You, So Long, Bang A Boomerang & Rock Me - plus the amazing Intermezzo No.1.

This album went to Number 1 in Australia and was in the charts here for 65 weeks ! The only ABBA album to stay in longer was, of course, The Best Of ABBA.

Check out the Making Of The ABBA Album here:

http://www.abbasite.com/the-making-of-the-abba-album/


Following the Eurovision success of "Waterloo", ABBA saw the band gaining worldwide recognition. "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" topped the charts in Australia, as did "Mamma Mia" shortly after. "SOS" and "Mamma Mia" became hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and two of its most famous songs. The album saw ABBA dabble into reggae with "Tropical Loveland" and includes a grand pseudo-classical keyboard instrumental in the traditions of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman with "Intermezzo No. 1" (early working title: "Mama").

Pictures for the 'ABBA' LP sleeve were taken in the lobby at the Castle Hotel in Stockholm. One of the photos from this session features on the back of the album cover.
Today the hotel's name is "Riddargatan".

According to photographer Ola Lager, the photograph on the front of the glamorous sleeve was taken a couple of roads away from Polar Music offices at Baldersgatan.



Thursday 1 December 2016

Frida In Las Vegas With Olivia ! November 2016

ABBA Singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends Olivia Newton-John “Summer Nights” at Flamingo Las Vegas.

Spotted Tuesday night at Olivia Newton-John’s show, “Summer Nights,” at Flamingo Las Vegas, was singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA. Following the show, Anni-Frid visited with Olivia backstage for a photo opp (Photo courtesy of Kodak for Caesars Entertainment)

How fabulous that Frida attended Olivia's show. They do go back a long way :)

 

 

 

Friday 18 November 2016

Sunday 13 November 2016

ABBA Virtual Project - Dinner With Simon Fuller In London !


ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus join Simon Fuller for dinner in London after it's announced they're working on a 'groundbreaking venture'

They recently sparked excitement among their fans by announcing they were reuniting for a special virtual project.

And ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, 71, and Benny Andersson, 69, joined music mogul Simon Fuller, 56, to discuss business over dinner at Ristorante Frescobaldi in Mayfair, London, on Friday night.

The famous musicians put on dapper displays, with Bjorn wearing a grey overcoat covering a turquoise shirt as well as dark trousers, black shoes and a grey scarf.



Benny dressed in a black suit jacket, a grey sweater and white shirt. He teamed the items with black jeans and shiny black shoes.
The musician slicked back his mid-length locks and also wore specs and rocked a silver beard.



Simon looked in fine spirits smiling as he accompanied Bjorn to the eatery. He dressed all in black, combining a leather jacket with a shirt, smart trousers and Chelsea boots.



A full scale comeback might not be on the cards, but the pop quartet are set to give loyal fans the next best thing by reuniting for a ‘virtual digital entertainment experience’ in the new year.
The Swedish band have joined forces with Simon for the project, described as a ‘a groundbreaking venture that will utilise the very latest in digital and virtual-reality technology … which will enable a new generation of fans to see, hear, and feel ABBA in a way previously unimagined.’
In a statement released on Wednesday, Fuller explained: ‘We are exploring a new technological world that will allow us to create new forms of entertainment and content we couldn't have previously imagined,’ 



News of their latest venture comes 34-years after the band stopped recording as a group and four months after they reformed for a one-off concert at a private gala event in their native Stockholm. 

The group, comprised of married couples Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of all time after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974.
But after topping charts across mainland Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand South Africa, Ireland and the United Kingdom - where they scored eight consecutive number one albums - the band performed for the last time in 1982.
While never announcing a formal split, the group's retreat from the spotlight was believed to be prompted by the collapse of their marriages; both couples divorced in 1980.

Reflecting on their new project, Andersson said:  'We’re inspired by the limitless possibilities of what the future holds and are loving being a part of creating something new and dramatic here.
'A time machine that captures the essence of who we were. And are.' 

Lyngstad added: 'Our fans around the world are always asking us to reform and so I hope this new creation will excite them as much as it excites me!' 

Despite disbanding almost four decades ago, the group have maintained an enduring appeal thanks to their extensive back catalogue of hits, among them Waterloo, The Winner Takes It All, SOS and Dancing Queen. 
The enormously popular musical Mama Mia, which draws inspiration from the band's music, has also helped preserve their legacy while grossing for the £2 billion in revenue since its launch in 1999.
A film of the same name starring Colin Firth, Meryl Street and Pierce Brosnan was released in 2008.  
To celebrate the news, Google Play Music has released the most streamed ABBA songs globally. The top ten include favourites such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Friday 28 October 2016

ABBA Custom Items & Designs - Cushions, Bags And More !



I have been very excited lately about all the fabulous new ABBA Arrival items and the great news about a Virtual ABBA - and when I get excited, I cannot help myself from creating my own ABBA items.

Here are a few of the latest items.

These are all available for purchase along with other designs and plenty more items :)

Check them all out here:

ABBA Custom Products

Cushion Covers - various sizes



Tote Bags - various sizes






Scanlens Poster - 59cm x 84cm - available in other sizes


Scarves - Various designs - 140cm x 140cm


T-shirts - Various designs



I hope you enjoy my creations as much as I do !



Xmas Has Arrived At ABBA The Museum !



XMAS HAS ARRIVED AT
ABBA THE MUSEUM/WEBSHOP


ABBA CHRISTMAS BAUBLE
The annual ABBA Christmas bauble is here, this time all in white and gold.
$6.25USD each
ABBA THE CALENDAR
ABBA The Movie is having a 40 year anniversary so let’s celebrate every month of 2017 with a lovely picture from " ABBA The Movie ". Of course we also pin-pointed a few important days you should not miss..
$22.55USD



LIMITED EDITION ARRIVAL SINGLES VINYL BOX SET
Available in only 2000ex , for all ABBA fans & collectors.
$35.00USD
THE BANDANA
Our practical multiway bandana will keep you warm this season. Use it as a scarf, beanie, bandana or round your wrist, instructions on the wrapping. Available in black & pink.
$8.95USD

DISCO BALL KEYRING
Disco time-
The ABBA The Museum dico-ball keyring is a must!!
Available in pink & silver & gold
$5.35USD