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 :)

Friday 16 June 2017

ABBA Honoured With Plaque - Brighton Dome 2017

 



 

ABBA Honoured For BBC Music Day 2017

ABBA have been awarded a blue plaque by the local BBC Radio station in the county of Sussex in the United Kingdom. In total 47 blue plaques were today awarded as part of BBC’s Music Day.


Today, ABBA have been awarded one of the 47 blue plaques awarded by BBC Sussex for BBC’s Music Day. The blue plaques have been awarded to people and places that have influenced the music industry. This is an unusual event as usually only one or two plaques are awarded each year.


Photo by: Nick Linazasoro
Photo by: Nick Linazasoro
Photo by: Nick Linazasoro

Abba’s victory in 1974 at the Eurovision Song Contest at the Brighton Dome launched their career and changed the face of music. We are proud to celebrate Brighton’s connection with these international superstars whose music continues to inspire and bring joy to millions of people around the world.
BBC Sussex assistant editor Mark Carter.

The plaque will be placed at the Brighton Dome which was the venue for the 19th Eurovision Song Contest where ABBA famously won the 1974 contest with Waterloo. It will be unveiled tonight live on BBC Sussex between 18:30-19:00 GMT. Popular ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be giving a special performance at the event at the Pavilion Gardens.

This particular Blue Plaque is one of 47 unveiled around the country on BBC Music Day (Thursday 15 June). It was announced by BBC Local Radio, BBC Asian Network and the British Plaque Trust to commemorate people or places that have influenced the musical landscape across the country. The plaques were chosen by a panel of experts after the BBC asked radio listeners to send in their nominations. 


Photo by: Nick Linazasoro
Photo by: Nick Linazasoro

https://www.facebook.com/whatsonbrighton/

Further sites to receive a blue plaque include the Soho studio where David Bowie recorded Ziggy Stardust and Hounds pub in Caversham, Berkshire, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney played their only gig as The Nerk Twins.

https://www.eurovisionary.com/abba-honoured-bbcs-music-day/ 



Click this link to watch an awesome video message from Benny & Bjorn to BBC after ABBA were awarded the blue plaque at Brighton Dome:

https://www.facebook.com/BBCSouthEastToday/videos/10155501186343648/

This is however, not the first plaque that ABBA have in UK.
They also have this plaque at Brighton Marina Walk Of Fame :)




Check out all the details including recipients for the BBC Music Day 2017 Event here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e6fmbp 

The Blue Plaque have been used in Britain since the mid-1800’s to denote the locations of significant events in the lives of the famous and influential.


In a normal year, only two to a half dozen plaques are placed around the U.K. but, for this year’s BBC Music Day (June 15), 47 new Blue Plaques saluting important locations and people in music, are being added to the British landscape.

BBC English Regions controller David Holdsworth says: “It is hugely prestigious to receive a British Plaque Trust Blue Plaque, usually only around two are awarded each year. To mark BBC Music Day across BBC Local Radio with 47 blue plaques is a fitting way to commemorate our listeners’ passion and pride for where they live and to celebrate our musical heritage.”

Led Zeppelin are honored with two plaques including the location of their debut performance and the birthplace of John Bonham while three revolve around David Bowie.

http://www.noise11.com/news/uk-unveils-43-blue-plaques-recognising-music-history-20170616 



A Blue Plaque to be unveiled at Brighton Dome honouring music legends Abba is one of 47 announced today (Wednesday 14 June) by BBC Local Radio, BBC Asian Network and The British Plaque Trust, commemorating people or places that have influenced the musical landscape across the country.

 

BBC Sussex’s Blue Plaque, to go on Brighton Dome, will commemorate Abba who launched their career after winning the 19th Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden at the Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974.
The plaque will be unveiled on BBC Music Day (Thursday 15 June) between 6.45pm and 7pm, live on BBC Sussex. Bjorn Again will be performing Waterloo in the Pavilion Gardens shortly after the unveiling and everyone is invited to come down and join in the celebrations.
Each year Brighton Dome plays host to over 600 events spanning music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature, spoken word, visual arts, film and more as well as producing England's leading and most-progressive mixed-arts celebration, the internationally-acclaimed Brighton Festival. Since becoming a music venue in 1867, Brighton Dome has hosted artists as varied as Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Nina Simone and Beyonce.
Other artists including David Bowie, John Peel and Sandy Denny will receive Blue Plaques in their honour. The full list of recipients can be found here.

http://brightondome.org/news_blog

Five interesting facts about Brighton’s Eurovision:

1. The 19th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 should have actually been held in Luxembourg as they had won the 1973 competition with Anne-Marie David singing Tu Te Reconnaitras. However, as they had also won in 1972 and faced the expense of hosting the contest again, they decided that they could not afford to host it for a second year in a row.

2. The runner up of the 1974 Brighton Dome Eurovision Song Contest was Gigliola Cinquetti from Italy singing Si and she had participated and won it ten years earlier in 1964 in Copenhagen. 

3. In 1974 the UK was represented by British born Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, who grabbed fourth place with Long Live Love, just behind the Netherlands.

4. The Brighton competition was hosted by prim-and-proper Katie Boyle, who had returned to host it for the fourth time – the previous times were in 1968, 1963 and 1960.

5. There were 17 countries taking part in 1974 and every country scored some points, so no nil points this year!

http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2017/06/16/brighton-dome-gets-abba-winning-eurovision-song-contest-blue-plaque/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook





 

Friday 9 June 2017

Bjorn In Copyright Meeting - June 2017 - Press Release

From the left: MEP Axel Voss, Björn Ulvaeus and ECSA President Alfons Karabuda

Press release: Copyright Meeting with Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA)

Brussels, 8 June 2017

Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) at high-level copyright meeting in the European Parliament.
 
Composer, songwriter and ABBA-member Björn Ulvaeus joined ECSA President Alfons Karabuda and MEP Axel Voss in a call to close the value gap and make sure that online platforms fairly remunerate creators. The introduction of a rights reversion mechanism in EU law was also discussed. Around 40 participants from the European Parliament, including the first Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness, participated in the exclusive exchange.



It means a lot that the members of the European Parliament got to meet a real life songwriter, especially one that has contributed so much to the musical history as Björn Ulvaeus. It is important that those who fund our laws get an insight into what copyright and a fair value chain actually means for the possibility of creating immortal music, both now and in the future, said ECSA President Alfons Karabuda.
During the two-hour meeting with the MEPs, Mr. Ulvaeus addressed the issues of value gap and rights reversion. He also pressed the importance of a functioning copyright law and stated that the concept of copyright gives composers and songwriters time to concentrate on what they do best: create music.

The event was hosted by Mr. Axel Voss (EPP) and was attended by around 40 participants from the European Parliament and the European Commission, amongst others, Mrs. Sabine Verheyen (EPP), Mrs. Jytte Guteland (S&D) and Mrs. Agata Gerba from the EC Copyright Unit.

For press contact or in case of questions, please contact ECSA Secretary General Patrick Ager at patrick.ager@composeralliance.org or +32 2 544 03 33.



Wednesday 7 June 2017

ABBA Solo Albums Reissues 2017 - Coloured Vinyl !! Updated 9 June 2017



Solo Albums Reissue !

Six ABBA Solo Albums Due For 180g Vinyl Reissue On 28 July, In Black And Limited-Edition Coloured Run 

ABBA: four letters; four unique talents. Collectively, Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are known for creating some of the most vital pop music in the world; individually, however, they were just as creative.
Their solo albums may sometimes remain best-kept secrets for ABBA’s long-term fans, but, taken together, they see the four individual members explore a range of styles, from the understated folk-rock leanings of Björn and Benny’s 1970 outing, Lycka, to the contemporary pop-rock of Anni-Frid’s 1982 album Something’s Going On, which was produced by none other than Phil Collins and went on to become the first English-language solo album by an ABBA member – and the best-selling ABBA solo album to date.
In 1985, Agnetha Fältskog enjoyed similar success with the globe-trotting Eyes Of A Woman (it featured contributions from seasoned British musicians, among them The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward, and was produced by 10cc’s Eric Stewart), which comfortably became a hit around the world, entering the Top 40 in the UK, the Top 20 in Norway, and peaking at No.2 in her Swedish homeland.
Which, for ABBA, of course, is where it all began. The low-key, Swedish-language Lycka might be credited to Björn and Benny, but Agnetha and Anni-Frid lent their vocal talents to the hit single ‘Hej, gamle man!’ (‘Hey, Old Man!’). Topped the Swedish Svensktoppen chart for 15 weeks in 1970, the song holds a special place in history, as it marks the first time that all four ABBA members sang together on record.
With original artwork, 180g vinyl and a download card, these reissues are essential for all fans of ABBA’s music. A limited run of coloured versions will also be made, more details of which are below.

Björn Ulvaeus And Benny Andersson: Lycka (1970; blue-and-yellow vinyl)
Side One: Lycka, Nånting är på väg, Kära gamla sol, Det där med kärlek, Välkommen in i gänget, Lilla du, lilla vän
Side Two: Hej, gamle man!, Liselott, Kalles visa, Ge oss en chans, Livet går sin gång
Frida: Ensam (1975; white vinyl)
Side One: Fernando, Jag är mej själv nu, Som en sparv, Vill du låna en man, Liv på Mars?, Syrtaki
Side Two: Aldrig mej, Guld och gröna ängar, Ett liv i solen, Skulle de’ va’ skönt, Var är min clown

Frida: Something’s Going On (1982; violet vinyl)
Side One: Tell Me It’s Over, I See Red, I Got Something, Strangers, To Turn The Stone
Side Two: I Know There’s Something Going On, Threnody, Baby Don’t You Cry No More, The Way You Do, You Know What I Mean, Here We’ll Stay

Frida: Shine (1984; light green vinyl)
Side One: Shine, One Little Lie, The Face, Twist In The Dark, Slowly
Side Two: Heart Of The Country, Come To Me (I Am Woman), Chemistry Tonight, Don’t Do It, Comfort Me
Agnetha Fältskog: Wrap Your Arms Around Me (1983; pink vinyl)
Side One: The Heat Is On, Can’t Shake Loose, Shame, Stay, Once Burned, Twice Shy, Mr. Persuasion
Side Two: Wrap Your Arms Around Me, To Love, I Wish Tonight Could Last Forever, Man, Take Good Care Of Your Children, Stand By My Side
Agnetha Fältskog: Eyes Of A Woman (1985; red vinyl)
Side One: One Way Love, Eyes Of A Woman, Just One Heart, I Won’t Let You Go, The Angels Cry, Click Track
Side Two: We Should Be Together, I Won’t Be Leaving You, Save Me (Why Don’t Ya), I Keep Turning Off Lights, We Move As One

http://www.abbasite.com/solo-albums-reissue/ 

Pre-order now from ABBA The Museum Webshop- just click on News !

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

You can also pre-order the albums from Amazon now !

And from the Official International Fan Club:

http://www.abbafanclubshop.com/

Ready to be sent off to the printers !!









Saturday 3 June 2017

ABBA Dabba Blue - Carlton's Marketing Masterstoke - Australia 1977

ABBA Dabba Blue - Carlton's Marketing Masterstoke

Tony De Bolfo, Carlton Media

It's 40 years now since Carlton’s then General Manager Keith “Caper” McKenzie somehow found a way to get the better halves of Swedish supergroup ABBA decked out in dark Navy Blue guernseys.
That happened on the morning of Saturday, March 5, 1977, when Frida and Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad, together with their husbands Bjorn and Benny, lobbed at Tullamarine Airport to fulfil their obligations in two shows at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of the band’s Australian musical tour.
In a previous interview with this reporter, McKenzie, now 95, vividly recalled the chain of events which led to Agnetha and Frida sporting the famous playing tops, in one of the all-time great club marketing triumphs.

“When we knew they were about to land at Tullamarine I told our marketing bloke Michael Whitewood, ‘Grab a couple of guernseys, get up to the airport and take them out to ABBA’,” McKenzie said.
“The band later headed out to Western Australia to play four shows wearing the jumpers. I don’t know what guernsey numbers they got, but it was a real coup.”
 
McKenzie remembered meeting with the members of ABBA, then in town for three shows at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. At that time they were holed up at the Old Melbourne Motor Inn on nearby Flemington Road, during which time they were also accorded a civic reception at the Melbourne Town Hall.

The Carlton Football Club was the least of ABBA’s concerns, on what was an exhilarating if hazardous ’77 tour. Agnetha, in a later interview with Brita Ahman, described the tour as “the most incredible of all the things that I experienced with ABBA . . . there was fever, there was hysteria, there were ovations (and) there were sweaty, obsessed crowds”.

“Sometimes it was awful,” she conceded. “I felt as if they would get hold of me and I’d never get away again. It was as if I was going to be crushed. On occasions they would grab hold of us in the most unpleasant ways and there were times when we cried once we were inside the car.

“No one who has experienced facing a screaming, boiling, hysterical crowd could avoid feeling shivers up and down their spine. It’s a thin line between ecstatic celebration and menace. It can turn around in a flash.

“I don’t think anyone could stay the same after such an encounter. It affects your personality. It remoulds you and can be the source of phobias. Naturally, it depends on how sensitive you are. Nonetheless I never felt that my life was in danger in Australia. Enthusiasm and warmth were always present too.”

Frida and Agnetha are seen sporting their Carlton guernseys in ABBA - The Movie, which takes in the ’77 tour. Clearly, the top agreed with Agnetha, who two years later donned it again for the “Chiquitita” clip, which was apparently filmed in the lobby of the Central Hotel in Leysin, Switzerland, on February 15 in the Carlton premiership year of 1979.

On December 22 of that year, ABBA’s Chiquitita opened BBC2 UK’s "Christmas Snowtime Special", which also featured the likes of Bonnie Tyler (“It's a Heartache”), Leo Sayer (“When I Need You “), The Raes (“Gonna Burn my Boogie Shoes”) and The Jacksons (“Destiny”).

In the Chiquitita clip, Agnetha can be seen sporting the famous CFC monogram across her front. The clip later appeared on Australia television on a program hosted by Dame Edna Everage. In introducing the clip, the Dame, with typical humility, refers to ABBA as “a little group I prophesised would go a very long way indeed - a little cluster of scrumptious Swedes . . . I could really eat them up”.

The Club would dearly love to make contact with Agnetha to determine whether she and Frida still have their precious Carlton guernseys in their keep and what numbers might be on their backs.