ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions Book Update - Carl Magnus Palm

ABBA: The Complete Recording Sessions

by Carl Magnus Palm

After an extremely successful Crowd Funding campaign in April 2015, much research, work and effort by Carl - and much anticipation from fans around the world, this fabulous book is soon to be launched !

The Official book launch will take place on 8 April in London with books expected to be shipped to buyers on 31 March 2017 - so we may all have them in time for the launch :)

If you haven't already pre-ordered this book, be aware that it will not be available in stores to buy later.
You can still order your copy here though as well as buy tickets to the Book Launch event:

The Complete Recording Sessions

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The book launch sounds like a fabulous event - wish I could be there !
Some of the event details:

★ Carl Magnus Palm presents ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions
★ Saturday 8 April 2017 from 16:00

The world's foremost ABBA historian and consultant to Polar Music, Carl Magnus Palm, will celebrate the publication of his new book ‘ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions’ in a unique event hosted in Hammersmith, London.

★ Carl Magnus will travel from Stockholm to take you behind the scenes of the Polar Music archives where all of ABBA’s recordings - published and unreleased - are stored;

★ Maria Nicholas, the book’s designer, will travel from New York to present the process of bringing the book to life;

★ By special permission of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, a professional pianist and two vocalists will perform unreleased melodies and/or lyrics which were recorded by ABBA and exist only in the Polar Music archives;

★ Signed copies of the book will ship on 31st March 2017, but attendees may choose to collect their copy in person.

★ Carl Magnus will answer questions from the audience and sign copies of his other books.

★ A selection of merchandise related to the book will be available.

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Carl has done some recent interviews about the book including one for Australian SBS radio with Johan Gabrielsson - you can listen to the interview here:

SBS Radio Interview

Check out more about the book on Carl's own site here:

Carl Magnus Palm

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Nice article about the book on Swedish site M3:

Swedish Article

Rough English Translation (you would think Google Translate would be better at this by now)

March 31, 2017 are given "ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions" in a new edition containing previously unknown details of how the group recorded their hit songs.Originally published author Carl Magnus Palm Paper in 1994. The content was based on information that the author unearthed, as well as interviews with all members of ABBA and the key people who worked with them in the studio.In the 20 years that have passed since then, new information about the group carefully frammejslade music come and Carl Magnus Palm has put hundreds of hours of additional research: all of this has now been incorporated into the new version of "ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions ".

 
Memories of musicians and sound engineers who are not interviewed for the original book are also included in the revised and expanded edition. Some of them have rarely or never been interviewed about their collaboration with ABBA. The book is reworked from scratch and includes more than three times as much text as the original edition.The new edition of "ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions" offers hitherto unknown facts about how ABBA was working and constantly worked on their music, how they cut off long pieces of the recordings to make the songs more "catchy", how they could change texts and arrangements of the same song, and how the same melody fragments could be tested in a variety of tracks before it finally ended up in the right place.

The book also tells about how Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Frida worked on their music and what they think today about the songs they once played in - they are not always entirely positive. In addition, the book contains five detailed texts about what happened when an ABBA song was created, from the melody was written to the mix. The work is in various eBook - and paper format and can be pre-ordered for about 350 SEK and up. 

Why Were ABBA Recorded At The Royal Albert Hall In 1977 ?

Great post from Carl Magnus Palm about research for the revised & expanded edition of his fabulous book 'ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions'.

Check out details for the book here:

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/books/abba-the-complete-recording-sessions-expanded-edition/faq

I pre-ordered my copy way back and cannot wait until it is completed - very exciting ! :)

"When wrong turns into right"

• Why were ABBA recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 1977?

I've mentioned a number of times how I've long been itching to revise and update ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions, and how good it feels to finally be able to do that. The main reason, of course, is to help us all know and understand more about how ABBA wrote and recorded their music, through listening to unreleased alternate mixes and so on. But almost as important is the opportunity to correct the errors and misconceptions of the original edition.

I was reminded of this the other day as I was revising the section about the recording made of one of ABBA's Royal Albert Hall concerts in February 1977. As far as I've been able to ascertain, no filming was made at this venue for inclusion in what was to become ABBA - The Movie, as stated in the original edition of the book (I don't quite remember where that information came from), since it had long since been decided to film ABBA's concerts in Australia in March. Nor, it seems, was the 24-track-recording made to serve as a soundtrack to such a film - it wasn't even commissioned by Polar but by... Furthermore, the recording as such was produced by... And the reason for the making the recording was probably... Well, those details, along with other corrected stories and innumerable brand new insights into ABBA's songs and recordings, will be revealed in the revised and updated edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions.

Support this exciting book project by pre-ordering your copy (which will be personally signed to you) here:

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/books/abba-the-complete-recording-sessions-expanded-edition/faq#Where%20can%20I%20pre-order%20this%20book?

Carl Magnus Palm - ABBA Bang A Boomerang !

Bang-A-Boome-what?

Published May 22, 2015

Here's an end-of-week report from my tape-listening sessions for the revised and updated edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions. Pre-order your copy here: igg.me/at/abbatcrs

Among the alternate ABBA mixes I've listened to this week are a handful of tracks from the ABBA album (the eponymous LP that was at number one in Sweden this time 40 years ago). At least two of those mixes were of the mind-blowing or at least surprising variety: both songs are perfectly recognisable, of course, but the choices made during mixing are often very different from how they ended up sounding in the familiar versions that we've lived with for the past four decades.

I've also reacquainted myself with the original version of 'Bang-A-Boomerang'. If you have the original edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions, you will recall that this first take had a different arrangement and also verses with a completely different melody. This puts the spotlight on one of the really nice things about this revised and updated version of the book. Back in 1993, when I listened to tapes together with Björn, Benny and Michael Tretow, we had a lot of material to go through, so there simply wasn't time to listen to each track more than once or twice, forcing me to frantically make notes, so that I would be able to make some kind of meaningful description of what I heard.

In the case of 'Bang-A-Boomerang', which I believe we only heard once, I scribbled down a few key words such as "no galloping" (referring to the rhythm), "lots of acoustic guitars" and "partly different melody in the verses". Well, thanks to a rough mix that was made back in the day I am now able to listen to the recording over and over again, write down the lyrics, define exactly which parts are different and which carried over to the released version, time it for length - and, generally, make a more accurate and detailed description.

If you want to know all about that rare version of 'Bang-A-Boomerang', as well as the other discoveries I'm making in the archives, pre-order your copy of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions here: igg.me/at/abbatcrs

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/blogs/abba-blog/bang-a-boome-what

Listening to alternate ABBA mixes at the Polar Music offices in the Universal Music building in Stockholm:

ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions Revised And Expanded - A Reality !!

It's true !

The new revised and expanded edition of ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions book will now be a reality !

The crowd funding campaign reached 100% yesterday and it still has 12 days to go !

How exciting !!

Remember that this is a now or never deal - if you do not pre-order the hard copy before the campaign ends, you will miss out. This book will not be available in bookstores !

So order your copy right now:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/abba-the-complete-recording-sessions/x/6563392

A little message from Carl:

"This person would like to thank everyone who's contributed, spread the word and wished him well over the past few months. Your enthusiasm and generosity of spirit have given him the opportunity to create a vastly improved version of the book he first published 21 years ago (at which time the attached video still was shot). So THANK YOU!"

Wasn't he cute ? And so young ! :D

https://www.facebook.com/carlmagnus.palm.3?fref=nf&pnref=story

ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions - Project Update

My book on ABBA's recording history, ABBA: The Complete Recording Sessions, will be published in a completely revised, updated and expanded edition. Originally published in 1994, this new edition will feature more details on exactly how ABBA wrote and recorded their music, including classic hits such as ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘The Winner Takes It All’.

I've been authorised by ABBA’s record company, Polar Music International/ Universal Music, and ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson to listen to more unreleased music, alternate takes, and alternate mixes. The scope of the book has also been expanded to feature a lot more information about ABBA and their music: how it was packaged, received by the critics, and much more.

Please note: The book will only be published if it is successfully funded through this Indiegogo campaign.

You can pre-order the revised, updated and expanded edition of ABBA: The Complete Recording Sessions in two different formats:

1. Printed hardcover format shipped to your address anywhere in the world

2. ebook (electronic book) format supported by Sony Reader, Kindle, iBooks, Nook, and most other readers and devices.

When you pre-order, your contribution will be immediately withdrawn from your credit card or PayPal account. If the campaign does not reach its goal, you will automatically receive a refund.
You can contribute as many times as you like and choose as many perks as you like. If you’d like to contribute on behalf of a friend, or several friends, this option is also now available.

Check out all the details for the project and the Crowdfunding details here:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/abba-the-complete-recording-sessions/x/6563392

Order your chosen version - maybe both - now !!

Pledge Now ! ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions

The return of the groundbreaking book, with more details on ABBA’s recording secrets, alternate takes and unreleased mixes.

Support this release and Pledge now !

Available only through this Kickstarter page!

PROJECT SUMMARY

My first ABBA book, ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions, will be issued in a completely revised, updated and expanded edition. Originally published in 1994, this new edition will feature more details on exactly how ABBA wrote and recorded their music, including classic hits such as ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘The Winner Takes It All’. I've been authorised by Polar Music International/Universal Music (the group’s record company) and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson to listen to more unreleased music. The scope of the book has also been expanded to feature a lot more information about ABBA and their music: how it was packaged, received by the critics, and much more.

Please note: The book will only be published if it is successfully funded through this Kickstarter campaign.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1832368278/abba-the-complete-recording-sessions-revised-and-e

ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions - More Info

Two weeks 'til crowdfunding blast-off...

Published January 14, 2015

 

Today, it's exactly two weeks until the crowdfunding campaign for the revised, updated and expanded edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions kicks off. All the pieces are beginning to fall into place and I'm really looking forward to pushing the launch button. Here are a few random thoughts at this particular point in time.

THE NUMBER OF PAGES IN THE BOOK

As I hinted in my previous blog, my initial page count estimate proved to be insufficient. After discussing the matter with my designer and the printer, we're now looking at somewhere between 400 and 500 pages (originally I'd thought we'd land somewhere between 300 and 400). A little more than I had envisioned, then - but this is no time to compromise on the inclusion of interesting information about ABBA's recorded work, is it?

THANK YOU

Since I first announced the plans to publish an updated edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions about a month ago, I've had a fantastic reaction from the ABBA fan community. There is so much enthusiasm out there that I'm really overwhelmed. Some have even reached out and offered to help out with information and materials - to say that I'm touched and grateful is a gross understatement. Every author of ambitious factual books knows that there is no way you can do absolutely everything by yourself, you always rely on people helping out through enthusiasm for what you're trying to achieve and with no other reward than the gratitude of the author. I'd like to extend a warm thanks to everyone who has shown their support so far, whether through offering to help or simply showing their support for the project.

AND, FINALLY, A REMINDER...

More information about the updated version of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions can be found here. It's easy to be notified of updates about the book and the upcoming crowdfunding campaign by following me on Facebook or on Twitter. (If you're worried that you're going to be inundated with updates and tweets, fear not - I seldom post things not related to my work, and you will usually only hear from me a few times every week, at the most.)

Please keep on spreading the word about the crowdfunding campaign, which starts on 28 January: ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions will only be published if the campaign succeeds.

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/blogs/abba-blog/two-weeks-til-crowdfunding-blast-off

ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions - more about new features

Published January 11, 2015

These are interesting times at CMP headquarters.

As I revealed in my previous blog, Maria Nicholas has come on board as the designer for the revised, updated and expanded edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions. I have a few finished chapters of the book - finished in the sense that they have a structure, and a beginning, middle and end; there is still much information to be added to the texts. Earlier this week Maria took one of the chapters and created a sort of "test layout" for it. I learned two things from this: a) Maria knows what she's doing and the text looks really nice on the page, and b) there is no way this is going to be a 300-page book, as I thought might possibly be the case. We're looking at 400 pages - possibly more, but we'll see what happens as we fine-tune the page designs.
I certainly don't want this to turn into a massive, unmanageable book, so in order to keep the page count on a sensible level, some of the new features I intended to include in the book are now in jeopardy. After all, the story of ABBA's recording sessions, and how they created their music in general, is what this book is all about, so my number one priority will be to make sure that all those stories and details are included in the book.
That said, the features revealed in my previous blog will definitely remain. And another new feature that's also a sure-fire inclusion is the "sidebars", or "separate articles", focusing on interesting aspects related to ABBA as a musical entity. For instance, one such article could be entitled "Agnetha and Frida as vocalists". This article would focus on ABBA's two lead singers, their special qualities and methods, and so on. Another article could be "Janne Schaffer", giving the reader some background info on one of ABBA's most frequently used studio guitarists. If you have the original edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions, you will perhaps remember that the subjects mentioned as examples here are already featured in the text, but I think the book will benefit from presenting these indepth features as separate articles in the book - and with more detail, of course. I also have ideas for completely new themes to explore in these articles.

I will return with more information about the book in a future blog. As I'm writing this it's only 17 days until the crowdfunding campaign starts on Wednesday 28 January - exciting...!
More information about the updated version of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions can be found here. It's easy to be notified of updates about the book by following me on Facebook or on Twitter. (If you're worried that you're going to be inundated with updates and tweets, fear not - I seldom post things not related to my work, and you will usually only hear from me a few times every week, at the most.)

ABBA The Complete Recording Sessions Update

More info about the new edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions.

Published December 28, 2014

 

If you're interested in the stories and details of how ABBA wrote and recorded their music, there are exciting times ahead. After many years of requests from fans, I will finally go back to the book ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions, which was first published in 1994, and present a revised and expanded edition. If all goes well, that is.
I've long wanted to revisit the book and ever since I started thinking seriously about it I've known that I would want to self-publish. Why? One reason is that by the very nature of the book - the details about how ABBA created their music - it was always going to be a "special interest" title, meaning that it would have a comparatively small readership but one that would be very interested in taking part of its contents. That would mean that although there might be publishers who would be interested in publishing the book, the edition would be so small that they wouldn't be able to offer me the kind of money I would need to spend adequate time on truly updating and improving upon the book (I should add that we're not talking about millions of dollars here, but even the relatively small amount I would need would be too much). However, by cutting out as many middle-men as possible, I would be able to put together a budget for the book allowing me to do such things as eat and pay the rent during the lenghty period of writing and researching.
Another reason for self-publishing is that I, as the author, want to have full control of the project. What will the book look like? My decision. When is the deadline for submitting the manuscript? My decision. When will it be published? My decision. This need for control is not because I'm a raging egomaniac, but simply because I want the book to be the best I could possibly make it - that would be my priority rather than having it out "in time for the Christmas market" or whatever other priorities a regular publisher would have (those priorities are completely understandable, but would be a hindrance for the kind of book I want to create). In other words, I want to make a book for the committed readers out there, rather than the casual browser.
The revised, upated and expanded edition of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions will be a lot thicker than the original edition - I'm looking at somewhere between 300 and 400 pages; probably closer to 400 than 300, actually. By comparison, the original edition comprised 128 pages. There will be A LOT more text in the new edition, plus all kinds of relevant illustrations, so that's why the book will be so much thicker.
With the ambitions I have, and the fact that I want it to be a good-looking, full-colour book, nicely produced and printed on nice paper, coupled with the fact that it's going to be a comparatively small edition, the book is going to be more expensive than the average book. The entire project has to carry all its costs. There is no financial backer investing in it from the goodness of his or her heart - the entire project will be financed by you, dear prospective reader. So, if you're interested in seeing this book become a reality, please back the crowdfunding campaign when it starts on 28 January 2015.
More information about the updated version of ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions can be found here.
More details about the contents of the book in my next blog. Watch this space...

Carl Magnus Palm

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/blogs/abba-blog/more-info-about-the-new-edition-of-abba-the-complete-recording-sessions