ABBA Arrival 40th Anniversary - October 2016

Wow, can you believe it is 40 years since the fantastic album 'Arrival' was released ? And look at the gorgeous display at ABBA The Museum ! Love it !!

And we have been blessed with some fabulous releases to celebrate this momentous occasion - 7" picture discs of the biggest hits from the album, box set of coloured 7" vinyl, and of course the half speed masted 12" double vinyl.

I am still waiting for my items but I will take lots of pictures and add them here once they arrive - very exciting !

Arrival is the fourth studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was originally released in Sweden on 11 October 1976 by Polar Records. Recording sessions began in August 1975 and continued until September 1976 at Metronome and Glen studios in Stockholm, Sweden. It became one of ABBA's most successful albums to date, producing three of their biggest hits: "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You". Upon its original 1976 release, "Fernando", released as a single earlier the same year, did not appear on Arrival, but it was included on the Australian and New Zealand versions. Arrival was the best-selling album of 1977 in the United Kingdom and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The album was first released on Compact disc in 1984 and then re-issued in digitally remastered form a total of four times; first in 1997, then in 2001, 2005 as part of The Complete Studio Recordings box set, and again in 2006 (as a special Deluxe Edition).

The album reached number 1 in many countries:

Australia - selling almost as many copies as 'The Best Of ABBA'
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
West Germany

The single 'Fernando' stayed at number 1 in Australia for a huge 14 weeks and is still the biggest selling single of all time here.

 A fabulous TV Commercial for the album from 1976:

The hits:

Fernando - Don Lane Show Australia 1976

Dancing Queen:

Money Money Money:

Knowing Me Knowing You:

Two great little videos showing the vinyl singles playing on a record player from ABBA Official:

Dancing Queen Blue Vinyl 7"

Fernando 7" Picture Disc 

 
If you haven't ordered your 40th Anniversary items yet, check out some of the following links:

Arrival The Singles - Coloured Vinyl Box Set - remember this is a Limited Edition Box Set - it will sell out !

International:

Universal Store

The Sound Of Vinyl

7" Picture Discs & LP:

In Australia:

JB Hi-Fi  -  LP only

Red Eye Records  -  LP & Picture Discs

WOWHD  -  all formats

Don't miss out !

ABBA 'Arrival' 40th Anniversary Releases Confirmed ! Picture Discs Plus More !!

OMG !!

The releases for Arrival's 40th Anniversary have been confirmed and they are fabulous !!

A limited edition 7” box set will feature the four singles from the album – the worldwide No.1 smash hit ‘Dancing Queen’, along with ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘Fernando’ – all on coloured vinyl. This box will only be available through ABBA The Museum Shop and D2C shops.

You can pre-order all items at the following sites:

ABBA The Museum

The Sound Of Vinyl

uDiscover Music

‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘Fernando’ will be released separately as a limited-edition picture disc.
Finally, a 2LP, half-speed mastered, 45rpm cut of the original album will be released. This rare and specialised technique transforms difficult to cut high-end frequencies into relatively easy to cut mid-range frequencies. The result is a cut with excellent high frequency response and very solid and stable stereo images. In short, half-speed mastering produced a master of the highest quality that enables the pressing plant to produce a superlative record. The album reissue will include new liner notes including a brand new interview with Michael B Tretow, ABBA’s acclaimed producer and “fifth member”.


All products will be released October 7th 2016.

ABBA 'Arrival' 40th Anniversary Releases Coming Soon !

Well, it appears that 'Arrival' is going to be released on a Limited Edition 12" vinyl to celebrate the 40th Anniversary - release date is October/November at this point.

But wait, there's more ! 4 singles from the album will also be released on 7" vinyl and in their original Polar sleeves.

Singles being released are:

Dancing Queen
Fernando
Knowing Me Knowing You
Money Money Money

The Deluxe Edition of Arrival has also been re-issued in a jewel case.

The LP and singles can be pre-ordered now from WOWHD and Amazon as far as I can tell but will update information here as it comes to hand.

The LP is listed at over $70AUD so let's hope it's going to be something special !

Pre-order the vinyls here:

WOWHD

And don't forget to check out ABBA The Museum for the Anniversary T-shirt and badges !

ABBA The Museum Shop

Singles to be releases:

ABBA 1976 Fernando @ Midi Premiere - Rare Video Clip

Frida's 70th Birthday 15 November 2015

Have you sent your Birthday message for Frida's 70th Birthday on 15th November ? Time is running out - send your message now !

Also, be sure to make a donation to Frida's charity ‘Frida & Dan Daniell für Kinder’ (‘Frida & Dan Daniell for Children’) as a gift to Frida for her Birthday.

There are 2 ways to send a message and to donate:

1. Frida70

http://www.frida70.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Frida70thbirthday/


2. ABBA Intermezzo International Fan Club

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


Frida will be given all Birthday messages - and a list of all donations. What a lovely way to celebrate the 70th Birthday of this amazing & wonderful woman :)

If you just want to send a Birthday message, do it now before it's too late !

3. ABBA The Official Site

http://www.abbasite.com/happy-birthday-frida/

ABBA 'Arrival' Released Today In 1976

On the 11th of October 1976, ABBA's new album 'Arrival' was released in Sweden.

'Arrival' was the fourth album by ABBA and was originally released by Polar Records.

Upon its original 1976 release, 'Fernando', released as a single earlier the same year, did not appear on 'Arrival', but it was included on the South African, Australian, and New Zealand versions.

'Arrival' reached number 1 in Australia, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and West Germany and charted in many other countries.

The only country to sell more copies of this album than Australia ( 900,000 copies ) was West Germany, with sales just over 1,000,000.

To date, it is ABBA's most successful album, producing mega hits such as 'Dancing Queen', 'Money Money Money' and 'Knowing Me Knowing You'. Not to mention 'Fernando' in the countries where it was included on the album.
In Australia, only 'The Best Of ABBA' sold more copies.

It even managed to reach the top 20 in the US !

New ABBA Collection Item - Fernando Dress !

I am over the moon to find this Fernando dress - how amazing is this ?

And I was so lucky that the seller was so willing to help me out to get it to me really fasy so I could wear it recently at the Trundle ABBA Festival.

I felt special wearing it, that's for sure - and received so many comments on it, and so many people asked where it came from. They were then very disappointed to find out it came from Mexico in 1975.

I wonder if that was where Agnetha and Frida got their dresses from ?

And even more amazing - I now have a second dress. This one is pale green with slightly different embroidery and neckline. It needs slight repair though so will add a photo after that is done :)

The second Fernando Dress.
This one is closer to my size - a little smaller than the first one - and has a slightly rounded neckline.
I love this one - even though it is a very pale green, rather than white.
Can't believe I have two dresses now ! :)

Frida On Stage To Present Award - Stockholm 2015 !

Anni-Frid Lyngstad handed out the award at the gala.
One of those ABBA shock!
Frida at the QX Gala in Stockholm 9 February 2015.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad shocked everyone when she got up on stage to award a prize for "Best gay / bi / trans".

- All of us have a value and is unique, she said at the scene.

It became a true ABBA shock when it was time to award the prize for "Best gay / bi / trans". Sissela Kyle came on stage and said mysteriously:

- Now all wondering - who are here to share the prize. If you listen carefully ...

Suddenly, you hear a voice singing the song "Fernando". Onto the scene slid Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA. When the singer proved to the audience burst out in complete euphoria. It was to say the least love in the room that Lyngstad was received by, she was mildly taken by the response.

- What a terrific host, said Lyngstad.

 When she would award the prize as she held an impassioned for the equal value.

- Yes I sing all about liberty - "freedom". It must be part of every human right to live in peace, said Lyngstad when the applause and cheers lay for several minutes.

She continued:

- All of us have a value and is unique.

Something Lyngstad thought ought to get people to distance themselves from ideologies and streams of thought that makes a difference to people.

Glädjejublen continued after Lyngstads speech. Then she shared the prize for "Best gay / bi / trans".

- She is rappens Tarantino. A 176 centimeters tall power pussy, said Lyngstad.

The award went to rapper Silvana Imam who made an inflammatory speech against racism.

- But we LGBTQ people and heterosexual people driving a common struggle. And it's racism. OUT WITH racists

The crowd's cheers were not long in coming.

http://www.expressen.se/noje/anni-frid-lyngstad-delade-ut-pris-pa-galan/

Frida's Arrival ! :)

 

 

Pink Martini and the von Trapps cover ABBA

The hills are alive with the sound of 'Fernando.'

Get a taste of the forthcoming album from Pink Martini and the von Trapps with their cover of Fernando, premiering at USA TODAY.
The version of ABBA's 1976 hit appears on Dream a Little Dream, our March 4 on Heinz Records. The album is a collaboration between the eclectic Portland, Ore., ensemble and the great-grandchildren of Capt. Georg and Maria von Trapp, the inspiration for The Sound of Music.
Dream a Little Dream features two tunes from the musical, The Lonely Goatherd and Edelweiss, along with guest appearances from Wayne Newton, The Chieftains, Jack Hanna and Charmian Carr, who played Liesl in the original film version of The Sound of Music.
"We are always on the search for upbeat party songs," says Amanda von Trapp says of Fernando. "This piece did not begin as a party but it certainly turned into one as we started including more and more instruments. The song went through quite a metamorphosis from when we first heard ABBA's original Swedish version to what it is now. It is so beautiful in Swedish, and it was one of the most difficult languages we ever had to learn for a song."
The von Trapps, who range in age from 19 to 25, met Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale two years ago at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony and have since moved to Portland. The two groups will tour together for a month beginning Feb. 28 in Lexington, Ky.

Follow this link to hear 'Fernando':

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/02/19/pink-martini-von-trapps-abba-cover/5602461/