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 24 June 2016

ABBA - RCA Records Australia Radio Interview 1976



Great radio interview from 1976 with RCA's State Manager, Terry Gray, talking about producing ABBA records. Interview takes place inside the RCA record factory during the production of 'Arrival' and 'Money Money Money'.

Lots of interesting information - and quite a delight knowing they were pressing ABBA albums at the time.

Great piece of history and a nice trip down memory lane :)

Just press Play and enjoy !







Read all about the album 'Arrival' here:
  

" only the second album in the nation’s history to sell more than a million copies."

And of course 'The Best Of ABBA' was the first :)


ABBA - DB Music Radio Ad - Australia 1977

ABBA - DB Music Radio Ad - Australia 1977



Follow my channel on YouTube for more videos to come:

My YouTube Channel

Saturday 18 June 2016

ABBA For Sale - ABBA Memorabilia - Updated 25 June 2016



My latest listings for ABBA memorabilia for sale on ebay - check them out !

ABBA Mugs - 1979 UK:

SOLD !

ABBA Mug 1

SOLD!

ABBA Mug 2

ABBA Mug 3






BBC Radio 1 Promo T-shirt:

SOLD !

Radio 1 T-shirt



National Advertising Posters from New Zealand:

SOLD !

National Poster 2

National Poster 1


ABBA School Note Books with complete Trading Card set - New Zealand:

SOLD !

School Note Books


Original Australian School Bag 1976:

SOLD !

ABBA School Bag


International ABBA Magazine - Individual Editions:

SOLD !



ABBA International Magazine


ABBA Royal Performance Of Dancing Queen 40 Years Ago Today !


On this day, 40 years ago !

On the eve of the wedding between Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath, ABBA performed Dancing Queen at a televised all-star gala staged by Kjerstin Dellert, held at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, Sweden.
This was the first live and domestic performance of Dancing Queen, after premiering on TV in Japan and Germany during the spring of 1976.


 






After the gala performance at the Stockholm Opera house the King, Silvia and their families and friends went back to Drottningholm to have their own party.

All the other people involved in this gala went to the restaurant Operakällaren instead.

Almost 300 guest gathered there and ate smoked salmon, spring chicken and strawberries.

The gentlemen's medallions clanked in tune with the crystal glasses and the ladies long dresses swept around the room.

The mood was already on a very high level when Bertil Attelmark started playing dancing music. The room was filled with important people from the state and among them where the governors Lassinantti, Huss and Holmberg, the opera singer Håkan Hagegård and our world stars ABBA. The athletes of the country were represented by Linda Haglund, skier Ewa Ohlsson and the racing driver Ronnie Petersson.






Sunday 12 June 2016

Frida & Agnetha Singing Together 2016 ! - BB50 Party - Lasse Anrell



Lasse Anrell, from NWT, was lucky enough to be invited to the BB50 party.

He was then kind enough to share this magnificent video of Frida & Agnetha singing 'The Way Old Friends Do'.





What an absolute thrill to hear these two amazing women singing together once more.

A standing ovation at the end - and hugging of all 4 ABBA members just tops it off perfectly.

Thank you Lasse, and thank you Frida and Agnetha. The best thing I experienced in a very long time.
Brought tears to my eyes - and joy to my heart :)

And I agree 100% - Frida sounds so amazing - and together, Frida and Agnetha are simply magic ! :)

The man himself - Lasse:



The original article can be seen here:

http://nwt.se/mera/helg/anrell/2016/06/11/en-varldsunik-upptagning?refresh=true

Rough translation here:

A unique pickupNWT was one of at most four media companies invited, and when this year's Richest party was held in Stockholm on Sunday.It was Björn o Benny - Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson - who celebrated 50 years of collaboration and chose to call it "100 years of togetherness".Everyone was there. From the entire ABBA Lill-Babs of Peter Jöback to my table where Pernilla Wahlgren and Harpo was in full prosperity and Pernilla revealed that she would not only sing a duet with Lena Phillips but also sing running on a track at the end where she learned that she might end up being a little "overshadowed" by two other singers.And just so it was.For when suddenly Anni-Frid Lyngstad gets up in his white beautiful creations and go up on stage and start talking, and get with it another dressed in white beautiful woman named Agnetha Fältskog - then pull the entire salon for breath and realize that now it will written history, Swedish music history.And just so it was.We had in itself been a part of history already. Jerry Williams sang "Cadillac" - Hep Stars old here. Benny played solo. How heavy anytime. Lill-Babs and Peter Jöback sang Benny's two sons, Peter and Louis sang together. How concerning whatsoever. Bjorn Ulvaeus Benny sang to whooping and piano accompaniment.Lena PH and Pernilla sang, "Hole In Your Soul" as some latter-o Agnetha Frida. How Darling whatsoever.And that was performed video greetings from heavy people.Lasse Hallström and Lena Olin from the US. How Swedish whatsoever.And Paul McCartney sent a video message in which he is protesting his admiration and declared ABBA's grandeur and kinship with Paul's old orchestra, if you remember it. It was history, and one could have imagined that Paul wiped a small tear that he did not get the chance to celebrate some anniversaries my trusty old companion and ADVERSARY John.Paul acclaimed Björn o Benny. It set a level of everything. Suddenly everyone in the room physically what level these gentlemen are. Equal with Paul. At par with the Beatles. Respected flush with the ankles of pop music biggest names of all time. Acclaimed by Sir Paul.How historically anywhere.So sang Frida.Thus, I have to say this very clearly.So sang Frida and I have never ever in my life heard a woman singing with such buoyancy and beautiful voice. I have heard almost all major live, but as Frida this evening rise from a dinner for several hours and perform the song with the voice and the depth and the feeling is among the most impressive I've heard.- You and I can share the silence (You and I can share the silence), she started and the text is indeed a paradox in this context, but certainly quite true when it comes to her and Benny, and perhaps also her and the rest of the band; they have shared the clatter and voices and the audience cheers. To also be able to share the silence was certainly a path and a prerequisite for survival as a team.Agnetha was not as comprehensive in their singing but in the end she found yet their role in the outrageously fine harmonies and I would say that what was created then, those few minutes, it is beautiful to be heard in Swedish music history since ABBA recorded their discs and - if we make music history even further back - then Jussi Björling and Birgit Nilsson recorded "Turandot" 1959thHow historically any time, as I said.And you can hear it.Yes actually.Visit nwt.se and click on this article there the whole song in one, what I have seen, globally unique recording from my seat out in the audience. Poor picture, good sound. Alternating good, shaky and amazing vocals. But never uninteresting.We wanted the story.And just so it was.Go and enjoy. Unique NWT's listeners.And if I can ask for anything, it is that Frida doing another record. She is 70 years, but sings best. By far the best and sensuellast and innocent world shrouds. Avicii wake up ... or someone. Wake up everybody.

Monday 6 June 2016

ABBA Together In Stockholm 5 June 2016 - With Performances !!! Major Update !!


THE STORY SO FAR .......

We have a video of Agnetha & Frida singing !!!
Check it out here:



*More photos added below

All 4 ABBA members are at Berns in Stockholm right now (5 June 2016) celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Bjorn & Benny meeting.

Berns is where ABBA filmed their performance of Hovas Vittne and is situated at Näckströmsgatan 8, 111 47 Stockholm.

Reports coming through are that Bjorn & Benny performed 'Does Your Mother Know' and Frida & Agnetha sang 'The Way Old Friends Do' !!!!

OMG !!

More details will be added as they become available - including video hopefully :)






The Party !

Bjorn at the party
Berns

Paul McCartney sent a video congratulating Bjorn & Benny.

300 guests attended the party.

Frida and Agnetha happily posed for selfies!

Ludvig Andersson and Peter Grönvall performed 'Rock Me'

Helen Sjöholm sang 'Where I Want To Be'

Peter Jöback sang 'Det kan ingen doktor hjälpa'

Svenne Hedlund sang 'Isn't It Easy To Say' 

Tommy Korberg performing the BAO mega hit "Du är min man", originally performed by Helen Sjoholm:

Tommy Korberg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expressen Article: 

http://www.expressen.se/noje/abba-together-on-stage-again/

ABBA on stage together again


All four members of Abba reunited on stage as Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson celebrated 50 years together as friends and musicians by throwing a private party in Stockholm Sunday night.
– It's been a great night, says Benny Andersson.

50 years ago, on June 5 1966, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson met for the very first time. The beginning of a friendship and collaboration that has come to enrich and heavily influence Swedish music history over the course of the past five decades, as well as the reason for a private party at Berns Salonger in downtown Stockholm. Some of Swedens most well known artists and musicians, including fellow Abba Members Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstand, gathered at 6.15pm and kept the party going until well after midnight.

Among those performing throughout the night were Fältskog and Lyngstad who got on stage to perform the song You and I, dedicated to Ulvaeus and Andersson, with the male songwriting duo joining in on the performance towards the end of the song thus reuniting the whole group on stage.
They talked a little bit about their history, how everything started with Abba. And then they all sang together towards the end, Guitarist Janne Schaffer tells Expressen.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad describes the celebration of Ulvaeus and Andersson as an emotional night.
– It was absolutely amazing. A lot of emotions. Weve made this journey throughout our history. Benny and Björn in particular. Its been very nostalgic.


Also joining the former members of Abba on the guest list were fellow musicians, actors and celebrities including Peter Jöback, Lasse Berghagen, Björn Skifs, Pernilla Wahlgren, Lena Philipsson, Kristina Lugn, Jerry Williams, Niklas Strömstedt, Helen Sjöholm, Tommy Körberg and Thomas and Marie Ledin. Lill-Babs was also in attendance.
– I've cried a lot tonight, she says.

Claes af Geijerstam hosted the party and had personally put together a video retelling the careers of Björn and Benny, highlighting key moments such as winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo.
– It's been a great night, Benny Anderson says.

Actors Marie Göranzon and Jan Malmsjö couldn't have been happier as they left the festivities.
– A magical night. I never could have dreamed it would become such a party. I feel like I can die happy having experienced a night like this, Göranzon says with Malmsjö chiming in:
– We got to see a kaleidoscope of people that have been present in Björn and Bennys careers.

Newlyweds Alexandra Charles and Bengt von Hofsten described it as exceptional.
– Lena Philipsson and Pernilla Wahlgren singing together, Lill-Babs performing with Peter Jöback. Helen Sjöholm singing a song from Chess, and then Tommy Körberg performing her hit song Du Är Min Man. The way they traded songs with each other, Alexandra Charles says.
And then, as the night was coming to an end, the sweet albeit very short reuniting of all four members of Abba.

– We witnessed a piece of music history tonight, Janne Schaffer says.
Translation: Anders Sandqvist

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Helen & Tommy with BAO perform a number from CHESS


Agnetha with journalist Mats Olsson

The lighting done by Stage & Eventlight:



BAO Rehearsing
From 'icethesite':

http://www.icethesite.com/2016/06/benny-and-bjorn-celebrate-50-years-of-musical-collaboration-and-friendship/

Sunday 5 June 2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the day that Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus first met.
One of the world’s most successful and enduring musical collaborations was celebrated in grand style a private party at Berns Salinger in Stockholm.
The party was attended by 350 guests, all of whom Benny and Björn have worked with during their career, including Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Görel Hanser, Michael B Tretow, Tommy Körberg, Helen Sjöholm and BAO, Tim Rice, Elaine Paige and Murray Head, Judy Cramer, Peter Jöback, Thomas and Marie Ledin, Lill-Babs, Kristina Lugn, Björn Skifs and Janne Schaffer, to name but a few!
Sir Paul McCartney (Björn and Benny have often acknowledged the massive influence The Beatles made upon their early careers) sent a video message conveying his congratulations.
The celebrations commenced at 18.15 (a reference to the year of the Battle of Waterloo) with a champagne reception during which Benny and Björn both made short welcoming speeches.
While the guests enjoyed dinner, a video of old photographs and interviews from the 1960s played on a big screen.
Some of the guests took to the stage in musical tribute: Benny’s sons Ludvig and Peter performed Rock Me, Helen Sjöholm sang Where I Want To Be, Peter Jöback  Det kan ingen doctor hjälpa and Svenne Hedlund Isn’t It Easy To Say. There were also performances from Lill-Babs, Lena Philipsson and Pernilla Dahlgren.
Benny said that most of the entertainment was as much a surprise for him and Björn as it was for the invited guests, having been planned in secret by a committee consisting of Ludvig, Görel, Lars Rudolfsson and the evening’s toast-master Claes af Geijerstam.
“When we started talking about throwing a party about a year back, Ludvig suggested that maybe they should do something that we didn’t know about,” Benny told us. “It is incredible that so many people wanted to participate. We had such a great time and I think they did too,” he said.
Later in the evening Benny’s band, BAO (Benny Anderssons Orkester), entertained with an hour long set of songs old and new, including their hit Du är min man, which was sung with a comic inference that Benny and Björn’s relationship was like that of a couple.
However, for many, the highlight of the night was undoubtedly when Agnetha and Frida joined Benny and Björn on stage for the second time in just a few months. And this time they sang!
The female half of ABBA performed a moving duet of The Way Old Friends Do, from ABBA’s 1980 album Super Trouper and…it seems that Benny and Björn couldn’t resist the temptation to join in with a couple of lines.
Does Your Mother Know is another classic from the ABBA catalogue that was performed, this time as an instrumental by Benny and Björn.
Afterwards, Frida said that it had been a very special occasion: “It was absolutely amazing. A lot of emotions. It’s been very nostalgic,” she told journalists.
Benny told icethesite that he had no idea that Agnetha and Frida were going to sing. “I think it was just so wonderful that they did that for us. I think they were really brave!” he said.

Here are Agnetha and Frida with Lena Philipsson & Pernilla Wahlgren who performed Hole In Your Soul and then back up for The Way Old Friends Do !



Pernilla writes: "Yesterday I & @lenaphilipsson sing for, among others, these two beautiful legends: Frida & Agneta!
I fortf in the euphoria after yesterday's incredible celebration of Björn & Benny's 50 years in the industry! All of us in any way over the years has worked with Björn and Benny were invited. Sooo fun to meet industry professionals and old musicians that you have not seen for many many years!
I & Lena had the honor to surprise with driving Abbas rocking "Hole in Your Soul," and it was like pulling the audience stood up during the whole song!
Though nothing topped the finish in the evening when Agneta & Frida went up and sang beautiful ABBA song "The Way Old Friends Do" and we girls had the honor to run behind. Then, when Björn and Benny came on stage and joined there were not many who could not hold back the tears ..! The most powerful I have experienced in all my years in the industry."


Benny with Jan Bengston from BAO



With Lill-Babs

Sir Tim Rice, Murray Head and many others

Ingemarie Halling, Judy Cramer, Tomas Ledin and many others
The first hard copy newspaper article to appear:




Other online reports:

Sydney Morning Herald Australia


A special monument has been inaugurated in the city of Linköping to commemorate Björn and Benny's very first meeting on June 5th 1966. It's a bench with their mirrored initials in gold in the castle park opposite the Rally Hotel (Best Western) on Storgatan where they played songs together on that memorable summer night once upon a long ago...


Aussie newspapers - pretty boring actually:

Herald Sun:


Gold Coast Bulletin:


Daily Telegraph:








Jerry Williams

Tomas Ledin & Anders Glenmark


Pernilla & Harpo
Tomas Ledin with Görel Hanser and Clabbe who together had done a fantastic job of organising the night
Pernilla and Rolf Skoglund


Pernilla, Helen & Lena
Pernilla, Peter Joback and Oscar