Saturday 28 February 2015

Abba Calendar March 2015

Well that's February over and we are thankfully heading towards Spring ! That also means I have just turned my 2015 Abba calendar over to another month so here is the picture I will be looking at for the remainder of March...

Agnetha "I Stand Alone" Promotional Pictures

Here are some of the pictures which were released as part of the promotional work for Agnetha's album "I Stand Alone"...

Friday 27 February 2015

February 1988 - Agnetha releases "I Stand Alone" In The UK

At the end of February 1988 Agnetha released her third post-Abba (and my personal favourite) album "I Stand Alone" in the UK.

Although the album didn't perform well in the UK charts it did reach number one in Sweden (where it had been released at the end of 1987) spending 8 weeks at the top of the chart eventually becoming the best selling album of 1988. The table below shows some of the chart positions I have been able to find -

 

Further Pictures From The 1978 Abba Annual

Here is another set of pictures from the 1978 Abba Annual...

More Images From The 1978 Abba Annual

Here is another set of pictures from the 1978 Abba Annual...

Thursday 26 February 2015

1978 Abba Annual

Here is the front cover of the 1978 Abba Annual along with a few pictures from inside the book...

Wednesday 25 February 2015

Collection - "Lay All Your Love On Me" Promotional Single

Here is a 7" version of "Lay All Your Love On Me" from my collection which was originally released in Japan during 1981 to promote the compilation album "The Very Best Of Abba".

According to the cover the b-side is "Super Trouper" however from what I can tell it is actually blank.

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Abba Included On ITV's "The Nations Favourite 70's Number Ones"

Abba's hit "Dancing Queen" is included on a new compilation album released in the UK next week titled "The Nations Favourite 70's Number Ones". This 3 CD collection also includes "Heart Of Glass" by Blondie, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush and "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer.

The CD release is linked to a TV program scheduled to be shown on ITV in the UK on Thursday 5th March at 8.30 - the stations website includes the following information relating to the show -

"Featuring interviews with hit makers including Art Garfunkel, Blondie, Abba, Freda Payne, George McCrae, Kike Dee, The Four Seasons and Gloria Gaynor - this 90 minute countdown of the 20 greatest musical moments from a time when everyone knew every week just what was number one.

Narrated by Zoe Ball, the show tells the stories behind those irresistibly evocative hits that still hold a special place in our hearts four decades later - from Blockbuster to Bridge Over Troubled Water, Dancing Queen to Hot Love, I Will Survive to Heart Of Glass."

Monday 23 February 2015

Collection - "Chiquitita" Sheet Music

The latest sheet music I have added to my collection is for Abba's 1979 single "Chiquitita" - here is a picture of the front cover...

 

More Versions Of Abba's "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" Single

Following on from my earlier post I have put together an image showing other versions of Abba's "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" single...

Sunday 22 February 2015

Abba Single

Here is a picture of Abba's "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" from the singles box set. The original version (which included "Rock Me" on the b-side) was released in Denmark in 1975 where it reached number 4 in the charts.

Abba Article Image

Yet another image produced for a recent article...

Saturday 21 February 2015

Collection Update - Abba's "Honey Honey" Album

The latest Abba album I have added to my collection is titled "Honey Honey" and features a picture of Abba on a jar of honey ! The album was originally released in Germany where it reached number 2 during July 1974 just two months after the "Waterloo" album had been at the top of the German chart.

It looks like the same track list as the "Ring Ring" album (although in a slightly different order) with the exception of "I Saw It In The Mirror" being replaced by the title track "Honey Honey".

UK Versions Of "Under Attack" Single

Friday 20 February 2015

Abba Date - 21st February 1983

On the 21st February 1983 Abba released "Under Attack" in Sweden ; the single had been released in the UK and a number of other countries during the previous December to coincide with the release of "Abba The Singles - The First 10 Years".

The single didn't reach the chart in Sweden and was only a small hit elsewhere as shown in the table below -

Hep Stars Album Pre-Order On Amazon UK

I have just noticed that Amazon UK have a Hep Stars compilation album "Like We Used To : The Anthology" available for pre-order. The album is released on the 23rd March and includes 25 tracks with six live versions - the Amazon description is as follows...

"In the 1960s, The Hep Stars were Swedens biggest band inspiring screams and Beatles-like devotion. For the first time outside Sweden, Like We Used To: The Anthology 1965-1967 collects them at their peak, from being one of the eras wildest bands emphasised on the live tracks to performers of affecting songs with a yearning atmosphere. The bands songwriter Benny Andersson later achieved global fame with ABBA and Like We Used To features classic early compositions, including the first-ever song he wrote. Also collected is a rare early collaboration with his future ABBA companion Bjrn Ulvaeus the first song they wrote together. Tracks are taken direct from the master tapes as they were meant to heard in the Sixties in the original mono. There is no after-the-fact stereo. Exploring the original masters turned up versions of songs either not issued at the time or released in territories beyond Sweden, including three versions intended for, but not used for, English release."

Abba Article Image

Here is the 3rd image which I created for an article I recently completed..

Thursday 19 February 2015

Agnetha Fan Club Magazine #6

The image below is of the 6th issue of the Agnetha Fan Club Magazine which was originally published during October 1985. The magazine included a number of letters (mostly regarding Epics lack of promotion in the UK), fan reviews (everyone loved "Click Track" and "The Angels Cry"), pen palls, fan swaps and details of where to purchase Agnetha and Abba merchandise.

The Magic Of Abba Album

Today I have been listening to an Abba compilation album titled "The Magic Of Abba" which from what I can tell was released by K-TEL in 1980 and contains the following tracks -

Side One

  • Dancing Queen
  • Take A Chance On Me
  • The Name Of The Game
  • Waterloo
  • Ring Ring
  • Does Your Mother Know
  • Angeleyes
  • SOS
  • Fernando
  • Knowing Me, Knowing You

Side Two

  • I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
  • Mamma Mia
  • Honey Honey
  • Money, Money, Money
  • Voulez-Vous
  • Chiquitita
  • The Winner Takes It All
  • Super Trouper
  • Gimme, Gimme, Gimme
  • Summer Night City

Wednesday 18 February 2015

Collection Update - The Day Before You Came 7"

The latest Abba 7" to be added to my collection is a Japanese release of "The Day Before You Came" which as with other countries includes "Cassandra" on the b-side.

Jesus Christ Superstar Program

Here are a couple of images of the program of Swedish production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" which includes Agnetha in the cast list...

Agnetha Single From Jesus Christ Superstar

Here is the single which Agnetha released from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 (the Swedish version of "I Don't Know How To Love Him") which reached number 1 in the singles chart.

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Abba Date - 18th February 1972

On the 18th February 1972 the premier of the Swedish production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" took place in Gothenburg in which Agnetha played the part of Mary Magdalene.

Monday 16 February 2015

New Frida CD Single

Yesterday I received the new CD single "1865" by Dan Daniell featuring Frida ; here are a few images of the single...