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At first I have to admit that I really do like all kinds of special editions and deluxe re-releases, cause they normally look really good and in fact are something specials. This most recent release for sure doesn't disappoint either. The package itself looks great, Yeah, maybe a bit tricky to open and even moreso when putting it together again, but it's possible. And beside that, I don't think that I'll open and close in every day once the first "hype" has cooled down, so it's OK with me. The track list itself is not placed on the actual digipack kind of thing, but on a separate sheet. And of course also in the booklet. So it might be a little difficult to find the right tracks when you just have the digipack in front of you. But knowing the "Arrival" track list by heart, this won't be such a big problem for us I guess. "How does it look like?" you ask? Well, it really looks great! With newspaper articles printed in the back where the CDs are placed, and the original LP inner-sleeve pic (which was the cover of the French edition) placed on the inside. Very well done. The booklet is quite think, with lots of pics and single and album sleeves placed in it. The liner notes tell the story of "Arrival" from the very beginning in summer 1975 till it's release, with details also about the "ABBA-dabba-doo!!" special. Quite interesting to read, but nothing really new. And there it is, the CD. I know, I don't have the best ears (sadly) and we have our own audio specialists here on the list, but if you ask me, this is the best that "Arrival" has ever sounded. I'm pretty sure it's not the same remaster as last years The Complete Studio Recordings "fluffy dice" box, though it's done by the same guy. It's crystal clear, bright, but also with depth, bass and power. Really, really good! It's an experience to listen "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Why Did It Have To Be Me" or "Tiger" with full volume on your stereo! Next: the DVD! Logically the main reason for most of us to buy it. And yes, it's worth it! The menu and overall design is quite well done. "Arrival" is the background music, which was somehow predictable. But it works of course. ABBA-DABBA-DOO!! I watched the special from beginning till end last night. Looking back, it really is a very good special, keeping in mind that it's 30 years old. It's presented with lots of humour, great clips and interesting interviews. But I guess that most of you have already seen it anyway, so I won't tell you every detail about it. The quality is fine, but it could have been better. I don't think that they did a lot of remastering and restoring with the film material. But anyway, it certainly is the best quality copy available and therefore great to have. I'm especially thrilled to finally have "My Love, My Life" and "Tiger" on DVD! Two great clips. Agnetha is just so beautiful in "My Love, My Life", gorgeous! Great to have her twice on the screen ;-) The interviews are both interesting and enjoyable. Especially because they are in Swedish! In the English interviews it's mostly the boys talking, but in Swedish also the girls have something to say, which is great. DANCING QUEEN (Musikladen) Yes, we know that already. The first ever performance on "Dancing Queen", ages before they performed in the Swedish opera house. So this really is the premiere. And it's a good premiere, which could have been much better without the studio background being visible. Quite disturbing, if you ask me. The start of the clip is the best part, these effects really work there. FERNANDO (Top of the Pops) This one's great! Agnetha and Frida look really beautiful and the whole performance is very well done. Something in me would have preferred more close-ups of the blonde one, but I won't complain... ;-) Particularly interesting because of the alternate mix / live version of the song. HAPPY HAWAII (cartoon) Ok, nice to have it. Nice to watch, even funny at some parts, but nothing earth-shattering. You sometimes wonder if the bad quality was originally intended to look like that, or if the clip really isn't in the best condition anymore... DANCING QUEEN (recording session) Will the narrating voices please SHUT UP! I guess I could watch a 2 hour movie with just ABBA in the recording studio without getting bored! What a pity that only this short snippet exists. Great and very interesting at the same time! And how ironic is the fact the only clip of ABBA recording a song in the studio features a part of a song that eventually would remain unreleased?? Great for us! So this one's really worth the inclusion, also if it's not very long. I fact, it's far too short, but I guess we have to live with it being the way it is. ABBA IN LONDON - YOUNG NATION Not the best quality. Interestingly, parts of this report (ABBA in the airport) must exist in much better quality somewhere, cause they were part of some special a while ago. Wasn't it the "Super Trouper" one? Overall, the scenes of ABBA arriving in London, in the airport and in the helicopter are more interesting than the interview afterwards. They look great, yes, but there is nothing revealing about it. Seeing the Bs jamming together is great though, but yet again, far to short. Nice to hear them explain their song writing methods. "Will you still be recording in 30 years from now?" and "Will ABBA still exist as a group in 30 years?". Well, we know the answers now! And yes Benny, we still remember one ABBA song after all these years. In fact, I think I could even name two... ABBA's 1976 - NEWS REPORT Also a nice inclusion. Premiere time for "Thank You For The Music" (5 sec on the piano)! A mixture of Swedish and English. Quality is great, much better than Young Nation before. I like such old news reports and little interviews. Being born in 1984, I wasn't able to watch a lot of such reports in the 70s.... ARRIVAL TV COMMERCIALS Same quality as the "The Album" commercial on the "The Movie" DVD. Also about the same length. ABBA performing the 3 Arrival singles. Looking back on them, I think they are quite well done actually! SLEEVE GALLERY I have this one, and this one, this one's missing, oh and this one must be somewhere in a box..... That's the summary of watching a 6 minute slide show of single and album sleeves. The presentation is very well done! But other than that, it's as expected. If you're not sure if you should buy it or not, I would advise you to just do it! It's a great package and for sure worth the money. Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria |
