Ask Ian.....16 May 2006

Q		A
Could you please tell me what the c/w means on the single cover “Chiquitita c/w Lovelight”? Mark Butler, Melbourne, Australia.		It simply means “coupled with” or "cut with".

A friend of us becomes forty in the next weeks. She is a big ABBA fan and we want to perform two ABBA songs (‘Happy New Year’, ‘Thank You For The Music’) at her birthday. We like to sing live. What we now need is the original ABBA music without the voices of Agnetha, Frida, Björn and Benny. I know that there are many Karaoke versions on the market, but I haven't found an original sound on such a DVD. Can you help us to find the original music without vocals? Peter Seiffert		Unfortunately, there are no genuine ABBA backing karaoke tracks available.

I have one of the ABBA National promotional books and am wondering if it is worth anything? Barbara Herzig		I’ve not seen those very often at all available on the collectors’ market, so I’m not exactly sure what they might be worth. I'm sure they would probably be worth quite a bit.

I was wondering if you ever saw a cover for the album ‘The Magic of ABBA’. I have it, but I never seem to find it with all of their other albums online. Karl.		I have indeed seen it. It’s not often included in ABBA discographies on websites, which usually just have the eight studio albums and major compilations like ‘Greatest Hits’ and ‘ABBA Gold’. But you can see it on ABBA - The Releases or ABBA for the record.

Can you please advise how I can get the words for the song ‘Waterloo’. Arthur		You can find them on ABBA – The Site.

I would like to know where can I find there personal biographies? I would like to know a little more about there history. Thank you. Rachel, Canada		You can find many biographies on the internet, including on the official ABBA site, here at ABBAMAIL, and many others (see ABBA World's Links section for more). You could also get the book ‘Bright Lights, Dark Shadows - The Real Story of ABBA’ by Carl Magnus Palm which is a highly detailed biography of the group.

What is the nationality and if it is possible the birthplace of Anni-Frid Lyngstads ex-husband Ragnar Fredriksson? Gerhard Berger Austria		Ragnar is Swedish. I don’t know where he was born, but he lived in Eskilstuna when he and Frida met.

In the videos for ‘Eagle’ and ‘Thank You For the Music’ you can clearly see that Agnetha’s costume is of a rabbit and Frida’s is of a fox. In ‘Thank You For the Music’ you can see a bit of Bjorn’s costume, and it looks like a bird’s head with a plume is on his shoulders, so… is it a peacock? And even more of a mystery is Benny’s costume as you cannot see any image on his shirt in either video. I have tried looking for a promo shot that might show all four outfits, but to no avail. Dini, Canada		Björn’s costume features a crane, and Benny’s an eagle or a falcon. Here’s a picture where the costumes can be mostly seen ABBA Picture Gallery site.

I live in the UK I have just heard a record sung by Helen written by Benny called ‘You Are My Man’. Do you know it if so is it in the shops yet? I Ruth, UK AND Can you please give me the address to download the full English ‘You Are My Man’? Greetings Anton Korf, Netherlands.		Unfortunately, so far this song, an English version of ‘Du är min man’ from BAO’s second CD, has not been commercially released anywhere. I’m sorry, but I don’t know of anywhere to download the song.

I have from ABBA got their LP ‘TheVisitors’ from 1981 which is dedicated on the cover with the 4 group members autograph (ball pen). What could be the value? Leif Birger, Grønnevik, Norway		Genuine ABBA autographs generally sell for anything between US$100-$500, though sometimes for even more.

In between the songs in ‘ABBA Undeleted’ (on the 4 disc box set) , one can hear ABBA talk, I suppose in Swedish. They talk very fast and it's hard to hear what they say. Do you know what they're talking about? Can you give a transcription, perhaps? Thanks! Ellen, Netherlands		You can find a transcript and translation into English here.

How can I order this ‘ABBA – The Collection’ thing, INCLUDING… ABBA DANCE, CLASSIC and ROMANCE and the book and the Video. There isn’t a link for it. Greetings. Nadine		This box set was only available by mail order in some countries in Europe in 1999. It’s no longer available. You may get lucky and find a used copy on EBAY or the ABBA Trading Point.

Hello. I live in the USA and I want to buy Frida the DVD in NTSC. I am having trouble finding it. Do you know where I can obtain a copy of this version to be sent to me? Steven Germann, Orlando, FL USA AND Do you know of any plans to release the Frida Boxed Set DVD in a format playable in the USA? Alexander Blevins, USA		As far as I know, so far it hasn’t been released on NTSC anywhere and there are no plans to release it in any NTSC territories, though a catalogue number has been assigned (602498735015) for possible future release. ABBA fan Sheldon from Trinidad writes that he ordered the box set from Amazon.com the week after release, and the DVD was NTSC. US fan Marty also writes that he ordered an NTSC version of the box set from Germany, the catalogue number was 987 350-4 (the PAL version is 987 350-3). Thanks to you both from me and everyone who's looking for the NTSC version.

Books about ABBA (both official and unofficial) over the years have said that Agnetha sometimes hit wrong notes (not as professional as Frida) and from time to time she had to work long to reach the right notes. She tended to suffer from this when performing live also (e.g. World Tours). It just crosses my mind that did she hit any wrong notes in certain songs in the studio recorded albums (I mean the 8 studio albums we all are familiar with). I believe a lot of ABBA fans among us are music learners and then they can detect her wrong notes? What do you think? Andy, Vietnam		This story originates from a quote from Michael B. Tretow in the mid-to-late 70s that Agnetha “sometimes had a tendency to sing off key” which would have to be corrected in the studio.

I would like to have a complete, high quality copy (video and sound) of the 1974 Eurovision performance of ‘Waterloo’. Is it available? Thanks, Rob		It most certainly is, on the ‘Waterloo’ 30^th Anniversary Edition CD and DVD, and also on the ‘Waterloo’ DVD single, both of which were released in 2004.

My favourite ABBA vinyl is not well known - a compilation album from 1984 called ‘Love Songs, A Very Special Collection’ with a pink cover and pictures of the band members; one in each of four quadrants. Do you know if album this is available on CD? Rick, Ontario, Canada		That album was released only in Canada, while at the same time similar albums were released in other parts of the world – ‘I Love ABBA’ in the USA and West Germany (different albums with the same title), ‘From ABBA With Love’ in the Netherlands, and ‘Thank You For The Music – A Collection of Love Songs’ in the UK. It has never been released on CD.

My question is how is that the play that you guys did gotten past me. Please send info. Mr. Claude Bates of Cleveland, Ohio, USA		‘Mamma Mia!’, the musical based on ABBA’s songs, but not featuring ABBA members, has been touring North America for the past six years. Check out the official ‘Mamma Mia!’ site for details.

Do you know where I can get the Swedish version of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ soundtrack that Agnetha sang on? Thanks, Ryan		You can order it from the ABBF Record Service.

I’m looking for the song ‘Yo no fui (quien dijo adios)’, the Spanish version for the song ‘I Wasn’t The One (Who Said Goodbye)’ duet with Peter Cetera. Can you let me know how can I do for buy or download the song? Thanks again. Leo, Argentina		Unfortunately, this Spanish version has never been released on CD. There are hopes that Warner Music may release a remastered version of ‘I Stand Alone’, with the extended mixes and Spanish versions of songs from the album. I don’t know of anywhere to download this version.

I have been trying to find a playback or music folio of ‘Like An Angel Passing Throught My Room’ in Germany but have no success - can you help me? I tried to click on the Music Sales link, but it did not work. Thank you, Petra		There are many ABBA music folios available from Music Sales, but I don’t think any of them have this song. You might find the song on one of the sites with music tabs. Check here.

I lived on Elston Road in Upper Montclair, New Jersey in the early 1980s. It was rumoured that the band had a house on our street that you stayed in when visiting New York. Is that true? Andy		To the best of my knowledge, whenever ABBA visited New York, they stayed in Manhattan hotels.

I am wondering about there exist some film clips of Agnetha singing in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (rehearsal) and ABBA singing ‘People Need Love’. I guess I have seen some small parts in some of the DVDs released, but not in full length. Is this existing in some of the other videos/DVDs which I have not seen? Marius Lybæk in Norway		There are parts of a television performance ‘People Need Love’ on the ‘Super Troupers’ DVD, interrupted by interviews with Benny and Björn. There's no full version in circulation that I'm aware of. As far as I know, the short bits of footage from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ we’ve seen on various documentaries are all that exists.

‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ final mix was made on November 13th 1981, but it was released in Japan on a Coca-Cola picture disc in September 1981. Does that mean that an early mix of the song was available for a short while? I recently listened to the Coca-Cola pictures disc and it didn’t sound any different at all. Do you know if it really is an alternate mix? It almost has to be. Regards, Marnix		That’s a very good question! The mix on that single does sound exactly like the version released on ‘The Visitors’. Perhaps this November date is when the crossfade of the ticking clock between ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ and ‘Like An Angel Passing Through My Room’ was mixed.

I am trying to find ‘The Complete Studio Recordings’ and the two stores that I shop at don’t carry it. when will it be out in the stores the paper that I have say’s that it was cut and done Feburary2 2006. I would like to know where I would be able to get it please. Tony.McClung		The box set was released worldwide in November. If you can’t find it in stores, you should be able to order it from any online CD store.

What are they all doing now do any of the girls sing still? What do they look like now. Have they ever had a holiday in Ireland and yes where and what did they think? Patriziaefarrington		Agnetha released an album, ‘My Colouring Book’, in April 2004. Frida recorded a song with ex-Deep Purple member Jon Lord, ‘The Sun Will Shine Again’, on his album ‘Behind The Notes’, in late 2004. Benny and Björn are primarily working on the musicals ‘Mamma Mia!’ and an English translation of ‘Kristina från Duvemåla’. I don’t know that any ABBA members ever holidayed in Ireland.

Do any of them have children? Barb Hansen		All four former ABBA members have children. Björn and Agnetha had two children together, Linda (born 1973) and Christian (born 1977 Björn also has two daughters with his second wife Lena, Emma (born 1982) and Anna (born 1986). Benny had two children with his fiancée Christina Grönvall, Peter (born 1963) and Helene (born 1965), and another son, Ludvig (born 1982), with his second wife Mona Nörklit. Frida had two children with her first husband Ragnar Fredriksson, Hans (born 1963) and Lise-Lotte (born 1967, died 1998).

I am looking for a song that was released on the other side of a 45 of the remake ‘Music Box Dancer’ by ABBA but I don’t know the name. Can you help me? Toni Braun, Deland, FL, USA		ABBA never recorded this song.

I was wondering if there was a video made for the ABBA song, ‘The Visitors (Crackin Up)’. .I could swear I have seen it in a nightclub. It begins like the cover of the album, same picture on the album jacket. If there was one made for it, is it conceptual or a rare promo. This is such a great overlooked ABBA song and a great 80s pop tune. Thanks, Joe		ABBA never made a clip for ‘The Visitors’. Perhaps the nightclub made their own clip, using the LP cover and other footage.

I’ve got a question. Who are the top 5 biggest selling artists of all time and how many albums have each sold worldwide to date? Can you give a link to a site that has that official information? I know ABBA are in the top 5.		It’s hard to say. Both The Beatles and Elvis Presley are claimed to have sold over 1 billion records, but neither’s record company has ever released confirmed sales figures. Universal Music claims that ABBA have sold over 360 million records, which is often stated as being the third best selling act. Wikipedia has a page detailing the artists who are claimed to have sold over 250 million here. Reference.com lists the top five selling artists as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, ABBA, Led Zeppelin, and Anna Pugacheva. See here for more information.

While ABBA were still together until 1982, how many albums had they sold worldwide? I know in the book ‘ABBA’ by Harry Edgington from 1977/1978 it says that by 1976, they had sold 40 million albums. Terri, USA.		A figure of 180 million is often quoted

I see you have that Frida biggest influence was the Beatles. In her box set ‘Frida’ Frida says it was singers like Ella Fitzgerald and the world of Jazz. That does sound more like Frida to me.Tony		Like many artists, Frida claims a wide range of influences. The specific comment you’re talking about is from a 1976 fact sheet distributed by Polar Music, with Frida’s answers at that time.

I am German and like to buy another ‘ABBA The Definitive Collection’ (2 CDs and 1 DVD). Where can I buy it? I was told it was a limited collection. Adelheid Harmsen		You should be able to buy it from Amazon.de or the ABBF Record Service.

I have some ABBA books that I would love to sell, and I wondered if any ABBA fans out there might be interested in them (there is not a huge market in New Zealand and I can’t register to sell them on the international Amazon sites etc because I live too far away). Hannah Palmer, Auckland New Zealand		I would recommend you try selling them on the ABBA Trading Point.

I just wonder how many copies there are from the picture single ‘Waterloo’ 30th anniversary. And what’s the title of the CD that Michael B. Tretow was made in 1976 with backvocals of all four ABBA members? Greetings from The Flanders/ Belgium, Sandra Vanoost		Though it was initially announced as a limited edition of 2,000 copies, there were actually 2,400 copies of the picture disc released. The Michael B. Tretow album was called ‘Let’s Boogie’.

Where else does ‘Happy New Year’ appear other than ‘Super Trouper’?		That’s one song that doesn’t appear often on compilations. It was included on ‘Classic ABBA’ in 1999, which has been released under a variety of other titles in different countries. It was also on ‘25 jaar na Waterloo’ in the Netherlands and ‘The Complete Singles Collection’ double CD in West Germany, both also released in 1999. At the end of 1999, it was released as a single in some parts of Europe. In 2005 it was included on the international CD ‘18 Hits’.

Will the boxed set of ‘The Complete Studio Recordings’ be released in the United States? I can, of course, buy it as an import, but the DVDs are region 2, and they don’t play on my DVD player here in the U.S. I cannot find any information about a release date in the past or future. Can you help? Alex D. Falcone, USA		I believe that the box set has been released in the USA by now. However, despite what many websites say, the DVDs in all copies are region 0 and NTSC, so will play in the US.

Where is the best place for me to purchase the Frida box set? I am in Australia, closest city Sydney. Thanks in advance... Louise		In Sydney, it has been stocked at Red Eye Records, but as of last week, they didn’t have it in stock. I would recommend ordering it from SkivhuggetOR Ginza.

Do you know where I can find details that Agnetha and Frida sang backing vocals on some of Harpo’s songs. I am looking for proof, as I am having an argument with someone who says they did no work with Harpo. I know they did. I can remember in the 1970s hearing they contributed to some of his songs. Paul		Only Frida sang backing vocals for Harpo. See the Frida fan site Twist In The Dark for more information.

Last week, on British TV, the was a little documentary about ABBA’a most successful 20 hits ever. It was very interesting. Did you record that??? I’m looking for someone who recorded it cos I REALLY need it. Thank you very much!!! Kristina		According to some sites, this special will be released on DVD in May. However, the release date for this has slipped several times since the first announced date in January, and according to some sources, the release has been cancelled.

Do you know where i could buy copies of the ‘Gemini’ and ‘Geminism’ CD reissues? Pete, Sheffield, England		These two CDs have not been reissued, despite an announcement that they would be a few years ago. Instead, the compilation ‘Gemini - Det bästa med Karin & Anders Glenmark’ was released in 2005. The original ‘Geminism’ CD is still available from the ABBF Record Service.

Why didn’t Agnetha get out of Sweden years ago and move to the United States to capitalize on her great voice? Hawkeye, USA		Agnetha was happy enough living in Sweden, close to her family and friends, where she could raise her children in peace and escape the limelight.

I purchased a copy of ABBA’s ‘Arrival’ (1976) today, and I’m wondering what maximum amount I’d be able to sell it for? Yours sinc., Anthony Hogg		I’m guessing that since you don’t say what format, I’m assuming it’s an original vinyl album. For a big selling album like ‘Arrival’, copies aren’t worth much at all, just a couple of dollars/pounds/any currency.

Will ‘Mamma Mia!’ ever be made into a movie? We saw the play 3 times in Toronto, & would have gone again if it had not closed. Alex Turner		It was announced just in the last couple of weeks that Tom Hanks production company will be making the film of ‘Mamma Mia!’, for release in 2007. At this stage, no cast or other details have been made public.

I wonder if there are lists on the internet with cover-versions of ABBA-songs. I know that there are lots of german versions of ABBA-songs and I have a lot of them, but I don’t know if I have them all and know them all. Can you help? Best wishes, Joachim Engstfeld, Hagen, Germany		A couple of sites have lists of some cover versions, but neither is complete - here and here.

I am desperately trying to find an English version of the musical ‘Chess’ on DVD. It is a beautiful production with some of the greatest music I have heard. Can you let me know if I can get hold of an English version available in Australia. Ern Matters.		The only ‘Chess’ DVD released to date is of the Swedish production, released in 2003. There are no plans for an English DVD.

I am looking for some photos of the costume that Frida wore at certain concerts, it is the white sequin skirt and jacket + cape (this was worn when Agnetha wore the jumpsuit and green cape)- have you seen any pics of this? Many thanks, Stacy Collins		There are many pictures on the ABBA Picture Gallery site.

Did ABBA ever do a cover of the Simon and Garfunkel song ‘Cecilia’. I was searching through a site called called “Limewire” and the song came up. I have downloaded it and it does sound like them very much but the actual music itself sounds more 90’s than anything ABBA ever did. If it was them - while you can hear the classic harmony it’s a bit weak. Thanks for your help, Liz		ABBA never recorded this song. Coincidentally, Benny and Björn wrote a song with this title that was recorded by Swedish singer Lena Andersson in 1972.

I want to purchase all ABBA’s tracks ever made. I have looked on Borders and can’t seem to find it, please let me know ASAP as my brother really wants this. Thanks so much, Brena		You should be able to find ‘The Complete Studio Recordings’ box set on Borders, Amazon or any other online store.

Will ‘Mamma Mia!’ be brought back to Toronto, Canada again in the future? Brian Wilson		I don’t imagine so after it has already played there for 5 years. However, the North American tour continues and maybe one day it will return to your vicinity. Check the official site.

In several German newspapers I read that Lena, Björn’s wife, would suffer from cancer. Do you know anything about that? Best regards from Bonn / Germany, Susanne		Sadly, yes it’s true, it was announced in August 2005 that Lena has an incurable form of leukaemia.

I live in North East Pennsylvania and heard an advertisement for ABBA to play in concert. I don’t have a venue or a date. Would you please tell me what their 2005 tour schedule is for PA? Thank you, Carol		ABBA broke up in 1982 and have no plans to ever reunite. What you’ve seen advertised is probably one of the dozens of tribute acts touring the world.

I am just wondering if you have any official information on the ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ sampling on Madonna’s upcoming new single, how/when Benny and Björn agreed to it (I am very surprised!), if they said anything about it etc. Maria, New York, USA		Apparently, Madonna’s representatives contacted Benny and Björn through Mono Music, and because they thought the song was well done, they agreed to the sampling.

About 3, maybe 4, years ago BBC Radio 2 here in the UK broadcast an ABBA special in which they were to give the first-ever play of a previously unheard ABBA track. I didn’t get to hear the broadcast, but remember reading the listing for the show & the song wasn’t one of those from ‘Undeleted’ for example. Unfortunately I can’t remember what the song was actually called (I’ve a very faint recollection that it was something to do with ‘waves’ or vaguely nautical sounding - not much help I’m sure!), & I don’t believe the BBC have ever repeated the show. I was assuming with the new set coming in November that this song would surface, but no sign. Does any of this sound at all familiar to you - I’m beginning to think that I must have imagined it all as I can’t find any reference to it anywhere! Hope you can provide an answer, Best wishes, Paul D.		The alleged “unreleased ABBA song” was actually ‘When The Waves Roll Out To Sea’, an instrumental demo from the ‘Chess’ era that essentially featured Benny playing the tune on piano with some synthesizer overdubs. It’s appeared on several bootleg CDs over the years.

I recently saw a clip of Agnetha practising for her part in the role of Mary Magdelane in the early 70’s. Do you know the name of the song she was singing and is this available to buy in any format. Her singing was truly beautiful singing this song. Dave, UK		That would be ‘Vart skall min kärlek föra’, the Swedish version of ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’ from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. You can find the song on Agnetha’s compilation CD ‘My Love My Life’.

I have seem a great ABBA signed souvenir plate on ebay. Apparently it’s 1 of only 100 made. Do you think this is worth £100? What do you think the value of this item is?? I’d really appreciate your view. Cheers, Zo		I haven’t seen this particular item, but usually these sorts of things are signed by the artist who created the item, not the artists featured. Personally, I don’t think these collector items are worth the money that’s charged for them.

I have discovered something awful which makes me very sad and disappointed about Agnetha from ABBA: a few nude pictures. What do you think about it? I was very, very sad. Ramona		Agnetha never posed for any nude photographs. Any photos you've seen would be fakes that have been made by someone putting her head on a nude model’s body. Sadly, this sort of thing is common for celebrities on the internet.

I am a great fan of ABBA. Though they broke up even before i was born, I really feel bad that I never got a chance to attend one of their concerts. Can I get a DVD version of their albums in Kenya? Noor Abdulqadir, Nairobi, Kenya.		I don’t know anywhere in Kenya where you can buy ABBA DVDs, but you can order them from any international online store like Amazon or HMV.
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