Ask Ian.....16 March 2003

Q		A
I have just recently purchased my first ABBA CD and am "blown away" by the terrific vocals and background music! I was well aware of ABBA back in the 70s since I am 42 years old. Did they do any Christmas albums?? Is it Frida who does the lead vocals on ‘The Winner Takes It All’? Thanks so much! Stephanie from California		ABBA never recorded any Christmas songs. Their only seasonal song is ‘Happy New Year’ on the ‘Super Trouper’ album. Agnetha is the lead vocalist on ‘The Winner Takes It All’. Congratulations on buying your first ABBA CD, Stephanie – no doubt you’ll enjoy any further CDs that I'm sure you’ll be buying.

I have heard that ABBA are going to be in Port Huron Michigan sometime this year 2003. I love their music and play it all the time. If you could send me their schedule for this year I would love to be there and see them in person. I thank you, a real fan, Robert Hunter		ABBA broke up over 20 years ago and have no plans for a reunion. What’s probably coming your way is a concert by Swedish tribute band Waterloo, which has been touring the US and Canada as ABBA - The Music for the last year or so.

I thought that ‘So Long’ was a single in the US, but I can't find any info on how well or bad the song did. Could you help me out? Thanks, Terri, USA		According to all records that I have seen, ‘So Long’ was never released as a single in the USA.

`Can you tell me if the ‘Thank You For The Music’ box set is digitally remastered? Thanks,Slava`		`As far as I know, it was digitally remastered in 20 bit, the same as the original releases of ‘ABBA Gold’ and ‘More ABBA Gold’.`

I have heard that in Stockholm there is a museum dedicated to ABBA where original stage costumes and other pieces are kept. Is this true, and if so, could you please advise on the website re the details of where it is. That would be great! Thanks, Jacinta.		There is a small ABBA display at the Musikmuseet (Music Museum) in Stockholm. The display features a few gold records, a couple of guitars and a piano, Frida’s blue satin suit costume from 1976, a computer with a database of information about ABBA, and a few other items. In 2000 and 2001 there was ABBA - The Exhibition at the Nordiskamuseet (Nordic Museum), but that has since closed.

Where does Linda and her familiy live, in the same house with Agnetha or have they an own house on the same estate? Greetings Bruni		I believe that Linda lived in her mother’s house for some years, but now lives elsewhere.

In Agnetha's book ‘Som jag är’, there was a story about her tour throughout England. It said that one morning, during breakfast, a bundle of weeklies arrived from Sweden which included an "all-to-well informed article with very personal details that only a few close people could have known". Do you happen to know what was IN the article? Thank you! Elaine (yes, like in the song!)		I’m sorry, but I couldn’t say for sure what was in the particular article she's talking about. The Swedish press have printed so many gossip stories about Agnetha.

Why was the ‘Thank You For The Music’ single given a CBS serial number instead of the usual EPC. It seems after 1983, Epic changed their catalogue numbering system to numbers only, after checking Michael Jackson's and Celine Dion's discography. (Both recording artists for Epic) Both ‘Thank You For The Music’ and the album that it was released from in 1983 here in the UK, were both on Epic. Any ideas? Simon (Polarbear)		The records themselves don’t have CBS catalogue numbers. It would seem that in 1983 Epic dropped the EPC prefix from the catalogue numbers of their singles – the catalogue number of the ‘Thank You For The Music’ single is A3894 while the same titled album is EPC 10043. Often discographies or sales charts will list the record company as the parent rather than the label – in this case CBS rather than Epic. Even today, ABBA releases may be listed as Universal Music, even though the labels are Polar or Polydor.

I just wanted to know where and when the "picture of the month for May 2000" was taken. Was Frida ill at that moment? Perhaps you can help me. Greetings from Germany! Susi		This photo was taken on 6 August 1979 at Europa Film Studios in Stockholm. ABBA and several other Swedish singing stars were there to make casts of their hands, which were later used for a sculpture in the new studio foyer. That day, Frida had been rollerskating and is wearing elbow pads. Another photo of everyone involved on that day can be seen on page 195 of ‘ABBA: The Book’.

Why is the ‘Voulez-Vous’ album song ‘If It Wasn't For The Night’ not titled ‘If It Wasn't For The Nights’, as the refrain goes? Also, on that token, shouldn't refrain go "If it weren't for the nights", as that is grammatically correct? Yours, Justin Cass, Florida		The song is actually titled ‘If It Wasn’t For The Nights’ (plural). The "night" title is simply a misprint on the back cover of the 2001 reissue of the ‘Voulez-Vous’ CD – you’ll notice inside the booklet the title is correct. As for your comment on the grammar, you’re probably right, but it’s just a song.

I recently purchased a brand new copy of the 'ABBA-The Collection' box set, which was produced in 1999 by Insight (Polygram) and offered only via TV to those living in Europe; catalog #010 097-0. The blue box contains three CDs titled ‘ABBA Classic’, ‘ABBA Dance’ and ‘ABBA Romance’; in addition, it contains a video (PAL only) and a booklet. My main reason for purchasing this item was for its inclusion of ‘Dream World’ (found on the ‘ABBA Dance CD) and that the CDs were in 24 bit, making it the first and only time thus far that ‘Dream World’ has been offered in this quality. For the life of me I cannot find any mention of the '24-bit' format within the CDs or booklet and I was hoping that you might be able to tell me if I was misinformed. Thank you very much for any help/information that you can provide me with. Many thanks, Adam Muger San Jose, California USA		To the best of my knowledge, all tracks in that box set were remastered in 24 bit.

As an ABBA fan, and going to university in Denmark, although I am Canadian I often wondered why the group was more popular in Canada than in the States during the 1970s?? Can you please tell me why?? Tak thanks Wendy		I couldn't really say for sure. Who can tell why something is more popular in one place than another? One theory that has been put forward is that Canadian taste is more "European" than the US.

I have a live, unreleased recording of ABBA which is labeled as recorded in Sydney in 1979. I couldn't find any info to support a Sydney show in 1979, but of course, know they were in Sydney in 1977. The recording is excellent, a very clear FM recording or possible soundboard feed. It also features songs from the ‘Voulez-Vous’ album, which came out in 1979, so this leaves me thinking that I actually might have a 1979 show, but perhaps it isn't in Sydney. The question is: did ABBA tour Sydney in 1979? I found a link to a site where the tour dates are listed, but no Sydney in 1979. I think the link came off of your site, but I am not sure. Thanks for the help. Gayle, Hollywood, Florida, USA		You’re right that ABBA did not perform in Sydney in 1979 – Australia was not on the itinerary for the 1979 tour. The concert you have on tape was recorded at Wembley Arena in London in November 1979. A one hour radio special was put together and broadcast on radio in the UK at Christmas 1979 – I suspect that this is what you have a recording of.

How do the members of ABBA feel about having the book ‘Bright Lights Dark Shadows’ written about them? Did they approve of this book and what is their current relationship with Carl Magnus Palm? Is he still privy to interviewing them? Regards Murray Kruger, Brisbane, Australia		The former members of ABBA have made no comments about the book. Carl Magnus Palm continues to do work for Universal Music in Sweden as a consultant on ABBA releases.

I have 2 questions. 1. I saw on your web site that for the song ‘I Am An A’, ABBA recorded a studio version and a live 1977 version. Are either of these songs available on a CD? I have looked and cannot find any. 2. The "other" (non-hit) version of ‘Thank You For The Music’ is called the "Doris Day version". Do you know why? Thanks David		1. There is no studio recording of ‘I Am An A’. There is an early set of lyrics in circulation that has been dubbed the "studio version" on many websites (but not mine). The song has unfortunately never been officially released. Recordings made by fans in the audience at various 1977 concerts have appeared on many unofficial CDs. Incidentally, the chorus was later used in ‘Free As A Bumble Bee’ (part of the ‘Abba Undeleted’ medley on the ‘Thank You For The Music’ box set, and eventually became the chorus of ‘I Know Him So Well’ in Benny and Björn’s musical ‘Chess’) 2. The early version of ‘Thank You For The Music’ has been dubbed the "Doris Day version" simply because Agnetha sings the song in the style of Doris Day.

I would really like to know the origin of the song ‘Fernando’ Who wrote it, where the lyrics came from, what war was it talking about, where did ABBA find the inspiration? Many thanks Robs		‘Fernando’ was written by Björn and Benny, with the original Swedish lyric by ABBA manager Stig Anderson. Björn wrote the English lyric, and commented in the book ‘ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions’ that "I got this strong vision in my head of two old revolutionaries in Mexico, sitting outdoors one night, reminiscing".

With a lot of singers and groups now selling their songs for commercial ads now, What is ABBA's feelings on that? I know in the USA that ‘Dancing Queen’ was used in a VISA promotes Broadway ad and I remember ‘Take a Chance on Me’ was used to sell, I believe some kind of appliances a couple of years ago. Both songs didn't use ABBA's voices though. Have there been any other songs used for ads here in the US or other parts of the world? Thanks!! Bridget (USA)		I’m certain that ABBA would be against the use of their original recordings for commercials. I’m not sure of the legalities, but I presume that to re-record the songs for commercials producers would simply have to pay for publishing rights. ABBA songs that have been used in advertisements include ‘Rock Me’, with new lyrics, to advertise a deodorant in Australia in the 1980s. 'Move On' was once used to advertise shampoo in Germany. In addition to those re-recordings, ABBA’s actual recordings have been used in a couple of commercials. ABBA filmed several commercials for National electronic products for Australia in 1976, singing new lyrics to the tune of ‘Fernando’. And in the mid-80s, Toblerone used ABBA’s recording of ‘Honey, Honey’ in Australia. Coincidentally, I recently received the following email from regular contributor Stephen on this very subject: On your October, 2002 page Balthasar from Germany asked about the use of ABBA songs in TV commercials. This came up in a conversation I had with an American friend the other day. I can confirm two others for your list. Stena Sealink Ferries UK used a version of 'Move On' for a commercial in the Britain and Ireland in the early nineties. In the early eighties an American cosmetics company used 'Kisses of Fire' to advertise a brand of lipstick, in what was, apparently a rather racy promotion! Regards, Stephen, Londonderry.

I am looking for a video recording of the 1984 showcase concert performances of ‘Chess’ (featuring Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg, Barbara Dickson and Murray Head), especially the one where Barbara doesn't turn up on stage and Karin Glenmark does a phenomenal stand-in performance in ‘Endgame’. Can you please tell me how to get my hands on such a recording, whether official or unofficial? Thanks in advance, Fredrik Fischer, Lund, Sweden		That famous concert you mention was filmed for a television special which was screened in 1985. Unfortunately, it’s never been officially released on video.
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