Your Questions

Lex answers…

I’m interested in getting hold of some hi-resolution or even promotional slides of ABBA (specifically the Swedish Greatest Hits cover) to reproduce as framed pictures for personal use only. Do you know where I source find those?

He made some of the most famous pictures of ABBA during their career.

If you click “Galerie”, click “A” and select ABBA, you find the best ABBA pictures, which you can purchase for a reasonable prices. You can even get his signature on it if you like!

The Swedish Greatest Hits cover was a painting done by Hans Arnold. The album was re-released on CD in its original cover (gatefold) in 2006 and for this release a limited amount of promo posters was made as an extra gift to fans who bought it either in Sweden or at the International ABBA Day at the day of its release. Though it is hard to get now, you might be able to find it on offer on several auction websites.

Polar Music released hundreds and hundreds of promotional 35mm transparencies of ABBA during the 70s and early 80s. Occasionally a few of these come up for sale on eBay but I know of no specific seller that has them regularly.

Hi there,

Have you any idea about the content of the following DVDs: (I've never heard of them!)

ABBA In Performance

ABBA The Ultimate Review

Cheers JB

ABBA The Ultimate Review: This is actually a 3 DVD set that includes the DVD above (In Performance) along with two other discs full of talking heads discussing ABBA. The two other discs were in fact already released by the same company some time ago and called Music In Review: ABBA 1973-1982. Whilst there is some low quality rare ABBA footage, don't expect a lot from these DVDs.
 

Agnetha was pregnant during the ABBA period, that’s why the press, particularly in Sweden, were full of pictures of her pregnant with both Linda and later, Christian.
 

I spent a lot of time googling the net for this and was unable to find the answer, unfortunately. I hope you can help me. There is one instrumental song (with no words) by ABBA that is very very beautiful and quite moving. I remember the melody but cannot sing it to you over the Internet :) It was based on some Irish (Scottish??) music where the sound was dominated by pipes. Please, if you know what I mean, let me know the title or where I could buy the song.

Thank you very much for your answer!

Jessica

The song you're talking about is the title track 'Arrival' from the album "ARRIVAL" which was released in 1976 and has been re-released in 2006. Being one of, if not the classic ABBA album, it is available to buy everywhere.

“Fiol” was the first working title of “Arrival in Dalecarlia” the working title of “Arrival” and was recorded on the 30^th of August 1976. The title of the album “Arrival” was suggested by Rune Söderqvist and his, then wife, Lillebil. Rune Söderqvist is the designer of the ABBA logo which was first introduced in 1976.

(information from “ABBA, The Complete Recording Sessions” by Carl Magnus Palm 1994)

I have a question regarding the Complete Studio Recordings Box Set that was released last year.

Was this box set really a 'COMPLETE' getting together of all studio recordings or were there still some songs missing. If so, what were these missing songs?

When it says 'Complete Studio' - does it mean all studio recordings in any language, i.e., English, Swedish, Spanish, German, etc? If this is the case, then where is the song "Hovas Vittne" that ABBA recorded for Stig's 50th birthday? Was there a reason for omitting this from the box.

I am just keen to know how 'Incomplete' this box set is. I think it is important when a record company releases an artistes complete recording works that everything is included, especially the known tracks.

Also, is it true that the promo video of "When I Kissed The Teacher" was not included on the DVD in the box set??

Am I right in thinking that the record company has not done much research when compiling the box set. Especially, since it was meant to be a complete set of Abba's studio recordings.

 Keen to know your views on this, as I'm sure all other ABBA fans will be too.

Thanks

Mahen

London, UK.

...you can find a very interesting read about the “Complete Studio Recordings”. Here’s a short sample of the provided information on his website:

“So the definition of "complete" in the context of this box set goes something like this: Every single track recorded by ABBA in the studio between March 1972 and August 1982 and then commercially released at some point (under the name "ABBA" and/or "Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid/Frida") on vinyl, cassette or CD - including remixes and versions in languages other than English - but not the many edits that are out there, nor the "unremixed" extended versions.”

(with thanks to Carl Magnus Palm)

The song “Hovas Vittne” and the B-side “Tivedshambo” was recorded between January 18^th and January 20^th 1981. Released on 200 copies of Red vinyl on Stig Anderson’s 50^th birthday on January 25^th 1981. The song was a gift from ABBA to Stig, but he didn’t only get the song, he also received the publishing rights of the track. A special contract was made, and in it was written that if the song was to be recorded by any other artist, the original lyrics had to be kept intact. So yes, the song is an ABBA studio recording, but it was given away. Like “Sang Till Görel” it was never intended for our ears…

Of course missing is “Just Like That”’. There were at least three version of "Just Like That" recorded but only a snippet has appeared officially - on the 1994 Thank You For The Music box set.

The video for “When I Kissed The Teacher” was made for a Swedish TV show called “ABBA DABBA DOO” in 1976. The song wasn't released as a single and that is the reason it was not included on the “Complete Studio Recordings”.

On October 9^th 2006 the album “ARRIVAL” was re-released as a ‘Deluxe Edition’. It includes a DVD with the complete special on it and “When I Kissed The Teacher” can be heard as an early mix of the song.

My opinion on “The Complete Studio Recordings” is, that it’s a must-have for the real ABBA fan. It isn't absolutely complete, but I think there will never be a more complete box than this one. Besides that, it looks like this box really is a limited edition of only 25.000 copies worldwide.

It has already been re-released in Denmark on November 9^th 2006. Slimmed down without the DVDs and the lyric booklet.

Think about releasing something COMPLETE…there would be nothing left to release, no money left to earn, nothing left for us to wish for.

Can you tell me when and where took place the last ABBA public concert ever? I don't mean TV shows. Thanks TL from Spain

I'd like to know how they are, if they're married again. And I want to know more news about Björn, Cause he is my favourite member of the band. Of course I want to know about the others. Euzelene

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