| It's the big ABBA day in Australia! September 9, 2002! Today, the Australian DVD and CD versions of "THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION" were released. Universal Music has produced a special full-colour cardboard presentation stand for record stores. It holds multiple copies of both the CD and DVD. It looks sensational. Both the DVD and CD have been pressed in Australia rather than imported from overseas. As Ian Cole informed us some time ago, disc one of the CD has two extra tracks - Rock Me and Hasta Manana. Both tracks enjoyed considerable success in 1976 in Australia and that's why Universal Music Australia decided to included them on the Oz release. From the Universal Music Australia (UMA) website: "With tens of millions albums sold worldwide, it is hard to imagine that the development of popular music could have been the same had it not been for ABBA's almost complete domination of the Ô70's. In celebration of their continuing global success and the opening of the sell-out stage show Mamma Mia! in Sydney comes a completely new collection of ABBA's work. Abba - The Definitive Collection brings together for the first time the A-side single releases from 1972 to 1982 in their entirety. The collection also benefits from 2 digitally remastered bonus tracks, a single remix of Ring Ring and an extended US promo remix of Voulez Vous, previously unreleased. In addition, this Australian Only Edition features 2 'Aussie Only' hits in Rock Me and Hasta Manana." The DVD is exactly the same except for the "E - EXEMPT FROM CLASSIFICATION" printed across the bottom of the cover. The booklet is the same and the Mamma Mia! advertisement under the disc is the same. Prices one day one have been varied: The recommended retail price seems to be $34.95 for the CD and $39.95 for the DVD. However, at least one major department store is selling the CD for $37.95 and the DVD for $44.95! Discount chain "Big W" has a one week promotion on the DVD for $29.98 and the CD for $23.92. If you are in Australia and want to buy the CD from "Big W" please check the cardboard slip cover before you buy. "Big W" CDs are sealed in hard clear-plastic security cases which are too small for The Definitive Collection's slip cover. The bottom of the slip cover is dented and damaged because of this. Check carefully! HMV Sydney have a big display shelf of both the DVD and CD at the entrance to the shop. They also have copies of the 2001 remasters (jewel case) for $14.95. The Definitive Collection has also been released on VHS video in Australia. Retail price is $24.95. Mamma Mia! begins its Sydney run on September 26th and no doubt there's going to be a whole lot of cross promotion between the show and The Definitive Collection releases. To co-incide with Mamma Mia! in Sydney, Universal have decided to "re-release" the original soundtrack CD. Nothing special about this one, it has already been available for a long time. Here's the blurb from the UMA website: There's a buzz building in anticipation of the arrival of the new musical Mamma Mia! on Australian shores. Currently playing in London's West End, Toronto and Los Angeles, Mamma Mia! has broken all local box office records. With music by the male half of the famous ABBA quartet Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is an infectious evening of pure entertainment and riotous raucous fun. Mamma Mia! concerns a young woman named Sophie and her single mother Donna, a former nightclub singer who runs a motel on a small Greek island. Sophie is about to get married and before she ties the knot, she wants to find out who her father is. She invites three of her mother's old flames (each a candidate for paternity) to her wedding. From there the fun begins' Having broken box office records in London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne, Mamma Mia! now moves to Brisbane for a season commencing July 5, prior to the Sydney season in September. With music by the male half of the famous ABBA quartet - Benny Anderson & Bjorn Ulvaues, Mamma Mia! is an infectious evening of pure entertainment and riotous raucous fun. Mamma Mia! concerns a young woman named Sophie and her single mother Donna, a former nightclub singer who runs a motel on a small Greek Island. Sophie is about to get married and before she ties the knot, she wants to find out who her father is. She invites three of her mother's old flames (each a candidate for paternity) to her wedding. From there the fun begins Having broken box office records in London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne, Mamma Mia! moves to Sydney for a season commencing in September. With music by the male half of the famous ABBA quartet Ð Benny Anderson & Bjšrn Ulvaues, Mamma Mia! is an infectious evening of pure entertainment and riotous raucous fun. Mamma Mia! concerns a young woman named Sophie and her single mother Donna, a former nightclub singer who runs a motel on a small Greek Island. Sophie is about to get married and before she ties the knot, she wants to find out who her father is. She invites three of her mother's old flames (each a candidate for paternity) to her wedding. From there the fun begins... ABBAMAIL can only say hold on to your hats Aussie fans because it seems as if we're about to experience a wave of ABBA-mania all over again ;-) | 
