ABBA

[poriel]

April 23 sees the release of The Visitors Deluxe Edition. As with previous releases in the Deluxe Edition series, this version of ABBA’s final album offers a DVD of archive material along with CD bonus tracks – including the demo medley ‘From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel’, the first previously unreleased ABBA recordings since 1994!


The Deluxe Edition of The Visitors, ABBA’s eighth and final studio album, will be released on April 23, 2012. Originally released in 1981, the album features single hits such as ‘One Of Us’, ‘Head Over Heels’ and ‘When All Is Said And Done’, along with ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’, which is highlighted in one of the more poignant moments in the Mamma Mia! musical.

Like the previous Deluxe Editions of ABBA’s albums, The Visitors will feature several bonus selections along with a DVD of rare and previously unreleased material from the archives.

For ABBA fans, the most sensational inclusion in the package will be the previously unreleased track, ‘From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel (demos)’. This is the first time since the Thank You For The Music box set in 1994 that ABBA have opened the doors to the tape vaults to release previously unheard music from the group’s heyday.

Watch this space for more information about the track list and the previously unreleased recording.


THE VISITORS – DELUXE EDITION

DISC 01: CD
1. The Visitors
2. Head Over Heels
3. When All Is Said And Done
4. Soldiers
5. I Let The Music Speak
6. One Of Us
7. Two For The Price Of One
8. Slipping Through My Fingers
9. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Bonus Tracks:
10. Should I Laugh Or Cry
11. I Am The City
12. You Owe Me One
13. Cassandra
14. Under Attack
15. The Day Before You Came

Extra Bonus Track:
16. From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel (demos)


DISC 02: DVD:
1. Two For The Price Of One (Dick Cavett Meets ABBA)
2. Slipping Through My Fingers (Dick Cavett Meets ABBA)
3. When All Is Said And Done (Original Promo Clip)
4. ABBA In London, November 1982 (The Late Late Breakfast Show, BBC)
5. ABBA In Stockholm, November 1982 (Nöjesmaskinen, SVT)
6. The Visitors TV commercial I (UK)
7. The Visitors TV commercial II (Australia)
8. The Singles – The First Ten Years TV commercial I (UK)
9. The Singles – The First Ten Years TV commercial II (Australia)
10. International Sleeve Gallery

http://abbasite.com/articles/news/the-v ... d-in-april!

[NothingFails]

me must have!

The Visitors is my fave ABBA album, and the release of an as-of-now unreleased track?!?!?

[Mikerocha]

me must have!

The Visitors is my fave ABBA album, and the release of an as-of-now unreleased track?!?!?

+ 1. I have all the deluxe editions so far. I wish they would release the final demo of "Just Like That". I know Bjorn and Benny never wanted to, but the fans want it so bad

Anyway Excited about this. And "The Visitors" is my favorite album as well.

[zeus555]

A piece in 'The Guardian' (UK) Newspaper about the unreleased
ABBA Track. (Several interesting 'Readers Comments', beneath it):,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/ja ... heard-song

Zeus555

[johnnyboy]

I'm looking forward to hearing that new track. It's a pity the deluxe edition will include You Owe Me One but not Just Like That.

Thanks for that Guardian link, Zeus.

We should use this thread more

[zeus555]

An article in the 'Daily Mail' about the unreleased
Track on 'The Visitors' Deluxe Edition.

Read the Comments beneath it. (Click On 'View All'
to see everyone's Comments).

As you can see, some people have misunderstood the
Headline, & they think it is wrong. It says that it
ABBA's first 'unheard' Song in nearly 2 Decades.
Some people think that it means since 1981, when
'The Visitors' came out. It actually means since
1994, when the 'Thank You For The Music' Box Set
came out. So, the Headline is not wrong at all.

LINK:,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... cades.html

Zeus555

[zeus555]

After the Limited Edition, (500), 'Happy New Year',
recently, there will now be 5,000 Limited Edition
12" 'Voulez-Vous' Remix/Extended Singles, released.
It comes out on Saturday April 21st.

The one that we already have on 'The Definitive
Collection', (2001), I should imagine.

I like the 'B' Side, far better - the usual 1979 'Voulez-Vous'
LP version of 'If It Wasn't For The Nights'.

LINK - More Details:,

http://abbasite.com/articles/news/abba- ... -store-day

I think that these releases are simply being put
out to make it look like ABBA Fans are being given
extra special 'Treats'. However - we've had this
Music before. None of us are being offered anything
new.....

Zeus555

[zeus555]

The Demo Versions Track on 'The Visitors' (Deluxe),
was premiered on BBC2 TV, in the UK, today.

I did not hear it/see it, but here is the Review of an
Irish ABBA Fan - Seanie - from an ABBA Fan Site:,

'FROM A TWINKLING STAR TO A PASSING ANGEL'

Well it premiered on BBC 2 today and I had to listen to it!
I love it! There is 6 versions, with the last version taking up half (almost a complete song).

So there is

- Bjorns "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" version
- Frida "Another Morning Without You"
- Disco Version (Loads of Harmonies and great vocals)
- Twinkling Piano where Frida sings and talks the words over it dead:
- Vocoder version (probably my least favourite version although Fridas vocals are So amazing)
- 3 full minutes of an "alternative take" with raw vocals.

I love it! AMWY is so wonderful and the disco version is really cool!
Bjorns version is actually really cool! Agnetha fans wont be very happy though because I can't hear at all (but then again I'm not looking out for her)

The disco version is my favourite. Half of the demo is taken up by the last alternative take, and about a minute of the rest.

I'm in heaven literally! I'll post this in the spoiler thread also.

His 2nd Post - the Times of each 'Section' of the 9 Minute Track:,

Now, here roughly how long each demo lasts from my recording (it's not entirely accurate but an estimation)

Bjorn "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" - 1.10 minutes
Another Morning Without You - 1.17 minutes
Disco Version - 1.26 long
Instruments Version - 1.05 minutes
Vocoder Version - 0.41 seconds
Alternative Take - 3.01 minutes

Zeus555

[zeus555]

There is to be a 'New' Global ABBA Compilation in May.

The odd thing, that I find, is that neither 'Our Last Summer', nor 'Slipping Through My Fingers',
are on it. Both of which many people heard for the first time in the 'Mamma Mia!' Film,
& many of them liked those Songs. So, there is still not an ABBA Compilation, that matches
the ABBA Songs in the 'Mamma Mia!' Film.....(I'm not fully sure if they match all of the Songs
in the Stage Musical - I've never seen it).

The Cover Photo was originally made for the 'Dancing Queen' Single, in 1976.

http://www.abbasite.com/the-essential-collection/

The Set is to be released in 3 ways:,

A) A 2 CD + DVD Edition (Limited Edition. This will only be available for a certain time)

B) A 2 CD Edition

C) A DVD Edition

(In the UK, The OCC will, combine the Sales of A & B, for Album Chart purposes.
Presumably, that is how it is done by other Countries Chart Compilers, too).

THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION - ABBA (MAY 2012)

What the ABBA Site says about it:,

All the hits and more featured on 2 CDs and 1 DVD.

May 21, 2012 is the release date for The Essential
Collection, a brand new collection of ABBA
hits and other classic tracks. The release will come
in three different configurations: a double-CD,
a DVD, and a Limited Edition package featuring the
two CDs, the DVD and an illustrated 28-page
booklet. The DVD features all official ABBA promo
clips in remastered form, including two previously
unreleased videos: ‘Conociéndome, Conociéndote’ and
‘Gracias por la música’ (Spanish versions
of ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’ and ‘Thank You For The
Music’, respectively).

Track listings:

CD 01:

1. People Need Love
2. He Is Your Brother
3. Ring Ring
4. Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
5. Waterloo
6. Honey, Honey
7. So Long
8. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
9. SOS
10. Mamma Mia
11.Bang-A-Boomerang
12. Fernando
13. Dancing Queen
14. Money, Money, Money
15. Knowing Me, Knowing You
16. That’s Me
17. The Name Of The Game
18. Take A Chance On Me
19. Eagle
20. One Man, One Woman
21. Thank You For The Music
22. Summer Night City

CD 02:

1. Chiquitita
2. Does Your Mother Know
3. Voulez-Vous
4. Angeleyes
5. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
6. I Have A Dream
7. The Winner Takes It All
8. Super Trouper
9. On And On And On
10. Lay All Your Love On Me
11. Happy New Year
12. One Of Us
13. When All Is Said And Done
14. Head Over Heels
15. The Visitors
16. The Day Before You Came
17. Under Attack

DVD:

1. Waterloo
2. Ring Ring
3. Mamma Mia
4. SOS
5. Bang-A-Boomerang
6. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
7. Fernando
8. Dancing Queen
9. Money, Money, Money
10. Knowing Me, Knowing You
11. That’s Me
12. The Name Of The Game
13. Take A Chance On Me
14. Eagle
15. One Man, One Woman
16. Thank You For The Music
17. Summer Night City
18. Chiquitita
19. Does Your Mother Know
20. Voulez-Vous
21. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
22. On And On And On
23. The Winner Takes It All
24. Super Trouper
25. Happy New Year
26. When All Is Said And Done
27. One Of Us
28. Head Over Heels
29. The Day Before You Came
30. Under Attack
31. Estoy Soñando (I Have A Dream, in Spanish)
32. Conociéndome, Conociéndote (Knowing Me, Knowing You, in Spanish)
33. Gracias Por La Música (Thank You For The Music, in Spanish)
34. Felicidad (Happy New Year, in Spanish)
35. No Hay A Quien Culpar (When all is Said & Done, in Spanish)
36. The Last Video


Zeus555

[NothingFails]

Another ABBA compilation?

I wish B&B would just give us that rarities disc we've been clamoring for for years

[zeus555]

The reason why these ABBA Compilations come out is
because every one of them, (the Global ones), sell at
least 500,000 copies.

The '18 Hits' CD - No.75, (UK), at present, has
sold over 330,000 copies in the UK alone, & well
over 1 Million in Europe.

'The Essential Collection' will sell quite well
- because they all do.

Benny & Bjorn simply will not let us have anything
unreleased. Universal have no say in the matter.
(Nor do ABBA Fans). The 2 ABBA Guys, may let us have
another 3 to 9 Minutes of unreleased ABBA Music, in
2025, or 2030. We will see. (If World War III has
not put an end to us all, by then!).

Zeus555

[NothingFails]

true but at this point how many more cd's do we need Waterloo and Dancing Queen on? IMO Gold suffices for a single disc, The Essential Collection for a 2-disc and Thank You For The Music for those who want a box set.

[zeus555]

As long as each Global Compilation sells at least
500,000, then Universal will keep on releasing them.

Universal are bound to advertise 'The Essential Collection'
on TV. They clearly see it as a major ABBA release.

I do not mind - it will Chart, in several Countries,
&, (for example), ABBA's UK Album Chart Career, will
stretch from June 1974 to June 2012 - and beyond.

A May 21st released Album, will not enter the UK Charts
until W/E 2nd June.The 'Waterloo' Album, entered the
W/E 8th June 1974 Chart, at No.46 - Peaking at No.28,
the following Week.

Zeus555

[NothingFails]

It seems like Gold has no problem continuing to rechart in the UK.

Endless Greatest Hits albums dilute the music. Capitol used to do the same to The Beatles in the 70s and early 80s (Love Songs, Reel Music, Rock And Roll Music, 20 Greatest Hits, etc...) until McCartney and Harrison put a stop to it and now the only collections released are ones that have the approval of Apple Corps.

ABBA's collections sell well anyways, you can be anthologized to death and sadly that's what Universal wants to do, almost as bad as Elvis.

[zeus555]

'The Essential Collection' - ABBA Fan Poll

There is a Facebook Poll, about 'The Essential Collection'.

It is asking ABBA Fans if they plan to buy it in
the 2 CD + DVD Edition, the 2 CD Edition, the DVD
Edition - or, if they have no plans to buy any of them.

Here it is - if you want to Vote in it:,

https://www.facebook.com/icethesite


Zeus555

[zeus555]

'THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION'

Has anyone any idea why Universal have delayed the
Triple ABBA Release of 'The Essential Collection',
until Monday 3rd September? (But only in the UK -
maybe Ireland, too).

(By 'Triple Release', I mean that it is being released
in 3 ways - A 2 CD + DVD version, a 2 CD version, &
a DVD version).

It was supposed to be released on Monday 21st May!
Outside of the UK, they are still getting it in May, but
it is September here. This has never, ever happened
before.....Such a big delay between a UK ABBA release,
& a Global ABBA release.

UK ABBA Fans are just wondering what is significant
about September for ABBA, in the UK, that is not
significant for ABBA outside of the UK. It is the 20th
Anniversary of 'Gold' being released - but, it was
released in September 1992, in the rest of Europe, too.

ABBA LINK - HMV

http://goo.gl/zF1f4

ABBA LINK - AMAZON.uk

http://goo.gl/WzlLN

'GOLD' - 5 MILLION UK SALES

In the meantime, The OCC tell me that 'Gold' has
just about reached 5 Million UK Sales, now. They
say they may announce this next Week. It is only
the 3rd Album to sell 5 Million, (or more), in the
UK. It is also the first by a non-UK Act.

Zeus555

[zeus555]

The Essential Collection' will now be released in
Germany in June - to tie-in with an ABBA TV Special.

The release has now been delayed, until September,
in the entire rest of the World.

Universal have not explained what is significant,
(for ABBA), in September, around the World, that means
that every Country, except Germany, has to wait until
then for 'The Essential Collection'.

Nor why they chose May as the original Date, for
every Country. Only to change their minds.

Zeus555

[zeus555]

'The Essential Collection'.....

I see that amazon are listing Track 11, on CD 1,
as 'Bang-A', instead of 'Bang-A-Boomerang'!

And they have not even Listed the DVD's Tracks -
yet. I notice that it, (DVD), has dropped to £11 in
price. It was £12.70 last Week.

1) As you can see, they now have better photos of
the 3 versions.

LINK:,

http://goo.gl/Ty18j

A) The 2 CD + DVD version, looks like it will be in
a sort of tall, narrow, 'Book' Form - like the
1994 'Thank You For The Music' Box Set.

B) The 2 CD version will be in the form of an ordinary CD case.

C) And the DVD version will, (of course), be in a normal DVD case.

As regards 'Gold's International Sales - They have
been given as 28 Million since about 2005. We've
had its Sales added to since then - by the 'Mamma
Mia!' Film, in 2008.

I know that it sold around 1,800,000 in 2008. Then
we have its 2006 to 2007 Sales, & its 2009 to 2012 Sales.

I'd say that it is already on at least 31 Million Global Sales.....

Zeus555

[zeus555]

In the UK, The Official Charts Company has just announced that
'ABBA Gold' has become only the 3rd Album to reach 5 Million UK
Sales:,

LINK:,

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-new ... club-1400/

UK ‘GOLD - GREATEST HITS’ UK CHART TRIVIA


And here is some Chart Data that I've compiled about this.

1) This 1992 Album has now become only the 3rd Album to reach 5 Million Sales, in the UK.

2) Only ‘Greatest Hits’, by Queen, (1981), & ‘Sgt Pepper….’, by The Beatles, have sold more UK copies.

3) TOP 75 WEEKS

It has also spent more time in the Top 75 than any other Album - 449 Weeks.

4) TOP 100 WEEKS

And more Weeks in the Top 100 than any other Album - 648 Weeks.

5) TOP 10 WEEKS

It has spent more Weeks in the Top 10 than any other ABBA Album - 58 Weeks.

6) No.1 YEARS

It has had 5 ‘Runs’ at No.1, for a Total of 8 Weeks. Whilst that is not a UK Chart Record, the fact that it had 3 of those ‘Runs’, several years apart, & in separate Chart Runs, is.

A) It first went to No.1 in October 1992

B) Then in April 1999 - 6 Years & 6 Months later. (As well as returning to No.1 - twice - in May 1999).

C) Then in August 2008 - 9 Years & 3 Months later. (You start this ‘Span’ in May 1999 - not in April 1999).

7) 13 YEARS IN THE ANNUAL UK TOP 100 BEST SELLING ALBUMS

It is one of very few Albums to appear in the UK’s Annual Top 100 Albums for as many as
13 Years:,

1992 - 12th, 1993 - 36th, 1994 - 63rd, 1995 - 80th, 1996 - 87th, 1997 - 100th, 1998 - 55th,

1999 - 4th 2000 - 41st, 2004 - 47th, 2008 - 19th, 2009 - 54th, 2010 - 90th

8) SEPTEMBER 2012 - 20th ANNIVERSARY OF ‘GOLD’

September of this Year is the 20th Anniversary of ‘Gold’ being released in the UK.
(Released on Monday 21st September 1992. Entered, (at No.1), in the Chart of W/E 3rd October 1992).

ABBA TRIVIA - AS A GROUP

A) 2012 is the 40th Anniversary of ABBA forming - 1972

B) And the 30th Anniversary of them splitting up - 1982

C) They are the biggest Non-UK/Non-USA Act, in UK Chart History.
(Beating even Kylie Minogue, (Australia), & Celine Dion, (Canada).

D) They have spent more Weeks at No.1, in the UK Singles & Albums Chart combined
- 88 Weeks - than all but 2 Acts - The Beatles - 243 Weeks, & Elvis Presley - 143 Weeks.

E) Their 114 Top 10 UK Singles Chart Weeks, & 224 Top 10 UK Albums Chart Weeks,
are the most by any Group, since The Beatles split up, in 1970.

F) ABBA & LED ZEPPELIN hold the UK Chart Record, for the ‘Most Consecutive No.1 Albums. Both Acts had 8 No.1 Albums in a row. Led Zeppelin from 1970 to 1979, & ABBA from 1976 to 1982. Ironically, the 8th No.1 Album by Led Zeppelin, (‘In Through The Out Door’), was recorded at ABBA’s Polar Studios, in Sweden - 1978.


Zeus555

[zeus555]

'The Essential Collection' has now been released in Germany.

However, it turns out that the 1999 Edit of 'Eagle' has been used.
It was Edited, (to 4.25), by someone called Jon Astley, in 1999, for
a Re-Issue of 'More Gold'. The Edit is widely regarded as not very
good.

Apparently Carl Magnus Palm left instructions, (to Universal),
that the 4.25 Singles Edit, (from 1978), should be used, & they
have ignored him.

Even though 'The Essential Collection' is not out until September
in the rest of the World, Magnus does not think that Universal will
use the 1978 Edit of 'Eagle', (at all), now.

Here is the difference between the 2 versions - from Wikipedia:,

"The original 4:25 single edit was issued on CD for the first time in 1993 on the compilation More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits. However, for the 1999 re-release of this album, plus subsequent releases, a new version based on the 1978 edit was created. Unfortunately this edit missed out a vital instrumental-only section at the end of the second chorus prior to the closing instrumental, thereby sounding disjointed. The original edit (or at least an exact re-creation of it) was finally issued again on the deluxe version of The Album in 2007".

And here is a Link,to a Video Clip, which let's you hear how the
2 versions are different:,

'EAGLE' (The 1978 & 1999 Edits)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_nJgDZkUoY

Zeus555

[zeus555]

THE NATION'S FAVOURITE No.1 SINGLE

These are the UK's final 10.....ABBA are there.

The final 10 Hits were revealed today. 'Dancing Queen' has made it.
Whichever Act Wins, will get much Media attention.

LINK - TO VOTE FOR ONE OF THE FINAL 10 SONGS

See the final 10 Hits here - and you may may Vote for the one you
like best until 22.30 on Saturday 14th July.

http://www.itv.com/nationsfavouritenumb ... fault.html

More News about the final 10 Hits:,

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-new ... aled-1478/

Although 'The Winner Takes It All' was one of the 60 UK No.1 Hits, that
could be Voted for, it did not reach the final 10.

The Winner will be revealed during 2 UK, (ITV1), TV Shows on
Saturday 14th, & Sunday 15th July. With a special Show, about the
remaining 10 Hits, on Sunday 7th July - on ITV1 - at 21.00 to 22.30.
(22.00 - 23.30 on ITV1+1).

Zeus555

[zeus555]

The Deluxe Edition of the 1975 ABBA Album is out in November.

Benny & Bjorn are not letting Universal have any 'New' Music
to add to it, this time - unlike with The Visitors Album.

http://www.abbasite.com/deluxe-edition- ... -november/

Zeus555

[NothingFails]

Here's some awesome news

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/0 ... b=facebook

Agnetha Faltskog, ABBA Singer, Prepares Comeback

10/04/12 10:38 AM ET EDT

STOCKHOLM -- Agnetha Faltskog, one of the former members of Swedish pop band ABBA, is preparing for a comeback and has returned to the recording studio after more than eight years of musical silence.

The singer's spokesman, Staffan Linde, told The Associated Press Thursday that the 62-year-old Faltskog is working alongside Swedish songwriter Jorgen Elofsson, who has previously penned and produced tunes for megastars including Britney Spears, Celine Dion and boy band Westlife. He could not say when the new album will be released.

After ABBA split in the early 1980s, Faltskog pursued a solo career for a few years, but then went into a music hiatus for most of the 1990s. Her last album, "My Colouring Book," contained cover songs and was released in 2004.

[AndiIversen]

That's great news NF!

I've always been a fan of her voice... I remember the day I got the brand-new Wrap your arms Around Me LP back in the day, really liked that record.

Glad she's making a comeback

[NothingFails]

I'm glad too. I enjoyed My Colouring Book but to be honest assumed that it was just a career coda, so I'm glad she's coming back yet again