LIMITED EDITION CHESS BONUS!!!

My whole purpose of getting the CHESS CD on Sunday at Midnight was to get the special bonus item that turned up yesterday.

"6 singlar från CHESS på svenska" (Six singles from CHESS in Swedish)

PROMCD-S 126
What a thing! Just as stylish as the box, and made up to look like a photo album! The front looks about the same as the box. Inside there are credits of course, and then on photo on each of the six thick pages. The pages are actually paper cases holding a single
each.

The first spread has the credits to the left and a picture of Rolf Skoglund to the right. The first single (PROMCD-S 126-1) is "Jag
vill se schack (The Arbiter)".

Next spread has a depressed Helen in a white blouse to the right. The single is (PROMCD-S 126-2) "Inte jag (Someone Else's Story)". Third is (PROMCD-S 126-3): "Mitt järtas land (Anthem)" with Tommy who is also in the picture. Fourth picture/spread is Anders Ekborg, holding his fists in front of his mouth, "Vem ser ett barn (Pity The Child)" (PROMCD-S 126-4). (PROMCD-S 126-5) is "Han är en man, han är ett barn" with Josefin who is also in the picture wearing her red outfit. The last single is "Glöm mig om du kan" with Per Myrberg (PROMCD-S 126-6) who is in the picture talking on the phone.

The discs are blue with the chess board on it, much lie the front cover.

On the back, besides the track list, it says it's a limited edition and not for sale. I got so carried away that I actually mailed and asked how limited it is. Will tell what the answer is if I get a reply.

Apparently each member of the main cast got a single. Funny thing is "Jag vet vad han vill" - the Helen/Josefin duet - didn't get a promo single in this collection.

Having listened a bit more to the box, one unexpected favourite is "Lämna inga dörrar på glänt" (Nobody's Side). I'll warm up to this version of The Arbiter as well... I don't mind the version at all as such, but that man... I DO NOT like his singing. Background singers are great and the arrangement has a neat punch. I just have to get over Rolf.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mattias Olsson, Göteborg, Sweden

FRIDA / FILIPPA DUET - RECORDING CREDITS

The CD booklet for Filippa's re-released album gives the credits as to the people involved in the recording of the duet - interesting that the final mixing process took place at Air Studios, London where parts of Frida's 'Something's Going On' album and the Spanish vocals for Agnetha's 'I Stand Alone' album were done :-)

Produced by Riccardo Cimino
Orchestra adapted by Renato Serio
Rhythmic arrangement and programming by Riccardo Cimino
Vocals recorded and mixed by Fausto Dasè at Metropolis Digital
Choir recorded and mixed by Riccardo Cimino at Studio Suoni, Rome
Orchestra: Orchestra Sinfonica del III Millennio, conducted by Renato Serio,
recorded by Luciano Torani at Studio Forum Music Village, Rome
Mixed by Geoff Foster at Air Studios, London, assisted by Chris Barret

Unfortunately Frida is referred to as 'Frida Lynstad' in the list of Filippa's thank-yous!

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ace Reporter Paul Carter, London, UK

ABBA THE MOVIE - US SCREENING

ABBA The Movie will be shown on Sat. Nov. 30th at 8 PM at The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.

It's part of a pop/rock series. Tickets are $5.50. Call 585-271-3361 for info or look at www.eastman.org

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Aileen Schafer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

CHART NEWS - WEEK 42

Pretty good this week.
USA: ABBA GOLD is up 6 to #12
Canada: 20TH CENTURY MASTERS is up; 13 to #59
Germany: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is down 6 to #100
Australia: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is down 4 to #22
Australia: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION DVD remains at #2 behind Elvis.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, New Zealand

SWEDISH CHESS CD: AFTONBLADET RAVES!

"Chess" on CD is loaded with hits

Finally! Now Swedish "Chess" is available on CD.

A strong musical on stage and a hit on CD with very good singers. Tommy Körberg in a new "Anthem", Anders Ekborg in "Vem ser ett barn" etc. The CD goes from highlight to highlight.

Well-known. But still it's not.

"Anthem" is now called "I mitt hjärtas land". A lot has changed in 18 years, not just English to Swedish. Other
arrangements, other melodies. Helen Sjöholm does a wonderful "Inte jag", which used to be called "Someone else's story" but wasn't on the album in the 1980s.

The director Lars Rudolfsson has adapted the English language version. He has deleted and rearranged, Björn and Benny have written new songs. I liked the first album very much when it was released in the fall of 1984 and later I saw the concert versions and the musical which had it's world premiere in 1986. I like "Chess" in Swedish just as much.

There's a difference between now and then.

Then "Chess" was recorded as an album at first, then performed on stage. Then Björn & Benny still had ABBA in their blood when they produced, now Benny Andersson's sound is a bit closer to "Kristina från Duvemåla". Then they had Björn Skifs, who is one of Sweden's best singers, do the singing role of the arbiter in "Arbiter". Now Rolf Skoglund, who isn't one of Sweden's best singers", does the same number. Drama and comedy instead of rock.

They very 80s-sounding synthesizer accompaniment in "Pity the child" is gone and Anders Ekborg has a more vivid sound behind him when he does his masterful version of "Vem ser ett barn".

Then there also was "One night in Bangkok" which became a disco hit. Bangkok and the song are gone. "One night in Bangkok" is heard briefly when you see "Chess" on stage, but that part is not included on the album.

There isn't much for fans of disco on here. Even the pop songs are produced as musical drama instead of hard thumping hits. In "I know him so well", there's not much room for drums and electric guitars. When it's performed in Swedish as "Jag vet vad han vill", the
symphony orchestra steps forward and the piano is the rhythm.

In 1984 "Chess" was 1 hour and 34 minutes on CD. Now it's 10 minutes longer. Here are a few newly written pearls like "Glöm mig om du kan", powerful with Per Myrberg, and "Han är en man, han är ett barn" which Josefin Nilsson fantastically sings. Beautiful song lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus with ethereal lines such as "jag tömde nysnö ur min sko" ("I emptied newly-fallen snow out of my shoe". Claes' note), and Benny Andersson's melody has a touch of Russian melancholy.

A rich musical experience.

By Jens Peterson

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

REMINDER ABOUT GERMAN TV ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER

here's just a little bit of information about what's going on with ABBA in Germany. On November 2nd, there will be two ABBA- marathons shown on TV- silly enough, those two programmes are running at the same time time. The first is shown on a channel called ZDF and will start at 0.55. It will include ABBA's first ever TV appearance in Germany with "People Need Love" and such gems as the Jam- session from the Livvy Newton- John show 1978, Frida's and Agnetha's solo performances, ABBA's final TV appearance with "The Day Before You Came", Cassandra" and "Under Attack" plus a clip from 1984 with Frida, Björn and Benny miming background vocals to "One Night In Bangkok". Meanwhile, at the same time a channel called NDR airs a feature about the "Mamma Mia" premiere in Hamburg (hopefully attended by B & B), repeats "The Winner Takes It All" (DVD version) and then starts "Disco Inferno", a programme with stars like Baccara, Boney M., Donna Summer et al. ABBA are included with three songs: "Waterloo" (Hamburg, April 1974), "Honey Honey" (Hamburg, June 1974) and "Voulez- Vous" (video clip). Also shown is a segment obviously shot during the taping of the "When All Is said And Done"- video: Björn congratulates ( in German) the show "Disco '81"
(some sort of "Top Of The Pops" here in Germany at that time) for ten successful years. ABBA appeared on that show eight times during 1974 ad 1976.

Thanks to Oliver Witt, Germany

SWEDISH CHESS CD TRACKLISTING

Intermezzo's news page gives details of the track listing for Monday's 'Chess På Svenska' release. One small change is that the new song as performed by Josefin Nilsson now has the title 'Han är en man, han är ett barn' rather than the original 'Vem är jag':

CD 1
1 Ouvertyr
2 Historien om schack (The Story Of Chess)
3 Där jag ville vara (Where I Want To Be)
4 Merano
5 Anatolij och Molokov (The Russian And Molokov)
6 Ungern '56
7 Lämna inga dörrar på glänt (Nobody's Side)
8 Jag vill se schack (The Arbiter)
9 Chess
10 Kvartett (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquillity)
11 Inte jag (Someone Else's Story)
12 Möte på en bro (Mountain Duet)
13 I mitt hjärtas land (Anthem)

CD 2
1 Florence lämnar Freddie (Argument)
2 Vem ser ett barn (Pity The Child)
3 Ni dömer mig (Endgame)
4 Om han var här (Heaven Help My Heart)
5 Han är en man, han är ett barn
6 Vem kunde ana (The Deal)
7 Drömmar av glas (You and I)
8 Jag vill se schack (The Arbiter)
9 Jag vet vad han vill (I Know Him So Well)
10 Glöm mig om du kan
11 Capablanca
12 Drömmar av glas/Historien om schack (You & I/The Story of Chess)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

CHESS CD GETS THUMBS UP FROM EXPRESSEN

ABBAMAILer Paul Carter informed me about a review of the Swedish "Chess" double-CD in Expressen (Thanks, Paul). Below is my translation of it:

4 wasps out of 5

Helen Sjöholm, Tommy Körberg et al.
Chess
Mono Music
Released on Monday
Musical

"Chess" by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice premiered in London in the 1980s. Since February it's being performed in Stockholm in Swedish in an adapted version. It's this successful performance that now will be released on a double-CD with a great looking 64 page lyric booklet and a group of stars in the leading roles.

Tommy Körberg, who had the starring role already at the first ever performance in London, is now a mature musical artist with a natural ease even in the most difficult song parts. His signature "Anthem", which he probably has sung a thousand times, has never sounded better than here with the Swedish title "I mitt hjärtas land".

Anders Ekborg has transferred his intense acting on stage onto the album and his voice is burning in "Se ett barn" ("Pity the child"). Josefin Nilsson, the Ainbusk-singer, was over-performing during the premiere, but here she has calmed herself down without suppressing her voice. And then this Helen Sjöholm, who after "Kristina från Duvemåla" takes on a new big role and shows that she is the Swedish musical scene's premier singer. Her duet with Josefin Nilsson in the touching "Jag vet vad han vill" ("I know him so
well") and with Körberg in the very beautiful "Drömmar av glas" ("You and I") are the musical's two highlights.

Benny Andersson's music is multifaceted and vivid, Björn Ulvaeus Swedish lyrics are to the point, ordinary, but still poetic and the whole album is very well produced. If you haven't seen the musical, the orchestra parts might feel like beautiful transportation stretch towards the songs. But to me this CD-box is a big revival. A lot of heart, a lot of feeling - and then the delightful Helen Sjöholm.

By Anders Björkman

Thanks to ABBAMAIL Ace Reporters Claes Davidsson in Orlando, Florida, USA and Paul Carter in London, UK

FILIPPA / FRIDA DUET : JAPANESE CD INFORMATION

Domestic Pressing CD
Release: 2002/10/23
Label: WEA UK
CDs: 2
Number: WPCS-11411
This Deluxe Edition is a commemorative edition for Filippa Giordano's largest Japan tour yet! 2 discs with 20 songs including "???"used in Panasonic's Plasma Tau TV commercial. This special version includes an unreleased recording and a promotional video!

[CD1]
16. Japanese bonus track (Italian version of something or other)
17. Secret Japanese bonus track (Japanese version of track 16)
[CD2]
1. duet with Frida (unreleased recording)
2. Bizet: Carmen (from first album, also used in a TV commercial)
3. Some theme song from a movie called "Pianist on the sea" in Japanese
CD Extra: Promotion Video of "Heaven Knows"

Thanks to George Bourdaniotis, Osaka Japan for translating this from the Tower Records website in Japan.

BJÖRN & BENNY RECORD SIGNING

Björn and Benny will be autographing copies of "Chess på svenska" at the Åhléns department store in Stockholm on 28 October at 5pm. Helen Sjöholm, Josefin Nilsson, Anders Ekborg, Per Myrberg and Rolf Skoglund will also be there.

This news has just been added to the Chess website.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

NANNE & MARIA NEWS

* Maria Rådsten's album is delayed again. .... no please, don't behead the messenger... but her single is ready any day (well almost). One of the masters is on it's way to a group of remixers now who are going to give it some kind of treatment that will eventually end up in two or 3 more versions of the song. Expect the single in December or January! And the album early next year.

* And Nanne has also a solo album in being. It will be relased sometime in the coming spring. Not at SOMCO though but at Lionheart. The reasons for this is both financial and a question of time. The SOMCO crew are not able to handle two albums arriving so close. (Personally I think we'll get Nanne's album way earlier...)

* In the meantime there will be a Christmas song by Nanne released in one or another format - also on Lionheart. I don't really know much about this at the moment, but I'll keep you updated.

* But forget about seeing Nanne doing Evert Taube. All the concert dates except for the one in Örebro has been cancelled :(

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

MORE ON FRIDA DUET

I'm sitting at my desk at work listening to the duet on headphones. Wow! Sounds good in stereo.

I had a look through the liner notes. There are no pictures of Frida anywhere. The Japanese ones are the same as the original release. In the English credits I found this: "Frida Lynstad (sic) - it's been beyond my imagination singing together with you: thank you! You are a wonderful person!"

On the CD, in the booklet, on the cover the song is credited with "Duet with Frida (ABBA)". Is this the only way they are going to sell it? Or is it only in Japan that it is credited like that, considering Mamma Mia! opening soon and all?

Thanks to ABBAMAILer George Bourdaniotis, Osaka Japan

KRISTINA STATUE / MAMMA MIA! BIRTHDAY

The Swedish local newspaper Östran/Nyheterna reports that on Sunday 13 October, a statue of Kristina från Duvemåla (holding an Astrakan apple) was unveiled in Duvemåla, Sweden. Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Helen Sjöholm didn't attend the ceremony but they sent a telegram saying they are happy that Kristina has now returned home to Duvemåla. You can view a photo of the statue by clicking the website link above.

On the right side of it is Niels Elley who made the statue. Since Kristina is a fictitious character, Niels used his own imagination when he made the statue, instead of using the image of Helen Sjöholm or Liv Ullman (who portrayed her in the movies). Niels is now thinking about creating a statue of Karl-Oskar, but he can't say if that one will end up next to Kristina or even in the region of Småland. So for now, Kristina stands there by herself as if she's looking for her beloved Karl-Oskar.

"Mamma Mia!"-cast Celebrates Their First Broadway Birthday
There's a photo of the Broadway cast celebrating their first anniversary at:
http://www.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&code=113404
Louise Pitre has also announced that she has signed on for another year as Donna:
http://www.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&code=113271

"Mamma Mia!" Producer Wins Woman of the Year
Playbill also reports that Judy Craymer has received a UK Woman of the Year Award. She received the Barbour Award for her huge achievement and international success with the hit musical "Mamma Mia!". Read more at:
http://www.playbill.com/cgi-bin/plb/news?cmd=show&code=113415

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson in Orlando, Florida, USA

DIGGILOO DOES IT AGAIN!

This weeks episode of Diggiloo was, once again, quite ABBA related.

Nanne and Peter Grönvall were one of the competing couples, they did really good, knowing most of the answers (name of artists and songs, and also the right years).

There were short clips of:
Svenne & Lotta performing Bang en boomerang
Nanne Grönwall performing Men
Sound of Music performing Alexandra
Interview with Peter Grönwall from 1980
Frida performing En ledig dag, at her very first TV-appearance in Sweden (Hylands Hörna 1967)
Frida performing Ögonen (composed by Anders Glenmark), in the TV-show Sverige-Sovjet (1996)

We also got to see short clips of a very young Tommy Körberg, an even younger Ted Gärdestad, a young Marie Fredriksson, and an equally young Peter Jöback.

Nanne and Peter performed live on stage, dressed in glittering 70's style clothes, doing a very special version of "Doing the omoralisk
schlagerfestival", one of the progg music "highlights" from 1975 (mentioned in Bright Lights Dark Shadows page 277).

For those of you being able to watch SVT or SVT Europa, don't miss it, October 26th, SVT1 at 1620, and October 30th, SVT1 and SVT Europa at 1240 (CET).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Tony Becker, Helsingborg, Sweden

FRIDA MEETS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Today Expressen reports that Frida met Bruce Springsteen in Stockholm yesterday Friday. Bruce performed at Globen in Stockholm on Thursday. Yesterday afternoon Bruce left his hotel, Grand Hôtel, but shortly before he said goodbye to his fans outside the hotel, he met with Frida. I'm not translating the whole article but here's the part about Frida:

What few people noticed was that half an hour earlier, the ABBA-star Annifrid Lyngstad snuck out through Grand Hotel's front doors. Being reserved as usual, the singer made no comment why she had been there. But a source in the music business with insight into the event says:
- Annifrid was there to meet Bruce Springsteen. She was at the concert and afterwards plans for a meeting were made. They simply wanted to meet.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL Ace Reporter, Claes Davidsson in Orlando, USA

FRIDA DUET SET FOR RELEASE IN JAPAN

Exciting that 23 October should see the first release of new material from Frida for over six years when Filippa Giordano's album is
re-released in Japan with the duet!

There doesn't seem to be any word on the album being re-released anywhere else. It's almost impossible trying to find out anything when none of Filippa's official websites have been updated for quite a while. I've also e-mailed her record company a couple of times but they haven't replied to anything. I went into HMV Oxford Street the other day to see if they had it listed as a forthcoming release, but it was not down for November/December at all. I am starting to wonder if in fact it will be released anywhere else at all?

However, what I have been able to discover about the 'deluxe' version of Filippa's album is that it is a 2-CD set, the first CD containing 17 tracks and the second CD 3 tracks. The Frida-Filippa duet is the first track on the second CD. There is a track listing in Japanese at Tower Records Japanese website. I've ordered a copy from HMV Japan, and although the postage costs are almost as much as the CD, it's definitely worth it if this is going to be the only way to get hold of it.

I recently bought a copy of the original release of the album and I can well see why Frida admires Filippa's voice so much. It's a stunning album with many beautiful songs and arrangements, especially on the song 'Heaven Knows'.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ace Reporter, Paul Carter in London, UK

MAMMA MIA! IN LAS VEGAS

Just found the following update about Mamma Mia! at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Performances begin on February 14th, 2003. Tickets prices $65 and $85.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Neil Barber, Singapore

MAMMA MIA! U.K. AUDITIONS

It was announced recently that the London production of Mamma Mia! is seeking members of the *public* ('boys' aged 18-25 and 'girls' aged 16-21) to audition for the show. This isn't chorus line stuff. It's leading roles.

It's an open audition, which basically means you turn up and hope you get asked to shake your groove thang. Hopefuls should turn up with a pop song prepared for piano accompaniment, and be willing to stick around all day in case you're asked to dance and move round a bit later in the afternoon.

You should also be clothed appropriately, which doesn't mean sequins and tight satin trousers, it means dance attire. Bring a CV and photo.

Be warned, they're only going audition the first 250 people at each venue. These are:
BRISTOL ­FRIDAY 25th OCT 2002
From 9am Front of House at the Hippodrome Theatre, St.Augustine’s Parade, Bristol

BELFAST ­TUESDAY 29th OCT 2002
From 9am Front of House at Belfast Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast

DUBLIN ­THURSDAY 31st OCT 2002
From 9am Front of House at The Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, Dublin

EDINBURGH ­THURSDAY 7th NOV 2002
From 9am Front of House at The Kings Theatre, 2 Leven Street, Edinburgh

MANCHESTER ­SATURDAY 9th NOV 2002
From 9am Front of House at the Dancehouse Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester

LONDON ­MONDAY 11th NOV 2002
From 9am Front of House at the Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London

BJÖRN FOR GERMAN TALK SHOW

Björn Ulvaeus will appear on a TV talk show called "Beckmann" in Germany on November 4th where he will talk in length about ABBA, Chess and of course Mamma Mia!

Thanks to Oliver Witt from Germany

SLEEVE NOTES: THE NAME OF THE GAME

Finally picked up a copy today of 'The Name Of The Game' compilation CD in a local music store. The packaging does look rather good. On the inside is another 1978 picture where ABBA are surrounded by dry-ice while the album covers are also presented in a random order. The big let down comes with the dreadful sleeve notes where we are told that one of the members of ABBA is called 'Anna-Frid Lyngstad'. This kind of inaccuracy is just unexcusable when you're writing notes for a CD that's going to be released worldwide. Here is what the sleeve notes have to say (with several grammatical corrections from me!):
----

It's only now that we appreciate the full-bodied significance of ABBA, the greatest pop act ever to emerge from Sweden. They blended the simplest of folk melodies with classic pop songs, creating an unmistakeable greatness that has lasted long after the group's demise in the early 80s.

Abba's achievements are, like The Beatles, so notable that they are often reduced to mere statistics; their nine no.1 singles (back when a no.1 single actually meant something); their record-breaking tours; their run of eight consecutive UK no.1 albums.

Everybody knows certain things about Abba; how they romped to victory in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest; how the two couples in the group, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog and Benny Andersson and Anna-Frid Lyngstad (sic) were married and then both split, inspiring some of the most poignant pop moments ever; and how they are enjoyed today with a relish, guaranteed to get the party started with their bright songs of passion and intensity.

After the best part of a decade as one of the world's most successful acts, Abba ended on a low-key note in 1982. Although never quite breaking America, they had virtually conquered everywhere else. And that was it. It all went very quiet. The world had turned. New pop phenomenons had been found and Abba had been forgotten.

When Elvis Costello covered 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' live in 1986, it could as well have been a song by George Formby, it seemed so old and out-of-time. At this point there was little to separate Abba from The Bay City Rollers or The Osmonds - forgotten heroes from a different era. It is amazing to think that these all these glorious records were out of catalogue by the early 90s and when Polydor purchased Abba's Polar Records, many industry insiders sneered.

So what happened to rehabilitate them? Firstly, the 70s became popular and kitsch again. One only had to look at the jump-suited Abba on the cover of the Arrival album to see at once the encapsulation of naffness and cool that was that strange decade. Soon tribute bands, most notably Björn Again, appeared. However, an album gathering their biggest hits called 'Abba Gold' catapulted them back into the stratosphere - it demonstrated quite what hits they were. Also, the hugely successful Australian film 'Muriel's Wedding'
showcased the humour and tears that Abba's music inspired. It was the soundtrack to youth. Moreover, the music's appeal was universal; it wasn't just something locked in a time capsule; these were really cool songs.

And then the world went Abba crazy. Bands began covering the songs; to the point where Pete Waterman based his late-90s pop phenomenon, Steps, almost entirely on them. Today a visit to London's West End is not complete without a trip to Mamma Mia(sic), the show based on Andersson and Ulvaeus' songs. Wedding receptions would never have a full dance floor were it not for Björn and Benny's symphonies; nostalgia sells, but Abba's songs are relevant for today and tomorrow.

With Abba's music, you always need to look beneath the surface; there are shifting melodic undercurrents and lush orchestration; what at once seems a happy pop song often masks a dark and troubled heart. Had some of their album tracks been released by groups with the rock gravitas of Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin, they would have been heralded as rock classics; because it was 'only' Abba, it was merely seen as a bit of pop fluff. Certainly a lot of future pop groups from The Human League onwards were listening to Björn and Benny's melodies. Very closely.

Our collection brings together some Abba you know very well; two no.1s including the 1974 Eurovision smash 'Waterloo' and 1977's mighty 'The Name Of The Game', possibly their greatest single; full of pop beauty, minor keys and vocal harmonies. But there are also a good deal of tracks you might not be so familiar with. Because they were known primarily for their singles, you may have missed the great 'Gonna Sing You My Lovesong' from the early Euro-friendly 'Waterloo' album; the touching 'Kisses Of Fire' from
'Voulez-Vous'; the Beach Boys stylings of 'On And On And On' from 'Super Trouper' or the dark and moody 'When All Is Said And Done' from their downbeat, post-divorce album 'The Visitors'.

We also have three high-energy dance floor stompers in the shape of 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)', the marvellous 'Lay All Your Love On Me' and the seldom heard yet utterly beautiful album title track 'The Visitors'. Add in six further beauties - including 'Ring Ring' and 'SOS' and you'll have lots of fun and memories with the 16 Abba tracks here.

Abba are encrusted firmly like a diamond in pop's sparkling tiara. Today you could almost believe that Abba were single-handedly responsible for pop music's survival in the 70s. And in a way, they were. Their pop will forever be pristine and beautiful, striking and durable.

A is for Abba.

Daryl Easlea
Record Collector

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

B & B FOR GERMAN MAMMA MIA!

As well as being at the preview of the Hamburg production of Mamma Mia! on 19 October, I heard today that both Benny and Björn are also expected to attend the preview on 2 November as well as the premiere itself on 3 November. Apparently, there are still spare tickets for the premiere itself, although I was also told by another fan who made enquiries about these that Stageholding are reportedly charging Euro2000 per ticket for the chance to mix with all the VIPs expected to show up!

In today's London Evening Standard, there is an article where Andrew Lloyd-Webber is saying that traffic problems in London are partly to blame for declining West End audiences. He is quoted as saying: 'of course 18-20 year olds will still flock to productions like Mamma Mia, but it is older audiences that we need to worry about. These people are just not coming to London anymore. I get lots of letters from people saying they aren't prepared to come and see my shows in the capital and are going to wait until
they go on tour. The reasons they usually cite are traffic and the drug problems in central London'.

Finally, I've also added a photo of the Strand Theatre, London of the show ABBAMANIA which was on there recently to my photos album at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/stockholmchess

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

US TOUR NEWS FOR MAMMA MIA!

Finally, I can look forward to seeing Mamma Mia! in my own neighborhood. The Mamma Mia! web site www.mamma-mia.com now shows that the tour will stop in San Antonio, Austin and Houston early next year. Also, I read in the Dallas Morning News that Mamma Mia! will be playing at next year's Texas State Fair in Dallas. Among the other newly added tour stops is New Orleans!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Leah Warren, Greenville, Texas

LOUISE PITRE NEWS

Theatermania is a website for 'everything theatre', and they send out a Theatre Insider email every now and then.
Recently they sent out a message promoting the LMLmusic company and it's featuring Louise Pitre prominently.

"A catalogue of extraordinary musical performances for the discerning collecter! LML Music currently features Broadway's star of Mamma Mia!, Lousie Pitre, Nita Whitaker (who's hit single Heaven Holds The One I Love, written and produced by Grammy Award® winning producer, David Foster, hit the top 40 Adult Contemporary Charts this month) and over fifty of your favourite cabaret vocalists!"

I went to their website and found this about Louise:
http://www.lmlmusic.com/artists/pit_entry.htm

<>
LOUISE PITRE is currently starring in the smash hit show Mamma Mia! - based on the songs of ABBA.

Mamma Mia! Opened in Toronto on May 23, 2000 to much critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations. Louise stars as Donna Sheridan, originating the role in the Toronto and taking it through a major U.S. tour before settling on Broadway in October 2001

Louise Pitre holds an honours BA in music education from the University of Western Ontario, where she was a piano major. Over the past 20 years, Louise has starred in numerous productions across Canada; to name a few, Les Miserables (Fantine) in Toronto, Montreal and Paris (she can be heard on the French cast recording); Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Massey Hall, Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and the Vogue Theatre (Vancouver); I Love You, You're
Perfect Now Change, New Yorker (Toronto); Piaf (Edith Piaf), the St. Lawrence Centre and Winter Garden (Toronto), National Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, the Stage Company (Penetanguishene); The World Goes 'Round, Bayview PLayhouse (Toronto), Blood Brothers (Mrs Johnstone), Drayton Festival and High Park (Toronto); Tartuffe (Dorinne), Theatre Calgary; and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Martha) and The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd (Cocky), the Stage Company (Penetanguishene).

Louise is the recipient of two Dora Mavor Moore awards, for her portrayals of Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers and Piaf in Piaf. She is very proud of her recent recording Love Letter, with renowned producer Peter Mann, made possible by her manager, Joan Mathers. Louise has turned her attention to the concert stage in recent years, appearing with her accompanist Diane Leah and with many symphony orchestras .

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One can hear the roar all the way across the Great Lakes from Toronto and all the way across the great Atlantic from London. The word is out and it is "smash hit". The show is "Mamma Mia!" (OK, so it's two words.) The Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical is based on the songs of '70s pop sensation Abba and is one of the most enjoyable evenings on both continents. Louise Pitre's performance as the Mamma of the title is worth the trip to Toronto. She's extraordinary." Liz Smith

"When Louise is taking off with 'The Winner Takes It All', that moves me. When someone is that good, that's just what it does to you." Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA, co-creator 'Mamma Mia!')

"Louise Pitre, silver-haired and real, gives a storming account of Donna, incisive when she talks, electric when she sings."
National Post

"Pitre puts a lot of heart into her performance...Pitre and Lynch, in particular, investing so much dynamic emotion in 'S.O.S', 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Slipping Through My Fingers', and 'The Winner Takes it All'."
San Francisco Examiner

"With a silvery voice that can surely be heard in Stockholm, the petite Pitre dominates, belting out numbers, reconciling Donna's past with her present and creating an emotional connection with the audience with a simple upheld hand or turned head. Afterwards, you'll be humming ABBA, but you'll remember Pitre." Now magazine

"Louise Pitre, the star of Mamma Mia!, belongs to [Elaine] Paige's elite but vanishing group. She sings beautifully, sensitively captures the drama of her single-mother character, and when the plot calls for it can camp it up like a fierce drag queen on poppers."
Eye Magazine

Pitre … turns in a performance worthy of Broadway. You've just never heard The Winner Takes It All until you've heard Pitre slap an audience back into its seat with it." Toronto Star

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Liesbeth Lobato, Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA

ANOTHER YOU, ANOTHER ME FOR JANUARY RELEASE

H & Claire's next single from their forthcoming album is 'All Out Of Love' due for release on 4 November. After this, it's planned that 'Another You, Another Me' will be released as a single in January. So, Benny and Björn should hopefully have another top ten UK single to add to their total.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

CHARTS - WEEK 41

USA: ABBA GOLD is down just 2 to #17.
Canada: 20TH CENTURY MASTERS is down just 4 even though about 10 new entries came in above it.
Germany: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is down 3, as with Canada, many new entries came in above, so it wasn't a bad result.
Australia: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is up 2 to #12.
Australia: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION DVD is up one to #1, yep, it's back at #1 again, and Elvis drops an incredible 35 or so places!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, New Zealand

ABBA QUIZ IN GERMAN MAGAZINE

"Brigitte", a German magazine for women, has in their next magazine at the end of October, an ABBA quiz about the songs, the feeling of the seventies and things like that.

It is certainly a promotion thing for the beginning of "Mamma Mia!" in Hamburg.

Thanks to Simone-Maria Maurer, Karlsruhe, Germany

JOSEFIN FOR NEW FILM!

From the site Passagen:

Josefin Nilsson is filming again. Next summer she is playing the main character in Malle Jensens first feature film which at the moment has the working name "Gotland".

The film will be produced by the Hollywood star Antonio Banderas and Jakob Eklund has allready accepted to play the main character.
- It will be greatly exciting to work with Malle. The last time I filmed was more than two years ago in "Det blir aldrig som man tänkt sig". (English title: Growing up/Linda's note).
- I've been offered other roles, but the project has not fitted with my timing. But now it's goddamn fun to make a film again, says Josefin. She is busy with the musical "Chess" at Cirkus in Stockholm until next summer.

The shooting starts in August. Malle Jensen, who has been living in Los Angeles for 12 years and has been working with Antonio Banderas for several years. The Spaniards production company Green Moon Productions is planning to start filming in Sverige in August next year. "Gotland" is a dramatic comedy that takes place in Stockholm and Visby and it's surroundings.
- Just the fact that a great part of the story takes place at home at Gotland makes it even more fun for me, says Josefin. She has been acting with Jakob Eklund before.
- That is another reason why I like the project. Jakob is a terrific actor who has that little extra. I really like the people who are said to play the rest of the parts too.

Banderas is sending his own producent Diane Sillan Isaacs to Sweden next summer to check on the filming. She says:
- We are working hard with the financing of "Gotland" and I'm really happy that whe have settled things with Josefin and Jakob as the main characters. they are two great talents and they have ben showing great enthusiatism for the movie. I'm looking forward to spend next summer in Sweden, because my parents are coming over from Finland to visit me. I've already been to Gotland and searhed for environments, and it's amazingly beautyful there, says Diane.

The film has a budget of 250 millions of SEK (That's about 27,500,000 Euros.)

By Gunnar Nordström

Note: Gotland is the largest island in Sweden, located in the baltic sea, and Visby is it's recidential town.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

PETER JÖBACK FILM ON AUSTRALIAN TV

Peter Jöback on Australian TV? Yes! Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg too.

The Swedish movie "Där regnbågen slutar" (Where The Rainbow Ends) is being shown on World Movies, a TV channel which is part of Foxtel, Austar and Optus. It is being screened at 8:30pm on Tuesday and is repeated at 4:40am and 1:15pm the next day. It will no doubt be repeated at other times.

It's a very bizarre movie about a man who is trying to put on a musical about his life and the troubles he has getting funding. Peter plays the Star (that's his character's name) who is brought in to boost the musical's chance of success. Peter gets to sing a couple of songs including a really nice duet with Helen. Helen is mainly in the background and it's Peter and Tommy who get to act. Unfortunately, a soundtrack was never released.

Another highlight in the movie is the wonderful Pernilla August. Almost worth seeing the movie just for her. Most of you would know her as Anakin Skywalker's mother in the Star Wars movies "Phantom Menace" and "Attack Of the Clones".

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

SVENSKTOPPEN'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Aftonbladet (www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,214613,00.html) report on the 40th anniversary celebrations for Svensktoppen charts and mention Peter Jöback's (also pictured) record-breaking run in the chart with 'Guldet blev till sand'. The Hootenanny Singers also rate a mention as being in the top ten of longest running records on the chart with their song 'Omkring tiggarn från Luossa'.

The trio of Anders Glenmark, Thomas 'Orup' Eriksson and Niklas Strömstedt are also reforming for a tour next summer report Expressen (www.expressen.se/article.asp?id=125307). Performing together as GES, they had a big hit in 1994 with the song 'När vi gräver guld i USA' and also released an album in 1995. However, in a separate article at www.expressen.se/article.asp?id=125308 Expressen see them reforming because their careers as solo artists have not been all that successful overall.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

NEW ABBA COMPILATION

From Universal Music:

A new ABBA compilation album will be released on the Value Line/Spectrum
label in the UK on October 14. Entitled The Name Of The Game, it replaces
the 1996 budget compilation The Music Still Goes On. The album features
new liner notes by music journalist Daryl Easlea.

The Name Of The Game will be available on CD (cat. no 064 969-2) and MC
(cat. no 064 969-4).

Tracklist: Waterloo, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Rock Me, Love Isn't Easy,
Gonna Sing You My Lovesong, SOS, When I Kissed The Teacher, The Name Of
The Game, Hole In Your Soul, Why Did It Have To Be Me?, On And On And On,
Lay All Your Love On Me, The Visitors, Kisses Of Fire, When All Is Said
And Done, Ring Ring

In Sweden, The Name Of The Game will be released next year. Currently we
have no information regarding other territories, please contact your
local retailer.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

NEW PETER JÖBACK RELEASE & CONCERT

Well, it's official now about Peter's Christmas album and there will be a concert tour too! Pretty exciting stuff. Check out www.joback.nu and you can see the album cover and the concert poster.

On 11 November, Peter will release a new album of Christmas songs - in Swedish! The album is called "Jag kommer hem igen til jul" (I'm coming home again for Christmas) and will contain 13 songs. The album has been produced by Lasse Halapi and is a mixture of traditional and modern songs. The album contains such classics as Swedish versions of "Ave Maria" and "Silent Night". There are also songs written by Peter himself as well as Niklas Frisk/Andreas Mattson and Mauro Scocco/Peter Hallström. Per Gessle from Roxette has also contributed a song - his first written in Swedish since 1995. Some of the songs include choirs, including a children's choir.

The album can be pre-ordered from www.skivhugget.com.

Peter will be touring Sweden in December to promote the album. Tickets can now be booked for Peter Jöback Julkonsert (Christmas Concert) at www.ticnet.se. The dates announced so far are:
8 December - Konserthuset, Västerås
10 December - Berwaldhallen, Stockholm
14 December - Hammarskjöldsalen, Jönköping
15 December - Uppsala Universitetsaula, Uppsala
18 December - Louis De Geer Hallen, Norrköping
20 December - Konserthuset, Linköping
21 December - Konserthuset, Malmö
22 December - Konserthuset, Göteborg

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

LOTTA'S DAUGHTER VICTIM OF RACE ATTACK

From Aftonbladet comes this disturbing story:

It was like in a Klux Klan film"

SÄVSJÖ. A maniac crowd stroke in the night. The slogans were echoing:
-Shoot the negroes! Now it's time for negro-slaughter!

The attack was aimed at Svenne and Lotta Hedlund's daughter Sabina, 42 years old and her children. The family managed to escape by the terrace before the crowd forced themselves inside and vandalised the flat.
- We were hit by a nightmare, it's still unbelievable, says Lotta Hedlund.

Today the trial starts of a 42 year old man who the police have managed to identify.
- But we know that there was a lot more people involved in the assault, says the prosecutor Anne-Charlotte Boo.

The events have become a wound in the town. Who are the guilty ones? Who took the initiative? And why the family Hedlund? And no one is speaking. The accused 42 year old is denying it. No, he was not inside the apartment, No, he was not the one who broke the TV-set with an axe. No, he did not destroy the furniture and shatter all the glass.

Sabina Hedlund remembers the November night of almost a year ago with a bottomless fear. The screaming tyres when seven to eight hot road cars were thundering around the block. The threatening shouts and the crowds that surrounded the house and banged on the door.

- It was a quarter past one in the morning and we were going to bed. Suddenly everything became chaos. Sabina and two of her sons who were still living at home managed to sneak out through the terrace door.
- We just ran in panic, my children in one direction and I in another.

Between the walls the shouts were echoing:
- Let's go get them! Shoot the negros!

For almost eight hours Sabina Hedlund was hidden between two garbage cans, frightened and frozen stiff (it was several degrees below freezing point) and convinced that both she and the children were going to die. The police and citizens started to do a search, and search dogs were employed to find Sabina.

The tears were running.
- They were terrible and uncertain hours, tells Svenne and Lotta. When we finally found her she completely lost it, the tears were running and running. She had damage to her legs because of the cold and was taken to hospital. Sabina's husband Per was shocked when he came home in the night.
- The whole flat was in tatters. It was like the war had been through the place.

The lawyer Andreas Berglund, Motala, is the representative of Sabina Hedlund. He has never encountered a similar case.
- The closest thing I can recall is scenes from American movies with the Klu Klux Klan - but here they had baseball bats instead of torches.

In the police investigation, two witness have recognised the 42 year old who now stands accused, for a serious case of breaking the peace of home ("Grovt Hemfridsbrott" - legal term - not certain of translation - Linda's note) , vandalism and theft. At the trial today the complete family Hedlund is there to support Sabina.
- She is fragile after the events. The time since the assault has been very hard, says Lotta.

By Ebba von Essen, To English thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

MAMMA MIA! COW SOLD

The Mamma Mia! cow, 'Donna the Dynamoo' was sold at Sotherby's auction in London today and raised £3,800 for charity.

Also, the current issue of 'The Stage' newspaper contains a full-page advertisement for performers to audition for the London production for the 2003-4 season of Mamma Mia! The auditions are taking place at six different locations throughout the UK and Ireland.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

UK COMPANY MAKES ABBA PLATE

Dear Sirs

We are producing a collectors plate featuring ABBA if you go to our website you can see a picture of the plate.

The plate is not available until the end of October 2002.

It is a limited edition plate as you will see.

The reason for this email is we wondered if you would let the fans know about the plate so that they can purchase from us.

Regards

Colin Moon colinmoon@lawrenceseymour.co.uk
Partner - Lawrence Seymour

CHARTS - WEEK 40

Well, 40 weeks into the year and not a week has gone by that ABBA hasn't charted somewhere! Not bad for a group that went their separate ways 20 years ago.

USA: ABBA GOLD is up 3 to #15.
Canada: 20TH CENTURY MASTERS is down 10 to #85.
Germany: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is down 14 to #75.
Australia: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is down 4 to #14.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, New Zealand

DEFINITIVE DVD IS #1

This is a telegram that was sent out by TT on September 30th.

ABBA is number one in Australia - on DVD

MUSIC. ABBA is the hottest band in the world, again. Now on DVD. In Sweden they top the selling list of music-DVDs and earlier this year have they done the same thing in Great Britain and in Germany. Now have they even siezed the first place on the DVD-list in Australia with "ABBA - The Defnitive Collection". There aren't special lists for music-DVDs yet in all countries. TT-SPEKTRA

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

SWEDISH CHESS CD SET FOR RELEASE

Online store www.ginza.se has a few details about the Chess cast recording due for release on 28 October. It says that it will be a 24 track 2-CD set which comes with a 68 page booklet which includes lyrics plus pictures from the show.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

MAMMA MIA! CALENDAR

Interesting that the new calendar on the official Mamma Mia! website
http://www.mamma-mia-media.com/ has almost more dates to note re ABBA than
it does re the show!

http://www.mandh-clients.co.uk/calendar/calendar/calendar.html

Of course, the songs aren't really ABBA songs any longer are they, they
belong to the musical now obviously... ;)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Cathy Olds, Newcastle, Australia

THOSE SONGS FOR ELAINE PAGE & BARBARA DICKSON?

ABBAMAILer Paul Carter enlightens us.....

The two songs were written for the never-realised album project that Elaine and Barbara were meant to record. In February 2000 two demo recordings were made at Mono Music of the songs, one of which was The Day The Wall Came Tumbling Down. Helen Sjöholm recorded this song in demo form, and I would guess that she also recorded the other song written for the project, the title of which has never been revealed.

Once the album project was abandoned, one song was given to Barbara Dickson and the other to Elaine Paige, with tapes of the previously recorded demo versions being sent to them. The first time that one of the songs was made public was in May 2002 when Barbara performed The Day The Wall Came Tumbling Down on her UK concert tour. When we met her after one of her concerts, she confirmed that she'd never recorded it herself, but was basing her performance upon the Helen Sjöholm demo version that Benny had
sent her.

It seems that Elaine Paige has never recorded or performed the song that she was given, although perhaps any future album that either her or Barbara record might include these songs.

Also interesting that they are the first new English language songs written by Björn & Benny since the Shapes project. The lyrics to The Day The Wall Came Tumbling Down are at:

www.abbamail.com/daythe_wallcame.htm

NEW RATATA COMPILATION WITH FRIDA TRACK

On October 23, the Swedish group Ratata will release a new hits compilation entitled Kollektion. The album contains 20 tracks, including the 1987 duet with Frida, "Så länge vi har varann", a Top Five hit in Sweden.

All tracks have been remastered from the original tapes by Ratata member Johan Ekelund. The booklet includes new photos, anecdotes and a biography of the band written by journalist Jan Gradvall (only in Swedish).

This CD will only be released in Sweden.

Tracklist:
Honung
Drömmar
Försent
Jackie
Natt efter natt
Vem
Något jag måste säga
Ge inte upp
Människor som hör ihop
Så länge vi har varann
För varje dag
Ögon av is
Se på mig nu
Himlen
Du finns hos mig
Paradis
Vild
I dina ögon
Någonting
Glad att det är över.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pieter Wever, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

MAMMA MIA! ROLLS ON IN LONDON

Opened my Sunday paper today (The Mail) to see a half page advert promoting
the new ticket availability for the London show which starts from 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. Tickets now available to September 2003.

Interestingly, though you would think that after three and a half years
playing in the West End, that ticket sales would be starting to slow (which
in fairness they have - adverts state availability for current Friday
Matinee shows) I was also reading a paper last week that stated Mamma Mia!
still has the biggest advance in town. Not bad going, eh!



Thanks to ABBAMAILer Martin Thompson, Northants UK

MORE ABBA ON GERMAN TELEVISION

http://www.abba-news.de/news.html has news about yet another TV special
preceding the Hamburg premiere of Mamma Mia! This one is called "ABBA - Die
Poplegende" and will be shown on October 31 at 8.15 PM on MDR. It's a
mixture of "excerpts from" TV performances (Silvesterparty) and recent
interviews with the likes of costume designer Owe whatshisname, "Disco"
presenter Ilja Richter, Bubi Heilemann and Cindy & Bert, Germany's ESC entry
in 1974. Furthermore, some devoted fans and the perversions of ABBAMANIA
will be portrayed.... (oh well)


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Elmar Winterberg, Berlin, Germany

RIVAL MAMMA MIA! IN GERMANY

In today's Expressen there's a story about an upcoming German production
called "Mamma Mia - come together", which is a musical containing ABBA and
Beatles songs. Now the original production company of "Mamma Mia!" is
calling the German production plagiarism and they're trying to stop it.
Below is my translation of the article:

-------------------------

http://www.expressen.se/article.asp?id=125084

Mamma mia - what a quarrel!

A German plagiarism of ABBA's successful musical "Mamma Mia" has started a
big quarrel. This spring the production will tour in Sweden.

-It's a pure imitation and has nothing to do with the original, says a
furious Sally Hoskins at the original's production company in London.

Now there's a big quarrel about ABBA's successful musical "Mamma Mia".
While the original is playing sold out performances throughout the world, a
German production company is ready to start with yet another "Mamma
Mia"-musical.

-Right now we're doing all we can to stop the German tour. They're just
trying to profit from us, says Sally Hoskins at the production company
Little Star.

Yesterday afternoon Expressen contacted the German production company in
Kiel, which refered us to the promoter outside Amsterdam in Holland.

-No, we're not doing the same musical. But it's the same story, says the
company's representative Wim Weight.

But what's the difference then?

-We have also added Beatles-music.

-Nonsense. This must be stopped, says Sally Hoskins in London.

In Germany, about ten soloists have already been contracted for an
extensive European tour, beginning 21 November in Nienburg outside Kiel.
The tour will, according to the plans, tour through Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, France, Poland and Sweden, which it will reach in Match next year.

The female lead has been given to 25 year old Sophie Nilsson from
Trelleborg (in Sweden. Claes' note).

-The story is identical with the original, despite the touring version
being based on the Gina Lollobrigida-movie "Buena Sera, Mrs. Campbell", she
says.

However, Sophie Nilsson says, the "Mamma Mia"-tour doesn't contain
ABBA-music only.

The only difference

-No, she says, in the German version - which is called "Mamma Mia come
together" -- there are also some of the Beatles most popular hits. But that
is really the only difference, I think.

The English company has contacted legal experts in order to stop the
planned tour - but everybody involved have been told to be in Nienburg on
19 October when the rehearsals begin.

By Tony Kaplan

----------------------------

New cover of Agnetha-song released

Last week in Sweden, Friends' new CD "Dance With Me" was released. It
contains a cover version of Agnetha's "I Won't Let You Go".

Special thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

RARE FRIDA TV APPEARANCE

Sweden's Diggiloo TV program uncovered another rarity from the SVT vaults last night.

The first thing that may be of interest for any ABBA-fan was that Claes af Geijerstam was a guest.
(Just in case you are intrested: he was a part of the group Malta which beat ABBA with Ring, Ring in the Swedish heats 1973. That thing made Stikkan upset...)

The other guests were: Py Bäckman and Jan Johansen, and also Sharon Dyvall, the woman in company with Claes. A part of the program is a game where you are supposed to guess who the man/woman singing is. You hear and see the clip, but the face is hidden behind a red heart. A shock was that included in this program was Frida singing together with another artist, a song from a famous comic/story/fairy tale here in Sweden called "Spara och slösa" (Save and waste). It was a very young Frida you could hear, and Claes got very very excited about hearing her singing with her "clear voice".

Claes and Sharon also sang the Lena Andersson-song "Är det konstigt att man längtar bort någon gång?", in a quite rocky version. There was also a question about the other hit by her - "Säj det med en sång".

So those of you who are able to and feel like it - put on your VCR recorder 14.45 (Swedish time) today, SVT1. It will also be broadcasted on the SVT Europa for those of you who have it.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

MAMMA MIA! IN JAPANESE

The successful musical is going to be translated in three languages

The success for the ABBA-musical "Mamma Mia!" continues. And now will the musical be translated to both German,
Dutch - and Japanese.

Hamburg, Tokyo, Sydney, Brisbane, Toronto, New York, London and Holland. And some other touring performances all around the world. The musical "Mammia Mia!", which is built upon ABBA's most known songs and shapes the group from its breakthrough in The Eurovision Song Contest at Brighton to the break-up 20 years ago, has become a success all round the world.

The next step will be to translate Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson's musical to the countries own languages, writes Dagens Industri Weekend.

No Swedish version

First is Germany where "Mamma Mia!" has première in Hamburg November 3th. And in Tokyo is "Dancing Queen" in Japanese going to be heard for the first time in December. Next autumn will it then be première in Holland.
- But there are no plans on a Swedish translation, says Görel Hanser.

"Mamma Mia!" is the one of Björn & Benny's musicals that has sold best. ABBA is still one of the world's biggest bands and their pop music is almost icon-stated and the intrest in their musical is still big. In London has "Mamma Mia" been seen by 1.5 million musical-patrons and, in New York, already 600,000 tickets have been sold, writes Dagens Industri Weekend.

In the rest of the world has it been seen by more than a million.

"Won't be the same thing"
And in February will Björn & Benny's ABBA-musical be set up in the enormous entertainment- and playmecca Las Vegas, at the enjoyment palace Mandalay bay. It has been rumoured that "Mamma Mia" will be set up in Sweden, and many are probably those who wish for it, but still there aren't any clear answers.

The problem is that the English lyrics have been weaved together with the story and the text in the play.
- We could naturally play it in Sweden in English, but that wouldn't be the same thing, said Benny Andersson to Aftonbladet.

It is clear though that the Germans, Japanese and the Dutch will soon be able to hear their own version of "Money, Money Money" and "The Winner Takes It All".

By Linda Hjertén. Translated by ABBAMAILer, Robin Andersson, Sweden.

MAMMA MIA! - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD RAVES

Mamma Mia!, Star City
Reviewed by Bryce Hallett
The Lyric, Star City, September 26

There is a pivotal moment about 30 minutes into Mamma Mia! when the musical cranks up the comedy a few notches for the songs Chiquitita and Dancing Queen. It sets the tone for the irrepressible, smartly ironic and entertaining show and signals to the audience that it's free to join in.

More than 20 ABBA songs penned by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, including Does Your Mother Know, Super Trouper and Take a Chance on Me, are woven into writer Catherine Johnson's Greek island fairytale. The story is simple and warm-hearted and it disarms criticism by poking fun at itself.

Sophie Sheridan (Kellie Rode) is planning her big day and future with Sky (Simon Gleeson) and she wants her father to give her away. Only problem is she doesn't know who he is, having been reared by her independent mum Donna (Anne Wood). Having rifled through her mum's diaries, Sophie comes up with a shortlist of three possible dads who she invites to her wedding, much to the consternation of Donna who has her eye on the future, not the past.

Mamma Mia!'s creators summon bitter sweet encounters and a style of comedy balancing the vulgar and twee. The story lacks substance but it lends itself to the flavour and pace of ABBA's upbeat, toe-tapping melodies.

When I saw Mamma Mia! in Melbourne a year ago, I wrote that it was the theatrical equivalent of the fountain of youth. I had sat near an 80-year-old man who, by the curtain-call reprise of Dancing Queen, seemed reborn. It's that kind of show.

The musical's success can be attributed to its catchy songs, the nostalgia factor and a funny, albeit lightweight, plot.

There are shades of P.J Hogan's Muriel's Wedding, particularly in its ironic use of ABBA songs to amplify emotion or cut across expectation. The songs propel the bitter sweet tale of intersecting lives and, with some shrewd juggling, come to illuminate the core relationship and generational sea change of the free-spirited mother and her grounded, searching daughter.

The musical is as much about growth and self-knowledge as it is about love. It's also about finding the strength to face an uncertain future. And having fun. On that score alone Mamma Mia! works a treat as it draws on a range of talents - and body types and loud costumes - to produce an extremely likeable work.

Wood is superb as Donna, her secure acting affording the role its honesty and heart. Her vocals are strong, no better evidenced than in her dramatic interpretation of The Winner Takes it All.

Rode is very good as Sophie and at times the musical, which gives each principal a chance to shine, resembles a battle of the sexes with Donna and her chums Rosie (Lara Mulcahy) and Tanya (Rhonda Burchmore) on one side and Donna's three one-time loves on the other - Bruce Roberts's handsome cad Sam, John O'May's gentlemanly Harry and Peter Hardy's rugged frontiersman Bill.

Mulcahy and Burchmore add greatly to the shenanigans and uninhibited wit. Director Phyllida Lloyd employs many clever touches and her ability to integrate drama, song and dance lifts what could, in lesser hands, have fallen into a heap.

The star of the show is the intoxicating music and the verve of the performers, while Mark Thompson's stark design and expanse of ocean waves is appealing and more akin to contemporary opera than musicals of old.

By the time the young lovers make their way into the wide blue yonder, Mamma Mia!'s blend of optimism, fantasy and romance is sure to have made your spirits soar.

NEW ABBA TV SPECIAL

Marie Ledin reports that there will be a new ABBA TV special and that her husband, Tomas Ledin, will be interviewed for it.

The special is for British television and they are interviewing many people connected with ABBA's final concert tour 1979/80.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Rob Beuvig, The Netherlands

MAMMA MIA! SYDNEY - TICKET SALES UPDATE

Just perusing the Ticketek site www.ticketek.com.au. I find that tickets for Mamma Mia! in Sydney are now on sale until 29 December 2002. All shows up to the matinee on Saturday 12 October, plus on Thursday 15 October and 24 October,
are SOLD OUT.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole Sydney Australia

MARIE FREDRIKSSON/ROXETTE - SURGERY

From Aftonbladet....

Marie's tumour was removed on Monday. That kind of surgery can take from a few hours to a whole day, they claim. Marie's operation
lasted for 4-7 hours and was described as a success. The tumour is being analysed and Marie is expected to leave the hospital this
weekend. She is now in a ward with locked doors in order to keep nosy people out. If the tumour turns out to be benign, there is no
more treatment needed.

Roxette's manager does not confirm that the operation has been done, but won't deny it either.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mattias Olsson, Göteborg, Sweden

YET ANOTHER NEW ABBA BOOK

Our beloved Carl Magnus Palm has alerted me to another new ABBA book that's coming.


It's (imaginatively) titled 'ABBA Gold - The Story Behind Every ABBA Song'. CMP tells me that the publishers of this book have published similar books on The Beatles, Lennon, Bowie, etc.

Pre-orders are being taken at Amazon UK.

Where they got their "stories behind every song" from remains to be seen ;-)

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney Australia

ABBA FLOWER?

Some (more) useless trivia: "Burke's Backyard", a popular Australian gardening show (it's just celebrated its 15th year on screen) last week carried a story about a new variety of a plant called the 'Geraldton Wax'. The name of the new variety? Dancing Queen. The audio track was used, but (mercifully) Don Burke, the host, didn't wear his satin jumpsuit!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Darren Lloyd, Brisbane, Australia

GEORGE MARTIN & ABBA

Tonight Sir George Martin (legendary Beatles producer) made an appearance on Rove Live, plugging his new book Playback (only 2,000 numbered copies, costs A$880). So I had a look at the website which is apparently the only place you can buy the book in Australia (http://www.playback.com.au/, only 100 available to Australia).

Anyway, scrolling down the page there's a panel headed "Playback covers George Martin's association with the following." Among the hundreds of names listed are... Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus!!! Now, aside from George attending the premiere of Mamma Mia! in London (and I was standing right in front of him in the street afterwards, and didn't even realise until the next day when the papers mentioned he was there), I'm not aware of any connection at all between George and the Bs. Curious...

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole Sydney Australia