THIMPLY THUPER

September 20 is the UK release day of the DVD "SUPER TROUPERS: 30 YEARS OF
ABBA".

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Alex Jones, UK

RUMOURS, RUMOURS

RUMOUR #1

I just got this message from a friend about an article in a German newspaper
(http://www.an-online.de/) stating that Frida will be the special guest on
October 5 during the Jon Lord concert. They make it sound by the way as if he has ar guest star at every concert.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bonnie Rietveld, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

RUMOUR #2

Agnetha's third single (What Now My Love, for the UK) was to be released on September 27, but this has now been quashed by WEA, and doesn't seem to be happening at all.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Alex Jones, UK

RUMOUR #3
A friend of mine said that What Now My Love *was* used in the rough cut of Bridget Jones that was test-screened in the USA. This, of course, doesn't mean that it was ever intended for the final cut, though.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Alex Jones, UK

ABBA SNIPPET ON NEW DVD

I only just read in "The Guide" in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that DVD reviewer Michael Idato writes that "The Best of The Don Lane Show" DVD includes an interview with ABBA!

Not sure whether it is the 1976 or the 1977 one but it would probably only be a small portion anyway. Channel 9 apparently trashed most of the Don Lane Show tapes years ago including most of the ABBA material.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harold Hanlon, Sydney, Australia

MAMMA MIA! FOR SINGAPORE

Mamma Mia hits town on September 23rd for 11 weeks as part of the Asia tour, although tickets are only on sale until 24th October right now, which is a bit odd.

Nonetheless the publicity is in overdrive with daily full scale adverts in the English press and just about every other corporate sponser you can imagine - event the supermarkets are full of Mamma Mia! adverts as Nestle are one of the sponsors.

However, the reason for writing is that in conjunction with the start of the Singapore run, the Singapore Straits Times has launched a competition to find the Ultimate Abba Fan. There is some coverage of this in todays newspaper together with news about Frida's upcoming song with John Lord. Apparently the winner will get a goodie hamper of not only Mamma Mia! merchandise but also some Abba stuff too, including a DVD "which Universal will relese next month". Not sure what this could be, as all other DVDs including In Convert and the Definitive Collection are freely available here, although sometimes it is hard to know whether they are imports or not.

As a bonus if the winner buys a ticket to Mamma Mia! from now until sometime in September, they win a performance in Mamma Mia! Yes, you could be the (un)lucky one to get to dress up and appear on stage as part of the cast ! Am sure it is only some walk on (non-speaking part), but I guess it would be exciting for someone.

However, I could not think of anything more terrible and definately won't be entering, although I can't imagine there is any bigger fan here than me :)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Neil Barber, Singapore

FRIDA SONG TO BE RELEASED IN UK

The Brits will be pleased to know that Jon Lord's album "Beyond The Notes" featuring the song with Frida is being released in the UK at the same time it is being released in Germany - 20 September 2004.

The source for this is the main Deep Purple fan site:
http://deep-purple.net/othernews/othernews.htm

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

LAST VIDEO OUT IN OZ

The puppet video "ABBA - The Last Video" has hit the shops a couple of days earlier than its scheduled release date in Australia.

The DVD has been spotted around Sydney including JB HiFi at Bondi Junction and HMV Pitt Street Mall's DVD section for $31.99.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia and ABBA fan Allan Hopper

FRIDA ARTICLE IN UK DAILY EXPRESS

Daily Express (26 August)

Abba's Frida hits comeback trail with new single

More than 20 years after the Seventies supergroup Abba split, reclusive flame-haired singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad is to make a pop comeback. Frida, 59, has cut a single with her friend, Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord - a ballad he wrote for her.

Their duet, The Sun Will Shine Again, is due to be released later this year and Lyngstad will make a rare appearance on European television to perform it. "Frida fans have waited years for this", says a source. "She did record an album eight years ago, but in her native Swedish. This is a much bigger project and could be the start of a successful solo career".

The song will feature on Lord's next solo album, Beyond The Notes, and will be the most high-profile musical move for the Abba star since she last donned a white jumpsuit and knitted skullcap in 1982, when Abba announced a "temporary break".

The depth of her popularity was apparent at the fifth anniversary of the Abba-inspired West End show Mamma Mia! earlier this year, when she made an unexpected appearance with the Eurovision Song Contest-winning group's male contingent - ex-husband Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus.

She was greeted by an emotional crowd, loudly professing their love for the newly blonde star, and there was universal disappointment, when she started to boogie along to the Abba hit Dancing Queen only to find herself unceremoniously shuffled off the stage. "The fact that Frida even attended was a sure sign that she was preparing herself to return to the limelight", says our source. "She enjoyed herself and I think she realised how much she missed performing in front of so many adoring fans".

The announcement of Frida's long-awaited comeback follows hot on the heels of fellow Abba singer Agnetha Faltskog, who amazed her fans by sacrificing a hermit-like existence to launch a solo album, My Colouring Book, earlier this year. Despite their individual returns to the spotlight, it is doubtful the foursome - famed for their kitsch outfits, catchy tunes, nine number ones and sales of 400 million records - will sing together again. They have already turned down a whopping £1 billion to reunite.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pazul Carter, London, UK

VH1 FAN CLUB FOR AUSTRALIAN PAY-TV

This coming Thursday (September 2) at 19.00 (7pm) the ABBA episode of "Fanclub" is listed to be screened on VH1. This is the Australian pay-tv operator Foxtel's VH1 channel.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Luke Rogers, Melbourne, Australia

TICNET CRASH - AKA "WHY FANS COULDN'T GET TICKETS FOR MAMMA MIA!"

http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=176123

August 26, 2004

Mamma Mia, what a buying rush!

Mamma Mia, what a buying rush! When the tickets to Björn and Benny's successful musical were released yesterday, half of them had been sold after just a few hours. And then among others, Ticnet's Internetservice had crashed due to the excessive traffic.

In six months - on February 12 at 6 PM - Björn and Benny's musical "Mamma Mia!" will have it's Swedish premiere. Yesterday the tickets to the spring's 118 performances went on sale and already after a few hours almost half of them had been sold.

From the beginning there were 190,000 tickets, but already in May 100,000 tickets were released to groups and bus companies. They were sold out in an instant.

Yesterday there were 90,000 tickets remaining. 40,000 of them were sold.

- But now it's almost exclusively about tickets just sold and already paid for, says Görel Hanser, managing director for Briggen Teaterproduktion, which is producing "Mamma Mia!" in Sweden.

25-year old Ingrid Björklund from Umeå, who was visiting her parents in Stockholm, was waiting in line with two of her friends early in the morning outside Cirkus in Stockholm.

- But we still won't get to sit next to each other, she says. But it doesn't matter. We just want to experience the premiere. We know that it's going to be good. Everything Björn and Benny does turns out good.

Ingrid knows what she's talking about. She saw "Chess" 13 times.

By Tony Kaplan

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

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,523515,00.html

August 26, 2004

Their successful musical caused hysteria

40,000 tickets sold for "Mamma Mia!" - the first day

Now the "Mamma Mia!"-hysteria has reached Sweden. More than 40,000 tickets were sold yesterday when the sale began yesterday.

- Björn and Benny are very happy, says their spokeswoman Görel Hanser.

Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson & Judy Cramer's ABBA-musical has during five years made an incredible 5.5 billion kronor around the world.

Now it seems as if "Mamma Mia!" will be a success in Sweden as well.

Yesterday 90,000 tickets to the Swedish version, which will be performed at Cirkus in Stockholm, went on sale to the public. Almost half of them were sold right away.

Only 50,000 left

- We are very happy, says Görel Hanser, managing director of Briggen Teaterproduktion and Björn Ulvaeus' and Benny Andersson's spokeswoman.

- Even if "Mamma Mia!" has been an incredible success throughout the world, it didn't mean it would be in Sweden.

Before yesterday's sale almost 100,000 tickets had already been sold to those bus companies that arrange group tours to Cirkus.

That means that only 50,000 tickets out of 194,000 remain.

Great demand

- I don't think there will be many tickets left in a couple of days. Not everyone was able to get through today due to the great demand.

All in all 118 performances of "Mamma Mia!" will be performed between February 12 and June 19.

Some of the actors are Gunilla Backman, Sussie Eriksson, Charlott Strandberg, Reuben Sallmander and Bengt Bauler.

- The incredible ticket sales will absolutely be a boost for the joy and motivation for us all, says Görel Hanser.

- Now we only have to live up to the expectations.

By Fredrik Svedjetun

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

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

TAX PROBLEMS FOR BENNY TOUR

Aftonbladet reports:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,524038,00.html

Tax problem for the tour

The arranger may have to pay 1,14 million of SEK for Benny Andersson's six summer concerts. The tour of Benny Andersson is threatened by a tax backlash in the million figures class, Reason: The ABBA star has been playing for a dancing audience.

- Completely stupid, says the arranger Leif Henriksson at EMA Telstar.

Almost 24,000 people visited the six concerts of Benny Andersson's Orkester earlier this summer.

- It's more fun to play when people are dancing. It's not as pretentious, said Benny Andersson before the tour, that finished two weeks ago. The tour had their own 400 square metre dance floor to tempt people into dancing. But the antics at the dance floor is now threatening to cause a tax problems worth more than a million of SEK for
the arranger EMA Telstar.

- Completely Absurd, says Leif Henriksson.

The reason are the moms (VTA) rules, which are complicated, to say the least. According to the law the normal moms of 25 percent does not apply on some cultural antics. For instance there's a 6 percent moms at concert tickets - a special "culture-VTA".

Dance events on the other hands are included in the 25 percent moms grouping, something that has led to open protests from the dancing orchestras and DJs the last few years.

- We are paying 6 percent moms on all our concerts, including Benny Anderssons Orkester, says Leif Henriksson.

But the tax authorities in Stockholm don't consider the case that clear.

- It's a very special problem that might be interesting to look further into, says the tax lawyer Erika Örbom.

A moms of 6 percent added upon the total ticket sales of 6 million is 360,000 kronor. But if the tax authorities thinks that the concerts of Benny Andersson have been dance events the moms fee grows to 1.5 million kronor - a tax backlash of 1.14 million kronor.

Leif Henriksson at EMA welcomes a further investigation.

- It would be fun to know if concerts with one of Sweden's biggest cultural personality in modern times would not be considered culture, and not applicable for cultural moms, he says.

Minister of culture, Marita Ulvskog, confirms that a investigation has been started to make the moms rules less complicated.

- Do you think the concerts of Benny Andersson is culture?

- We have awarded him a title of professor, but that does not matter in this case. It's the tax authorities who deals with these kinds of cases, says Ulvskog.

Have you been dancing at a Benny Andersson-performance?

- No, dance is not really my thing, even if he is a fantastic musician. And you are not saying that to give Benny Andersson a lower level of moms?

- Certainly not.

Moms rules
The regular moms is 25 percent
Parts of the cultural sector have different rules
Artists sales of their own works are connected to a 12 percent moms
For tickets to concerts, circus, movies, theatres, ballet, Zoos, museums and opera the moms is 6 percent
For dance events, restaurant entertainment and amusement parks the 25 percent applies.

By Dan Panas / To English by Linda Granqvist

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

FRIDA & BJÖRN ON GERMAN TV

If you are able to receive RTL (commercial German tv channel), there will be a brand new Frida & Björn interview on Friday, August 27, 2004 at 22.15.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, United Kingdom

CHARTS 20-27 AUGUST, 2004

Here are the chart stats for this week.

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Up 8 to #68
ABBA - Gold - Back on at #66 (week 119)
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! - Down 6 to #26

FRANCE:
ABBA - The ABBA Story - Down 1 to #37

DENMARK:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 7 to #38

SWEDEN:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 8 to #18
Benny Andersson Orkester - BAO! - Up 1 to #2

NORWAY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 4 to #26

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - back in the top 40 at #37, credited
at 3xPlatinum.

OFF:
Sweden - Agnetha Fältskog - When You Walk In the Room.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

MAMMA MIA! TICKET FIASCO

Fans are furious with the fiasco that was the first day of sales for the Swedish production of Mamma Mia!

Says one Swedish fan:
"I was on the Ticnet site from 9am this morning - more than 2 hours and could not make - a booking for the Stockholm Mamma Mia! premiere. The internet provider
Ticnet's server crached, and was not up until 11, and by then all the tickets were gone."

Said another Scandinavian fan:
"The tickets were gone long before 11 o'clock. I managed to get through the phone to the Ticnet office around 10.35, but all tickets had been sold out by then! Unbelievable! I'm going to complain about it. To whom? To Mr. Ulvaeus and Andersson themselves?
Even if you live in Stockholm, you can't get the tickets! What about people in other parts of the world?
I won't give up. I will go to that premiere - come hell or high water! With or without tickets!"

A fan from the UK:
"Well no tickets for us at the premiere, the ***ing server couldn't handle the capacity!"

This is not the first time there has been problems with Mamma Mia! ticket sales and fans. There was a similar fiasco when special "fan only" tickets went on sale for the London premiere. And tickets were only offered for sale to fans for the 5th Anniversary of Mamma Mia! in London after it became apparent that many of the B & C-list celebrities were not interested in attending.

ABBAMAIL's comment:
It is very disappointing that Björn, Benny and Littlestar haven't taken control of this situation and tried to do the right thing by fans.

It seems that long term, loyal ABBA fans are always the lowest priority when it comes to the people running Mamma Mia!

They've had 5 years to get it right but a fiasco like this is still allowed to happen.

C-list celebrities come and go but it is the loyal ABBA fans that keep buying the same ABBA product year after year after year, keep burning the ABBA flame brightly when the rest of the world goes through "not interested" phases. And it is these fans who always support the special occasions around Mamma Mia!

HEP STARS BOOK/BENNY BOOK - WHAT'S THE DIFF?

There has been some confusion in fan circles about what we now call "The Benny Books" - Which one should fans get? Which one is the best?

We now have a new page that explains the difference between these two newly released Carl Magnus Palm books: CADILLAC MADNESS and BENNY'S ROAD TO ABBA.

You can access this new page by going to ABBAMAIL.com main page and clicking on the "Benny's Road to ABBA" icon.

Thanks to ABBA god Carl Magnus Palm

AGNETHA SPECIAL FOR POLAND

The "Agnetha" special-interview will be shown on Channel One of Telewizja Polska (Polish Television, TVP) this coming Saturday, August 28th, at 3:10 p.m. CET. The Polish title of the show is "Znana z ABBY - Agnetha Fältskog" (Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA Fame). It will be the international version(30 min):

* * *
Interview with Agnetha Faltskog [sic!] - a former member of the legendary Swedish group ABBA. The singer remembers the ABBA years, she talks about her dreams, new songs recorded after 17 years of artistic break. The interview is illustrated with old hits by Agnetha, Anni-frid [sic!], Benny and Bjoern [sic! but forgivable :-) ] and new songs by the blond vocalist.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gabriel Zubowski, Poland

ABBAMAIL NOW ACCEPTS PAYPAL

ABBAMAIL now accepts PayPal when you order merchandise from our mail order service.

You can browse through the ABBAMAIL webshop: http://www.abbamail.com/shop/index.htm and when you've decided what you want to order, you can go to the special PayPal Shopping Cart that we have set up: http://www.abbamail.com/merch/paypal_order.htm

On our PayPal Shopping Cart page, you'll find all the items we sell listed with prices in U.S. Dollars.
All you have to do to order a product is click on the button next to each product.

You can order more than one item and it all gets added to your "shopping cart". You then go through the "check out" and you're taken directly to PayPal to make your payment. It is that simple!

If you have any questions about this or the ABBAMAIL Mail Order Service, please write to us at sales@abbamail.com

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

AGNETHA - NEW SINGLE?

A British website - Musicmen - has listed "What Now My Love" as a forthcoming single release for Agnetha! Scheduled release date is September 27.

No other confirmation has been seen as yet.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Richard Simcock, Sydney Australia

ARRIVAL IN CHRISTMAS SHOWS!

The world's #1 ABBA cover band, Sweden's ARRIVAL have signed up to do a series of 16 Christmas shows in Gothenburg during November and December.

The title of the shows is "ABBASOLUTELY CHRISTMAS SHOW". Of course, being ARRIVAL and not just any ABBA cover band, the show has been approved by Universal Music and Görel Hanser.

There's a Swedish website with all the information: http://www.tradgarn.se

And very soon ARRIVAL will have a brand new website with their own domain name:
www.arrival.se - more news on that later.

Thanks to ARRIVAL's Vicky/Frida for this information.

DUTCH MAMMA MIA! ALBUM ARTICLE

http://www.nu.nl/news.jsp?n=382925&c=61 Here is the translation:

The album by the Dutch cast of the musical Mamma Mia! entered the Dutch album Top 100 at number 1 on Friday. "Never before in The Netherlands a cast album entered the charts at No. 1" cheered musical producer Joop van den Ende. The Dutch CD hit the shops last week.

The Mamma Mia! cast albums sell everywhere. The Canadian cast already received double platinum, their colleagues in the USA and Australia received platinum, the British cast got double gold and the artists in Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and Korea received gold discs with their versions. (Note by Robert: I wonder if this last bit is accurate?)

ABBA's biggest hits have been translated by Coot van Doesburgh. In particular Smone Kleinsma (Donna in the musical) impressed the audience with her leading role.

The hit musical has been visited by a world wide audience of more than 18 million people (Note by Robert: I thought it was actually around 12 million?)

At the moment 11 productions are being played around the globe and in the next 12 months new versions will appear in Dublin, Singapore, Madrid and Stockholm.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robert Verbeek, Duiven, The Netherlands

DUTCH CAST ALBUM: NEWS IS EVERYWHERE!

http://www.musicals.nl/mammamia/588_7204.asp

The success of the Dutch Mamma Mia! Cast album is also mentioned on the Dutch Mamma Mia! site. Translation:

Cast Album Mamma Mia! breaking all records.
Enters at No. 1 in hitlist.

The Dutch cast album of Mamma Mia! has entered at No. 1 in the album Top 100. This immediate No.. 1 entry is unique for all Mamma Mia! productions worldwide.

Never before in the Netherlands has a musical cast album entered at No.. 1 in the album Top 100.

Friday evening Daniel Dekker of Radio 2 brought the news to the Dutch cast and gave them a special CD.


You can also read this news here:
http://www.planet.nl/planet/show/id=74766/contentid=500830/sc=cffc4d
http://www.nieuws.nl/bericht/7/4512
http://www.onstage.nl/onstage/0,2083,1834_1132-9265222,00.html
http://podium.trouw.nl/novum/entertain(novum.08-20-2004.0123

So the news is everywhere!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, The Netherlands

A REMINDER RE FRIDA GERMAN TV APPEARANCE

Frida on Sunday Night Classics

This is being filmed on Monday 6th September at Bavaria Studio 9, Bavaria Filmplatz 7, 82031 Geiselgasteig (Münich), Germany at 8pm - doors open 6.30pm.

Tickets can be booked via: http://tinyurl.com/5sgkj
or ticket hotline: 01805 570 000

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

UPDATE AUGUST 24: TICKETS FOR THE SHOW HAVE NOW SOLD OUT!!!

DUTCH MAMMA MIA! ALBUM GOES TO #1

From the Dutch AD newspaper:

Mamma Mia! Dutch cast album (live version) enters the album Top 100 at NUMBER 1!

Thanks to ABBA fan Richard Verschraagen, The Netherlands

30TH TV SPECIAL NEWS

ABBAMAIL has heard more information about the upcoming ABBA AT 30 special that is to be shown on the Australian Channel 7 network in September.

This special is indeed the same special that has been produced by the company that produced "The Winner Takes It All" special in 1999. The original title is "Super
Troupers - 30 Years of ABBA". It has been renamed and rebranded by Channel 7 for Australian broadcast.

The new special includes a lot of historical footage that many fans would have seen before including material from "ABBA - The Movie". The special also recycles the interviews and footage used in 1999's "The Winner Takes It All" documentary.

There are new interviews with Frida, Björn & Benny which look to be shot in London during the Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary visit in April.

There is behind the scenes footage shot at the Prince Edward Theatre on the night of the 5th Anniversary and footage of Frida singing along to the songs in the musical.

There is no new interview with Agnetha - there is some footage taken from her "My Colouring Book" TV special including part of a promo clip for "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind." The Agnetha footage from the 1999 special is also recycled.

Overall, it doesn't appear that anything drastically new is featured in the special apart from the Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary material.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

BENNY'S ROAD TO ABBA: OCTOBER FOR UK

The latest issue of Record Collector (September) has a brief news piece about the "upcoming" publication of the new book Benny's Road To ABBA, illustrated by a picture of the cover.

They write that the U.K. publishing date is October 7, so presumably there will be a full review of the book in conjunction with the official UK publication.

Thanks to Carl Magnus Palm, Stockholm, Sweden

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT DEBATES ABBA

As a test run for the new Scottish parliament - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/news/news-04/pa04-041.htm - they've been debating the relative merits of ABBA and the Bay City Rollers.

Holyrood fire alarm hits Rollers debate
http://news.scotsman.com/education.cfm?id=971522004

HUNDREDS of parliament staff had to be evacuated from the new Holyrood building today after builders interrupted a mock debate on the greatest pop group by sparking a false fire alarm.

Staff were taking part in a debate on the rival merits of Abba and the Bay City Rollers in the parliament’s new debating chamber when a smoke detector was set off by dust from continuing building work.

The debate was being staged with parliament staff playing the parts of MSPs as part of ongoing tests on features such as the acoustics of the building.

Staff have complained about conditions at the new £431 million complex, saying it is like working on a building site and claiming they have to go outside at regular intervals to escape the dust and noise.

Around 400 parliament workers had to assemble on pavements outside after the alarm went off just as the debate was getting under way at 9.30am.

A parliament spokeswoman explained: "The alarm that was triggered was a smoke detector in the lower basement.

"There was work going on nearby outside and a door propped open, so it seems likely it was work dust which caused it." But she said the false fire alarm had just added to the value of the two-day "live testing" of the building which began yesterday with 450 members of the public drafted in to play the part of visitors.

She added that a planned fire alert as part of yesterday’s exercise had resulted in a successful evacuation.

But she said: "It was quite tight because we were getting all the visitors out, and the fencing round the edge meant people were having to funnel out instead of getting out into a free- flowing area."


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14551481&method=full&siteid=89488&headline=quick--let-s-get-rid-of-council-tax-before-the-politicians-get-here----name_page.html

PATHE debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament swung into action for the first time yesterday.

But instead of the MSPs who have come in for criticism over the £430million cost of the building, it was civil servants who got to take centre stage during a dress rehearsal for a parliamentary debate.

The name of each politician was read out and allocated to staff members, who then went on to read out the official record of real debates which took place earlier this year.

Nicole Carter, 32, a corporate communications manager with Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade, said: 'It's good to give everything a dry run.'

The test continues today, when one topic for debate is whether ABBA or the Bay City Rollers are the greatest pop group ever.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, East Perth, Western Australia

A*TEENS DHANI TO GO SOLO

Dhani Lennevald from the A-Teens is going solo!

Dhani has a new single coming out called "Girl Talk". It will be released 15 September in Sweden.

And he even has a website although it only contains a nice photo and a list of dates of performances, the video recording and the actual release date: www.dhani.se

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittngham, Sydney, Australia and ABBAMAILer Patrick Blake, Gold Coast, Australia

FABULOUS HEARTWARMING STORY

Here's a little something to warm your hearts ... my mother chanced upon this letter in an old women's magazine and thought I might appreciate it:

"Search For A Dream"

For months my 17-year-old son had looked forward to that particular night. At last it arrived, and rain tumbled down unceasingly. Nevertheless, fans poured into the (Sydney) Showground to see the pop group, ABBA. Jeff was totally preoccupied with the singers - and had a secret plan - to meet Agnetha in person. After most of the crowd had poured in, Jeff followed them, wearing a white coat with FLORIST on the back, and carrying a bunch of red roses which had taken all his apprentice pay.

Somehow he talked his way past the security guards, and found himself at Agnetha's caravan. She opened the door and invited the "delivery boy" in out of the rain, thanked him for coming out in such terrible weather and gave him her autograph. Then Jeff had the privilege of accompanying her towards the stage, sheltering under his big, black umbrella. He was ecstatic. His dream had come true.

This story was told at Jeff's funeral, two years ago, by the minister. Although Jeff's life lasted only 21 years, I'm glad that in that short time he realised one dream.

(Valerie Harding, Winston Hills, New South Wales.)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Chris Patrick, Brisbane,Australia

ALCAZAR INTERNATIONAL CD RELEASE

The international edition of Alcazar's second album is imminent. This is the tracklisting:

1. This Is The World We Live In [new song and first international single]
2. I Love The DJ
3. Get Physical [new song and second international single]
4. Love Life
5. Not A Sinner Nor A Saint
6. Funky Feet
7. I Go Shopping
8. Last Days Of Disco
9. Celebrate The Night
10. Singing To Heaven
11. Someday
Bonus Track : Crying At The Discoteque

Good to see "Funky Feet" (written by Björn and Benny and intended for ABBA)and "Love Life" (written by the Pet Shop Boys) made the cut. Seven songs from the Swedish version of the album were dropped.

The single "This Is The World We Live In" is now out in Australia and I love it. Some great mixes from Almighty and the Sound Factory.

The international edition will not be released in Sweden. So the Swedes won't miss out on the new songs, a double compilation CD called "Dancefloor Deluxe" is being released on 25 August. CD 1 will contain the two new songs, another new song "Start The Fire" plus their greatest hits. CD 2 will contain a 50 minute megamix of their mixes.

I was hoping that "Click Your Heart" might be included. This was only ever released in Japan. I've only heard a snippet of this song and it sounds fab. I guess we can't have everything! :(

DELUXE:
1. This is the world we live in
2. Physical
3. Start the fire
4. Love life
5. Someday (single mix)
6. Ménage a trois
7. Not a sinner nor a saint
8. Don't you want me (Almighty radio edit)
9. Sexual guarantee
10. Ritmo del amor (radio edit)
11. Crying at the discoteque
12. Shine on

DANCEFLOOR DELUXE:
1. Intro: Dancefloor deluxe
2. This is the world we live in (SoundFactory club anthem)
3. Start the fire (original version)
4. Sexual guarantee (Almighty remix)
5. Paradise (FL's re-invention club mix)
6. Someday (Studio 54 revival remix)
7. Menage a trois (J Pipe smooth club edit)
8. Shine on (Suezia remix radio edit)
9. Don't you want me (Wild cowboys blonde radio mix)
10. Physical (original version)
11. Not a sinner nor a saint (disco club mix)
12. Save my pride (original edit)
13. Dance with the DJ (original edit)
14. Love life (FL's rebirth club mix)
15. Crying at the discoteque (special extended show version)

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

DISAPPOINTING NEWS

Disappointing news from Universal.

Bridget Jones 2 has not tested well with American audiences. The release is being talked about as being "put back" to next Summer while they consider shooting extra scenes or re-editing the picture.

Agnetha's track (although WEA are denying this) was planned as the closing track (not over the credits - but the last long track BEFORE the credits start) and it was to be a poingnant moment in the movie. It is unlikely that it would have been a single though, as the soundtrack would have been Universal while My Colouring Book is WEA. Now, however, if the end of the movie is being re-jigged, chances are this song will get the heave-ho, which might be why Warners are denying it was going to be in the film in the first place.

It looks unlikely now also that Agnetha's documentary is to be released on DVD after all, but there are tentative plans for a Christmas release of another ABBA DVD (the new "Super Troupers - 30 years of ABBA") that they were filming in London on April 6th. Could this be the show that is being aired on TV in Oz next month?

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Alex Jones, Swansea, United Kingdom

AGNETHA DOCO UNDER SURVEILLANCE

Expressen article at
http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=173243

The ABBA­ star's documentary is being put under surveillance after being reported. A special board of surveillance (Granskningsnämnden) have decided to take a look at the SVT's documentary about Agnetha Fältskog.

And now SVT have to explain if they have gained financially by having the documentary produced by Agnetha Fältskog's own company. The board of surveillance got seven reports from the public about the programme ”Agnetha”, wich was seen by 1.3 million people on the 4th of June. Several of the reporters noted that ”Agnetha Fältskog Productions AB” was the producer.

The Expressen journalist Nils Schwartz wrote: ”When a public service channel sends pure commercial it must be a clear case of a break of the deal SVT has with the Swedish nation."

It could be a case of indirect sponsorship, that's why we have asked SVT to explain this, says Hack Kampman, handling officer at the surveillance board for radio and TV. SVT has one month to answer, then it takes a few weeks more before the case is handled by the board.

I hope it'll be acquitted. It was a good show, says Patric Carshamre, art director at the program board at SVT.

By Anja Edvards / To English by Linda Granqvist

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, SWEDEN

CHARTS - WEEK 33

Here are the latest chart stats:

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 4 to #76
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! - Up 1 to #20

FRANCE:
ABBA - The ABBA Story - Down 3 to #36

DENMARK:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Up 59 from #90 to #31

SWEDEN:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Up 5 to #10
Agnetha Fältskog - When You Walk In The Room - Up 7 to #47
Benny Anderson Orkester - BAO! - Stable at #3

NORWAY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 9 to #22

Off:
Sweden - Agnetha Fältskog - If I Could You'd Ever Change Your Mind
Finland - My Colouring Book

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

CHESS PRODUCTION IN SYDNEY

We would like to inform you of our current production of CHESS in Sydney as news for your website.

The details are as follows:

Canterbury Theatre Guild presents

CHESS

by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus

Tom Mann Theatre
Chalmers St
Surry Hills

Bookings 9559 7779

Friday 20th August 7.30pm
Saturday 21st August 7.30pm
Sunday 22nd August 2pm
Wednesday 25th August 7.30pm
Friday 27th August 7.30pm
Saturday 28th August 2pm, 7.30pm

Tickets: $28/$24/$17

Website: www.welcome.to/canterburytheatreguild

Plenty of good seats still available for this weekend.

Opening Night Gala - All tickets $28 with Champagne Supper at Interval.

Regards,

Claudine Everitt
Treasurer

REMINDER - LIQUID ASSETS

Simon from the UK Has reminded ABBAMAIL that ABBA will be featured on the program Liquid Assets on BBC Three in the UK this Sunday. We brought you news of this some time ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/liquidassets_3b.shtml

Abba's Millions
Sunday 22nd August 8pm

They came, they sang, they conquered. For a brief time in the seventies and
early eighties Abba were the super troupers of pop. From rural Swedish
beginnings to the biggest outdoor dates of the time - Rhodri Owen discovers
just how much Money, Money, Money they made.

Liquid Assets talks to those who played with the Abba members, before their
big Waterloo moment; to the UK Eurovision judge who admits to giving Abba an
embarrassing 'nil point'; and to Chocolat director Lasse Hallstrom who
exposes some of the cheap tricks they used in those infamously cheesy Abba
videos. Rhodri also works out how much of the Mamma Mia musical takings of
£½bn, has ended up in the band's pockets.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

CHANNEL 7 PLUG ABBA 30 YEARS SHOW

Australia's Channel 7 television network have been running promos for a TV special called ABBA 30 YEARS or 30 YEARS OF ABBA. It is to be shown in September.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Darren Lloyd, Brisbane, Australia

MESSAGE TO STOCKHOLM ABBA FANS

Channel 9 Australia's "Getaway" television show is doing a story on Stockholm. They will be in Stockholm in early September and they would like to be able to film some ABBA fans as part of their story - perhaps ABBA fans getting together for a drink or similar.

Getaway is a holiday destination TV show and the Stockholm story will be about the city itself but they also want to have a strong ABBA angle.

If any Stockhom ABBA fans are able to help with this, please contact Felicity Mattise at Channel 9: FMATTISKE@nine.com.au

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

FRIDA IN AFTONBLADET

Aftonbladet has an article about Frida participating in the gala...
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,518238,00.html

Nothing new is said in the article really except for Görel's comment about Frida and Jon Lord:

- Yes, I know that they know each other, says Görel Hanser, press contact for ABBA, to Aftonbladet.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

MORE ON FRIDA SONG

Frida's forthcoming appearance on German TV's "Sunday Night Classics" has everyone talking. She'll be doing a song with Jon Lord - ex Deep Purple.

Apparently, Jon Lord and Frida got to know each other in 1999 and one day he's asked her if he could write a song for her.

He has always been interested in classical and crossover music and now he's written some new songs of which one, The Sun Will Shine Again, especially for Frida.

It is likely that Jon's album will see a wide commercial release.

German ABBA fan site, abbanews.de has set up this page about the event:
http://www.abba.de/news-stuff/lordfrida/index.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bonnie Rietveld, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ABBA MENTION IN 'Q'

The new UK Q Magazine, Sept 2004 "1010 Songs You Must Own".

In the section for "Getting Wasted - 60 Songs for the tired and emotional." they include "The Day Before You Came" by ABBA amongst such "emotional" songs as 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins, "Push It" - Salt n Pepa, "Rock Lobster" - B-52's, Boys of Summer -Don Henley, Mr Blue Sky - ELO, Radio Gaga - Queen, Rocket Man - Kate Bush, Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Rod Reynolds, Los Angeles CA USA

FRIDA ATTENDS WEDDING

Frida recently attended the wedding of Noppe Lewenhaupt and his wife. She wore the
outfit she wore to the Polar Music Prize this year. Both Expressen and Aftonbladet
had pictures from the wedding and of Frida.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

A*TEENS GREATEST HITS FOR USA/LATIN AMERICA

The A-Teens Greatest Hits is due to be released in Latin America any time now. I don't know if any of their Spanish language songs will be included (ie. Mamma Mia and Dame! Dame!Dame!).

Meanwhile, their single "I Promised Myself" has been doing well on the MTV charts.

MTV Top Ten Argentina - #1
MTV Top Ten Chile - #1
Much Music Top 20 Argentina - #12
Musica Total - Argentina - #6
Tu Música - Argentina - #1
MTV Top Ten Mexico - #7

The Greatest Hits is also planned to be released in the USA in November in time for Christmas on the Interscope label.

News taken from www.a-teens.com


The original tracklisting includes all their single (except for "Happy New Year"). Not sure of any changes for the Latin or American markets.
1. Mamma Mia
2. Upside Down
3. Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
4. Floorfiller
5. Dancing Queen
6. A Perfect Match
7. To The Music
8. Halfway Around The World
9. Sugar Rush
10. Super Trouper
11. Heartbreak Lullaby
12. Can't Help Falling In Love
13. Let Your Heart Do All The Talking
14. The Final Cut
15. With Or Without You
16. I Promised Myself

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

DEANO'S CHART ROUND UP - WEEK 32

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 5 to #72
German Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! - down 6 to #21

SWEDEN:
Agnetha Fältskog - If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind - Back on at #60
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 4 to #15
Agnetha Fältskog - When You Walk In The Room - Down 6 to #54
Benny Andersson Orkester - BAO! - Up 1 to #3

FRANCE:
ABBA - The ABBA Story - Down 6 to #33

FINLAND:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 1 to #9

NORWAY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Stable for the third week at #13

OFF:
Denmark - The Definitive Collection.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

IS IT BRIDGET?

This just in from an ABBAMAIL web site regular:

"People in various forums have been talking about Agnetha's "What Now My Love" as part of the soundtrack for a well known feature film. I can confirm to you that although it is yet to be signed on the dotted line(pretty much a surety though), the film is is fact "Bridget Jones 2"

Thanks to ABBA fan Terry Reed

LAST VIDEO FOR USA

ABBA - THE LAST VIDEO Reunites the Seventies Supergroup (Sort of) in Humorous Short Film Featuring Look-Alike Puppets; DVD Celebrating ABBA's 30th Anniversary Adds the Original Videos of Four ABBA Smash Hits and More

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ABBA fans rejoice! Thirty years after they debuted, Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Frida have reunited! Well, sort of. Speculation on an ABBA reunion for the group's current 30th anniversary celebrations culminated in a most unexpected way during the live May 12th globally-televised broadcast from Istanbul of the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, the same annual event that launched ABBA into pop music in 1974. That night, each member of the quartet appeared separately in the world premiere of the comedy short ABBA -- THE LAST VIDEO, sharing the screen with, believe it or not, their look-alike doll-size puppet versions created by the renowned Jim Henson's Creature Shop (The Muppets, etc.).

Now making its DVD premiere, ABBA -- THE LAST VIDEO (Polar/Polydor/UMe) will be released August 31, 2004. The DVD (with a running time of approximately 40 minutes) contains the very funny and charming six-minute short film as well as the original ABBA videos of the four hit songs featured:
"Take A Chance On Me," "Dancing Queen," "The Winner Takes It All" and "Waterloo" (the song which won ABBA the Eurovision Song Contest and launched their superstar career).

In addition, the DVD contains the behind-the-scenes feature "The Making Of 'The Last Video'" with director's commentary, and a photo gallery.

The Eurovision Song Contest wanted to celebrate ABBA's 30th anniversary milestone with a performance by the group but ABBA has declined all offers to reunite since they disbanded in 1982. So ABBA suggested another idea.

ABBA -- THE LAST VIDEO is a film about four hopeful musicians (the ABBA-ish puppets) in search of a record contract in where-else-but Sweden. They pay a visit to the Big Record Company Boss and his oily assistant, performing one hit after the other, cheered on by their manager. But things don't work out as planned ...

Celebrating the legacy of ABBA, with Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad making special appearances, as does pop icon Cher, ABBA -- THE LAST VIDEO stars Rik Mayall, Robert Gustafson, Sissela Kyhle, Cecilia Frode, Loa Falkman, Michael Nyqvist and Per Svensson. The short was written and directed by Calle Astrand and produced by Radical Media UK.

For fans of one of the biggest-selling and most popular music groups in history, ABBA -- THE LAST VIDEO is a DVD must-have.

SOURCE Polar/Polydor/UMe

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

UK CHART ACTION

Week Ending 7th August 2004

ABBA feature twice on the UK DVD Music Chart this week, slipping back four places to #17 with The Definitive Collection, and entering at (a rather disappointing) #9 with The Last Video, especially when all previous official ABBA DVD releases have gone top 3 in this chart.

Week Ending 14th August 2004
Not so good news this week either, the Last Video plummets 10 places to #19 in just its 2nd week on the chart, with The Definitive Collection now placed above it at #18 after a drop of one place.

A chart that doesn't get a lot of attention is the Top 10 Budget Albums, and it's curious to see The Name Of The Game is hanging on at #7 (down three places).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Campbell, Edinburgh UK

PLAYBILL STORIES

Four ABBA-related stories from Playbill, which is a theatre-focussed website in the US.

Auction of 1000 Stars—including a Mamma Mia! Walk On—Begins Aug. 10
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87821.html

Auction of 1000 Stars 2004, the two-week on-line auction presented by The Actors' Fund of America — in partnership with Yahoo! — begins Aug. 10. Some of the items up for bid include a day with the cast of Showtime's "Queer as Folk"; a VIP day on the set of MTV's "Total Request Live"; a private Shakespearean acting class with Lynn
Redgrave; a tap class with the cast of 42nd Street; The Boy From Oz show package, including tickets to the show and a meet-and-greet with Tony winner Hugh Jackman; and a Mamma Mia! package that includes tickets to the musical and a non-speaking, walk-on part in the ABBA hit.

West End Star Elaine Paige to Host BBC Radio Program
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87834.html

Paige's program will begin airing Sept. 5 at 1 PM and will feature music from the stage and screen. The program will feature a "weekly competition, listener requests and Elaine in conversation with some of the people who have created and starred in the greatest musicals of all time." In a statement Paige said, "I am so excited to
be joining BBC Radio 2. I'm really looking forward to this new challenge ... and
all without having to put on lots of make up and a hot and heavy costume!"

Taboo's McCartney to Join Mamma Mia! This Fall; McLane Possible, Too
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87749.html

Liz McCartney, who starred as Big Sue in the Broadway company of Taboo, will return to the Broadway stage in the fall. According to her agent, McCartney will begin a stint as Rosie in the New York company of Mamma Mia! October 20. McCartney will replace Harriett D. Foy, who is currently playing the role in the hit ABBA musical.

Mamma Mia!'s Winther to Perform New Song Cycle Admissions
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/87832.html

Michael Winther, who currently stars as Harry Bright in the Broadway company of Mamma Mia!, will be part of a public performance of a new theatre piece entitled Admissions.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Perth, Western Australia

FRIDA FOR GERMAN TV

Frida is making headlines in Germany today. I found this article today in a newspaper
called "Luebecker Nachrichten" (and usually they are very well informed. It says:

"TV- Comeback after 17 years- Frida (ABBA) sings for ZDF*"
Frida Lyngstad, former member of legendary Swedish supergroup ABBA will
appear on German televison for the first time in 17 years. In the ZDF-
programme "Sunday Night Classics" she will sing "The Sun Will Shine Again"
with ex- Deep Purple- Keyboarder Jon Lord. The gala will be filmed on
September 6th and will be aired on September 19th."

*ZDF is one of the two big broadcasting stations in Germany.

I called the German TV station ZDF in Munich to ask if the rumour about Frida is true - and yes, they confirmed that Frida will appear on the show and sing in public and perform in public. The show itself is called "Sunday Night Classic" and is a mixture of classical singers like Placido Domingo and pop stars (on the last show Sting duetted with Domingo for example).

Thanks to ABBA fan Oliver Witt from Germany

NEWS PAGE NOT DISPLAYING

We have been informed that the Latest News Page has an odd habit of not displaying from time to time. Apologies for this. It is checked after each update to make sure the latest version is showing but then, apparently, it decides to "disappear" for a while.

We have now established the cause of this problem. It is due to an error with the publishing process in Microsoft FrontPage. Now that we have established the cause, hopefully we will be able to prevent the effect in future.

If there are any problems with ABBAMAIL's website, you can always let us know by writing to: feedback@abbamail.com

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

LAST VIDEO DVD FOR RELEASE IN OZ

HMV.com.au has The Last Video DVD is listed for local Australian release on 30 August .http://www.hmv.com.au/

Sanity also has the local release on 30 August for $25.48.
http://www.sanity.com.au/

Chaos Music has it listed for $31.95, no date but "on order".
http://www.chaosmusic.com/

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

AGNETHA DOCU ON HONG KONG TV

I have just seen Agnetha's TV documentary that accompanied her CD, on Hong Kong television.

Here in Hong Kong we only have 2 English speaking channels so it was amazing that we got it. But they aired it at 12.05 am Sunday morning. That was disappointing as I'm sure a lot of people would not have had the opportunity of seeing the broadcast at that time.

Thanks to ABBA fan Michael McKane, Hong Kong

LAST VID IN GERMAN SINGLES CHART

"The Last Video" entered the German Top 100 singles charts at No. 30. This week it fell to No. 50. But it's still a great effort and great to see ABBA having success in the single charts in the new millenium.

Thanks to ABBA fan Ingo, Leipzig, Germany

ABBA THEME IN BRIGHTON PRIDE MARCH

BRIGHTON streets swell with Pride

The streets of Brighton were awash with colour on Saturday as several thousand people took to the streets for the annual Gay Pride parade and festival. Accompanied by the sound of whistles, drums and music, more than 60 floats and 5,000 participants made their way from Madeira Drive to Preston Park.

Revellers carried rainbow-coloured flags and banners calling for inclusion and awareness of sexual diversity.

More than 90,000 people were expected to attend the all-day event.

The parade, which began at 1100 BST, was led by off-duty officers from Sussex Police, who were marching in uniform for the first time.

Deputy Chief Constable Joe Edwards said the move would help reflect the large lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community served by the force.

Many people braved the heat in exotic costumes.

Others came dressed to party in line with this year's theme of The Hit Parade - which was chosen to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton.

The procession followed an extended route which organisers said would raise the profile of the event, which received public funding for the first time this year.

Organisers were awarded a grant of £26,000 from Brighton and Hove City Council, who have been discussing ways of "dressing" the city during Pride week.

Chair of Pride in Brighton and Hove David Harvey said: "We have the biggest parade of its kind in the country.

"The new route will ensure this celebrated carnival will become one of the most boasted about tourist events on our city's calendar."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/3544544.stm

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, East Perth, Western Australia

ABBA ON THE CHARTS - WEEK 31

Here are the latest chart stats.

GERMANY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Up 7 to #67
German Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! - down 3 to #15

FRANCE:
ABBA - The ABBA Story - Back in the top 40 at #27

SWEDEN:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 4 to #11
Agnetha Fältskog - When You Walk In The Room - up 7 to #48
Benny Anderson Orkester - BAO! - Down 1 to #4

FINLAND:
Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book - Down 2 to #8

DENMARK:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 2 to #36

NORWAY:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Stable at #13

OFF:
Sweden - Agnetha Fältskog - If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind
Peaked at #2, charted for 14 weeks.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA UNPLUGGED - NEW BOOK!

November sees the release of yet a new ABBA book...it's called ABBA: Unplugged by Karl French.

The blurb is as follows -
"In April 1974, 500 million television viewers across Europe witnessed the bizarrely thrilling sight of four garishly-dressed unknowns from Sweden storm their way to
victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was 'Waterloo' Abba had arrived.

Over the next three decades,the band moved on through an almost unbroken succession of hit albums and singles. Abba have sold some 400 million records around the world, and their songs inspired a musical which since opening in April 1999 has been seen by more than 10 million people.

In Abba: Unplugged,Karl French, a journalist and author specialising in popular culture, brings his inimitable wry perception to bear on the band's whole story. Born in Sweden,and raised in England, he comes to the subject with someone with first-hand knowledge of the very particular social and political climate from which Abba emerged. He has been a fan - although not necessarily an uncritical one - for three decades."

This new book should be released in the UK and Australia in November 2004. It is to be published through Portrait in the UK and Hodder Headline in Australia.

It will be a hardback and retail for $34.95 in Australia and GBP16.99 in the UK (these prices are subject to change)

The cover of the book is the 'Name Of The Game" single cover picture.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mark Hannam, Freshwater, Australia

ABBASITE MODERATORS: UNIVERSAL MUSIC WRITES TO ABBAMAIL!

ABBAMAIL HQ today received a letter from Universal Music in Sweden. They want to resolve the situation between ABBAMAIL and the moderators at abbasite.com/forum.

We are very happy to have received this letter. A little disappointed that we have received no acknowledgement of our correspondence for five months - but still, late is better than never!

The tone of the letter is quite positive and we are very happy to finally see Universal acknowledge ABBAMAIL is "great importance for the ABBA-fans of the world."

It is disappointing, however, that Universal state "Our moderating team is doing a fantastic job on this and we have full confidence in them." This ignores the primary issue that began this entire conflict. However, it would be unrealistic to expect Universal to completely acknowledge and endorse the issues that have been raised. They may feel that doing so could open them up to some kind of liability which they naturally would not wish to happen.

We are accepting this letter in the good faith that Universal say they are sending it. I am going to modify the abbasite campaign section on ABBAMAIL.com and remove most of the history / reports & complaints from fans / contentious content etc.

It is pleasing to read that the moderator's guidelines are being reviewed and tightened. The lack of clear guidelines for the moderating team has been a primary reason that the situations on the site forums were allowed to get out of hand.

I am going to respond to Universal's letter and I will report the content of that letter via ABBAMAIL's internet mailing list and on ABBAMAIL.com.

ABBAMAIL will continue to monitor the site moderators actions in case there are future problems. But hopefully, with Universal Music taking a more pro-active role with the administration of the abbasite forum, we can look forward to a more consistent, fair and non-phobic moderation of the forum.

If you, the regular ABBAMAIL.com site visitor, have any comment, input or feedback on this matter, I ask you to write to me privately at feedback@abbamail.com.

I would also like to publicly thank everyone who has assisted and supported ABBAMAIL throughout the last five months since our campaign began.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

=======================================================

Stockholm, 30th July 2004

Re: ABBASITE.COM

Dear Mr. Read,

We, Universal Sweden, have for some time been monitoring the ongoing discussions between your site ABBAMAIL and our official fansite ABBASITE.COM. It is with deepest concern that we find this situation, ending up in personal attacks, going out of hand.

With this letter we hope we can solve the disagreements between you and parts of the moderating team of our site in good faith.

It goes without saying that both your site and ours are of great importance for the ABBA-fans of the world.

The size of the forum on ABBASITE.COM is one of the biggest fan-forums in the world. To monitor the topics placed on the forum on a 24/7 basis is almost an impossible mission. Our moderating team is doing a fantastic job on this and we have full confidence in them. The collaboration between us must be based on this faith, otherwise there can be no forum.

There are certain guidelines for the moderators to follow. But there's no way that mistakes can be avoided 100%, and it never will be, as long as there are human beings engaged in the matter. However, we do not accept obvious abuse or discriminations on the site.

The moderating guidelines are being investigated and updated at the moment to make sure there are no unclear issues that our moderators feels uncomfortable with and we will also discuss this with them.

Comparing with other major artists forums the abbasite is a very liberate, freedom of speech forum that should gather people from all of the world, no matter ages and culture, in their common interest - namely ABBA. We intend to keep it that way.

Yours sincerely,

UNIVERSAL SWEDEN AB

Karin Häggblom Helena Ehinger
Label Manager Business & Legal Affairs Manager

PUBLISHING UPDATE - BENNY BOOK

Carl Magnus Palm reports on the publishing of his new book BENNY'S ROAD TO ABBA:

Although Benny's Road To ABBA was published in the UK in June, its "official" UK distribution date is not until October (this apparent contradiction is only one of the many mysteries of the book trade). However, the book is definitely available right now - directly from my site - carlmagnuspalm.com - or from the shops listed below (except, for the moment, amazon.co.uk, although it can be pre-ordered from them).

Premium Publishing (Sweden, ships worldwide)
http://www.premiumpublishing.com/eng/buy.html

ABBF Record Service
http://www1.tip.nl/~t097528/

Amazon.co.uk (Available for pre-order, shipping from October 1)

EXTRA MIX ON JAPANESE AGNETHA ALBUM

The track listing for the Japanese release of MY COLOURING BOOK, according the Warner Music Japan website, has If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind (Almighty Radio Edit) as the 14th track.

It is due for release this week.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer George Bourdaniotis, Kobe Japan