TSUNAMI DISASTER DONATIONS

The following information is for Australians who may wish to donate. It was taken from the Sydney Morning Herald. I'm sure that other countries have similar lists.

The Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and Pacific (AFAP), a Sydney based non-profit, non-religious organisation, is asking for donations to send medical supplies to South Asia. To make a donation call 1800 007 308 or download a donation form at www.afap.org

CARE Australia, the overseas-aid organisation, has opened its southern Asia earthquake appeal to raise funds for emergency relief, providing food, shelter and clean water. To donate call 1800 020 046 or go to http://www.careaustralia.org.au

The Australian Red Cross is collecting funds for its international body's appeal. Donations to its Asia quake and tsunamis appeal can be made by calling 1800 811 700, going to its website at http://www.redcross.org.au or posting a cheque to GPO Box 9949 in capital cities.

Oxfam is accepting donations to its earthquake tsunami emergency fund on 1800 034 034 or at http://www.oxfam.org.au

UNICEF has offices in every affected country and is calling for donations to support a mobilised relief effort. So far it has provided water tanks, medical supplies and water purification tablets. Contributions can be made by calling 1300 884 233 or by visiting http://www.unicef.org.au.

The World Vision chief executive, Tim Costello, said donations were urgently needed. Donations to its Asia earthquake disaster appeal can be made by calling 13 32 40 or visiting http://www.worldvision.com.au

National Australia Bank has established a relief fund that will be donated to World Vision for distribution to tsunami victims and their families. It has also promised to contribute $100,000. Donations can be made in person at any branch of the bank or by calling 13 22 65 from noon today.

Baptist World Aid Australia is a smaller operation that has local partners across the region. It is accepting donations to be passed on to these communities through a toll-free number, 1300 789 991, by mail to Baptist World Aid Australia, Locked Bag 122, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086, or at the website http://www.shareanopportunity.org.

Caritas Australia has committed $500,000 to provide immediate assistance to its partners already established in affected regions, such as Caritas India, Caritas Bangladesh and SEDEC in Sri Lanka. With public support it is aiming to raise that figure to $1 million as it focuses on providing water, sanitation, food, shelter and medicine. Donations can be made by calling 1800 024 413 or visiting http://www.caritas.org.au.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

UK CHESS PEFORMANCE

To receive news of the St. David's Hall performance of CHESS, you can now sign up at the official CHESS site. The front page has undergone a bit of a dodgy makeover and now incorporates the flags of the UK and Sweden. Click the Union flag to go to the sign-up page.

www.chessthemusical.com

They list the performance as 1st April, 2005, which is at odds with the info on the St. David's Hall site which has always stated that 2nd April, 2005 is the date of the concert.

Whatever the exact date is, this production certainly appears to be getting more and more official.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, Allbrook, UK

ABBA NIGHT ON GERMAN TV

Tonight is ABBA night on Germany channel N3.

They have a one hour show with the most succesful ABBA songs in Germany, presented by Carolin Fortenbacher and Peggy Pollow, Donna and Sophie from the Hamburg "Mamma Mia!" cast, while they also show the viewer around the theatre and the backstage area, during some rehearsals, and they sing for the viewer and interview their fellow cast members. Quite nice.

Unfortunately the songs were the regular video clips, even though they have TV performances of some of those songs. The countdown of the 20 most successful songs:
The Name Of The Game
Summer Night City
I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do
Eagle
The Day Before You Came
The Winner Takes It All
I Have A Dream
Take A Chance On Me
One Of Us
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Chiquitita
Mamma Mia
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me Knowing You
Money Money Money
Super Trouper
Honey Honey (from Musikladen special in blue satin outfits)
Waterloo (half of it in German in that white box thing clip)
S.O.S.
Fernando

Following this is the Super Troupers documentary, then the movie Sista Dansen, that features some ABBA songs, and after that Disco Inferno, three hours of music of the 70s.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Wangerland, Germany

MAMMA MIA! HITS ONE BILLION

From the Variety website:

"Mamma Mia!," the ABBA musical, has passed the $1 billion mark in worldwide grosses and been seen by more than 20 million people.

Earlier this year, the hit tunertuner celebrated its fifth anniversary in the West End, where it debuted in April 1999.

It has grossed nearly $190 million in North America alone this year, including its Broadway stand at the Winter Garden Theatre, plus companies at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay and Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre, and a North American road tour.

Internationally, in 2005 the show will tour to Johannesburg, Estonia, Lisbon, Brussels, Paris, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Stockholm and Korea.

Catherine Johnson wrote the book around songs by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus; Phyllida Lloyd directed and Anthony Van Laast did the choreography.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney - Australia

SVENSKTOPPEN MENTIONS AGNETHA BOX SET

The Swedish radio program "Svensktoppen", broadcast on December 26, talked a bit about the Agnetha Box set and also had a new interview with "Little Gerhard" (who "discovered" Agnetha).

You can listen to the program on
http://www.sr.se/P4/svetop/index.stm

go to "Lyssna via webben" to the right on the page, the Agnetha clip is in "del 2"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Malin Westerberg, Halmstad, Sweden

DUTCH TOP 40 DVDS

In co-operation with EMI, Sony and Universal `40 Jaar Top 40` has released a series of DVD compilations with videoclips from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000 - 2004:

http://www.40jaartop40.nl/home.html

TV performances on the DVDs are from: "Beatclub", "Hits a Gogo" and "Disco" (Germany), "Cadet Roussel" and "Discorama" (France), "Top of the Pops" and "Colour me Pop" (England), "Tienerklanken" (Belgium) and of course "Toppop", "Twien", "Vjoew" and "Moef Gaga"(Netherlands).

The `1983 en 1984` DVD features Agnetha`s `The Heat Is On`:
http://www.40jaartop40.nl/afbeeldingen/83_84.gif

and `The Winner Takes It All` is listed on the `1979 en 1980` DVD:
http://www.40jaartop40.nl/afbeeldingen/79_80.gif

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Trijnie Dijkema, The Netherlands

BENNY & LUDVIG NEWS

Benny Anderssons Orkester is nominated in the "Schlager/Dansband" category for the BAO! album. The full list of nominess is at:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,576214,00.html

Ludvig Andersson has been playing the role of Petrus in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Örebro during the Christmas period. There's more information at: www.scenkatten.se

And according to www.abba-intermezzo.de, German NDR TV will have a report from Sweden in the show "Magazin" on January 9 at 1800, which includes something about "Agnetha's new plans" (whatever that might mean!)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

DUTCH RADIO "TOP 2000"

Dutch national radio station "Radio 2" is doing it's yearly Top 2000 selection. Listeners could vote for their all time favourite song. They received 140,000 votes and the results are being broadcast from December 26 until December 31.

ABBA is doing quite well this year. They are listed 24 times and there's also three ABBA related tracks. Below you will find every ABBA related entry in the list.

Position - Song
42 ABBA - Dancing queen
91 ABBA - The day before you came
129 ABBA - Eagle
133 ABBA - The winner takes it all
210 ABBA - Thank you for the music
320 ABBA - Happy New Year
362 ABBA - I have a dream
379 ABBA - Mamma mia
434 ABBA - Chiquitita
512 ABBA - Waterloo
534 ABBA - Fernando
704 ABBA - One of us
823 ABBA - Knowing me knowing you
940 ABBA - S.O.S.
987 ABBA - Gimme gimme gimme
1039 ABBA - Take a chance on me
1069 ABBA - Does your mother know
1124 Agnetha Faltskog - Wrap your arms around me
1262 ABBA - Money money money
1334 ABBA - Super trouper
1470 ABBA - The name of the game
1495 ABBA - Head over heals
1528 ABBA - Summer night city
1625 Murray Head - One night in Bangkok
1635 Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - I know him so well
1781 ABBA - I do I do I do
1801 ABBA - Voulez vous

You can download the complete list (including positions in the list from 1999 onwards at:
http://www.omroep.nl/radio2/top2000_2004/downloads/top2000_2004.xls

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robert Verbeek, Duiven, The Netherlands

AND SHE DID MORE!

And, at the end of the show, Frida came on stage again with the rest of the
performers, singing a German Christmas song "In The Bleak Midwinter"

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Lex Corbach, Groningen, The Netherlands

ZDF WEBSITE STORY

On the ZDF website there was a short story about Frida deciding spontaniously to lend
her voice to the "Christmas Experiment" which appearantly was an instrumental piece originally. (www.zdf.de)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Lex Corbach, The Netherlands

FRIDA SANG LIVE!

I am watching the Alle Jahre wieder TV show, a one hour show from some church in Püttlingen, Saarland, southwest Germany, with a lot of classical music.

Then it was time for Frida. She wore that black and white outfirt with tie and mega pearls again (Mamma Mia! Madrid and Jose Carreras Gala). Frida performed "The Sun Will Shine Again" as a playback, but the orchestra was playing live. Didn't sound like the orchestra had rehearsed much.

Then Frida actually sang live!!!!

Some lines of "The Christmas Experiment", a medley of Christmas songs from Germany, UK, and Bohemia Jon Lord had arranged. I do not know the song Frida did though. After her short part she sat down and the orchestra did the rest of the medley. Frida sounded wonderful.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Wangerland, Germany

LATEST CHARTS

Here are the chart stats for the week of 17-24 December 2004.

IRELAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 11 to #52

NEW ZEALAND:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - down 1 to #8

SWEDEN:
Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO! - up 1 to #24

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection CD down 1 to #44

GERMANY:
Cast Recording (German) - Mamma Mia! - down 2 to #53

NETHERLANDS:
Cast Recording (Dutch) - Mamma Mia! - up 5 to #32

SPAIN:
ABBA - Todo ABBA - down 2 to #38

UK:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 5 to #43

SWITZERLAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - Back in at #92.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

AGNETHA BOX SET: HARRY'S REPORT

Thanks to an incredibly fast delivery by cdon, I can call the new Agnetha box-set, "De Första Åren" (in case somebody doesn't know the title yet), my own. Oh how I love getting such nice little packages from the postman!! :-)

The box set itself is something truly gorgeous. The cover, as we already know, is really classy, and when you open it, you get to see Agnetha with a big smile, looking at you. You open it once more and there they are, 6 CDs and a 40+ page booklet. having it there in front of you, fully opened - WOW. It's about the size of an open gatefold LP and it does look amazing.

The 5 album CDs have the original cover and back-side artwork, which I guess was scanned from the original LPs. Unfortunately the quality of "När En Vacker Tanke Blir En Sång" is pretty bad, at least the front cover. it seems that not even Sony could track down a good quality copy of the LP sleeve (in the booklet they write about how rare this LP is and that nobody really knows the reason for that).

Although I would have prefered to get each CD in a jewel case with a booklet including all lyrics and stuff (the missing lyrics is about the only negative thing I can say about the box!), the concept of putting each CD in a single sleeve is quite nice as well.

Now to a topic which might be the most interesting, the sound quality.

The Royal Records release of "Agnetha Fältskog" did contain some songs transfered from vinyl, with a of course limited sound quality. I'm sorry to say that the sound quality is still not as good as it could have been on this first album. 3 tracks have improved a lot, namely "Slutet Gott, Allting Gott", "Följ Med Mig" and "Snövit Och De Sju Dvärgarna". The other vinyl-tracks have improved a little, at least you can hear some differences here and there.

"Den Jag Väntat På", one of the best tracks on this LP (IMO), is unfortunately still quite weak what the quality is concerned. But that might be because it features a big orchestration and such things are difficult to record from vinly. Just too much sound.

So, "Agnetha Fältskog" has been improved, but due to missing masters (according to the booklet also some of these Swedish tracks were recorded in Berlin, so maybe Sony should search in Germany?), there still is a lack of quality.

The other 4 albums can be summed up pretty quickly: very good quality!

No "vinyl-tracks", everything seems to have directly been transfered from the original masters. OK, I of course haven't listened to each and every track yet, but I chose some songs from each album that have not been available on CD before, and they're perfect.

A totally new listening experience than on 30 year old LPs, let me tell you that!

The booklet is a nice addition. It has about 44 pages, with a short (about 18 pages) story about Agnetha's recordings and live before and outside ABBA.The good thing: The story is in Swedish at first, but also in English! It's quite interesting to read, though it doesn't reveal that much new, as we already know the important facts from "Bright Lights, Dark Shadows". But it is imformative, with details about all her 19 Svensktoppen hits, of course facts about the albums, about her tours and stuff like that.

One thing I didn't know is that Agnetha got to number 30 in the German single charts in 1969 with "Señor Gonzales", her biggest hit in Germany before ABBA (Trent, some info for your site! :-) Around that time she also performed this song as well as "Concerto D'Amore" on German TV. Is there a chance that we will ever get to see these performances?

It is also revealed that "Utan Dej" was said to have outsold "Jag Var Så Kär", which sold about 80,000 copies, in the Swedish charts. An interesting fact, especially as we don't even have a chart position on the sales chart for this single (neither is it featured in the booklet).

I just went through the booklet-story quickly, so these are the only interesting and "new" facts that I remember.

So, to sum everything up, Sony (and of course the fans involved including our own
Claes Davidsson and Mattias Olsson and everybody else who was involved!) did a very
good job with this release.

There could not be a better way to present Agnetha's Cupol years than this box-set.

Of course the music is not everybody's cup of tea, but with the quality of this release you really get to hear that some songs actually are very good, and, even more important, just what a good song-writer Agnetha was/is.

What a great early gift this week - Merry Christmas to me! ;-)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

CHARTS: 10-17 DECEMBER

IRELAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - Down 4 to #41, week 320

NEW ZEALAND:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - up 2 to #7, week 16

SWEDEN:
Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO! - up 6 to #25, week 24

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection CD - up 7 to #43, week 44 (top 50)

GERMANY:
Cast Recording (German) - Mamma Mia! - down 5 to #51, week 24

NETHERLANDS
Cast Recording (Dutch) - Mamma Mia! - down 1 to #37, week 17

SPAIN:
ABBA - Todo ABBA - Up 1 to #36, week 5

UK:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 1 to #38, week 342

OFF: Switzerland - ABBA GOLD (94 weeks total)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

AGNETHA: I'M NO RECLUSE!

ABBA's Agnetha speaks out: "I'm no recluse"

Agnetha Fältskog has given her first full-length television interview since the late eighties, talking about ABBA, money and her reputation as a Garbo-style recluse.

Talking to Swedish TV station TV4, Agnetha told interviewer Lasse Bengtsson that the media had created a false picture of her:

"I'm the same person that I've always been ­ nice, normal, down-to-earth, and easily stressed."

She complained that a picture had been created of her by the media as a recluse on the island of Ekerö. Comparisons with Greta Garbo, another Swede with a reputation for withdrawing from society, were unfair:

It's a picture that the media has created as a punishment for me not showing myself enough, she said, adding that she would ?rather be an original than a bad copy.

Fältskog claimed that she feels relaxed when walking around Stockholm, and doesn't mind when fans came up to ask for autographs. She denied that she has deliberately hidden herself away from public gaze, saying that it just isn't my thing to do interviews. She also admitted that she has not recovered from her fear of flying, and told Bengtsson that she hasn't flown for fifteen years.

She confirmed that when she released her latest album, My Colouring Book, she made it clear to her record company that she wouldn't travel around and do television interviews.

The album was released early in 2004, and was her first collection of new material since the eighties. She told TV4 that after so many years she was unsure whether the voice would still be there. Despite that, the album was a success, and sold strongly around the world.

Fältskog talked with fondness of the ABBA years, saying she was grateful to have been involved. The band split up after it "stopped being fun", she claimed, adding that things became harder after she divorced Björn Ulvaeus. She said that she could have carried on with the band for a few more years "if the pace had been a bit slower".

She downplayed the rumours, now part of pop folklore, that there was a rift between her and fellow singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad. She said, this was mostly made up by the media, although she admitted that the pair had different personalities. She said that she still had contact with the other band members, particularly Ulvaeus, with whom she has two grown-up children and a young granddaughter. She currently lives alone, but says that she has "lots of friends".

As for the future, fans can still live in hope that there will be more albums from Agnetha. She said that she sometimes thought My Colouring Book would be her last album, but added that she often came up with ideas for new material, so new records could not be ruled out. It seems, however, that lack of money won't force her back to work. Contrary to rumours she insists that she still earns "enough money to get by on", both from ABBA and other projects.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney - Australia

NEW CMP 2005 BOOK COVER

This is the cover to the new Carl Magnus Palm Book, The Complete Guide to ABBA, scheduled for release next year.

It will be published by Omnibus Press, March 8, 2005in English. The length is 126 pages and the size is 18 cm x 11 cm. Paperback format.
ISBN: 1844495051

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

AGNETHA ARTICLE ON TV WEBSITE

Here's a translation of the article on TV4's website about the interview tomorrow.

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

http://www.tv4.se/nyheterna/noje_artikel.aspx?ID=357121&CID=1736

Unique interview with Agnetha Fältskog

In the last Nyhetsmorgon lördag of the year, Lasse Bengtsson presents an exclusive 40 minute long interview with Agnetha Fältskog.

The viewer is presented with an honest portrayal of who Agnetha Fältskog is today and she openheartedly talks about her life and emotions.

- I don't like stress. I try to keep things very quiet around me, as much as I can - it's not so easy nowadays, Agnetha says in the interview.

- I'm also a very worried person.

What are you worried about?

- Everything, Agnetha says and laughs.

- No, not everything, but I easily get anxious in various situations. I'm afraid that something might happen to someone.

For Lasse Bengtsson the interview is the result of a very long work process.

- When I started four years ago, one of the guests on my wishlist was Agnetha Fältskog, since I've always liked her and her music.

Longer conversation

- After four years of working and discussions it finally happened and I met up with her for a longer conversation a few days ago.

- This is an interview completely on my terms, something that should be emphasized, says Lasse Bengtsson.

- Any possible mistakes - they're mine.

The interview is broadcast in two parts 09.30 - 10.30 with a break for the news.

TV4

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

A friend of mine in Sweden just e-mailed me with some more quotes from the interview (I guess he must have seen a preview):

***

Agnetha: I'm rather an original than a bad imitation (of somebody else).

***

Lasse Bengtsson: So what is really the difference between you and Greta Garbo?

Agnetha: That I'm showing myself off like this. I may be a loner but I often compare myself with the bull Ferdinand who sits by the oak tree.

(For those of you who don't know who the bull Ferdinand is, he's from an old Disney cartoon that is broadcast every Christmas eve on TV in Sweden. This bull Ferdinand is not like the other bulls. He doesn't want to be in a bullfight like the others. He'd rather sit by the oak tree and smell the flowers.)

***

About anxiety about the publicity/being in public:

Agnetha: Well, I don't know... In a way there are too many nerves. It's an anxiety and I want to portray an image of myself and so on. And then it doesn't always turn out that way. And then the media control the image of myself. It can be tough since that image isn't right and then I have to try to correct it and show how I really am.

***

She also says that "the media is punishing me".

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

Thpethial Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Florida, USA

NIKLAS SEES AGNETHA ON TV!

Today I saw Agnetha on TV on Swedish channel TV4! It was a preview of the 40-minute-long interview to be broadcast on Saturday morning.

She looked very healthy and in a good shape. But you can tell that she as aged. It is a clear crisp picture compared to the documentary and you can clearly see the traces of time which is most normal with any woman at this age. I know from private sources that Agnetha said she would never do any plastical surgery, and she said she wanted to grow old the natural way with pride.

She was walking a dog (or maybe Lasse's dog) in the woods with talk show host Lasse Bengtsson and was also interviewed inside a house. Don't know if it's at Agnetha's place or where it it. It looked very cosy with candles.

She said she is a worried person, and was asked what she was worried about:
- Everything, she said and laughed.
- I don't like stress, I try to live a very calm and slow pace life, but it's not easy nowadays, she said laughing.

I got so excited so I cannot recall more words yet, but it was only a preview of a few seconds. But she seemed to be in a very good mood, calm and most of all, happy. She almost looked like she was in love... =) But maybe that's just me and my wishful thingking...

The talk show host Lasse Bengtsson said after the preview:

- It is important to point out that this is an interview that Agnetha agreed to do under my conditions. She didn't get to see the questions before and she didn't get to approve anything. But I think this is a very nice and honest picture of a very nice person.

- Four years ago I started this Saturday show, and I've ever since then had Agnetha as a dream guest. After four years of persuation she finally agreed to meet. That shows that patience pays off.

After seeing this preview I can't wait til tomorrow morning!!!!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas AC, Goteborg, Sweden

AFTONBLADET ON AGNETHA INTERVIEW

I TAKE TOO MUCH THRASHING
(unsure about this title translation; Swedish: Jag tar för mycket stryk)

- Agnetha Fältskog about her worries about the publicity

Agnetha Fältskog doesn’t feel like a new Greta Garbo. She feels more like many people’s favourite on Christmas Eve.

- I’m comparing myself with Disney’s bull Ferdinando that’s sitting all alone under the cork tree, says the ABBA-star in a TV4-interview.

Agnetha Fältskog is living a reclusive life in her home on island Ekerö outside Stockholm since many years back. But when releasing her new record "My Colouring Book" this Spring she was again forced into the limelight.

"THERE’S LOTS OF NERVES"
After SVT’s very much debated documentary about the ABBA-star the turn has now come to TV4.

Lasse Bengtsson has made a longer interview with Agnetha Fältskog, that will be broadcast tomorrow morning.

Quite a bit of the conversation is about the picture of the star being reclusive.

- In some sort of way there are too many nerves, it’s a worry, says Agnetha Fältskog to TV4 about why she is avoiding the limelight.

- You want to present yourself as good as possible, but it just doesn’t always turn out that way.

Fältskog tells that she is just as shy today as she was during her teenage years.

- That’s why I feel a bit worried about giving an interview such as this. It’s not on the No. 1 spot on my wish list. But still I do it. And I do it not to appear weird when I have something new to present.

Since her comeback became public, both the Swedish and international press have been working hard to get an interview with Agnetha Fältskog. Despite that she has, with few exceptions, said "no thanks" consistently. The reason for this is that she doesn’t have the energy to work in the same manner as during the ABBA period.

- Simply, I take too much thrashing. It’s too hard for me.

"A NICE PERSON"
Lasse Bengtsson only has good to say about Agnetha Fältskog.

- I think of her as a very good person, he says.

- She was very openhearted, or as open as I think she can be. It’s very important to point out that she didn’t make any demands, I made an ordinary interview. I think it gives a fair picture of Agnetha.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Niklas AC, Goteborg, SWEDEN

AFTONBLADET REVIEW AGNETHA BOX SET

Here's my translation of a review in Aftonbladet of the new CD box set with Agnetha.

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

Agnetha Fältskog
+ + + (out of 5)
Agnetha Fältskog 1967 - 1976 (6CD Sony/Capitol)

We want more songs and less mysteries

In 1972 I sat in Scandinavium and heard Agnetha Fältskog as Maria Magdalena in the Swedish production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Quite an experience.

Now her songs from it are among the extra tracks in the generous and well-done CD box, which gathers all of Agnetha's solo albums.

Strong songwriter

Back to yesterday, to a world of Svensktoppen and Melodiradio (Melody radio) and nervous folkpark hearts.

She developed from writing Swedish lyrics to German schlager songs to writing her own very strong melodies.

Everybody knows she's a fantastic singer and looks that make your heart beat faster.

But what you learn from this charming history lesson from the time of innocence is what a strong songwriter she is.

We want more songs from Agnetha Fältskog.

More melodies, less mysteries.

By Jens Peterson

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

DN STORY: UK AGNETHA DOCO

I translated the following story which was published in Dagens Nyheter on
December 14.

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

English TV makes Fältskog documentary

The interest in the singer Agnetha Fältskog is great right now. A CD-box reaches stores this week, and any day now English Channel Four starts making a documentary with the working name "The mysterious and perplexing Agnetha".

The media shy ABBA star - of current interest with the album "My Colouring Book" - doesn't participate herself.

The author Brita Åhman wrote the biography "Som jag är", with a Russian translation in the cards, and will take part in the documentary. At the same time she's selling, like DN has earlier reported, her collection of material.

-If I had wanted to make money off Agnetha, I could have accepted the offer to write a scandal book. But I have declined. Now I only want my material to be used in a good way. I no longer want to be some sort of expert on Agnetha Fältskog. Someone else can take over that part, says Brita Åhman who now is concentrating on two new book projects.

By Anders Ekström

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

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

FRIDA REHEARSAL PHOTO ON YAHOO

"Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad and British musician Jon Lord of Deep Purple, at the piano, perform during the Jose Carreras Gala rehearsal in Leipzig, eastern Germany, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004. Since 1995 Carreras has hosted this TV show ito benefit people with leukemia. (AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz)"

Thanks to ABBA fan John Turner, Illinois, USA

Pics of Frida at José Carreras Gala on Getty Images

Getty Images has two pictures of Frida and Jon Lord. Search the database for
"carreras"
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/ms_gins/source/home/home.aspx?pg=1

or go directly to:
Or go directly to
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=51868162&cdi=0
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=51868160&cdi=0

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Trijnie Dijkema, Hoogezand, The Netherlands and Robert Verbeek, Duiven, The Netherlands

AGNETHA SINGLE A PROMO FIRST

ABBF Fan Club reports that Agnetha's "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming" is a radio station promo-only release at the moment. It will contain only one track - a remix of the song by Soundfactory. It is released this week to Swedish radio.

The single is expected to be released to the public in Sweden in January 2005 with more remixes.

AGNETHA INTERVIEW PICS ON THE WEB

Swedish ABBAMAILer Charles Pylad has done a fab thing for ABBAMAILers and for the wider fan community - he's already got 4 pics of Agnetha's new TV interview on his website. What a nice boy!

Here is the link:
www.pylad.se

SWEDISH ROYALTY IN AUSTRALIA IN 2005

This sounds fabulous...a month long festival called "Swedish Style" in Australia next year (March) including a visit from Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria.

"Confirmed events include gala dinners, design exhibitions, a performance of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! and a concert with pianist Robert Wells, opera soprano Katarina Fallholm and Swedish pop star Meja."

Read on...

Swedish princess to visit

AUSTRALIA is expecting a double dose of Scandinavian royalty in March with Sweden announcing a visit by the heir to the Swedish throne, to coincide with that of Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.

Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will visit in March for Swedish Style in Australia, a month-long celebration to highlight Sweden's
excellence in design, fashion, music, travel, environmental sustainability and food.

The Danish Royal couple will visit Sydney from March 2, attending various gala charity events.

The week of public engagements will include attending celebrations for the 200th birthday of Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen at the Danish-designed Opera House on March 7, before sharing a week of private time with Princess Mary's family and friends.

The Swedish events, initiated by the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra, aims to create new, and deepen existing, relationships between the two countries.

Confirmed events include gala dinners, design exhibitions, a performance of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! and a concert with pianist Robert Wells, opera soprano Katarina Fallholm and Swedish pop star Meja.

Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist, ambassador of Sweden to Australia, welcomed the event, which will launch in Melbourne on March 10 and in Sydney on March 16.

"Yes, it is true, Swedes love Australia," Mr Ehnbom-Palmquist said in a statement.

"And yes, we do know Australians love ABBA and Bjorn Borg, but for the first Swedish Style in Australia ever, we invite Australians to experience modern Sweden in a range of exciting fields."

This story found at:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11706437%255E1702,00.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Luke Rogers, Melbourne, Australia

MORE ABOUT AGNETHA TV INTERVIEW

Anyway, there's a short story in Aftonbladet about the interview with Agnetha on Saturday.

Agnetha Fältskog interviewed by TV4

Agnetha Fältskog speaks on TV again.

The reclusive star is interviewed in a 40 minute long segment by Lasse Bengtsson, which is broadcast on TV4 Saturday morning. This time the star didn't get to hear the questions in advance nor influence the editing of the interview.

- I have always been curious about Agnetha and I think you get a good image of her as a person in the program, Lasse Bengtsson says.

Dan Panas

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

SvD REVIEWS AGNETHA BOX SET

Review in Svenska Dagbladet:

Well manufactured box with lightweight music

In time for the Christmas shopping a designer-chic, night black box arrives, containing Agnetha Fältskog's five albums from the Cupol era. All of them in smaller versions of the original covers. For those who are fans of Agnetha Fältskog, collects everything ABBA-related or loves Swedish schlager in general this is a must have. The ones not that interested in these things don't really have a lot to get here.

Her first self-titled album from 1968 is contemporary cocky in a typical hit list tradition, and ruled by Agnetha Fältskog's clear and innocent voice. Volume 2, from 1969 is better, with a cooler and more of a pop feeling in the arrangement as well as in the melodies.

On the third album "As I am" from 1970 you'll find "Om tårar vore guld" among other things. That's the real thing - classic Swedish 60s list pop. Peter Himmelstrand's "Så här börjar kärlek" is a cute duet with Agnetha's husband at that time: Björn Ulvaeus.

The dull album "När en vacker tanke blir sång" from 1971 is hard to get in original but hardly worth anything for other people than real fanatics.

When "Elva kvinnor i ett hus" arrived in 1975 the singer / songwriter was already a superstar in ABBA. The music is contemporary pop, suprisingly well aged and so interesting that you really had wanted to hear a sequel.

"Singlar och andra sidor" is the last CD, containing rarities of varied quality and interest and is like the box in general ­- uneven, but a cute and charming documentation of a time gone by.

By Dan Backman

Four dots out of six.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, Sweden

UNPLUGGED REVIEW

There is an article in the New Statesman online about rock memoirs in print.

Karl French's ABBA Unplugged gets a not too favourable mention...here's the ABBA related couple of paragraphs:

Strange to relate, Johnson turns up again in Karl French's ABBA: unplugged (Portrait, £16.99). One day back in the 1970s, the French family arrives at the Johnson household for Sunday lunch, whereupon the host insists on playing them "this terrific new song by these two wonderful Swedish lesbians". Alas, there are too many such Hornby-ish incidents in French's book and not enough insight or criticism. ABBA wrote some of the most melodiously intelligent pop songs ever. They deserve a properly musicological study.

The man to do it may be Elvis Costello. Costello has been a devoted ABBA fan these past three decades and, as readers of his pieces in Vanity Fair magazine know, he can tell his treble clef from his Three Degrees.

The full article can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/3prcb

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, Allbrook, UK

TED GALA STARS

Helen Sjöholm, Stephen Simmonds, Janne Schaffer and Åsa Fång are amongst the artists taking part in this year's gala for the Ted Gärdestadstipendiet, being held on 18 February at Storan i Göteborg.

This is also the same day as the premiere of the musical based on Ted's songs in Stockholm.

More information at www.tedgardestad.com

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

ABBA ON SWEDISH TV SHOW

There is a little section on ABBA on Monday's edition of 24 Nöje which you can stream from the SVT website here (you can open this in RealPlayer)

rtsp://qstream-rm.qbrick.com/00928/24/24noje/24noje_mandag.rm

The ABBA bit starts at 7:40.

Very quick translation: the British special special love of ABBA shows no sign of drying up. 9 years after it first came out, the ABBA GOLD collection CD is back in the UK charts, currently at number 38.

They then go on to say quickly that the musical Mamma Mia! will be coming to Sweden soon. During the section, they are playing the Eurovision puppets video.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Burt, Brussels, Belgium

AGNETHA BOX SET

According to cdon the release date for Agnetha's box set is now December 17.

So two more days to wait. Finally, Agnetha's Swedish recordings on CD. Så Glad Som Dina Ögon, Vi Har Hunnit Fram Till Refrängen and Då Finns Du Hos Mig to mention just a few of them.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Malin Westerberg, Halmstad, Sweden

AGNETHA TALKS AGAIN

This Saturday in Nyhetsmorgon in Swedish TV4, Agnetha talks again. She will be appearing in a personal interview, signed Lasse Bengtsson, famous news presenter for many years in TV4. The interview were filmed recently. Unfortunately no live appearance in the studio. Nyhetsmorgon starts at 8.59 AM CET.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Micke Hjernestam, Gothenburg, Sweden

MORE FRIDA ON GERMAN TV

Frida will come to the José Carreras Gala, shown live on German ARD TV on December 16, 2004 at 8:15 PM local time, together with Jon Lord.

According a pressrelease by ZDF there is one more performance in "Alle Jahre wieder" on December 24 at 6:00 PM local time.

More information about Carreras www.fcarreras.org

source:
http://www.carreras-stiftung.de/home.php?sub_nav=5&content=0&seite=37
http://www.abba-intermezzo.de
http://www.abba.de

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pieter Wever, Amersfoort The Netherlands

BENNY ON BBC'S "HOLIDAY"

"BBC1's Holiday TV show is transmitting a film on a midsummer break to Stockholm on Monday 20th December at 7pm.

The reporter is Joe Mace who stays at Benny's newly opened hotel. I am both Executive Producer of the show and an ABBA fan of some 28 yearS. The report is a pastiche of ABBA - The Movie with lots of visual references to ABBA videos.

During the program, Swedish ABBA fan Peter Palmqvist is interviewed. Görel Hanser gave us specific permission to use only ABBA tracks throughout the 10 minutes. You are normally limited to just two tracks from any one artist in any one program. The film culminates with Joe getting his interview…with Benny who ends the piece playing us out with Thank You for the Music.

Kind regards

Owen Gay"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/

BENNY'S 2005 TOUR DATES

The BAO! tour dates for 2005 have been announced on www.ticnet.se today:

28 July Trädgårdsföreningen, Göteborg
29 July Sofiero Slott, Helsingborg
3 August Solliden, Skansen, Stockholm
4 August Stadsparken, Örebro
5 August Sammilsdal, Leksand

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

CHART NEWS: 3-10 DECEMBER

Here are the chart stats for the week of 3-10 December 2004. A bit of a downer this week, but they're all still there.

IRELAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - Stable at #37

NEW ZEALAND:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Down 2 to #9

SWEDEN:
Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO! - Down 1 to #31

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection CD - Down 13 to #50

GERMANY:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia!(German) - down 6 to #46

NETHERLANDS:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Dutch) - down 4 to #32

SPAIN:
ABBA - Todo ABBA - down 1 to #37

UK:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 10 to #39

SWITZERLAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 10 to #91

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Newlands, Wellington, New Zealand

GERMAN WEB RADIO SHOW

"Hi ABBA Fans,

We are a small but active German webradio.

At Saturday 18 Dec 2004 we invite you to join our ABBA SPECIAL - starting at 20.00 (maybe open end) ... Our DJ Shark will play only titles from ABBA the whole night!

The Show could be heard EVERYWHERE worldwide - but only over Internet. Visit our homepage, select a Player an a Speed which matches you an enjoy it!

It's your job to choose the titles and send them with greetings to our DJ. This could be done by Mail oder in our Chatroom.

Don't panic because we are GERMAN (oder AUSTRIAN lol) - a little bit of English
works :-)

Visit us here:
http://www.dasliveradio.de

For any question contact: christa@dasliveradio.de

With best regards
Christa"

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

LOTS OF ABBA ON BRITISH TV

There's a lot of ABBA coming up on British TV. If you missed these shows before, here they are again...

The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody (featuring interview with Björn) is showing on BBC3 on December 10, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 31

Liquid Assets ABBA's Millions is showing on BBC3 on December 14 (at 2.50a.m!)

ABBA - The Reunion (Super Troupers) is showing on ITV2 on December 20

ABBAMANIA 2 is showing on ITV2 on December 21

ABBA In Concert is showing on VH1 UK on December 29

ABBA's Nazi Secret is showing on History Channel on January 2 and 3

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

ABBA ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

UK Channel Five's program ABBA's Greatest Hits will be shown again on New Year's Eve at 23.00.

"Celebrating the Swedish pop sensation with a countdown of their best singles" goes the blurb in the Radio Times.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic 'Ice' Wallis, Allbrook, UK

ABBA SAY NO THANKS FOR THE MUSIC :(

Thank you for the music? Yeah, right!
Mary Bolling

KEEN drama students at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar may know all the songs, but ABBA is refusing to let them sing.

Plans for a production of Muriel's Wedding next year were scrapped after ABBA withdrew permission to let performers use their songs.

School drama co-ordinator Sarah Craig said they decided to perform Muriel's Wedding two months ago. Last week, they were told ABBA's refusal meant the script-owners no longer gave permission for performances.

"We didn't envisage it would be any problem, given it was an Australian play,"
Ms Craig said.

"It seems unbelievable, seeing you can still purchase the scripts . . . we have
bought 20 scripts already, which we will have to send back," she said.

Year 10 student Kristina Miltiadou, 15, was planning to audition for the role of Muriel's best friend, Rhonda.

"To know that I was so close to getting the role and then finding out that the
production had to be cancelled was a real let-down," she said.

"I really love ABBA music, I don't know why the band wouldn't want it in the
production -- it just promotes the music and definitely adds to the play."

In 1994, ABBA had no worries letting the low-budget Australian film use its songs and Muriel's Wedding went on to win four Australian Film Institute Awards.

Before ABBA introduced the ban, Melbourne drama groups performed Muriel's Wedding several times.

In 2003, the Victorian State Schools Spectacular also rocked to ABBA, featuring Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Waterloo.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Luke Rogers, Melbourne, Australia and ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

ANOTHER WAY TO ORDER JAPANESE BOX SET

Bridget tells us another way to order the Japanese Box Set...

Hi,

I did some checking and just wanted to let you know that the Japanese box set
can be ordered on the US Amazon.com site. You have to search, but its there. This is how I found it: on the main home page, to the left, you have to type ABBA in the search box under popular music. The search comes up with over 200 listings and the Japanese box set is #172. Right now, it's $321.49 US dollars and the release/ship date is Dec 27th.

Bridget


Thanks to ABBA fan Bridget Welsh, USA

LAST BIG RELEASE OF 2004

Well, here it is - the last big release of a mega-ABBA-year. The 9 disc Japanese box set. A limited edition at Y21,000 - at least from Tower Records Japan!

It's called "ABBA 30TH ANNIVERSARY ORIGINAL ALBUM BOX" (what a mouthful!) and, while it doesn't have anything super-rare on it, the packaging alone with the mini-LP covers would be to die for! Plus the bonus disc with semi-interesting tracks is also welcome.

So if you can understand Japanese and have a credit card...pop along to http://www.towerrecords.co.jp

or

http://www.amazon.co.jp

CHESS CONCERT IN CARDIFF - DATE

The date for the one-off Chess concert in Cardiff, Wales next April is now Confirmed for April 2, 2005 at at 7.30pm (Tickets go on sale in January)

Tickets for Chess can also be bought directly via the links below.

www.cardiffmusicals.com
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

Telephone Hotline 09701 283560

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gareth Thomas, Cymru, Europe

UNPLUGGED REVIEW

This review of ABBA Unplugged was in the Sunday Telegraph (5 December):

The fairy-tale fortunes of Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid, the Swedish foursome who won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo in 1974 and have since gone on to sell more than 400 million records around the world. Karl French pays as much attention to their lyrics as to their lives and, mixing nostalgia with nous, places the band's catchy songs and corny outfits within the cultural context of the time. It is startling to learn, for instance, that the punk singer Sid Vicious, lead singer of The Sex Pistols, was a devoted fan. This entertaining, not uncritical work is far more stylish than most group portraits.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

MAMMA MIA! GERMANY TV COMMERCIAL

Some TV stations show a commercial for Mamma Mia! in Hamburg. It shows a guy vacuuming the floor when he hears ABBA on the radio and turns the volume up (actually it's the German cast recording, Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen) and starts dancing around through the living room. Then you see some scenes from the show, then back to the guy being watched by his girl friend who shakes her head. He smiles embarrassed. And it specifically says "in Hamburg" (later changed to "the original
only in Hamburg" or something like that), even though there is a second show in
Stuttgart.

See for yourself:

3,1 MB: http://www.mammamia-fanclub.de/Download/MMWerbespot.mpg

1 MB: http://www.mammamia-fanclub.de/Download/MMWerbespotklein.wmv

Both Mamma Mia! shows in Germany had the highest number of days sold out in December. Quite amazing.

A different TV station shows a commercial advertising the touring English version which will be in Germany next August. It has scenes that obviously were shot for this specific commercial.


+++

On Saturday the TV station 3sat had a show called "3sat Festival - Gitte, Wencke, Siw : Die Show" with Gitte Haenning (Denmark), Wencke Myhre (Norway) and Siw Malmkvist (Sweden) who were huge German Schlager icons in the 70s. They did a 75 minute show with their greatest hits and some stuff from musicals and so on, most of it in German, some in English or their own languages.

Anders Eljas was playing the piano, and he was introduced by Wencke, she said he had worked with ABBA on their albums and on Chess and Kristina.

And they did an ABBA medley. Some obvious songs, but also Rock Me and after going from Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! to Money Money Money and back to Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (which actually sounded good and made sense lyric-wise), they ended the medley with On And On And On. During that part, Anders had opened his pony tail and was going berzerk on the piano.

The ladies also did a little comedy. Siw tried to tell the other two ladies how many famous and beautiful women come from Sweden. Queen Silvia for example. The others replied she was from Germany. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The others replied Frida was from Norway. And Siw gave up ...

Gitte, Wencke and Siw are touring through Germany early next year.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Wangerland, Germany

MELODIFESTIVALEN 2005 NEWS

By mistake Swedish Television has already revealed 28 artists for next year's Melodifestival...and it looks rather good!

Biggest ABBA connection would probably be Josefin Nilsson, singing a song
called Med Hjärtats Egna Ord (with the words of the heart) But for anyone loving Swedish music, next years compilation CD of all the entries seems to be a must!

Some of the artists are:

Cecilia Vennersten - making a comeback almost 9 years after she finished second in 1995 with Det Vackraste (and then two years later flopping with her follow-up album). Now she sings the song Var Mig Nära (Be close to me)

Pay TV - last years "odd entry - taking them on a Gay club tour" is back with a song called Refrain Refrain.

Shirley Clamp - last years second place (Min Kärlek) is back with her third entry, Att Älska Dig.

Nordman - This Swedish folk music/rock group is back after having gone separate ways some years ago. Could be interesting, could be totally boring.

Bodies Without Organs - Alexander Bard's (of Army of Lovers fame) new group has entered with the song Gone.

Arja Sajonmaa - She sung one of Melodifestivalen's all time classics, Högt Över Havet, in the late 80s and is now back with the song Vad du än trodde så trodde du fel (whatever you thought, you thought wrong).

Jessica Folcker - She had the same producers as Britney Spears, and some great songs, but her career didn't take off to the stars (she kind of settled somewhere in the clouds) but perhaps now? Om Natten (during the night) is her song next year.

Naná Hedin - If you've heard anything by E-Type you know her voice. She does the female vocals on most (if not all?) his songs. And she's also one of the back-up singer for Swedish comidean/artist/writer Jonas Gardell. She now goes solo with Wherever You Go.

Anne-Lie Rydé - She is one of Sweden's greatest performers with a fantastic voice. Her best work was doing an album a la 60s and the repeated the formula for last year's song contest, now as well perhaps? Så Nära (So close).

Katrina & The New Waves - Last year we got Baccara, this year Katrina has been imported with her New Waves. As If Tomorrow Will Never Come is their song.

This is just some of the artists listed. For a more complete list go to:
http://esctoday.com/news/read/3449 .

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gustav Sandberg. Stockholm, Sweden

AGNETHA BOX SET MENTION IN METRO

ABBA Agnetha’s Rarities Released after Ten Years of Nagging

Agnetha Fältskog released her first album in 17 years this spring. Now a whole box with six album arrives.

It did however take ten years of nagging to get these recordings on CD. On December 1 (*note this story was before the delayed release date was announced) Agnetha Fältskog’s first five albums will finally be released on CD.

Jeffrey de Hart, the Swedish correspondent of the music business magazine Billboard, is one of the people who have worked the hardest to make the project a reality. The CD box has been given the name “The First Years – 1967-1979” and contains (other than her first five albums) a CD with rare material. The text in the associated booklet is by Jeffrey de Hart.

- In 1997 I got to know Bosse Carlgren, who wrote “Elva kvinnor i ett hus” with Agnetha, and we have pushed for a release of especially that album on CD. I thought it was strange that she was the only one of the ABBA members who had not had her early solo material released on CD, says Jeffrey de Hart who is also involved in the international ABBA fan club.

Among the rarities are songs that previously have only been on vinyl singles. Even more rare is “Borsta tandtrollen bort” from 1967 [sic, was 1968], which was handed out at a dentist convention in Göteborg.

- There are some real gems among the bonus material. Especially one song, “Vi har hunnit fram till refrängen”, which is a cover of the Neil Sedaka song “Our Last Song Together”. Unbelievably beautiful, says Jeffrey de Hart.

There are some limitations concerning selling the box outside of Sweden due to almost all the songs being in Swedish. Jeffrey de Hart doesn’t think it will be a huge international success but points out that most ABBA fans are dedicated collectors.

- The fans are all over the world and considering that the vinyl editions of these albums have fetched high prices there is definitely a market for this box.

OLA BERGMAN

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mattias Olsson, Mölndal, Sweden

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ABBAMAIL is seeking information about a fan called PETER BLIGHT from Victoria, Australia.

He has been a fan for many years, was in the Australian ABBA Fan Club during the 70s/80s and was also friends with other fans in Melbourne - for example, Greg Harntney.

If you have an address, contact details or any other information that could assist us regarding PETER BLIGHT, please write immediately to abbahq@zipworld.com.au

Thanking you in advance.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

ABBA BBC RADIO SPECIAL

This is to let you know that there will be revised repeat of The ABBA Special, an hour long radio program documenting ABBA's career in particular celebrating this 30th year since Waterloo. It features interviews with Björn and also costume designer Owe Sandstrom, as well as comments from ABBA fans throughout the North West. And LOADS of ABBA music, as well as songs from Agnetha's most recent album.

It goes out on Christmas Day at 7am, on BBC GMR - 95.1fm in the Greater Manchester area. Its also available on the internet at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/localradio.shtml?gmr
at the same time.

There will be no archive version of the show, so it will not be available to listen to after the show has been broadcast. I hope you can mention this on the ABBAMAIL site, as we had many many emails last Easter when we broadcast it for the first time, when we were not on the internet! Hopefully this Christmas Day many more fans can enjoy another slice of the best group in the world.

Thanks to Paul Graham, BBC Radio, United Kingdom

BJÖRN INTERVIEWED

UK TV viewers will have the chance to see Björn being interviewed for a program on BBC3 called "The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody". The show is all about Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

The program will be broadcast on BBC3 at 22:30 on December 4.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Cliff Docherty, Wembley, UK

CHART REPORT 26NOV - 3DEC

Here are the chart stats for the week of 26 November to 3 December

IRELAND: ABBA - ABBA GOLD - up 3 to #37

NEW ZEALAND: ABBA - The Definitive Collection - Stable at #7

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO! - Down 11 to #30

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - The Definitive Collection CD - Stable at #37

GERMANY: Cast Recording (Germany) - Mamma Mia! - Up 18 to #40

NETHERLANDS: Cast Recording (Dutch) - Mamma Mia! - down 3 to #32

SPAIN: ABBA - Todo ABBA - Down 6 to #36

UK: ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #29, week 340

SWITZERLAND: ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #81, week 93

OFF: Australia - ABBA GOLD DVD

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

OLD WEMBLEY RECORDING ON SWEDISH RADIO

ABBA Live on Swedish Radio

December 1, 2004

On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2004, the Swedish radio channel P3 will
broadcast a live concert by ABBA. The concert features a selection of songs
recorded at London's Wembley Arena in November 1979, and was first
broadcast by the BBC in the UK the following month. The featured titles in
the concert are:

Gammal Fäbodpsalm; Voulez-Vous; Knowing Me, Knowing You; Chiquitita; Gimme!
Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight); I Have A Dream; Thank You For The
Music; Summer Night City; Take A Chance On Me; Does Your Mother Know; Hole
In Your Soul; Dancing Queen; Waterloo.

The December 31 broadcast of the concert will be a part of the program "P3
Live". The show starts at 21.03 (9.03 pm), Swedish time. If you want to
listen to the broadcast on the Internet, go to http://www.sr.se/p3/ and
click on "Just nu" (beside the speaker symbol to the left on the
page).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robert Verbeek, in Duiven, The Netherlands