BENNY VIDEO INTERVIEW

There's a video interview with Benny on Svenska Dagbladet's site, talking about the BAO tour.

http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/kultur/did_8459660.asp

You have to scroll down until you see the box with Benny's face. Might not be there for much longer. Apparenently it's been there since yesterday.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

BENNY'S NEW SONG/CONCERT REVIEW

Here's my translation of Aftonbladet's review of Benny Anderssons orkester's tour premiere.

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

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,678486,00.html

Reaches into your heart right away

GOTHENBURG. Björn & Benny and Helen Sjöholm have ruled the charts for a long time with "Du är min man".

Yesterday Benny Anderssons Orkester's next big hit was presented.

"Det är vi ändå" (="It's Still Us") will become a new evergreen.

Benny Andersson actually has two recently composed songs on this tour. The other is called "För dig" (="For You"), a beautiful ballad. Both are duets with Helen Sjöhom and Tommy Körberg.

As usual the orchestra mixes old and new. You'll get far with a daring spirit, Helen Sjöholm sings. But audacity will get you further.

Rock along to Chuck Berry

The evening is put together as four hours of love.

Instrumental foreplay before the pulse is raised with dancing. Slow dancing to find the erogenous zones. Dance rumba for each other in "Sway".

Schottische and reel offer a variety of positions.

To rock'n'roll along to Chuck Berry, and ecstasy is near when they moan with desire together in "Hawaiian chant".

The only thing that's missing is pillow talk afterwards between the orchestra and the audience. But maybe that's what's happening in "Moon River".

Three ABBA-songs, a metallic shining "Cadillac" with a superb Körberg.

Sjöholm wearing a sailor outfit. What more can you wish for?

Benny Andersson's wife Mona happily waves towards the stage when the orchestra plays "Födelsedagsvals till Mona". But the music reaches into the heart even of those who don't get a song dedicated to them. And into other rhythmic body parts.

By Jens Peterson

Benny Anderssons Orkester
+ + + + (out of five)

Trädgårdsföreningen, Gothenburg

Audience: 4 000

Best: 2 new B & B songs.

Worst: Larger dance floor for next year?

Question: Will BAO rule Svensktoppen for another year?

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

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

MORE ON BENNY'S TOUR

Next Wednesday I will be seeing BAO on tour at Skansen in Stockholm. Yesterday I read the following article in Stockholm's City newspaper.

Benny's gang on tour

It was so good last summer that they're doing it again. Benny Andersson and his band (BAO), Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg start on a intensive summer tour. Next Wednesday they 'll be in Skansen.

We haven't rehearsed much but it will be good. We'll have lots of fun when we go on tour especially when we have new songs that we can try. Two songs are completely new , says Benny.

Benny wrote the music but Björn wrote the lyrics of the songs. Benny has high expectations : "You never know how the songs are going to evolve. You play and rehearse but it doesn't sound like it should be. But then it gets better and better and we're having lots of fun."

When the whole band is on stage, 16 people will be standing on the stage.

"As a matter of fact, that's not a big band, but an average band", says Helen Sjöholm, Who as like the others of the band got a suitcase with an anagram on it, this means that the starting letters are written backwards.

They hope that this tour the people are coming to the concerts as many as last year. They have a dance arena packed with them so that it 'll be easy to invite someone to dance when the orchestra starts playing.

But you don't have to dance to enjoy the concert but they will get less nervous when some people starts to dance. It will be not like any other concert but there will be a lot of energy in the air that night.

Helen adds the following to Benny's words : "There are some people who start to dance when the band starts to play but in the end everybody starts to move in some way"

Members of BAO:
Benny Andersson
Göran Arnberg
Janne Bengtsson
Pär Grebacken
Leif Göras
Nicke Göthe
Jogga Ernlund
Calle Jacobsson
Leif Lindvall
Kalle Moreaus
Olle Moreaus
Perra Moreaus
Lars Rudolfsson
Helen Sjöholm
Jörgen Stenberg

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Patrick Proost, Beerse, Belgium

BENNY'S TOUR BEGINS

There's an article in yesterday's Expressen about the tour premiere in Gothenburg for Benny Anderssons Orkester. Both Benny and Helen Sjöholm hope that Bono will stop by for a guest appearance. U2 is also in Gothenburg for a concert.

Below is my translation of the article and on the website there's a photo of Benny and Helen.

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

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=411070

Helen wants Bono to visit

Tonight Benny Anderssons Orkester's tour starts in Gothenburg.

-Imagine to get to sing "Du är min man", "You are my man", for Bono, says the orchestra's singer Helen Sjöholm.

And it's not unthinkable.

13 years ago, in Globen in Stockholm, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus went up on stage during U2's concert and performed "Dancing Queen".

-We have to meet Bono, he and Benny are probably best friends, Helen Sjöholm exclaims.

Number 1 on Svensktoppen

The huge hit "Du är min man" is number 1 on Svensktoppen again.

-There are actually English lyrics for it, says Benny Andersson who'd like to see Bono make a guest appearance during the performance at Trädgårdsföreningen in Gothenburg tonight.

-He should come down here and sing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Or maybe "The Edge", he would really fit into this band, furthermore I know he likes folk music, Benny says and smiles.

A whole evening of dancing

After tonight's premiere, there are six additional performances.

-There'll be a whole evening of dancing with more than three hours of music. At the end we play "Bättre och bättre dag för dag" with a rock'n'roll feeling, then people stop dancing and they just stand there screaming, says Helen Sjöholm.

By Mårten Lundmark

Tour schedule:

Gothenburg: July 28
Helsingborg: July 29
Skövde: July 30
Mariefred: July 31
Stockholm: August 3
Örebro: August 4
Leksand: August 5

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

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson Orlando, Florida, USA

CHART NEWS

Here are the chart stats for the week of 22-29 July 2005

NETHERLANDS:
The Website has finally been updated, but some oddities have appeared on the chart.

Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Dutch) - last week at #27, this week down 2 to #29, two weeks ago, unknown.

This week the weeks on total is 36, however, 3 weeks ago, when the last chart was up on the website, the weeks on total was 45, so it should be 48 by now.

IRELAND:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back on the chart at #59, week 335

SWEDEN:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! - down 4 to #14.

OFF - New Zealand - the Definitive Collection DVD 26 weeks. (Top Ten Chart)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

2006 ABBA CALENDAR

There is to be a 2006 ABBA Calendar released very soon. Here is the cover:



Pre-orders are being taken here:
http://secure2.venus.co.uk/bluemask/calendar_abba.html

No doubt it will be available through other on-line retailers when it is released.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dominic "Ice" Wallis, UK

FRIDA REMASTERS IN "ATTITUDE"

The August edition of UK gay magazine "Attitude" has a half page advertisement for Frida's "three classic albums remastered" AND a review by editor Adam Mattera. He gave "Ensam" and "Shine" 3 out of 5 and "Somethings Going On" a whopping 5 out of 5! Here's what he said...

While it's unlikely these long overdue expanded reissues of Swedish superstar Frida's solo albums will appeal to anyone but the most diehard of Abbaholics, they certainly are a lot of fun. If you ever wanted to hear Frida tacking "Life On Mars" or "Send In The Clowns" in swedish, then here's the place. Her 1975 swedish language set Ensam (alone), produced by (then) future hubbie Benny Andersson is not surprisingly the most Abba-sounding any of these albums gets. There's even an early version of "Fernando".

By the time of her 1982 post-Abba debut Something's Going On, Frida was on top of her game, flush from a decade of unparalleled success with the biggest band in the world and thrilled with her new freedom. The rock-edged lead single "IKSTGO" was a US million seller, a compelling tale of paranoia and betrayal, but the whole albums great, from the weird funk of "I See Red" to the simply heart-breaking "You Know What I Mean".

Her last English language album Shine suffers from hard, synth heavy mid-80s production, despite some great tunes. The edgy "Twist In The Dark", another compelling tale of paranoia and betrayal (but then Frida was always the darker of the Abba girls, in every sense) and the lovely little know B&B tune "Slowly" are worth the price of entry alone (though best ignore Frida's dodgy pink and yellow cover get up).

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Stephen Bryceland, Scotland, UK

MADONNA SAMPLING ABBA?

http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/jul05/20050728_madonna.html

Madonna Hung Up On Next Single

by Paul Cashmere

Madonna's first single from her new album will be titled 'Hung Up'.

According to Madonna.com, the song was produced by Stuart Price.

'Hung Up' is believed to contain a sample of Abba's 'Ring Ring'. The video will be shot next month in London.

Madonna announced at Live 8 that the album will be called 'Confessions On A Dancefloor'. It will be the follow-up to the poorly received 2003 album 'American Life'.

The timing of the release of the anti-Bush 'American Life' was unfortunate as America went to war with Iraq just as the video for the single depicting Madonna's anti war stance was released.

Another song on the new album is titled 'I Love New York'.


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

SHOT DOWN IN ACTION - FRIDA

While surfing I came across the complete lyrics for Frida's unreleased 1982 classic "Shot Down In Action":

http://www.demos.nu/songs/shotdown.htm

There's also the original demo for the song on this page...
http://www.demos.nu/biglist.htm

For more info...
http://www.demos.nu/english.htm

"Notes: I'm Caj Högberg, a musician and songwriter aged 50 +. I have been touring for about 20 years non stop, playing with most Swedish artists, including ABBA, live, on TV or doing session work in the studio. I have appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest 9 times doing background vocals, winning in 1984 with the infamous Herrey's in Luxemburg wearing golden shoes (!)."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

CHARTS

Here are the chart statistics for the week of 15-22 July 2005.

SWEDEN:
Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Swedish) - up 8 to #10

NEW ZEALAND:
ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - stable at #7

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

NO SWEDISH STARS FOR U.S. KRISTINA

http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=409444

No Swedish emigrants on Broadway

There won't be any Swedes when Kristina från Duvemåla goes up on Broadway this fall (this is a misprint, it's the fall of 2006. Claes' note).

-It would be a tremendous surprise if they accept any Swedish artists, says Björn Ulvaeus, one of the originators behind Kristina.

Peter Jöback and other Swedish artists who have auditioned in New York for the American production of Kristina från Duvemåla can stop hoping.

Unyielding American union

- The American theatre union is unyielding when it comes to foreign artists. They don't always go for the best one, instead in the first place they safeguard their own singers, says Björn Ulvaeus.

Don't you and Benny Andersson have a great influence as the writers of the musical?

- No, and neither do any other writers. I remember when we brought Chess to Broadway. We sat in a panel in front of the American theatre union and tried to convince them about Tommy Körberg. It didn't work at all, and it seems as impossible this time.

Kristina från Duvemåla is expected to open on Broadway in September-October next year.

By Tony Kaplan

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

HOOTENANNY SINGERS REUNION ON TV

http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=407694

Björn Ulvaeus about the reunion: It was quite the coup

Tonight SVT (Swedish Television) shows Hootenanny Singers' reunion at Västerviksfestivalen last weekend.

- It was quite the coup and I have never before performed as unrehearsed as now, says Björn Ulvaeus.

The performance in Västervik is the first with Hootenanny Singers since 1968.

- It would surprise me if it even sounds acceptable, says Björn Ulvaeus and laughs.

- I went up on stage at 1.30 AM. Then Hansi Schwarz and Tony Roth put a microphone in front of me and began singing the old hit "Marianne". What could I do? I had no choice but to sing along.

Björn Ulvaeus resisted in vain.

- I absolutely didn't want to and resisted for as long as I could, but when we eventually got going, it was quite fun I have to admit.

Hootenanny Singers' reunion for one evening will be shown in tonight's program Musikbussen at 9.30 PM (21.30) on SVT 2.

By Tony Kaplan

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Florida, USA

HARPO'S ABBA CONNECTION

ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham recently reminded everyone on our internet mailing list about Swedish artist Harpo's ABBA connections...

"Harpo's first brush with ABBA was when Stig signed Harpo to Polar in the early 70s. He started to work with Björn and Benny as his producers. For reasons unknown, it just wasn't working out so Stig released him from his contract. Harpo then ended up at EMI working with producer Bengt Palmers and everything just clicked, resulting in a string of hits in Sweden as well as a couple of international ones.

His biggest hit ever was "Moviestar" in 1975/76. Frida was one of the two backing singers (the other one is not Agnetha despite what you might read elsewhere) on both the English and Swedish versions of the song.

On Harpo's 1975 album "Harpo & Bananaband", Frida also provided backing vocals on a song called "Pin Up Girl".

Harpo did end up back on Polar in 1986 but only one single was released.

Harpo was very good friends with Ted Gärdestad and they often worked and toured together. In fact, it was Harpo who coaxed Ted out of retirement way back in the early 90s, resulting in a duet and a tour.

A number of "hits" compilations have been released of Harpo's work but fans are still waiting for his original albums to be released on CD.

Grant Whittingham Sydney, Australia

BJÖRN'S BALLAD CENTRE

http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=406531

Björn Ulvaeus builds a ballad centre

Björn Ulvaeus invests two million kronor in a ballad center in Västervik. Yesterday the former ABBA-member met the ballad festival's general Hansi Schwarz and representatives for the municipality of Västervik.

Björn Ulvaeus tells Sveriges Radio Kalmar that if there had been a ballad centre when he formed Hootenanny Singers, the group may have focused more on that genre instead of folk music.

by Lars Johansson

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson Orlando, Florida, USA

ABBAMAIL JULY WEBSHOP SALE

ABBAMAIL is currently having a sale in our webshop. For five days, when you order $60 or more in a single order, you will receive 15% discount. This also lowers the amount you would normally pay for international postage as well.

The sale applies to the entire range of ABBAMAIL merchandise.

This special discount only applies to orders received via the webshop (it does not apply to fax or mail orders). You can place orders via the webshop and pay with major credit cards or by PayPal if you prefer.

The July Sale is on until the end of Saturday 23 July 2005.

HOOTENANNY REUNION!

Expressen has a short story about last night's reunion of Hootenanny Singers. They also have a small photo from the reunion:

http://www.expressen.se/content/1/c6/40/55/56/5b548e79.jpg

Here's my translation of the article:

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

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=405571

Hootenanny reunited on stage last night

Björn Ulvaeus' Hootenanny Singers reunited last night. As the audience cheered, they surprisingly sang "Marianne" at the end of Visfestivalen in Västervik.

- It was just a fun thing. Otherwise we would have rehearsed, says Björn Ulvaeus.

There were rumours the whole week. Hootenanny Singers would reunite. But nothing happened. But when the audience had given up, they appeared.

- All the artists walked in and finally the three remaining members of the band. People were very surprised, says Expressen's reporter on location, Ann Jonsson.

Björn had forgotten the lyrics

The audience knew the lyrics to "Marianne". But Björn didn't, he had them written down on a piece of paper.

- So you really want to hear this miserable song one more time. Well, ok then, Ulvaeus said to the audience and performed "Marianne" one more time.

- It was just a fun thing. Otherwise we would have rehearsed.

- We know it had been rumoured, but it was first during the afternoon we made the decision. It was Hansi Schwartz' son Kalle Åstrand who suggested it.

What about a real reunion then?

- Never. As sure as ABBA will never reunite.

But the audience had a different opinion. They had just seen that reunion.

By Alexandra Forslund and Ann Jonsson

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA

BIZARRE: BJÖRN TRYING TO COMMIT SUICIDE???

This is in today's Expressen:
http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=405455

Björn Ulvaus was home in his beautiful house in Djursholm, outside Stockholm. He was in a phone conference with a business partner. During the conversation they were discussing a particular deal, and the man told Björn Ulvaeus that there was a risk this deal would end up costing huge amounts in taxes.

Björn had not had any previous warning about this. He got furious and said the drastic words:

-I might as well kill myself!

And then hung up

- I was very angry with what he told me, says Björn Ulvaeus, 60.

He went out on his porch.

On the porch was his wife Lena, 55. She noticed her husband was upset, but after a short while they laid down on the reclining chairs and Björn fell asleep in the heat.

The man Björn had talked to took Björn's words seriously.

- He's told me afterwards that he tried to call me, but I was on the porch and couldn't hear the phone, says Lena Ulvaeus. The business partner thought the situation was critical and called the police. He didn't realize that what he thought was a threat to take his life was just an expression for anger.

The police got the call from the man at 15.52 and at 15.59 they sent a car to the family's house. At the same time the police were trying to contact Björn and his family.

- The police then called me, says Lena Ulvaeus

The police says to her:

- We have an call saying Björn Ulveaus is going to kill himself Lena Ulvaeus was shocked but calmed herself down and told them the truth:

- No, I don't think so. He's lying in a chair next to me.

After the conversation, the policed called their car back. They hadn't made it to the house yet. Björn himself thinks the situation in unpleasant. A missunderstanding had pointed him out as a person trying to comitt suicide.

- Yes, as you can see I'm doing great and have no desire to take my own life, he says and smiles.

He and his wife went to the song festival in Västervik three days ago. The family took their boat, a 17 metre long Fairlina Squadron, and brought Marie and Tomas Ledin as their guests.

Dressed in shorts and sandals Björn Ulvaeus had the last two days spent time with family and friends and has enjoyed the song festival.

- We've had a wonderful time, says Lena Ulvaeus

His closest knows about the incident and knows the police were involved. But they also know the story behind it, that a business partner missunderstood what Björn said.

- He is very regretfull today, says Lena Ulvaeus

Today, a week later, there's only one thing to worry about, that people not knowing the truth will think he tried to kill himself.

The police has written the case off.

And the reason for Björn being so upset has also been solved.

- It turns out there was never any risk of there being such a huge amount to pay in taxes, says Lena Ulvaeus.

Written by Anders Fallenius and Mikael Ölander
Translated by Gustav.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gustav Sandberg, Stockholm, Sweden

ABBA THE MUSIC/WATERLOO IN FREE SHOW

The ABBA Tribute Show "ABBA The Music" aka WATERLOO are performing as part of the Brooklyn New York Free Seaside Summer Concert Series on July 21.

The details are at:
http://www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html

Also, see their site for the remaining USA dates and European dates to follow.
http://www.waterloo.nu/gigs.htm

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bill Paganucci, New Jersey, USA

ABBA FANS IN HIGH PLACES!

Just finished reading an old article about the Anitra Steen, present wife of the Swedish Prime Minister Göran Person and with Philippa Reinfeldt wife of Fredrik Reinfeldt, the main contender to the PM post in the Swedish general election next year.

In the interview Philippa Reinfeldt (who is Major of Täby outside Stockholm today) tells that she is an ABBA fan, and she loved to play ABBA when she was a little girl. And she was always Frida and had a Frida dress made for her.

Fredrik Reinfeldt is also an ABBA fan. So if there's a new Goverment in Sweden next year we're most probably gonna have ABBA fans moving into the Sagerska Palatset, our Swedish equivalent of Downing Street 10.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Linda Granqvist, Stockholm, SWEDEN

MAMMA MIA! BACK IN VANCOUVER

Mamma Mia! The smash-hit musical that sold out a six-week run in Vancouver in 2003, returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for a two-week run starting September 27. Tickets ($59-$89) go on sale July 25 at 10am.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jason Feng, Vancouver, Canada

AGNETHA REMASTERS LISTED AT CD ON

The Agnetha remasters have all been listed at CD ON, the online music retailer.

All 3 CDs will retail at 8.95 euros - as the Frida remasters did - so, that makes a total of 30.80 euros when the 3.95 euro postage cost is included. That's if you want to buy all 3 together, of course.

On sale from 15th August according to the web-site.

CDON only ship to the European Union countries, but I've always found them reliable. Amazon or CDUniverse ship outside the EU.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gary Collins, Chelmsford, UK

CHARTS THIS WEEK

Here are the chart stats for the week of 8-15 July 2005

SWEDEN: Cast Recording - Mamma Mia! (Swedish) - down 6 to #18

NEW ZEALAND: ABBA - The Definitive Collection DVD - up 1 to #7

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

NEW BOX SET MENTIONED

In the July issue of ICE Magazine (Gang of Four on the cover) They are talking about the Brian Wilson Christmas album that is coming out in October, collaborating with Jimmy Webb and Bernie Taupin (Elton John). The next paragraph says:

That same time of the season will also bring joy to most of the world in "ABBA: The Complete Studio Recordings," a nine CD, two DVD box of Polar pop from Universal Music International. On the audio end, eight of the nine discs will feature the entirety of the quartet's studio albums, plus B-sides and foreign language releases; the ninth will be crammed with rarities. The DVDs will feature all of ABBA's music videos, a documentary on the group and a previously unissued concert that was part of a Dick Cavett TV special. At press time, no domestic (US) release has been set.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Rod Reynolds, Los Angeles, USA

ORO REPACKAGED

Exitos Eternos appears to be a repackaging of ABBA Oro, minus Andante, Andante (for no apparent reason), plus with Enhanced CD component of the Fernando video. The label is listed as "Universal Latino".

This seems to be one of a series of Spanish language re-releases from Universal Music Latino. There's a bunch of others in the series, all with the same style artwork.

Tracklisting:
1. Estoy Sonando
2. Felicidad
3. No Hay A Quien Culpar
4. Ring, Ring
5. Hasta Manana
6. Mamma Mia
7. Gracias Por La Music
8. Se Me Esta Escapando
9. La Reina Del Baile
10. Conociendome, Conociendote
11. Fernando
12. El Andar
13. Dame! Dame! Dame!
14. Chiquitita

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden and ABBAMAIL's Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

INSIDE ABBA RENAMED

According to www.play.com, the product "Inside ABBA" has been renamed "ABBA: Music In Review" (two DVDs and a book) and is scheduled for release on 3 October 2005 in the UK.

The blurb reads: "This is the ultimate critical guide to the work of ABBA, in concert, on record and on film. Here is everything you ever needed to know about ABBA in an informative two disc and book set. Featuring rare archive footage and commentary from a host of renowned critics this is the definitive review of a legendary group."

http://tinyurl.com/b5219

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

MAD05 - TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

Tickets can now be booked for ABBAMAIL's Mini-ABBAMAIL Day 2005 on September 3.

We have set up an information section about the day on the website including information about accommodation for those of you coming from interstate.

The link is here:
http://www.abbamail.com/mad05_info.htm

An item has been added to the webshop so you can book and pay online.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

WARNING - DO NOT OPEN FAKE EMAIL

URGENT WARNING RE FAKE EMAIL BEING DISTRIBUTED:

Someone is distributing a fake email claiming to be from "The Abbamail Support Team" and may be entitled "YOU ARE BANNED".

The email has an attachment which could very well be a virus, trojan or some other program that damages computers.

The email reads:

"Dear Abbamail Member,

Your e-mail account was used to send a huge amount of unsolicited spam messages during the recent week. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and confirm the attached document so you will not run into any future problems with the online service.

Virtually yours,
The Abbamail Support Team "

IF YOU DO RECEIVE THIS EMAIL PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS ***NOT*** FROM ABBAMAIL - YOU SHOULD DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT CLICK ON THE ATTACHMENT - JUST DELETE THE EMAIL IMMEDIATELY.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

MAD05 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

ABBAMAIL is having a gathering of fans in Sydney - the first in four years.

MAD05 stands for Mini-ABBAMAIL Day 2005. We're having a small ABBA Day at an inner-city location on September 3, 2005 from 2pm - Midnight.

Details for the day have yet to be confirmed however dinner will be included, our regular DJ/sound guy has been locked in to provide ABBA music for the night time portion of MAD05.

Bookings will be essential for this event: the ABBAMAIL webshop will be updated in the next few days so that you can book on-line. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

MAD05 has also been organised for September 3 because American ABBAMAILer Ryan Cameron is visiting Sydney for his 30th birthday and we'll be celebrating with him.

It has been four years since Australian ABBA fans got together in any formal way for an ABBA Day and so an event - even a mini-event like MAD05 is way overdue.

Keep checking ABBAMAIL's website for further information about MAD05. If you're planning on flying from interstate, we suggest you check flight prices now: it is only seven weeks away and the earlier you book, the better chance you have of getting cheap flights.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

WB "THE MOVIE" RELEASE CANCELLED

It seems the Warner DVD release of ABBA - THE MOVIE that was due to happen in America in August has been cancelled.

The product is mysteriously disappearing from on-line webshops and Amazon has been sending this email out to people who ordered it in advance:

"Hello from Amazon.com.

We are sorry to report that the release of the following item has been
cancelled:

"Abba:Movie"

Though we had expected to be able to send this item to you, we've
since found that it will not be released after all. Please accept
our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience we have caused you.

We have cancelled this item from your order."

========

Interestingly we had heard that Universal Sweden were not going to take any action over the Warner release which seemed completely insane. However it looks like a more rational approach has been taken and Warner must have been advised that their release was not the done thing ;-)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Richard Simcock, Sydney Australia

Update: The word in fandom is that some fans are still desperately clinging to the hope that Amazon has made a mistake and that the Warner release will still go ahead. Fans who pre-ordered with some other web retailers have not been contacted so far about the cancellation. The release has disappeared from official Warner sites which seems to confirm our original story.

MAMMA'S PAPA - INTERVIEW WITH BJÖRN

'Mamma's' Papa

ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus still somewhat surprised by show's success

By MIKE WEATHERFORD
REVIEW-JOURNAL

So many acts have played Las Vegas over the years, it may not seem like a big deal ABBA was one of them.

But a September 1979 concert at the Aladdin Theatre did not merely foreshadow the success "Mamma Mia!" would become all these years later.

It also was one of the few places where American fans got to see the real ABBA. "We only played like, 20 gigs, I guess, in the U.S. ever," says Bjorn Ulvaeus, the quartet's singer, guitarist and co-writer. "You ask Crosby Stills, Nash & Young how many gigs they played," he adds with a laugh.

The group of two couples, at one time both married, had toured Europe for most of the '70s. They had children to consider by then, and realized they were more interested in songwriting than performing live. "We had come to realize, painfully clear at times when we didn't have a hit, that the song is the most important element in this business," Ulvaeus recalls. "So we concentrated on the writing.

"We had also come to realize the recordings themselves, the production, was almost equally important," he adds. So rather than traveling around the world reproducing the stuff we had written before, we decided we could be sitting home writing music."

Ulvaeus hasn't been back to Las Vegas since. Benny Andersson, his songwriting partner, flew in for the opening of "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay in February 2003.

But Ulvaeus took time for a recent telephone chat from his summer house in Sweden -- a place with a view of "the little cottage where Benny and I wrote most of the stuff 25 or 30 years ago" -- to talk about the "Mamma Mia!" phenomenon, which includes a recent celebration of the 1,000th performance on the Strip.

"Mostly what strikes me is that people have so much fun," Ulvaeus says of the musical for which he carries a producer's credit. "I think that's the amazing thing. I realise they're good tunes and so forth, but 25 or 30 years after - they're kind of old tunes to me in a way."

"I honestly ask myself, why us?" he adds. "Why those songs, when so many good songs were around in the '70s? And it was so far from our minds sitting there writing them. We thought maybe they would last a year or two."

Producer Judy Craymer noted recently that " 'Mamma Mia!' has become ABBA, in a way. It's kind of funny, because ABBA as a band doesn't exist." Instead, multiple productions of the musical span the world -- "The sun never sets over 'Mamma Mia!' " Ulvaeus jokes -- reaching more audiences than the band ever did.

"It's a good substitute. I think it's better than those bands that go around imitating ABBA," Ulvaeus says.

"Mamma Mia!" is often described as the Broadway hit Ulvaeus and Andersson didn't know they had written. That's somewhat bittersweet after their experience with "Chess," the deliberate attempt at an "Evita"-style pop opera that fell between the ABBA and "Mamma Mia!" years and didn't hit big on Broadway.

"It's the show that (former New York Times theater critic, now political columnist) Frank Rich killed that should have survived," he says of the 1988 effort.

But it made the theatrical stage a familiar place for Ulvaeus, so he was willing to go along with the idea when Craymer and writer Catherine Johnson approached him. "What amazes me is this experiment that we made actually worked out," he says.

"Can you build a story around 23 existing songs and not change the lyrics at all? I took it as a challenge and an experiment. If I felt ever that it would reflect badly on ABBA or the catalogue I would have stopped it. But that never happened."

"Mamma Mia!" drew a new audience of theatrgoers who may never have been fans of show tunes, but who could still experience the thrill of recognition when a character breaks into a familiar song. But after that fortuitous shortcut, Andersson and Ulvaeus are back to doing it the hard way.

Now they're collaborating with "Les Miserables" lyricist Herbert Kretzmer on an English translation of "Kristina," an ambitious effort about the Swedish emigration to America at the end of the 19th century. The 1995 musical was written in Swedish and "ran here for about three years, which is great for a country that has eight and a half to nine million population," Ulvaeus says.

They hope to cast a workshop production in September to prepare for a Broadway opening in fall of 2006. Ulvaeus acknowledges that while "Mamma Mia!' benefited from a Broadway climate that's obsessed with branding -- hence the trend of adapting movies -- the shoe will now be on the other foot. "It's an incredible risk but one that we will entertain," he says. "We come in with some strength, although with paradoxes that might hurt us. It's miles away from 'Mamma Mia!' We will have to educate those people that if you come to the theater you're in for a completely different experience. That's gonna be a challenge. This is quite serious and very operatic. Benny and I will have to do a lot of promotion," he adds with a chuckle.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-08-Fri-2005/weekly/2352039.html

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

SWEDISH CHEAPO RELEASE NOW SET FOR THE WORLD

The Sweden-only budget ABBA compilation album 18 Hits, will shortly receive an international release with a slightly different track listing. The international version of 18 Hits will be released August 1. No further details at this time.

Track listing:
1. The Winner Takes It All
2. Super Trouper
3. Waterloo
4. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
5. The Name Of The Game
6. Ring Ring
7. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
8. SOS
9. Fernando
10. Hasta Mañana
11. Mamma Mia
12. Lay All Your Love On Me
13. Thank You For The Music
14. Happy New Year
15. Honey, Honey (Swedish Version)
16. Waterloo (French Version)
17. Ring Ring (German Version)
18. ¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame! (Spanish Version of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Walter Veldman, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

AGNETHA REMASTER TRACKLISTINGS

The three Agnetha CDs are presently scheduled for release on August 14, 2005 in Sweden.

Track listings/catalogue numbers are as follows:

NU TÄNDAS TUSEN JULELJUS (Polar 986 876-5)
1. Nej se det snöar
2. Bjällerklang
3. Nu tändas tusen juleljus
4. Två små röda luvor
5. Nu står jul vid snöig port
6. Jag såg mamma kyssa tomten
7. När juldagsmorgon glimmar
8. Poptpurri:
a. Nu har vi ljus här i vårt hus
b. Tre små pepparkaksgubbar
c. Räven raskar över isen
d. Vi äro musikanter
e. Hej tomtegubbar
f. Jungfru jungfru kär
g. Nu är det jul igen
9. Hej mitt vinterland
10. Så milt lyser stjärnan
11. Mössens julafton
12. När det lider mot jul

WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND ME (Polar 986 876-9)
1. The Heat Is On
2. Can’t Shake Loose
3. Shame
4. Stay
5. Once Burned, Twice Shy
6. Mr. Persuasion
7. Wrap Your Arms Around Me
8. To Love
9. I Wish Tonight Could Last Forever
10. Man
11. Take Good Care Of Your Children
12. Stand By My Side

Bonus Tracks:
13. Never Again
14. It’s So Nice To Be Rich
15. P&B
16. The Heat Is On (Super Dance Music Mix)
17. Ya Nunca Más

EYES OF A WOMAN (Polar 986 878-4)
1. One Way Love
2. Eyes Of A Woman
3. Just One Heart
4. I Won’t Let You Go
5. The Angels Cry
6. Click Track
7. We Should Be Together
8. I Won’t Be Leaving You
9. Save Me Why Don’t Ya
10. I Keep Turning Off Lights
11. We Move As One

Bonus Tracks:
12. You’re There
13. Turn The World Around
14. I Won’t Let You Go (Extended Version)
15. The Way You Are
16. Fly Like The Eagle

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Patrick Proost, Belgium

LONDON ABBAMAILERS OK / PICNIC TO GO AHEAD

It is with great happiness and relief that I advise that all of our London ABBAMAILers have checked in with ABBAMAIL HQ and are all safe and well.

It is fantastic to be running this wonderful community of fans and friends. ABBAMAILers made a concerted effort to ring or SMS to make sure their fellow ABBAMAILers were okay. Within a few hours we were able to establish that all of our London based members were fine.

And I am also happy to announce that the London ABBAMAIL Picnic will go ahead on Saturday (9th July) as planned. Details are on our Events page.

The organisers are determined that the picnic will go ahead as a celebration of life, friendship and strength.

The spirit of London, Britain and its people will triumph against these evil acts of terrorism.

Graeme Read
ABBAMAIL Administration

TRIBUTE NIGHT IN UK

Spectacular Summer Concerts at Bentley

This August Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum is hosting a spectacular Abba
Tribute!

The Great Bentley Tribute Night
Saturday 20 August 2005

Bentley hosts a tribute night paying homage to four of the greatest bands and singers of the last few decades, including: Abba, The Beach Boys, Queen and Tina Turner. The Bands starring are - Abba Gold - UK Beach Boys - Kings of Queen and Carmel Hunter as Tina Turner. Introduced by Charlie Crocker, BBC Southern Counties Radio - this promises to be a truly entertaining event Attractions open from 10.30am - Concert Gates open 6pm - Concert 7.30pm - Ends 10.30pm approx.

Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum
Halland
Lewes
East Sussex
BN8 5AF
England, United Kingdom

Phone: 01825 840573/ 841541

www.bentley.org.uk