BENNY DOESN'T WANT TO DO THE SAME OLD SHIT!

DN have an interview with Benny and Kristina gets a mention. Not all doom and gloom but still a way to go. The concert sounds interesting.

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2198&a=710030

The relevant bit goes like this:

Plans to attempt to stage "Kristina från Duvemåla" on Broadway are on ice until further notice, but it does not depend on the conflict about who wrote the script. Dramatist Carl-Johan Seth lost the case against Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus in the district court but has appealed. But the result of the appeal will not affect the decision to stage the musical in the USA.

- For this decision, it doesn't matter if he wins or loses. That it isn't yet ready is partly because we still have so much to do, partly because it isn't actually seen as a good idea to have a 4.5 hour story about Swedish immigrants. A little energy is needed to get it rolling.

Yet, says Benny Andersson, there are plans to give a concert version of "Kristina från Duvemåla" in New York at the end of next year, with a full symphony orchestra, choir and artists.

- From there, perhaps we could attempt to take the project further. But at the same time, one has a certain desire to do something new also, not just keep releasing the same old shit.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

(ABBAMAIL's comment: Since Benny doesn't want to do the same old shit, perhaps he should tell Universal Music to stop releasing the same shitty ABBA compilations year after year!!!)

RECENT CHART ACTION

CANADA: ABBA - 20th Century Masters, The Best Of Abba (etc): up 4 to #68

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - Number Ones DVD: Down 14 to #27

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

BENNY WANTS TO MAKE MORE FILMS

www.aftonbladet.se/nojesliv/film/article1080636.ab

"I WANT TO MAKE FILMS AGAIN"

Benny Andersson: It is more fun than theatre.

How much fun was it to adapt "Mamma Mia!" as a film?

Benny was so inspired that he would rather do more films than new theatre.

But first there is the new album. And to rebuild ice rinks and folkparks.

We met on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm where Benny Andersson has his office and studio. In his room with a view of the water, there is both a grand piano and a keyboard connected to a computer.

The album and concert is when the live musicians give swing to his songs. On Friday 26 October, Benny Anderssons Orkester play a dance at Globen. Göteborg people get to dance on 2 November.

How will the performances be at Globen and Skandinavium?

- The dance floor is on the rink, as big as it is. We have put down gunpowder on the surface.

Benny Andersson peers at a portable computer as he goes through the songs. Three and a half hours of dancing but still not everything he wants is in place.

In another digital folder, there are the ABBA songs that Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and the others have sung.

Did you see much of the "Mamma Mia" filming?

- Yes. It was something surreal to stand in Greece and see Meryl Streep on a rock in the sea singing "Winner Takes It All". I have seen every take.

Has it given you an appetite?

- It was more fun to make a film next time instead of theatre. I will produce and make sure it happens. And do the music. But how do you make a music film without it being a traditional musical? So you must also have a brain.

"Scary lyrics"

Well, almost. The brainy Benny Andersson has to work at being so really good. Although he doesn't want to work at song lyrics.

In the Hep Stars, you also wrote lyrics.

- I realised quickly that I wasn't going to do that.

Why's that?

- I didn't know English at the time I was writing English lyrics. "Sunny Girl" has scary lyrics. Good melody, good title, shit lyrics.

On the new BAO CD, 7 of the 12 songs have lyrics. Like the unusual "Bonde söker fru" (Farmer seeks wife). It is almost a protest song that Björn and Benny have done.

- You have to ask Björn. He writes what he wants to write.

But you must surely be responsible for the lyrics?

- Of course, it is my band. The song is fun because it is a boogie. Björn asked what I thought of the title and I said ... yes.

- He thought to write about those dreadful docu-soaps.

Revealed from the song vaults

One of the choruses and melodies is taken from Benny's vault. "Crush On You" was written during the ABBA years.

- The chorus was ready and the demo lyrics were "Crush On You". There were just careless lyrics, an unfinished song. "Du är min man" is a really old thing. "Det är vi ändå" is also as old as the hills.

You have more in the vault?

- Oh yes, perhaps many things that I think are good but which would be better in a different forum to BAO.

In other words, more music exists. Just have to also think of a film.

BENNY ABOUT ...

... was "Helens brudval" (Helen's bridal waltz) written for Helen Sjöholm?

- Yes, it is her actual bridal waltz. I did it for her wedding.

... promoting his records.

- To be noticed you have to be on 40 TV shows in the same week. I promised myself whe I finished woth ABBA never to do that again.

... BAO's success.

- Both records have sold 140,000 copies. I would like to know who has sold more than that. Kent [Swedish group] perhaps?

... a BAO CD in English.

- Yes, I think so. ”Du är min man”, ”Lätt som en sommarfjäril”, ”Vår sista dans” are already recorded.

... the next long-runner on Svensktoppen.

- "Fait accomplit" perhaps? We have done a single of it.

... Kristina Lugn [poet, author] writing lyrics for one of the songs.

- She asked me to write the music for ”Jag har ett flygfotografi av kärleken” (I have an aerial photograph of love) [play by Kristina Lugn].

Article by Jens Peterson

Translated by Grant Whittingham for ABBAMAIL

INTERVIEW WITH BJÖRN FROM BUNTE

http://bunte.t-online.de/c/13/09/53/42/13095342.html

Interview with Björn in German from the weekend

Two real ABBAs in Berlin

It is a fairytale story of success, which began on 6th April 1974 with a song called "Waterloo". Four Swedes conquered the music world as ABBA and became the most successful pop group in the world after the Beatles. Since then wherever ABBA is written, success is guaranteed. No matter whether it's the 350 million albums they sold, or the musical "Mamma Mia", which celebrated its Berlin premiere at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz. At least as exciting: Two real ABBAs, Anni-Frid and Björn, attended the premiere!

Björn: When I see Anni-Frid time disappears"

While Agnetha and Anni-Frid more or less kept away from the hubbub of ABBA after the group disbanded a quarter of a century ago, Benny and Björn came up with the idea of designing a musical with the Swedish pop group's hits. "The guys didn't even ring me and ask what I thought of the idea," says Anni-Frid with a smile to BUNTE.T-Online. Björn protests with a smirk: "But I definitely rang you in advance and told you about our project. "Well," counters pop icon Anni-Frid, "you asked me if I would be prepared to invest money in the project." There is not the slightest trace of the oft-reported hostility that was said to have led to ABBA's split in 1982. "We split as a band back then because we wanted to pursue four different artistic paths. But not because we were quarrelling terribly," says Anni-Frid. Colleague Björn agrees: "When I see Anni-Frid again after years apart, time disappears and it is as though I saw her only yesterday. It's really wonderful."

Björn only slips into ABBA costumes for his wife

Many think that the fashion that is synonymous with ABBA is wonderful too. Flares with frills, glitter, glamour and a great deal of 70s flair. After all these years Anni-Frid remembers how the band came up with their typical ABBA-look: "I was always interested in fashion and even early on I looked for costumes for the shows. When it came to the legendary Waterloo performance, I had seen fantastic jackets in a little shop in Stockholm. I went there with Agnetha and we had the costumes made there. Björn loved them incidentally." Björn doesn't remember it quite that way. He answers simply: "Hmm, that's new to me." At home he still has some old costumes hanging in the wardrobe, which, as he admits with a grin, he seldom puts on - and then only for his wife.

Stars of the evening: Anni-Frid and Björn

The phenomenon of ABBA to the present day is a fairytale full of surprises and records, that casts a spell over all generations. So the celebrities make sure to attend Berlin's newest musical conquest. Sportsman Sven Hannawald, No-Angel singer Lucy, actresses Jenny Elvers-Elbertzhagen and Dennenesch Zoudé were just as keen to see the great spectacle on Potsdam Square as Berlin's governing mayor Klaus Wowereit and the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Charlotte Knobloch. However, the undisputed stars of the evening were Björn and Anni-Frid, who were visiting the German capital for the first time since their ABBA concerts in 1977.

by Henrik John Hohl
English translation: Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sarah Marchant, Kent, UK

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, UK

CHESS IN CONCERT TICKETS ON SALE

Tickets for the Royal Albert Hall 'CHESS in Concert' event have just gone on sale.

Only one night advertised so far - Tuesday 13th May 2008. It is possible that another date may be added if demand is sufficient.

Price range from £17.50 to £65, plus booking fees....

Further detail at www.royalalberthall.com

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gary Collins, Chelmsford, UK

MAMMA MIA! MOVIE WRAP PARTY / FRIDA INTERVIEW

Pierce and Meryl lead the 'Mamma Mia!' crew a merry dance

With Mamma Mia! actors Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep clearly in the mood to let their hair down, the wrap party for the movie was an all singing, all dancing affair.

Leading the revelry on the Greek island of Skopelos, the location for their version of the hit ABBA stage show, the actors got in the groove and sang the night away.

The merry group, including their co-star Colin Firth, boogied along as Pierce was followed on the mike by two-time Oscar winner Meryl. In a repeat of her performance on screen, the multi-talented actress belted out Dancing Queen.

And the 58-year-old veteran has promised the scene will bring the house down. "Shooting (that song) was probably the most fun," she laughed. "It'll take your head off."

To see the photos go to:
http://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2007/10/25/meryl-pierce-mamma/


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

Frida gave an interview to Bunte magazine, I will see if I can find the magazine and if so I will translate the interview for the list.

A small part of the interview was published on the Bunte online version.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, the Netherlands

FAN REVIEW: MAMMA MIA! IN BERLIN

I had a great weekend in Berlin!

Friday night I drove with a friend to Berlin (4.5 hours from here) and we spent Saturday shopping, sight-seeing, eating and drinking.

In the evening we went to see the media premiere of Mamma Mia! in the Theater am Potsdamer Platz on the Marlene-Dietrich-Platz. Helga form the ABBF Fan Club had organized really great tickets - in the middle of the first row on the balcony, which means a great view of the stage and well balanced sound. Well, it *would have* meant all that, if my friend wasn't afraid of heights. She managed to stay seated for less
than thirty seconds, then she jumped up and I escorted her out. I exchanged the tickets for two seats that were down in the stalls, which means closer to the stage but much further to the left. But still it was a nice evening.

They had some slight changes here and there in the show. I don't know if they do that everywhere, but in Germany they keep changing the way Sophie and her friends greet each other and how Donna and her friends greet each other, plus some other jokes and things. The music was basically the same, except for the encore of Mamma Mia!, that is sung by the cast while Donna and the Dynamos get changed into their tight satin outfits to come back to do Dancing Queen. I need to check the different recordings to see if it's really different. I think I have seen it too often by now because I notice things like that.

During the opening of the bedroom scene (Chiquitita and Dancing Queen) one movable wall of the taverna was turning too fast, crashed into the other and then both of them were not standing how they are supposed to, which meant that after the scene the curtain came down and the guests were asked to stay seated as the show was about to
continue in a moment. After five minutes the show went on. Funnily, it was the exact same problem as three years ago during the premiere in Stuttgart. But this time it was only the media premiere, not *the* premiere.

When we left, promo DVDs were handed out to the guests. The cardboad
slipcase containing the DVD says "footage from the show and commentaries by Björn". I did not see those DVDs being given away on the following night, so I guess they were only handed out during the media premiere. The DVD is only 2:38 minutes long. It's a mix of the original promo clip for Mamma Mia from 1999 consisting of footage from London, partly dubbed with the German cast recording, statements from Björn from back then how you leave the theatre happy after seeing Mamma Mia! and greetings from the Donnas and Dynamos from around the world. In the end it said "now in Berlin", so it was specifically made for the Berlin premiere. I don't think that this DVD can really
be used by the media to add something to their reports about the premiere or about the show in general, but it's a nice collector's item.

Before the show I met another fan and he mentioned that he had heard about a TV team taking Björn and Frida on a sight seeing tour on Satuday afternoon so he was there too with only a handful of other people. That's where the photos from Frida and Björn in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag come from that you all saw.

Great, if I had known that ... Of course we had been at the Brandenburg Gate too, but probably around two hours before Frida and Björn.

On Sunday we did some more sight seeing and a tour with a boat, and while I went off to the premiere, my friend spent another 300 Euros on clothes and Swarovski jewelry. By the time I arrived at 4:15, Frida and Björn had already entered the theatre. At least our beloved ABBAMAILer Ann Purann was still outside waiting for me with the tickets we had gotten from Helga.

We went inside and were watching who else is entering while being filmed and photographed by the media. Then we finally went upstairs to our seats on the second balcony. On our way we passed the VIP lounge and spotted Frida and Björn together with Görel, Björn's wife and some others. So that's where we took out the camera and started taking photos and filming. Frida and Björn disappeared through a back door and were on their way to their seats (row 15 or so and quite far to the right), so we hurried to get to ours too (first row on the second balcony) to watch them entering the theatre while the audience was cheering.

During the break we went back to the VIP lounge and watched Frida and Björn. First Frida went to the loo that was just around the corner but she still needed some bodyguards to get there safely, then Björn who was escorted to the other side of the theater and back. They kept mingling with the small crowd while two dozen people were standing on the stairs above them looking down, taking photos and filming.

Standing behind a stairrail while filming the celebrities down in the VIP lounge really made it feel like in a zoo!

I managed to film Frida taking her lipstick out of her handbag and to freshen up her makeup. How divine and human at the same time! Towards the end of the break, Frida and Björn finally posed for the media and the fans, gave some autographs and then disappeared through the backdoor again. I don't know if they actually went back into the theatre or waited somewhere else.

After the last encore, Björn and Frida came onto the stage, and Björn started talking in German, which was a little shaky. He thanked the "fantastic cast" and said "I have seen only a little bit of your wonderful magic city, but I know that I have to come back." (turns to the cast behind him again) "You were fantastic," (turns back to the
audience) "and you were an okay audience" which was followed by laughter and loud cheering from the crowd. Frida was just smiling and did not say a word. The cast came to the front of the stage for the final bow and the guy playing Sam was holding Frida's hand. She pointed at him and then at herself again indicating that they had
something going on together - very cute and funny, but I didn't film that small bit as my camera always stops filming after around one minute to save the data to the memory card before filming again. So it missed that part, but that bit was shown on some TV report which a friend had taped for me. It's the Brisant report that has the
interview of Frida where she talks about a possible future project with John Lord.

When the lights went on again at around 8pm, we went to the bar Adagio which is in the same complex as the theater. It's a bar that looks like a gothic church with high tinted glass windows and organ pipes. Very nice place and a nice buffet, tomato soup and rice with veggies as starters, then fish and gyros with rice, and some desserts, plus free beverages.

At around 10 the cast made an appearance on the stage, but no Frida and Björn. At atound 11:00 Ann and I said goodbye to Helga, Anita and Ursula and left, walked to the subway station together and said goodbye.

Back in the hotel I had to show my photos and film clips to my friend. On Monday we went shopping again and spent an incredible 4 hours in the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), Berlin's version of the Harrod's department store in London. Actually I could have stayed even longer, because it wasn't *my* feet that were hurting after
three days of shopping. Women in blood-soaked shoes can be such whimps! Before leaving Berlin, I bought two newspapers with reports about the premiere on the front page and a nice photo of Frida and Björn in front of the Reichstag.

I was home at 10:30pm again and immideately checked my harddisk recorder for all the TV shows I had recorded, hoping for a lot of footage from Frida and Björn in Berlin, and I was not disappointed.

Actually .... I could have had my moment of fame too. A week ago I was contacted by somebody from the TV station ZDF, they were looking for a fan in Berlin for an interview. As they couldn't find any, they wanted to inverview me. Later they finally found a fan in Berlin but still wanted to interview me. But during the premiere and the party we missed each other several times, and after 10:30 the TV team was not allowed to film any longer and left.

The Berlin fan they did interview was shown at his home among all the ABBA records and posters he has and how he met Frida and Björn on their sight-seeing tour through Berlin, and for a very short interview in the Adagio bar. Well, nothing earth-moving, and thankfully he was not portrayed as a nutso ABBA freak. I assume I could have done that too, but honestly couldn't have added anything to the program either.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Wangerland, Germany

FRIDA ON GERMAN TV SHOW BRISANT

I was curious what Frida exactly did say recently on the German Brisant TV show about a possible comeback, so this morning I sent them an email. They answered very quickly, this is a copy of the email they sent me, I guess all is possible, but nothing definite yet.

Frida:
I am very proud of the fact that our music means a lot to people and I mean you can see that in fanmail that you get it means different things for different people. If you have suffering from something terrible in your lfe it seems that our music helps people to be happy and, on the contrary, if you have a party you put ABBA music on because its so easy to dance to ABBA music

Frida:
I know that when we recorded some of our last songs like when Benny and I had divorced already, When All Is Said And Done meant a lot to me at that time - because it was actually what it was about for me you know and Björn had caught that movement and that emotional face in our life very well in those lyrics

Frida:
I had a discussion with Jon Lord from Deep Purple - we are very close friends - and I did sing on his previous album a song that he wrote for me - and since we have had discussions or talked about it and its there and we are talking more and more about maybe!

Frida:
My absolute obsession right know is my one year old grandchild! Little Elsa she had her birthday the other day actually and my hobby ? I have lot of hobbies skiing, golfing, I am nature freak - I am out a lot doing different things!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, the Netherlands

LISTEN TO BITS OF BAO 3

The new Benny Anderssons Orkester album "BAO3" is released in Sweden and therefore can also be downloaded from now on. It's just possible for Swedes to do that, but you can listen to snippets of each song from now on, for example at the download section of www.cdon.se or at www2.ahlens.com.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

MCCAIN LOVES ABBA

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/
washington/washington/entries/2007/10/17/mccain_eats_hot.html

McCain: Eats hot dogs, loves ABBA

By Ken Herman

During a campaign bus swing through South Carolina today, Sen. John McCain demonstrated his love of hot dogs and declared his love of ABBA. The comments about the Swedish group came up on the bus as he talked about what's on his iPod.

"Dare I say ABBA. Everybody says, 'Ehhh, ABBA.' Why is that? ABBA was the largest selling (recording act ever). Nobody likes them but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. (But) you're a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see 'Mamma Mia?' Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I'm not embarassed to say I like ABBA, 'Dancing Queen.'"

More from McCain. If elected, "the background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House."

And even more.

"'Take a Chance on Me.' Maybe that's what we should have as our (campaign) theme song. That would be good."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Andy Andrews, Dortmund, Germany

EXCLUSIVE: CRUSH ON YOU LYRICS

I have managed to get an advance copy of the new BAO album and naturally the first song I played was the ABBA-song-that-never-was. Crush On You.

Not that crazy about it so far. Although written in 1979, it sort of sounds a bit like ABBA with the typical BAO oompahs added. Quite a few cringe-worthy moments and the lyrics aren't among Björn's best. I can understand why ABBA never recorded it.

Here are the lyrics...

CRUSH ON YOU

My oh my, oh boy oh boy
Lover, can I be your toy?
Can't be without you
You know that it's true
Baby, have I got a crush on you

Gimme this, gimme that
You boss me around
You're a teaser, you're a brat
The devil's pet daughter
But I'm stuck where I am
A ship run aground
You're a shark that's circling
Round me in the water

You devour me with ease
I just cannot get away now
I could stoop to anything to please
So gimme all you got is what I pray now

Boy oh boy, oh my oh my
I'm so happy I could cry
Don't ever stop it whatever you do
Have I got a crush on you

My oh my, oh boy oh boy
Lover can I be your toy?
Can't be without you
You know that it's true
Baby, have I got a crush on you

Gimme this, gimme that
You drive me insane
When you purr like a cat
I'm at the end of my tether
And I would throw you out
If I had a brain
But in the end you knock me
Down with a feather

And you know it all too well
I just cannot get away now
You are heaven to me
You are hell
But gimme all you got is what I pray now

Boy oh boy...

My oh my...

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Stockholm, Sweden

TAKE A CHANCE ON "THE OFFICE"

The smash hit USA NBC TV show "The Office" featured a segment last week with two of the cast members camping it up and singing "Take A Chance On Me" to an unsuspecting female coworker... It is pretty funny and reveals that ABBA are still alive and well in pop culture in The USA. I have added the YOUTUBE Link for you all to see. Enjoy!

Thanks to ABBA fan Terry, Chicago, USA

THE ALBUM IN RUSSIA

ABBA THE Album - Delux Edition

According to from the manager on sales of CD & DVD, company Universal Russia in Moscow, official date of sale in Russia ABBA THE Album - Delux Edition - on October, 15th, 2007.



Thanks to Dmitriy Shipov, Russian ABBA Fan Club

ABBA MUSEUM UPDATE

Björn and Benny without gold records!
This week, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus left their large collections of gold and platinum records in the care of ABBA the Museum. The awards are amazing artefacts from an outstanding career. Among the examples in the collection are ”Ring Ring single 100 000 copies 1973 Sweden”, ”The Album 1 million copies sold 1978 United Kingdom”, ”Super Trouper 500 000 copies USA 1980”, ”ABBA Gold 20 million copies world wide”, and many more.

Now these works of art, if one may call them that, will be carefully renovated before they take their special place in the attraction.

The star guitar lost – a new one found!
The star-shaped special silver guitar that Björn Ulvaeus used in Brighton in 1974, when ABBA won with ‘Waterloo’, is missing. We have been searching in attics and in basements without finding it and no-one seems to know where it is. The story is that the guitar manufacturer Hagström gave Björn two guitars. One was used on stage and the other, which was gold-coloured, was given to the German magazine Bravo as a prize in a competition. The gold guitar is said to be in the possession of a private person in Germany, but the silver-coloured one is still missing.

But every cloud has a silver lining. In our search we found another guitar, decorated with stars and with “ABBA” written in mother-of-pearl on its neck. It turned out to be something as unusual as Benny’s guitar. The one he used in the Fernando video and which can be seen on the cover of the Fernando single.

UNLIKELY TO BE THE LAST TIME WE AGNETHA WITH A FAG!

Thanks to ABBAMAIler Cliff Docherty, London, UK

ABBAMAILer IN NEWSPAPER

http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/keeping-the-faith/
2007/10/10/1191695985947.html

Keeping the faith

October 11, 2007

Waiting for the second coming of a rock god takes true devotion. Michael Dwyer reports.



Luke Rogers has no tatts to celebrate his musical obsession. Nor does he entertain the slightest hope of the final fix that seems to come to most who wait. That's long been the thankless reality of being an ABBA fan.

Like millions, he fell for their glittering, angelic promise on Countdown in '75. A year later he appeared in ABBA - The Movie, and caught Anni-Frid Lyngstad's bouquet from the balcony of the Melbourne Town Hall.

At 43, though, his memorabilia collection is packed away, and he admits to mixed feeling when he hears their music. "I realise the reason I needed them as much as I did was because I was terribly unhappy as a kid," he says. "My parents were divorced when I was very young. My mum was a child herself, really."

In 1990, Rogers' father reappeared in his life to tell him he had cancer. "That was a very, very difficult year. At the end of it, I just got on a plane to Sweden. I wanted to close that chapter, and I didn't think I could do that without thanking them."

He found Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Faltskog in one trip, but had to return in '92, literally to weep in Lyngstad's arms. Five years on, he describes her compassion and grace in saintlike terms, but harbours disappointments about the other three members.

"Bjorn and Benny I will always be in awe of, in terms of their songwriting talent, but I don't think they're particularly generous people," he says, citing their staunch refusal to release demo tapes and unheard songs from the ABBA vaults, as every monster band from the Beatles to Kiss has done.

"Fans love that stuff. Bjorn and Benny just won't do it. It actually pisses me off."

As for reclusive blonde bombshell Agnetha, "she seems to dwell on what the ABBA years cost her", Mr Rogers says. "She seems reluctant to acknowledge the happiness from that part of her life, and I find it very hard to believe there wasn't any. It's difficult not to feel a little disappointed in that, and it saddens me.

"I only ever wanted them all to be happy," he says.

For some fans, that's something not even a million dollars per show can buy.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, New South Wales, Australia

REHEARSALS FOR BERLIN PRODUCTION OF MAMMA MIA!

Betty Vermeulen, Jasna Ivir and Iris Schumacher rehearse for the German production of hit ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, opening on 21 October at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sarah Marchant, Kent, UK

THE ALBUM DELUXE IN AUSTRALIA

ABBA - The Album deluxe edition is to be released on October 29 in Australia with a retail price of $34.99.

NEW BENNY ANDERSSON ORKESTER TRACKLIST

Tracklist for the new BAO has been finalised...

Marsch Pannkaka
För Dig
Du Frälste Mig I Sista Stund
Fait Accomplit
Crush On You
Calle J:s Vals
Helens Brudvals
Upp Till Dig
Bonde Söker Fru
Nu Mår Jag Mycket Bättre
Wienerbrot
Godnattvisa

We already know 3 of these titles: "För Dig", "Fait Accompli" and "Bonde Söker Fru" have all been performed live, mainly at Skansen, and "För Dig" was even included on last year's live album. Interestingly, a studio version of the Svensktoppen #1 hit "Det Är Vi Ändå" has not been included.

"Crush On You" seems to be the song that was written during the ABBA years but was never recorded or even intended to be recorded with and for ABBA (according to the "official line")

Another title I'm very curious about is "Wienerbrot". After all, it's German. Or - dare I say it? - Austrian. It means "Vienna bread". Some traditional and classical songs exist with similar titles, like "Wienerblut" (Vienna blood), but "Wienerbrot"?? Can't wait to hear that one!!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

ABBA THE MOVIE IN HIGH DEFINITION

The High Definition DVD version of ABBA - The Movie is being advertised on Amazon.co.uk

The release date is set for October 29 with a retail price of GBP14.99.

BJÖRN & FRIDA TO ATTEND PREMIERE

It's big news everywhere : Björn and Frida will attend the premiere of Mamma Mia! in Berlin on Sunday, 21st October. Expect a report and some photos from me!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Germany

CHART NEWS

And here are the charts for 5-12 October 2007

CANADA: ABBA - 20th Century Masters, The Best Of ABBA. - down 11 to #60

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - Number Ones (DVD) - back on at a new peak of #13, Week 17, and accredited Platinum.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA THE ALBUM DELUXE EDITION: FIRST COMMENT

I just couldn't resist buying the deluxe edition of "The Album" yesterday.

And boy, it does look gorgeous! It follows exactly the same concept as the "Arrival" release last year, which is a good thing. While blue was the main colour for "Arrival", "The Album" is dominated by some kind of yellow, orange or terrcotta. Looks pretty good!

The discs have the same great Polar design as we know from "Arrival", and the pics on the inner sleeves are from the original inner sleeve of the LP as well as a still from "The Movie".

I didn't play the CD from start to finish, but I just couldn't resist listening to the fab first 5 tracks. Great sound, but as usual I really can't tell which version or remaster they used. We have other experts for these kind of things. But I think the quality is better than on The Complete Studio Recordings, which was pretty bad at stome parts, especially "The Name Of The Game."

The live version of "Take A Chance On Me" is quite nice. Sure, there's not really that much difference to the other live version we already know, but hey, at least it's something rare. And the quality is amazing! I'm sure that nobody would have noticed the fact that this track was recorded from vinyl. It sounds so good! But I guess that's also due to the fact that live tracks usually always have some background noices, which blend very well with these special vinyl noices.

Now on to the DVD, which I guess is the more interesting part of this release. The first 5 tracks or performaces, mainly from German TV. And boy, what a great quality! Each and every clip looks as if it was just recorded yesterday! Bright colours, perfectly sharp. Gorgeous!

And they all looked so good back then. I love this 1978/1979 periode, lookwise. I think it's great that they finally managed to come out with something new, namely the "The Name Of The Game" clip from Japan. Looks a bit strange with this background we already know from "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "If It Wasn't For The Nights", but still.

"ABBA on tour in 1977" is a nice little interview, which has the girls looking extremely sexy! Boy that scene where Agnetha points her boots to the camera. Yummy )

"Recording ABBA - The Album" shows Björn and Benny in the studio with a reporter and a little boy. Benny plays "Fernando" on the piano together with him and later on we get the treat of "The Name Of The Game" being played in the background (as a world premiere) with Benny and Björn jamming along on piano and guitar. Interesting to hear that this version of The Name Of The Game is NOT the final one. There are some audible differences!

The Blue Peter interview is nice, but way to short. But still, good to have it included on this release.

The same goes for the ABBA in America segment as well as the two commercials, though we of course already got them on the "The Movie" release.

Haven't had the time yet to go through the sleeve gallery, but it should be more or less the same concept as we know from "Arrival".

Sounds very positive, doesn't it? Well, it is. Thank god that I can still get excited when things like this are released. ;-)

Now I can look forward to the next thing, which will be the new BAO CD in 2 weeks

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

CHART UPDATE

The charts for the week of 28 September to 5 October

CANADA: ABBA - 20th Century Masters, The Best Of ABBA - down 1 to #49

ITALY: ABBA - 18 Hits off the chart. 28 Sept. 2007 #87 1wk.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

8 MINUTES OF LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME!

MAMMA MIA! IN GREECE - BLOG SHOTS

http://skopelos07.wordpress.com/

There are some nice new pictures on the Mamma Mia! Skopelos site.

A picture of Meryl and Amanda, Meryl strolling the beach.

There used to be more pictures, of Pierce and Coling enjoying themselves on the islands but they seem to have dissappeared.

Also pictures of a party where Benny is rumoured to have played the piano while Meryl and Pierce were belting out ABBA songs.

I also read somewhere that Benny is there with his boat cruising the Greek islands, but in another report they said it were Björn, Lena and the children.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, The Netherlands

FRIDA RUMOUR

According to the Swiss magazine "Glückspost" Frida will make a comeback. She will sing 12 to 14 songs with an orchestra - the reporter of the magazine met Frida in London at an event. Frida spokes to him because she recognised the spoken words as "Swiss German". Producer of the album will be John Lord of Deep Purple. She knows him from Zermatt where he's skiing for more than 20 years.

Thanks to ABBA fan Andreas Baumgartner, Switzerland

KRISTINA STUCK WITHOUT BACKING

Abba send an SOS

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, once the male, more bearded half of Abba,were determined to follow up their hugely successful Mamma Mia! with anotherWest End musical. They duly approached Herbie Kretzmer, the great lyricistof Les Miserables. Benny and Bjorn wanted to see if he could write thelyrics for the English version of Kristina, a musical they had written in Swedish about emigrants.

The plight of Kristina and her family, poor farmerswho swap famine in Sweden for poverty in America, had packed them in - in Stockholm. But all that Scandinavian gloom did not play well with the moneymen. After seeing a workshop, the potential financiers declared that sad doesn't sell. Herbie begs to differ. Les Miserables is a tearjerker that isthe West End's longest-running musical, and his next venture, Marguerite, isabout a courtesan who dies of TB in her lover's arms. Let the money men see sense and bring on Kristina.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2185416,00.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

CHART NEWS

Charts for the week of 21-28 September 2007

CANADA: ABBA - 20th century Masters, The Best Of ABBA . - down 9 places to #48

ITALY: ABBA - 18 Hits - New(?) on at #87

The Italian charts show, all entries, whether new or re-entry are shown as new.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

RELEASE DATES FOR MAMMA MIA! MOVIE UPDATED

Release dates for Mamma Mia! (2008)

Country Date
Australia 10 July 2008
Germany 17 July 2008
Russia 17 July 2008
Austria 18 July 2008
USA 18 July 2008
Mexico 8 August 2008
Norway 15 August 2008
Sweden 15 August 2008
UK 15 August 2008
Argentina 21 August 2008
Netherlands 21 August 2008
Denmark 22 August 2008
Spain 5 September 2008
Belgium 24 September 2008
France 24 September 2008

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mark Hannam, Sydney, Australia