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ABBA News Archive 2006

Here are the old messages from our ABBA- News page from the year 2006. Books have been moved to the Book List and obsolete announcements for TV shows and concerts have been deleted.


December 23, 2006

    Dear ABBA- website visitors and fan club members,

    we wish you all a wonderful, peaceful Christmas and all the best for a happy and healthy New Year. Thank you so much for all your support and the nice e-mails/letters that came this year.

    Best wishes

    from the whole ABBA- team


December 18, 2006
  • CHESS will be performed in the USA in Syracuse, NY in January 2007.
    Thanks to Lance Brown!


  • The ABBA Mania Show is touring Germany, Austria and Switzerland!
    Cover band ABBA Mania Cover band ABBA Mania
    Two casts of the ABBA Mania Tour are performing simultaneously due to high demand.


  • "ABBA Die Show" on German TV Kabel 1, December 20 at 8:15 PM local time is a repeat from November 2005, with Regina of ABBA- as a guest.
    You will find a short report in our News Archive.


  • Concerts with Benny's music Benny Andersson will be honoured by four concerts at the Berwaldhallen in Stockholm in February 2007. The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anders Berglund will perform Benny's music from Hep Stars, ABBA, Chess and Kristina från Duvemåla with the artists Anders Glenmark, Fred Johanson, Josefin Nilsson, Helena Jonason and the Maria Magdalena Motett Choir. The dates:
    • Thursday February 8, 7:00 PM
    • Friday February 9, 6:00 PM
    • Friday February 9, 9:00 PM
    • Saturday February 10, 3:00 PM
    All concerts are sold out.
    Thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany!


December 16, 2006
  • ABBA Number Ones is now at position 37 on the German charts.
    Thanks to Lutz Hartmann!


  • The "Stockholm Hall of Fame" at the Arlanda Airport arrival terminal 5 now includes ABBA in a photo gallery of the best-known Swedes.


December 11, 2006
  • You can now order tickets for next year's German Mamma Mia! in Essen at the Colosseum Theatre. The first performance listed there is on May 9, 2007 but we still don't know if this will be the premiere.


  • Our 2007 Calendar ABBA Number Ones sticker In the new ABBA- Magazine No. 47 you will find all the latest ABBA News, Full Report on Mamma Mia! in Russia, Review about the book Mamma Mia!, Interview with Anne Sofie von Otter, Interview with Elaine Paige, Interview with cast members of Belgian Mamma Mia!, Songbook "Disillusion" & "Mina ögon", Reader's Story and two big competitions for all ABBA- members.

    Here are some pages.
    Mamma Mia! premiere photos Songbook


  • ABBA Number Ones has entered the German charts at position 33.
    Thanks to Lutz Hartmann!


December 8, 2006
  • The German staging of the musical Mamma Mia! will come to Essen in 2007!
    Performances start in the end of May. We will inform you as soon as we get to know the premiere date.
    Thanks to Martina Wiemar!


  • No. 47 is out now. It contains a new calendar for 2007 plus an "ABBA Number Ones" sticker.


November 29, 2006
  • ABBA Museum in Stockholm An ABBA Museum will be built in Stockholm!

    It is planned to open in 2009 and the huge exhibition will include costumes, instruments, awards and memorabilia.
    An interactive part will allow the visitors to experience the concert atmosphere, create own videos and more.

    Right now they are looking for a suitable building in central Stockholm and we will keep reporting on the project.

    Thanks to Dmitry Shipov for the costume photo.

    Costumes for the ABBA museum






  • Swedish paper Expressen reports that a number of artists including Helen Sjöholm, Gunilla Backman, Jerry Williams, Magnus Carlsson, Thomas Di Leva, Mats Ronander and Peter Jöback will go on a concert tour in Sweden next spring, performing ABBA's greatest hits. Görel Hanser did not comment on this when asked by Expressen.

    Thanks to Steffen Stolze!









  • Album with English recording of 'Du måste finnas' Sound of Music is now offering the new live CD by Broadway musical stars Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley. It includes Alice Ripley's English language version "You Have To Be There" of Benny and Björn's "Du måste finnas", originally sung by Helen Sjöholm in Kristina från Duvemåla.

    Alice will play Ulrika in the Broadway staging of the musical.


    Planned German release date: December 10.



November 22, 2006
  • Unfortunately the second German Mamma Mia! in Stuttgart will also close in 2007. Stage Entertainment has published this just two weeks after the Hamburg decision was announced, again without giving an exact closing date.


  • French book Les années Disco Our Belgian correspondent Stany has found this French book about the disco era including three small articles about ABBA.

    Here is the link to Amazon France.




    Jacques Passis
    Les années Disco

    France: Ed. Chronique, Dargaud, 2006
    136 pages





November 16, 2006
  • Deutschland sucht den größten ABBA-Fan! Exclusively from Universal, Germany:

    With special thanks to Universal Germany we can announce the following campaign for "ABBA Number Ones".
    From Monday, November 20 on Germany will be searching for the greatest ABBA fan.

    The unique campaign "Deutschland sucht den größten ABBA-Fan!" by Universal Music, MyVideo & Sat.1 is calling all ABBA fans to prove they are the "Number One" ABBA fan!

    Ambitious, funny or strange: We are looking for self-made and self-produced videos and films where the fans - alone or as a group - convince us with creativity and wealth of ideas. And qualify for the title "The Greatest ABBA Fan!"

    The spectacular first prize will be a record contract, but there are many more prizes to be won.

    Everyone can participate and vote! Terms and further infos and details can be found at www.MyVideo.de .


  • Our Belgian correspondent Stany reports:
    The listeners of Radio2 Belgium voted early November for their favourite hits from the Eighties. In the Top 80 ABBA was at Number 2 with "The Winner Takes It All" and at Number 3 with "I Have A Dream". Queen held the top spot with "I Want To Break Free".


  • Iambic Productions is now preparing a 90 minute ABBA Special to be shown by ITV around Christmas.
    It will include a performance of ABBA's mini-musical "The Girl With The Golden Hair" featuring Atomic Kitten's Liz McClarnon and creator of The Rocky Horror Show Richard O'Brien.
    Thanks to our UK correspondent Lisa!


  • CD Carlo Brunner: ABBA Hits Carlo Brunner, a folk musician from Switzerland, has now released a CD with instrumental versions of ABBA songs, arranged with saxophone, clarinet and organ. The tracks 'Mountain ABBA' and 'ABBA Goes Switzerland' were written by Carlo himself: "If ABBA were Swiss, maybe they would have sounded like this."

    ABBA Hits
    Carlo Brunner (Instrumental)
    Catalogue number: K-tel BLM 330359-2, Switzerland

    1 Chiquitita
    2 Waterloo
    3 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
    4 Mamma Mia
    5 Fernando
    6 Money Money Money
    7 Honey Honey
    8 Mountain ABBA
    9 S.O.S.
    10 Super Trouper
    11 I Have A Dream
    12 ABBA Goes Switzerland


  • The musical Mamma Mia! now celebrates its second year performing at the Lope de Vega Theatre in Madrid. For this reason everyone in the public attending the show between November 11th and November 19th will be given a commemorative book about the musical.
    Mamma Mia! is playing in 11 cities all over the world. In Madrid it is playing its third season in the culture acts. More than 750,000 people attended more than 600 performances since the musical opened two years ago.
    This Stage Entertaiment production, is played by Nina, Marta Valverde, Paula Sebastián, Mariona Castillo, Alberto Vázquez and Bruno Squarcia y Nando González in the main roles.
    Thanks to our Spanish correspondent José Luis!


November 12, 2006
  • Some newspapers have written articles about a cooperation between Madonna, Agnetha and Frida. Like the Robbie Williams story, this is again just a rumour. Aftonbladet has asked Görel Hanser and she answered: "I have just talked to Frida. It's not true."


November 8, 2006
  • Unfortunately the German Mamma Mia! in Hamburg will end in summer 2007. The Operettenhaus Theatre is still selling out every show, but Stage Entertainment needs a location for a new production to premiere next year.


  • The Theater Nordhausen will stage CHESS next year in German language. The premiere will be February 2, more performances are February 4 at 2:30 PM, February 18 at 7:30 PM, March 3 at 7:30 PM, April 20 at 7:30 PM, May 12 at 7:30 PM, May 30 at 3:00 PM and June 15 at 7:30 PM.


  • We are getting many e-mails because some newspapers have written articles about Frida and Robbie Williams. These are based on a rumour started by a question to the ABBA members, which was answered by Frida and Björn on the ABBASite. Being asked "Who would you like to hear cover any of your songs?" they answered:
    • Frida: "Paul Anka, the way he sings on 'Rock Swings', and Stevie Wonder. Robbie Williams and I once talked about doing an ABBA song together!! He has not yet come back on that one! (giggle)"
    • Björn: "Elton John, U2, Stones, Robbie Williams or The Eagles."
    A few gossip papers have quoted Frida and added some wild speculations. But Frida's quote already reveals that nothing has happened at all and Robbie will not reunite ABBA!


  • ABBA in Performance book + DVD German MDR TV will repeat ABBA - Die Poplegende on December 25 at 8:15 PM local time.

    And don't miss the ABBA Kultnacht on ZDF TV, the night from November 24 to 25 at 0:05 AM!


  • The International Mamma Mia! Tour is now performing in Manchester at the Palace Theatre until 27 January 2007. The cast is invited to the centre stage on November 9 when the city's Christmas lights are being switched on.


  • A book with DVD titled ABBA in Performance will be released in Germany on November 17. Here is the link to Amazon.
    Thanks to Lennart Sommer!


October 28, 2006
  • Andre informed us that the single CD UK release of ABBA Number Ones has one more track: "Ring Ring" is track 15 and "Summer Night City" is the extended version on the UK release only.
    Thanks to Andre Reebok!


October 24, 2006
  • Universal have sent us the final tracklist for the ABBA Number Ones DVD. They have decided not to include "As Good As New" on the DVD while the CDs remain unchanged. Both will be released in the UK as well.


October 22, 2006
  • Dmitry Shipov has sent us his report from the Russian Mamma Mia! Premiere:

    The premiere of the Russian version of Mamma Mia! has taken place on Saturday 14 October.
    Frida and Björn attended the show from its beginning to the end. The whole audience gave them a standing ovation when they were entering the hall. Marvellous sound and vocals, perfect choreography, nobody remained unmoved! There was applause after every act. Fiery performance of the last acts made everyone in the hall standing!
    When the show was over, Frida and Björn went up on the stage.
    Björn said to the troupe: "This was astonishing, you have done almost impossible. And many thanks to the audiences for presenting us with this unforgettable Moscow night."
    "I have seen many stagings of Mamma Mia, but it was the first time when I couldn't understand a word,"
    - Frida joked. "The only word I know in Russian is 'Da'."(Yes)
    Frida also sang for the first time in Russia, performing Happy Birthday for Catherine Johnson (introduced by Björn), the musical's scriptwriter. Her birthday coincided with the premiere's date. Frida singing the greeting song was joined not only by the troupe members but also by the whole audience. The last sounds of the song were fading in loud prolonged applause.
    The premiere was honored with the attendance of Russian celebrities, such as sports legends Vladislav Tretyak, Irina Rodnina and Pavel Bure, and the Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov.


October 19, 2006
  • A big thank you goes to Mayumi Taheri from Japan, who sent us these great photos of Mamma Mia! in Moscow.
    More photos and a detailed report will follow in our next ABBA- fan club magazine.
    Mamma Mia! in Moscow - © Mayumi Taheri Mamma Mia! in Moscow - © Mayumi Taheri Mamma Mia! in Moscow - © Mayumi Taheri Mayumi, Frida, Vlad, Dmitry - © Dmitry Shipov MDM Theatre in Moscow - © Mayumi Taheri
    Photos © Mayumi Taheri

October 17, 2006
  • Mamma Mia! in Moscow had a successful premiere on October 14. Björn and Frida were there. We will show you some photos here in the next days.


  • On October 13 we had the 500,000th visitor on our website!  www.abba-.de   now exists for 5 years and we are very happy that you have made this site and the fan club such a big success. A big thank you goes to all our home page visitors and our ABBA fan club members.


October 10, 2006
  • Dear abbasite members,

    The forum on  www.abbasite.com  was closed on October 10, 2006 without giving reasons.

    Since then I have received a huge number of e-mails. Unfortunately I can't tell you the exact reson for closing the ABBA Forum. But it is very sad that the members had no more chance to save e-mail addresses and the like from the forum and that there was no opportunity just to say "Goodbye". I can understand your disappointment very well.

    Many friendships have been established through the forum. I have been a moderator of the forum for almost 5 years. It was great fun to participate in the abbasite, even if this also meant a lot of work (and sometimes irritation!). The nicest thing about the forum was to get to know you all. I have also made many friends there. It was great to read all those messages, discuss with you - and most of all, simply get to know you. I will always remember those really great 5 years. I hope we will stay in contact with each other.

    A big thank you to all of you - I already miss you from the forum! As an abbasite moderator, I say thank you once again and as the leader of the ABBA fan club "" I keep saying "Welcome" on our home page. I will be happy if you visit this page periodically and get in touch with us now and then.

    I kindly wish you lots of love and all the best. Don't forget it - we will stay in contact, united by one thing - our love for ABBA!

    Yours, Regina


October 7, 2006
  • ABBA Number Ones Universal has announced a new release including all of ABBA's number one hits.

    It will be available as CD, limited edition double CD and DVD.


    Release date: November 24, 2006








    Tracklists:


    CD: (Catalogue number 06025 170 931-9)
    1 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
    2 Summer Night City
    3 Dancing Queen
    4 Waterloo
    5 Money, Money, Money
    6 Mamma Mia
    7 The Winner Takes It All
    8 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
    9 Take A Chance On Me

    10 S.O.S.
    11 Chiquitita
    12 Fernando
    13 Super Trouper
    14 Knowing Me, Knowing You
    15 The Name Of The Game
    16 Voulez-Vous
    17 I Have A Dream
    18 One Of Us
    Limited edition double CD: (Catalogue number 06025 170 931-8)
    CD 1: as above
    CD 2:
    1 When I Kissed The Teacher
    2 Hole In Your Soul
    3 Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
    4 Me And I
    5 The King Has Lost His Crown
    6 Rock Me

    7 Tiger
    8 I Wonder
    9 Another Town, Another Train
    10 Our Last Summer
    11 Kisses Of Fire
    12 Slipping Through My Fingers

    DVD: (Catalogue number 06025 170 971-5)
    1 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
    2 Mamma Mia
    3 Dancing Queen
    4 Super Trouper
    5 S.O.S.
    6 Summer Night City
    7 Money, Money, Money
    8 The Winner Takes It All
    9 Chiquitita
    10 One Of Us

    11 Knowing Me, Knowing You
    12 Voulez-Vous
    13 Fernando
    14 Waterloo
    15 Ring, Ring
    16 The Name Of The Game
    17 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
    18 Take A Chance On Me
    19 I Have A Dream
    DVD Extras:
    Waterloo (live)    from Top of the Pops (April 11, 1974)
    I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do    from Momarkedet, Norway (August 30, 1975)
    S.O.S.    from Momarkedet, Norway (August 30, 1975)
    Waterloo    from Momarkedet, Norway (August 30, 1975)
    I Have A Dream    from BBC 1982 Late Late Breakfast Show
    Under Attack    from BBC 1982 Late Late Breakfast Show
    Interactive scrapbook with details of all the ABBA Number Ones


  • Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary on Broadway Sound of Music is now offering the new Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary on Broadway CD, which includes a bonus DVD with interviews, Broadway premiere reports and clips from stagings around the world.

    The CD is the 1999 London Cast Recording with three bonus tracks: "Mamma Mia", "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo" from the finale.
    Release date: October 17.


    They also have the Mamma Mia! Book.


  • The German release date for the Arrival 30th Anniversary Edition is October 13.
    You can watch a preview clip of the included DVD on the start page of ABBASite.


October 1, 2006
  • This photo is taken from the book "Mamma Mia! How Can I Resist You". To our ABBA Fan Club members: You can look forward to our next ABBA- issue. We will have books and posters of "Mamma Mia! How Can I Resist You" to give away!
    Photo from Mamma Mia! book - © Krüger Verlag


  • Mamma Mia! will come to Gothenburg!
    The musical premiere at the Scandinavium will be on May 9, 2007. Ticket sales are planned to start on November 27.


  • A new triple CD including rarities and exclusive recordings by German musical stars is now available from Sound of Music.

    Annika Bruhns (alternate Donna from Mamma Mia! in Hamburg and Florence from Chess, Kassel) sings a Mamma Mia! song especially recorded for this CD: "Durch meine Finger rinnt die Zeit" (Slipping Through My Fingers) in a beautiful and unusual version.
    Here is the direct link to MUSICAL STARS Vol. 2 (catalogue number Sony 82876 85931 2).


  • Mamma Mia! Book - German edition The book "Mamma Mia - How Can I Resist You" by Björn, Benny and Judy Craymer will be released in German on October 20. It contains more than 300 private photos, some of them previously unpublished.

    You can have a look here.




    Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Judy Craymer
    MAMMA MIA! How Can I Resist You?

    Germany: Krüger Verlag, 2006
    Hardcover
    ISBN 3-8105-0185-9
    284 pages
    Translated by Charlotte Lyne

    Price 39.90 Euro / SFR 69.40




September 27, 2006
  • Unfortunately the Anne Sofie von Otter concert in Munich on October 1 has been cancelled due to low demand. All winners of our competition will be offered replacement tickets.


  • You can now see photos from ABBA's "Happy Hawaii" cartoon video clip on the ABBASite.


  • Björn has met the Russian Mamma Mia! cast on September 24 in Moscow.
    Special thanks to Dmitry Shipov!
    Mamma Mia! in Moscow - © Vladimir Korneev
    Photo © Vladimir Korneev

    On 24 September Björn Ulvaeus visited Moscow for a few hours to get to know the ensemble of the Russian version of Mamma Mia!.
    In the afternoon he visited an observation place on Vorobyovy hills to take a view over Moscow.
    By 5.00 PM he arrived at the MDM concert hall to meet the cast. The meeting began at 6.00, and after an opening speech of the stage producer, at 6.15 Björn went up the stage. After Russian actors were introduced to Björn, Natalia Bystrova (who plays the part of Sophie) presented him a Gzhel (Russian traditional blue and white ceramics) samovar. Then Björn went down to the auditorium and took a seat in the first row.
    The musicians started to play the intro (ABBA songs medley) and after Money, Money, Money had been performed (at 6.33) the press and the other guests were asked to leave the hall. The audition and rehearsal lasted until 10 PM.
    The next day (25 September, 20.33 PM) a short report on Björn's visit was broadcast on the Russian TV channel. It included Björn's interview behind the MDM scenes, his stroll on Vorobyovy hills and signing records to a fan.


  • Our Belgian correspondent Stany reports:
    Last night Mamma Mia! won 6 Flemish Musical Awards in Antwerp. Vera Mann opened the show with 'De winnaar heeft de macht' and cult Eurovision stars Nicole and Hugo were among the guests. The awards were:
    Best Musical
    Best Actress in a Leading Role: Vera Mann
    Best Supporting Actress: Myriam Bronzwaar
    Best Supporting Actor: Mark Tijsmans
    Best Song: "De winnaar heeft de macht" (The Winner Takes It All)
    Princess publieksprijs (Public Prize)
    More info on www.musicalsite.be


September 21, 2006
  • Anne Sofie von Otter will receive the award Bremen Musikfest-Preis 2006 in the city hall of Bremen on September 23.


September 7, 2006
  • Benny's son Peter Grönvall plans to write a Hep Stars Musical together with actor Ulf Larsson. The show will be named "Cadillac" after one of the band's greatest hits and former singer Svenne Hedlund will support the project.


  • Our Belgian correspondent Stany reports:
    On September 25th the annual Award Ceremony for Flemish Musicals will take place in Antwerp. Mamma Mia! is nominated in 7 official categories:
    • Beste musical (Best Musical)
      "Mamma Mia" - Joop van den Ende theaterproducties
    • Beste vrouwelijke hoofdrol (Best Actress in a Leading Role)
      Vera Mann - "Mamma Mia"
    • Beste vrouwelijke bijrol (Best Supporting Actress)
      Myriam Bronzwaar, Sasha Rosen - "Mamma Mia"
    • Beste mannelijke bijrol (Best Supporting Actor)
      Mark Tijsmans - "Mamma Mia"
    • Beste inhoudelijke prestatie (Best Script Adaptation)
      Els De Schepper (Flemish adaptation of Mamma Mia)
    • Beste song (Best Song)
      "De winnaar heeft de macht" (The Winner Takes It All) - "Mamma Mia"
    • Prijs voor aanstormend talent (Best New Talent)
      Lokke Dieltiens (actrice "Mamma Mia")
    • Princess publieksprijs (the public can vote for this award)
      "Mamma Mia"
    More info on www.musicalsite.be


September 2, 2006
  • Anne Sofie von Otter - I Let The Music Speak The album "I Let The Music Speak" by Swedish opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter is out now.
    It includes music written by Benny & Björn like ABBA hits and songs from the musicals "Chess" and "Kristina från Duvemåla".

    Catalogue number: Deutsche Grammophon CD 477 5901



  • Christer Petterson, former member of the Hep Stars, has died last Sunday at the age of 63.


August 23, 2006
  • The new issue No. 46 (again with a colour cover!) is out now. Here are a few pages!
    News Extra, Competition Björn and Benny in Belgium Interview with Peter Cetera, Songbook


August 21, 2006
  • According to ZDF's teletext page 399, the following programme has been postponed to August 29 !

    German ZDF TV will show a documentary on the Swedish royal couple on Tuesday, August 29 from 8.15 PM - 9.00 PM local time. The programme "Majestät" will include a new interview with Frida recently made at King Carl Gustaf's 60th birthday and maybe more interesting material.
    Special thanks to Ronald Wischer and Bernd Scheiber!


  • Mamma Mia! is Germany's best-selling musical album of 2005 and 2006. The hit musical will be awarded with the "Goldene Stimmgabel" (Golden Tuning Fork) on September 16. Carolin Fortenbacher, who is playing Donna in Hamburg and on the German cast recording, will perform a 5 minute ABBA medley together with the Hamburg ensemble at the award ceremony.
    The TV broadcast will be on September 24 at 8:15 PM local time on ZDF TV.


July 30, 2006
  • Mamma Mia! book The first official Mamma Mia! book written by Benny, Björn and producer Judy Craymer will be published in the UK on September 20. The book includes many photos of ABBA and the show and may be pre-ordered here.
    In the USA and Canada the book will be released by Sterling Publishing on October 17.


    Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Judy Craymer
    MAMMA MIA! How Can I Resist You?

    UK: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2006
    Hardcover
    ISBN 0297844210
    264 pages



July 9, 2006
  • Our Belgian correspondent Stany reports:
    Last Sunday saw the very last performance of the Flemish version of Mamma Mia! with a cheering crowd (impossible to hear Sophie singing the last notes of "I Have A Dream"!), flowers and tears. Sasha Roosen (Sophie) told she is very sad it is all over now, but that's the way it is. Erwin Van Lambaert thanked all involved on behalf of Joop van den Ende productions. He said they were very proud about this success and about Björn and Benny's comment that this is one of the best Mamma Mia!s worldwide. He also said it was exceptional that both Björn and Benny came to see the show. With 155,000 tickets sold it is the most successful musical in Belgium for ages.


July 2, 2006
  • A 30th anniversary Deluxe Edition of "Arrival" is planned to be released in October 2006.
    It will contain one CD with the original album plus 6 bonus tracks and one DVD with the 1976 TV special "ABBA-dabba-doo!!". This one-hour show includes interviews and 8 of the songs on the album. The video performances of "Dum Dum Diddle", "Why Did It Have To Be Me" and "When I Kissed The Teacher" will have the original audio.
    Universal has now announced the other material on the DVD on the ABBASite and it even includes "Dancing Queen" from the German "Musikladen Extra".

    CD:
    1 When I Kissed The Teacher
    2 Dancing Queen
    3 My Love, My Life
    4 Dum Dum Diddle
    5 Knowing Me, Knowing You
    6 Money, Money, Money
    7 That’s Me
    8 Why Did It Have To Be Me
    9 Tiger
    10 Arrival

    Bonus tracks:
    11 Fernando
    12 Happy Hawaii
    13 Fernando (Spanish version)
    14 La Reina Del Baile (Spanish version of Dancing Queen)
    15 Conociéndome, Conociéndote (Spanish version of Knowing Me, Knowing You)
    16 Fernando (Swedish Frida solo version)

    DVD:
    1 ABBA-dabba-doo!!    (1976)
    2 Dancing Queen    (from German TV's "Musikladen" 1976)
    3 Fernando    (from "Top Of The Pops" 1976)
    4 Happy Hawaii    (1976 cartoon version)
    5 Dancing Queen Recording Session    (Swedish TV documentary from 1975)
    6 ABBA in London    (from TV show "Nationwide" 1976)
    7 ABBA's 1976 Success    (from Swedish TV news "Rapport")
    8 Arrival TV Commercial 1    (1977)
    9 Arrival TV Commercial 2    (1977)
    10 International Sleeve Gallery    (Arrival-related single and album sleeves)


June 22, 2006
  • DVD ABBA 16 Hits The DVD "ABBA - 16 Hits" will be released next week.

    Catalogue number: Universal/Polar 0602498562208


    1 The Winner Takes It All
    2 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
    3 The Name Of The Game
    4 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
    5 S.O.S.
    6 Thank You For The Music
    7 Dancing Queen
    8 Chiquitita
    9 The Day Before You Came
    10 On And On And On
    11 Voulez-Vous
    12 Does Your Mother Know
    13 Happy New Year
    14 Waterloo
    15 Knowing Me, Knowing You
    16 When All Is Said And Done



  • Our UK correspondent Lisa has asked co-producer Bruce Gaitsch about a possible remaster of Agnetha's solo album "I Stand Alone" and here is his answer:

    "I would love the CD being remastered... So would Peter I believe.. Remixed would really be nice... but I have no idea where the tapes would be.
    Bruce"



  • Mamma Mia! in Moscow Mamma Mia! in Russia will premiere at the MDM Theatre in Moscow on October 14, 2006.

    On May 31 a press conference about the start of the Russian production of the Mamma Mia! show was held in the MDM theatre in Moscow. The speakers were:
    Alexey Kortnev - translator of the ABBA lyrics,
    Alexander Popov - executive producer Mamma Mia! Russia,
    Dmitry Bogachev - Stage Entertainment Russia's (the local production company) director.
    They told the press about the upcoming show and details of the casting campaign in Russia.
    Natalia Bystrova, who is to play Sophie in the Moscow cast, was presented to journalists as well as a number of short promotional movies about the production company and the musical itself. Besides, a live performance by international production soloists took place on stage.

    A big thank you goes to Dmitry Shipov of the Russian ABBA Fan Club!




  • Mamma Mia! in Korea - © Mayumi Taheri Mamma Mia! has re-opened at the Seoul Arts Centre in Korea.
    Special thanks go to Mayumi Taheri from Japan, who took this photo at the premiere!







    The international tour has returned to South Africa. It will play at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town until July 15 and then at the Pretoria State Theatre from July 19 - August 13.

    The North American tour opened in Mexico City on June 7.


June 8, 2006
  • Next week our Belgian correspondent Stany opens his own ABBA exhibition which presents mainly self-taken pictures from recent years. Flemish artist Tom Spilliaert created a video installation and lots of authentic ABBA memorabilia are showcased. The exhibition runs until July 8th in Gent, Belgium.
    For more information e-mail   stany@abba-.de

    ABBA Buzz Exhibition in Belgium Frida at the Polar Music Prize 2003 - © Stany van Wijmeersch


June 4, 2006
  • When Lone van Roosendaal recently got the Dutch Musical Award, Björn and Benny received a Cubus Oeuvre Award at the same show. The prize was handed over to Björn.
    Thanks to Michel Evers!


June 1, 2006
  • Legenden - ABBA The publishers of the German magazine "Frau im Spiegel" have made an ABBA edition as part of their "Legenden" series. The magazine includes 150 photos, it is available from June 1 and the German price is 2.60 Euros.






May 28, 2006
  • Mamma Mia! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End has been extended through September 2007 and the new tickets are available by now.
    The Korean staging opens again at the Seoul Arts Centre on June 17.


  • Lone Van Roosendaal who played Donna in the last performances of Mamma Mia! in Utrecht received a Dutch Musical Award for her role in "Sweet Charity" on May 22. Lone was also an alternate Donna in the Antwerp production from mid-May.
    Mamma Mia! Utrecht final - © Stany Van Wijmeersch
    Photo © Stany Van Wijmeersch

    A cover version of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" recorded by Sylver is currently a Top 10 hit in Belgium. The CD single including a radio mix and four remixes has also entered the German charts. A sample can be heard on the group's website.
    Thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany!


May 24, 2006
  • Here are some photos of Frida at the Polar Music Prize ceremony at the Konserthuset in Stockholm.
    Frida at the Polar Music Prize 2006 Frida at the Polar Music Prize 2006 Frida at the Polar Music Prize 2006


May 19, 2006
  • Instead of going on tour this summer, Benny Anderssons Orkester presented their live album "BAO på turné" with a concert at Benny's hotel Rival in Stockholm last Monday. The new group Florence performed on the same evening.
    Special thanks to Steffen Stolze and Maik Dünkel!
    Benny at the Rival Concert poster at the Rival Mono Music's sales desk BAO with Helen Sjöholm - © Maik Dünkel Benny on stage - © Maik Dünkel
    Photos © Maik Dünkel


  • Licht und Schatten, new edition The German translation of Carl Magnus Palm's book "Bright Lights, Dark Shadows" is now available in a new edition. The content remains the same.

    Carl Magnus Palm
    Licht und Schatten

    ABBA - Die wahre Geschichte
    German translation by Helmut Müller
    Berlin: Bosworth Verlag, 2006
    Hard- and Softcover
    ISBN 3-86543-100-3
    638 pages






  • Anne Sofie von Otter - I Let The Music Speak Swedish opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter has recorded the album "I Let The Music Speak" with music written by Benny & Björn.
    It includes ABBA hits and songs from the musicals "Chess" and "Kristina från Duvemåla". The record is planned to be released in late August.

    Visit the ABBASite for more information.




May 15, 2006
  • Second edition of Bubi Heilemann's book A Tribute to Frida Here you have the link to order the Frida book directly.


    Also still available is the gigantic ABBA book "ABBA - Photographs 1974-1980" by Wolfgang "Bubi" Heilemann via this link.


    Both books are written in English and German.


May 12, 2006
  • The success of Mamma Mia! in Belgium continues. More than 115,000 people have seen the show since the premiere on March 12th. By popular request 55,000 new tickets have been released for 30 extra shows. This means that Mamma Mia! will now run until July 2nd.
    Info & tickets: 0032 (0)70/696869 and www.mamma-mia.be.
    Thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany!


  • The group singing this year's German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest is called Texas Lightning and their album also includes a cover version of "Dancing Queen". You can listen to a clip from that recording on the Amazon website.
    Thanks to Adriaan for the link!


April 23, 2006
  • Björn in Hamburg with Janina (left) and Anke - Photo © Stagepool Björn has been in Hamburg on April 19 to present the StagePool Scholarship to singer Anke Haas and actress Janina Elkin. Both will use the prizes for workshops to improve their knowledge. The German press and ZDF TV have reported on this event.






  • Universal has confirmed that Hollywood star Tom Hanks acquired the rights for a film production of the musical Mamma Mia! planned to be made in the end of 2007. He is interested in Nicole Kidman and Antonio Banderas for the leading roles.


  • BAO På Turné Instead of going on tour this summer, Benny Anderssons Orkester will release their new live album "BAO På Turné" (BAO on tour) in Sweden on May 10. The recordings were made during last year's tour in Örebro and Leksand.
    The single "Det Är Vi Ändå" with vocals by Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg, known from last year's Allsång på Skansen, is now being played on Swedish radio.
    Here is the album's cover picture.

    Catalogue number: MMCD022


  • The listeners of Flemish Radio 2 in Belgium have voted ABBA's "Dancing Queen" number 1 of the "Seventies Top 70" charts on April 16.
    "Dancing Queen" is also number 2 on the "Homo Top 100", only beaten by Kate Ryan's Eurovision song "Je t'adore". Kate Ryan has recently met Benny and Björn in Belgium.
    More than 100,000 tickets for the Antwerp production of Mamma Mia! have been sold by now.
    Thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany!


April 19, 2006
  • One of the characters in the animated film "Asterix and the Vikings" is called Abba and posters with her drawing and the text "ABBA Viking Fashion!" are promoting the film.
    Thanks to our French correspondent Olivier!


  • Capital Gold from London have compiled an "All Time Top 500 Albums" chart.
    Five ABBA albums are on the list:
    7: ABBA Gold,  34: ABBA Greatest Hits,  96: Arrival,  319: The Album,  421: ABBA Greatest Hits Vol. 2.
    Thanks to our UK correspondent Lisa!


  • A number of ABBA songs are now available as mobile phone ringtones. Universal offers them as realtones, parts of the original recordings (for mobiles that can play such files) instead of the usual synthesizer tunes. Here is the list of songs: "Ring Ring", "Mamma Mia", "S.O.S.", "Dancing Queen", "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", "Waterloo", "Super Trouper", "Money, Money, Money", "Fernando", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Voulez-Vous", "Does Your Mother Know", "Honey Honey", "Take A Chance On Me", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Thank You For The Music".


April 9, 2006
  • Universal has announced the release date for the Lycka album by Björn and Benny on the ABBASite: May 22. It will be released in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.


April 6, 2006
  • The ABBA cotton bag and the CD Special thanks to Universal Germany for this information:
    The first buyers of the remastered "ABBA - Greatest Hits" will have the chance to get this ABBA bag exclusively at the German "Saturn" record and consumer electronics shops. The offer is valid as long as supplies last.

    The German release date is April 21 and the album will be a special price edition in a cardboard gatefold sleeve Digi-Pak.





April 2, 2006
  • Here are greetings to our readers from Benny and Björn, written onto the Mamma Mia! programme in Antwerp.

    Greetings from Benny & Björn



March 31, 2006
  • Yesterday March 30th, Benny and Björn visited Antwerp. In the afternoon they were received by the Mayor of Antwerp at the City Hall where they signed the Golden Book. Later that night they went to see the Flemish version of Mamma Mia! at the Stadsschouwburg. During the break they received a platinum award from Universal for the sales of 300,000 copies of "ABBA Gold". During the finale of the show they got a standing ovation from the public. After the show there was a final photo call with the Flemish cast members. Björn and Benny were very enthusiastic about the Flemish cast who in the words of Björn act very ‘physically’.
    Björn and Benny in Antwerp - © Stany Van Wijmeersch Björn and Benny in Antwerp - © Stany Van Wijmeersch
    Photos © Stany Van Wijmeersch



March 29, 2006
  • Due to the enormous success, the Flemish version of Mamma Mia! has been prolonged until the end of May. Thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany!


  • Mamma Mia! in Sweden has won 6 awards at the Golden Mask prize ceremony in Gothenburg: Best Musical, Gunilla Backman (Donna) as Best Female Leading Actress in a musical, Charlott Strandberg (Tanya) as Best Female Supporting Actress in a musical, Paul Garrington as Best Director for a Swedish production, Mark Thompson as Best Set Designer and a special prize from the jury went to Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Görel Hanser.


March 17, 2006
  • The "ABBA Greatest Hits" CD will be released in Germany on April 21. There are plans to release Benny and Björn's remastered "Lycka" in Germany as well, but the date has not been set.


  • New Book: A Tribute to Frida We can now show you three more photos from the new book "A Tribute to Frida"!

    This book with lots of photos from the private archives of Philippe Elan and Jean-Marie Potiez covers Frida's career from the beginning in a jazz club to her present environmental activities and the anti-drug project Mentor. It also includes unpublished pictures with Agnetha, Björn and Benny and the new German release date is April 1, 2006. You will find more information on the publisher's website!


    Philippe Elan & Jean-Marie Potiez

    A Tribute to Frida
    Berlin: Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag, Germany 2006
    ISBN 3-89602-692-5
    large format 24 x 30 cm, in English and German
    156 pages, about 200 pictures
    Price: 29.90 Euro (in Germany) or  52.20 Swiss Francs
    Photo: EMI Svenska
    Photo: EMI Svenska
    Photo: Kjell Johansson
    Photo: Kjell Johansson
    Photo: Jean-Marie Potiez Collection
    Photo: Jean-Marie Potiez Collection



March 13, 2006
  • Yesterday, March 12th, Mamma Mia! in Antwerp opened to an enthusiastic public. Lots of well-known people from radio, TV and media were invited.
    Mamma Mia! in Antwerp - © Maurits Brands Mamma Mia! in Antwerp - © Maurits Brands Mamma Mia! in Antwerp - © Maurits Brands
    Photos © Maurits Brands

    The Flemish version is based on the Utrecht production. Els De Schepper adapted parts of the dialogues but was not allowed to change the lyrics of the songs. This production has undoubtedly one of the strongest casts with Vera Mann, Lulu Aertgeerts and Myriam Bronzwaar as Donna and the Dynamos. Equally, the 3 fathers played by Jan Schepens, Mark Tijsmans (hilarious as Harry) and Marc Coessens put all their energy and singing talent in their roles. The real-life couple Sasha Rosen and Davy Giles are very convincing as the young romantics. With already 45,000 tickets sold and very favourable reviews the Flemish Mamma Mia! is a guaranteed success!
    Read more about this wonderful production in the next magazine, including interviews with cast members. Find out what they think about ABBA! For information and tickets visit www.mamma-mia.be

    Many thanks to our Belgian correspondent Stany Van Wijmeersch!


March 11, 2006
  • Mono Music has now confirmed that there will be a live album by Benny Anderssons Orkester this spring. The contents and the name of the album are not known so far.


March 9, 2006
  • Cover of the new 'Lycka' album Universal will re-release Björn and Benny's first album "Lycka" from 1970 in May 2006.

    The remastered CD will contain 14 bonus tracks and the last one is a previously unpublished English version of the title track "Lycka".
    Agnetha and Frida are singing on 7 of the songs. So far it is only known to be released in Sweden.

    Catalogue number: Universal 987 682-3

    1 Lycka
    2 Nånting är på väg
    3 Kära gamla sol
    4 Det där med kärlek
    5 Välkommen in i gänget
    6 Lilla du, lilla vän
    7 Hej gamle man!
    8 Liselott
    9 Kalles visa
    10 Ge oss en chans
    11 Livet går sin gång
    Bonus tracks:
    12 She’s My Kind Of Girl
    13 Inga Theme
    14 Det kan ingen doktor hjälpa
    15 På bröllop
    16 Tänk om jorden vore ung
    17 Träskofolket
    18 En karusell
    19 Att finnas till
    20 Hey, Musikant
    21 Was die Liebe sagt
    22 Love Has Its Ways
    23 Rock’n Roll Band
    24 Merry-Go-Round
    25 To Live With You


February 22, 2006
  • The ABBA Greatest Hits CD will be released in the UK as well. Universal UK has officially informed our correspondent Lisa.
    You can order it from CD Wow.


February 18, 2006
  • ABBA Greatest Hits Universal will re-release ABBA Greatest Hits on CD for its 30th anniversary.

    The gatefold sleeve will have the picture by Hans Arnold already used for the original Polar LP. It will be definitely released in Sweden and Germany, we don't know other release countries yet.

    Release date: April 24, 2006
    Catalogue number: Universal 987 715-6

    1 Fernando
    2 S.O.S.
    3 He Is Your Brother
    4 Ring Ring
    5 Hasta Mañana
    6 Nina, Pretty Ballerina
    7 Honey, Honey
    8 So Long
    9 I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
    10 People Need Love
    11 Bang-A-Boomerang
    12 Another Town, Another Train
    13 Mamma Mia
    14 Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
    15 Waterloo


February 16, 2006
  • A 3 CD box titled ABBA Chronicles will be released by Universal USA in the end of March. We will inform you as soon as we have details about content and cover.


  • Dan Daniell, who sang "Lieber Gott" with Frida, will release a new CD in spring 2006, including a German version of Agnetha's "What Now My Love". The track is titled "Was wird aus mir", it's got wonderful lyrics and is a brilliant song by Dan. Special thanks to Dan Daniell for the news and for letting us listen to the song. Three of the other songs we were able to listen to were also wonderful.


  • Musical stars from Stuttgart The casts of Mamma Mia! and Elisabeth in Stuttgart have collected 85.000 Euro from the audiences of both theatres and donated the money to the Olgäle foundation for sick children. The photo shows Jasna Ivir (Donna), Wietske van Tongeren (Elisabeth) and Susan Rigvava-Dumas (Elisabeth's mother-in-law Sophie) in their costumes together with Dr. Stefanie Schuster, president of the foundation and Dr. Bernd Schmidt, manager of the Palladium and Apollo theatres.


  • The Frida DVD will be released in the UK on February 27. It is already listed on Amazon.
    Thanks to our UK correspondent Lisa!







February 8, 2006
  • ABBA The Movie has won the Swedish Grammy Award for best DVD on February 7!


  • The Operettenhaus Theatre in Hamburg now has a special "U25" ticket offer for the German Mamma Mia! shows. If there are any tickets left, people under the age of 25 may buy them at the box office on the day of the performance for just 29 Euro. Advance booking or reservations are not possible for this special offer.


February 1, 2006
  • The upcoming issue Nr. 45 This is the title page of Nr. 45, which will be in colour again.
    Special thanks go to Jean-Marie Potiez and Philippe Elan for their permission to use the photo.


  • The International Mamma Mia! Tour will perform at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, England from November 7, 2006 to January 27, 2007. Tickets will be on sale from February 3. Thanks to our UK correspondent Lisa!


  • The Dutch Mamma Mia! cast album got a platinum award for selling over 80,000 copies. The Dutch performances have been seen by over 1.2 million people.






January 23, 2006
  • The Russian version of Mamma Mia! is planned to have its premiere in October 2006 in Moscow. Rehearsals will start in August-September and the production company is Stage Entertainment Russia.
    Special thanks to Dmitriy Shipov from the Russian ABBA Fan Club!


January 11, 2006
  • Both German Mamma Mia! stagings have contributed 66,525 Euros to charities researching leukaemia. The amount was raised at the "José Carreras Gala" on TV.
    The international Mamma Mia! tour now returns to the Stadthalle in Vienna.


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