Abba/TV Program Compile 1976-1981

A video work of over 2 hours, which is a compilation of valuable multi-camera professional shots from the heyday, has been decided to be released. This work includes four TV programs. Three of these programs are over 30 minutes long, and are masterpiece compilations that allow you to thoroughly enjoy ABBA in action. Now, let’s introduce each one individually. [March 1976: THE BEST OF ABBA (11 songs)] The first song that appears is “THE BEST OF ABBA,” which is also the title of this work. This is a special program from Australia, where ABBA is the most popular in the world. This program was filmed on March 11th and 12th, 1976 in Sydney. At that time, it was four months after the release of their biggest hit, “GREATEST HITS,” and with the release of their single “Fernando,” they were about to reach their peak. The special program produced in Australia, where ABBA was extremely popular during these times, is a masterpiece that has become legendary among fans. The four members repeatedly perform mimes in the station’s studio, greeting each other and introducing the songs, without the presence of a host. Although it appears to be a general shoot, the sets and costumes change in detail for each song. In Japan, it’s like a “Night Hi* Studio” program that runs for about 40 minutes with just ABBA. And, the selection is truly “GREATEST HITS to see with your eyes.” He also sings “Tropical Loveland” and “Rock Me” from “ABBA,” but the other nine songs are all “GREATEST HITS” numbers. In Western music, where the supremacy of original albums has become established, best albums tend to be neglected, but in the case of A BBA, “GREATEST HITS” is considered a historical masterpiece along with the Eagles, QUEEN, Elton John, etc. This program can be said to be the video version of that. [September 1975: MADE IN SWEDEN FOR EXPORT (3 songs)] The second program that follows is “MADE IN SWEDEN FOR EXPORT” from January 1976. It was a 45-minute special produced by Swedish television station SVT, starring Lill Lindfors, Bjorn Skifs, and others. This album includes three of ABBA’s songs, “Mamma Mia,” “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” and “So Long.” This program is also a mime, but it is more like a PV than “THE BEST OF ABBA”. “MADE IN SWEDEN FOR EXPORT” refers to ABBA themselves, and in “Mamma Mia,” the importer’s old men and Benny and Bjorn play slapstick, while Agnetha and Frida sing in front of them. Then, in “So Long,” they set up a studio in a vendor’s warehouse without permission and perform intensely (the old men make a small play, saying, “What is this? It’s so annoying”). “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” is suddenly inserted between those two songs. Here, the worldview is completely different, with the four of them relaxing in a picnic style and singing while the saxophone troupe is lined up in a field. It’s a video that seems to be ahead of the MTV PV era, and it’s especially impressive in this work, which has many studio scenes. [October 1976: ABBA IN POLAND (10 songs, 11 takes)] The third is the TV special “ABBA In Poland” produced in 1976. Although it is a familiar program to enthusiasts, this work is a valuable 1978 Japanese broadcast version. The key point is the Japanese subtitles that are unique to Nippon Broadcasting. The title of the song is displayed in old-fashioned handwritten captions, and the Japanese translation of the lyrics is also displayed for most songs. This is also mainly a mime performance with the audience in the TV station’s studio, but the set and production are very 70’s. If “THE BEST OF ABBA” is “Night Hit Studio”, this one has the flavor of “The Best of ABBA”. Although it was not recorded in Japan, it is a program that evokes a strange feeling of nostalgia. And the selection can be called “moving ARRIVAL.” “S.O.S.” and “Nina, Pretty Ballerina” are also played during the moving scene, but after entering the main studio, the “ARRIVAL” number becomes a hit. Six songs, more than half of the album, will be released on a large scale, including “Fernando (also included on the Australian version of ARRIVAL)”. Furthermore, the global sense of the times that oozes out is also delicious. The photo was taken in Warsaw in October 1976, in Poland at the time, on the other side of the Iron Curtain. ABBA’s homeland of Sweden has a deep historical relationship with Poland, and it may have something to do with the fact that they were particularly politically neutral among the Nordic countries, but they were able to appear on TV in the 1970s. Because the incident was so precious, there was a unique atmosphere on the plane heading to the foreign country, and even the manager went out of his way to give an interview and said, “I accepted this TV appearance for free.” The press and crowd waiting at the airport are also clearly shown, and at the end of the program he says, “Coming to Poland was a great experience,” and “It was a wonderful audience.” [April 1981: DICK CAVETT MEETS ABBA (8 songs)] The last song to appear is in April 1981, after a long time. This is “DICK CAVETT MEETS ABBA” made in my home country of Sweden. The previous programs featured choreographed performances in the studio while singing, but this video is completely staged. Agnetha and Frida sang with handheld microphones without any choreography (although they were looking at the camera), and the band surrounding them was immersed in their performance. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” and “Super Trouper” are also performed in a medley arrangement, and the video emphasizes ABBA’s musical side rather than their idol side. And the set contents are much later than the above three programs. The only song that hits me is “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” and the rest are full of famous songs from “THE ALBUM” onwards. They will also perform the single-only “Summer Night City.” At that time, the production of “THE VISITORS” had just begun, and there was more than half a year until its release, but “Two for the Price of One” and “Slipping Through My Fingers” were already being performed. That’s 4 programs, 33 songs, 2 hours and 3 minutes. From “GREATEST HITS” to “THE VISITORS,” ABBA has taken the world by storm. This is a video work that allows you to see its shining appearance with multi-camera professional shots. How did the four of them create wonderful masterpieces and captivate the world? This is a piece that makes you realize this with a sight that is more than a hundred words. Please take this opportunity to try it. The Best Of ABBA: Sydney, Australia March 1976 ABBA In Poland: Warsaw, Poland 7th & 8th October 1976 Dick Cavett Meets ABBA: Stockholm, Sweden April 1981 Programme 1 The Best Of ABBA Filmed in Sydney, Australia March 1976 1. Mamma Mia 2 . Hasta Manana 3. Ring Ring 4. Tropical Loveland 5. Waterloo 6. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 7. Rock Me 8. Honey Honey 9. Fernando 10. So Long 11. SOS Made In Sweden For Export 12. Mamma Mia 13. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 14. So Long Programme 2 ABBA In Poland: Japanese Broadcast Version Filmed in Warsaw, Poland 7th & 8th October 1976 Broadcast Date: 29th December 1978 1. Waterloo 2. S.O.S. 3. Interview 4. Nina, Pretty Ballerina 5. Dancing Queen 6. My Love, My Life 7. When I Kissed The Teacher 8. Knowing Me, Knowing You 9. Fernando 10. Tiger 11. Money, Money, Money 12. Fernando Programme 3 Dick Cavett Meets ABBA SVT Studios, Stockholm, Sweden April 1981 1. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)/Super Trouper 2. Two for the Price of One 3. Slipping Through My Fingers 4. Me and I 5. Knowing Me, Knowing You 6. Summer Night City 7. Thank You for the Music 8. On and On and On PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx. 123min.