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Greatest Hits in Scandinavia - November 1975
Let's Boogie - Michael B. Tretow
Fernando & Dancing Queen - the videos
ABBA in Australia - March 1976
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The first Scandinavian version of "Greatest Hits" was released on November 17, 1975. The gatefold cover featured a funny painting of ABBA created by Hans Arnold and the classical picture of ABBA in the park on Lidingö outside Stockholm. The first issue of the album did not include "Fernando" which was added on the later international versions of the album. The Scandinavian release of "Greatest Hits" contained 14 songs which had been successful in Sweden, Norway and Denmark between 1972 and 1975. Even some non-single hits as "Hasta Mañana" or "Another Town Another Train" were included on this compilation.
The photo sessions for the album were arranged by Bengt H. Malmqvist in the autumn of 1975. (see even: ABBA related places - the related place no 35)
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Bravo in Stockholm
In the autumn of 1975 Wolfgang Heilemann met ABBA in Stockholm and took en extended photo session. Many of the pictures taken during this session would be published in newspapers all over the world.
The King session
featuring Björn in the armchair with a crown on his head.
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At the office
Thousands of pictures were taken at the headquarter in Baldersgatan in Stockholm.
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The Moulin Rouge Session
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Benny and Björn were dressed in tailcoats and top hats and the girls in Charleston costumes with corsages.
The "almost nude" sessions
The group posed without clothes only wrapped in a silver folio.
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The scarf-session, late 1975
This classical session printed on thousands of posters all over the world was taken someday in the autumn of 1975.
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The "Veckorevyn" session
This famous photo session which was published among others in the Swedish weekly "Veckorevyn" at the beginning of 1976.
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The Djurgården session
In the autumn of 1975 the photo session outside the restaurant "Ulla Winblad" in Djurgården in Stockholm was taken. Pictures from this session were used in 1976 for back cover of the French compilation "ABBA Golden Album".
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"The Best of ABBA" in Germany
The compilation released in October 1975 in West Germany was called "The Best of ABBA" and featured a rare photo of the group from the "Waterloo"- sessions at the Gripsholm castle in Mariefred outside Stockholm (see ABBA related places). The LP contained 12 hits taken from the group's three first albums released between 1973 and 1975. The real rarity was the inclusion of the alternate remix of "Ring Ring" called "sax" version. This rare mix could be found only on this album released in Germany.
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Let's Boogie - Mike B. Tretow's LP
In October 1975 ABBA's engineer Mikael B. Tretow started his own recording sessions for the solo album. The ABBA members and their musicians participated in the recording sessions where they both sang and played. The album entitled "Let's boogie" was one of Tretow's crazy musical projects and it was completed in February 1976.
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Back in West Germany, December 3-4
ABBA were in Germany for the third time this year to record their TV special "Silvester Tanzparty" which would be shown on the New Year's Eve evening. They performed their latest hits "I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do" and "SOS" in front of the audience in the studio.
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They participated in TV show "Disco 75" (aired on December 6) where they sang "SOS".
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The Bravo Photo Sessions
The Disco photo session
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The Bravo photographer Bubbi Heilemann arranged studio for an extended photo session. Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida posed both in clothes and without. Lots of pictures were taken in the blue outfits.
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More "blue" sessions
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1976 was the real "arrival" for ABBA as superstars. It was very tough for ABBA on the British charts during a long period but they came back to the top with "Mamma Mia" on January 31, 1976 and it was only beginning...
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ABBA went to Great Britain on January 11 and made an appearance on the most important pop show in Britain "Top of The Pops". The group performed live.
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The bright-yellow session
This session was taken in the late 75 or early 76 if you look at Frida's hair-do. Very nice and calm session in non-dominating yellowish colors. Alternative takes featured Agnetha and Frida with ice-cream.
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ABBA in West Germany January 1976
Next promotional trip went to Bremen in West Germany at the end of January. ABBA recorded a TV show called simply "The best of ABBA" featuring: Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Fernando as well as some songs from their LP "ABBA" like Tropical Loveland and I've Been Waiting For You.
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In the interview Frida said that she enjoyed being on stage, Agnetha was more fond of being in the studio and "sometimes on stage". During the recording of the show ABBA posed for photographers. A shot from the session below was used on the cover of the German compilation LP "16 ABBA Hits".
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Fernando & Dancing Queen videos & photo sessions
At the beginning of February video clips for "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" were filmed. The director was as usual Lasse Hallström. Even a photo session was arranged during the filming of the video, the photos would be used for promotion of the group during the first part of 1976.
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The "Dancing Queen" video was filmed at the night club "Alexandra disco" in Stockholm (go.to/ABBA related places)
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The photo session
The "Dancing Queen" photo session was shot at about the same time.
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Australian TV in Stockholm February 2, 1976
Björn, Benny and Frida were interviewed by the Australian TV for the programme "Countdown" shortly before the release of the single "Fernando" in Australia. The interview was made about 3 pm on Monday February 2, 1976. Frida was interrupted by alarm sirens. Such tests are made in Sweden the first Monday every month at 3 pm.
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Mamma Mia in Disco, February 28, 1976
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ABBA performed in German TV special "Disco" singing "Mamma Mia".
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Fernando - the single in France
France was the first land in Europe that released "Fernando" on February 20th, 1976. The rest of the world would follow with the release in March. The selection for the B-side was "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)" which was originally released on the 1974 LP "Waterloo". The single was promoted on French TV in the show "Midi-Premiere" which was recorded on February 24th, 1976.
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The Polar Music press release - March 1976
The press release from Polar Music that came out in March 76 informed among others about newly recorded TV shows promoting "Fernando" in Monte Carlo and Paris, ABBA fever in Australia. Three recording sessions were planned on March 22-24 and the album release in October 76. Agnetha and Anni-Frid would have time-off in March. In April ABBA would go to Spain, England and Germany for promotion. Among the news from hit charts there was information about the success of "I Do I Do" ("I Do" appeared in this version = twice) in USA, Mamma Mia in New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Norway and England. By that time "SOS" was #1 in Turkey, #8 in Italy. Finally it was announced that France was the first land in the world releasing the single "Fernando" (see above).
Gold records
ABBA received their gold records for sales of their third studio album "ABBA" in Sweden at the beginning of 1976.
Photo sessions in Stockholm
This photo session was taken about February/March in Stockholm, partly at the group's office and partly outside the Grand Hotel in the part of the city called Östermalm.
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ABBA in Australia - March 1976
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In March ABBA did a short promotional tour to Australia. The ABBA fever had started in Australia at the end of 1975 after several hits on Australian charts. The group participated in several press conferences. Their latest compilation album "The best of ABBA" was released three months earlier, in December 1975.
On the way to Australia
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Promotion of "The best of ABBA" - the conference
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One of the highlights during this tour was a 45-minute TV special. ABBA had the clothes specially made for the Bandstand special they recorded during their nine-day visit to Sydney and Malbourne. As well as recording in the TCN9 studios, the group also visited renowned Sydney beauty spots and filmed segments to be made into a show for international release. Overseas coutries would see ABBA cruising up the Ilawkesbury River, taking a trip on Sydney Harbor, and visiting the koala sanctuary at Bobbin Head. While ABBA were in Australia they also appeared on the Don Lane Show and Celebrity Squares.
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The shows
Rehearsing
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Performance
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Dancing Queen - the first studio performance
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As an extra number ABBA performed "Dancing Queen", probably for the first time in the TV studio. The single had not been released yet. The video was screened and sold to many TV stations all over the world. This version of "Dancing Queen" appeared in "Top of the Pops" show on British BBC many times.
Bandstand Special & more
ABBA were interviewed by Daryl Somers during recording of their Bandstand special for the Nine Network.
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The photo session
One more photo session was taken in the studio after the performance of "So Long" at the end of the show.
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