Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ FunHouse Entertainment) By the time ABBA played London's Wembley
Arena in November 1979, they had spent five years in the public spotlight - although it seems a short time now, they had lived several lives in that period. Comprising of writers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, and the incomparable vocals of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA shot to international fame by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton UK in 1974. From that moment on, they had moved through the glam'n'glitter of Arrival, the megastardom of ABBA - The Album and the gloss and embracing of disco of Voulez-Vous.
ABBA's concerts in London at the end of the 70s - the decade that they helped to shape musically - quickly became the stuff of legend. For a group that toured only a handful of times, these shows were a pinnacle, coming near the end of their touring life. Backstage they would have admirers such as Ian Dury,
Joe Strummer ('Spanish Bombs' from the Clash's London
Calling was said to be influenced by ABBA) and Jimmy Page dropping by to catch the hottest ticket in town. John Cleese was spotted in the auditorium.
The tour had opened in Edmonton, Canada in
September 1979 and was to close in Dublin on November 15th. ABBA loved being in London (Frida wore an
Arsenal FC shirt one night), fighting off winter chills to deliver some of the most exhilarating performances of their career. Coinciding with the release of their Greatest Hits Volume 2 album, this was high-octane ABBA, captured forever in the legendary pictures of the event with
Frida and Agnetha appearing initially in Nordic outfits that referenced 'blue-tinged mountains and glittering waters' before all four emerged in their blue jumpsuits, singing as if their life depended upon it.
When ABBA took the stage, their experience and professionalism showed. Audiences and critics were astounded that ABBA could reproduce their studio sound live - and sometimes it swung even more. The backing musicians were Sweden's best and most experienced. Although principally promoting their recent Voulez-Vous album, the set covered highlights throughout their career and contained a rare performance of Agnetha's 'I'm Still Alive,' unreleased on any album. It is now time to hear ABBA at the peak of their live performance again on ABBA - LIVE AT WEMBLEY ARENA. The concert is available on a handsome 25-track double-CD set, and on a 180gm beautiful triple vinyl, produced by Ludvig Andersson.
ABBA - LIVE AT WEMBLEY ARENA is now available for pre-order via Amazon and iTunes.
In conjunction with the release of ABBA - LIVE AT WEMBLEY ARENA is ABBA — The Official Photo Book, which launches on
September 23rd (Weldon Owen) in the United States. This first and only official book on ABBA was created with the full cooperation of the band members themselves and contains more than 600 rare and heretofore unseen images from throughout the band's career. Publishing with the 40th anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest, which is what put the band on the map, with a foreword and commentary throughout the book by the band's four members, this is truly the complete story of one of the most popular bands of all time.
2 CD Track Listing:
Disc 1
1.
Gammal fäbodpsalm
2. Voulez-Vous
3. If It Wasn't For The Nights
4. As Good As New
5. Knowing Me, Knowing You
6. Rock Me
7. Chiquitita
8. Money, Money, Money
9. I Have A Dream
10. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
11. SOS
12. Fernando
Disc 2
1. The Name Of The Game
2. Eagle
3. Thank You For The Music
4. Why Did It Have To Be Me
5. Intermezzo No. 1
6. I'm Still Alive
7. Summer Night City
8. Take A Chance On Me
9. Does Your Mother Know
10. Hole in Your Soul
11. The Way Old
Friends Do
12. Dancing Queen
13. Waterloo
