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Sven-Olof Walldoff, Agnetha's and ABBA's conductor, passed away

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Sven-Olof Walldoff, ABBA conductor, passed away
Sven-Olof "Napoleon" about to conduct the Swedish entry in 1974

Swedish musician Sven-Olof Walldoff has deceased at the age of 82. He was the conductor of the first Swedish win at the Eurovision Song Contest, Waterloo by ABBA and also involved in several of Agnetha's pre-ABBA solo albums.
In one of the classic moments of the Eurovision Song Contest, an orchestra conductor made his way to the podium of the orchestra dressed as Napoleon. The song he was about to conduct was named Waterloo and talked about a girl who surrenders to love as the French Emperor surrendered at the battle of Waterloo.
The song was of course performed by ABBA and the name of the conductor in disguise was Sven-Olof Walldoff. We just received the news that the musician, composer and conductor died when he was 82 years-old.
Sven-Olof was born in 1929 in Lerbäck, a small village in Sweden, and had been active with music since the 50s. At the time of his death he lived in the Masthugget suburb in Gothenburg
He is mostly remembered for being the conductor of the first Swedish victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. He made more collaborations with ABBA, especially during their work on the Ring Ring album. He and his orchestra were involved in various Agnetha albums like 'Som Jag Ar' and 'Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus'. Walldoff also worked as an arranger during those day.

His last international interview in connection with Agnetha and ABBA was published in the German ABBA book "Ihre Ganze Geschichte' in 2005. 


How do you feel about the new Live album?

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Now that the CD has been out for a while we would like to know how you feel about the 'new' live album? 

What is your personal highlight? What is the lowpoint on the record? 
And would it have been better to let someone else select the material and do the production in stead of Ludvig Andersson (perhaps releasing the Milwaukee concert is stead of Wembley) or did Ludvig do his job very well? 
We are curious what your feelings are...

Flashback meeting with Agnetha

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By Peter Dahlgren.

In 1974 the members of ABBA lived in two townhouses in Vallentuna. One was shared by Anni-Frid and Benny the other Agnetha and Björn. I was interested in prog at that time, therefore, before I was not that interested in the pop gang. But behind the facade, I was enthusiastic.

Norrtelje Magazine editor who is no ABBA fan, said that managing editor who likes ABBA, wants a centerfold. Lots of pictures, that is. But the moderately engaged the editors do not think it is worth sending a photographer. I may shoot myself. A decision he would later regret. As a local editor, I had to take the photos although I was barely knowledgeable of how to handle an SLR. Most photos I took were rarely good and the sharpness was not really my thing. But my protests didn't help. One of the photographers at the newspaper advised me to use the flash which would improve the sharpness of the photos.

When I spoke to Agnetha on the phone my heart beat a little faster. She sounded so nice and invited me at her home to do the story. When she opened the door she smiled sweetly and apologized because the place was a little messy. Besides her French bulldog she was alone. Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid qre next door to put a riff(?). They will come later. 

I put the camera bag on the floor and sat down at the kitchen table. Agnetha offered me some tea. I asked about how she felt as well as a few others. She responds patiently while her dog snoops with his nose in my camera bag. I ask if I can take some pictures of her while waiting for the others to come. There is no problem. But, it becomes a problem when I discover what the dog has done. The cable to the important flash and one corner of a camera bag is chewed by the irritated disobedient dog.

Agnetha sits next to me on the floor, picking up her dog and says "Fy". She cuddles for a while with the beast, then she turns to me, puts her hand on my shoulder and says, "Sorry!" I smile matt and immediately forget the broken cord. But the spell is broken when the others come into the kitchen. It gets a little awkward, but Agnetha quickly explained what happened.
I ask the other members of ABBA a few questions and take my photos without the flash. Later, back in the newsroom when the photographer came out of the dark room after developing my photo roll, he said the photo shoot didn't go very well.
"How bad is it?" I ask. 
"It's bad, but I will do my best, "he says.

I tried to blame the French bulldog but got no sympathy ... Much better was the course ABBA took in the SM and in the European Championships in Brighton. But also that brief moment on the kitchen floor I shared only with Agnetha ... and a hot-tempered, ill-mannered bulldog..."



Flashback rare photo of Agnetha in 1968

Agnetha spotted having lunch in Stockholm

Released soon: 'Gracias Por La Musica'

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ABBA’s Spanish-language album, Gracias Por La Música, receives the Deluxe Edition treatment and is available from November 10th onwards. This could be perceived as slightly barrel-scraping but there’s a certain logic to the reissue. The original record was recorded in 1980 after the group had released a Spanish language version of their 1979 hit Chiquitita. That single had been an attempt to break into Latin America – a territory where ABBA were not yet enjoying the massive success they’d enjoyed everywhere else. The song became their biggest hit ever in the region – and because it did very well the album was commissioned.


The CD features the original record along with five bonus tracks including Spanish language versions of Slipping Through My Fingers and When All Is Said And Done.  Incidentally, neither of these tracks were included on the most recent deluxe edition of 'The Visitors'. 

The album features seven great songs with Agnetha on lead vocals:
-Gracias Por La Musica (Thank You For The Music)
-Al Andar(Move On)
-Dame! Dame! Dame! (Ginmme! Gimme! Gimme!)
-Hasta Manana
-Felicidad(Happy New Year)
-Se Me Esta Escapando (Slipping Through My Fingers)
-Chiquitita
And three joint leads:
-La Reina Del Baile (Dancing Queen)
-Mamma Mia
-Ring Ring

Frida sings lead on five more songs. The album was recorded by Agnetha and Frida with Michael B. Tretow while Benny and Bjorn were abroad working on new material. At the time of the original release Agnetha said: "We love to record in the Spanish language. Benny and Bjorn were not that eager, but Frida and I were so they said ' if you want to do it, go ahead', and so we did and had a great time re-recording all the vocals". 

The deluxe edition includes a nice DVD that features the five official promo clips and three previously unreleased TV segments: two performances of Chiquitita from 1979 and a 1980 interview with the group made for Spanish TV which includes a unique performance of ' Dame! Dame! Dame!' And an ‘International Sleeve Gallery’.

At a later stage of her career Agnetha also recorded three of her solo hits in Spanish. Two of these are not yet available on cd or digital download. 

Flashback: Agnetha at Montreux 1985

Alternative ABBA shot from 1978


ABBA in 2014

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Thanks to Micke Bayart, Germany for the use of the photo's!

Funny comic flashback to 1982

Two great flashback photo's...

Frida to release new collaboration song with Dan Daniell

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Frida is pictured here in the studio in Zermatt recording a tribute to the Matterhorn as she recently revealed at the Swedish TV. A very small scale release which does not feature Frida as a solo singer but as part of a group of local 'artists'. 

Another Funny Flashback

Some nice shots from Poland 1976

Agnetha's German pre-ABBA singles available again

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Through the years Agnetha's singles which she released in Germany, all sung in the German language are hard to find. We recently found out that a fan (not us!) is selling very nice fan-cd's made of these eight singles. So grab a copy if you have been searching for this material, while you can. Click here: Ebay




Agnetha 1971

Nice unknown recent picture of Agnetha.

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Via one of our loyal readers we got this very nice picture of Agnetha. We never saw it before. Who has?Who happens to know more about this session? Please let us know...

Agnetha backstage

Flashback to 81

Frida to release new groupsong soon!

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