Head Over Heels (Alternative Mix)

Here's a nice find by Rudolf, otherwise known as mozpiano2 on YouTube. Just listen to the build up to the first chorus ("And with no trace of hesitation...") and the first chorus itself, then compare to the same part of the song in any other mix - I think you'll agree that they are quite different!

Just Like That (Alternate "Slow" Mix)

This is a slightly different mix of the "slow" version of ABBA's unreleased song, "Just Like That". This mix is the left channel only of the available stereo mp3 file, which is significantly different to the mix in the right-hand channel and indeed the mix presented when both are played in stereo.

Sång Till Görel

"Sång Till Görel" - or "Song For Görel" in English - is a tribute song that ABBA performed for friend Görel Johnsen's 30th birthday in 1979. A limited amount of 7" records were pressed of the song, which were handed out at a private party for friends and family.

Keyboard Outtakes

Here's a collection of personal ABBA keyboard outtakes. Most of these recordings I never got around to finishing (with the exception of Just Like That, of which a short edit is included here). Consequentially, I end up with a lot of short edits like these, which detail the main parts of the songs. I then add very bare overdubs for a little ambiance.

Running order: Honey Honey / Hamlet III / Just A Notion (Version 1) / Just A Notion (Version 2) / Head Over Heels / Should I Laugh Or Cry / Givin' A Little Bit More

Take A Chance On Me (3:25 Edit)

Here's a video that a fellow ABBA fan sent to me today. It's a rather...odd (/bad) edit of Take A Chance On Me that looks like it was some sort of promotional edit, given by the label on the vinyl in the video. Aggie's whispers are nowhere to be seen in this opus, and there are a few blatantly obvious edit points throughout the recording, which make it more historically-interesting than enjoyable.

More Rarities

I'd like to post a few ABBA snippets that I apparently haven't got around to posting here before. With my primary reason for running this blog being to catalogue all known ABBA rarities in existence, I felt it wouldn't be fair to leave them out indefinitely. ;) Here's the first batch.

In The Arms Of Rosalita (Snippet)
This is an early demo version of Chiquitita. The excerpt heard here is from the TV documentary that ITV first showed us about a decade ago, entitled "The Winner Takes It All". ITAOR featured lead vocals by Frida, contrary to Chiquitita with its Agnetha-driven lead. Interestingly, apparently a third version of the song - Chiquitita Angelina - was sung by both girls in unison.



Get On The Carousel
This song is an early version of what was to become Hole In Your Soul. It was performed live by ABBA during their 1977 tour of Australia, which is how this recording originated. The version heard here is the complete song - not the edited version that can be heard in ABBA: The Movie. The sound quality isn't pristine, but it is an excellent arrangement, none-the-less!



I Am An A
I Am An A is a song written for the 1977 tour - with lyrics contributed by all four members of the group - jokingly depicting themselves as "A, B, B, A". The song was never considered for the studio, but parts of the chorus were later recycled into Free As A Bumblebee. As FAAB song never progressed beyond the demo, the melody surfaced once again in the chorus of I Know Him So Well, from the musical Chess.



Monsieur, Monsieur (Snippet)
The early version of My Love My Life, recorded for the Arrival album in 1976. It's a shame about the talking over the music!



To Live With You
An attempt to record B&B's earlier song Lycka with English lyrics, To Live With You was recorded in 1975, but never got further than the demo. A solemn number with an exquisite melody, it's a shame about the dreary lyrics!

Einfach So ("Just Like That" In German)

Einfach So is a German recording, sung by Angelika Milster, of ABBA's unreleased song "Just Like That". It uses the verse and chorus structure of the Gemini version of the song, but with a different arrangement. Being a non-German speaker, the sound of the lyrics is an acquired taste, but the melody and arrangement really does shine through.

ABBA - Sitting In The Palmtree (Live, Perth 1977)

This is a recording of ABBA performing "Sitting In The Palmtree" live in Perth, 1977, complete with Bjorn's rather humerous tale about the origins of the song! Taken from the Waterloo album (1974), and one of my favourite early ABBA songs.

Just Like That (Keyboard - Nanana Version)

This is a keyboard recording that I made many months ago of the nanana version of Just Like That. I think it's probably the most faithful keyboard version I have put together thus far, even if it is a little basic.

Reel-To-Reel - Just Like That (Original Version)

Here is the original/slow/dream version of Just Like That in reel-to-reel form. The recording is not owned by me, but I was asked by the owner to upload it for them.

Just Like That (Extended NaNaNa Mix)

Another excellent remix by DjProducerMattPop.

Just Like That (Matt Mix)

I discovered this remix today. It is possibly the best remix of JLT I've come across so far. It is absolutely awesome! Just makes me want B&B to release the full song even more. ;)

Mamma Mia! The Musical: Summer Night City (Deleted Scene)

Here is a sneak peak (audio only) at the Summer Night City scene that was eventually removed from Mamma Mia! The Musical. The scene came directly after the Prologue in the original itinerary. The audio in this clip was recorded during the previews of the musical.

Ring Ring (Music Video)

Here is the rather rare music video to ABBA's first major hit, "Ring Ring". Though the song did not fair that well in the U.K., it was a success in many other territories, including the group's home country of Sweden.

Just Like That & Just A Notion (Snippets; Reversed)

Here are two more reversed ABBA snippets.

Slowly (Gemini & Timbiriche Versions)

Here is Gemini's version of Slowly, the song originally written for ABBA (unconfirmed)/Frida's solo album 'Shine'. It is the only version of the song to be produced by the composers - Benny and Björn themselves.



In 1994, the song was covered by Mexican band Timbiriche, this time sung in Spanish. The title is 'Muriendo Lento'.

Another Morning Without You

Another Morning Without You was a demo version of what was to become Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. The person making annoying noises is apparently one of the drummers in the studio. (Sorry!)

This recording has previously been reported as 'fake', but to any skilled listener it most certainly is not. If you listen carefully, you can just about make out Angetha and Frida's vocals in various points of the song (most notably, Frida singing 'Without you' towards the end).

Jerry Williams/Svenne & Lotta Sing Rarities

Here's Jerry Williams's version of the unreleased ABBA song Rikky Rock 'N' Roller (using the original full-length lyrics):



Also, here's Svenne & Lotta's version of the unrecorded and unreleased ABBA song Funky Feet, which was thought too similar to Dancing Queen. They are singing over the original unused ABBA backing track:

Just Like That (Saxophone Version/Final Mix)

This is a slideshow I put together yesterday (complete with lyrics!) for the final mix of Just Like That. The saxophone overdubs were courtesy of Raphael Ravenscroft, and were recorded in late May 1982. The song was mixed on 2nd June 1982 by Michael B. Tretow, and digitally remastered in 1997. ...And almost 26 years since it all began, still remains unreleased!

Slowly

'Slowly' is a song written by Benny and Björn, with the possible intention of recording it with ABBA for their never-finished 9th album (unconfirmed). Instead, or otherwise, it was given to Frida for her solo album 'Shine'.

Listening to the song, it is not hard to realise that it is, at heart, an ABBA track. It also seems to have that same eerie solemness as Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. Though not produced by Benny and Björn, Frida sings it very well, and it is a pleasure to listen to.