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!

Another Morning Without You ("Like An Angel..." Demo)

Here's a YouTube reupload of my previous video of this track, this time with HD audio. Unfortunately, "Ola's" noises are still there, but you can really pick out a lot more of Agnetha and Frida's absolutely angelic vocals in the background. Post any lyrics you hear in the comments so we can all share and enjoy together. :)

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

Hamlet III - Live!

Here's a lovely little find that I actually discovered myself some time ago - and if, like me, you purchased the ABBA Live In Japan DVD that was released a few months ago, you may have noticed this yourself.

During one section of the DVD, ABBA are briefly shown rehearsing for a performance they were to give. More interestingly, Benny decides to perform a sound check (always a good idea!), and - undoubtedly something fresh in his memory at the time - he decided to give a little outburst of Hamlet III! Usually known for its brief inclusion in Michael B. Tretow's "ABBA Undeleted" medley on the 1994 Thank You For The Music box set, here we see this fun ABBA instrumental played live, though all so briefly.Enjoy, and thank you to dexxtra75 for the YouTube upload. :)

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.

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.

Hamlet III Fan Mixes

Though these two fan mixes are slightly different, both have been made on the same principle. They have combined the two short snippets of Hamlet III that were released in the ABBA Undeleted medley, and produced one cohesive track. In essence, we get the upbeat instrumental (Part I), combined in parts with the girl's excellent vocals (Part III). Enjoy!



http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kGVffdD42d4

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 (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. ;)

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

Here are two more reversed ABBA snippets.

Just Like That (Elaine Paige's Version)

Here is Just Like That...reggae-style! This is Elaine Page's demo version from the recording sessions for the Chess musical. It has a rather bouncy feel to it in the choruses - not too far from ABBA's "One Of Us", actually!

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!

Just A Notion (Extended Mix)

Here's an extended mix of Just A Notion, made by myself. Enjoy! :)

Arrival/Björn Again Sing Rarities

Here's a chance to hear the full version of Just A Notion, of which only a small re-edited snippet was released in the ABBA Undeleted medley. It's not sung by ABBA; rather, it's sung by ABBA tribute group Arrival.

While the vocals can certainly not be compared to those of Agnetha and Frida's, the real reason for listening to this recording is essentially to get a feel for how the full ABBA version would have sounded.

Also, Björn Again's live version of Just Like That, with an excellent synthesiser melody in place of ABBA's nothingness/nananas/saxophone, is possibly the best-produced ABBA tribute song ever. It captures the energy and emotion that Björn and Benny were originally, and - at least in their opinions - unsuccessfully, looking for when recording Just Like That with ABBA.

Chess Demos

Due to my recent obsession with the musical Chess, composed by Benny and Bjorn along with lyricist Tim Rice, I have been hunting down some Chess demos on YouTube. Needless to say there are quite few available!

I have included my personal favourites here: Every Good Man, Paternal Supervisor, and the demo of One Night In Bangkok (supposedly using Bjorn's original lyrics). Enjoy! :)

Just Like That (Na Na Na Version - Edited)

This is a nice attempt at a video for the na na na version of Just Like That. The song is also edited somewhat, and consequently is just over a minute shorter than the original.