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ANNUAL 1977

January 28, ABBA start their European/Australian tour in Oslo. The concert includes the mini-musical: 'The Girl With The Golden Hair'- Mid February the tour continues in Australia - A film with a thin storyline is made of this Australian tour. Outdoor scenes for this motion picture are completed in Stockholm in June and July - ABBA also work on the forthcoming studio album 'The Album' - Frida is reunited with her German father in September - December 9, Björn and Agnetha's son Christian is born - December 12, 'The Album' is released - December 26, 'ABBA - The Movie' premieres in Stockholm.



January:
1977-01-12 
Björn, Benny and Stig in London for the preparations for the concerts in the Royal Albert Hall.
1977-01.......Filming of the 'Knowing Me, Knowing You' video on the island of Lindingö and in the studio.

    

    

    

  

1977-01-26  ABBA leave Stockholm this evening.
1977-01-27  Preparations for World tour.

1977-01-28  Concert in Oslo, Ekebergshallen (Norway.)
After the concert, the ABBA members met the Norwegian royal family.
ABBA also went on a sleigh ride in 'Kanefart'.

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ABBA in Oslo
          

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A big thank you to Mette from Norway for three of the above picture.

                    

1977-01-29  Concert in Gothenburg, Scandinavium (Sweden).

Concert in Gothenburg

1977-01-30  Concert in Gothenburg, Scandinavium (Sweden).
1977-01-31  Concert in Copenhagen, Brondbyhallen (Denmark)

  

February:
1977-02-01  Concert in Copenhagen, Brondbyhallen (Denmark).

1977-02-02  Concert in Berlin, Deutschlandhalle (West-Germany).

1977-02-03  Concert in Colony, Sporthalle (West-Germany)

1977-02-03  Concert in Colony, Sporthalle (West-Germany)

1977-02-04  Concert in Amsterdam, Jaap Eden hal (the Netherlands)

ABBA in Jaap Edenhal, Amsterdam (Hans de Boer: thank you for this one)          

1977-02-05  Concert in Antwerp, Arena Hal (Belgium)
1977-02-06  Concert in Essen, Grugahalle (West-Germany)

1977-02-07  Concert in Hannover, Ellenfriedehalle. (West-Germany)

1977-02-08  Concert in Hamburg, C.C.H. (West-Germany)

1977-02-09? ABBA perform in DDR village Trinwillershagen between Rostock und Stralsund? After president George Bush's visit to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hometown Trinwillershagen in July 2006, German news sources report that the former East German regime paid ABBA to stop by in 1977.

            v 
ABBA on tour in Germany

        
ABBA reveive golden records for Arrival and the 'Golden Hammer', a German price

                    

    

                 

Frida and Agnetha at their hotelroom in Hamburg

1977-02-10  Concert in Birmingham, Odeon (England)

1977-02-11  Concert in Manchester, Free Trade Hall (England)
1977-02-12  Concert in Glasgow, Apollo (Schotland)

1977-02-13  To London.

1977-02-14  2 concerts at The Royal Albert Hall (England).

1977-02-15  ABBA in London.

1977-02-16  ABBA are handed awards for Best Vocal Group of 1976 by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace from Monaco in London.

1977-02-17  Back to Stockholm.
1977-02-16/24..ABBA appear via satellite on the 'Don Lane show',  in between the European and Australian tour.

1977-02-18  Release single 'Knowing me, knowing you' - 'Happy Hawaii'.

1977-02-21  Preparations for the Australian tour.

1977-02-22  Ditto.

1977-02-23  Ditto.

1977-02-24  Ditto.

1977-02-25  Departure from Stockholm.


Source: http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2004/10/22/1098316833563.html

1977-02-26  ABBA on the plane to Australia
1977-02-27  Arrival in Sydney, on Sunday at 9.15 pm.  ABBA stays at 'The Sebel Town House' Hotel.

1977-02-28  Press conference at Hotel 'Sebel Town House', starting at 11.30 am.

 

Outdoor stage setup

             Rehearsals in Australia

              
  Tiger
           Dum Dum Diddle

I am An A                 Fernando?
 Why Did It Have To Be Me
 
Intermezzo No.1
The girl with the golden hair

             
So Long Dancing Queen

March:
1977-03-01  Interviews and sound check at the 'Sydney Showgrounds' (outdoor venue).

1977-03-02  Sound check and rehearsals at the 'Sydney Showgrounds'.

1977-03-03  Rehearsals and concert in Sydney with heavy rainfall. 'So Long' is not performed tonight.

1977-03-04  Rehearsals and concert in Sydney at the 'Sydney Showgrounds'.

1977-03-05  Departure for Melbourne.  ABBA stay at the 'The Old Melbourne Motor Inn' Hotel.
1977-03-06  Rehearsals and concert in Melbourne at the 'Sidney Myer Music Bowl'.

 

  

   

1977-03-07  A day off: ABBA make a boat tour on Port Phillip Bay.
1977-03-08  Departure for Adelaide.  ABBA stay at 'The Parkroyal Motor Inn' Hotel. Concert today.  Read this review of tonight's concert

1977-03-09  Departure for Perth.  ABBA stay at Hotel 'The Parmelia'.

1977-03-10  Rehearsals and concert in Perth at the 'Perth Entertainment Centre' (indoor with helicoper coming in).

1977-03-11  Boat tour in the morning on the Swan River, Rehearsals and concert in Perth.

1977-03-12  Rehearsals and two concerts in Perth, 'Perth Entertainment Centre'.
1977-03-13  Departure for London, Stockholm.  
1977-03-15  Back in Stockholm.

1977-03-16  Quiet period after world tour.

April:
1977-04-09  ABBA celebrate 'Dancing Queen's hitting No. 1 in the U.S. with champagne.

1977-04-18  ABBA are presented the 'Golden Wasp' award for the ABBA-DABBA-DOO special at the Expressen Annual Party.

   

1977-04/05  Songwriting sessions for upcoming album.

                   

May:
1977-05early. Björn, Benny and Michael Tretow to Los Angeles to discuss plans for a new recording studio in Stockholm.

1977-05-17  ABBA attend an 'Eagles' concert in Stockholm this evening.

1977-05-31  Backing tracks of  'A Bit Of Myself, a working title of 'The Name Of The Game' and 'Scaramouche'.

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June:
1977-06-01  Backing tracks of 'High, High', a working title of 'The Eagle', a working title of 'Eagle' and 'Scaramouche' (undeleted).

1977-06-02  Backing tracks of 'Thank You For The Music' (Doris D), 'Eagle' and 'Scaramouche'.

1977-06-17  Part of  June spent completing 'The movie' (Outdoor, hotel and elevator scenes).

                       

The Movie outdoor scenes 2
    The Movie outdoor scenes 1    

             


July:
1977-07    First two weeks of July are spent finishing The Movie.

1977-07-11  Björn and Benny present at Hootenanny concert at the Västerik Visfestival.

1977-07-18  Backing track of Sjömansvisa' a working title of 'One Man, One Woman'.

1977-07-19  Backing tracks of 'The Name Of The Game', 'I Believe In You' and 'I'm A Marionette'.

1977-07-21  Backing track of 'Thank You For The Music' ('The Album' version).

ABBA             

                




August:

1977-08-01  Backing track of 'I'm A Marionette'.

1977-08-02  Backing track of 'I Wonder' (Departure).

1977-08-03  Backing tracks of 'High On Your Love', a working title of 'Rock'n Roll', a working title of 'Hole In Your Soul' and 'Billy Boy', a working title of 'Take A Chance On Me' (Billy Boy).

1977-08-04  Backing track of 'Yippee Yay', a working title of 'Big John', a working title of 'Joanna', a working title of 'Love For Me Is Love Forever, a working title of 'Move On'.

1977-08-08  More work on the backing track of 'Move On'.

1977-08-15  Backing track of 'Billy Boy', a working title of 'Take A Chance On Me'.

1977-08-17  Bass and drum overdubs for 'Billy Boy, a working title of 'Take A Chance On Me'.

             

                      







Pictures of the Marcus Music Studio Stockholm in 1977. Source: http://www.marcus-music.co.uk/

September:
1977-09...    Filming of the promotion clip of 'The Name Of The Game and 'Take A Chance On Me' with a pregnant Agnetha.

1977-09-08  Backing vocals for 'The Movie' and horn and string overdubs for 'I Wonder' (Departure)

1977-09-09  Frida meets her biological father Alfred Haase in Stockholm, thanks to German popmagazine 'Bravo'.

Frida and father
1977-09-10  Frida spends time together with her father.  He stays at Benny and Frida's home.
1977-09-11  Frida and father have their last day together.

1977-09-12  Overdubs for 'The Movie'.  Recording various backing tracks and mixing 'The Name Of The Game' at the Bohus Studio in West Sweden.

1977-09-13  Ditto.

1977-09-14  Ditto.

1977-09-15  Ditto.

1977-09-16  Ditto.

1977-09rest More work on 'The Movie' and preparing single release 'The Name Of The Game'.

     

     

    
Working on The Movie in Marcus Studio

1977-09-20  Recording of intro 'Please Change Your Mind' of 'The Movie' (country composition)
1977-09-22  String overdubs for 'Dancing Queen' The Movie' version)

 October:
1977-10-10  Overdubs for 'Eagle' and 'Joanne', a working title of 'Move On'.

1977-10-17  Release single 'The Name Of The Game' - 'I Wonder (Departure).

1977-10-24  Bass overdubs for 'Take A Chance On Me'.

Björn, Frida, Stig and Benny at Expressen party

November:
1977-11-01  Mixing 'Hole In Your Soul and 'Take A Chance On Me'.  Several paintings were stolen from ABBA's art gallery.

1977-11-07  Mixing 'Thank You For The Music'.

1977-11-09  String overdubs for 'One Man, One Woman and 'I'm A Marionette'.

1977-11-10  Mixing 'I'm A Marionette' and 'One Man, One Woman'.

1977-11-21  Björn, Benny and Frida appear on Nöjesliv to talk about 'The Album' and 'The Movie'.

1977-11-22. The Album' and 'The Movie' preview at the Look cinema in Stockholm with 150 people from the film business
Dutch tv-maker Bert vd Veer interviews Björn and Benny in Stockholm about The Movie. This footage is shown on December 21 in a Veronica tv special called ABBA. Source www.beeldengeluid.nl


             

Young boy in the studio playing 'Fernando' on the piano together with Benny

December:
1977-12-04  Angetha and Bjorn's son is born today.

1977-12-09  Baby Christian and parents are photographed at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm'.

    Christian, mum and dad
1977-12-10  Release LP 'The Album' only in Scandinavia.
1977-12-12. Release LP 'The Album'

1977-12-13  Mixing 'Take A Chance On Me' (never released).

1977-12-15  World premiere of 'The Movie' in Sydney, Perth and Maramatta (Australia).

1977-12-26  ABBA attend the premiere of 'The Movie' in Stockholm.

ABBA at the premiere of The Movie