MEMORIES OF THE CONCERT IN GLASGOW, 13 NOVEMBER 1979

I had been lucky enough to see them here in 1977 so this was a second in a lifetime thrill.

We (about 10 of us)travelled from the East coast of Scotland and arrived really early and encamped ourselves at the stage door, surprisingly we were the only ones there. Most of my friends soon got fed up and headed for the pub leaving myself and my best friend at the door, after about an hour he got fed up and was just walking away when the limo arrived and stopped right by me. Out got Frida (wearing a big black coat and full stage make up) with Frida was one of the blonde backing singers. My friend now at the end of road thought it was Anna (we always called her Anna, Agnetha was just too much of a mouth full)started running back shouting "Anna, Anna". Both Frida and the blonde girl looked round and smiled. I was so close to Frida I could have touched her but just froze, dropped all the stuff I had in my hand, Frida smiled at me and said something like enjoy the show, I was in such a daze I just couldn't recall it properly. We never did see Anna arriving.

And now to the show itself............

This time they all seemed much more relaxed than last time and there was a fantastic atmosphere, everybody was on their feet from the first song. The bouncers were complete fascists trying to get everyone to sit down and keep us away from the stage. Eventually they relented and we got right to the front of the stage.

Frida really played to the audience, hamming it up wonderfully during Money,Money. She wore a Rangers football shirt for WDIHTBM. Frida's voice was really croaky during Knowing me ; in the morning's paper it had said she was suffering from a sore throat so we were just glad she made it.

Agnetha seemed a bit out of it, Bjorn made a few remarks about being the ex, the blonde one , the other one etc . Although she did liven up towards the end, during the Hole in your sole medley the towel she had round her neck she threw into the crowd and there was a fight in the crowd to get hold of it.

Benny played a traditional Scottish song, can't remember whether it was flower of Scotland or Scotland the brave.

Bjorn did most of the talking although from watching Abba in Concert it was the same ad libs every night.

The Thomas Ledin spot was a real downer with everyone going back to their seats just killed the atmosphere.

Although we did know at the time there was no Polar mountains must have been on their way to Dublin.

The final medley, then old friends and then the final encores (I think the Abba in concert video captures it pretty much as it was) we just couldn't
believe it was over, the cheering and clapping just went on forever no one wanted to leave. When we eventually left there were hundreds at the backstage door but we only saw Frida leaving and did manage to get a picture of Frida's back wearing the same dark coat.

And guess what, I taped the whole show !


Campbell Wilson
London
UK

Posted on ABBAMAIL, 14 September 2001

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I saw them on 13th November at the Glasgow Apollo when I was 14.
Having not been allowed by my mum and dad to go to their Glasgow date in 1977 I was determined to catch them second time round.
I remember heading off straight from school and arriving at the venue about 3 hours too early and queuing outside in the hope that we might see Abba arrive ( which of course we didn`t !).
I recall a stampede to the merchadise stall where I purchased a mug, a rather tasteless mirror, programme and badge all of which I still have to this day ! It felt like a dream to actually see Abba live and as a result it is all a bit of a blur but I do remember Frida wearing a Scotland football top during " Why Did It Have To Be Me" and I remember Agnetha playing "I`m Still Alive" on the piano, a song which we haven`t heard since so I was very lucky to witness that special moment which hasn`t even been captured on the Abba Live In Concert DVD . Will we EVER see that performance ?

Posted on www.abbasite.com on May 27, 2004