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With 25 million copies finding buyers, the CD ABBA Gold is
one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2003, a promo clip version was
released on DVD.
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a remastered DVD collection of ABBA's original promo clips - entitled The Definitive
Collection - was released in 2002, only one year later a second compilation containing
many of the same clips, ABBA Gold, was issued on DVD.
Why? In some parts
of the world, unauthorised versions of ABBA Gold have been issued on DVD. Needless
to say, these releases do not feature the upgraded versions of the promo clips.
But it was still felt that an official, remastered ABBA Gold DVD should be issued
to battle the inferior pirate releases. There was also the case of the ABBA Gold
brand name as such. With the more than decade-long success of the CD, ABBA Gold
has become such a strong identifier for ABBA and their music that many Universal
Music offices around the world requested an international DVD release of that
name.
The decision to release the new DVD was made in April 2003. I suggested
that it might be a good idea to add the 25 minute documentary ABBA - The History
as a bonus selection. This documentary, featuring interviews with Björn Ulvaeus
and sound engineer Michael B. Tretow, is a rarely screened film put together in
1999 to promote the 25th Anniversary of ABBA's Eurovision Song Contest victory
with Waterloo, as well as the world premiere of the Mamma Mia! musical. My friend
Ian Cole pointed out that the 1992 version of the Dancing Queen video - based
on the original clip, but interspersed with bits from other ABBA clips - might
be another suitable bonus feature. Universal Music agreed, and ABBA - The History
and Dancing Queen (1992 Version) were both added to the track listing.
Another point of interest with this release is that both Lay All Your Love On
Me and I Have A Dream appear on an authorised DVD for the first time. To ensure
the best quality possible for Lay All Your Love On Me - a collage video featuring
scenes from other clips - this video has been reassembled from the remastered
versions of the promo clips featured in the collage.
The ABBA Gold DVD
- along with a VHS version that also features the bonus selections - was released
in August 2003.
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Released August (Europe) and September (US and Australia) 2003.
Catalogue number: Polar 980 755-7. | |
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