ABBA blog

Less than a month to go to place your pre-order if you want your copy of ABBA On Record - Packaged Promoted Reviewed signed. This is the date to keep in mind:

21 October 2023: Please pre-order ABBA On Record no later than this date if you want it personally signed by me (just place your order and you will automatically get it signed). Copies of ABBA On Record bought after this date will not be signed for as long as this edition remains in print. 21 October is also the deadline date for UK customers to buy the book at the current UK price. After that it will be Europe prices (please visit abbaonrecord.com for more details about the prices and to place your order).

One of the most fun aspects of writing ABBA On Record is the story-telling aspect of it. Although the book's structure is a diary format, the text is all about letting the reader understand how ABBA's music reached the world. It's been especially enlightening to study ABBA's career in the United States. The story has to go where the available facts and insights take me, and in this case I've been fortunate in having had so much material available to me, not to mention people agreeing to be interviewed.

In the book, I cover ABBA's tenure with Playboy Records, which also stands as an example of how wrong a pairing that was, even though there was plenty of enthusiasm for the group on the label. Then I have a rather detailed story on how ABBA got their recording contract with Atlantic Records - starting with other labels turning them down, going on to a description of who brought ABBA to Atlantic's attention and how, and even the haggling over certain points in the contract. In addition to being a really interesting story for those interested in ABBA, it also adds up to a picture of how the signing of an artist would happen back in the 1970s.

Naturally, ABBA's visits to the United States are also covered, and the people who promoted them tell us about the challenges they faced. Tony Scotti, who helmed the massive endeavour in promoting ABBA in America in 1978, shares some memories and insights, including the controversy surrounding the Largest Selling Group slogan, and thanks to archive research I also have facts from record company documents at the time. Also... Well, I could go on! As I'm now, during the design phase, re-reading the text in the book, I get excited myself, so I think there's a chance you will too.

Learn more and pre-order your copy at abbaonrecord.com.