ABBA On The Web · September 2010
ABBA – The Releases is a website I wrote about once before, in issue #76 (September 2003). The site has recently undergone a revamp, with a fresh new look and lots of new content, so it is worth taking another look now.
ABBA – The Releases is created and maintained by Dutch fan Walter Veldman. The main focus is to chronicle every ABBA album and single, but the site also features solo releases before and after ABBA, and other side projects.
The site contains detailed information of hundreds of ABBA and related releases from Australia to Zimbabwe and all points in between over the last 40+ years. Navigation to each section is easy with links at the top of every page – ABBA, Agnetha, Björn (including Hootenanny Singers), Benny (including The Hep Stars and Benny Anderssons Orkester), Frida, Chess, Gemini, Josefin Nilsson, and Kristina från Duvemåla.
The ABBA section is by far the largest and includes the “regular albums”, the eight studio albums plus Gracias Por La Música and ABBA Live; compilation albums, literally dozens from all over the world; CD singles, 12” singles and finally 7” and cassette singles. Each record’s entry shows the track list, catalogue numbers, running times, release dates and covers images. The albums sections include both LP records and CDs.
What becomes apparent is that so many records had so many variations in different countries. There are additional notes with other information, such as CD booklets and other additions.
It’s also fascinating to see, particularly in ABBA’s earlier years, how different records were packaged in different countries. Many singles had some very interesting and unique sleeves around the world. In some cases albums also had different covers, or there would be completely different albums with the same title.
The other sections are broken down in the same way, with albums and the three singles formats.
Walter welcomes any additional information that visitors can provide for the site with a “feedback and submissions” link right at the top of every page. Like all good websites it also has links to other great ABBA sites and credits the many kind ABBA fans who have helped with information,.
With recent updates such as Kristina at Carnegie Hall and Voulez-Vous Deluxe Edition ABBA – The Releases is right up to date, and will continue to grow as long as there are new releases and reissues, and old records to be added.
