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Classic Podcasts: SFX Issue 4
CLASSIC PODCASTS WITH ROKPOOL
SFX CASSETTE MAGAZINE ISSUE 4 SIDE 2
Here at Rokpool we have been given exclusive access to the amazing iconic 80’s audio magazine SFX by its creator Hugh Salmon.
WORST DRESSED ACTS IN ROK-HISTORY
ABBA
Discography:
Ring Ring, Polar / Universal Music, 1973.
The most commercially successful pop group of the 1970s, the origins of the Swedish superstars ABBA dated back to 1966, when keyboardist and vocalist Benny Andersson, a onetime member of the popular beat outfit the Hep Stars, first teamed with guitarist and vocalist Bjorn Ulvaeus, the leader of the folk-rock unit the Hootenanny Singers. The two performers began composing songs together and handling session and production work for Polar Music/Union Songs, a publishing company owned by Stig Anderson, himself a prolific songwriter throughout the 1950s and 1960s. At the same time, both Andersson and Ulvaeus worked on projects with their respective girlfriends: Ulvaeus had become involved with vocalist Agnetha Faltskog, a performer with a recent number one Swedish hit, "I Was So in Love," under her belt, while Andersson began seeing Anni-Frid Lyngstad, a one-time jazz singer who rose to fame by winning a national talent contest.
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In 1971, Faltskog ventured into theatrical work, accepting the role of Mary Magdalene in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar; her cover of the musical's "Don't Know How to Love Him" became a significant hit. The following year, the duo of Andersson and Ulvaeus scored a massive international hit with "People Need Love," which featured Faltskog and Lyngstad on backing vocals. The record's success earned them an invitation to enter the Swedish leg of the 1973 Eurovision song contest, where, under the unwieldy name of Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida, they submitted "Ring Ring," which proved extremely popular with audiences but placed only third in the judges' ballots.
The next year, rechristened ABBA (a suggestion from Stig Anderson and an acronym of the members' first names), the quartet submitted the single "Waterloo," and became the first Swedish act to win the Eurovision competition. The record proved to be the first of many international hits, although the group hit a slump after their initial success as subsequent singles failed to chart. In 1975, however, ABBA issued "S.O.S.," a smash not only in America and Britain but also in non-English speaking countries such as Spain, Germany and the Benelux nations, where the group's success was fairly unprecedented. A string of hits followed, including "Mamma Mia," "Fernando," and "Dancing Queen" (ABBA's sole U.S. chart-topper), further honing their lush, buoyant sound; by the spring of 1976, they were already in position to issue their first Greatest Hits collection.
ABBA's popularity continued in 1977, when both "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "The Name of the Game" dominated airwaves. The group also starred in the feature film ABBA - The Movie, which was released in 1978. That year Andersson and Lyngstad married, as had Ulvaeus and Faltskog in 1971, although the latter couple separated a few months later; in fact, romantic suffering was the subject of many songs on the quartet's next LP, 1979's Voulez-Vous. Shortly after the release of 1980s Super Trouper, Andersson and Lyngstad divorced as well, further straining the group dynamic; The Visitors, issued the following year, was the final LP of new ABBA material, and the foursome officially disbanded after the December 1982 release of their single "Under Attack."
Although all of the group's members soon embarked on new projects - both Lyngstad and Faltskog issued solo LPs, while Andersson and Ulvaeus collaborated with Tim Rice on the musical 'Chess' none proved as successful as the group's earlier work, largely because throughout much of the world, especially Europe and Australia, the ABBA phenomenon never went away. Repackaged hits compilations and live collections continued hitting the charts long after the group's demise, and new artists regularly pointed to the quartet's inspiration: while the British dance duo Erasure released a covers collection, ABBA-esque, an Australian group called Bjorn Again found success as ABBA impersonators. In 1993, "Dancing Queen" became a staple of U2's "Zoo TV" tour -- Andersson and Ulvaeus even joined the Irish superstars on-stage in Stockholm -- while the 1995 feature Muriel's Wedding, which won acclaim for its depiction of a lonely Australian girl who seeks refuge in ABBA's music, helped bring the group's work to the attention of a new generation of moviegoers and music fans.
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For The Record:
Members include Benny Andersson (born December 16, 1946, in Stockholm, Sweden); Agnetha Fältskog (born April 5, 1950, in Jankoping, Sweden); Anni-Frid Lyngstad (born November 15, 1945, in Narvik, Norway); Björn Ulvaeus (born April 15, 1945, in Gothenburg, Sweden). Ulvaeus and Fältskog married, 1972-78; had three children. Andersson and Lyngstad married, 1978 (divorced).
Group formed in Stockholm, 1972; released internationally successful series of pop-rock recordings, 1974-83; recorded multiplatinum LP Arrival, 1976; group dissolved, 1983; Andersson and Ulvaeus co-authored musical Chess, 1986; revival of public interest in group, including release of retrospective reissues and cover recordings by other artists, early 1990s. *Purchase these albums here. Source: James M. Manheim This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
Awards: Winner, Eurovision song contest, 1974; named Sweden's fastest-growing corporation by Swedish publication Business World, 1978.
Addresses: Record company—Polygram, 825 8th Ave., New York, NY 10019.
Phil Collins
Phil Collins was born on the 30th january 1951. He had a drum kit from a very early age but was more interested in a career as an actor and had success on the London stage with his first major role as Oliver's Artful Dodger. Even with this early success, he turned once again to music. After playing in a number of school bands, he joined Flaming Youth and recorded the well received and now highly collectable 'ARK 2' album in 1969. it was hardly surprising, given Collins Prog future, that 'ARK 2' was a concept album - a sure sign of things to come.
After Flaming Youth disbanded, Collins answered an advert in the Melody Maker and gained an audition for Genesis who had carelessly lost their three previous drummers. Collins passed the audition and established himself in a settled line up in what was to become the "Classic" Genesis line up. Genesis fast became one of the best and biggest Prog Rock bands with Collins now a well respected drummer and perfect foil to Peter Gabriel. When Gabriel left in 1975 after 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' tour, a suitable replacement was not able to be found, so Collins jumped from his drum stool and into the vocal limelight. Collins more robust style of performing help transform the band from an essentially British success to a worldwide smash with number one albums and singles on both sides of the Atlantic. During the early part of this success, Collins formed a Jazz/Rock outfit, Brand X who continued without Collins once his band and solo commitments grew to much.
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As Genesis continued to become more and more popular, Collins added another string to his bow and launched a solo career. Using the break up of his marriage as inspiration for the first couple of albums, he has also shown a political awareness with later work with such songs as 'Another Day In Paradise' (about homelessness) and songs about apartheid. As a solo artist, even greater success followed. Massive hit albums and singles all over the world were now commonplace. He even returned to acting, starring in the Great Train Robbery film Buster. He was now a well respected record producer working with the like of John Martyn and Frida from ABBA and appeared on albums as guest artist for many performers such as Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Robert Plant and on ex. Genesis Peter Gabriel and Steve Hacketts solo Albums. He was also the drummer on the Band Aid single 'Do They Know Its Christmas', and Collins' place in Rock History was assured.
After quitting Genesis in 1996, he concentrated on solo work. In 2003 he reported the loss of hearing in one ear and so curtailed his activities, particularly live work. Even so he once again joined Genesis and toured the world in 2007 and continued to be the guest drummer for notable acts including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin.
Collins has shown a remarkable longevity and although perhaps scorned by many prog rock fans as never being able to fill the large boots of Peter Gabriel, he has proved to be a brilliant musician and songwriter, albeit in a more pop orientated world. With total sales with Genesis and as a solo performer of over 200 million albums.
His first big solo hit 'In The Air Tonight' has recently received many air plays on the back of the surreal advert featuring a gorilla enthusiastically playing along, prompting the single to be re released in many countries.
Roger Gibbens
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com.
