ABBA blog

The long, long, long journey of my book ABBA On Record - Packaged Promoted Reviewed from embryonic idea to finished book is, I'm afraid, not over yet. But the book will be published in 2023, exact date to be confirmed (to everyone who has pre-ordered: thank you so much for your extraordinary patience). A promising sign, however, is that I've recently gone back to the chapters completed up to this point, to fine-tune them and make them that more readable and ready for publication, adding bits of information that have come my way since I first wrote them. And I have to say, I'm really pleased with what I have so far. Some of my own favourite sections include:

● A chain of circumstances related to 'People Need Love' that, had they panned out differently, could have spelled the end of ABBA before they'd even started.

● ABBA's tenure with Playboy Records 1972-73, the story of which I never dared hope I would be able to tell in such detail.

● The way Stig Anderson managed to get 'Ring Ring' released in so many countries over the world. His tenacity was incredibly impressive.

● An ultra-detailed essay on how the group name Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida was changed to ABBA.

● The stories behind the album sleeves, some of which are very detailed indeed.

● The story of ABBA getting signed to Atlantic Records in the United States, which I would never have been able to tell in this much detail if former Atlantic MD Jerry Greenberg hadn't put me in touch with so many of the people involved.

● The depiction of how a promotion team from CBS dressed up as a wedding party to plug 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do' at London radio stations, based on the recollections of everyone involved.

● The explosion, peak popularity and subsequent fizzling out of ABBA's career in Australia, also much more detailed than I've ever told this story before.

● The build-up of ABBA's popularity in the UK in 1975-76, following their post-Eurovision slump.

● The roll-out of the Greatest Hits/The Best Of ABBA compilations in 1975-76 and what they meant for ABBA's subsequent career.

Through writing ABBA On Record, I've learned so many things about ABBA's career that I didn't know before, and I've truly understood certain events in a way I hadn't previously. Without being overly immodest, I am convinced that ABBA fans across the globe will get a lot out of the book too.

Learn more about ABBA On Record and pre-order your copy.