ABBA's Forgotten Musical - "ABBAcadabra" (1983) | History

[@sebastiansalinassalinas1019]

Excellent video!!!!

[@podacre]

Wonderful episode, as always. A special pleasure for me because I went to the Lyric Theatre to see it twice, once in December 1983 and once in January 1984. In relation to your question about photographs, the theatre had a very strict no-photographs policy. I did manage to snap a picture of the empty stage when I went to the December performance, when I was sitting on the balcony to view it. But in January, when I was in the stalls, towards the front, I tried to take a picture and I got my camera confiscated, and when I went to pick it up after the show, they had removed the film and thrown it away. They were particularly heavy-handed that night because Prince Andrew was in attendance, with his security people around him. I kept a diary at the time. When I am home, I'll check my diary entries for those two days to see if I recorded anything of interest. Sadly, I was not there the day that Frida was there (I was only 16, and had to wait until the school holidays to go!).

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Thank you for sharing.If someone didn't live there it wasn't possible to get to know more.Abba had silently broken up ,considered a 'closed case' and there was no internet at the time so to get quick information.

[@gymnastica6696]

I went with my sister to see ABBACADABRA at the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith and still have the programme.

[@MarcByrne]

What was it like in English? I bought the singles released from it, slightly better than the French invention, but then no album of the English show was released, unfortunately

[@plerpplerp5599]

Me, too! 😊

[@sianwilliams9564]

@@plerpplerp5599 and me three! I know I have the programme and a poster somewhere. I did have a blue t-shirt with ABBACADABRA logo on it too. That's long gone!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Abba were uncool at the time of this kids musical .It was until the very late '80s that some pale light started to be visible on Abba nostalgia .Finally by the early '90s from the ashes raised an everlasting ABBA desire that gradually burned up and nearly 4 decades later leaded to the unbelievable 2021 reunion. that blasted all over and got welcomed in open arms and tears of joy.

[@JonathanJones-mc1ci]

❤❤😂😂😂😂😂🎉🎉😢

[@bobdavis4848]

It never should matter if some thought ABBA were uncool. One person who ridiculed me in high school for liking ABBA was a big Led Zeppelin and The Who fan, bands who it turned out were ABBA fans and not ashamed for others to know.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@bobdavis4848 That's true!You know, Negative criticism was mainly coming from USA/UK 'serious"rock cultured medias.,though many famous rock musicians didn't seem to agree with the policy of this manipulative toxic fog ,since they could realise their songwritting genius.But ABBA had to 'apologize" and got convicted for being 'pop".But that was THEM.Pretty honest!The kind of music they loved to write,record and perform that happened to be loved by millions,either openly or secretly.There was an army of Abba lovers who were listening to their records behind closed doors.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@bobdavis4848ps i wonder if you have read Brian Eno's reaaally disarming Abba love confession published in that The Guardian interview back in 2010.Also Bono's emotional break about Abba some months ago.really honest ,gentle and touching ,made me wet eyed.If you google you can find them both.

[@bobdavis4848]

@@alexioverdo5225 Yes, I think you are accurate in your observations. I have read both Eno's and Bono's positive Abba words and greatly appreciated them. I was very shy as a youth, but I'd generally admit to being a big Abba fan...when I got mail packages (usually labeled "petit paquet") from Pop Import in Sweden, my parents knew it was Abba items in them, and they had mostly become fans too.

[@marikesl]

I only knew the title until now - thank you for these very interesting insights, BB!

[@scottnichols3685]

I saw ABBACADABRA twice in December 1983 while living in London. I was very young but remember it was magical.

[@AzoreanZionist]

I knew about this musical, because a big ABBA fan, let me borrow his "ABBA International Fan Magazine", and I read all about this musical. It was 1984, when he let me borrow them to read.

[@stefanzantes8818]

Thank you for this great feature about ABBACADABRA. I loved the Single of "Belle" and in those days without Internet, I got a videocassette from a French fan with the video and severall appearances of the cast on French TV. The Album and Single were both huge hits in France and received gold discs. 2 Fun facts: Abbacadabra helped Les Miserables to become a world wide hit! Because Alain Boublil is of course most famous for writing the Musicals Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre together with composer Claude Michel Schönberg. At that time Les Miserables had already run in France as a concert show. During the production of Abbacadabra in London, the producer Cameron Mackintosh found the french version of Les Miz in Boublils home and instantly fell in love with the show, so he decided to produce it for London... The rest is history 😊 And: The French version is available as Gatefold Vinyl Album and on official CD, the CD is rare. Portugese and Dutch are available on vinyl, the production however is the same as the French version. But to my knowledge, the only digital versions being available from any of the English version songs are on a compilation CD Box celebrating Cameron Macintosh. The CD is called "Hey Mr. Producer" and the songs are: I Am The Seeker and Like An Image Passing By 😊

[@booh12469]

Interesting commentary and results of your in depth research ~ greetings & thanks Bobby's B! "Arrival" seems to be one of the ABBA gems that received a recurring lease on life once it was lyricised, Frida & B.A Robertson's version is magnificent and underrated. Sarah Brightman's 2008 version is ethereal and features lyrics by Björn, which he had apparently written for possibly including the song in the "Mamma Mia" musical. I love the way "Time" showcases Frida's soothing operatic mezzo soprano voice, she's truly a very talented versatile vocalist.

[@darrenbertram7289]

Wow, how nice to see José Hoebee, my favourite from Luv' 🤩

[@alexioverdo5225]

I was aware of Frida's 'Belle"/"'Time" singles as well as the excistence of the musical 'Abbacadabra" back then but couldn't have more access on infos and learn details about it since the press wrote very few things about it.Besides Abba weren't considered cool in the '80s and also everyone had decided to say goodbeye to the '70s for good.

[@Vintage-Tech]

I had a friend who went to see this with his parents at the Lyric Theater, I already had the 45rpm singles and he kindly gave me the Theater program he had kept from the show. Very nice to have it in my collection...

[@stefbaer2008]

....na das nenne ich eine Überraschung! Bis jetzt kannte ich dieses Musical überhaupt nicht. Kein Wunder. In DDR Zeiten wurde zwar über ABBA berichtet und sie waren auch live im Friedrichstadtpalast zu sehen, aber mehr auch nicht. Daher freue ich mich, als alter ABBA Fan noch mehr, was ABBA nach 1983 noch so alles in aller " Stille" so auf die Beine gestellt hat. Danke für's Einstellen und bitte mehr von diesen Unikaten. Alles Liebe und Gute❤

[@JF-sh2sm]

Alain Boublil was also the original lyricist behind the smash hit musical Les Misérables. Him working with ABBA seems so surreal, what a dream team!

[@markachurch8545]

I saw the stage musical in 1983 at the Lyric theatre. There was at least one television screen used in the production, (maybe more but I can't remember).At one point 'Dancing Queen' from ABBA the movie was played. Elaine Paige played 'Carabosse'. I remember she sang very loudly in the small space. BA Robertson and Finola Hughes I also remember seeing. Frida and BA Robertson promoted 'Time' on the Russel Harty TV show.

[@sianwilliams9564]

Wow, you remember a lot more detail than I do - though I am not surprised about EP singing loudly! I went to the show at the Lyric too - I think probably in January 84 (I have a January birthday) and I remember the show being fun but not a lot of the details, I'd forgotten about the TV screen. I do recall seeing some TV promo - so it was almost certainly the show you refer to, and I am fairly sure I saw a review in The Observer newspaper. I'd have to find my old scrapbooks to be sure!

[@anthonya.antonio]

I had no idea this even existed, thank you.

[@piranija1356]

Ни чего не знала об Аббакадабра! Спасибо большое вам! ❤

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

Very interesting. I bought the single "Time" by Frida and B.A Robertson in the early 1980's not long after I discovered it in a record shop "reduction bin" where unsucessful records were often sold off cheaply if they didn't sell, so I was lucky to get a copy at all, as I did not even know of its release. Of course by that time it was not too cool to like ABBA as they were considered a past thing as far as mainstream popularity was concerned here in the UK, hence I never heard of the musical either, apart from what was written to advertise it on the single cover. I knew B.A. Robertson from the UK pop charts with songs such as Bang Bang. I loved the Time song though, and it's a pity it didn't really chart, as it would have made a good Christmastime hit I think with its nostalgic vibe. It is still one of my original treasures. I did not know of the Elaine Paige single release for this until seeing your video, so it shows just how unknown the whole thing was as far of public awareness of it was in the UK. Certainly even many ABBA fans did not know of it, as it was probably aimed at kids. I saw Elaine Paige at the ABBA Voyage VIP Gala Opening Night in London after the ABBA Fan Club made dance floor places available though a free Prize Draw for their members, so I won a place that coveted night. However due to me being terminally ill as a kidney patient with Amyloidosis I explained that I did not think I could stand for that length of time as the chemo zaps my energy and the immunosuppression after my transplant, so they gave me a wheelchair place which allowed me to see the show from a great vantage point with a carer. Elaine was sitting in the bar, quite demurely, at the ABBA Voyage, whilst I was in a wheelchair two tables away from her. She was with a gentleman who must have been her husband. I was having a great time and had brought some old ABBA Magazines with me as well as my first ABBA Greatest Hits music cassette tape from 1976, as the Fan Club said to try to take video footage of your respective journeys from the varioius countries, and as I was flying in from Northern Ireland I intended to take some footage, but forgot to do it, as I wanted to show that I still had my orginal tape, which I got for Christmas as a 10-year-old boy. There was always too much fuss with Special Assistance at the airports getting on and off planes with a wheelchair to be playing about with taking videos at the same time however, so I only got a few photographs, but I was able after to collate those into a video. Because of the items I had with me I struck up a lot of conversations with people easily, and soon a group of girls had gathered round the table in the bar where I was sitting in my wheelchair and I think a few of the VIPS were trying to figure out who I was in my chair! Elaine Paige was very quiet and I didn't think she might appreciate someone going up to her at an event like that, plus I was basically stuck in one place not being able to move freely. I now regret not having attempted to speak to her, as she is so connected to many ABBA things, plus the girls who were quite gregarious were joking that I had taken all the attention, as there was a lot of laughter and jollity at our table well within her vision! At the table next to me on the other side sat Natalie Imbruglia known for her single 'Torn' and across the way an area was roped off in red ropes, so I asked if it was for ABBA (in my dreams!), but it was actually for the Swedish Royal Family, so definitely an unforgettable star-studded night! I was allowed a carer, so my partner was able to accompany me there. We saw a chap in a gold coat and I complimented him on it, after which he asked if he could hang about with us as he was on his own, but was connected with the media in some way and did not want to hang about with all of his usual colleagues, so I said, "Of course!" It turned out that he had written a play for Frida, which she actually attended to see! He explained that the wristband I had been given was for entrance to the VIP After Party at a Night Club in London, so I ended up being wheeled up a ramp onto a bus to go to that! This is when the unbelievable happened, for at some point in the night (or early hours of the morning) this same chap offered to help me find the disabled toilets, and as we crossed the room suddenly Benny appeared from behind some black curtains with a bodyguard! I couldn't believe it! The chap in gold said to wait to see if we could get to speak to him. There were about 3 girls hovering waiting to do so, and each spoke briefly and one other guy, then I realised that now was my chance! My friend said he would stand back and take photos, which was very good of him. I did not know what to say that all other people would not already have said to him, so with quick Irish wit and humour in my Belfast accent I remembered I had the 1976 Greatest Hits cassette in my pocket, and I took it out, and called over very audibly, "Hey, Benny! Do you want to buy a cassette!" It had a "nice price" sticker on the front of it, original from the time, so I also said, "It's a nice price!" Well suddenly Benny was laughing, and I pointed out to my friend in the gold coat taking the photographs, "This is ABBA Gold!" Well Benny found that funny too so the pics looked as if I knew Benny for years as they were so happy and carefree looking and very natural, not 'staged' or posed, which I am sure they must get fed up doing the same thing all the time. Who would have thought it?! I never left Northern Ireland as a kidney patient thinking I would ever meet one of the members of ABBA, never mind enjoying such a fab concert. I wrote an account of it for the German ABBA magazine 'Intermezzo' which got published along with some of the pics in the issue that featured write-ups from other ABBA fans. I also sent a similar article to the UK Kidney Patients magazine "Kidney Matters" for their Winter 2022 edition (which can be googled online) which appeared as a two-page write-up as an encouragement to other kidney patients and people with challenging or terminal conditions to follow their dreams and not give up when it comes to something like attending an ABBA concert, and I mentioned just how helpful ABBA Voyage staff are. Sorry for the long ramble, but some things are too good to keep to yourself! Just to end, and probably in light of current political events on our TV screens every night, I remember an Australian man in ABBA # The Movie saying that "ABBA" was in the Bible, meaning "Father" as in "God" in Hebrew-Aramaic, and in the 1990's I got a job working as a chef for the Hilton Tel-Aviv (1991-2002) working with both Jews and Arabs in a busy hotel. I recall how the kids shouted, "Abba, Abba!" in the streets, and I realised they were shouting "Daddy/Father", not that they were all hardened ABBA fans! I also saw an Arab restaurant in Jaffa, just south of Tel-Aviv (one Jewish-Arab municipality), called "ABBAS", which is an Arabic name. I took some of the paper napkins as a souvenir and send them to a sort of unofficial coloured paper ABBA fan magazine from that period in the UK and they published the cultural and linguistic use of the word ABBA even in the war torn Mid-East. As the famous Greek singer Nana Mouskouri once said (who is apparently the best selling female artist of all time with some 350 million records sold, even more than Madonna, and who was 89 this year), "A world without music would be impossible to live." I'm sure ABBA fans could say that. Interestingly, Nana has covered a few ABBA songs very nicely, including I Have A Dream in English, French and German, and a very good version of Chiqitita in French, a language ABBA did not sing it in, so more ABBA trivia of interest! Music can also be a pathway to peace and may we wish this for all peoples, and surely many of ABBA's anthems and songs bring people together, especially the Ode To Freedom. Shalom-salaam-peace. 🤍 🌿🕊

[@cedarcam]

What a fantastic story. I am delighted to hear you had the most unexpected of nights meeting Benny. It looks a long ramble but I hope others take the time to read through. Thank you for sharing. May peace come to all humans on our tiny ball in a huge universe before it is too late. We should all work together to save this precious thing we have, not destroy it as we are now.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Thanx for sharing your Abba adventure.... now that was a comment!BTW Abba did record a French version of 'Waterloo" and sounded really fine and quite sexy.

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@@cedarcam Thank you for your gracious comment. 🌿

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

@@alexioverdo5225 Thank you, I didn't want to leave too much out to make a complete circle. Yes, I have the French version of Waterloo on a rare CD called ABBA INTERNATIONAL, released in West Germany in the early 80's (before the fall of the Berlin Wall, hence "West Germany" and not "Germany" like it is today), and it includes songs both in English and other languages, which I am sure Bobby's Brother has alluded to before in his excellent educational and entertaining videos. But as far as I know ABBA never recorded Chiquitita in French, which made Nana's release a little bit unique. It's definitely worth a listen to on KZbin, as are the French & German versions of I Have A Dream for ABBA fans who like to discover ABBA covers. Vera Lynn the great British war time singer sang Thank You For The Music and I Wonder (Departure) which is largely unknown outside of the UK. There is also a video on KZbin that shows Nana Mouskouri on stage singing I Have A Dream in French with Frida, and quite unfairly I thought poor Frida didn't quite get her tongue round those French lyrics and so sang in English at the same time, and it looked like Frida didn't get presented with a bouquet of flowers whilst Nana did, unless some of the footage was clipped out at the end. This was at the period when ABBA had stopped releasing any new material, so the fanfare was a little less than previously, which I am happy has been fully rectified today. And of course there have always been loyal ABBA fans through thick and thin, and their songs were always known, loved and recognised, by so many at all times. 🤍

[@stefbaer2008]

Ich bedanke mich sehr herzlich das Sie ihre Erlebnisse mit uns teilen. Ich bewundere sie das sie trotz ihrer Krankheit, sich nicht aus der Bahn werfen lassen und bis heute durchgehalten haben. Leider ist es mir nicht möglich gewesen solche Touren überhaupt zu unternehmen. Aber was soll's! Ich erfreue mich eben an Berichte, Videos oder Platten von ABBA! Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland und weiterhin alles Liebe und Gute und vorallem, gute Gesundheit!❤

[@christianoazzuro6711]

6:37,yeah i know that brunette lady(Jose).She was a member of a Dutch female trio LUV. Btw. I have two studio albums by them bought in 1979.Quite good ones.Fun time music with nice vocals.

[@alisonrainbowz6861]

I didn't know about this production at the time. Like you said Abba were more low key at the time, while still obtaining the magic of success at a level that made them phenomenal and highly respected. I have heard about it in more recent years. But Bobby, you explained perfectly why it was not more well known, that is why it hadn't grown. But still loved, amazing fun, that brought magic as it run. Thank you again BB. Just magical 😊

[@PVprod]

thanks again for this ! You're right: in France Abbacadabra didn't make much of an impression -it was just for children. But we, fans, enjoyed seeing french singers...enjoying themselves (Plastic Bertrand with 'my nose..." mon nez mon nez mon nez) ! And 'Belle' was quite a hit, thanks to Frida and the late D.Balavoine (he died 3 years later). Along with Alain Boublil they showed us Arrival could be turned into a very good song !

[@eliaspapoudaris6012]

Cette comédie musicale niaise était sans intérêt et dévalua l héritage que Abba avait laissé précédemment.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Thank you yet for another "investigative" Abba related video.Btw if your real name is the one i know,then do know that it is really beauuuutiful.Hugs.

[@paulburton9386]

I remember learning about this show in 1990/91 when I bought the cassettes of The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh. Although there were no songs from the musical on the tapes, Cameron mentioned in the sleeve notes that he had produced the show in the early 80s. As soon as I saw this video I was reminded of this fact!

[@themotownboy1]

Back in the late 1980s, I found a used import copy of the French version on LP. I played it a couple of times, but then filed it away. I may still have it in storage. I am afraid that other than Frida's song, I had very little interest in listening to it.

[@coco.g5567]

Et oui mamamia c'est du réchauffé à côté de Abbacadabra . J'ai le CD tellement de souvenirs 😢😢❤❤

[@marcopaulo-qv7tz]

Abba's relationship with France has always been a bit special because although the success of certain songs and albums is certain, there has never been any kind of Abbamania and especially no positive criticism from the press. In addition, the few French adaptations by other artists were catastrophic and the Abbacadabra project reduced them at the time to almost a group for children under 5 years old. Only the Frida duet is qualitative with a nice text and perfect pronunciation. But I blame Alain Boublil, PR of Abba in France and yet the author of the musical "Les Miserables" and a good French adaptation of Waterloo, for giving birth to such a project. Fortunately since then, the slow revival of the 90s, over the years has opened the eyes of Pop journalists and finally bowed to the talent of Abba...

[@alexioverdo5225]

I still have some French music mags with lots of Abba in my parental house from '79/'80.Quite positive articles.But France and Italy are 2 music markets that traditionally have a great wealth with lots of continental artists that people there listen to and support.Btw as far as i know the San Remo festival was a kind of contest similarly important to the ESC in Italy.My father has plenty of 7 inch stuff by Italian/French singers from the 60's and the 70's that were extremely popular in Southern Europe but comparatively almost 'unknown" in the UK if not in Some North European countries.

[@alexioverdo5225]

ps Btw VOYAGE album in France was kinda unexcpectedly a solid no1 album plus a fine seller,certified platinum there!

[@bobbyyounger7632]

Thanks BB ! I was able to locate the single vinyl record TIME with Frida on ebay ....got it for my collection

[@Trish.C-h7w]

I did buy both Time and Belle at the time though only played once or twice but will still keep them. Will have to refresh my memory and replay them🙂

[@stephen47739]

Hi. I went to see this in 1983 and have both singles. Elaine Paige was ill for the performance that I attended. In my head I can still recall the words to ‘Back Home Now’ (Fernando)- thoroughly enjoyed it

[@chelseacharger]

Some quite well known television personalities in the UK stage show. Michael Praed had a spell in 'Dynasty' and was the lead character in a 'Robin Hood' series back then. Phil Daniels was the lead role in Rock Opera film 'Quadrophenia'. In the French production, Plastic Bertrand played 'Pinocchio'. He had a big international hit in 1978. The song on the second soundtrack album which features Frida has Mary Starlight listed and I think that was a pseudonym for Francoise Boubill, the wife of Alain Boubill at the time. Francoise was also the daughter of Franck Pourcel, who had recorded a orchestral album of ABBA songs in 1978.

[@bobbysbrother137]

Super interesting. Thanks for the additional information and for pointing out more connections!

[@frankly-he1kf]

I had that album by Frank pourcel. I loved it....mind you...anything abba related in those days I snapped up....

[@alexioverdo5225]

I had the Frank Pourcel instrumental album.It was the first time i heard DQ which i didn't quite like (even before Abba's version)but loved the SNC opening track,full unedited version with the slow intro long before ABBA released it in '94.BTW i have a slight suspicion that A+F did some vocal job on his version of I DO,I DO.Album was of 1978 i think.There was also a photo of the girls singing in front of their studio mics in that photo session with Frank.

[@LIVROSEBOOKS]

Fantastic! I know the songs, in English and French, but I didn't know that there were Dutch and Portuguese versions as well. Great video!

[@debs4672]

I recall hearing something about Abbacadabra but had no idea what it was until today!

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Same here,thanx to B'sb.

[@GJ2024-indo]

I got the single ; time, which was the the /BA Robertson and Frida duet . I was quite happy that they finally put lyrics to Arrival.

[@PFVideoAce]

Tell us about the ABBAballet (Swedish TV), please

[@christianoazzuro6711]

I had watched this on TV somewhere around mid '80s.Songs included were also some album tracks such as The Visitors and KOF TWOFD /IAMarrionete if i remember well.Maybe even 'Watch out'?(though not sure about this)

[@zorannakevski3244]

♥️♥️♥️ The 🌹Greats 👑ABBA'S 👑 LEGENDS 👑 ♥️♥️♥️ ♥️♥️♥️ Thanks you Bobby ♥️♥️♥️

[@CheesyForeverBlue]

I went to see this show at the Lyric and really enjoyed it. There were some big stars in it. Michael Praed, Finola Hughes, Sylvester McCoy (Dr Who) Elaine Paige etc The show was sold out every night and I heard they’d hoped to move it to the West End but of course that never happened. I’m just glad I got the chance to see it. I have the French album & the English singles

[@dreasbn]

I got the French vinyl version and had no idea what was behind it. It 1983 there was not much information to get… but I am not and never has been too thrilled… and I only knew the Time single from the English version…

[@TheFachnir]

Thank you, Very interesting!

[@arwenanduin]

Thank you! I never knew where the songs BELLE and TIME came from. I found a 45 vinyl for BELLE with a Daniel Balavoine song on the flip side. I was never able to find BELLE on Spotify...

[@ABBAGAV1974]

To be frank about it - not many people enjoy listening to a whole album of children singing?!! That’s why the English versions of the 4 tracks are of a much better standard. At the time it did get receive a lot of media attention and the tv appearances of FRIDA & Robinsons helped! As the London show was only a limited run that is exactly what it is so at the time the coverage was good for a short run! The french version was better to watch than just listen to on an album . Great to see you covering this and on a last note, Elaine still mentions this show at times on her BBC Radio show!

[@bobbysbrother137]

Could not agree more with you!

[@StephenSmith-Lane]

Having been an Abba fan since 1974, attending the first show of 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in 1977, and every night at Wembley Empire Pool in 1979, I had to see Abbacadabra, it was a great show, I still have the original programme, I also wondered why it didn't have more success, but, I also believe the lyrics let it down. B.A.Robison and Frida did appear on TV singing "Time" a beautiful song.

[@tordarseneric2941]

vous faites réellement un bon travail, I loved the songs from the musical (in French) which gave us hope for a continuation. Daniel Balavoine was supposed to write a song for Frida, but the hopes ended with his death during the Paris Dakar. I tried to share “belle” on KZbin but the rights are blocked in France. Frida is very pretty there

[@what-uc]

BA Robertson was often on Noel Edmonds' Swap Shop and supplied the theme tune for its final series (1981-82) The song is called "Hello, Hello"

[@nigelfreeman6192]

I remember this and have the 7” single called Time, which was Arrival with lyrics. By B.A Robertson and Frida

[@ABBADiego]

Probably the most dreadful thing ever to be staged and recorded to a vinyl album. I was in Galieries Lafayette in 1985 and as it was before Internet, I had no idea what I'd bought but I bought the album on vinyl anyway like a loyal fan. I got it home to play and I believe it is the only vinyl record of mine that has only had 1 play and I doubt I even made it to side 2. It was a truly HORRIFIC venture, luck has it that no one brings it up. "Mon Nez Mon Nez Mon Nez" is not even funny. It was cheap dross.

[@ЕленаАртемова-р2ч]

Где же сейчас эта пластинка? Это же РАРИТЕТ!

[@MarcByrne]

Totally agree. I eventually got an illegal copy of it, already knowing the Belle song, which was sort of nice. But the rest is embarrassing. Surprising to see this disaster of a musical venture allowed around ABBA music and also Daniel Balavoine, one of the greatest and most respected French artist ever.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Appart from Frida's singles,i had heard a very small sample somewhere (i can't remember where) later years 'n kinda sounded like some very low levelled Abba covers by amateurs not even close to that Stars on 45 vol.2 Abba medley of '82.

[@regiiotv]

You have to remember that it was primarily made for kids... But I agree with you, it was made very cheaply, the album, the TV show and the rest and I never understood how B&B gave their blessings to that at the time. It was a bit of a blow to the fans that I was (and still am in spite of Voyage), ABBA had just stopped making music together as a band and as a consolation we were served that!!! That really hurt at the time let me tell you.

[@MarcByrne]

@@regiiotv why in spite of Voyage? I agree, it hurt to have been served this musical idea after splitting, same for me

[@gymnastica6696]

abracadabra is a word said by conjurors when performing a magic trick. Abbacadabra was a play on that word. I hope you won't mind me saying, you are not pronouncing it quite right Bobby's Brother. ABBA- CAD -ABB-RAH!

[@bobbysbrother137]

I got the play on words. I pronounced it the way it was pronounced on those French TV appearances with Frida back in the day.

[@tombridgebuilder1964]

I've always thought I know everything about ABBA. Far from it! Thank you, Swedish bro, for digging this up! Maybe the musical was casting pearls before sw... Swedish-ignorant foreigners ...😅

[@Andreasjacke1]

Toll - Danke!!!

[@alexioverdo5225]

Back in 1979 E.Paige slagged off Abba as a guest in a UK TV show together with Johnny Rotten from Sex Pistols while reviewing the new single then 'ANGELEYES".Little did they know both.5 years later Elaine had her biggest hit ever written by B+B and punk John went a to be a self confessed big ABBA fan even singing live FERNANDO in front of a live audience a couple of years ago.

[@christianoazzuro6711]

7:39 This blonde person on the left looks a lot like Bobby G from UK pop group Bucks Fizz.7:08 Oh yes,i had this photo in a poster from German pop magazine ''BRAVO"

[@gerdaschilt9803]

I remember Bonnie and José singing dutch versions of abba songs. But i totally forgot Abbacadabra. Cant remember seeing it.

[@gcoudert]

I still have the original French 'Belle' single. Daniel Balavoine was a huge star in France; he was killed in a helicopter crash in Mali in January 1986.

[@tijgervisuals]

Mmm, i've got 2 copies of the Dutch adaption... Strange version for TV and vinyl album.

[@acarlosramirez]

Hej Bobby...When are you going to make a video about Abba´s conection with the freemasons, Thanks

[@Goldfishclown]

Mike Batt did not compose the score for Watership Down, he only wrote "Bright Eyes". The rest of the score was written by Angela Morley.

[@bobbysbrother137]

Yes, that’s absolutely correct. Mike Batt wrote more music for the film, which wasn’t used, but later released on record.

[@TheFridaFan]

I enjoyed "Belle" a great deal. It introduced me to the fabulous voice of Daniel Balavoine! I also adore Jose Hoebee from LUV. She's amazing. No offense to Patty and Marga, but Jose was really "the voice" of that group.

[@frankly-he1kf]

Daniel,who had a hit with s.o.s(nothing to do with abba) led me to discover the greatest singer that ever lived,DIMASH.....

[@christianoazzuro6711]

@TheFridaFan...Oh so you knew LUV?!I also did and liked them!

[@ЕленаАртемова-р2ч]

Спасибо, Бобби! Очень интересно!

[@voldeficient]

I have the Dutch LP of this Musical and the Dutch Musical is available on KZbin as well.

[@themountainwanderer]

Thank you, I had no idea.

[@popboy0]

In some way ABBACADABRA is a pioneer musical that came some years before Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS. And even though Sondheim's musical is an adult reflection on what fairy tales represent, it keeps the idea of interpolate different plots from different classic fairy tales.

[@louisvanbeek1214]

I am the seeker is actually a highlight in the recordings of the show. Always liked the melody, but the text is (not surprisingly) quite childish, B&B later used parts of that melody for Upp till dig, a BAO song. That.song uses the refrain from I am the seeker as the chorus melody. The whole ABBAcadabra project was quite strange, even at that time. A curiosity nowadays, I would say.

[@Keith1]

It WAS released as a cast album. Gate fold double album. But very rare. I saw it at the Lyric Theatre and was excellent. Throughout the 90's it was treated as a bootleg album, but was available in HMV in at least Picadilly Circus.. It cost £16:99. All questions I asked in the 90's to ABBA sites were either ignored or told " we don't talk about it as it was a French non approved ABBA product..

[@MarcByrne]

Bizarre to be considered Non-Approved with Frida singing on single, and with French superstar involved

[@kayt9576]

This wasnt advertised in U. S. . Dont remember it being shown anywhere in U. S.

[@dinashabsough9272]

Not forgotten for me no way

[@paulmorris4992]

Though l did not see the production in London, l do have a recording that was made live during a performance. It is nothing to write home about but if anyone wants it though l won’t download it onto KZbin, l can make it available to individuals. Listening to it shows why it didn’t work. It is a bit like a pantomime.

[@cedarcam]

I remember ABBAcadabra being on sale in HMV but never bought it. Seeing it was songs based on ABBA with new lyrics did not appeal to me, maybe I should of got it now seeing this. I did not know about the show until now. I do like Belle but not realised it was from this show and only recently came across LUV with Jose Hobee a group that never got popular here in UK and one I now enjoy listening to after finding many of their songs on here. With other performers I know I probably would of liked a few songs on the album.

[@alexioverdo5225]

LUV were quite big for a while in continental Europe.''Trojan Horse" and 'The Greatest lover" were big hits and very well produced.Vocals and harmonization were also 'non-cheap sounded ' but really very good .Band members were big Abba fans until now as far as i know.A book kinda titled 'We love Abba" had also some LUV members connection.

[@cedarcam]

@@alexioverdo5225 It was one of their songs came up on my list to watch 'The Greatest Lover' I think, and I immediately thought it sounds rather like ABBA reading the comments I saw Benny had done some work with them and they were big fans of ABBA, so then I searched for more from them, I found 'Trojan Horse' was the only song that did anything here and in US, shame really as like you say they were not a cheap sound they were well produced. Thank you for the extra info on the book.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@cedarcam One of My cousins had bought 2 albums by LUV.'Lots of love" and 'Love with LUV".We were listening to them in his attic when we were teens.One of the albums were kinda ARRIVAL inspired concerning the cover photo featuring them posing in short pants standing outside in front of a small airplaine.'UOME"/'Dandy"/'Casanova"/"Who do you wanna be"/'Saint Tropez" some titles we loved to listen and vocals were powerful from these 3 girls.

[@cedarcam]

@@alexioverdo5225 Everything I have found on LUV is from KZbin I know there are more songs to find. I know the photo you refer to it was on one of the icons Don Juanita Carnaval No doubt if I had known them sooner I would of bought albums. Two albums I have got from here are Luv - Forever Yours and Luv True Luv. I have 52 songs listed although some are repeats. Like ABBA they have a good variety of music not all the same style

[@gert-janvs5708]

The UK and French singles are relatively easy to come by for collecting. The only vinyl single release from the Netherlands in Dutch ('Wij zijn vrij' / The Visitors) is very hard to find even here because it was a big flop single. Of the LP Vinyls, the French one is the most likely to find (in Europe), better than the Dutch and far easier than the Portugese one, which LP only was only pressed in small numbers. The latter I learned about only a few years ago. The French and Dutch releases also have rare CD releases. The French release can also be found on - the now once again popular - music cassette. Canada also released the original French recording on LP and cassette. There is a Eurovision connection with the French release for singer Catherine Ferry who represented France in 1976 being second with her song 1,2,3 (un, deux, trois). Funny enough Belgium 'punk' singer Plastic Bertrand (1977 hit: Ca plane pour moi) ended up on the French ABBAcadabra musical singing children's songs... Another Eurovision connection, even back to 1974, is found on the Dutch recording for late Willem Duyn (as Alladin) being the male half of the duo Mouth & MacNeal, finishing third with 'I see a star', which also became a big hit in the UK. But ofcourse nothing like the big and famous Waterloo, thé Eurovisions number 1 of the same year. Here on KZbin several digitized TV recordings from multiple countries can be found and are quite nostalgic to watch and put things in perspective as to the children's fairytales aspect of those days in the 80s. ABBAcadabra is indeed quite a cute ABBA niche, also for collectors.

[@bobbysbrother137]

Thanks for the additional information and intriguing connections. And for pointing out the wonderful digitised uploads!

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@bobbysbrother137Oh dear What have you done again?!You digged out in the spotlight this old burried story (who many of us kinda ignored in some level) and caused a lil quake here in the comment section.We are all here woven around you again.Such a fine fun meeting place really.

[@bobbysbrother137]

@@alexioverdo5225 I’m so surprised to see the amount of comments and memories. Very intriguing!

[@williamoverly1617]

Prounced abbacaDAbra!

[@abbanova8048]

We contacted Mono Music regarding staging a number of the ABBAcadabra songs in 2024, but the answer was “a definite No”: the only official ABBA Musical is Mamma Mia, and the only lyrics to be sung to the tune of ABBA melodies are the original lyrics, not the ABBAcadabra/Mike Batt versions. 😢

[@bobbysbrother137]

Very interesting, thank you for letting me know. They must be so happy with me digging out this project, haha.

[@lidianota3150]

Perché Agneta non partecipo a questo progetto non era abbastanza brava penso che la sua voce era era perfetta per favole per bambini . Grazie Bobbj per cio che ci riguarda gli ABBA.

[@A_dam]

I remembered a children's program with fairy tales and songs sung by Benny Neyman, Bonnie St. Claire and Josée Hoebee, went looking for it out of childhood sentiment. When I finally found it and got it on DVD (copy), and went to watch it then I was very surprised that it were ABBA songs!

[@eliaspapoudaris6012]

Drie vreselijke NL zangers. Hoe hebben B&B dat cheap gedoe laten doen ?

[@A_dam]

@@eliaspapoudaris6012 I remember them as big stars at the time😄

[@ColinsCity]

i listened to the french version, the vinyl is uploaded here and it doesn't sound that good, the dutch version sounds better actually and the dutch abbacadabra show is remastered on here too, it is definitely very kids orientated, the music production and vocal production don't have any nuances or depth like the originals and i can't speak french or dutch so i don't know how the lyrics are but i'm guessing easy and digestible if it's aimed at kids. My favourite versions of ABBA's songs sung in a different language is from Salma & Sabina Agha with their album ABBA in Hindi.

[@nicolasschontz2997]

Hello Bobby's brother! I remember this musical very well from when I was a child and it was shown on television at Christmas time. I didn't really like it at the time and I have to say I don't like it any more now. The production was bad and the story pointless. Frida's presence and voice salvage the rest a little, but I don't have very fond memories of it.

[@bobbysbrother137]

Hey Nicolas! Thanks for the memories and message. I can feel you there!

[@alexioverdo5225]

first.

[@eliaspapoudaris6012]

This stupid and so cheesy FR musical was the worst that could happen to Abba after their succes was declining end 1982. It was quiet uncertain that Abba was to release new material and we had to deal with that kind of shit. Thx but no thx.

[@mychannel7367]

I have the French and Dutch albums in the collection, but I do not speak the French language, but I do speak the Dutch...... and to be very honest, the so-called translation of the ABBA lyrics is really terrible to hear .nothing has been left behind. and the images that appeared on TV just looked cheap, no attention had been paid to them at all but I'm also not a fan of ABBA covers, so also that CD by Bonnie and José.... really passes me by. but that's my honest opinion

[@victorhugotoledocofre1366]

It's just a spin-off. And spin-offs are never to be taken seriously. Just like that stoopid Bee Gees' take on the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's" in the late 1970s.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Oh that Bee Gees 'Sgt.Peppers",remember that?It went nowhere.

[@toby9999]

​@@alexioverdo5225It went nowhere, but I prefered it over the boring Beatles version.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@toby9999 Hmm...ok if i have to be honest then i do agree.(Just my subjective opinion again).