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Post by Michal on Oct 9, 2020 18:35:34 GMT
The other day I was sent a text by a good friend of mine and fellow ABBA fan, that some people have posted on Facebook that they have already received their Super Trouper box sets and apparently posted photos of proof! Can anyone confirm that this might be possible and if so how? Not fair if it is true, but maybe just a really cruel prank! I would not be surprised. I guess the retailers receive their copies long before the release date and some may start selling them (probably by mistake) early. I received the half-speed mastered Live at Wembley album almost five weeks prior to its official release date... |
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Post by abbafun on Oct 9, 2020 18:54:57 GMT
By accident my foot! I was in the music
business for years and I know for fact that it is not done by "accident". Music labels in my day, like Universal, took it very seriously when retailers breached their agreements with music labels/distributors not to sell stock before the official "street" date.
So I strongly suspect these early recipients got their copies on the sly and not by accident!
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Post by abbafun on Oct 9, 2020 19:10:28 GMT
I may have come off a bit too strong with my last post, so i apologize if I put
any one off. Maybe it was an accident that this person received theirs early and hopefully the retailer noticed their error. But I can't help but be a little suspicious, especially due to the fact that the release date is still about 3 weeks away.
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Post by Michal on Oct 10, 2020 8:44:59 GMT
As I told you, I received an album more than a month before its official release date and it was definitely not "on the sly". I believe the retailer just made a mistake in his e-shop and instead of pre-ordering you could buy it directly. So I wouldn't blame anybody.
By the way,why are you so put off by the situation? A few guys received their copies early. So what? It's not limited so much that you would have to worry that you won't receive yours at all ;-)
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Post by Alan on Oct 10, 2020 10:28:46 GMT
Back in the day when HMV in the UK had a proper website, items would often arrive on the Saturday before the (then) Monday release date, which was nice. Never heard of it this much early though.
I imagine stricter measures are in place for new audio. These releases contain nothing new, so I don’t see too much harm if anyone receives them early. If they’ve paid premium prices for them, they should get something in return.
The box still isn’t available from Amazon, with the picture discs at ridiculous prices (£17.99 each). I’m prepared to wait.
Still a bit annoyed with myself for not waiting a bit longer for the coloured vinyl albums set, being as Amazon later had it at not much over the £100 mark.
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Post by Michal on Oct 10, 2020 10:54:30 GMT
Alan, the German Amazon (amazon.de) has listed all of the releases already and they're much cheaper there. The coloured vinyls box set was cheaper there during the pre-ordering period as well. I'm waiting too but I will probably buy all of the releases at the local retailer this time to support him. The prices are almost the same as on the amazon.de and the shipping will be free. However, the price of the picture discs is sure to drop. The question is how much. They're more expensive every year and they're usually the first to disappear.
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Post by gamleman on Oct 10, 2020 11:00:22 GMT
This is not directly related to the current discussion about "Super Trouper" but I'm wondering whether anyone else remembers this... When "The Album" was first released in the UK, the cassette edition came out first, possibly between Christmas and New Year (December 1977). Then the vinyl edition became available a few weeks later (January 1978), which was bizarre. I was in the habit of buying vinyl but, of course, couldn't resist buying the cassette when I saw it.
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Post by Alan on Oct 10, 2020 13:20:58 GMT
That’s interesting, gamleman, I didn’t know that. Cassettes were the very poor relations of vinyl albums back then (in terms of what you got for your money) so it’s not too surprising that the album didn’t chart until the LP was released. Not sure how they got away with it though, I didn’t think the album was released outside of Sweden until 1978. I’m assuming it was the Epic issue with blue artwork? I have heard of Polar imports being available in the UK before its official release. Cassettes came into their own in the 1980s, but a good example of how little they were thought of in the 1970s is that Bang-A-Boomerang was split across both sides of the ABBA cassette, purely so the tape was of equal length on both sides. |
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Post by gamleman on Oct 10, 2020 14:05:47 GMT
Yes, it did have the blue cover. I think it was between Xmas and New Year, but it could have been the first week of January. On the Wikipedia page for this album, it says "... UK pressing plants were not able to press sufficient copies before Christmas 1977 and so it was not released in the UK until January 1978". I suppose they didn't have such a problem with making the cassettes and they somehow managed to find their way out early.
Cassettes were poor quality until they started to record them on Chrome tape and then the quality was much improved. I suppose they also became popular in the 80s because kids liked them, especially when they started to release cassingles (or did they come in the 90s).
I consider it to be a crime that "Bang-A-Boomerang" was split into two parts on the "ABBA" cassette. I mean, the song is only just over 3 minutes long (probably to satisfy the Eurovision 3-minute rule). I can only assume it was Epic being mean with tape.
I still haven't ordered the "Super Trouper" singles box. I think Amazon UK is the only place that doesn't have it on pre-order. Juno Records are not allowing a pre-order either, but at least they have given a price.
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Post by HOMETIME on Oct 11, 2020 11:10:11 GMT
Is there any indication which retailer sent out the releases ahead of time? I've no interest in complaining - but I might be persuaded to use them for the next set.... #impatient
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Post by gazman on Oct 12, 2020 8:22:48 GMT
Back in the day when HMV in the UK had a proper website, items would often arrive on the Saturday before the (then) Monday release date, which was nice. Never heard of it this much early though. Indeed - I remember that I was fortunate enough to receive the 'blue' copy of Agnetha's 'If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind' CD single from HMV on the Saturday before release. Going further back, I was also able to find the Epic 'One Of Us' single on sale a few days before release when my local record store accidentally put it on sale too early. Consequently, it was the only ABBA single I bought before I had actually heard the song. It was a small independent store rather than a big chain. |
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Post by gamleman on Oct 12, 2020 12:58:18 GMT
Well, I caved in and pre-ordered my ST singles box from Sound of Vinyl. I couldn't find anywhere doing it for under £40 inc. postage and decided not to wait any longer for Amazon UK - if their prices for the picture-discs are anything to go by, they won't be doing it at a very competitive price anyway.
Talking of not hearing One Of Us until having the record in your hand, it was the same for me. There were a few of their singles that I didn't hear until I played the record... I Do x 5,TWTIA, OOU and TDBYC.
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Post by gamleman on Oct 30, 2020 16:47:18 GMT
I received my "Super Trouper" 2xLP half-speed-master today. Wow! Abbey Road Studios have really done a good job with this one - amazing sound quality. Instruments and vocals have more space of their own and jump out at you more. I've never heard this album sound so good.
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Post by Alan on Oct 31, 2020 11:56:59 GMT
The coloured vinyl box of singles is currently £34.70 on Amazon in the UK. As I only paid £45 last year for the Voulez-Vous seven single box, I think it’s reasonable to assume that this three disc one could fall to under £30. The picture discs are currently at £14.99 each which is still at least £5 more than I’d be prepared to pay.
With Amazon though, it’s a case of checking often. Even once a day isn’t necessarily enough as prices can drop and rise again at any point. I’m prepared to wait.
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Post by gamleman on Nov 1, 2020 12:19:19 GMT
The coloured vinyl box of singles is currently £34.70 on Amazon in the UK. As I only paid £45 last year for the Voulez-Vous seven single box, I think it’s reasonable to assume that this three disc one could fall to under £30. The picture discs are currently at £14.99 each which is still at least £5 more than I’d be prepared to pay. With Amazon though, it’s a case of checking often. Even once a day isn’t necessarily enough as prices can drop and rise again at any point. I’m prepared to wait. Alan, do you know about the website camelcamelcamel that can be used to track prices on Amazon? You use the item's ASIN code given in its description. You can also register for alerts when the price drops (though I haven't used this facility). uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B088SZKNRCThere isn't enough data on the ST singles box yet - probably because they haven't had it on sale for long enough. |
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Post by Alan on Nov 1, 2020 15:37:35 GMT
Thanks gamleman. I didn’t know about that site but I’ll bear it in mind for when it is properly listed on there. Aiming to have it for my birthday on 22 Nov, but only if the price drops to £29.99 before then. If not it can wait - I didn’t get the Voulez-Vous one until the December and I think it came out in the July. Thinking about getting a turntable to be able to play some of the vinyl I’ve amassed. Do you have any recommendations? There are the cheap ones available in HMV but I want something in the middle. Not mega expensive but not too cheap either. Sound quality and output is the main thing - ideally something I don’t have to add anything onto. |
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Post by gamleman on Nov 1, 2020 16:14:59 GMT
Thanks gamleman . I didn’t know about that site but I’ll bear it in mind for when it is properly listed on there. Aiming to have it for my birthday on 22 Nov, but only if the price drops to £29.99 before then. If not it can wait - I didn’t get the Voulez-Vous one until the December and I think it came out in the July. Thinking about getting a turntable to be able to play some of the vinyl I’ve amassed. Do you have any recommendations? There are the cheap ones available in HMV but I want something in the middle. Not mega expensive but not too cheap either. Sound quality and output is the main thing - ideally something I don’t have to add anything onto. Alan, I would be pleased to advise you on your turntable purchase. Can you send me a private message indicating your maximum budget and the type of system you'd be using it in. |
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Post by justabba on Nov 2, 2020 7:38:57 GMT
That’s interesting, gamleman , I didn’t know that. Cassettes were the very poor relations of vinyl albums back then (in terms of what you got for your money) so it’s not too surprising that the album didn’t chart until the LP was released. Not sure how they got away with it though, I didn’t think the album was released outside of Sweden until 1978. I’m assuming it was the Epic issue with blue artwork? I have heard of Polar imports being available in the UK before its official release. Cassettes came into their own in the 1980s, but a good example of how little they were thought of in the 1970s is that Bang-A-Boomerang was split across both sides of the ABBA cassette, purely so the tape was of equal length on both sides. Not true I'm afraid. I was living in south Africa at the time and we had the album December 1977. |
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Post by gamleman on Nov 2, 2020 8:30:55 GMT
That’s interesting, gamleman , I didn’t know that. Cassettes were the very poor relations of vinyl albums back then (in terms of what you got for your money) so it’s not too surprising that the album didn’t chart until the LP was released. Not sure how they got away with it though, I didn’t think the album was released outside of Sweden until 1978. I’m assuming it was the Epic issue with blue artwork? I have heard of Polar imports being available in the UK before its official release. Cassettes came into their own in the 1980s, but a good example of how little they were thought of in the 1970s is that Bang-A-Boomerang was split across both sides of the ABBA cassette, purely so the tape was of equal length on both sides. Not true I'm afraid. I was living in south Africa at the time and we had the album December 1977. It is true for the UK. The vinyl edition of "The Album" wasn't released until January 1978 here, apparently because they couldn't press enough copies to meet the advanced orders in time for Christmas 1977. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA:_The_Album |
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Post by justabba on Nov 2, 2020 18:18:55 GMT
Super trouper is new at no.90 in the early midweek, but will be gone by Friday.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 9, 2020 12:23:36 GMT
I received my box set and picture discs this morning. I think the singles in the box are slightly lighter than those in previous boxes, and feel more natural in a way. Translucent vinyl means the sound should be better too (I haven't played them yet). The picture discs are contained in polythene bags within the die-cut sleeves, which I wasn't expecting. I haven't downloaded the files yet.
All in all, I'm happy with the purchases and I'm already salivating about next year's set for The Visitors.
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Post by foreverfan on Nov 9, 2020 17:43:44 GMT
Just out of curiosity really...
The 3 singles from this collection are currently at number 1, 2 and 3 in the UK vinyl singles charts..
LAYLOM.. Number 1
Super Trouper.. Number 2
TWTIA.. at Number 3....
How many they had to sell I'm guessing is very few, but by the fact that a top 40 can be compiled dictates at least 40 sales to be number 1..lol...
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 9, 2020 19:26:42 GMT
I like that LAYLOM has at last reached No.1 somewhere.
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Post by abbafun on Nov 9, 2020 21:43:42 GMT
Hello,
To hometime, LYLOM was a number 1 hit on billboard's dance/disco chart in the USA
back in around 1981 (12" format).
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 9, 2020 22:52:28 GMT
Hello, To hometime, LYLOM was a number 1 hit on billboard's dance/disco chart in the USA back in around 1981 (12" format). Thank you for that! I really should have remembered that - middle age is a curse. Did the WAISAD/The Visitors double sided 12" perform the same trick? |
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Post by abbafun on Nov 9, 2020 23:54:03 GMT
To Hometime,
Unfortunately not.
ABBA had 4 #1 hits in the us across 3 charts
DQ
Fernando
Winner...
LYLOM
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Post by gary on Nov 10, 2020 10:53:05 GMT
To Hometime, Unfortunately not. ABBA had 4 #1 hits in the us across 3 charts DQ Fernando Winner... LYLOM I remember reading that Super Trouper and On And On And On are also considered to have reached number one in a US chart. I think this is because they were released on the same single as Lay All Your Love On Me, but weren’t B-sides. This article says that (under Reception). Not that that makes it true! en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lay_All_Your_Love_on_Me |
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Post by abbafun on Nov 10, 2020 18:34:20 GMT
Just wondering if anyone else noticed that the ltd. numbered set seems lighter
then 180grms or is that just my imagination!
The colours this time are certainly more
translucent, which kinda like.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2020 19:37:52 GMT
Yes, I noticed that. They feel more like the singles from the old days and the box feels very slightly slimmer than the box for the three singles from The Album. From a technical perspective, translucent vinyl delivers a better sound than opaque vinyl. I haven't checked on the download card. I doubt it'll give us the same bonanza that the box set for The Album accidentally gave us - the A and B sides of every single from the Polar box set.
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Post by Alan on Nov 10, 2020 21:57:54 GMT
From a technical perspective, translucent vinyl delivers a better sound than opaque vinyl. I didn’t know that. Why is that the case? The reason I ask is that it’s long been known that picture discs deliver the worst sound quality, and they are two pieces of colourless translucent vinyl with a printed card in the middle, and then fused together (I think, though not sure why they’re still black around the edges?). Perhaps the difference is that picture discs are two layers of vinyl and not one? I’m assuming that was a reason why Epic’s blue vinyl set from 1984 was translucent (not sure why it was blue, unless you’re going to say blue translucent vinyl gives the best sound quality of any non-black records!). I’m still waiting for Amazon to drop their price to £29.99. I keep checking. I know it’s less than £5 lower than now but I’d be gutted if I bought it and then saw it reduced shortly after. It’s not the money, but I just love it when I go in at the right time! Similar with the picture discs. I’ll buy at full price if I really have to but need to allow a bit more time for a reduction! The wait is a bit frustrating though, particularly as it’s my birthday on the 22nd!! |
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