FEATURE Stockholm based writer Carl Magnus Palm is recognised as the world’s foremost Abba historian... aving written numerous he recently launched at an event in books on Abba Carl is also London last month. He kindly took H a consultant for Polar Music some time out during his visit to International/Universal Music and has chat to us about the new version... planned, conceived and contributed to numerous ABBA-related CDs and Hi Carl, the original edition of DVDs for more than two decades. He is ABBA - The Complete Recording Whilst many bands have given also a contributor to the band’s official Sessions was the first of many eventual release to previously website and Museum in Stockholm. books you’ve written about the unheard tracks, Björn and Benny group - were you always a fan? have always upheld a fierce Carl has appeared on television and integrity as to what has been radio to talk about ABBA in Sweden, I wasn’t that much of a fan back made available, with only a few Norway, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, in the 1970s, during the group’s select tracks being heard by the the United States, Australia, Russia, heyday. My fandom kicked off general public. Did they take a lot Germany, France and The Netherlands when The Winner Takes It All was of convincing about the project? and is also the co-producer of three released and then towards the late television documentaries about ABBA 1980s I became a fan for real. Not really. Once I’d interviewed their that premiered on SVT in Sweden in invaluable sound engineer, Michael December 2012 and January 2013. What originally prompted you to B. Tretow - the fifth member of ABBA write a book focussing on ABBA’s - and he put in a good word for me, ABBA - The Complete Recording recording sessions as opposed they were on board and couldn’t have Sessions is a comprehensive volume to a general biography? been more helpful. They were quite detailing how the Swedish band wrote willing to talk about their released as and recorded their music. When it was I was inspired by a similar book entitled well as their unreleased music. Making initially published in 1994, the book was The Complete Beatles Recording those unreleased recordings s the first to reveal the stories behind Sessions, by Mark Lewisohn, and I ABBA’s well-known hits, album tracks, thought such a book could be written B-sides, and unreleased recordings about ABBA. Even people - many of which are unheard by who didn’t like them would the general public to this day. always acknowledge how ABBA well-crafted their music Now, twenty years after the publication was, so I thought there The Complete of the first edition, Carl has produced must be a fascinating a comprehensively revised and story there. I was Recording Sessions expanded version of his book which right about that. “Even people who didn’t like them We recently caught up with author Carl Magnus Palm to chat would always acknowledge how well- about his new book Abba - The Complete Recording Sessions... crafted their music was, so I thought there must be a fascinating story there…” ABBA in 1976 Photo: Ola Lager © Premium Rockshot. Above: Carl Magnus Palm Photo: bjornfotograf.se 16 THE BANNER FEATURE they worked at one and the same song to get it exactly right, which I guess was one of the reasons they were so successful. There are so many examples of songs that evolved through the recording process, and when they’d finally added all the arrangement touches to it, it would have a completely different feel than it had originally. Or take a song like Dancing Queen, where the descending HOTEL GOLF CLUB FITNESS SUITE piano chords, that you hear in the intro and throughout the song, were only added towards the end of the process. HOTEL GOLF CLUB FITNESS SUITE It’s such an integral part of the song that you’d think it was always there, but no, that idea occurred very late in the day. My jaw dropped when I realised that. ABBA Polar Music Studio 1978 Photo: Anders Hanser © Premium Rockshot. You chose to self-publish this expanded edition of the book. s available to the general public Most pertinently, though, I was able What were your reasons for taking is another thing, of course. to listen to a lot more previously that route? unreleased music than I’d been To what extent were they involved? able to when the original book was First of all, I knew that although the written - through the wonders of story as such is fascinating, maybe it Björn and Benny agreed to digitization - so I knew there was a lot wouldn’t appeal to a mass audience, innumerable interviews. They said, more insight there to be extracted. so to make it work I had to adapt to a “When you feel you’re done, that’s slightly smaller readership. Secondly, I when we’re done”. In other words, they The new edition is considerably wanted to be in complete control of the were 100 per cent committed. I also met larger than the original. Was that book as regards its look, its feel, and, Frida and did an interview with her, and always the intention or did the project not least, the deadline. This is not the Agnetha answered questions in writing. evolve during the writing process? type of book you simply dash off – it needed time to grow and to evolve. Spring Saver So, why this new, revised edition The new edition was always going £99.00 per room per night as opposed to a reprint? to be larger, because I knew I had How can we purchase a copy? so much more to write about this Choice of room for your overnight stay - 3 course evening meal in Nineteen Bar/Bistro So much information has emerged time, but even I underestimated You can visit the website in the 23 years that have passed the size and scope of the book. abbathecompleterecordingsessions. Executive Twin or Luxury Double Full Cornish Breakfast com, where there are different since the first edition was published, Early check in at noon Complimentary use of the fitness suite and I felt that there was a lot more Can you tell us some more about the ordering options. to say about the songs and the unheard material you unearthed this Delicious Cornish Cream Tea Discounted green fees Finally, who do you think recordings. There were so many time around? Any big surprises? A bottle of bubbly on ice in your room Late Check out fascinating background stories that I is going to win this year’s didn’t know about back in the 1990s. I was mainly surprised at how hard Eurovision Song Contest?!! Twilight Golf Fitness Suite Membership Frankly, I’ve long since stopped “I was mainly surprised at how hard watching Eurovision, so I have no idea! From 2.00pm £29 From £27.00 per month they worked at one and the same For more background information From 4.00pm £22 Open daily on this and Carl’s other books, visit song to get it exactly right…” www.carlmagnuspalm.com Limited availability, terms and conditions apply. Please see website for details. [email protected] www.lanhydrockhotel.com 18 THE BANNER 01208 262570 .