Filmed: October 1963 Location: Karlaplansstudion, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 26 October 1963, 20:00-20:30, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Plats på scen = On Stage
In 1963, Björn's mother Aina entered his group, The West Bay Singers, into an amateur national talent contest - Plats på scen.
It attracted the attention of Bengt Bernhag and Stig Anderson from the recently-formed record company Polar Music and The West Bay Singers were asked to send them a demo tape. Shortly afterwards The West Bay Singers signed with Polar.
Bengt and Stig were actually interested in a group who sang in Swedish, so they persuaded the group to enter the contest with a Swedish song. According to Bengt and Stig this would be an advantage as most acts at the time sang in English. They also persuaded the group to change their name to The Hootenanny Singers.
This talent contest, arranged by Sveriges Radio, had gone through a couple of semi-finals on the radio before this semi-final, which was the first to be broadcast on TV.
The Hootenanny Singers performed Jag vänter vid min mila. The group and Birgitta Holmner were the acts that were voted to go on from this group of semi-finalists. In two further semi-finals, held in November and December, the other acts for the finals (to be held in January 1964) were to be selected.
The Hootenanny Singers were proclaimed joint winners in the final of Plats på scen in January 1964. Jag väntar vid min mila became their début single and the first hit for both the group and for Polar Music.
This programme no longer exists in the SVT archives.
Click here for a TV listing from Halden Arbeiderblad - 26 November 1963, p.5
This was Björn's first TV appearance.

Filmed: Thursday 9 January 1964 Location: Karlaplansstudion, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 11 January 1964, 20:00-20:30, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Plats på scen = On Stage
The finals of the Plats på scen talent contest.
The Hootenanny Singers performed Ave Maria no morro.
There were no winners in the finals - all six finalists were regarded as winners. However, The Hootenanny Singers were by far the most successful act to come out of this contest.
The picture above is likely to be from the recording of this programme. It was published in a newspaper the following day, attached to an interview with the Hootenanny Singers.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 11 January 1964, p.25

Filmed: mid-May 1964 Location: Södertälje or Vällingby (or both) - Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 17 May 1964, 19:55-20:45, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Klubb Lida = Club Lida
The Hootenanny Singers were filmed during their concert in either Södertälje or Vällingby (or both).
These scenes were then included in the broadcast of the "youth" programme Klubb Lida on 17 May 1964.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 16 May 1964, p.11 (listing the following day's TV guide).

Filmed: June-August 1964
Release status: Released on DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Älskling på vift = Lover/Honey on a Date, Darling on the Loose or Honey, Having a Good Time.
Björn with The Hootenanny Singers featured in this film performing Darlin' which was their current single at the time of filming (the single was released in May 1964).
PROMO information from the video release: "What happens if a ordinary housewife takes part in a local beauty contest - and wins? How does it turn out then if her husband forbids her to go further to the final in Palma de Majorca - but she leaves anyway? Then add to that a romance between a Swedish postman and a Japanese beauty contest candidate, a crazy female photographer and a rapid stream of bikini-clad girls, yes then you got a guaranteed success."
"The stars hail down in this Swedish classic, here for the first time released on video. What about: Anna Sundqvist, Arne Källerud, Pekka Langer, Hagge Geigert, Ove Tjernberg and more ... Besides that The Hootenanny Singers, The Spotnicks and other famous Swedish 60s orchestras takes part. Kåge Gimtell directed."
The film premièred on 2 September 1964.
Release information:
This film has been released on DVD - click here for the cover (NOTE: a different cover to the next link)
You can order the DVD here (Swedish site).

Filmed: early September 1964 Location: Narrenteatern (Narren Theatre), Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 10 September 1964, 21:00-21:30, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Tillsammans = Together
The Hootenanny Singers performed the four songs included on their current EP: En mor; Körsbär utan kärnor; Gabrielle and I lunden gröna.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 9 September 1964, p.7 (showing the following day's TV guide).

Filmed: September-October 1964 Location: Barcelona, Spain Broadcast: LIVE (during programa de sobremesa), October 1964, RTVE, Spain
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Spain
Notes:From the end of September until mid-October 1964 The Hootenanny Singers spent two weeks in Spain on holiday, at which time they also appeared on a television programme.
Among the numbers performed was La Mamma which was co-written by French singer Charles Aznavour.
It was broadcast in live "during the siesta” sometime in the afternoon 13:00-16:00 in the period called (in that time) on RTVE programa de sobremesa.
When Archivo RTVE were asked about whether this programme exists in their achives they said, "We do not have information on this performance in our databases. It may not have been preserved. We are sorry."
Looking through the Spanish TV guide day-by-day from 25 September to 23 November 1964, their name was not listed separately. Possible program titles which may have contained their songs are Discorama, Telediario, and we suspect that as it was a live broadcast, it was not saved by RTVE.

Filmed: Wednesday 9 or Thursday 10 December 1964 Location: Helsinki, Finland Broadcast: mid-December 1964
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Finland
Notes:The Hootenanny Singers appeared on four radio shows and one TV show - The M-Show - whilst in Finland.
The M-Show may be an English translation of its Finnish name.
They sang the Finnish version of Gabrielle.

Filmed: Monday 1 February 1965 Location: Finland Broadcast: Saturday 6 February 1965, YLE, Finland
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Season 1, Episode 2.
Seis-Stop! was a 60 minute music series broadcast on YLE in 1965.
The Hootenanny Singers made a TV appearance in Finland on this date while they were there. It is not known what they performed.
This episode is not archived and does not exist in YLE's archive. There are only two programmes in YLE's archives from this series.
This episode's credited cast: Poppe Berg - host Marjatta Leppänen - host L T Salmi - host Tamara Lund Matty Peters Rami Sarmasto The Hootenanny Singers Director was Heikki Seppälä.

Filmed: Tuesday 9 February 1965 Location: Stallmästaregården restaurant, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Aktuellt = Current
The Hootenanny Singers performed at the Stallmästaregården restaurant in Stockholm in front of The International Women's Club which was apparently was filmed by the news show Aktuellt.

Filmed: March 1965 Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 14:37 (Dutch broadcast)
Shown in: Netherlands & Norway
Notes:The Hootenanny Singers performed a number of songs for a TV programme meant for export. It may not have been shown on Swedish TV at the time. It is more than likely that the whole line-up was not included in ALL broadcasts.
The presenter was Fransien Woud.
Songs marked * were included in the Dutch broadcast, The Hootenanny Singers in Holland:
Noordenwind, Zuidenwind (Dutch version of their first hit by Dan Andersson - Jag väntar vid min mila) *
Si per sempre (Fermati in me) * La Mamma (Charles Aznavour’s hit sung in Spanish)* Darlin' * Den gyllene fregatt I lunden Den Gröna * Gabrielle (English version) Gabriella (Italian version of Gabrielle) Där skall jag bo (There Shall I Live)
The Dutch broadcast had the following running order: I lunden Gröna Noorderwind en Zuiderwind Darlin' La Mamma Si per sempre (Fermati in me) This TV Special was shown on channel NRK in Norway, retitled I lunden gröna med The Hootenanny Singers (In The Green Grove with The Hootenanny Singers) and lasted 50 minutes. The newspaper Friheten on 30 October 1965 (p.11) listed the NRK TV guide, including this show with these words: På fire hjul gjennom Spania - Norsk stemme: Rolf Just Nilsen (On Four Wheels Through Spain - Norwegian Voice Rolf Just Nilsen). Rolf Just Nilsen was a Norwegian singe and actor.
Another newspaper, Rogalands Avis, on 23 October 1965 (p.14) added some more information to this programme, as: - med Johnny Morris som guide. 3. ettape (with Johnny Morris as guide 3 leg ???? - translation help needed please!).
The third article in Arbeiderbladet on 30 October 1965 (p.27) gave a longer article about the content, which helps to identify the programme: this is the Norway version. The article notes, "De synger på mange språk, engelsk, tysk, spansk, fransk og også pa svensk. Mest kjent på det siste språket er deres versjon av Dan Andersons vise Jag vantar vid min mila (They sing in many languages, English, German, Spanish, French and also in Swedish. Most familiar with the latest language is their version of Dan Anderson's Jag vantar vid min mila. So the Norwegian version contained more songs than the Dutch broadcast (ie. 50 minutes).
Click here for a TV listin from Troms Folkeblad - 3 August 1994, p.18.
Broadcast Information
Thursday 26 August 1965, 20:35-21:00, AVRO, Netherlands
Saturday 6 November 1965, AVRO, 16:40-16:55, Netherlands *
Saturday 30 October 1965, 18:30-19:20, NRK, Norway
Thursday 4 August 1994, SVT, Sweden from 20.50-21.00 (time for just two songs - Gabrielle and Där skall jag bo.

Watch for: Björn played three notes on the banjo on Där skall jag bo.

Filmed: Tuesday 23 March 1965 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Tuesday 23 March 1965Tuesday 23 March 1965, 19:00-20:00, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Hep Stars performed Cadillac. The performance helped lead to their chart success.
The book Cadillac Madness - The Hep Stars by Dan-Eric Landén & Carl-Magnus Palm says this about this performance:
"On March 23, 1965, five long-haired young men caused a sensation on the Swedish television screens. Running back and forth across the stage, and jumping up and down on the speakers, they performed a song called ‘Cadillac’. After this legendary performance, lead singer Svenne Hedlund became Sweden’s biggest teen idol, and organ player Benny Andersson took the first steps in a career that would later bring him worldwide fame."
This would appear to be Benny's first TV appearance.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 23 March 1965, p.7.

Filmed: Spring 1965 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Monday 19 April 1965, 19.45-20:30, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Annandagsbal = Easter Monday Ball
The Hootenanny Singers appeared on this show in a pre-recorded segment.
Among the other performers were Cilla Ingvar, Lena Hansson, Sven-Erik Wikström and Sten & Stanley.
It's not known what song the Hootenanny Singers peformed.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 17 April 1965, p.23 (showing the following day's TV guide).

Filmed: Tuesday 4 May 1965 Location: Jump In, Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Monday 13 September, 20:30-20:45, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Filmed at Jump In, a venue at Gröna Lund, the programme featured four Brazilian children dancing to The Hep Stars.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 13 September 1965, p.17.

Filmed: Saturday 29 May 1965 Location: Centralteatret (Central Theatre), Oslo, Norway Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Norway
Notes:Pop-korn was a music series broadcast by NRK from 2 May 1964 to 10 February 1968. It was always aired LIVE from the Central Theatre in Oslo with a live audience with an episode every two months on a Saturday evening.
The Hep Stars gave a wonderfully hair-shaking performance of Cadillac.
The hosts were Cathrine Blom and Vidar Lønn Arnesen.
According to documentation in the NRK archive this edition was deleted in June 1966. Not all recordings from that time are stored in their archive. There are different reasons for this: the tapes were very expensive and were used several times. Alhough the entire episode does not exist in the NRK archive, the song does exist in another archive somewhere else - most probably SVT.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 29 May 1965, p.29
Broadcast information:
Saturday 29 May 1965, NRK, 18:30-19:20, Norway (LIVE)
The Joy Of ABBA aired on 27 December 2013 at 21:00, BBC, UK (a short snippet).

Filmed: Mid-late April 1965 Location: Milan, Italy
Shown in: Italy
Notes:The Hootenanny Singers were in Milan, Italy in mid-to-late April 1965 doing TV promotion.
Among the other performers on this TV show were The Everly Brothers.
Presumably, they performed one or both sides of their Italian-language single Gabriella / Fermati in me.

Filmed: Early June 1965 Broadcast: Wednesday 9 June 1965, Finland
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Finland
Notes:The Hep Stars filmed an appearance on Finnish TV, for broadcast on 9 June 1965.

Filmed: Late October 1965 Location: Karlstad, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 1 January 1966, 00.40-01.35.
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Pop i natt = Pop Tonight or Pop This Night or Pop In The Night
(very hard to get a 100% accurate translation of this, as there’s a slight play on words involved).
The Hep Stars appeared in this programme, which, according to preliminary reports, were taped at Västerås Folkets Hus. However, in reports from the day of the broadcast, it’s stated that it was taped in the town of Karlstad.
According to an article from a year or so later, the group were dressed up. “Svenne wore a velvet jacket and a ruffled shirt. He sang Cadillac in a manner that made the wigs practically jump.” It sounds like they were wearing late 18th Century costumes and wigs.
Other performers were: Boz (= Boz Scaggs, who spent some time in Sweden in the 1960s, before his 1970s fame) Jerry Williams Sven Ingvars Merit Hemmingson’s pop jazz band Shirley Ann The Telstars Sven Millers Millie Small (of My Boy Lollipop fame). Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 31 December 1965, p.23.

Filmed: Summer 1965 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:An unknown TV programme from the mid 1960s featuring Family Four, Sten & Stanley, Sven-Ingvars and The Hootenanny Singers. Photo is by Roger Tillberg.
Apparently Sven-Ingvars appeared last on the programme, performing Potpourri. All artists sang two songs each.
No further information available. Next - Landskapsleken (Björn) - 1965
Previous - Unknown Finnish Programme (Benny) - 1965

Filmed: Saturday 3 July 1965 Location: Smögen, Sweden (west coast) Broadcast: Saturday 3 July 1965, LIVE, 20:45-21:45, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Landskapsleken = The Province Game
The Hootenanny Singers performed En håttespeleman (roughly translates as A Musician) from their current Evert Taube album. It was broadcast from an island and town called Smögen on Sweden’s west coast.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 3 July 1965, p.21.
Broadcast information:
Footage of this clip was broadcast on Friday 27 December 2013, BBC4, UK on The Joy of ABBA.

Filmed: c. 6 September 1965 Location: Munich, West Germany
Shown in: Germany
Notes:On 6 September 1965 the Hootenanny Singers left Sweden for Münich and two TV appearances and radio.

Filmed: c. 6 September 1965 Location: Munich, West Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Germany
Notes:On 6 September 1965 the Hootenanny Singers left Sweden for Münich and two TV appearances and radio.

Filmed: Early December 1965 Broadcast: February 1966
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden (guess)
Notes:Reportedly, the Hootenanny Singers taped a TV performance at this time, originally meant for broadcast “before Christmas”, but it had to be moved to February 1966.

Filmed: Saturday 5 December 1965 Broadcast: SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Önskeprogrammet = Wishing Programme.
The Hootenanny Singers appeared on this programme and performed Björkens visa.

Filmed: Wednesday 2 February 1966 Location: Helsinki, Finland Broadcast: 2 March 1966, YLE, Finland
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 35 mins
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Ohimennen - nuorten nonstop = By the way - young nonstop
Season 1, Episode 14
Ohimennen was the most popular series in Finland, run on YLE in 1965-66 approximately every 2 weeks. It consisted of not just studio performances, but interviews with the stars, so it's not impossible that The Hep Stars also gave an interview. This is listed on IMDb who confirmed this appearance, but it's not known what song(s) they performed - but most probabaly it was No Response or Whole lot-ta shak-in' goin' On as the Hep Stars on Stage LP was released in November 1965 and they performed these songs for other TV shows from this LP.
Director: Jarmo Porola
Writer: Markku Veijalainen
Stars: The Hep Stars Me Kolme (as Me kolme) Madmen (as Mad Men) Hannele Laaksonen Pekka Loukiala. This would appear to be Benny's first TV appearance.

Filmed: March 1966 Broadcast: Tuesday 22 March 1966, 19.30-20.00, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:För runt för fyra =Too round for four
The Hootenanny Singers performed four songs (Gabrielle, Finns det liv så finns det hopp, No Time and Vildandens Klagan).
The other acts in the show were Family Four, Sten & Stanley and Sven-Ingvars.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 22 March 1966, p.17.
Broadcast information:
Tuesday 22 March 1966, 19.30-20.00, Sweden
Thursday 30 March 1966, Sweden (repeated).

Filmed: April 1966 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 21 April 1966, 18:30-19:00, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Hep Stars were on the show. It's unclear what they performed, but probably Sunny Girl, which was their current single.
Other guests on the show were The Lovin’ Spoonful, Ola & The Janglers, Peggy March and Bennie Thomas.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 21 April 1966, p.7.

Filmed: 26 April - early May 1966 Location: mainly Västervik, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 16 December 1966, Sverige TV1 18.30-19.00 (more below)
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 30 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hemma hos Hootenanny Singers: Larz-Thure Ljungdahl på besök = At home with the Hootenanny Singers: Larz-Thure Ljungdahl visits.
The following songs were included in this programme which was a portrait of the group with the individual members sharing their thoughts on their current life and what their future may hold: Tänk dej de' att du och jag var me' (Imagine if you and I were there) Björkens visa (no performance - audio only) Baby Those Are The Rules Första torpet (The First Croft) Den gyllene fågeln (Bröllopsresan till Barcelona) (The Golden Bird (A Wedding Trip to Barcelona)) Marianne Små nära tin (Small Precious Things) Ave Maria No Morro
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 16 December 1966, p.11,
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 14 August 1967, p.21.
Broadcast information:
Friday 16 December 1966, 18.30-19.00, Sweden
Monday 14 August 1967, 18:30-19:00, Sverige TV1, Sweden (repeated)
Marianne was repeated on Japan NHK's satellite channel BS-2 on the programme ABBA NHK Special in the early 2000s.
Release information:
SVT released this programme in its Open Archive website but it has since been removed. Next - Önskeprogrammet 90 1950 (Benny) - 1966
Previous - Drop-In (Benny) - 1966
Watch for: In Den gyllene fågeln (Bröllopsresan till Barcelona) Björn takes his position while Tonny Roth is singing the first couple of lines. He walks into shot at the back and then walks to the right.

Filmed: early May 1966 Location: YLE Studio, Helsinki, Finland Broadcast: Thursday 19 May 1966, YLE1, Finland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 40 mins
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Ohimennen - nuorten nonstop = By the way - young nonstop Ohimennen was the most popular series in Finland, run on YLE in 1965-66, approximately every 2 weeks. It consisted not just studio performances, but interviews with the stars, so it's not impossible that The Hep Stars also gave an interview.
Season 1, Episode 19
Director: Jarmo Porola
Writer: Markku Veijalainen
Stars: Anki Lindquist Danny Antti Hammarberg (as Irwin Goodman) Tapani Karhu Harry Snell Finn-Trio (as The Finn Trio) The Hep Stars The YLE archive confirmed that this episode was not saved and is not available any more but, thankfully, the last Ohimennen episode - a kind of overview of that year - was saved and was aired on 21 December 1966 and showed a 17-second long segment of this performance. So it now confirmed: The Hep Stars performed in playback Sunny Girl in the studio. (Their brand new single was released on 15 March 1966).
Behind them in the background you can see some huge letters wich are part of the studio stage set which spelled the name of the show (ie. OHIMENNEN). YLE produced in total only 20 episodes in 1966, so this Hep Stars song must have been quite successfull to have been included in the review programme.

Filmed: May 1966 Location: Stockholm (in front of Kaknäs Tower, in Katarina Lift and on the Strömparterren in front of the Royal Palace), Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 15 October 1966, 18:30-19:00, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 3 mins (Wedding incl. Svenne's intro) and 2.23 mins (Bald-Headed Woman)
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Lördag i Stockholm = Saturday in Stockholm.
Wedding and Bald Headed Woman were both filmed for this particular programme.
As Svenne was on crutches during Wedding (and indeed his foot was bandaged during Bald Headed Woman as well), it is more likely that these were filmed circa March-May 1966, most likely May, since Wedding wasn't released until May 1966.
Bald Headed Woman was originally broadcast at the end of the programme over the end credits on 15 October 1966. The clip was repeated on Japan NHK's satellite channel BS-2 on the programme ABBA NHK Special in the early 2000s.
According to SVT archive info, Wedding was filmed at a Stockholm club called Kingside, which at this time was located in Hornstull.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 15 October 1966, p.11.

Filmed: Early May 1966? Location: Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 8 May 1966, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: About 16 minutes for the performance and the mini-opera
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Önskeprogrammet 90 1950 = Wishful Programme 90 1950
The Hep Stars performed Wedding. Svenne Hedlund appears to be off his crutches this time but is perching on a chair instead. Perhaps it's not long after the accident that put him on crutches in the first place.
The "90 1950" in the title refers to the postal giro number for Radiohjälpen (Radio Aid), which is the charity organisation for Sveriges Radio and Sveriges Television. Their postal giro number is 90 1950-6. So Önskeprogrammet was simply an intermittent charity gala, although not sure if each gala had a specific purpose.
The Hep Stars could also be seen taking part in a mini-opera (Bizet's Carmen) with Swedish singing superstar Siw Malmkvist. They hang around the back of the stage in period costumes and appear to join in chorus and retorts, flitting from taking it seriously to looking rather embarrassed! Benny's arrival for this 'skit' has him pushing firstly a lady and then a guard out of the way.

Filmed: May 1966 Location: Sweden Broadcast: May 1966, Sweden, SVT
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: c. 15 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The early Hep Stars were not overly expert players, but they were enthusiastic performers. Hep Stars On Stage is a highly vigorous live album recorded on the Swedish folk park circuit in the August of 1965 and released in November 1965.
Most of the material played here are covers - a limitation which would drive Benny to write material for the group. Benny mainly plays electric organ here. The finale of Whole lot-ta shak-in' goin' on is perhaps the best of of the tracks - it features excited if not overly-expert playing on this track with emphasis on Christer Pettersson's drums and lots of electric organ.
The group performed some of their hits for this show: 2 from this LP and 2 from the latest singles: Wedding No response Sunny girl Whole lot-ta shak-in' goin' on As the Sunny Girl single was released on 15 March 1966 and the Wedding single was released in May 1966 and the programme contains these songs, it can be suspected that this show was filmed around May 1966.
Watch for: Benny making the sign of the cross very quickly during Wedding.Benny leaping from the top of a speaker during Whole lot-ta shak-in' goin' on!

Filmed: Thursday 24 May 1966 Location: Sweden Broadcast: 12 June 1990 (TV3); 12 October 1990 (TV3); 19 June 1993 (TV3); 30 July 1995 (TV3); 18 February 1996 (TV4); 18 July 1997 (TV4); 13 April 1998 (TV4); 20 July 1998 (TV4)
Release status: This film has been released on DVD on its own and as part of a 5-disc DVD box set
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Åsa-Nisse i raketform = Åsa-Nisse in Rocket Form (ie. in "top form").
Björn appeared in this black and white comedy film, directed by Ragnar Frisk, as a member of The Hootenanny Singers.
The group were seen acting as "good clean boys from Västervik" on a camping holiday and sitting around a campfire singing Vid Roines Strand (At Roines Beach) (sometimes known as På Roines strand) from their Många ansikten/Many Faces album.
Their small part in the film was shot at 7.15am.
The film premiered on 26 August 1966 in Sweden.
This film has been released on DVD (on 1 June 2011) on its own (see here for ordering information) and as part of a 5-disc DVD box set including Åsa-Nisse i raketform (ordering information here).
There were 21 films in the Åsa-Nisse series between 1949 ad 1969. In 2011 a remake was made called Åsa-Nisse - Wälkom to Knohult.

Filmed: late November 1966 Location: ZDF Studio, Hamburg, Germany Broadcast: Sunday 11 December 1966, 20.00-21.00, ZDF, Germany, repeated 4 January 1968, 8.20-9.05pm NCRV, Netherlands
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 45 mins
Shown in: Germany & Netherlands
Notes:Melodie einer Stadt was a series of musical documentary city portraits, made by ZDF.
Episodes: Athens, Budapest (1965), London, Athens (1967), Rome (1968), New Orleans (1981), Caracas, Mexico City, Bogota, Saõ Paulo (1982), Vancouver, Quebec Stadt (1983), Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi (1985), Dresden (1990), Colognen (1991) and so on.
Some episodes (including this one) were repeated on NCRV in the Netherlands (renamed Melodie van een stad) in the late 60's.
They probably performad Gabrielle as it became an international hit song in 1964, translated and performed by the group in Swedish, German, Finnish, Italian, Dutch, and English.
Guests of this Episode were: Bibi Johns Paul Kuhn, Lill Lindfors Ann Louise Hanson, Grynet Molvig William Clauson Ola Lundström Konstanze Vernon, Winfried Krisch Family Four, The Hootenanny Singers and Skansen-Folklore-Gruppe
Script and directed by Chuck Kerremans.
(There was another edition from Stockholm, broadcast on ZDF on 23 February 1986.)
Click here for Dutch TV listing from Bote vom Untersee und Rhein - 9 December 1966, p.26.
Click here for Dutch TV listing from repeat in 1968

Filmed: late 1966 Broadcast: late 1966
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Every year the Folkpark arrangers met artistes and managers to book upcoming tours at a Folkparksforum. The one for the following Summer 1967 featured a report about The Hep Stars and their success throughout 1966.
The Hep Stars were interviewed in this report about them performing more than 170 folkpark shows between 29 April and 2 September 1966 (this was the number of shows at the time of the report, it could be there were more after 2 September 1966).

Filmed: Late November - early December 1966 Location: West Germany (assumed) Broadcast: 10 December 1966, ZDF, West Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: Unknown
Shown in: West Germany
Notes:4-3-2-1 Hot & Sweet Musik für junge Leute = 4-3-2-1 Hot & Sweet Music for Young People
According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, The Hootenanny Singers appeared on German TV (ZDF) on 10 December 1966 on this show which was a forerunner of the Disco series and a competitor of Beat Club. Their appearance was apparently pre-recorded.
Click here for the newspaper article. Note that the programme name had been shortened to Musik für junge Leute. The headline reads, "Tonight 25 million Germans (!) will hear The Hootenanny Singers“.
We can assume it was broadcast but cannot be certain as the entire series seems to have been erased from the archives.

Filmed: July 1966 Broadcast: Saturday 23 July 1966, 19.25-20.00, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:För runt för fyra =Too round for four
Another episode of this programme, featuring both the Hootenanny Singers and The Hep Stars which would appear to be the fist time Benny and Björn appeared on the same TV programme. The other performers were Country Four, Sven Ingvars and Mak les Soeurs.
The Hootenanny Singers performed: En man och en kvinna På Roines strand Vid en biväg till en byväg bor den blonda Beatrice.
The Hep Stars performed I natt jag drömde for the first time, which had a monumental influence on their career.
The following text is from Benny’s Road To ABBA by Carl Magnus Palm (with permission):
"According to legend it was a television producer who triggered the decision that The Hep Stars should record a song in their mother tongue. The group was invited to appear on a popular show, the only condition being that they did something different: sing in Swedish, for example. Åke Gerhard eagerly supported the suggestion, despite being well aware that it was virtually ”forbidden” for a pop band to sing in any other language than English in those days. Swedish lyrics were considered wimpy, something that only schlager acts and more traditional singers could get away with. The guys themselves were in favour of the suggestion, at least Benny, Svenne and Felle, who were now mostly in charge of the musical direction. Doing a Swedish number could be unusual in a fun way. Other members were less enthusiastic. ”There was quite a lot of discussion before we did it,” Svenne later admitted.
But what song should they perform in the programme? Their repertoire didn’t include anything in Swedish. Åke Gerhard sat down to write something, but none of his suggestions seemed to be right for the group. The only song they could think of was I natt jag drömde, a translation of Ed McCurdy’s folk ballad, Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream. A Swedish version of the song had been released a few years earlier, although it had not been a major hit. ”It sometimes happened at parties that someone would come up to us with an acoustic guitar and say, ’Won’t you sing something for us?’,” Svenne recalls. ”Most of the time they wanted to hear Cadillac or Farmer John, but then we’d explain that we couldn’t do those songs with just a guitar. Instead, we used to perform I natt jag drömde, with either Janne or Benny playing the chords on the guitar.” The decision on what to perform in the television programme was made by default, based on their extremely limited Swedish repertoire. I natt jag drömde was the choice.
The Hep Stars’ appearance in the programme was a success. During the summer tour of 1966 the song was added to the live show and in August it was recorded for single release."
[…
the Swedish lyricist was in a conflict with Swedish radio, and didn’t allow for any of his songs to be aired. Although the record initially didn’t have any backing whatsoever from the radio, it rapidly climbed up the chart. When the lyricist conflict was solved in early 1967 the song became a contender for Svensktoppen. I natt jag drömde was The Hep Stars first song on that chart, remaining at number one for eight weeks and contributing to prolonging the sales success. The record spent 29 weeks on the sales chart - longer than any other Hep Stars release - and although it was never number one, it occupied the number two position for a total of nine weeks. Above all, the potential audience for the band was broadened in one fell swoop: now even grandmothers could listen to The Hep Stars. ”For us this was a major victory, to become accepted by an audience that was completely new to us,” Svenne later acknowledged.
I natt jag drömdewhich had been recorded almost by accident, was The Hep Stars greatest-ever success. The melody was easy to hum along to, and with the cold war raging, the hopeful lyrics about the dream of world peace was exactly right for the times. The song was easy to embrace and no-one found its message too challenging or provocative. Reportedly, I natt jag drömde sold a total of 300,000 copies. Achieving that kind of sales for just one record was simply sensational in Sweden in the Sixties." Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 23 July 1966, p.21.

Filmed: Early September 1966 Location: Hamburg, Germany Broadcast: Channel 2, Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Germany
Notes:According to a press report dated Sunday 4 September 1966, The Hep Stars “have just completed TV filming in Hamburg for German channel 2”.

Filmed: Wednesday 7 September 1966 Location: Lisebergsteatern (Liseberg Theatre), Gothenberg, Sweden Broadcast: SVT1, Sweden (see below for details)
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: approx. 14-15 minutes each broadcast
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:In late 1966 Swedish Television showed a number of short programs with Swedish beat bands, like The Spotnicks, Tages and The Hep Stars. They were the hosts of some episodes and also presented some rising young bands.
This program series was called Popsan and ran from 7 Oktober 1966 to 6 December 1966 and consisted of 10 episodes all together. (Popsan is not a proper word but a play on words that's impossible to translate accurately. The word "hoppsan" means "oops", so if you take out the "hopp" and add "pop", you have Popsan!). Popsan is not archived separately in SVT’s archive catalogue but as a part of the programme Jazzteknik. It is also not billed separately, with a separate starting time, in the TV listings. Popsan was always broadcast immediately following Jazzteknik, as part of the same time-slot in the TV listings. The Hep Stars hosted three of these ten programs - parts 2, 5 and 8 - and also performed on stage on the following broadcast dates:
Friday 14 October 1966 - Episode 2 (of 10)
The Hep Stars - Jag vet
Flamingokvintetten - Lilla Ann, Du Är Den Flickan
Fyran - I got a girl, Rock and roll
The Hep Stars - Consolation
Friday 4 November 1966 - Episode 5 (of 10)
The Hep Stars - Rockin' Love
Why Not - Tell me baby, Baby don't cry
Lucas - Who will the next fool be
The Hep Stars - Don't
Friday 25 November 196 - Episode 8 (of 10)
The Hep Stars - Sunny Girl (abridged version)
String Tones - This Hammer
Jackpots - Younger girl
The Hep Stars - Whole Lot-ta Shak-in' Goin' On
As the same girl appeared all three episodes in the audience, it indicates that all three were filmed on the same day.
Release information:
Each episode is available to view (Sweden only) via the SVT Open Archive.
Watch for: Benny sitting on and then jumping off a speaker!

Filmed: Autumn 1966 Location: Oslo? Norway Broadcast: Saturday 28 January 1967, 19:25-20:00, NRK1, Norway
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 16:10 for programme, 3:10 for Hep Stars
Shown in: Norway
Notes:The Hep Stars self-titled album was recorded between August-December 1966 and released in December 1966.
Ten-pluggen was a music and interview 'youth' series broadcast on NRK from 12 May 1962 to 25 November 1967, consisting of 21 episodes in total.
The Hep Stars appeared on Episode 16: The Hep Stars - The Birds in the Sky (while walking around Oslo (I think!) The Ian Campbell Folk Group (from Club 7 in Oslo) sang traditional Scottish songs Street interview with young people - what do they want from 1967 and their views on the Vietnam war Manfred Mann - Semi-Detached Surburban Mr James (BBC record) Can anyone confirm it is Oslo in the clip?
Click here for a newspaper TV listing from Firda Folkeblad - 26 January 1967, p.4.
Release information:
This programme is available on the NRK TV archive site.
Watch for: Benny waving to someone off camera

Filmed: probably October 1966 Location: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD Broadcast: Sunday 16 October 1966, 17:45-18:15, SVT, Sweden
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Pop med stopp = Pop with a stop
This was some kind of entertainment show. The Hep Stars were on it but I don't know what they did.
A TV listing spotted on sale on Tradera showed The Hep Stars listed as appearing on this programme along with a photograph - see above.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 15 October 1966, p.11

Filmed: Wednesday 5 October 1966 Broadcast: Wednesday 5 October 1966, 19.30-20.30pm, SVT1, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hylands Hörna started off in the 1950s as a radio talkshow which was broadcasted three times a week on National Public Radio of Sweden. The talkshow became a success and on 3 October 1962, the show appeared on national televison. In 1965, the program was watched by more than 50% of the population in Sweden - every week. The show was always broadcast live.
Season 3, Episode 2
Hosted by Lennart Hyland.
Guests: The Hep Stars Sickan Carlsson Gösta Knutsson Erik Zetterström.

Filmed: Saturday 15 October 1966 Broadcast: Saturday 15 October 1966, Sverige TV1, 21.40-23.10, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2:21
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hylands Hörna started off in the 1950s as a radio talkshow which was broadcasted three times a week on National Public Radio of Sweden. The talkshow became a success and on 3 October 1962, the show appeared on national televison. In 1965, the program was watched by more than 50% of the population in Sweden - every week. The show was always broadcast live.
Season 3, Episode 4
Hosted by Lennart Hyland. Guests: Hep Stars, Yngve Gamlin, Rune Lindström, Siw Malmkvist, Nils Poppe.
Benny appeared with The Hep Stars performing Slit och släng (a Swedish version of Cliff Richard's Lucky Lips).
Unfortunately you only get to see the back of Benny's head!
SVT has released this programme partly in its Open Archive.

Filmed: November 1966 Location: Grand Börs, Linköping, Sweden for the performance of Baby Those Are The Rules Broadcast: Monday 7 November 1966, 18:30-19:00, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 28 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Björn and fellow Hootenanny Singer Tonny Roth are interviewed during their period of Swedish National Service, both still in their uniform (and Björn looking very much like his son Christian).
The Hootenanny Singers also performed Baby Those Are The Rules.
About 10 seconds of Baby Those Are The Rules was broadcast in France on the Podium programme on TFI on 22 April 2006. A few moments were also broadcast on the 2013 programme ABBA - When Four Became One.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 7 November 1966, p.7

Filmed: Thursday 10 November 1966 Location: Wiesbaden, Germany Broadcast: Friday 16 December 1966, Germany and The Hep Stars episode was repeated on channel HR (Hessischer Rundfunk) on 2 September 2005
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: Just under 10 minutes (Hep Stars only), whole programme: 46 minutes, 21 seconds.
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Beat! Beat! Beat! was first aired on 7 January 1966. The series contained 26 episodes and ended on 7 February 1969. All episodes are still in the German television archives. HR or "Hessischer Rundfunk" were the producers and broadcasters of Beat! Beat! Beat! and they still own the full copyright to the series today. Their broadcasts were very often in co-operation with the US-Forces Station AFN in Frankfurt.
The programme showed a number of the biggest rock bands of the '60s performing their lates hits and featured live performances by top British bands of the day (like The Kinks, The Spencer Davis Group and Peter & Gordon) and interviews with the performers.
The Hep Stars were on the Season 2, Episode 4 and performed live: Sunny Girl No Response and Wedding. The programme was directed by Ekkehard Böhmer and hosted by Mal Sondock.
Programme running order: Hermans Hermits - No Milk Today, Dandy, Jezebel and My Reservation's Been Confirmed Neil Christian - That's Nice" and Two At A Time The Lords - Late Last Sunday Evening and Don't Mince Matter The Hep Stars - Sunny Girl, No Response and Wedding Cherry Wainer & Don Storer - Red River Valley, Morning (or Moanin')
Watch for: Svenne Hedlund giving a very sexy wink (NOT)! The "Glook" sitting on Benny's piano The Hep Stars using The Lord's drum kit (Hermans Hermits could afford their own drum kit!)

Filmed: December 1966 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 25 December 1966, 19:25-20:10
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Önskeprogrammet 90 1950 = Wishing Programme 90 1950
The Hootenanny Singers performed En sång en gång för längesen (their Swedish version of Green Green Grass of Home).
Other performers included: Elisabeth Söderström Lill Lindfors and Anders Linder.

Filmed: Thursday 1 December 1966 Location: Helsinki, Finland
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Finland
Notes:The Hep Stars were in Finland to film an appearance on a TV show. They performed: Cadillac (miming to the recording on The Hep Stars On Stage album) Wedding (featuring Svenne dressed up as a bride and drummer Christer Pettersson as the groom!) Sunny Girl Don’t I natt jag drömde. Everything was performed to playback.

Filmed: between Sunday 4 - Friday 9 December 1966 Location: West Germany Broadcast: Monday 26 December 1966, West Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: West Germany
Notes:The Hep Stars left for West Germany either late in the evening on Sunday 4 December or maybe sometime on Monday 5 December 1966.
They spent four days in West Germany for the purpose of doing TV. “But the taping of Sunny Girl only took an hour. The rest of the time The Hep Stars did nothing else than sleep, eat sausages, etc.” It is unclear if this means that they only appeared on one TV show, and if they only performed Sunny Girl on that one show.
According to Swedish press reports, The Hep Stars appeared on West German TV on Monday 26 December 1966. Presumably, this was the broadcast of Sunny Girl and whatever else they may have done earlier in December.

Filmed: Saturday 10 December 1966 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 10 December 1966, LIVE, 21:30-23:00, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Hootenanny Singers performed Blomman (The Flower).

Filmed: Thursday 15 December 1966 Location: Isstadion, Stockholm
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden (perhaps also elsewhere)
Notes:In late 1966 (and maybe early 1967) The Hep Stars made PROMO clips for some of the songs from their brand new album, The Hep Stars. The clips were referred to as "cineteque films" at the time.
On Thursday 15 December 1966, they filmed skating scenes at Isstadion (where ABBA performed live in 1979), but it's unknown to which song.
It could be that the clip of The Birds In The Sky from the Norwegian programme Ten-Pluggen is one of those "cineteque films", and they also did one for Sound Of Eve. They apparently did at least one more song as well.
The man behind the films was Åke Borglund, the same guy who went on to direct the ill-fated Habari Safari movie. According to contemporary reports, there was a thought that the B&W "cineteque films" would be featured in the movie, interspersed with the colour footage filmed in Africa.

Filmed: end 1967
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Every year the Folkpark arrangers met artistes and managers to book upcoming tours at a Folkparksforum. The one for 1968 was held in the last months of 1967.
This was the first time Hep Stars actually performed on the forum - they never needed to do that to get bookings, and they were, it seems, the only artist ever who got paid to perform here.
There is no report on who else was shown on TV, but in the text connected with the story (from a magazine) there's a picture of Frida together with Marianne Kock and Tom and Mick from The Maniacs (Tom being Tommy Körberg). The report that fouses on the forum says "Her collegue Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who broke through after winning Barnens Dag (The talent show) and performing at Hylands Hörna (a special programme called H-trafik rapport: Ikväll) was among the newcomers. As a solo-artist it will surely take her more time to come into the strong limelight, but as a singer with an orchestra she ought to be recognized".
It also tells that Björn was there (not the whole group) and he was mostly meeting the owners of the Folkparks.

Filmed: Early 1967 Location: California, USA Broadcast: Channel 13, USA
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: USA
Notes:Benny Andersson and Felle Fernholm left for the US circa mid-January 1967. A while later Svenne Hedlund joined them. It's not known exactly how long they were there or when they returned to Sweden.
While they were there, they were interviewed on a local California TV show. According to a recent book about Felle Fernholm, it was broadcast on Channel 13 and the hostess was one Florence Thalheimer. Could this possibly be her?
This is what Carl Magnus Palm wrote about the experience in Benny’s Road To ABBA: ”The programme dealt with spring fashion for ladies hats,” Felle laughs. ”The hostess was an old lady; she must have been around 80 and her audience was probably the same age. It was only an interview, because the union wouldn’t allow us to play and sing - not even playback.” Benny adds: ”Everybody knows the effect of appearing in a small, local television show: the impact is about 0.007 per cent."

Filmed: First week of January 1967 Location: Studio Pasila, Finland Broadcast: Friday 3 March 1967, YLE, Finland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Valmiina... pyörii! - Ready…. action!
Valmiina... pyörii! was a music series run on YLE in 1967-68.
Episode cast overview:
Kristina Hautala
The Hootenanny Singers
Jukka Kuoppamäki
Reijo Hirvelä - Singer
Pyörittäjät
Produced by Tapani Karhu, Pekka Nuru and Erkki Pohjanheimo.

Filmed: Early January 1967 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 9 February 1967
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Träff =Get-together
Contemporary reports state that before Benny, Svenne and Felle Fernholm left for the US in mid-January 1967, The Hep Stars filmed a TV appearance for broadcast on 9 February. The only programme that seems to fit the bill was called Träff.

Filmed: Wednesday18 January 1967 Location: West Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: West Germany
Notes:According to a report dated 5 January 1967, The Hootenanny Singers were due to travel to West Germany to do TV on 18 January 1967.
No further information available.

Filmed: February 1967 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Tuesday 28 February 1967, 19.30-20.10.
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Described as a “quiz between musicians” and hosted by Lasse Holmqvist, in this episode The Hootenanny Singers competed against string quartet Kyndelskvartetten.
The programme was pre-recorded in Malmö.

Filmed: 21 February - May 1967 Location: Nairobi, Kenya, Africa & Denmark Broadcast: Wednesday 25 February 2004, SVT2 at 10.30pm, Sweden on the programme Hep Stars in Africa! (Hep Stars in Afrika!)
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Benny's first venture into the world of films was a financial and filming disaster and was never completed.
During winter and spring of 1967, The Hep Stars went to Africa in an attempt to film something to compete with the Beatles A Hard Day's Night - the self-produced but never finished Habari Safari. It had been hoped that a trip to Nairobi and a couple of weeks in a film studio would provide sufficient suitable material to make the film. However, due to serious financial difficulties, technical problems and a non-existent story, the film was never completed.
Photographer Åke Borglund had started filming in February 1967 and yet the script wasn't even written until five months later. The group ended up with 5,000m of unusable film and debts of 280,000 Swedish Kronor owed to their sponsor - record company chief, Åke Gerhard.
The loose plot of the film was something like this: The Hep Stars are in Africa to find the original 'glook' (a toy, a kind of Gonk). They land in Nairobi with the airplane and start looking for it. They end up in some sort of small tribe, where they are kindly greeted as big guests. The guide (called Ernie) who accompanies them on the trip tries to steal the glook, which they have in their property. And he flees when he sees the tribe's anger. He ends up in a savannah (not really - instead some place just outside Uppsala!), and all of a sudden Hep Stars turns up again. In the end they get to have the glook in some strange way and they return home to Sweden."
One Hep Stars song emerged from the project, the African folk-tinged single, Malaika released with at least two different covers.
Hep Stars - Malaika - cover 1
Hep Stars - Malaika - cover 2
In 2004 as part of a TV series called Musikbyrån (Music Bureau), the programme Hep Stars in Afrika! featured interviews with members of The Hep Stars (Svenne Hedlund and Christer Petterson [no Benny
who was to write a book/articles about the trip]) who talked about the making of the movie. Incredible archive footage was shown which we frankly never thought we'd see. A lot of the footage is without sound or with bad sound and clearly filmed on hand-held super 8 cine film.
Benny on Habari Safari: "It was an expensive trip. We had with us a Danish photographer and five or six technicians. In addition we had the director of our recently founded production company Hep House with us - and he had, for safety's sake, the company of his wife! We also freighted along with us from Denmark 500lb of rails. We were there for 14 days while the director of the film and the president of our company stayed an additional week. Later we went to Denmark for 10 days for some extra takes. At this point the film should have been finished. And of course we did have 5,000m of film. But there was no story and without a story one cannot attempt to promote a feature film."
Known filming dates:
C. Tuesday 21 February 1967: The Hep Stars left for Kenya.
Tuesday 7 March: The Hep Stars returned from Africa.
Between c. 5 April 1967 and c. 12 April: Copenhagen.
Tuesday 9 May 1967: A news report was filmed, showing how The Hep Stars “complete filming of their first movie on and around Djurgårdsfärjan [the Djurgården ferry
Scenes shot at Uppsalaslätten (The Uppsala Plain).

Filmed: Sunday 19 March 1967 Broadcast: Sunday 19 March 1967, LIVE, 16:30-17:15, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Onkel Thores stuga = Uncle Thore's cabin.
A short black and white segment from the programme Onkel Thores stuga featured (edited into) The Hep Stars African film, Habari Safari, but it is not part of the Habari Safari film material, as it was filmed professionally by SVT in the studio.
The Hep Stars entered the stage with comedian Sune Mangs who was dressed up as a pop singer. After Mangs left the stage, The Hep Stars performed Malaika.
Benny is not visible during the available segment, as this was a short, edited part of the original footage, definitely the entire footage of the song does show Benny on the keyboard.
Click here for a TV listing from Friheten - 18 March 1967, p.7 (showing the next day's television listings)

Filmed: Spring 1967 Location: Germany Broadcast: Monday 18 March 1968, 5.50-6.15pm ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2:45
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine broadcast by ZDF Germany which ran from from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 in the early evening and contained 5,146 Episodes.
The show dealt with topical issues from politics, culture, business and society and there was a window for regional news and other countries and music.
The Hep Stars performed Malaika and as the Malaika single was released Spring 1967, this is probably the filming date.
By the way Malaika is the most popular song in Kenya in the Swahili language (in English means Angel) and originally was recorded by the Fadhili William and his band Jambo Boys in Kenya (1960), then (among others) performed by Pete Seeger (1965), Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafontein (1975), Boney M (1981), Rocco Granata and Angelique Kidjo (2001).
Watch for: Benny on the pipe!

Filmed: probabaly May 1967 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: 9 May 1967, Sweden, 19:00-19:30, SVT, Sweden
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:A report on The Hep Stars in this news show about them finishing the making of their feature film Habari Safari on and near the Djurgården ferry.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 9 May 1967 p.23.

Filmed: Saturday 24 June 1967 Location: Gävle Folkets Park, Sweden Broadcast: Never broadcast
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Never broadcast
Notes:Timmen = The Hour
In an interview published 18 October 1967, Björn said that The Hootenanny Singers had been filmed while performing in Gävle Folkets Park for a TV programme called Timmen, but that their segment didn’t make the final cut of the programme.

Filmed: Early August 1967 Location: Fjällbacka, Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 10 August 1967, 18:30-19:30
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Popstop vid en landsväg = Pop Stop at a Main Road/Country Road (another of many, many, MANY difficult translations!).
Filmed in Fjällbacka, presumably during The Hep Stars’ show there. According to one report the following songs were performed: Mot okänt land It’s Nice To Be back Easy To Fool No Time Lady Lady Sunny Girl Sound Of Eve Jag vet. According to another report, only six Hep Stars songs were performed. If accurate, it's not clear which two of the eight titles listed above didn’t make the cut.
14-year-old Lena Glädt also appeared in the show. She was a recent Olga Records signing. She performed two songs.

Filmed: Tuesday 15 August 1967 Location: Manchester, England Broadcast: Tuesday 15 August, 1967, BBC 1, UK at 18.25
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: UK
Notes:Hosted by British television interviewer and radio disc jockey, Simon Dee, this was a twiice-weekly early evening BBC TV chat show.
On this show, according to a search on the BBC Radio Times listing archive, this episode featured the following guests:
Richard Murdoch (actor)
Donald Houston (actor)
Margaret Lockwood (actress)
Paul Jones (singer from Manfred Mann)
Millie Scott
The New Christy Minstrels (folk music group)
The Hep Stars
Music
The Johnny Patrick Orchestra
Script, MICHAEL WALE and JOE STEEPLES NEIL SHAND
Design, Peter Mavius Direction, COLIN CHARMAN
Production, TERRY HENEBERY
The Hep Stars performed It’s Nice To Be Back (this song later got Swedish lyrics and was recorded as Min egen stad by Frida).
Their appearance had been arranged by Richard Reese-Edwards, who was eager to become their manager. In Carl Magnus Palm's book Benny’s Road To ABBA, he explains how it all happened:
Still, The Hep Stars’ dreams of an international breakthrough were stronger than ever at that time, with the West German tours fresh in their memories and the plans for a US career in full swing. Coincidentally, during the Gothenburg visit, the group held a press conference introducing their new company, Hep Stars America, Inc. They also stated that there were plans for a three month autumn tour on the other side of the Atlantic.
In other words, there was still a feeling that world lay wide open for the group, and so it might be a good idea to hire someone who could help them with their career in England. So far, Åke Gerhard hadn’t been able to achieve a breakthrough on that market, and they had no other representative on the British Isles. Svenne and Richard sat and talked all night, and by the early hours of the morning they had agreed that Richard should start working for them. But not everyone in the band were so enchanted by that thought. ”When Svenne told Benny about it, he was not happy with that.” Richard Reese-Edwards recalls. ”He was very firm, but Svenne was also stubborn so Benny gave me a test. ’You put us on any television programme that we want in the world within three weeks and you can have the management.’ So I told him just to choose one. ’We want to go on Dee Time in Britain.’ ’Right,’ I said, and then we shook hands on that.”
At the time, Dee Time was one of the most popular entertainment shows on British television, hosted by Simon Dee. To secure an appearance on the show was no mean feat, and would be virtually impossible for an unknown band from Sweden. The Dee Time producer was completely uninterested in Richard Reese-Edwards’ proposal, but the young man just refused to let go.”By a campaign of more or less harrassment of the man, by ringing him persistently, get other people to ring him, turning up wherever he was day and night for a week, I finally got him to break down and give in and allow the band to go on the show. ’But if you don’t get a work permit for them, I’ll strangle you myself, because I had to move somebody else to get your band on the show. If you let me down, you’ll never do television with any of your bands ever again.’”
The British Musician’s Union initially refused the group a work permit, but after further persistent nagging, Reese-Edwards actually managed to accomplish what he’d set out to do. Not many of the Hep Stars members had counted on this outcome: they thought that the energetic Englishman was just another of the many suspect characters that came in their way. ”But Svenne insisted that the band make good on their commitment to appoint me as their manager, which they did.” Svenne confirms: ”I really believed in him.”
However, recollections differ as to the extent of Richard Reese-Edwards’ authority at the time. According to Reese-Edwards himself, he simply took over from Åke Gerhard and had the main responsibility for the group’s future career. Others claim that he was only in charge of the attempts to achieve a break in England. In a way it was the first time that The Hep Stars had a true manager; Åke Gerhard’s Europa-Produktion were mainly handling practical details concerning tour bookings and record releases. The career planning was mostly handled by the group themselves, primarily Felle Fernholm. Either way, Åke had no high opinion of Richard Reese-Edwards. ”He tried to drive a wedge in and push me out of the nest. But there was no reason for him to do that, which I believe I told him.”
Åke was part of the entourage when The Hep Stars flew to Manchester to appear on Dee Time in August 1967. Richard Reese-Edwards had made an effort to create as much attention as possible for the visit, but this didn’t impress Åke very much either. ”He had arranged for some girls to come up with some big flower arrangements wrapped in plastic when the boys got off the plane. I mean, if The Hep Stars had been well-known there would have been photographers there to take pictures, but they were completely unknown so of course there was nobody there. That was a bit childish.” The only photographer present was the group’s own friend, Ulf Holmstedt. His pictures show a group who, completely undisturbed and with slightly confused looks on their faces, come walking with big flower bouquets in an otherwise deserted airport.
On Dee Time, The Hep Stars were in good company. The show featured then big names such as The New Christy Minstrels and ex-Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones, as well as a filmed appearance by José Feliciano. The guys were mightily impressed and really felt that they were playing with the big boys. The song they performed in the show was entitled ’It’s Nice To Be Back’, written by Benny and released as the B-side of the ’Malaika’ single. The greeting on the airport may have been staged, but after the television broadcast the group was astonished to be accosted by a large group of fans outside the studio. ”The other acts - Paul Jones, for instance - were able to just walk past them undisturbed, but they were mad for us,” Svenne Hedlund recalls. ”They had been watching the show and ran down afterwards. They were ready with their autograph pads.”
Otherwise, however, the strategy concerning The Hep Stars’ UK launch was somewhat lacking in foresight and long-term planning. To begin with, the choice of song to perform in the show was wrong. ”I remember that Richard really liked ’Sunny Girl’, but at the time he was especially fond of ’It’s Nice To Be Back’,” says Svenne. ”It was his choice that we should perform that song on Dee Time. In hindsight I can’t understand that: we should have done a fabulous song such as ’Sunny Girl’. But you didn’t reason like that in those days, you had to pick the latest song. ’Sunny Girl’ was already an ’oldie’ by then - a whole year had passed!” No single release of ’It’s Nice To Be Back’ was on the cards in Great Britain at the time, and when the show was broadcast no Hep Stars records at all were available on the British market. Therefore, the effect of the television appearance was virtually nil. However, it was undoubtedly a triumph for Richard Reese-Edwards to get the group on Dee Time in the first place. It strengthened his resolve, and he had big plans for the international launch of the band.

Filmed: Sunday 3 September 1967 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: LIVE, Sunday 3 September 1967, SVT1 19.20-20.40 (and again in September 1998)
Release status: This performance was included in the Frida Box Set released on 5 December 2005.
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:This was a special edition of Hylands hörna.
Frida's first TV appearance. She had just won the Nya ansikten (New Faces) the competition at Skansen, Stockholm with En ledig dag (A Day Off) and was then whisked off to the TV studio to appear on this programme as part of the prize.
This clip is priceless. She's so shy and timid and yet when she starts to sing all that is lifted. Apparently the high note she reaches is an 'E'.
This programme was a special, extra-long, edition of the regular Hylands Hörna (Lennart Hyland being the host, hörna meaning 'corner'). This was the day that Sweden switched from driving on the left to the right and the programme had lots of other guests to entice people away from the roads during the changeover.
Watch for: The look she gives someone off camera as she's obviously been advised to drop the microphone away from her mouth to give a better sound. The twinkle she gives them is fantastic as she realises they were right! (2:46-2:50 in the video clip).

Filmed: Monday 4 September 1967 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 10 September 1967, 19.15-19.55, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:According to a mid-August 1967 TV report, The Hep Stars were due to take part in Önskeprogrammet on 4 September 1967. This must have been the filming date, since there was no Önskeprogrammet broadcast on that date.
There was an Önskeprogrammet broadcast on 10 September, hosted by Per Grundén. It's unclear if this was the broadcast The Hep Stars were in.
More clarification needed.

Filmed: October 1967 Broadcast: Friday 27 October 1967
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Önskeprogrammet = The Request Programme
The set-up of the programme was that people could write in and request what that they wanted to see on the show. This is how the show was described before it started airing: “What the viewers may request isn’t just music but, preferably, segments from earlier programmes or film clips from TV’s big archive. Furthermore, there will be newly recorded items, for example interviews with a specific person etc.”. The programme was usually linked to charity Radiohjälpen with giro 90 1950, or later 90 1950-6.
The Hootenanny Singers performed Början Till Slutet.
The show was hosted by singers Lars Lönndahl (Frida’s 1968 touring companion) and Gunnar Wiklund. Other guests included Lill Lindfors and Sabu Martinez.

Filmed: probably November 1967 Broadcast: Monday 20 November 1967, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Vi och våra massmedia = We and our media.
"The Hep Stars" appeared in this programme about "media issues". However it's not clear whether The Hep Stars as a group appeared on it or not.
It is likely that this programme was about Svenne and Lotta Hedlund suing youth magazine Bildjournalen for publishing paparazzi pictures of them, so there wouldn’t really be any reason for the rest of the band (including Benny of course) to appear.
More info needed before deleting!

Filmed: probably November 1967 Broadcast: Sunday 19 November 1967, 17:20-17:40, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Hep Stars were in this programme, but it's not known what they did.
It appears this no longer exists in the SVT archives.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 18 November 1967, p.29 (listing the following day's TV guide).

Location: Germany
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Spieluhr = Music Box
The Hep Stars (and Lotta) appeared on this show wearing clothes and wigs from the 1700s. Benny was holding a guitar and they are standing on what's probably supposed to look like a giant music box.

Filmed: January 1968 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Wednesday 10th January 1968, SVT1, 7.35pm, Sweden & repeated 20th January 1968, SVT1, 3.20pm, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Agnetha and Frida appeared in this show in their own right as individual performers.
This was Agnetha's very first TV appearance and the first time Agnetha and Frida had met each other. Frida said in an interview in 1996 that Agnetha was only 17 when they first met so timing-wise this would fit with Frida's recollection of Agnetha's age.
Agnetha performed Jag var så kär (... or did she? See interview below).
Frida most likely performed En ledig dag. That single was already 'old' by that time and her most recent single, Din / Du är så underbart rar, had just been released (in December 1967), so either side of that single would have been a more logical choice. All artists performed to playback.
The above picture is of part the show's line-up and is not from the broadcast. In case you can't make them out, Agnetha is on the far right with Frida next to her. Other guests on the show were: Svante Thuresson, vocal group Rospiggarna, Siw Malmkvist (second from the left in above picture), Ewa Roos, Carl Erik Thörn - plus Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
The following is from an interview with Kåge Gimtell, the producer of Studio 8, broadcast at P4 Malmöhus, October 21, 2011:
"In Studio 8 we made a TV-show that turned out to be a formidable success for the Malmö television. It was simply called Studio 8. The TV-show had a German model called Studio B. It was a show about recently released records with popular artists. I contacted Folke Erbo who worked in the archive in Stockholm and had a lot of knowledge. He worked in the radio as a presenter of new songs now and then. He should help me to select songs and artist. Then we should have a presenter in the studio and that was Arne Strömgren from the Malmö stadsteater. He didn't know much about this branch but I still though he could interview the artists a bit and then they we're going to sing their songs. "We made several episodes of this show and it turned out really well. We had a debutante that I remember particularity well. She came from Jönköping and it was Little Gerhard who had called me and said ”you've got to listen to this girl, she's amazing!”. Her name was Agnetha Fältskog and this was her absolutely debut in Swedish television. I remember that when she had sung her self-penned song, “Om tårar vore guld”, well... I think it was, she walked up to me shaking of excitement ”My God, how fun this was! Couldn't I take part again?”.
I let her take part in another show that was filmed her in Malmö (Five Minutes Saloon), but then she disappeared out on other things and now I don't think I can get her back to the Swedish television to sing even if I would beg her on my bare knees.
"Eventually we had to discontinue the show because these presentations of new songs effected the entire Swedish top chart. The chart became the songs that we had been playing in Studio 8. The Swedish radio protested wildly ”There you are in Malmö ruling the Swedish top chart, it cannot be like this”. Eventually Stockholm took over the TV-show and called it Chanstoppen and then it apparently was fine. We felt a bit offended by this robbery when they took over a good idea for a TV-show."

Filmed: probably early January 1968 Broadcast: Thursday 11 January 1968, 20:20-20:50, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Från scen och kabaret = From stage and cabaret.
The Hep Stars appeared in this programme containing "reports from the world of entertainment" but I don't know in what capacity.
Click here for the TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 11 January 1968, p.19.

Filmed: Winter 1968 Broadcast: 20 September - 13 December 1968, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Chanstoppen was a TV show series where some of the artistes whose songs were currently tested for Svensktoppen performed their songs to playback.
The show was hosted by Ulf Elfving who was the host of Svensktoppen at that time. The show was broadcast every other Sunday that autumn and winter.
Swedish fan Malin Westerberg has spotted a newspaper cutting featuring the headling "Opp i topp i tv" (Up at top in TV) and a picture of Agnetha and Jörgen Edman. It COULD BE that as there were no other known Swedish TV appearances by Agnetha from that time, and the headline COULD refer to Chanstoppen as the song Nånting händer med mig hit Svensktoppen around that time, so it's a POSSIBILITY that Agnetha and Jörgen Edman appeared on Chanstoppen.
Click here for a TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 13 December 1968, p.31.
Does anyone else have any further information or proof that this could have happened?

Filmed: Saturday 27 January 1968 Location: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France Broadcast: LIVE on ORTF, at 9pm, France and transmitted by Eurovision to some countries*
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Full programme 1:35:01
Shown in: France
Notes:The Hep Stars performed It's Been A Long, Long Time introduced by presenter Joe Dassin.
Benny on piano (in suit and bow tie) was hardly visible at the left side of the screen especially at the end scene.
The running order of the show was: Hep Stars (Sweden) - It's been a long, long time Shuly Nathan (Israel) - Yerushalayim shel zahav László Aradszky (Hungary) - Isten véled édes Piroskám The Rokes (UK) - Piangi con me, Hold my hand Will Tura (Belgium) - el Bandido Vice Vukov (Yugoslavie) - sing in Croatian Gert Timmerman (Netherlands) - Ave Maria Caterina Caselli (Italy) - Il Giorno, Perdono Karel Gott (Czechoslovakia) - Proc ptáci zpívají Roberto Carlos (Brazilia) - La Donna di un amico mio, Quando Udo Jürgens (Austria) - Was ich dir sagen will (in French) Raphael - Hablemos del amor Wenche Myhre (Norway) - Den Som Gapar Efter Mycket (in German), Einsamer Boy Tom Jones (UK) - The Green, Green Grass of Home; I'm Coming Home Salvatore Adamo (France and Belgium) - L'amour te ressemble, Inch Allah
* for example Spain, RTVE1 on 27 January 1968 entitled Gala del Mercado International del Disco and Germany, ZDF 24 February 1968 entitled Galaabend in Cannes (Spitzenstars der Schallplatte).
Click here for a TV listing from ABC (Edición de la Mañana) - 27 January 1968, p.89.

Filmed: Saturday 10 February 1968 Location: Centralteatret, Oslo Nye, Norway Broadcast: Saturday 10 February 1968, NRK1, Norway (LIVE), 18:20-18:50
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 30:15
Shown in: Norway
Notes:Pop-korn was a Norwegian youth music programme which featured successful artists from England, Sweden and Norway. Broadcast on NRK from 2 May 1964 to 16 April 1971, it was always aired live from the Centralteatret (Central Theatre), with live audience and with one episode every two months on a Saturday evening.
The Hootenanny Singers performed two songs: Den dagen den sorgen (That day, that sorrow) and Början til slutet (Beginning till the end). Also on this episode, British singer Georgie Fame performed Bonnie & Clyde.
Running order of the show: Wentzel with vocalist Inger Lise Andersen - Get closer Comedy sketch - Bonnie and Clyde Hootenanny Singers - Den dagen, den sorgen (Swedish version of Stewball) Comedy sketch - motorsykkeljakke & slengbukse Dream - Green things (from Outer Space) Comedy sketch - Mao-inspireted dresser Else Skagen - Nå er du min - Norish version of Just like a man Comedy sketch bestemorkjoler og herrefrakk i engelsk stil Inger Lise Andersen & Wentzel spiller Baby Baby Comedy sketch - indian-inspirert kjole Hootenanny Singers - Början till slutet (Swedish version of Almost persuaded) Comedy sketch - saueskinnsklær Dream - You're right about me Comedy sketch - Candy Georgie Fame - Try my world Georgie Fame - The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde Början till slutet was partly repeated on Lollipop on 7 December 1990, Norway.
See the whole programme here.
The programme was available on the NRK open archive site.
Click here for newspaper cutting from Arbeiderbladet - 10 February 1968, p.22.
Click here for a TV guide from Hardanger - 10 February 1968, p.4.

Watch for: Björn appears to be trying to catch Hansi Swartz's eye to put him off in Den dagen, den sorgen

Filmed: Friday 8 March 1968 (It's Been A Long Long Time) Location: Sweden
Release status: This film has been released as part of a 5-disc DVD box set
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Åsa-Nisse och den stora Kalabaliken = Åsa-Nisse and the Big Chaos.
The Hep Stars appeared twice in this Swedish film directed by Arne Stivell - in two mini films:
It's Been A Long, Long Time where their Mini breaks down in the snow and they slip and slide about (very reminiscent of The Beatles films and The Monkees TV series) and
Sagan om lilla Sofi (The Story of Little Sofi) where all Benny does is eat sausage and drink beer!
Also in the film was singer Mona Wessman who entered the Melodifestivalen for Sweden in 1973 (same year as Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid with Ring Ring of course).
The film premiered on Friday 30 August 1968 in Vetlanda, Sweden.
This film has been released on DVD as part of a 5-disc DVD box set including Åsa-Nisse i raketform (ordering information here).
There were 21 films in the Åsa-Nisse series between 1949 ad 1969. The clip of The Hep Stars cannot be found online as it is copyrighted by United Screens.

Filmed: Spring 1968 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Friday 26 April 1968, 7.06-7.32pm, KRO, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2:20
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:Waauw was a half-hour long music and mostly dance series which ran on channel KRO from 26 October 1964 to 28 July 1972 and consisted 40 Episodes.
Episode 29, hosted by Theo Stokkink.
The other guest on this episode was Karin Kent. The Hep Stars featuring Benny performed Sunny Girl. This TV show was produced on AMPEX but erased.
This clip originally featured on this music & dance programme (Pop op TV 1960-1975, p.128). It was supplied by OLGA Records from Sweden and filmed onto 16mm material from where it was edited into the aired production. That’s why luckily this is the only remaining material from this episode. The question is: does it originate from 1966 or was it made in 1968 to coincide with the Dutch chart entry?
We suspect that it was filmed in 1968 in Sweden especially for this TV show, because it is hard to imagine the group had a video clip, but it was not showed anywhere for 2 years, although the song itself was quite successfull. (Sunny Girl was a 2 year old song at that time as the single was released on 15 March 1966.)
The 192 TV rebroadcast confirms the year, but it is incorrectly labelled as July.
After showing this clip they were invited by channel KRO to come to Holland personally to appearing on Waauw and they made the Waauw - The Hep Stars Special.
Click here for a newspaper cutting from Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode - 25 April 1968, p.9 featuring the programme.
And another news cutting on 26 April 1968 in ’de Stem’ on p 11: 19.06 WAAUW. Gedanste hitparade met als gasten Karin Kent en de Zweedse groep De Hepstars. There's more informations of their success in The Netherlands in these news cuttings:
Leidse Courant - 18 May 1968, p.10.
Leidse Courant - 17 August 1968, p.11.
Broadcast information:
Friday 26 April 1968, 19:06-19:32, KRO, The Netherlands
Repeated in 1984 and rebroadcast on 192 TV around 2012, The Netherlands.

Filmed: Early May 1968 Location: KRO TV Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands Broadcast: Wednesday 22 May 1968, 20.20-20.40pm, KRO, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 20 mins
Shown in: Netherlands
Notes:Waauw was a half-hour long music and dance series broadcast on channel KRO from 26 October 1964 to 28 July 1972 and consisted 40 Episodes.
Episode 30.
After showing the Sunny Girl clip on Waauw on Friday 26 April 1968, they were invited by channel KRO to come to Holland personally as soon as possible to appearing again on the programme.
So The Hep Stars took part in this 20-minute TV Special and performed these five songs: Sunny Girl
Easy to fool
I’ve said it all before
Lady lady
Wedding Sunny Girl became a Top 5 hit after this was broadcast and Benny referred to Sunny Girl on The Eddy Go Round Show Special in 1975.
Their guest in this programme the Swedish blues singer Linkin’ Louisiana Peps with the song Jailer Bring Me Water.
This TV show was filmed on AMPEX tape but unfortunately was quickly erased after the broadcast, so there is nothing more about it just a picture from the newspaper de Stem (NOTE: The picture above does not show Benny).
Click here for a TV listing from de Stem - 22 May 1968, p.13.
Click here for a TV listing from Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant - 22 May 1968, p.19.
Click here for newspaper cutting from de Stem - 21 May 1968, p.9.

Filmed: Sunday 26 May 1968 Broadcast: Wednesday 26 June 1968, 19:35-20:05, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Agnetha performed En sommar med dej on this programme hosted by Hagge Geigert.
Note this is the same Hagge Geigert who would have Agnetha on his show Gäst hos Hagge 17 years later.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 26 June 1968, p.19.

Filmed: Late January or Early February 1968 Broadcast: Friday 16 February 1968, 19:35-19:50, SVT, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hvar fjortonde dag = Every Two Weeks
Hvar fjortonde dag was a TV programme hosted by Ulf Thorén. In one of the programmes, The Hootenanny Singers performed Mårten Gås.
This song entered Svensktoppen 11 February 1968 and they appeared on the programme a few days later.
Click here for a TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 16 February 1968, p.21.

Filmed: Late October 1968 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: 1 November 1968, 19:35-20:10, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Chanstoppen was a TV show where some of the artistes whose songs were currently tested for Svensktoppen performed their songs to playback.
The show was hosted by Ulf Elfving who was the host of Svensktoppen at that time. The show was broadcast every other Sunday that autumn/winter in 1968.
Björn performed Fröken Fredriksson and Frida performed När du blir min.

Filmed: September 1968? Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: September 1968, 19:35-20:05, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Chanstoppen was a TV show where some of the artistes whose songs were currently tested for Svensktoppen performed their songs to playback.
The show was hosted by Ulf Elfving who was the host of Svensktoppen at that time. The show was broadcast every other Sunday that autumn/winter in 1968. Agnetha had at least two songs tested for Svensktoppen during the time this show was running.
The Hootenanny Singers performed the A- and B-sides from their latest single: Måltidssång (Så lunka vi så småningom) / Till Fader Berg, rörande fiolen.
Agnetha performed the A- and B-sides of her latest single: Den jag väntat på / Allting har förändrat sig.
The programme, hosted by Ulf Elfving, was pre-recorded.

Filmed: September 1968 Location: A park in Germany Broadcast: Friday 10 January 1969, 6.05-6.40pm, ZDF, Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 2:29 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine broadcast by ZDF Germany which ran from from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 in the early evening and contained 5,146 Episodes.
The show dealt with topical issues from politics, culture, business and society and there was a window for regional news and other countries and music.
As the Komm, Little Thom single was released in Germany in October 1968, maybe they filmed this clip a little earlier and in the same park featured on the cover photos.
The Hep Stars performed Komm, Little Thom in German and the other pop music performer was this lady taking a go-kart ride.
A 25 second clip of The Hep Stars was show on Die Jubiläumsshow on 11 April 2004, ZDF, Germany.
Click here for a news cutting from De Vallei - 10 January 1969, p.2.

Filmed: Early October 1968 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Monday 7 October 1968, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Björn’s current single Fröken Fredriksson “was played” on Önskeprogrammet and then auctioned off for SEK 250. Now, this sounds as if they just played the single and then auctioned it off, which must have made for a very dull piece of TV. So we are assuming Björn performed the song in the programme and then the single was auctioned off.
The dates are uncertain: notes show that the date for this was Thursday 3 October 1968 but there was no Önskeprogrammet on that date, according to TV listings. The closest broadcast date is Monday 7 October 1968 - so perhaps it was pre-recorded on 3 October and then broadcast 7 October…?

Filmed: Saturday 5 October 1968 Location: Studio Hamburg, Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Late October 1968, ZDF, West Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: West Germany
Notes:Benny's group The Hep Stars, including Lotta, made an appearance on episode 39 of this show which was a forerunner of the Disco series and a competitor of Beat Club.
David Bowie and The Doors apparently also appeared on this episode. The Doors' performance is on YouTube and had been pre-recorded in Frankfurt on 13 September 1968.
The entire series seems to have been erased from the archives.

Filmed: Friday 18 October - Sunday 10 November 1968 Location: Skellefteå, Helsingborg and Broadcast: Thursday 2 January 1969, Sweden from (18.15-18.45)
Release status: Some of this footage has been officially released on Super Troupers: 30 Years of ABBA and The Winner Takes It All - The ABBA Story
Duration: 35 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:A variety of footage featuring Agnetha, Marianne Kock, and Sten Nilsson (and Stanley) with their band travelling to gigs on a smoke-filled coach, performing on stage and resting inbetween shows. Includes a brief clip of Upp, upp och iväg, a cover of the song Up, up and away a recent big hit for 5th Dimension.
The tour started 18 October 1968 and ended some time prior to 10 November 1968, so filming must have been done in that time period.
Click here for a TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 2 January 1969, p.21.
Watch for: Agnetha being fed by three different blokes on the bus!

Release status: 2 October 1969 at Swedish cinemas
Duration: 102 minutes (the film)
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Language of Love = Ur kärlekens språk.
Björn and Benny supplied their composition Livet Går Sin Gång (The Way Of Life) for this Swedish sex educational film. Given English lyrics by Jack Fishman and sung with unknown vocalists, the theme, known as The Language of Love, played over the opening titles of the international release.

The film was not exactly soft porn as it demonstrated various sexual techniques and positions and was classed more as 'sex education'.
It was an international success and when a cinema in central London showed it, some 30,000 protestors, including a certain Cliff Richard, gathered in Trafalgar Square to show their disapproval.

Broadcast: Cher's farewell concert - past medley of clips
Notes:During the days that Cher was still with Sonny, a film clip exists somewhere of Frida in shot with them.
If anyone has any more information, it will be gratefully received!

Filmed: March 1969? Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Godnattstunden = Goodnight Time
According to contemporary press reports, Lasse Berghagen was going to be the host of a 10-minute children’s programme called Godnattstunden throughout the month of March 1969. According to those press reports, he was "going to be accompanied by Benny Andersson on the piano”.
The programme Godnattstunden was broadcast daily, Monday-Friday from 18.45-18.55.
However, according to the TV listings, Godnattstunden was never hosted by Lasse Berghagen in March. Other hosts were listed for each and every broadcast.
So perhaps it never happened…?
Any information gratefully received.

Filmed: Saturday 1 March 1969 Location: Cirkus Theatre, Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 1 March 1969, LIVE on SVT, 22:25-24:00, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:In the late 1960s and early 1970s the contest was called Melodifestival (Melody Festival) but these days it is more known as Melodifestivalen (The Melody Festival).
Frida entered the 1969 Melodifestival with Härlig är vår jord (Our Earth is Wonderful). Benny was in the audience. The event was hosted by Pekka Langer. Tommy Körberg ended up winning the contest with Judy man vän which had actually tied with Benny's composition Hej clown, sung by Jan Malmsjo.
Only an audio recording exists of this performance (see VIDEO section). There is absolutely no footage in the Swedish TV archives.
Final positions and points:
1. Judy min vän - Tommy Körberg (54 points)
2. Hej Clown - Jan Malmsjo (45 points)
3. Gång på gång - Sten Nilsson (13 points)
4. Härlig är vår jord - Anni-Frid Lyngstad (8 points)
5. Svenska flicka - Ann-Louise Hanson (8 points)
6. Sommarflicka - Svante Thuresson (4 points)
7. Du ger mig lust att leva - Lena Hansson (3 points)
8. Du ser mig inte - Inger Öst (1 points)
9. Du skänker mening åt mitt liv - Ola Håkansson (0 points)
10. L, som i älskar dig - Britt Bergström (0 points)
Click here for a newspaper cutting showing each of the 10 Swedish participants. Translation of text: "On 29 March it is time for Eurovision again. Before that we have the Swedish finale on March 1 and have seen the ten Swedish singers who will compete on who will represent Sweden in Madrid. Here are the artistes: On to top line: Annifrid Lyngstad, Lena Hansson, Inger Öst, Jan Malmsjo and Ola Hakansson, The bottom line: Ann-Louise Hansson, Britt Bergström, Tommy Körberg, Sten Nilsson and Svante Thuresson."
Click here for a TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 1 March 1969, p.23.

Filmed: Friday 14 March 1969 Location: Großer Sendesaal, Haus des Rundfunks, Sender Freies, West Berlin, Gemany Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This show has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 30 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Taped and broadcast in colour, Agnetha performed Concerto d'Amore (the German version of Det handlar om kärlek) on this German TV show (might be referred to as Gala-Abend der Schallplatte 1969).
Broadcast in two parts on ARD, Germany - 15 March 1969 at 20.15 for the Internationale Starparade and Saturday 22 March 1969 at 21.55-22.25 for Uraufführung Deutscher Schlager featuring Agnetha's performance. Also broadcast 12 April 1969 and re-titled Premiere deutscher Hits, ORF1, Austria
The show was also broadcast to Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Tunisia and Hungary - but probably in an edited and more international format.
16 March 1969, KRO, The Netherlands
16 March 1969, Belgium
In Germany the series of shows were broadcast again in the '90s on 3Sat **
Repeated: 25 July 1970, ARD at 8:15pm, Germany
Repeated: 19 May 2001, SWF, Germany (an edited version not including the German section. This was the same version tht was braodcast outside Germany in 1969).
The programme was presented by married couple Vivi Bach and Dietmar Schönherr. Vivi Bach was very popular in Germany at that time.
Click here for a magazine article It mentions that it originally was an ARD production for Eurovision. It could be therefore that because of Eurovision countries like Austria (ORF) and Switzerland (SRG) might be involved in the rights and might have own copies.
The magazine article lists the running order for the show:
Internationale Starparade - broadcast 15th March 1969 Shmuel Rodensky - Wenn ich einmal reich wär Sylvie Vartan - Comme Un Garçon Los Paraguayos - A Banda Rita Pavone - Arrivederci Hans / Bene bene bene Bailett - Help yourself Dalida - Le temps des fleurs and Ciao amore ciao Vico Torriani - Azzurro Mantovani - Medley (a) True Love, (b) Moulin Rouge, (c) Around The World The Sandpipers - Guantanamera Bailett - All you need is love Richard Anthony - Les ballons Nina & Frederik - Baby, it's cold Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata / I shall be released Bailett - Taste of honey The Hollies - Blowin` in the wind (with Orchestra) and Sorry, Susan Dusty Springfield - Son-of-a Preacher Man / I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten / Come Back To Me (released on Dusty in Deutcshland DVD in 2010) Ray Conniff - Mame Adamo - Es geht eine Träne auf Reisen Mireille Mathieu - Medley ihrer Erfolgsmelodien Martin oder Hinter den Kulissen von Paris Finale Uraufführung Deutscher Schlager - broadcast 22nd March 1969 Opening scene Agnetha - Concerto d'Amore (the German version of Det handlar om kärlek) Dorthe - Seine Hoheit, der Herr Kronprinz France Gall - die Playboys bei den Eskimos Heino - Wenn die Kraniche zieh'n Jacob Sisters - So Schnell Geht Die Liebe Vorbei Renate-Kern - Lass-doch-den-Sonnenschein Petra Pascal - Fliege tart, Lord Loneliness Bailett - Romeo and Julia
Click here for a cutting about the programme from the Hamburger Abendblatt dated 13 February 1969
Click here for a cutting from west German TV Magazine Hör Zu No. 12 from dated 22-28 March 1969
Click here for a cutting about the programme from the Hamburger Abendblatt dated 28 February 1969 The show usually started with German singers and only later on the other TV stations would join the (live) broadcast and then it would get more international.
Apparently the programme belongs to SFB (Sender Freies Berlin*), part of the ARD (Allgemeine Rundfunkanstalten Deutschland) network which consisted of regional Radio/TV stations all providing programmes to one and the same nationwide TV channel. (That is they all provided broadcasting services exclusively to their respective federal states and at the same time contributed to this nation wide TV channel). Radio Bremen ( Musikladen ) is also part of this network.
Apparently they do not supply copies of this show due to "unresolved licence-related issues" which indicates that the clip might exist if only these "issues" could be resolved. Would be interesting to see it.
NB. Footage of the hosts was broadcast in Denmark in January 2006 which hopefully means that the footage of Agnetha still exists in German TV archives somewhere. Even more, performance no. 17 of the International Starparade, Ray Conniff's "Mame" is currently on YouTube again, hopefully increasing the chances of seeing Agnetha's performance some time in the future.
** 3Sat is a channel established as a co-operation between ZDF and Swiss and Austrian TV stations. ARD and/or SFB are not involved in this. So we would guess that even though the show was produced by ZDF, it was recorded in the concert hall of SFB, which could lead to the assumption that SFB might have rights to the show, when in fact they probably haven't ***. 3Sat might have a copy in their archive, if they have an archive of their own. But ZDF should definitely have a copy. (Since 1993 ARD has been a partner of 3sat (which might explain why a Musikladen clip is included in the "Kultnacht" programme)).
* SFB belonged to the ARD (Allgemeine Rundfunkanstalten Deutschland), which consisted of several stations from all the German federal states. All SFB material should have been transferred to the new station RBB in 1991 (Radio Berlin-Brandenburg, formerly two stations SFB and ORB))
*** this conflicts with other information supplied stating that "SFB was initiated after the war in the British sector and it no longer exists".
On one Flemish site, it states that "in the same year ('69), she takes part on Gala abend der Schallplatte with Der Fest der Pompadour but nobody takes any notice of it"
This promo LP (cover is here; back cover is here) included the following songs:
Side A Telstar / SFB-Tanzorchester Wenn ich einmal reich wär / Shmuel Rodensky Comme Un Garçon / Sylvie Vartan A Banda / Los Paraguayos Arrivederci, Hans / Rita Pavone Le Temps De Fleurs / Dalida Azzurro / Vico Torriani Medley / Mantovani- True Love- Moulin Rouge- Around The World Side B Guantanamera / The Sandpipers Les Ballons / Richard Anthony Baby, It's Cold Outside / Nina & Frederik Pata Pata / Miriam Makeba Blowin' In The Wind / The Hollies I Close My Eyes / Dusty Springfield Mame / Ray Conniff Es geht eine Träne auf Reisen / Adamo Hinter den Kulissen von Paris / Mireille Mathieu Telstar / SFB-Tanzorchester

Broadcast: Tuesday 25 March 1969, 6.40-7.10pm, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 30 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Folklore bunt gemischt = Folklore mixed colors
Aired in colour.
The guests were: Die Anderen, The Hep Stars, Belina, Knut Kiesewetter, Don Paulin, Eva Vargas, Roger Whittaker. Director: Klaus Christian Wiebelitz.
Click here for a TV news listing
Click here for another TV news listing

Location: Germany Broadcast: Monday 14 April 1969, 5.35-6.05pm, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 30 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde = Our little show - music at the blue hour
Unsere kleine Show was a 30 minute long, 2-week TV series (Ein musikalisches Mosaik - as the TV guide listed), run on Mondays on channel ZDF from 6 January 1969 to 29 September 1973 with German and international stars.
Episode 7
Credited cast:Roy BlackPeggy BrownThe Five DopsGunther R. Eggert BallettRoy EtzelAndy FisherGiorgio GaberMax GregerPete JacquesBrigitt PetryThe Hootenanny SingersUwe SpierClick here for a TV listing from de Stem - 14 April 1969, p.5

Filmed: May 1969 Location: Öjebyn, Norrland (in the north of Sweden) Broadcast: Sunday 18 May 1969, SVT1 7.15-7.50pm
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Önskeprogrammet = The Wishing TV Show
Frida was one of the artists taking part in this show made for the Radiohjälpen (a organization collecting money for various aid organizations).
The artists, including Marianne Kock and Tommy Körberg, performed at different companies that had donated money for Radiohjälpen.
Frida performed from an ice-cream factory in Öjebyn. What did she perform?
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet -16 May 1969, p.23 (listing the following two days' TV).

Filmed: May 1969 Broadcast: Friday 23 May 1969, SVT1, 5.55-6.25pm
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Jonnys hörna = Jonny's Corner.
Agnetha was the guest performer in this final episode of the sports show Jonnys hörna.
The programme was directed by Egon Johnson.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 23 May 1969, p.31.

Filmed: Sunday 4 May 1969 & Saturday 10 May 1969 Location: Kalmar, Sweden and Dragör, Denmark Broadcast: Saturday 16 August 1969 from 7.15pm-8.15pm and Diggiloo - October 2003
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 57 mins (whole programme); 22 mins A & B parts
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Both Agnetha and Björn performed various songs for this series of programmes produced by Kåge Gimtell. All the songs were composed by Jules Sylvain (real name Axel Stig Hansson) who had died the previous October (1968). Agnetha and Björn met on the set of Titta in i min lilla kajuta.
The performances were (in the following order): Titta in i min lilla kajuta (Visit my little cabin) - Björn (featuring Agnetha in the clip) Anna Du kan väl stanna (Anna, you can stay) - Sten Nilsson (featuring Agnetha in the clip) Nu ska vi opp, opp, opp (Now let's go up, up, up) - AgnethaFlmed at F 12 Swedish Air Force wing, Kalmar, Sweden Vårkänslor (ja, de' ä våren) (Spring feelings (Yes, Spring is here)) - Björn, Agnetha, Sten Nilsson and Agnetha Munther Det kommer en vår (There'll be a Spring) - Agnetha Det är den stora, stora, stora, stora kärleken (It's the big, big, big, big love)- Sten Nilsson (featuring both Agnetha & Björn in the clip) Nu ska vi vara snälla (Now we must be nice) - Björn and Agnetha Beate-Christine - Björn Tango-kavalieren (May I be your tango partner?) - Björn Jag vet ett litet hotell (I know a small hotel) - Agnetha Munther (featuring Björn in the clip) Finns det flickor (Are there girls?) - Björn and Sten Nilsson filmed at Dragör, Denmark En Stilla Flirt (A secret flirt) - Agnetha and Sten NilssonFilmed on Saturday 10 May 1969 near Kalmar slott (Kalmar Castle). ABBA fan Daniel's father is one of the two pilots seen taking off at the end of Nu ska vi opp, opp, opp.
Click here for a TV listings magazine cover from Röster i Radio - TV - 16-22 August 1969
Click here for a TV cutting from Röster i Radio - TV - 16-22 August 1969
Click here for another TV cutting from Röster i Radio - TV - 16-22 August 1969
Click here for a newspaper cutting (unknown source)

Filmed: Sunday 4 May 1969 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 4 May 1969, 19:15-19:50, LIVE, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Björn appeared in this programme, hosted by Hagge Geigert, singing his current single Saknar du något min kära (his Swedish version of Peter Sarstedt’s UK number one Where Do You Go To My Lovely?)

Filmed: June 1969 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 20 June 1969, 19.15-20.15, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hosted by Lasse Holmqvist, The Hep Stars performed their current single, Speleman (Musician).
It was the second time they had performed the song on TV but it's unknown what programme they first performed it on.

Filmed: Tuesday 8 July 1969 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Monday 18 August 1969, 7.35-8.00pm, SVT1, Sweden and 11 October 1969, 14:30-14:55, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 25 mins (Full programme running time: 24:53)
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Hep Stars Sån't som slog = Hep Stars Things That Were Hits
The Hep Stars featuring Benny, Svenne & Lotta on this show where they covered some songs and performed a medley of their own.
Benny was briefly interviewed at the end of the programme but came across as fairly miserable.
In the TV listings, this was referred to as the last TV appearance by The Hep Stars and some of the songs listed as being performed were: Farmer John, Cadillac, Lilla Sofie, Malaika and Sunny Girl. In fact, as the Medley clip shows, the only Hep Stars' songs in the Medley were Cadillac, Farmer John, Bald-Headed Woman, No Response, Sunny Girl, Wedding, Malaika, Mot okänt land, Sagan om lilla Sofie and Let It Be Me.
Amongst the songs covered were Speedy Gonzales and Reach Out (I'll Be There) with a hint of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Proud Mary and The Beatles' Get Back and Martha My Dear (in the form of a Swedish version entitled Lotta min vän (Lotta my friend).
The show was hosted by Urban von Rosen, and produced by Peter Goldman. One of the credits shows involvement by Magnus Härenstam (presumably the same guy who played the teacher from When I Kissed The Teacher and Frida's co-star in Jokerfejs - Härenstams Blandning).
Most of the performances concentrated heavily on Svenne and Lotta - Benny was just the keyboard player in the background! It also looks like there was a new guitarist.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 18 August 1969, p.25
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 11 October 1969, p.31.

Filmed: Thursday 31 July 1969 Broadcast: Thursday 31 July 1969, LIVE, probably SFB, (East?) Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Leben in Schweden = Living in Sweden
There was a live broadcast from Sweden to German TV entitled Leben in Schweden, in which Agnetha appeared. There were two broadcasts - 30 and 31 July - and Agnetha was scheduled to appear in the 31 July broadcast. This was reported in Expressen on 18 June 1969 and in Aftonbladet on 30 July 1969.
Agnetha sang Das Fest der Pompadour.
There are, however, no references to this programme in the TV guides.

Location: Oslo, Norway Broadcast: Friday 8 August 1969, 19:35-20:05, NRK, Norway
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:I Marginalen = In the margin.
Lars Johanssen was the host of this show. Kåge Gimtell was the producer of the series.
Apart from the usual Harry Arnolds Orchestra, Marianne Wesén and Jarl Borssén, Frida and Claes-Göran Hederström took part in this final episode of I marginalen as detailed in this magazine cutting (the source of the cutting is unknown).
The pictures above are not necessarily from the TV broadcast. You may find larger versions of the pictures here:
I Marginalen - picture 1
I Marginalen - picture 2
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 8 August 1969, p.19.

Filmed: November 1969 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 15 November 1969, 18.25-18.55, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Rita, gissa, spring = Draw, guess, run
The Hootenanny Singers appeared (probably as performers rather than contestants) on this game show.

Filmed: November 1969
Release status: This was released on DVD on 28th September 2004
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Not a visual appearance, but an audio one ...
Björn and Benny's most famous involvement with a musical score was for a Swedish soft-porn movie from 1970, a.k.a. Inga II (although this was only a working title and changed before its official release). For this they wrote Inga Theme which was released as the B-side to their first single She's My Kind Of Girl. Their names appear in the opening credits over a shot of young Inga getting undressed!
Inga Theme can be heard during the trailer for the flm - see VIDEO section.
The plot was predictably wafer-thin; a young woman is tired of her daily routine and the lack of excitement in her life so she decides to become a call girl. She wanders from man to man and suddenly discovers the true meaning of her former life. It's one of the most boring films I've ever seen!
Inga II is available in the US and Canada only (NTSC format) and was directed by Joseph W Sarno. Marie Liljedahl starred as Inga. Note that this is NOT the film called Inga so save your pennies!
The film is known by different names in various regions. In the USA, where it is available on video, it's known as The Seduction of Inga. The Swedish title is Någon Att Älska (Somebody To Love). In The Netherlands, it's known as Inga Doet Wat Zij Niet Laten Kan (Inga Does All The Things She Can't Resist). It's also been known as Inga & Greta In Their Teenage Years. Inga II which it is sometimes known as was just a working title.
The music in the film is credited to Björn & Benny, with extra music from Peter Himmelstrand (who worked with Agnetha on her early recordings) and Sven-Olof Walldoff (who conducted the orchestra for ABBA's Eurovision win in 1974).
The incidental music throughout the film was written by Benny, Björn and Peter Himmelstrand and is mainly swirling strings. Occasionally, the main Inga Theme appears as well as an early instrumental of Någonting Är På Väg (Something's On The Way) from Björn and Benny's Lycka album, most notably in the nightclub scenes (which were incidentally filmed at Alexandra's disco, later used as a location by ABBA as well).
One song easily recognisable is She's My Kind Of Girl, as sung by Björm amd Benny, but MIMED by Tommy Blom - the male lead in the film. He was the heart-throb lead singer of the pop group Tages who were The Hep Stars' main competition in Sweden in the 1960s.
Filming started in November 1969 and lasted just over a month.
There are actually three different versions of Inga Theme that are featured:- The usual version. A version with a completely different vocal take and partly different orchestration. The phrasing of Inga is different and more clipped than in the released version and there is some keyboard jamming featured as well. An instrumental version on piano that is never played in full, but clips of which occur at various points throughout the film. It's suspected that the version of She's My Kind Of Girl in the film is not the same one released on record. In the one heard in the film, the vocals appear slightly different. You also hear one of the characters playing the guitar in the background and humming along to the tune of She's My Kind Of Girl.
There are also some other stray pieces of instrumental music - probably the songs that Peter Himmelstrand and Sven-Olof wrote. One of these instrumental pieces that is definitely written by Peter is a piano instrumental (played by Benny?) of what would later become Frida's Barnen sover.
Other songs played in the film: Greta's theme, Crash, It's You or Nothing, Vem kan segla (Who can say?), Barnen Sover (Love is always Young). These title are tkan off the Lycka sheet music folio!).
Peter Himmelstrand died in March 1999. Peter co-wrote the book "The Lovers Who Conquered The World" with Harry Edgington. Peter also co-wrote some of Frida's early music.
One of these unknown recurring pieces actually has some male backing vocals that sound rather like Björn and Benny. Could this be a long-lost Andersson/Ulvaeus composition that was used for the film?
NB. One of the bonus items on the DVD release is a complete promo clip for Inga Theme, which we assume to be a specially-made compilation of various scenes from the Inga films.
There is also an interview with the producer of the film, Vernon Becker, where he talks about the music for the film. He says that he contacted Stig Anderson with a view to obtaining some 'older rock' recordings from his back catalogue, but that Stig instead recommended that Björn & Benny could write the film soundtrack. After this his story gets a little confused, as he says that it was at this time that Stig was 'putting ABBA together', that the songs for Inga were the first that ABBA recorded together, and how the foursome of "Astrid, Björn, Benny and Anni" later went on to become one of the world's most successful groups!
The film was released on 21st February 1971 in Sweden and January 1976 in Finland and was released on DVD on 28th September 2004.

Filmed: Thursday 20 November 1969 Location: Lisebergsteatern, Gothenberg, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 11 April 1970, 20:30-21:10, SVT1, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 29:42
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Frida performed in Charlie Norman's show and was filmed performing (Frida performances are in bold): Charlie Norman at the piano Lilla Frun with Mona Thelmée Charlie Norman sings with Lennie Norman Spara och slösa (Love & Marriage) with Mona Thelmée Charlie Norman at the piano Hasse Burman Mona Thelmée Bäbi läv (Baby Love) Minns oss- Frida and the rest of the artists on the show Other participants in the shows were Hasse Burman and Lennie Norman. See here for a magazine article about the Charlie Norman show including a couple of pictures of Frida (sorry but the quality is not good enough to see the text).
(NB. The clips broadcast on Essential Stockholm (VHS only) state that these clips are from 1969, yet the Frida Box Set information states they are from 1970. I am going with the official product's year of 1970.)
The whole Charlie Norman Show was released on the SVT Open Archive but has since been removed.
This cutting indicates that the programme was also broadcast on 27 December 1970 but there are no such TV listings for it on that day.
Click here for a TV listing from Arbeiderbladet - 11 April 1970, p.15.
Segments of Spara och slösa were broadcast on Diggiloo in early 2000s, while Bäbi läv was included in the Frida Box Set released on 5 December 2005. The other clips have not been included on any officially released video or DVD.

Filmed: December 1969 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 25 December 1969, 21.55-23.20, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Juldagsträffen = Christmas Hit
Hosted by Lasse Holmqvist, The Hootenanny Singers were guests along with Anita Wall, Sigge Fürst, Suzanne Brenning, Claes Jakobsson and Gunnar Dahmén.
Given that it was hosted by Lasse Holmqvist it was most likely a Malmö production and probaby pre-recorded (guessing December 1969).
Click here for a TV guide from Arbeiderbladet - 24 December 1969, p.21.

Location: Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 27 December 1969, 7.40pm, SVT, Sweden**
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Det rör sig kring Svante = There are things going on with Svante
Frida was one of the singers who took part in this music show.
Svante, as mentioned in the title, was Svante Thuresson, a well-known Swedish jazz singer (the only male in the above picture). Anna Sundqvist (dressed in white in picture) and Lena Hansson (dressed in black) took part in this show as well.
You might be able to see clearer versions of the pictures here:
Picture 1
Picture 2
The show was produced by Monica Eek.
** There is some doubt to the date, time and channel of this entry. There is no reference in TV guides.
Any idea what songs she performed?

Filmed: Early March 1970 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 8 March 1970, 20:30-21:00, SVT1, Sweden
Release status: These three performances were included in the Frida Box Set released on 5 December 2005
Duration: 21:28 whole programme; Frida songs 5:53
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:This was a jazz entertainment show from Malmö. It was a television show for the illness MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and dedicated to the charity fund ’Radiohjälpen’ in aid of MS patients and MS research.
The host was Harry Arnold and the running order of the show were:-
Danska Radions Big Band directed by Harry Arnold - opening scene
Frida - Just One Of Those Things, Mad About The Boy
Carli Tornehave - Chicago, I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Frida - My Man
Danska Radions Big Band- closing scene
The progarmme was available on the SVT Open Archive but has since been removed.

Filmed: Summer 1970 Location: Sweden, presumably Broadcast: Wednesday 21 & 28 October and 4 & 11 November 1970
Release status: See below
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:När stenkakan slog = When The Stone Cake Was a Hit OR Remember the good old 78s? (makes more sense in English but is not an accurate translation of the title). Other suggested titles would be When The 78 Played or When The 78s Were Hits.
'Stenkaka' was an old term for shellac records and the theme of the programme had something to do with evergreens from the 20s or 30s.
The idea of this series was for current popular singers to perform songs from 1915-1955 with each of the four programmes focussing on a certain time period within those years. Frida took part in all four programmes along with Björn Skifs, Mona Wessman, Svenne & Lotta and Sten Nilsson. Frida did not appear on screen in any clips with Svenne & Lotta however.
The clips featured in the VIDEO section feature JUST the Frida bits - not the whole programmes.
Programme 1 of 4 included Frida featured or performing songs from 1915-1925
Broadcast: Wednesday 21 October 1970
Oh Dolly - Sten Nilsson (featuring Frida in a non-singing capacity )
I min blommiga blå krinolin (In My Flowered Blue Crinoline) **
Gula paviljongen (Yellow Pavilion) - Sten Nilsson (featuring Frida, Björn Skifs and Mona Wessman in non-singing capacity)
Programme 2 of 4 including Frida featured songs from 1925-1935
Broadcast: Wednesday 28 October 1970
Då kommer jag igen (Flygarelåten) (this is a medley of five short songs performed by different singers, including Frida in the second segment for Da kommer jag igen). The other images to the song show the other singers featured in the medley (including Björn Skifs and Svenne & Lotta).
Söderhavets sång (Song of the Southern Sea) **
Programme 3 of 4 including Frida featured songs from 1935-1945
Broadcast: Wednesday 4 November 1970
Kalle på spången (Kalle on the Plank) ** (with Björn Skifs, Mona Wessman and Sten Nilsson)
Min soldat (My Soldier) **
Flickorna i Småland (The girls in Småland) - Sten Nilsson & Björn Skifs (featuring Frida and Mona Wessman in the background!)
Programme 4 of 4 including Frida featured songs from 1945-1955
Broadcast: Wednesday 11 November 1970
Att älska i vårens tid (To Love in the Springtime) **
Ole Lukköje - featuring a baby (too young at the time to be Frida's own daughter Lotta)
Vad gör det att vi skiljs för i afton (What Does It Matter that we're breaking up tonight?)
I originally was advised this was a series of ten but there is nothing to indicate that a 10-part series was produced. There is nothing in the TV listings after 11 November episode - and it would be surprising if there would have been a budget to produce such a long series at that time.
Songs above marked ** were included in the Frida Box Set released on 5 December 2005.
SVT released this programme in its Open Archive but it is no longer available.

Filmed: October 1970 Location: Sweden Broadcast: 17 / 24 October 1970
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:I stället för Tarzan = Instead of Tarzan
Benny and Björn appeared on an episode of this programme separately from I stället för Tarzan as per the pictures above - which may or may not be from the actual performance. They might be studio pictures and not what was seen on screen.
It's not known what song they were performing in the pictures.

Filmed: Wednesday 21 October 1970 Location: Studio 8, Radio och tv-huset, Baltzarsgatan 16, Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 13 December 1970, 9.30-9.35pm, SVT1, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: c. 4 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Still billed as "Festfolket", this was the future ABBA's first TV appearance together, produced by Kåge Glimtell.
The two couples enter the studio saloon by pushing through the saloon swing-doors after a western-style introduction by Jan "Tollarparen" Eriksson on the piano (the man with the cigar) - and his orchestra.
Then they perform California, Here I Come. The clip lasts not much longer than a minute and they are singing live in English. You can especially hear Benny's voice during the harmonies.
Then Gunnar 'Siljabloo Nilsson', a well-known Swedish jazz-singer in the 1960s, enters singing Red Roses for a Blue Lady surrounded by Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid who join in the chorus. Then they do a little acting - Agnetha and Frida become 'enchanted' by Gunnar's charms and when Björn taps on Agnetha's shoulder, he gets an elbow in return! Agnetha then pretends to be shy by putting one of her bunches (hair) in her mouth! This has not been broadcast since the original air date.
The clip of California, Here I Come was also broadcast in 2003 on the Swedish TV programme Digiloo and was included on the DVD ABBA Super Troupers released in 2004.

Watch for: Agnetha - her performance is fun, carefree, enthusiastic and unreserved - especially the final couple of notes.Also when she puts her hair in her mouth!

Filmed: Saturday 31 October 1970 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 31st October 1970, SVT Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:I stället för Tarzan = Instead of Tarzan
Björn, Benny Agnetha and Anni-Frid appeared together on this show.
I have information that they may have performed Hej Gamle Man but this is not backed up by archive information so it may not be correct/true.
The archive contains just a short film that was part of the broadcast. It's only 12 minutes in length and according to the archive list it doesn't contain any contribution from the ABBA members.
Therefore this entry needs clarifying somehow.
Benny and Björn appeared on another episode

Filmed: 1971 (guessing from Frida's hair!) Location: Sweden (guess) Broadcast: November (?) 1971
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden (guess)
Notes:I have been sent this wonderful picture (above) of Frida which looks like it's from a TV show - and judging by her hair it's from late 1971.
In autumn 1971 Frida was contracted to the variety show Mina favoriter with other artistes, including Lasse Berghagen.
Frida performed three songs in the show. One of them was Who turns off the moon a duet with Lasse Berghagen. The première of the show took place in Stockholm on 22 October 1971. Anyone have any info? Is this photo from Mina Favoriter?
OR
Could this in fact be Åpent hus?

Filmed: January 1971 Location: Stockholm (presumably), Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 31 January 1971
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Länspumpen = The Bilge Pump
Björn, Benny and Bert-Åke Varg (Agnetha’s 1970 touring partner) were the artists in this episode of the game show.

Filmed: Thursday 28 January 1971 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 28 January 1971
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Björn appeared on this programme with The Hootenanny Singers.
No further information.

Filmed: Saturday 20 February 1971 Location: Palacio de Congresos, Torremolinos, Spain Broadcast: Sunday 21 February 1971, 20:45-21:30pm, RTVE1, Spain
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 45 mins
Shown in: Spain
Notes:IV Festival de Málaga Costa del Sol took place on February 24th and 25th at the Palacio de Congresos in Torremolinos.
The winner was, If you hold my hand sung by Donna Hightower, with a prize of 210.000 pesetas.(1,262€), second prize for Argentina with the song Javier y Paloma, sung by Jairo, with a prize of 140.000 pesetas. The third prize was for Spain with the song Tu caminar, sung by Mustang with a prize of 70.000 pesetas.The orchestra was conducted by Ivor Raymond and the hosts of the show were Marisa Medina and José Luis Uribarri. (The later hoster for well known Spanish music show Aplauso).
19 countries participated on this festival. Björn and Benny performed Livet går sin gång and they came 6th. All participants were able to "use" an orchestra that was 35 players strong, but Björn and Benny were the only ones to perform with just a piano and guitar.
They enjoyed the beach and rode a horse whilst in Torremolinos according to this magazine cutting.
Songs performed:
Al Llegar la primavera - ? (Italy)
Canta en Español - Claudine Longet (Spain)
Cerrando los ojos - ? (Spain)
If you hold my hands - Donna Hightower (USA)
Javier y Paloma - Jairo (Argentina)
Jesus’ holy feet - Paul Muggleton (Bermuda Island)
Juntos - ? (The Netherlands)
Livet går sin gång -Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Sweden)
Tu caminar - Mustang (Spain)
What will be with us - ? (Yugoslavia)
? - ? (Turkey)
? - ? (UK)
? - ? (Ireland)
Plus 6 more countries…
The TV broadcast itself was 45 minutes long and there was a 1:44 long newsreel about the event on Revista Cinematografica Española but Benny and Björn were not shown. Footage is available here (first item in the reportage).
Click here for a TV listing
Click here for newspaper cutting.

Filmed: Sunday 30 May 1971 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Sunday 30 May 1971, SVT, Sweden - LIVE
Release status: This show has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Programme was 1 hour 23 minutes. Hootenanny Singers performance was 3 1/2 minutes.
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Länspumpen translates as "The Bilge Pump"!
The Hootenanny Singers (down to three members at this point without Johan Karlberg), performed Aldrig mer (Never Again) a version of José Feliciano's Que Sera on this quiz show where the teams were from different counties/regions of Sweden.
Watch for: Björn singing wrong lyrics (at 2.19 on the YouTube link)

Filmed: late 1971 - early 1972 Location: Sweden Broadcast: 13 January 1972, 20:00-20:30, TV1, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Fiol, gitarr, sång och vågskvalp: från sommarens folkvisefest i Västervik = Fiol, guitar, song and wave puppies: from the summer folk festival in Västervik
Can anyone provide a more sensible translation please?! There is a reference in the Swedish media database listing an appearance by The Hootenanny Singers.

Filmed: June 1971 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Friday 25 June 1971, SR, TV1, Sweden (17.00-17.55)
Release status: The clip of Gitarzan is included in the Frida Box Set released on 5 December 2005
Duration: 54 minutes (whole programme)
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Den stora utflykten eller Vem har snott midsommarkransen? = The Big Outing or Who has woven the Midsummer wreath? (As is the case with so many of these programme titles, there is a pun here. “Snott” could indeed mean “woven” but it’s also slang for “stolen”. So there is an intended pun here).
This bizarre mid-summer show stars Frida, Lasse (Lars) Berghagen, Svenne Hedlund (from The Hep Stars) and Finn Alberth in equal measure. The first we see of Frida is her and Lasse Berghagen taking a phone call, packing a back, jumping in a sack and then cycling off to an island somewhere.
The first song of the programme appears to be each of them in turn singing about their favourite (or the best?) part of a human body! Frida sings in favour of "the finger" - Länge leve fingret! (Long Live the Finger!)
She sings two duets with Lasse Berghagen - Vi vet allt men nästan inget (We Know Everything But Almost Nothing) and En kväll om sommaren (An Evening in the Summer).
There is a black and white feature about a pair of little children and a rag doll - I don't understand what that's about but it seems quite sinister.
Frida also walks into the forest with a little girl and sings De’ e’ någe’ visst me’ de’ (There’s A Certain Something About That), a song that was also recorded by The Hootenanny Singers in 1972. The song was written for the film Rasmus and the Vagabond (Luffaren och Rasmus, 1955) based on Astrid Lindgren's book. The clip could be seen as a homage to the movie. The film is about an orphan boy who becomes friend with a hobo, and this song is sung by the both of them as they walk along a country road and possibly in a forest and the lyrics are about appreciating the things that they see in the nature.
Also featured was a bizarre clip of Svenne Hedlund singing and then the camera goes to Frida, Finn Alberth and Lasse Berghagen dressed as Tarzan and Jane singing Gitarzan.
A reprise of the four (Frida, Lars, Svenne Hedlund and Finn Alberth) singing En kväll om sommaren takes place at the end of the show.
Click here for TV listing information.
The whole programme was made available on SVT Open Archive for a while but has been removed.
The video links here are: the whole programme the Frida bits only!

Filmed: late 1971 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Friday 3 December 1971
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Halvsju = Half Past Six
This was a report on "how to make a record". It was Björn and Benny mainly talking about what it means to produce a record, in particular in relation to Ted.

The clip was also included as part of a Swedish commercial from a company called "BRAVO Film och Reklam" and included in the 1997 TV special Ted- Till Minne av en Popartist.
Further clips (no pictures here) were included in another programme about Ted Gärdestad called Kalla fakta, broadcast on TV4 in 1999.

Filmed: late September/early October 1971 Location: Malmö, Sweden Broadcast: See below
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 35 minutes
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Den vackraste visan = The Most Beautiful Show
The Hootenanny Singers and Benny Andersson performed songs from the recent Hootenanny Singers album, Våra vackraste visor (Our Most Beautiful Songs), which was produced by Benny: Tess lördan Rosen och fjärilen Aftontankar vid Fridas ruta Hjärtats saga En valsmelodi Den vackraste visan Lilla vackra Anna. Benny played the accordion, among other instruments.
In between the songs, actor Olof Widgren read a number of reflections, written by Åke Arenhill.
This was a Malmö production by Kåge Gimtell and was filmed in southern Sweden in various outdoor environments.
Broadcast information:
Friday 3 December 1971, 20:30-21:05, TV 2, Sweden
Sunday 26 December 1971, 17:00-17:35, TV 2, Sweden

Filmed: Tuesday 15 June 1971 Location: Bollnästorget (Skansen), Sollidenbacken, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 25 June 1971, STV2, Sweden
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Gammeldans från Bollnästorget = Old-time dancing from Bollnäs Square
Björn and Benny took part in this show. SVT2 broadcast from various areas of Skansken throughout the whole evening.
They also filmed Midsommardans från Solliden on the same day but this time with Agnetha.
NOTE: Some confusion has arisen in that the broadcast date of 25 June 1971 might have been a live broadcast - in that case, perhaps the filming date is incorrect and that Midsommardans från Sollidenwas not actually filmed on the same day.

Filmed: Tuesday 15 June 1971 Location: Solliden (stage), Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 25 June 1971, TV2, Sweden
Release status: This show has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Midsommardans från Solliden = Mid-summer dance from Solliden
Agnetha, Björn and Benny appeared on this programme hosted by Leonard Eek (who went on to produce Made In Sweden For Export in 1975 and ABBA-dabba-dooo!! in 1976).

Agnetha sang at least two tracks including Kungens vaktparad and Jag vill att du skall bli lycklig both from her (then) forthcoming album När en vacker tanke blir en sång.
Note: Gallery picture 1 may not be "as per the broadcast" but just a picture taken of them at the venue. The second gallery picture shows producer Bosse Larsson (on the left) and Leonard Eek (the host) between Agnetha and Björn.
They also filmed Gammeldans från Bollnästorget on the same day but this time without Agnetha.
Click here for a cutting from The Australian Women's Weekly - 13 October 1976, p.25

Filmed: Monday 12 July 1971 Location: Västervik, Sweden Broadcast: 14 July 1971, TV2, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 11 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:According to the Svensk mediedatabas here, the Hootenanny Singers appeared on this programme. They did their one and only performance of the summer in Västervik at the annual Visfestivalen.
In its first two years, the Visfestivalen was organized by Mageliso Club, a group of high school students in Västervik. In 1968 they were succeeded by Hansi Schwarz, then a member of The Hootenanny Singers, and Lars "Frozen" Frosterud. The latter remained an organizer until 1977, after which Hansi Schwarz was the sole organizer (from 1978 to the year before his death in 2013).
The Rapport item was a report from the festival and the Hootenanny Singers performance was seen very briefly.

Filmed: Saturday 21 August 1971 Location: Oslo, Norway Broadcast: Saturday 21 August 1971, LIVE, 21.45-22.45, TV 2, Norway
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden, Norway, Finland & Denmark
Notes:Åpent hus = Open House
Frida and Lars Berghagen appeared on this programme hosted by Claes af Geijerstam which was a Nordvision programme, the Nordic equivalent of Eurovision: in other words it was broadcast in some or all of the Nordic countries.
Could this programme be this Unknown Programme?
This programme has not een saved in the NRK archives.

Filmed: Saturday 4 September 1971 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 4 September 1971, LIVE, 22:20, TV 2, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Öppet hus = Open House
Hosted by Claes af Geijerstam, this programme is billed with a Swedish title, so it's assumed this was broadcast from Sweden, but was the same concept as Åpent hus.

Location: Sweden Broadcast: Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Apparently, ABBA appeared on this show performing Santa Rosa and He Is Your Brother.
I have no more information on this whatsoever - do you?

Filmed: January 1972 Location: Finland Broadcast: 25 January 1972, Finland & 18 February 1972, SR, TV1, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Tv-Nytt = TV News
A clip from the audition for Jesus Christ Superstar where Agnetha was said to be the "strongest alternative for the role."
Agnetha says, "No, I haven't seen the Danish version of it, but I'll go to Copenhagen tonight to see it." She was then asked what she knew about the role and replied, "I know almost nothing. It's just that I'm very interested in the role as Mary Magdalene.

Filmed: February 1972 Location: Gothenberg, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 12 February 1972, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Landet runt = Around The Land
Landet Runt was a news report programme - a weekend programme that gave a summary of all local news.
Footage of Agnetha rehearsing for the the Stockholm production of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar in which she played the role of Mary Magdalene. She is seen singing Vart skall min kärlek (I Don't Know How To Love Him).

Filmed: February 1972 Location: Gothenberg, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Footage of Agnetha appearing in the Stockholm production of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar in which she played the role of Mary Magdalene. Here she sings, Vart ska min karlek fora (I Don't Know How To Love Him).

Filmed: 10 March 1972 Location: Sweden Broadcast: SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The Hootenanny Singers (down to three members at this point) performed with Benny on piano.
Does anyone know what song(s) they performed?

Filmed: Sunday 30 April 1972 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: LIVE - 30 April 1972 at 19.10pm, SVT1
Release status: This clip has been released on the Ring Ring Deluxe Edition (2013)
Duration: 3 minutes
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Vi i femman = We in fifth grade
Vi i femman is a programme which started in 1963 on Swedish Radio (from 1970 on Swedish Television) for the Fifth Grade school children groups.
This was their first performance as Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid (pre-ABBA remember!) on this children's quiz show.
They performed People Need Love to playback.
A snippet of this performance was included in the officially released Super Troupers DVD (2004).

Filmed: early June 1972 Location: Germany Broadcast: 12 June 1972, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe = The turntable.
Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine of ZDF run from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 and contained 5,146 Episodes. The show dealt with topical issues, from politics, culture, business and society and also regional news and other countries and music.
Agnetha performed Geh' Mit Gott a German language version of the Ennio Morricone/Joan Baez vocal theme to the film Sacco & Vanzetti. The single was released in April 1972 in Germany.

Filmed: Saturday 15 July 1972 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Gröna Nöjet = Green Pleasure
The four future ABBA members appeared together on this summer show.

Filmed: 1 August 1972 (or 1 July?) Location: Möllegården in Östarp, Skåne, Sweden Broadcast: SVT2, 7.30pm, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Gammeldans = Old Time Dancing
Agnetha appeared in this programme which was was the first out of six episodes.
The gallery photo (which may or may not be from the actual broadcast) features Agnetha with Sten Nilsson and Annika Risberg as found in ABBA - The Scrapbook by Jean-Marie Potiez.
Sten Nilsson also took part (he had previously taken part in På Turné in 1968 with Agnetha; Räkna det lyckliga stunderna in 1969 with Agnetha and Björn and Melodifestivalen in 1969 with Frida. In 1997 he was involved in the Swedish Grammis attended by Benny and Björn.

Filmed: Friday 17 November 1972 Location: Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan Broadcast: Saturday 18 November 1972, NHK, Japan
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Japan
Notes:World Popular Song Festival, also known as the Yahama Music Festival, or unofficially as the Oriental Eurovision, was an international song contest held from 1970 until 1989. Benny, Björn, Agnetha & Anni-Frid performed Santa Rosa in the 3rd World Popular Song Festival with the theme "Clap Your Hands".
They performed in the preliminary round only on 17 November 1972 and did not make it to the final. They did get a commemorative medal from the event however.
The programme was aired on NHK, but it has been confirmed that the footage up until 1981 was re-used apart from for special programmes at the time, so they have no footage of 1972 anymore in their library. Some film segments of the winners are available from later years and sometimes rebroadcast on NHK.
Their performance kicked off between 18:30 and 21:30. A second preliminary round took place on Saturday 18 November with the final on Sunday 19 November 1972 which was broadcast on NHK on 2 December 1972 from 16:00-17:30. Also, the competition was broadcast on radio (FEN) over the three days and on the radio (LF) on 19 November for the final.
The winning composer won 3,000 Dollars, a certificate of merit and a gold medallion. The winning singer won 500 Dollars, a certificate of merit and a gold medallion.
The audio of all the songs were taped by the organizer, Yamaha Music Foundation, and they released some compilation LPs. They also have two pictures in their archives of the ABBA appearance, one of them is known (see gallery).
Other notable participants in the 1972 World Popular Song Festival were Tony (Show Me The Way to Amarillo) Christie from the UK and John (You're The Voice) Farnham fom Australia.
The footage is not available in the NHK Video and Audio Archives.

Filmed: Saturday 25 November 1972 Location: Sweden Broadcast: Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The four future ABBA members all appeared on this family programme and apparently performed Åh Vilka Tider and maybe a second song (He Is Your Brother?) as a part of Barnhörnan (Kid's Corner).

Filmed: Between 1-4 January 1973 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Saturday 6 January 1973, 18.50-19.45, ZDF Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 52:16
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music programme that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, with each show running for 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Programme 24.
Still called "Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid", Frida's friend Inger Brundin stepped in for Agnetha as she was heavily pregnant and did not want to travel abroad in her condition.
Here they performed People Need Love. The presenter was Ilja Richter, as always, who joked around in between each guest appearance. Apparently every Disco show from 1973 till 1976 was filmed in Hamburg and then moved to Munich in February 1976.
According to the fanzine Intermezzo (issue no.19), this appearance was recorded before Christmas 1972 - yet the Swedish newspaper, Expressen, dated 16 December 1972 stated that they will be “doing TV for a couple of days in Hamburg in January”. However, Benny & Björn were writing Ring Ring on Viggsö on 6 January 1973. So if Expressen is correct and the broadcast date of 6 January is also accurate, then the recording must have taken place at some point during 1-4 January 1973.
This was part of a promotional tour of Austria (Spotlight), Netherlands (Popzien) and Belgium (Ziet u er wat in?) and Denmark (Television City and Sommerlørdag) in the first few months of 1973.
The running order of guests on the show was: George Baker Selection - I'm on my way Marianne Rosenberg - Jeder Weg hat mal ein Ende Peter Maffay - Angela Pegasus - Handy man Heino - Blau blüht der Enzian Gilbert O'Sullivan - Clair (clip from Top of the Pops) Amadeus August - Ich schenk dir meine Zärtlichkeit Björn, Benny, Agnetha, Anni-Frid - People Need Love Michael Schanze - Oh wie wohl ist mir This performance was also broadcast on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.
Watch for: The way Inger constantly avoids eye contact with the camera

Broadcast: Friday 9 February and 13 April 1973, Sweden
Release status: Unreleased
Duration: 25 minutes per programme
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Får vi lämna några blommor = May we leave some flowers?
The Hootenanny Singers, including Björn, performed on two episodes of this programme.
Polar label-mate, Lena Andersson, also appeared with them.
Får vi lämna några blommor is the name of a song recorded by The Hootenanny Singers.

Filmed: Saturday 10 February 1973 Location: TV-huset, Studio 1, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 10 February 1973
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:In the late 1960s and early 1970s the contest was called Melodifestival (Melody Festival) but these days it is more known as Melodifestivalen (The Melody Festival).
ABBA (as Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid) performed Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal) in this competition to find the Swedish entry for the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. They came third.
Their performance was filmed in the afternoon and broadcast in the evening.
They were announced as "Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog".
The host for the evening was Alicia Lundberg.
Frida revealed in an interview in 2007 that she had sewn the outfits for herself and Agnetha for this peformance. In fact Frida wore her yellow trouser suit again for Spotlight in Austria the following month.
A black and white photo from that night was used on the back cover of their Ring Ring album.
The transmission was taped but later erased by STV. One dedicated ABBA fan able to research the STV archives confirms, "I have even tried ALL the Scandinavian TV-companies... I have watched every programme from that particular day in the archives, just to make sure there isn't just a 5 sec clip somewhere!". It does not exist in Norwegian TV archives either. Perhaps it is still in the archives of Denmark or Finland?
A conflicting explanation from ABBA fan "TM" was that it was destroyed in a fire at the studios but I've not heard that backed up anywhere else.
Another theory is that there was public outrage when they didn't win which is why public voting was introduced in 1974. Therefore wouldn't it have been covered in a news broadcast where maybe a clip of ABBA was shown while the news presenter said how the public thought this was the best song? A good theory perhaps?
So unfortunately, no known VISUAL copy of this performance exists. But there is an audio clip of it - listen in the VIDEO section here.
UPDATE (INTERESTING INFORMATION): On Saturday 10 March 1973, at 20:10 a 50-minute programme was broadcast on TV 1 in Sweden. Entitled Nordiska EM-schlagers (Nordic EC schlagers; EC = European Championship), it featured the three most popular songs in the selection finals in three of the Nordic countries: Finland, Norway and Sweden; Denmark was not in the ESC that year. Naturally, ABBA’s performance of Ring Ring was included. Could this programme still be in the SVT archives? Might it also be in the Finnish and/or Norwegian TV archives who would have broadcast similar programmes as part of the Nordvision venture?
Click here for TV cutting from Aftonbladet from Saturday 10 March 1979.
Interesting points to note:- The winning song that went on to represent Sweden was Sommar'n Som Aldrig Säger Nej (The Summer That Never Says No) by Malta (renamed Nova & The Dolls for the Eurovision Song Contest) and ended up coming 5th. One half of the duo Malta was Claes af Geijerstam who was ABBA's sound engineer on the 1979 Tour and Frida's co-host for the 4 TV shows in 1981 Lite Grand i Örat.
Other familiar names taking part in the 1973 Melodifestivalen were:- Karin & Anders Glenmark (later Gemini) who came fourth with Glenmarks (which also included their Uncle Bruno Glenmark and his wife Ann-Louise Hanson) Ted Gärdestad Lill-Babs Mona Wessman who appeared in the film Åsa-Nisse och den stora Kalabaliken which also featured two songs by The Hep Stars Lasse Berghagen who came 7th with Ding Dong (and who was competing against his ex-wife Lill-Babs) and Peter Himmelstrand (later co-author of the Harry Edgington book ABBA The Lovers Who Conquered the World) who wrote the song which came in 9th place. A full list of those appearing is available in the table below. All of the contestants were pictured together here.
Click here to see the final finishing positions, songwriters and scores.

Filmed: Monday 12 - Sunday 18 March 1973 Location: Hamburg, Germany
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Germany
Notes:In an interview with Stig Anderson, dated 21 March 1973, he is quoted as saying, “Last week Abba were in Hamburg doing TV, and on Friday they will do the same in Vienna.”
We know about the Vienna visit ( Spotlight ) but here we have information that they were also supposed to visit Hamburg. Other earlier 1973 articles alluded to a Hamburg visit, but this article, based on a conversation with Stig, presents their Hamburg TV appearance as a fact. However, reporters can often get things wrong, and since the Hamburg reference here is not presented as an actual quote from Stig, it might be something that the reporter added of his own accord, based on previous information that “they are going to do TV in Hamburg”.
It wouldn’t have been 14, 15 or 16 March, as they were busy finishing the Ring Ring album on those dates.
So this is worth an inclusion here, especially if anyone can shed any light on it. This would be especially interesting if it was another TV appearance featuring Inger Brundin in place of Agnetha.

Filmed: Thursday 22 March 1973 or Friday 23 March 1973 Location: Vienna, Austria Broadcast: Sunday 27 May 1973, 17:05-17:55, ORF1, Austria
Release status: Ring Ring was released on the Ring Ring Deluxe Edition
Duration: 49:44 (whole programme); ABBA songs 7 minutes
Shown in: Austria
Notes:Spotlight was a monthly TV programme for teenagers on channel ORF 1 (Österreichischer Rundfunk), a co-production with Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG). This music series focussed on music with local and national live guests & videos in 50 minutes Episodes. From 1968 to 1978 hosted by popular bearded Austrian TV presenter Peter Rapp.
With Inger Brundin still standing in for Agnetha (who had given birth to Linda a month earlier), they performed (mimed to) People Need Love and Ring Ring, the latter being performed standing around a low rotating chandelier and was introduced Peter Rapp.
This was part of a promotional tour of Germany (Disco) Netherlands (Popzien), Belgium (Ziet u er wat in?) and Denmark (Television City and Sommerlørdag) in the first few months of 1973.
A segment of Ring Ring was repeated on 31 December 1973 in a review program of the year.
Some rehearsal footage of this Spotlight appearance was featured on Austria Wochenshau on 8 June 1973. In 2004 a DVD called Austria Wochenschau was released in Austria which included 24 seconds of ABBA footage during rehearsals (in black and white).
The performance of Ring Ring was released on the Ring Ring Deluxe Edition released on 14 October 2013.
Running order of this episode:- ABBA - People Need Love Barbara Stromberger - Beeil dich ABBA - Ring Ring Jimmy's Brass Band - jazz Barbara Stromberger - Ich nin Frei Slade - Gudbuy T'Jane (live promo) Gary Glitter - Rock'n Roll (promo) Family Tree - Day by Day Family Tree - Fly Captain Fly Family Tree - David, Maria Family Tree - This is a Song for You interview with the group Family Tree - Hey Love, Look at Me Click here for an alternative image showing Inger Brundin at the front of the shot next to Björn. This must have been from a dress rehearsal.
Click here for a TV listing cutting from Diet Tat - 25 May 1973.
Watch for: Frida, Benny and Björn all wore the same outfits that they wore for Melodifestivalen.Frida's glare at Björn (at 2:24 during Ring Ring)

Filmed: Mid-May 1973 Location: Zolder, Belgium Broadcast: 26 October 1973, BRT
Release status: This performance has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Belgium
Notes:Ziet u er wat in? = Do you see anything? Other translations for the programme title could be: Do you like it? / You think there's something to it? / Something interesting? / Do you see something in it?
Ziet u er wat in? was a weekly show, which began in 1968, in which a few programs from the upcoming week were announced with short trailers. It was broadcast by BRT (Belgian Radio & Television - now called VRT (Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie), the public broadcaster of Belgium (Flanders), Belgium.
This amazing clip emerged showing ABBA being filmed performing Ring Ring at an outside venue in Belgium - presumably for a TV programme.
In fact the ABBA clip was made for an episode of Tienerklanken (Teen Sounds) (30/11/1973) in which they questioned the youth's musical preferences. ABBA fan YVR emailed Belgian public broadcaster VRT about the clip who confirmed it was for Tienerklanken as a trailer for the following week. However, it would appear that for the actual programme they broadcast a clip of Suzi Quatro (or someone else) instead of ABBA!
We can therefore discount the theory/memory that this clip was for a programme called Slalom.
Furthermore, although the actual clip of the performance (not the filming of the filming!) was not broadcast, maybe this means the full performance is still in the archives waiting to be discovered?
The footage is dark and not great but better than nothing. Note that the cameraman was rather taken with Frida's rear and both ladies' tummys! If this was mid-May then that was excellent work from Agnetha who would have only given birth to Linda just three months earlier.
We know they they performed People Need Love and Ring Ring for a Belgian TV performance - which was probably this one (in the absence of any others).
This was probably the Belgian part of a promotional tour of Germany (Disco), Austria (Spotlight), Denmark (Television City and Sommerlørdag) and Netherlands (Popzien) in the first few months of 1973. Frida, Benny and Björn wore the same outfits as for Popzien.
This clip was discovered here c/o TV production company Cobra.

Filmed: June 1973 Location: Ørstedparken, Copenhagen, Denmark Broadcast: 20 June 1973, Denmark (but not shown until 1999)
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Denmark
Notes:Sommerlørdag = Summer Saturday
Sommerlørdag was a documentary and family magazine run on DR from 8 July 1972 to 1975.
This was part of a promotional tour of Germany (Disco), Austria (Spotlight), Belgium (Ziet u er wat in?), Netherlands (Popzien) and Denmark (this and Television City) in the first few months of 1973.
It featured a wonderful clip of Love isn't Easy (But it sure is hard enough), which wasn't broadcast until 1999.
Björn used to go jogging in that park when ABBA was in Copenhagen for concerts
Watch for: Frida and Agnetha punching Benny and Björn in the stomachs!

Filmed: Late August 1973 Location: Belgium Broadcast: Belgium
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Belgium
Notes:This comes from an article in a Norwegian magazine from December 1973: Based on the following text from an article in a Norwegian magazine from December 1973: “[The group were in Oslo.
They came from a TV show in Brussels and were to perform in Norway, before returning to Sweden to conclude a long folkpark tour[.

Filmed: Wednesday 6 June 1973 Location: Netherlands Broadcast: Friday 8 June 1973, 19:05-20:00, VARA TV, Netherlands
Release status: This performance has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Netherlands
Notes:Popzien = Pop Scene
Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid (not quite ABBA yet) performed Ring Ring to playback on this contemporary pop programme which ran from 3 June 1972 - 28 September 1973 for 19 episodes.
This clip has been erased from the archive and so is not available any more. The archive contains only 10 episodes from the series, and the ABBA episode (Episode 14) is not one of those. However, a Dutch TV documentary called Pop op TV 1960-1975, broadcast on 16 December 2009 included the two colour pictures above for the first time. The photos have now also been released in the book Pop op TV 1960-1975.
This was part of a promotional tour including Germany (Disco), Austria (Spotlight) and Belgium (Ziet u er wat in?) and Denmark (Sommerlørdag and Television City) in the first few months of 1973.
This was ABBA's debut in The Netherlands.
Other guests on the show were: Shaking Stevens & the Sunsets - Honey Honey (Yes! THE Shakin' Stevens in his early career) Shocking Blue - Oh Lord Paul Simon - Loves Me like a Rock Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers - Turn your Radio on Lynsey de Paul - All Night Smyle - Tandem The Buffoons - Arizona Barry Blue - Dancing on a Saturday Night Harvey Andrews & Graham Cooper - Friends of Mine Agnetha, Björn, Benny & Anni-Frid - Ring Ring Neil Christian - That's Nice The Cats - Let's Go Together Rudy Bennet - Wheel of Life Sutherland Brothers & Quivver - You Got me Anyway Singer songwriter Harvey Andrews wrote about meeting ABBA in his online blog on 24 November 2009:
Extract from my diary for July 6 1973
"To Amsterdam for the Dutch equivalent of Top of the Pops, called Popzein. We sang two songs.
Also on were a bizarrely dressed group from Scandinavia, who, just as recording began realised they had no guitar to mime with! We were singing live, so it was arranged that as soon as the cameras were off us I would dash across the studio and hand over my guitar to one of the two men backing the female vocalists.
We had seconds to do this, so when the cameras came to the group, he hadn’t got the strap over his shoulder, so he had to cling to my Gibson and pretend to play it with a dangly strap and a very restricted right hand! It was hilarious.
Later, we saw the group sitting outside a cafe by the side of a canal and they asked us to join them for a glass of wine. We noticed the two women were only allowed mineral water. The two men were very interesting, telling us they had their own studio, wrote their own songs, and expected to be millionaires within the year. They were so confident!
So I’m putting their name down in the diary tonight and we’ll see if we ever hear of them again - ABBA."
Listen to Harvey Andrews talk about his experience on a BBC Radio 2 show called Back on the Road broadcast 8 May 1996. It looks like Björn has a guitar strapped round his neck, not hanging loose by his knees as Harvey remembers.
(with huge thanks to David Calverley).
Click here for a TV listing from de Stem from 8 Jun 1973, page 21.
Watch for: Frida, Benny and Björn are wearing the same outfits that they did for Television City, while Agnetha is wearing her pink heart outfit

Filmed: Summer 1973 Location: The garden of TV-byen (TV-city), Copenhagen, Denmark Broadcast: 25 September 1999
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2:45
Shown in: Denmark
Notes:This was part of a promotional tour of Germany (Disco), Austria (Spotlight), Belgium (Ziet u er wat in?) and Denmark (this and Sommerlørdag) in the first few months of 1973.
ABBA performed Ring Ring. This is probably the first time that the "side-on-faces-shot" was used for any TV performance or PROMO - so maybe it wasn't thought up by Lasse Hallström after all!
The clip wasn't broadcast until 26 years later- in the 1999 on programme Temalørdag: ABBA, when Jørgen de Mylius and Tine Götzsche presented the story of ABBA, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band.
Watch for: Benny and Björn appearing sheepishly in the background behind the wicker chairs!

Filmed: Friday 31 August 1973 Location: Oslo, Norway Broadcast: Never broadcast (see below)
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Nowhere
Notes:THIS WAS NEVER SHOWN ON TV - ONLY INCLUDING HERE FOR INFORMATION AS IT *WAS* PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT IT WAS BROADCAST.
ABBA had their own concert (aprox. 30 minutes) at the Momarken-stage in Mysen, Norway, on Friday 31 August 1973. This was their only concert outside Sweden during their Folkpark Tour that summer.
Ring Ring (probably the original English version) was performed with all profits going to the Red Cross as always. They performed as "Agnetha, Benny, Björn and Anni-Frid".
According to Arild J. Bodahl, Director of Momarkedet/Red Cross, it was not shown on TV.
In fact, the televised program from Momarkedet in 1973 took place on 25 August 1973 (always the last Saturday of August) and featured the Chinese State Circus. There was no musical act on the TV show from Momarkedet in 1973.
To back this up, there is no record of the programme in the TV archives and a search of newspaper (VG) archieves for Friday 31 August 1973 does not include Momarkedet on that evening's TV listings - nor for the following night.
So it would seem this was not broadcast on TV at all - and probably not even filmed.
The above photos are from Momarkedet backstage before (with Knut Lee, the producer of the shows), during and after the event.

Filmed: ?
Shown in: Denmark
Notes:A cutting dated 30 December 1974, which seems to be based on a press release, stated that ABBA would appear in a major New Year's Eve show in Denmark, performing So Long and Honey Honey.
The probability is that they were performances bought from some other television channel. In fact it was Austria's Spotlight that was used - but only So Long was shown, probably because DR wanted to give equal time to each artist which meant one track each.
Sales support at DR Sales (Danish Broadcasting Corporation TV Archive) has confirmed it is not in their media archive and that in those days tapes were not saved or they were re-used for other programmes.

Filmed: Saturday 9 February 1974 Location: Studio 1, Tv-Huset, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 9 February 1974 - Sweden (see below)
Release status: See below
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:In the late 1960s and early 1970s the contest was called Melodifestival (Melody Festival) but these days it is more known as Melodifestivalen (The Melody Festival).
ABBA performed two LIVE performances of Waterloo (both in Swedish) - in first round and then for the winning performance. The programme was recorded earlier in the day and was not a LIVE broadcast.
The conductor was Sven-Olof Walldoff. The programme host was Johan Sandström.
Songs taking part were: Lena Ericsson - En enda jord ** Östen Warnerbring - En mysig vals Göran Fristorp - Jag minns dig nog Titti Sjöblom - Fröken Ur sång ABBA - Waterloo Lasse Berghagen - Min kärlekssång till dig Inger Öst - En grön dröm om mig Sylvia Vrethammar och Görn Fristorp - En dröm är en dröm Lena Bergqvist - Den sista sommar'n av mitt liv Glenmarks - I annorlunda land ABBA won by a mile - 91 points ahead of the second position (Lasse Berghagen). A baby-faced Anders Glenmark joined his older sister Karin, Uncle Bruno Glenmark and Auntie Ann-Louise Hanson in the group Glenmarks.
Lena Ericsson provided backing vocals to Harpo's Moviestar in 1975 together with Frida and was seen with Frida in the programme Kika Digga Ding.
Melodifestival 1974 was shown again in full on Friday 7 May 2004 on SVT1, Sweden.
The first performance has been officially released on the Melodifestivalen - The Winners DVD (Melodifestivalen 50 År - Vinnarna & Favoriter) and on the 30th Anniversary Edition of ABBA's Waterloo album.
** Lena Ericsson would go on to provide backing vocals to Harpo's Moviestar as featured in the 1975 programme Kika Digga Ding.
Watch for: A familiar face in the orchestra - Ola Brunkert! He had worked with them on People Need Love. Of course, he ended up playing with ABBA on stage in Brighton. Ola was a regular on TV during the 1970s when they had live orchestras/bands. ... and there's another couple of familiar faces in the audience - Michael B Tretow and Stig Anderson. During the line-up of the winners, Lasse Berghagen gets hit over the head playfully by Benny (although you don't see him do it, you just see the flying flowers!). Seconds later, Benny sees someone in the audience and acts like a little kid! As ABBA take their places to repeat their winning song, the presenter calls him Björn and Benny corrects him and then pats him

Filmed: 9 (or 10?) February 1974 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: 27 and 28 March 1974, HR, Germany (see below)
Release status: See below
Duration: 58.55 for the whole programme (both parts)
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Auftakt für Brighton = Prelude for Brighton
ABBA performed (mimed) Waterloo (English).
This Eurovision Song Contest Preview was broadcast in 2 parts by HR Germany and previewed all the entries for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Waterloo was in part 1 of the German broadcast.
If this was a little film of Waterloo sent around Europe, then this could possibly have been ABBA's first appearance on British television if they were used in the Eurovision Song Contest Preview programme broadcast (in colour!) on BBC1 on 31 March 1974 at 4.45pm as per this Radio Times snippet (the issue cost 5p!). According to the Radio Times, ABBA were in part 2 so it is not the same order as the German version (where ABBA were in part 1). The UK's presenter was different too (David Vine) so perhaps the clips were sent around Europe and each country created their own versions. Bizarre then that this clip has not been seen in full before now.
This also means that this performance is AFTER their winning performance at Melodifestivalen which would explain the similar set. Whether it was filmed straight afterwards on 9 February or perhaps the following day is unknown.
This entry refers to the GERMAN Eurovision preview because this is where the clip below is from. It also previews the performances of Olivia Newton-John, Irene Sheer, and Gigliola Cinquetti amongst others.
Broadcasting Info: 27 and 28 March 1974, HR, Germany, 1974 BBC1, UK, 31 March 1974 at 4.45pm Finnish TV, 30 March 1974 and called Eurovision laulukilpailu Two short clips were also broadcast in Wenn das kein Grund zum Feiern ist... on 17 August 2002 on ARD Germany HR (local company of ARD), Germany, 28 December 2007 (a very short clip - 13 seconds) at 10pm in a TV special about German entries to Eurovision called Unser Lied für den Grand Prix (Our song for the Grand Prix). This clip has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Getting to this point - identifying where the clip came from and who/what/why/where/when - was truly a huge collaborative effort because I can't possibly do it on my own. Thank you to everyone who contacted me to add to the discussion and not wanted to let it go until we had a resolution.
It seemed a shame to over-write the discussions which led us to arrive at this point so they are available below!
It all started when a short clip was shown on Unser Lied für den Grand Prix (Our song for the Grand Prix) in Germany .... all we knew about it was that it was Waterloo sung in English and the set looked very much like that for Melodifestivalen.
It would seem to have been filmed at the same time (give or take a day or so) and the same place as for Melodiestivalen. The set is virtually identical (same round door, same silver arch) but with different lighting. (Agnetha is wearing silver boots in this clip, not black ones as worn for the Melodifestivalen. It also looks like she is not wearing any t-shirt under her blue top. For Melodifestivalen, she's wearing a red top underneath).
So was this the final rehearsal (the dress rehearsal) before the competition? Why in English? Perhaps because if they knew it was being sent around Europe then. The questions that need answering: Was this before or after their Melodifestivalen win? If it was before, why was it in English? If it was after, what programme/purpose was it recorded for and where was it broadcast? The case for a REHEARSAL performance FOR Melodifestivalen:
If you take the view that the set wasn't quite finished, This could have been an early rehearsal, when the set wasn't quite finished and ABBA later changed some details like swapping the white baby grand piano for the brown upright piano in the actual Melodifestivalen. (Björn subsequently swapped his acoustic guitar for the star-shaped guitar in the actual Eurovision Song Contest). I didn't think it could be Melodifestivalen because they sang Waterloo in Swedish, not English, like this clip is. But dear Henk made some good points about Eurovision ie. that on the start of the Eurovision song contest, all countries had to sing in their native language. Later it was possible to sing in another language (mostly English it seemed). In 1975, Teach-In had to sing Ding A Dong in Dutch for their national finals, but for the Eurovision itself, they were free to choose - and they chose to sing it in English. So perhaps ABBA HAD to perform Waterloo in Swedish for Melodifestivalen, but already had the English version virtually ready and tried it for this rehearsal. It MIGHT have been the first time they had performed it. Remember that Stig and ABBA had planned this whole campaign very carefully! Perhaps after they saw their English performance they were able to review how they looked and how it sounded - ready for their victory in Brighton Also, the set looks unfinished... in this clip, the door is visible throughout the performance, whereas in the Melodifestivalen, the door disappears behind a silver drop-down screen as soon as Agnetha & Frida have run through it. The case for it being recorded AFTER their Melodifestivalen win:
If you take the view that the set was finished with before dismantling ... A fan from Finland also has a good thought: that this clip might have originally been shown in one of those programmes usually shown in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest to introduce the songs from the participating countries. One such programme was broadcast on Finnish TV on 30 March 1974 and called Eurovision laulukilpailu (Eurosivion Song Contest) lasting 30 minutes in colour (apparently not all programmes broadcast on Finnish TV in 1974 were in colour) and described in a TV listings magazine as "Preview I: Eurovision presents the participants of the song contest, held in Brighton on April 6th. The first part includes Finland, Great Britain, Spain, Norway, Greece, Israel, Yugoslavia, Sweden and Luxembourg." There was no PROMO until June 1974. Another fan, "SS", says, "there would, looking at it one way, have been no reason to make a clip of them performing the English version of Waterloo if they hadn't have won Melodifestivalen". This point was made by 2-3 fans also. A good point but a bit too negative to fit in with the plans and hopes of Stig, Benny and Björn I think, who you get the impression were determined and very confident of a Eurovision win in 1974. On the set "SS" says, "I also think it may have been AFTER because the set is more staged down, no lighting etc, as if it was a quick decision to record it as the set was being dismantled. I also think that maybe this clip was firstly recorded just for the members of ABBA and Stikkan to see how they looked performing the song in English, for example, if they were confident with the lyrics, etc . I then have a feeling this MAY have been passed out to countries who ran a pre-Eurovision show introducing the songs to viewers." Dutch fan Henk has, I think, hit on the solution to this mystery, and the answer was found in the Dutch comic book released in 1978. On p.26, about Melodifestivalen it says, "Then finally came the last rehearsal; the costume rehearsal. Very important, because it would be taped on video, which would be sent to Europe.” 13 seconds of this footage was broadcast in Germany on 28 December 2007 in a programme about German entries to Eurovision. Using our powers of deduction, the fact that footage of Germany's 2007 entry Roger Cicero was included in this programme must mean that it can't be older than April 2007, which must mean that the company ARD still HAS this clip (maybe complete?) in their archives. That of course makes theory two, that the clip is some kind of promotion clip after Melodifestivalen, much more likely. After all, why should a German TV company own rehearsal footage of a Swedish pre-selection? A clip sent to ARD in order to enable a presentation of the participants of Eurovision 1974 sounds much more plausible. The fact that the Eurovision Song Contest is and was so famous in Germany supports that theory, explaining a possible application for the clip, a possible broadcast, and why it has been archived so well. A thread on abbasite4everforum (no longer online) gave weight to this theory as someone remembers seeing them a week before Eurovision on British TV.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Watch for: They are called The Abba on the screen!

Filmed: Friday 5 or Saturday 6 April 1974 Location: Brighton, England Broadcast: Saturday 6 April 1974, 20:30-21:50, Televisión Española, Spain
Release status: This performance has not been included on any officially released video or DVD.
Duration: 3 minutes
Shown in: Spain
Notes:Informe Semanal = Weekly Report
This classic programme from National Spanish Television was aired every Saturday evening and usually included four reports of the most relevant events of the week. This particular edition was however, solely devoted to the Eurovision Song Contest and talked about the history of Brighton and the main characteristics of the contest. It was aired just before the ESC live broadcast from Brighton.
ABBA are featured very briefly in behind-the-scenes footage - although the cameras mainly focus on Agnetha!
Olivia Newton-John is also featured very briefly looking a bit sulky.
The programme was broadcast on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest - 6 April 1974 - in Spain and more recently during the channel's 50 year celebration on 1 November 2006 at 21:50. Click here for newspaper cutting from ABC, 6 April 1974, p.111

Filmed: Saturday 6 April 1974 Location: The Dome, Brighton, West Sussex, England Broadcast: Saturday 6 April 1974 (see below for more info)
Release status: See below
Shown in: Europe
Notes:The event that changed everything for ABBA. There were two performances of Waterloo - the first performance and then the winning performance at the end. Both were sung with live vocals over playback.
ABBA were the 8th act to perform. Olivia Newton-John was on 2nd for UK; Mouth and McNeal were the biggest threat. Prior to each country's performance, a mini-film was shown firstly of some scenes from that country followed by the performers in and around Brighton. ABBA were shown posing together and then one by one appearing from behind a plant. Björn would go on to lend his pink jacket to Benny for The Tommy Cooper Hour later in the year.
The programme was hosted by Katie Boyle. ABBA's orchestra conductor was Sven-Olof Walldoff who came on dressed as Napoleon. Sven-Olof Walldoff died on 7 June 2011. Katie Boyle died 20 March 2018.
The intermission was a film of The Wombles messing about in Brighton to Remember You're A Womble! Mike Batt dressed as Orinoco Womble came on stage after the film was shown carrying a sign which said 'Vote for the Wombles!'.
During the scoring, ABBA are seen twice in the "green room" watching the points coming in. ABBA won with 24 points. The UK did not give Sweden any points!
Björn was famously refused permission to collect a writer's prize for the winning song and you see a bemused Stig looking awkward while Benny tries to explain to someone that Björn is also a composer of the song. Notice the way Benny always touches his hair when he's flustered!
Stig's speech was "Thank you" in as many languages as he could think of! Stig and Benny were presented their winners medals by Sir Charles Curran, Director General of the BBC and President of the EBU.
The UK show was commentated by David Vine (not Terry Wogan who did the radio commentary that year). David Vine got Benny and Björn mixed up when announcing the line-up. David Vine died on 11 January 2009.
Programme was produced by Michael Hurll who died in September 2012.
It's easy to tell the difference between the two performances - the first one has Frida and Agnetha running onto to the stage from the back, whereas the winning performance has them already in positions having been announced as the winners. The winning performance is also a lot more lively.
Broadcast info:
21:50-23:30 (20:50-22:30 in the UK) LIVE to Europe although NOT LIVE to France (because their President (Georges Pompidou) was buried on the day of the contest. Because of that, the French entry was withdrawn and France didn't participate in the contest). France did get the competition broadcast - they had footage in B/W and a shortened broadcast on 9 April 1974 and again on Eurovision Top A on 8 June 1974 (only the ABBA Waterloo excerpt). There was no Katie Boyle commentary, but a French voiceover.
The first performance has been officially released on ABBA - The Video Biography 1974-1982 on video and VCD and on the 30th Anniversary Edition of ABBA's Waterloo album.
ABBA can also be seen on the CMC Entertainment's 2 DVD set, The Very Best of the Eurovision Song Contest on disc 1 - 1956-1980.

Watch for: Stig in the audience

Filmed: Saturday 6 April 1974 Location: The Dome, Brighton, West Sussex, England Broadcast: Sunday 7 April 1974, SVT, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 2.5 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Frida and Stig were interviewed by Ulf Gudmundson after ABBA's Eurovision win. This is the interview where Stig was famously asked, "How can you sing a song about a place were thousands of people died?".
This interview has been officially released on the Melodifestivalen - The Winners DVD (Melodifestivalen 50 År - Vinnarna & Favoriter) and also released on the Frida Box Set.

Filmed: Wednesday 10 April 1974 Location: BBC Television Studios, London Broadcast: Thursday 11 April 1974 (see below for more)
Release status: See below
Duration: just under 3 mins
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode Number 536.
ABBA's first UK TV appearance since winning the Eurovision Song Contest - a performance of Waterloo introduced by Noel Edmonds. He would go on to appear on ABBA's last UK TV appearance as a group in 1982 on The Late, Late Breakfast Show.
ABBA performed LIVE. Agnetha had raging flu with a sore throat and a high temperature but the British Musician's Union rules stipulated that miming wasn't allowed so she had to sing live. You wouldn't have known she was unwell. At the end of the song, Noel Edmonds joked, "ABBA means in fact the initials of the names, this is Alan, Barry, Brian and Alexander!"
Other artistes on this edition:- Limmie and the Family Cookin' - A Walkin' Miracle (sound only)
Mud - The Cat Crept In
Slade - Everyday
Mungo Jerry - Long-legged Woman Dressed In Black
Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye - You Are Everything (sound only)
The Wombles - Remember You're a Womble
The Chi-Lites - Homely Girl (Pans People performance - wearing dungarees, pigtails and freckles painted on their faces then transform into more sophisticated young women in baby doll lingerie edged with fur)
Bill Haley and the Comets - Rock Around the Clock
ABBA - Waterloo
Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun (Number one that week)
The Glitter Band - Angel Face (sound only ove closing credits).
This performance was also broadcast on Eins Festival on 18 June 2009 at 1am, 20 June at 1.05am, 23 July 2009 at 1am and 24 July at 5am, Germany.
Release information:
This clip has been released on the DVD ABBA - Number Ones
This clip has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014.

Watch for: Frida amused by the lively dancer in front of the stage in the striped jumper

Filmed: Thursday 11 April 1974 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Saturday 13 April 1974, NDR Fernsehen, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 37:35 for entire show, ABBA song 2:35 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die aktuelle Schaubude = The Current Show
Die aktuelle Schaubude was Germany's take on the American Today Show and was a weekly German TV show consisting of a mix of music, talk, information and entertainment. The programme started broadcasting from north German station NDR station (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) on 7 December 1957, the oldest regular programme on German TV and was shown weekly until 19 December 2009.
Waterloo was performed surrounded by little children and introduced by Marie-Louise Steinbauer who was the host between 1965 and 1976. This happened while their Top of The Pops performance was being aired ithe UK.
Running order of this Episode: Die Flippers - Komm auf meine Insel Hans-Peter & Ingeborg Fischer (Austria) - World Latin Dance Champions 1974 Patrick Fischer - Melanie interview with Karin Eckhard and ? Renate & Werner Leismann - Du bist die Rose vom Wörthersee interview with Gerhardt and ? Paul & Barry Ryan - So lab uns Leben (Won't you join me) Report about go-carts for children ABBA - Waterloo Children choir The station that originally broadcast the programme on Saturday 13 April 1974, NDR Fernsehen, was ARD’s regional television channel targeting northern Germany. The performance of Waterloo was also shown on 30 November 2007 in a special made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show on NDR (N3) entitled Schlager, Stars & gute Laune.
Click here for a rehearsal picture.
Watch for: Frida patting Benny on the head at the end

Filmed: Wednesday 17 - Thursday 18 April 1974 Location: Studio 102, Paris, France Broadcast: Thursday 18 April 1974, 20:35-21:35, A2, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: just under 3 minutes. Full programme 1:04:59
Shown in: France
Notes:Domino was a short-lived but successful weekly music series on channel A2, which started on 7 March 1974 and finished on 27 June1974 and consisted of only 14 episodes. It featured French and international stars and was aired on Thursday evenings, in an approximately one-hour programme presented by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel.
Episode 6 - ABBA performed Waterloo to playback (although listen carefully and you can hear live vocals over the backing track). French singing star Sacha Distel was also a guest on the programme. Guy Lux introduces their performance as "exclusive, for the first time on French TV, the Swedish group ABBA who won Eurovision a few days ago with Waterloo."
ABBA took part in the finale standing together behind the stars of the show including Sacha Distel.
A picture from rehearsals was used on the cover of the 1974 single release of Ring Ring/King Kong Song from Belgium. (You can tell it's from the dress rehearsal because Björn is wearing black trousers and not the silver boots he wore for the actual broadcast).
Running order of performers: Sacha Distel - La vieille dame Delta Rythmn Boys - Mack the knife Claude Luter - Dans les rues d'antibes Andrew Sisters - Boogie woogie Love Machine - In the mood Michel Legrand - Petite musique d'amour ABBA - Waterloo Pierre Groscolas - Lady lay Stone Charden - Et maintenant si on dansait Sheila - Mélancolie Sheila - Toi, moi, la musique et l'amour (featuring Sacha Distel) Sheila - Le couple Sheila - Allume ta télé Finale (all performers)
Click here for newspaper TV listing from Nouveliste - 18 April 1974, p5
The programme was rrepeated on Melody TV, France in October 2005.

Filmed: Wednesday 24 April 1974 Location: The Netherlands Broadcast: Friday 26 April 1974, 20:21-21:10, NCRV, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:This series ran from 18 March 1970 to 24 August 1976 on NCRV, Netherlands and contained 84 episodes.
ABBA appeared on Episode 51.
ABBA performed Waterloo to playback and were interviewed in English by presenter Eddy Becker (because they didn't speak Dutch and he didn't speak Swedish).
Eddy had contracted ABBA to appear before they won the Eurovision Song Contest. Stig ensured that his promise for ABBA to appear on this show was fulfilled, even though they were in huge demand following their Eurovision win.
All Eddy Becker shows (one in 1974 and two in 1975 featuring ABBA) have been erased. Apparently TV company NCRV saved "Best of" Compilations but these were all destroyed** in 1976 when the the show finished and the original logs were thrown away when they moved to a new building. But according to page 91 of ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez and ABBA Annual, the Eddy Becker Show was sold to the BBC although there is no mention of this in the BBC files that it was ever acquired ... who knows?
On 16 August 1974, a compilation of the first 9 shows of The Eddy Go Round Show called Flashback included ABBA's performance.
This performance of Waterloo is one that we never thought we'd get to see. **But thanks to a Dutch ABBA fan who transferred a load of video tapes to PC, this gem surfaced in a 'Best of Eddy' from the 16 August 1974 compilation (see above paragrahp) turned up, without the interview. So unless a miracle occurs, we are most unlikely to ever see the interview, but never know ....
Guests on the show: Fortunes - You've got your Troubles Pierre Groscolas - Lady Lay Ella Polis & Les Helleniques - Bella Ruby Carmichael - Little Yellow Shop Interview with Dutch singer Rob de Nijs en Fons Clement Next One - "To all your friends" Euson - Leon ABBA - Waterloo Chris Montez - Let's Dance Chris Montez- Ay no digas Chris Montez - Amore y pa Click here for a newspaper cutting from Nieuwe Leidsche Courant - 26 April 1974, p.6 Cilck here for a TV listing from Niewe Leidsche Courant - 26 April 1974, p.6

Filmed: Thursday 25 April 1974 Location: Hilversum, Netherlands Broadcast: Monday 29 April, 1974, AVRO, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:This famous weekly series started broadcasting on 22 September 1970 and ended in 1988.
This was Episode 150.
ABBA performed Waterloo to playback.
As far as I can tell, this is the only time these (dreadful!) outfits were worn on a TV show. ABBA were introduced by Ad Visser who 8 years later interviewed Frida.
Here's a proper (colour) image of the performance taken from a book and here in black and white.
ABBA were featured in a book about Toppop and a picture from this session was used. Running order of this episode: Jobriath - I'm a man Jobriath - Be my day Michael Elo - I loose the beat on you Blue Swede - Hooked on a Feeling (NOTE: Björn Skifs was lead singer of this group!) Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun ABBA - Waterloo Mud - Tiger Feet Left Side - Mamma Mia (perhaps where they got the idea for a song of their own!) Golden Earring- Instant Poetry Slade - Everyday This programme was broadcast on Monday 29 April and repeat on 27 December 1974 Toppop Jaaroverzicht 1974, AVRO, Netherlands.

Filmed: Wednesday 1 May 1974 Location: BBC Television Studios, London Broadcast: Thursday 2 May 1974
Release status: See below
Duration: just under 3 minutes (full running time: 34:52)
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode Number 539.
ABBA appeared for a second time on Top of the Pops as the Number 1 record in the UK that week. They sang LIVE backed by the Top Of The Pops orchestra and were introduced by Jimmy Saville.
Other guests on this edition of the show: Bay City Rollers - Shang a Lang Limmie & The Family Cooking - A Walking Miracle Alvin Stardust - Red Dress Pans People (dancers) to The Osmonds' I Can't Stop Stevie Wonder - He's Misstra Know It All Wizzard - Rock And Roll Winter Jim Stafford - Spiders & Snakes The Stylistics - Only For the Children ABBA - Waterloo The Rubettes - Sugar Baby Love (sound during end credits) NB. This would topple Waterloo from the Number 1 position in a couple of week's time. This clip has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014.
Watch for: Benny - could he be nursing a hangover or is just in a very bad mood? Notice that he gives a big sigh at "I feel like I win when I lose"!

Filmed: Tuesday 14 May 1974 Location: some castle grounds in a park in Frankfurt, Germany Broadcast: May 1974?
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: just over 1 min
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe = The turntable
Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine broadcast by ZDF Germany which ran from from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 in the early evening and contained 5,146 Episodes.
ABBA performed Waterloo featuring a Napolean in a very short clip.
Part of this was shown on the 1975 Die Drehscheibe.

Filmed: Wednesday 15 May 1974 Location: Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) Studio B, Hamburg-Lokstedt, Hugh-Greene-Weg 22529, Germany Broadcast: Monday 10 June 1974, 21:15-22:00, NDR, Germany
Release status: See below
Duration: Full programme 41:07; ABBA 2:33
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Musik aus Studio B was a 45-minute music series, run on channel NDR from 22 October 1961 to 20 September 1976, on every 6th Monday at 9pm. All the performances were playback and in German, with some rare exceptions. They produced 97 Episodes all together, but unfortunately only 20 Episodes were archived and are available today.
Luckily this Episode No. 82 has survived, including ABBA performing (to playback) Waterloo in German, with lyrics by Gerd Müller-Schwanke.
This is one of the 2 rare performances, when ABBA sing in German (the other one is on Ein kessel Buntes). Agnetha seems full of confidence in this performance.
The host was Henning Venske.
Other guest-stars of the show were: Ballet scene (Hamburger Fernsehballett) Dunja Rajter - Listen to the music (in German) ABBA - Waterloo (in German) Wilma Reading - Keep the Faith Georges Moustaki - Sans la nommer (in French) Ballet scene Peter Beil - Señorina (in German) The Three Degrees - The year of Decision Street report: who can sing a schlager? Reinhard Mey - Über den Wolken Erika Pluhar - Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte; Ein paar Tränen werd' ich weinen um dich Ballet scene Click here for a TV listing from Die tat - 10 June 1974, p12
In addition to the air date of 10 June 1974 on NDR (ARD’s regional television channel targeting northern Germany, it was later shown as repeates on NDR and N3, Germany.
This clip has been released on the DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014. The recording is available officially on Waterloo 30th Anniversary Edition; 30th Anniversary Original Album Box; The Complete Studio Recordings;

Watch for: Frida reading the lyrics in German off camera

Filmed: Thursday 16 May 1974 Location: Saarbrücken, West Germany Broadcast: Thursday 16 May 1974, 19:30-21:00, LIVE, ZDF, Germany
Release status: See below
Duration: 6 mins but fulll programme 1 hour 26 mins
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Starparade = Star Parade
Starparade was a German TV show broadcast on Germany's second TV largest broadcaster ZDF for twelve consecutive years between 1968 and 1980. Its first broadcast was on Saturday 14 March 1968 from the Siegerlandhalle in Siegen, Germany, still in black & white. Later, the programme spot switched from Saturday to Thursday night where it stayed until the show's end on 5 June 1980. The show was broadcast annually six episodes and the regular orchestra on the show was the James Last Orchestra who had it's first ever TV appearance on this show.
Also known as James Last's Starparade, ABBA performed two songs to playback in this episode - Waterloo and Honey Honey. Between songs they were introduced to the audience one by one by the host Rainer Holbe - dressed as Napolean - and Agnetha got the loudest cheer. This must have been the first performance of Honey Honey. This would also appear to the be the first outing for these particular costumes.
According to ABBA - The Book (p.92) , ABBA took part in a live transmission of Starparade in May 1974 - the show was transmitted live, but ABBA performed to playback.
This episode of James Last's Starparade reunited recent Eurovision artists Gigliola Cinquetti and Mouth & McNeal with ABBA. The Wombles were also guests on the programme and performed two songs. The artistes sat together on a large sofa together at the end of the show. James Last was the leader of the big band featured on the show. Click here for a picture of ABBA resting.
Running order: Lena Valaitis - Bonjour Mon Amour James Last's Orchestra - Tsop Vicky Leandros - Wie Ein Marcen The Wombles - Remember You're A Womble & The Wombling Song Gigliola Cinquetti - Auf Der Strasse Der Sonne (German version of Alle Porte Del Sole) I Love You And Don't You Forget It (dance routine) Costa Cordalis - Wo Meine Traume Sinf Mouth & McNeal - Ah, L'amore James Last's Orchestra - Es Wierd Ein Wein Sein Lena Valaitis - Wer Gibt Mir Den Himmel Zuruck Dance With The Devil (dance routine) Mouth & McNeal - Ein Goldner Stern Gigliola Cinquetti - Ja (German version of Si) ABBA - Waterloo ABBA - Honey Honey James Last's Orchestra - Summertime Maple Leaf Rag (dance routine) Costa Cordalis - Steig In Das Boot Heute Nacht Vicky Leandros - Theo, Wir Fahr'n Nach Lodz Vicky Leandros - Auf Wiedersehen Ihr Freunde Mein James Last's Orchestra - Shady Lady These performances were also broadcast on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany. The performance of Honey Honey has been officially released on the 30th Anniversary Edition of ABBA's Waterloo album Click here for a TV listing from de Stern - 16 May 1974, p.21
Watch for: Agnetha during Waterloo - she gets her cameras mixed up and has her back to the camera when everyone else is facing it - Björn finds this quite amusing.Also ... keep your eye out for ORINOCO WOMBLE! He's behind Benny in Honey Honey!

Filmed: Friday 17 - Saturday 18 May 1974 Location: Brussels, Belgium Broadcast: Saturday 25 May 1974, 20:40-21:25, RTB*, Belgium
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Full programme 45 minutes, Dalida's song in its entirety 7:33
Shown in: Belgium
Notes:Chansons à la Carte = Songs of the Map
Chansons à la Carte was a monthly music series which ran on Saturday evenings on channel RTB, Belgium from 15 October 1972 to 1983, hosted by André Torrent.
ABBA performed Ring Ring and Waterloo while Dalida and Mike Brant were also guests on this episode.
Unfortunately, this clip does not exist any more in the Belgian TV archives. Prepare yourself for the following information: the RTB technicians used the tapes to re-record sports events and football matches!! They only have some episodes of Chansons a la Carte from the early 80s in their archives. I hope those guilty can sleep at night!
In late October 2011, a video clip showed up with Dalida performing Gigi L'amoroso on this show. Dalida was one of the best-selling artists in France (born in Egypt, an actress in Italy and singing star in France, Italy, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands). Agnetha and Frida can be seen in the background sitting at the stage (just like on the photos of Frida and Agnetha). This performance exists because it was sold and repeated in The Netherlands on Toppop on 12 and 26 August 1974 and 9 September 1974 (although the originally 7:33 long performance was cut down to a 3:07 long version for Toppop.) Benny and Björn cannot be seen on the entire footage, nor on the very last scene of the studio, when Dalida left the stage.
In January 2013 a 7:28 long version of this performance (without the very last scene) was available on Avro’s official youtube channel for some days, but after they recognized their mistakes (ie. this clip was NOT an Avro production) they removed it immediately forever.
But this clip raises a very interesting question: did any TV station buy the whole show including the ABBA performance? If yes, then it could be lurking in an archive still and is waiting to be discovered. Fingers crossed.
Click here for a TV listing from Leidse Courant - 25 May 1974, p2
Dalida would once again appear in a TV show with Benny, Björn and Frida - they were all guests on Na, sowas! Extra in 1984.
* Radiodiffusion-Télévision belge - now called RTBF
Watch for: On the Dalida clip, you see Agnetha whisper in Frida's ear - and then when Dalida walks past, Frida moves her legs out of the way to let her pass, then puts them back again!

Filmed: Monday 20 - Wednesday 22 May 1974 Location: Estudios de Prado del Rey, Madrid, Spain Broadcast: Saturday 25 May 1974, 21:30-22:45, RTVE and again on Canal Nostalgia late 2005, Spain
Release status: See below
Duration: Full programme 1:03:08 minutes; ABBA bits 10:47
Shown in: Spain
Notes:TV series ¡Señoras y Señores! was broadcast in black and white every Saturday night between 1973-1976 on RTVE (Radio Televisión Española). The dancers in the programme were a dance troupe called Ballet Zoom who were very famous at the time in Spain and included two black members - something "new" and rare in the Spain of those days (one of them, Charlie, is seen here with Frida on his chest). Most of the Ballet Zoo dancers were not Spanish (Bob Niko, Georgio Aresu...).
The series had two directors, José María Quero and Valerio Lazarov, who worked alternative weeks. Each director gave his own unique style each week to the show and also had their own artistic team (ballet and presenters), which resulted in a very different program depending on the director of each week. Quero had a sober, traditional style, while Lazarov had his famous "zoomed", surreal style. The director for this episode was the Romanian Valerio Lazarov, who modernised musical programs in Spain. Episode 14
ABBA performed four songs, Ring, Ring (as with all the other performers, they also performed only the first part of the first song), Honey, Honey, Hasta Mañana and Waterloo in four individual segments of the show and Björn said some words in Spanish (introducing Manolo Escobar) and were introduced by Victoria Vera and Sharine Zaragoza. Ring Ring was the 1974 US LP remix version.
This was ABBA's first TV appearance in Spain. Apparently, they were supposed to record Waterloo in Spanish in May 1974 but as the scheduled interviews and filming of their appearance for this TV show took longer than expected, they didn't find the time to record the song in the studios in Madrid, even though their Spanish record label, Carnaby, was keen to release a Spanish version of the song. Other guests of the show were: Los Diablos - Mi talismán; Acalorado Andres Pajares - comedy skech Elsa Baeza - Un Nuevo Día; Junto al mar Bruno Lomas - Ven sin temor, "Mini, mini, mini Anne Karinne - Harmony, The First Day of Lov ABBA - Ring Ring; Honey Honey, Hasta Mañana and Waterloo Manolo Escobar - Y viva España; Los Mayorales; Ali Babá; Ay caridad All were intermingled with dance scenes and comedy sketches.
Click here to see a COLOUR picture of their Waterloo performance.
Apparently the group didn't have the same vision about the show as the Chairman of Spanish TV, Valerio Lazarov. When they started filming, ABBA were asked to do almost a video clip instead of simply doing a playback performance to their songs, so they had words with Lazarov. The end of the affair was that Björn promised they would never visit Spain again to perform in any show if Mr Lazarov was in charge of their national television. They didn't return until 1979.
Apart from Hovas Vittne in 1981, this looks like the last outing for the Waterloo costumes.
Hasta Mañana has been officially released on the 30th Anniversary Edition of ABBA's "Waterloo" album.
Click here for TV listing from ABC (Madrid) - 25 May 1974, p.94
Watch for: The whole of Hasta Mañana - so many hilarious parts to it - on rocking chairs; on bunk beds; climbing up steps holding candles; in a tent ... (although this was in fact part of the "modernised look" of the programme)

Filmed: June 1974 Location: Europa Film Studios, Tappvägen 24, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Worldwide
Release status: This clip has been widely released on video and DVD
Duration: just under 3 mins
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:This was the very first ABBA PROMO film/video and was directed by Lasse Hallström on a miniscule budget.
Ring Ring was filmed the same day with different costumes and musicians.
Watch for: Agnetha who is wearing Frida's snakeskin boots that match her snakeskin outfit in the Ring Ring PROMO and not the Eurovision Song Contest silver boots or boots she's wearing in the Ring Ring PROMO (that was filmed the same day).

Filmed: June 1974 Location: Europa Film Studios, Tappvägen 24, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Worldwide
Release status: This clip has been widely released on video and DVD
Duration: just under 3 mins
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:Filmed later the same day as Waterloo and directed by Lasse Hallstrom on the same miniscule budget, this PROMO included musicians Lasse Wellander on guitar; Thomas Rydberg on drums (definitely not Ola Brunkert as I first thought) and a Pär David Johnson on bass.
Benny "played" the same piano as in the Waterloo PROMO.
Lasse, Thomas and Pär (along with future ABBA live guitarist and harmonica player Mats Ronander), were in the group Nature.
This is the 1974 single remix. A different version was overdubbed onto this clip for the ABBA Video Biography video from 1989.

Filmed: Tuesday 13 -Wednesday 14 August 1974 Location: Teddington Studios, Broom Road, Middlesex, England (south-west of London) Broadcast: Wednesday 27 November 1974, 20:00, Thames TV (ITV), UK
Release status: his clip has (finally!) been released in full on DVD of The Tommy Cooper Hour
Duration: c. 3.22 minutes (whole programme lasted 60 minutes)
Shown in: UK
Notes:Ring Ring was performed and was the 1974 single remix with a re-recorded backing and LIVE vocals. This was the follow-up to Waterloo but it only got to No.32 in the UK charts.
They also appeared standing before the cameras just before the clip whilst being introduced.
We first saw this clip (apart from when it was originally shown of course) on the 1993 programme A for ABBA and it has popped up on documentaries ever since. It has taken several years to get The Tommy Cooper Hour released officially but it has finally happened.
Other guests on this edition of the show were puppet Topo Gigio and ventriloquist Ray Alan and Lord Charles (real childhood memories for me!).
Tommy Cooper was a very famous, very funny and well-loved UK magician who was famous for bungling his magic tricks. He was famous for wearing a fez and died live on TV in front of millions of viewers during his act on a variety show in 1984 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. Everyone thought his collapsing in front of the curtains was part of the act. It wasn't.
In addition to the initial broadcast, this programme was repeated on 11 August 1976 on Thames TV.
Benny was wearing Björn's pink jacket from the Eurovision Song Contest preambles earlier in the year.
Teddington Studios in Broom Road, Teddington were demolised in late 2015 and there are now exlusive apartments built on the site.

Filmed: early September 1974 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: LIVE Saturday 7 September 1974, 19:15, NDR, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 36:34 for full programme; 2:50 for ABBA song
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die aktuelle Schaubude = The Current Show
Die aktuelle Schaubude started broadcasting from north German station NDR on 7 December 1957, the oldest regular programme on German TV and was shown weekly until 19 December 2009.
Honey Honey was performed after their earlier performance of Waterloo in April, introduced by Christian Müller. This episode was broadcast LIVE*, although ABBA’s performance must have been recorded earlier in the month and nserted into the programme.
Running order of this Episode: Short report about ferry on sea ABBA - Honey Honey interview with Dietrich Niedhammer (?) German fans need help please! Marianne Mendt (Austria) - Wann I Nimmer Singen Kann interview with Professor Battlehammer (?) German fans need help please! Su Kramer - Nur wer das Leben liebt Report about contact lenses Udo Jürgens - Zieh den Kopf aus der Schlinge, Bruder John ? - Wir reden viel und sagen nichts das weltlicht (?) German fans need help please! *There are some mistakes in the running of the show, so it indicates broadcastwas LIVE. As all the performers were interviewed except ABBA and Honey Honey starts with a fade-in and ends with a fade-out, it indicates they must be taped earlier with the same background (set) as others and inserted into the live broadcast.
The broadcasting station, NDR Fernsehen was a regional television channel targeting northern Germany. It was also included in a special made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show on 30 November 2007 on NDR (N3) entitled Schlager, Stars & gute Laune.

Filmed: September 1974 Location: MTV3 studios, Pasila, Helsinki, Finland Broadcast: Thursday 19 September 1974, MTV3, Finland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 45 mins
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Spede Show was a comedy TV Series, broadcast in black and white on channel MTV3, directed by Inkeri Pilkama (Spede Pasanen writer).
Cast (in credits order): Vesa-Matti Loiri Simo Salminen Pentti Siimes Seppo Laine Tossavainen Jyrki Kovaleff Pehmeäleff Monica Aspelund Esko Roine Reijo Salminen ABBA themselves, performed Ring Ring and Waterloo * Finnish fans - help please! Were these* just the PROMOS or was there a unique TV appearance by ABBA? If so, then this entry will need to be removed.

Filmed: end September 1974 (if it actually happened) Location: New York , USA Broadcast: ?
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:According to Bright Lights, Dark Shadows by Carl Magnus Palm, ABBA appeared on this show in 1974.
However, further research since publication of the book shows that it's extremely unlikely that they did appear on this show after all. ABBA arrived in the US on the evening (Swedish time because their plane left in the "morning", Swedish time) of Sunday 29 September 1974 according to reports. This would mean that it would be afternoon in New York when they actually arrived.
It's extremely unlikely that they would be booked to appear on a live television broadcast on the day of arrival and the plane probably hadn't landed in time for them to make it to the studio in time (if it was a LIVE broadcast).
Wonderama was broadcast that same day, presumably much earlier in the day (because it was a children's show). "Two films" were shown on the show, which in all likelihood would have been the promo clips for Waterloo and Ring Ring and therefore they probably didn't appear in person.
In June 2007 I was contacted by a US ABBA fan who said, "I can confirm without any hesitation that yes, ABBA did perform live on Wonderama! I was 13 in 1974 so I can't confirm the date of the appearance, or even the year, but I have just been thinking back to the first time I saw ABBA on Wonderama when I was a kid! Wonderama was only televised on Sunday mornings, and it was on for two or possibly three hours. It was a live show for children and teens that aired on New York's TV channel 5 which was NEW at the time. Two things stand out in my memory of the performances (I believe they lip-synched two songs). First was how beautiful the girls were in their bright sparkly outfits, and secondly I firmly remember the "star guitar" that Bjorn played during the performance. They lip-synched the two songs live in the studio in front of the kids in the studio, it wasn't just a showing of music videos. I would love to see some video footage of that performance again as it would bring back some great childhood memories!" He wrote further, "I did a little online investigation and found out that Wonderama wasn't live. It was a taped show. Here is a little bit of a posting from an assistant to the host Bob McAllister: The taping didn't start until 13:00. I don't know where the person who wrote in came up with 9:00, but we weren't even allowed to have parents or kids line-up until after Midday Live went off the air at noon. Also, the parents who didn't have to stay were kept in a spacious room on the third floor (Kluge Hall), with easy chairs and a couple of big monitors and soft drinks. We tried to make those who did stay comfortable. Very often, I would go down with other staff members, and allow those parents to come to the fifth floor and peek into the studio and/or control room. Against the rules, but nice to do."
Extra comment from Carl Magnus Palm: "I have a report from the time when it actually happened that clearly states that “two filmed segments” were shown. It may not have been the promo clips; perhaps they came from Star Parade as you suggest. All reports from this visit also seem to suggest that they weren’t really there to “perform” as such, but to do meet-and-greets, be interviewed and so on. And, also, according to newspaper reports, they didn’t arrive until the day of the broadcast, so if that is true I don’t see how they could have been on it."
Who can confirm one way or the other finally?!

Filmed: Saturday 28 September 1974 Location: Hamburg, Germany Broadcast: Saturday 28 September 1974, 18:00-19:00, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Programme 46.
A great performance of Honey Honey. Frida has wickedly "knowing" grin on her face throughout and her and Agnetha are wearing long dresses only ever seen in this performance (unless you know differently?! - Tell me!). The programme was hosted as usual by Ilja Richter.
Apparently every Disco show from 1973 until 1976 was filmed in Hamburg and then moved to Munich in February 1976. You can just about spot ABBA leaving the stage and fighting their way through the audience at the end of the show during the credits. Other guests on the show: Sparks - This Town ain't Big Enough for Both of us Cindy & Bert - Aber am Abend, da spielt der Zigeuner George McCrae - Rock Your Baby ** Irena Jarova - Junge Liebe Stefan Waggershausen - Irgendwann fällt der Regen Bernhard Brink - Liebe kann man nicht verbieten Kincade - How can I fly? Roco Granata - Marina Suzi Quatro - Too Big Chris Roberts - Ich mach' ein glückliches Mädchen aus dir ABBA - Honey Honey ** The rhythmn and feel of George McCrae's Rock Your Baby has been cited as inspiration for Dancing Queen. Could this have been the first time Benny and Björn heard the song?
Click here to see a picture from the dress rehearsal
This clip was also broadcast on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.
Click here for a TV listing from Leidsch Dagblad - 28 September 1974, p.5

Filmed: Tuesday 1 or Wednesday 2 October 1974 Location: Philadelphia, USA Broadcast: Thursday 24 October 1974, 12:30 pm, Channel 2 (CBS), USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:Between 29 September - 1 October 1974 ABBA was on a three day promotional visit in US which included their very first performance on American TV, on this The Mike Douglas Show episode. Carl Magnus Palm has confirmed that ABBA did appear on this show and in fact, this was probably their only appearance in person on the 1974 USA visit.
Mike Douglas was a genial television host whose afternoon talk show was a beacon of popular culture in the 1960s and 1970s. The Mike Douglas Show was the first nationally-syndicated American daytime television talk show which aired from 1 December 1961 to 30 November 1981. It had more than 6,000 syndicated shows, mostly 90 minutes long and he had about 30,000 guests appear on his show over the years including: seven US presidents, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, The Muppets, Frank Zappa, Chuck Berry, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Mother Theresa, Olivia Newton John, Alfred Hitchcock, Tiger Woods, Martin Luther King Jr, Gene Simmons of KISS and many others.
At the height of its popularity, in the late 1960s, it was one of the most watched shows on television. The program featured light banter with guests and musical performances. Instead of an opening comedic monologue (as was the case with The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, for example), Douglas, given his vocalist background, would begin each show by singing a popular song for the audience. Each week would have a different co-host who would appear every day with Douglas.
Episode 39 of Season 13
On this episode the co-host was Paul Williams and the guests were the singing duo of Sandler and Young; baseball star Willie Mays; ABBA; Paul William's co-star in 'Phantom of Paradise' actress Jessica Harper; author Ann Morton and former US military analyst Daniel Ellsberg known as the 'Most Dangerous Man in America'.
ABBA performed Waterloo.
According to the the US web-site "Jump The Shark", someone remembers when ABBA were on the show and "lo and behold, poor things, nobody in the group even knew how to speak English. There sat Mike, trying to communicate with the four, and all of them sitting there, smiling and nodding their heads."
Broadcast information:
Thursday 24 October 1974: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Pittsburgh
Thursday 31 october 1974: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Detroit, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Miami, St Louis, Minneapolis, Seattle
Thursday 7 November 1974: Denver, Honolulu, Kansas City, Tampa, Tallahassee, Tulsa, Orlando, Fresno, Canada.
Click here for a cutting from Billboard - 19 October 1974
Click here for a cutting from Billboard - 9 November 1974

Filmed: Saturday 5 October 1974 Location: Essen Grugahalle, Germany
Shown in: Germany
Notes:ABBA collected the Golden Lion ("Der Goldene Löwe") of Radio Luxembourg 1974 Award and performed live in the "Ring Ring" costumes. It was not clear what they performed, although one photo would appear to suggest that Honey Honey was extremely likely. It's also not clear whether the full show was ever broadcast on TV, or only the award acceptance.
Bandleader James Last also collected an award that day.
The Golden Lion weighed 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) including the base and was 26 cm high so it was quite big and heavy. It was originally designed and cast by the Luxembourg painter/sculptor Auguste Tremon in 1958.
Originally, the Golden Lions were presented to the most successful stars of the von Radio Luxemburg Hit Parade, based on sales figures and ranking and frequency of appearance in the Hit Parade. Past winners of Golden Lions and Honorary Lions were, in addition to ABBA and James Last: Peter Alexander, Lale Andersen, The Bee Gees, Roy Black, Rudi Carrell, Drafi Deutscher, Fats Domino, Fischer Chöre, Connie Francis, Hans Dietrich Genscher, Rex Gildo, David Hasselhoff, Heino,Gitte Henning, Ernst Huberty, Michael Jackson, Curd Jürgens, Udo Jürgens, Peter Kraus, Vicki Leandros, Peter Maffay, Nana Mouskouri, Eros Ramazotti,Chris Rea, Walter Scheel, Caterina Valente, Otto Waalkes and others.
Click here for a colour image of the award presentation.
Click here for a black and white image of the award presentation
Watch for: Frida reacting to the weight of the award.

Filmed: November 1974 Broadcast: Thursday 28 November 1974, YLE, Finland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2 mins
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Iltatähti = Evening Star
Iltatähti was a music and talk show which ran on YLE between 1973-1983 of about 50 minutes duration. The presenter was Tapio Tuominen in this Episode 11 of this year. Unfortunately they did not save the series in its entirety but this episode has remained in part only - but luckily the Björn interview was part of it that was saved.
Björn was interviewed for Finnish TV about the forthcoming Scandinavian leg of their European tour. At the time of filming, they were nearing the end of the 1974 part with just a couple more dates to play in West Germany.
The Scandinavian tour kicked off on 10 January 1975 at Chateau Neuf in Oslo, Norway, ending on 22 January at Universum, Umeå, Sweden. The Finnish concert would be on 20 January 1975 at Finlandiatalo, Helsinki.

Filmed: Saturday 2 November 1974 Location: Friedrichstadt-Palast, Berlin, East Germany Broadcast: Saturday 2 November 1974, LIVE, 20:00-22:00, DDR-Fernsehen/GDR-TV, Germany
Release status: See below
Duration: 1 hour, 28 mins for the full programme
Shown in: East Germany
Notes:Ein Kessel Buntes was a series on DDR (East Germany) which ran from 29 January 1972 to 19 December 1992, and was 6 times a year on Saturday evenings and always had a huge budget to show the biggest national and international stars.
The series contains 118 Episodes. A repeat of these performances was shown on Das Blaue Fenster.
Episode 15, guests on the programme (in order): ABBA - Waterloo Herricht & Preil (comedy sketch) Jirí Korn (Czech) - 2 songs Russian folk dance Ireen Sheer (UK) - Goodbye Mama and Bye Bye I Love You Omara Portuondo and Martin Rojas (Cuba) - 2 songs Comedy sketch Opera scene - excerpt of Offenbach: Orpheus in der Unterwelt Andreas Holm - Morgendrot, Abendrot Schnellers' chimpanzees (Hungary) a circus act Das Fernsehbalett (a ballet scene) Koncz Zsuzsa (Hungary) - He, mama and The night they drove old Dixie down ABBA - Honey Honey, So Long and Waterloo (in German - part only) Finale The performance of So Long was broadcast on 1 January 1978 in USSR on the First Channel during a New Year's programme.
Honey Honey has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014. (There is a little confusion about the filming and broadcast dates. The DVD booklet states that Honey Honey was filmed on 7 November and broadcast on 23 November. Görel's diaires state filming was on 7 November 1974 which obviously conflicts with the broadcast date (as per TV listings) of 2 November 1974 unless ABBA were time travellers!).

Click here for a TV listing from Neues Deutschland - 2 November 1974, p.8 Click here for a TV listing and article from Berliner Zeitung - 2 November 1974, p.6 (however it does not mentioned ABBA)
Watch for: Benny during Waterloo - he's not used to not having anything to do with his hands (as he's usually playing the piano or guitar) and he looks so uncomfortable standing there with just a microphone. He keeps looking to Frida for reassurance. After Waterloo ABBA hold up the words, "Wir kommen gleich wieder", which means "We'll come back soon".

Filmed: Sunday 3 November 1974 Location: Vienna, Austria Broadcast: Sunday 24 November 1974, 16:35-17:25, ORF1, Austria
Release status: See below
Duration: 50:07 minutes (whole programme); ABBA songs 5:50
Shown in: Austria
Notes:Spotlight was a monthly TV show for teenagers on channel ORF1 (Österreichischer Rundfunk), co-production with Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG). This TV music series focussed on music with local and national live guests & videos and was 50 minutes long. From 1968 to 1978 the programme was hosted by popular bearded Austrian TV presenter Peter Rapp.
ABBA performed Honey Honey and So Long to playback. The Honey Honey clip was, for a long time, considered to be the PROMO for the song when in fact none was actually made.
Björn looks like he's wearing pyjamas in this programme!
The performance of Honey Honey would appear to be quite unique in that (unless you can think of any others), this is the only performance where you never seen ABBA performing as a group of four ... the filming of the clip only shows Benny/Björn or Agnetha/Frida.
Running order of this episode: Robert Stanley + The VIPs - She's A Good Woman Jam session Adi Stassler - I wüll, aber I trau mi net Wilfried - Lauf Hase Lauf Wilfried interview (About His Voice) ABBA - Honey Honey Wolfgang Kratzer - Sonate Betetic Opus 13 Wilfried - Mein Votan Sei Haus Is Mit Hawernstroh ABBA - So Long Soul Brothers Six - Dance To The Music Georg Danzer - Kann denn Liebe Sünde sein Robert Stanley + The VIPs - Goodbye Farewell Soul Brothers Six - I Feel Good So Long was also broadcast on Hymyilevä prinsessa Frida on 8 January 1997, YLE, Finland.
Honey Honey was been released on the DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014.
Click here for TV listing from Die Tat - Friday, 22 Nov 1974, p18
Watch for: Björn acting the heavy rocker in So Long

Filmed: Wednesday 4 December 1974 Location: BBC Television Studios, London, UK Broadcast: Thursday 5 December 1974, 19:21, BBC1, UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2:30 mins
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website (see below) but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode Number 569.
The clip is not currently in the BBC Archive.
ABBA sang So Long 'live' on Top Of The Pops introduced by Tony Blackburn. As with all appearances in Britain (which was why they stopped coming to Top Of The Pops after Fernando in April 1976) they had to re-record their track using British technicians. So the song was re-done in the BBC studio and then lip-synched back to the new "hastily made" recording for the TV broadcast. So this performance isn't absolutely live, but a new recording just for the occasion.
Frida wore the full 1974-1975 tour outfit including the high collar which she doesn't appear to have worn on any other TV appearance.
Programme running order: Alvin Stardust - Tell Me Why KC & The Sunshine Band - Sound Your Funky Horn Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (VIDEO) ABBA - So Long George McCrae - You Can Have It All Hello - Tell Him Mud - Lonely This Christmas Rupie Edwards - Ire Feelings (Skanga) The Rubettes - Juke Box Jive The Tymes - Ms Grace The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas Barry White - You're the First, The Last, My Everything (danced to by Pans People) Rod Stewart & The Faces - You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anythin" (crowd dancing) (end credits). It has widely been suspected - due to the lack of familiarity and it actually being in the BBC archives, that this episode was never broadcast owing to a strike/blackout.
However, after the BBC Written Archives Centre was contacted (they hold information on what was actually broadcast on a particular date, as opposed to what was in the listings), they referred to their “Programme as Broadcast” documents (PasBs) which provide a log of all transmissions on any given day throughout the year. They resonded, "I’ve located the PasB for 5 December 1974 and can confirm that Top of the Pops was indeed broadcast on this date at 7:21pm. ABBA were also one of the bands that performed in this particular programme."
So it would seem that this edition of Top of the Pops was broadcast after all and, if there was a strike or blackouts in SOME areas, at the very least this programme would have been seen in most parts of the UK.
So Long become the only ABBA song not to chart - even though it WAS broadcast on Top of the Pops.
It has been suggested that this could have been filmed at the same time as Waterloo from the Christmas episode of Top of th Pops, but the difference in their looks, particularly Frida and Björn is too pronounced to be exactly the same day: Björn's fringe is shorter and freshly cut in So Long than Waterloo in the Christmas episode of Top of the Pops where it's a bit more 'settled'! Frida's hair in So Long is more red-coloured but more brown for Waterloo and the shape/fringe is wilder for So Long. Agnetha's hair was much wispier in So Long than Waterloo in the Christmas epiosde of Top of the Pops. Only Benny looks the same.
Thanks to 53 ABBA fans from all over the world ( NB, GM, PM/F, RK, HE, CP, KA, RD, GT, JR, SR, AS, RV, BA, KC, RK, EL, SL, SL, GS, FA, UE, DF, JC, GH, MJ, IS(JR),VD, RS, SM, GC, HJ, CW, FS, LG, JB, GH, DC, KC2, RC, IJ, GS2, YVR, DBks, WV, HA. DC, SB, GB, FH, JA, AG, MP) who contributed to a fund in order to buy the clip from a private seller, the clip was made available to fellow fans in June 2012. Now it can be seen and enjoyed nearly 38 years after it was first filmed. See below for the background story.
Prior to that, we had a hard task trying to identify the programme for which we had only two pictures (below). The mystery was another collective fan event with several theories and thoughts being put into the mix until the pictures were confirmed as being from Top of the Pops. Now that we have the clip that all seems rather trivial, but it really, really wasn't prior to June 2012! See below for the theories identifying these pictures as being from an appearance on Top of the Pops. **************************************************************************
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Obtaining the clip that was never broadcast
In 2012 I was contacted by a TV clip collector who claimed to have the full appearance of ABBA on Top of the Pops from 1974 singing So Long which the BBC do not have in their archive any more and it was believed lost forever.
The seller wanted £300 (UK Sterling) for the clip. I proposed that if many of us ABBA fans contributed a very small amount then together we could try to obtain this. Word was spread via Facebook ABBA groups.
At 2 June 2012, £300 was worth: 370.54 EUR / US$ 460.75 / AUS$ 475.41 / 3,339.76 SEK / 2,753.448 DK.
There were two other sources who apparently had the clip, but: there was no news forthcoming from this alleged seller and the second one would apparently only swap for something equally rare and would not share it or sell it. They provided this very, very short clip to prove he had it. It was only about 4 seconds. NOTE: This was not the same person who was selling it for £300 so the quality couldn't be guaranteed but at least we had proof the clip existed and it proved that they sang live (which we previously did not know). I proposed that many ABBA fans contributed a very small amount - around £3-£4 UK Sterling MAXIMUM in order for me to pay for this clip (if I were rich I'd have bought it outright - but I'm not!). By sharing the risk, no-one would lose much money if the seller did not deliver on his promise to provide the clip in exchange for the money.
It seemed like a risk worth taking.
I provided the following notes so that all potential contributors would be as informed as possible:
ABOUT THE SELLER
He is not an ABBA fan but a collector of lost material including lost episodes of Top of The Pops and BBC missing programmes/episodes. He has a huge collection of rare stuff but he is aware how unique this clip of So Long is. It is not known where or how he obtained this clip. His website is here: http://rare-tv-archive.webuda.com/ (website no longer works).
The BBC are aware of this man and the clip's existence but they won't pay because "it's policy". As unfortunate as that is, you can understand why a corporation like the BBC would not wish to be held to ransom by one individual. It's not just ABBA, this guy has dozens of clips from many, many other big name artists. The BBC would apparently clean it up, re-master it if came into their hands, but won't buy what they consider is their property in the first place (notwithstanding the fact that they lost it in the first place!).
COST
The asking price is £300 (that's AUS€477 / US€462 / Euro €374 (as at 31 May 2012). Yes it is a huge amount of money for approximately 3 minutes but he has something we want that we thought was lost forever ... so he can charge what he wants.
WHY PAY HIM?
It is so important that such rarities are safely in the hands of true fans before they are lost forever. If we band together we can see this for next to nothing.
QUALITY
The seller provided a screen grab. I had asked for one to prove he actually had the clip. It's hard to tell the quality from that screen grab because ABBA are obviously moving/dancing. But to my eyes, it's already better than nothing and far superior to some of the videos I've got from the 1980s! In an update on 2 June 2012, I had asked the seller how big the file size was and he replied that it was 200MB and could supply by download or DVD in post. To be honest I wanted to ignore the DVD in the post option in case it never turned up. Apparently that size file is indicative of pretty good quality.
DISTRIBUTION
The seller would accept payment by Paypal so I asked for an Invoice and said I would pay him via Paypal. That way, there's a better chance of some sort of protection if he does not deliver - which I said I would pursue in that eventuality. He would provide the clip by download. According to his website (above but now not working), post was an option but to my mind that added another level or risk with it not being delivered. I asked for the clip via download and then would email the download to all paying contributors within 24 hours of receiving it myself.
SHARING
Some fans will believe (some of them quite strongly) that only those contributing financially to this venture should be allowed to see the clip. However, I believe that all ABBA fans will want to see this and that it should be widely shared. If it ends up on YouTube, as it probably will, I have no problem with that. Bear in mind however, that the BBC may make a request for it to be removed because it's their clip (putting aside the fact that they lost it in the first place!).
DISADVANTAGES
There are many. By paying for this clip we're fuelling him and others to charge similar amounts instead of just uploading to YouTube etc. But this is Top of the Pops, none of us have ever seen it and so it has real merit. Paying for the clip may reduce the chance that footage such as this will make its way to a proper archive. There's a risk that we'd not be sent anything. There's a risk we could be stalled for ages and then be sent an inferior copy to what he actually holds - only to find a better copy later on etc. This is a gamble - and it may not pay off but I think it's worth a try.
SOS
Just for information, the seller does not think SOS is out there at all which is a real shame. But at least we have the audio - see 1975.
UNIVERSAL
This exercise has nothing to do with Universal. They, and even the BBC themselves, do not have this footage. And as the clip is LIVE, the audio is not Universal's.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRIBUTING:
By contributing £3, £3.50 OR £4 (your choice) you are agreeing to the following:
UPDATE 2 June 2012: £3.50 is 4.32 EUR / US$ 5.37 / AUS$ 5.54 AUD/ 38.96 SEK/ 32.12 DKK a) you accept the quality "as is". An indication of that is shown in the above screen grab.
b) if the seller fails to deliver, you accept that this was a risk worth taking and that you should not contribute more than you can afford to lose.
c) you will not hold me, Sara Russell, responsible in any way if the seller fails to deliver
d) anyone contributing is free to do with the clip whatever they like ie. share with others who have not contributed
e) I shall probably make an attempt to return it to the BBC myself (in the hopes that they will clean it up and re-broadcast it in superior quality)
f) if you contribute more than the suggested £3, £3.50 or £4 then you understand it is your risk.
g) the clip will apparently be delivered to me as a download (via a site like YouSendit.com for example). This is also how you will be able to receive it once I have received it.
h) I am doing this to get to see the clip myself and to help fellow ABBA fans to see it. I have no hidden agenda. I am not trying to rip people off. I am trying to help!
i) I will not buy this clip until I have £300 in definite contributions ie. received into my Paypal account. I wll put up a message on THIS PAGE to confirm I have received £300 to prevent receiving too much.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE As the seller will be paid by Paypal, I would prefer contributions to be made by Paypal to me c/o www.paypal.com I don't think you need to have a Paypal account already set up - you can still send money via Paypal by credit card without an account. Note that there ARE charges associated with sending money via Paypal (and I may well incur charges receiving the money too).
I started to receive contributions from fans (NB, GM, PM/F, RK, HE, CP, KA, RD, GT, JR, SR, AS, RV, BA, KC, RK, EL, SL, SL, GS, FA, UE, DF, JC, GH, MJ, IS(JR),VD, RS, SM, GC, HJ, CW, FS, LG, JB, GH, DC, KC2, RC, IJ, GS2, YVR, DBks, WV, HA. DC, SB, GB, FH, JA, AG, MP). £323.00 was collected.
UPDATE: 5 June 2012: THANK YOU EVERYONE! Now that we've got the £300 total, I have emailed the seller (at 13:32 (UK time) on Tuesday 5 June 2012) asking for instructions where/how to pay him and whether he can also send a DVD - now waiting to hear back from him. No more contributions please. I'll update this as soon as I can once I've heard from him but please note I am not around a computer for most of the day on Wednesday until late afternoon. Re: the excess, let's wait and see what happens and then see what we have left for refunds.
UPDATE: 6 June 2012: Have heard back during the day today and he's confirmed the email address to send Paypal payment to. He also says "download files are supplied via 4shared. a copy can be sent by DVD through the post as backup" (a man of few words!). I shall therefore make payment now and get the DVD sent to my home address. Perhaps the extra £23 can cover the copying and postage of a DVD copy for everyone who contributed - what are your thoughts on this? As I don't have the ability or capability to copy DVDs I will need help with that ... but one step at a time!
UPDATE: 7 June 2012: Payment was made yesterday evening. File received this morning. I have now seen it and it's fabulous - and a good strong vocal performance. I am sure it won't be long before it's on YouTube or shared around. Thank you to all contributors who have made one little dream of mine come true!
Contributors were sent by download or DVD their copy of So Long with the extra £23 being used to fund that. Anything left over (very little) was used to fund the admin and upkeep of this site.
************************************************************************** BACKGROUND THEORIES: What is this TV programme?
The aim was to establish what TV programme the following two colour ABBA pictures are from:
This one from Sounds of the Seventies ABBA magazine This photograph Remember that before this So Long picture emerged, we did not know what the performance looked like at all.
THEORY 1 - Kid Jensen's 45
We only have a couple of pictures to compare with (back in 2009) but in the absence of anything else .. who knows? Notice that Björn wears the same (lack of) outfit in this programme as he does in the colour pictures above ... but I think the background is not the same. Kid Jensen's 45 has scaffolding in the background, this mystery picture is more of a stage setting.
THEORY 2 - Top of the Pops Could it be the missing So Long from Top of the Pops from 1974? Look at the background/set on this picture of Supertramp on Top of the Pops in 1975. Do you think it's the same or similar? Personally I think this is the answer, but would like to encourage a few more ideas to the pot. Look at this performance of The Bitch is Back by Elton John on Top of the Pops from 1974. Again, some of the set in the distance (what Elton would see from his piano) and behind him too) looks similar to the ABBA picture above, especially here and here. Another performance from December 1974 shows Sparks performing This Town Ain't Big Enough (For The Both of Us). In the distance there is a set which looks very much like the one ABBA are in front of in the picture (1) above. Two more performances from Top of the Pops around that time show staging that, while not a perfect match, look "typical" of Top of the Pops sets at that time, just fuelling the idea that the two pictures (1) and (2) are from Top of the Pops (and of So Long). The first one is Mud's Lonely This Christmas and the other is The Wombles' Wombling Merry Christmas. What doesn't make sense to me though is why there are so many clips of all these other acts from around December 1974 but no ABBA. What happened to the ABBA clip? Why do other clips from that programme exist and not the ABBA one? There is a photograph of Queen performing (Killer Queen or Seven Seas of Rhye?) on Top of the Pops from 1 November 1974 taken by David Redfern who took many, many studio photographs of performers on the show. Once again, the set behind them is in a similar style to the ABBA picture (1) above, but at least we know that this Queen picture IS Top of the Pops, once again adding weight to the theory that the two pictures above ARE from the missing So Long performance on Top of the Pops. Conclusion: it *IS* Top of the Pops!!
Thanks to contributions from ABBA on TV regulars, the mystery of which programme the two photos (1) and (2) above came from has now been resolved. The irony of this is that it took a performance of ABBA's own Honey Honey by Sweet Dreams to seal the deal! The set you can see in the background is the exact same as in the ABBA pictures (1) and (2). Whilst the YouTube clip of Sweet Dreams says it was filmed in August 1974 that doesn't matter to me. What matters is that the set is from Top of The Pops and it's the programme itself we needed to identify. We already had the information about So Long. It's quite possible the same background was used four months earlier for Sweet Dreams after all.
THEORY 3 - Super Club
According to ABBA Annual ABBA were in Paris for three dates around 1 February 1975 and "They sang So Long on Ring Parade, Waterloo and So Long on Super Club and they were invited on Système 2. Or was Super Club a radio show because there's no evidence of of a TV programme called Super Club in the French TV archives. The phrase "were invited" on Système 2 sort of implies they were invited but didn't perform - or is that not the case?
THEORY 4 - a completely new programme we don't know about!
THEORY 5 - Midi-Première (1975)
Contradicting the move to 1974, could it be Midi-Première during trip to Paris in April 1975? French fans, does this look like the set of Midi-Première? I think this is a long shot but I'd like to hear from some French fans with long memories before completing dismissing this theory.
Watch for: Frida bending down to put her microphone on the floor before the dance routine at the end

Filmed: Thursday 19 December 1974 Location: BBC Television Studios, London, UK Broadcast: Wednesday 25th December, 1974, 14:15 - 15:00, BBC1, UK
Release status: See below
Duration: Full running time 43:58; ABBA just under 3 minutes.
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode Number 572.
A rarely seen performance of Waterloo broadcast in the Christmas Day edition of Top of The Pops which always reviewed the biggest hits of the year.
This edition featured (see most of them on the same set): Mud - Lonely This Christmas The Osmonds - Love Me For A Reason Sweet Sensation - Sad Sweet Dreamer Pan's People (dance troupe) danced to The New Seekers You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me (wearing tutus, on trapezes and with clown's noses) David Essex - Gonna Make You A Star Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be A Hero The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again Ken Boothe - Everything I Own ABBA - Waterloo Charles Aznavour - She Pan's People danced to Barry White's - My First, My Last My Everything Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody
ABBA performed LIVE and were backed by the Maggie Streddle singers and the Top of The Pops Orchestra. Their performance (clearly pre-recorded as there was no audience) was introduced by BBC Radio 1 DJs, Tony Blackburn and Jimmy Saville.
ABBA are also seen very briefly (blink and you'll miss it!) sitting in the background and clapping along to Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody at the end of the song beginning c. 3.25.
This episode was repeated on UK Gold, UK in 1993 and Channel Eins Festival, Germany on 13, 14 and 15 August 2009.
This clip has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA - Waterloo Deluxe Edition on 6 April 2014.

Filmed: Thursday 19 December 1974 Location: Granada Studios, Manchester, England Broadcast: Wednesday 25 December 1974, ITV (Granada), UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: UK
Notes:This music series contained 60 episodes and ended on 28th August 1975. Only SIX episodes exist from 1974 out of the 20 or so episodes produced that year and only 15 out of the whole series. The programme was renamed Rock On With 45 during 1975. There's some confusion over the real name of the the programme before it was renamed Rock On With 45 with suggestions that it was either 45 or Kid Jensen's 45. I'm going with 45 because of the first screen grab below.
Presented by Canadian DJ David 'Kid' Jensen (in one of his first UK TV programmes) and DJ Emperor Rosko, the pictures above look like ABBA performed So Long (based on movement and outfits). According to Swedish newspaper Kvällsposten dated 20 December 1974, they did indeed perform So Long (thanks to Carl Magnus Palm for that confirmation).
Unfortunately, the episode that ABBA appeared on of 45 appears to have been wiped from the Granada archives.
Showaddywaddy were guests on the programme broadcast on 26 September 1974 from this series. They performed in front of a similar (metallic frame) set as ABBA so there is a hint of the colours if nothing else. The Sweet were also guests in November 1974 with the similar metallic frame set.
According to a website detailing 45 episodes, there are no listings that ABBA appeared on 45. Granada TV archives has no surviving documentation and the TV Times listings don't mention who was in the missing editions. Those editions, including the ones broadcast at Christmas 1974 and 2 January 1975 have been wiped and no longer 'officially' exist (they may still be available in a private collection however). The website does not suggest that ABBA featured on the programme broadcast on 25 December 1974 but this photo with ABBA next to the Bay City Rollers would appear to contradict that theory, since the Bay City Rollers are listed as appearing on that episode.
Another photo shows the Bay City Rollers, ABBA and Queen in the same photo (the Bay City Rollers are in the choir-boy outfits, ABBA are in the middle and Queen are on the far-right of the picture with Roger Taylor on the far right next to John Deacon. The guy in the dark glasses next to John Deacon is rock guitarist and songwriter Russ Ballard. Right behind Russ Ballard peering over his head is Brian May and a closer inspection of the photo reveals that the little face visible between Russ Ballard and John Deacon is Freddie Mercury - you can just about see half of his face. Russ Ballard would go on to write I Know There’s Something Going On which Frida recorded in 1982.
I think given the proof in the pictures featured on this site, ABBA absolutely did appear on 45.
The other guests on this episode: Mud - Lonely this Christmas Bay City Rollers Russ Ballard Colin Blunstone Ken Boothe Dave Cousins Rick Wakeman Queen - Killer Queen The Queen connection
Before the 'cast' photo emerged, there was quite a bit of investigation work that went on between fans and it all centered around a photo of ABBA in front of what looked like Roger Taylor's drum-kit. That would made sense of Björn's comments in ABBA - The Book p.114, "One day we were in Manchester for ITV with the group Queen. Their (Queen's) performance, using their tape, was magnificent, but ours was very average."
Clarification of the filming date
It was originally presumed this was filmed on 25 November but it has been pointed out that: not only did Queen perform their first and only concert in Finland on that date (as part of their Sheer Heart Attack tour which began in Manchester on 30 October 1974) but they had arrived in Finland the previous day (24 November 1974) according to news reports. Queen finished the European leg of their tour on 13 December 1974 in Barcelona, and the next concert wasn't until 5 February 1975 (in Columbus, Ohio), so their schedule would definitely have allowed them to travel to Manchester for the recording. ABBA were busy with their European tour on that date, doing a concert at Kongresshaus, Innsbruck, Austria. A Swedish newspaper article dated December 30, 1974, states that ABBA had recently been in London to film appearances on 45 and Top of the Pops, so that would have been the circa 17-21 December 1974 visit. An ABBA fan has a press photo in his collection which, on the reverse, confirms the filming date as 19 December 1974. The text on the reverse of the photo says, "For your files. ABBA. Photographed at 45's TV show Granada TV Manchester. 19th Dec 74." So it seems that 45 and Top of the Pops were filmed on the same very busy day - but did they start in Manchester or end in Manchester?
I emailed David Jensen to see if he himself remembered ABBA appearing on his show and if there was anything at all he could remember about it, but never got a response (this was several years ago now).

Filmed: Sunday 22 December 1974 Location: The Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 3 January 1975, SVT, Sweden
Duration: 1:15 mins
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Nygammalt = Newly-old or literally New-old
ABBA performed I've Been Waiting For You, So Long and were interviewed. Footage only appears to exist of part of I've Been Waiting For You and even then, only about 1 minute of it.
In an old newspaper cutting (actually a letter to the editor) found by Carl Magus Palm, the person writing says that she really enjoyed ABBA's performance at Nygammalt. Then she adds: "But the best bit was when Benny played the accordion with the Lindqvists [Bröderna Lindqvist, the show's house band

Filmed: end 1975, start 1976?
Shown in: Norway
Notes:Apparently, Frida performed her solo version of Fernando on Norwegian TV.
Does anyone know anything more?

Filmed: NEVER APPEARED Location: LWT Studios, South Bank, London, UK
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: UK
Notes:Supersonic was a British children's television music show which featured pop music artists of the day. Launched in 1975 with its first show of Series 1 on Thursday 4 September 1975, it was produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network and ran for two years. The show typically lasted 30 minutes and was broadcast, firstly, on Thursday afternoons and then moved to a Saturday afternoon slot. The programme was presented by film and music producer Mike Mansfield.
The show was recorded in front of an audience of children at London Weekend's studios. Mike Mansfield doubled up as producer and director, cueing in performances from the studio gallery instead of presenting conventional links to camera. According to this cutting from Billboard dated 4 October 1975, ABBA were "just back from television appearances in Italy, London (Supersonic) and France (Ring Parad), with a promotion visit to the US planned perhaps for October."
The referenced TV appearances would have been the Italian XI Mostra Internazionale di Musica Leggera and the French Ring Parade where they performed SOS on both shows.
Although I've never heard that they appeared on Supersonic, there's of course every chance they did a performance for the programme whilst in the UK filming for Top of the Pops. If so, the song would undoubtedly have been SOS.
However, given the abundance of fans with great memories and many YouTube clips of performances by other performers available, I am pretty sure that they didn't actually appear.
NOTE: The first photo above is from another YouTube episode - for illustration.
According to this site selling a DVD collection of appearances, there is no ABBA appearance. It would appear that the series was repeated on UK nostalgia channel Granada Plus at some point (which is probably where the clips came from for the DVD seller). So if ABBA were on the show, the clip would have surfaced by now.
So sadly, it appears they weren't on the show. Perhaps it was scheduled but cancelled at short notice which is why Billboard name it in the cutting? Who knows?!

Filmed: Thursday 30 January 1975 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Saturday 1 February 1975, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 3 minutes
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, with each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Progamme 50
ABBA performed a very energetic performance of So Long with a silly dance routine at the end. As usual, the programme host was Ilja Richter. Apparently every Disco show from 1973 till 1976 was filmed in Hamburg and then moved to Munich in February 1976.
There are no close-ups of either Benny or Björn in this clip. The cameraman are too busy gawping at Frida's midriff.
Apparently Frida is sporting a plaster on a finger on her left hand but I can't see it!
Other guests on the show: Truck Stop - Rip it Up Costa Cordalis - Santa Marina del mare, adieu Slade - Far Far Away Lerryn - Der Sänger mit den besseren Liedern Michael Schanze - Du hast geweint Bachmann-Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet Udo Jürgens - Griechischer Wein Udo Jürgens - Ein ehrenwertes Haus ABBA - So Long
This clip was also shown on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.
Watch for: Agnetha getting carried away with the dancing at the end and banging into Frida!

Filmed: Thursday 30 January 1975 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Thursday 30 January 1975, LIVE, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe = The turntable
Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine broadcast by ZDF Germany which ran from from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 in the early evening and contained 5,146 Episodes.
ABBA appeared on the daily programme Die Drehscheibe and performed So Long.
The clip was filmed on the same day as the Disco appearance. They performed in the same studio and looked very much the same. The differences were: the studio was much darker; there was no audience; and the girls wore their feather capes.
ZDF only kept performances that were pre-recorded and they don't have this one which leads us to assume that the performance must have been LIVE.
This appearance has been something of a mystery for a while - even thinking that these were just rehearsal pictures for Disco performance of So Long but there is now proof that it took place - in the book ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm with Ingmarie Halling, there is a copy of Görel's calendar from 1975. On 30 January 1975 she has written ABBA - Hamburg Disco in blue and next to it Drehscheibe in red.
Click here for a TV listing from Leidsch Dagblad - 30 January 1975, p.5

Filmed: Friday 31 January 1975 Location: Studio 102, Paris, France Broadcast: Sunday 9 February 1975, A2, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Full programme 27:27; ABBA c. 3 minutes
Shown in: France
Notes:Ring Parade was shown every Sunday evening at 19.30 during the 1970s hosted by Guy Lux. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). The show was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20.00 and 20.30 followed by Système 2. Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition.
ABBA appeared in Ring Parade or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s.
ABBA performed So Long to playback on this show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. Guy introduced them, "Number 4. We know this group from Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 when we discovered them and they have come back with their new song So Long."
The running order of the show was: Frédéric Francois' opening song Laurent Rossi - Jolie baby blue Annie Cordy - La bonne du curé Billy Swan - I Can Help ABBA - So Long Carlos - Senor météo Frédéric Francois - Mal, tu me fais mal Tino Rossi's closing song The filming date was confirmed by Görel's diary from 1975 as seen in the leaflet supplied in ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling.
This performance was also broadcast on 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March 2013 on Télé Melody, France and 14 November 2013, Jukebox, 192TV, Netherlands c. 19:00.
Watch for: Agnetha's scarily heavy make-up ABBA in the audience during Billy Swan and Frédéric Francois' performances

Filmed: Saturday 15 February 1975 Location: Göteborg, Television Centre, Studio 1, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 15 February 1975, LIVE on SVT1 at 20:00, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: Whole programme 1:05:13
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Melodifestival 1975 was the selection for the 16th song to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. The host was Karin Falck.
The running order of the show: Landslaget - Den gamla jukeboxen Nils-Åke Runeson - Oh, Juicy Ann-Christine Bärnsten - Ska vi plocka körsbär i min trädgård? Hadar & Glenmarks - Lady Antoinette Lasse Berghagen - Jennie, Jennie (winning song) Ted Gärdestad - Rockin' 'n' Reeling Svenne & Lotta - Bang en boomerang Björn Skifs - Michelangelo Göran Fristorp - Som min vän Gimmicks - Sången lär ha vingar All four ABBA members can be seen (very, very briefly!) on the back row of the audience during Björn Skif's performance of Michelangelo. Their outline is unmistakable. Benny and Frida were sitting in the row behind Agnetha and Björn (who was wearing a distinctive scarf that hung down his front his front. You can see him more clearly during Lasse Berghagen's performance of his winning song. Frida and Björn can be seen on the right-hand of the screen here during Ann-Christine Bärnsten's performance.
Benny, Björn and Stig were there as song-writers of Bang en Boomerang performed by Svenne and Lotta.
The song was originally written for them by Benny & Björn and then re-recorded by ABBA after Svenne & Lotta finished 3rd in Melodifestival (they appeared with the Swedish version Bang en Boomerang but have also recorded the song in English).
The filming date was confirmed by Görel's diary from 1975 as seen in the leaflet supplied in ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling.
This clip as been officially released on the Melodifestivalen - The Favorites DVD (Melodifestivalen 50 År - Vinnarna & Favoriter) The programme is available via the SVT Open Archive (although unfortnately not viewable in the UK or maybe even outside Sweden)
Watch for: Karin Glenmark who provided backing vocals for Hadar & Glenmarks Anders Glenmark playing guitar for Hadar & Glenmarks Benny backstage with Lasse Berghagen when the points come in

Filmed: Thursday 27 February 1975 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Monday 7 April 1975, SVT, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:The programme title does not lend itself to a straightforward translation. But if you were young in the 1970s, it might make some sense. Kika is slang for 'look at', Digga is slang for 'enjoy' (often referring to music) or 'check out', (that's the word ABBA misused in 'Dancing Queen' (Dig In = Check out, later changed to Diggin') Ding does not mean anything in this context, so basically the name of the TV-show translates as "Watch and Enjoy".
This was part of a programme and radio series produced by future ABBA photographer Anders Hanser.
He explained the background in his slide show ABBA - The Pictures which was shown at ABBA - The Exhibition at the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm from 1999-2000. Also taking part in the series were Tommy Körberg (the host), Ted Gärdestad and Kalle Moraeus (making his TV debut as a 12 year old!).
Frida appears on the right in a "blink-and-you'll-miss-her" appearance singing backing vocals with Lena Ericsson on Harpo's song Movie Star. Lena Ericsson had competed against ABBA in the Melodifestivalen in 1974. This was part of the programme featuring a report on how a record was made. This was probably the first time Anders Hanser photographed an ABBA member. Agnetha was supposed to be there too but couldn’t make it according to Anders Hanser’s presentation at the Fan Club Day in 2019.
Anders Hanser's photograph of Frida is included in his book with Carl Magnus Palm, From ABBA To Mamma Mia!. He had invited ABBA to take part in the first show but they won Eurovision and he couldn't get near them until a few years later when he also met his future wife, Görel.
Click here for a TV listing (for the repeated programme) from Dagens Nyheter - 18 November 1975.
Broadcast information:
Tuesday 18 November 1975 - repeated.
Friday 2 January 2004 on Dutch programme Single Luck
Monday 11 August 2008 - on a programme about one-hit wonders.

Filmed: March 1975 Location: Polar Music office, Baldersgatan, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 20 March 1975, YLE1, Finland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 19:51 of remaining footage (of this, B&B is 3:27)
Shown in: Finland
Notes:Iltatähti = Evening Star
Iltatähti was around 50 minutes long and was a music and talk show broadcast on YLE from 1973-1983.
This was episode 5 and the presenter was Tapio Tuominen. Unfortunately they did not save the series in its entirety but this episode has remained in part only - but luckily the Björn and Benny interview was a part of it that was saved.
Benny and Björn were interviewed by Tapio Tuominen, other guests on this episode were Maarit Hurmerinta and Greenslade.
Available to view here on the YLE TV archive.

Filmed: March 1975 Location: Polar Music offices, Baldersgatan 1, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 21 March 1975, AVRO, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 31 seconds
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:The fifth item on this news programme (like Netwerk) was called Songfestival, a report about the Eurovision Song Contest (22 March 1975), and also the Alternativ Festival and was about the Dutch group Teach-In going to Stockholm for the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest (which they subsequently won).
This very short interview with Agnetha and Frida was to highlight the 1974 winners. Agnetha did all the talking.
Watch for: Agnetha crossing her fingers

Filmed: 3-4 March 1975 Location: Hilversum, Netherlands Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: See below
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:AVRO's Toppop ran from 22 September 1970 to 27 June 1988.
Two songs were shown on this programme in 1975 - SOS and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. However, in 2006 it became apparent that it was ONLY SOS that was recorded exclusively for this show. The performance of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do that was shown on Toppop in 1975 was actually a repeated broadcast of the one from The Eddy Go Round Show.
However, in early 2007, it was confirmed that I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was recorded at the same time as SOS via the book AVRO's Toppop released in 1999. Apparently ABBA were in the Hilversum studio and filmed both clips (a picture appears in the book). As soon as I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was ready, Toppop did not have to use The Eddy Go Round Show clip anymore and on 18 April 1975 they showed their own Toppop clip of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (on 21 March they had to show The Eddy Go Round Show version of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do). Sadly all master tapes of Toppop between February and September 1975 have been erased. SOS survived because they filmed it to be used after SOS was released.
The SOS clip has not been available for sale or broadcast for many years due to "legal issues" although has been available in fan circles.
Other artists on the SOS episode included: Leo Sayer Patty Labelle The Cats Bachman-Turner Overdrive Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Rufus and Chaka Khan Sparks Shirley & Co Donna Summer Slade Teach-In Demis Roussos Pilot Bay City Rollers Guys & Dolls Gene Pitney Wizzard Jigsaw and Trammps. Click here for a either a rehearsal picture - or perhaps it is from the performance of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"? Note that Agnetha and Frida have both discarded their capes. Information about the show has been released in a book and DVD package called Pop op TV 1960-1975. Filming date confirmed by Görel's diary from 1975 as seen in the leaflet supplied in ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling. An alternative version of SOS came to light in October 2015 of a more serious performance around Benny's piano, most likely filmed on the same day.
The SOS clip is available on the DVD AVRO 85 jaar muziekinspiratie (AVRO, 85 years of music inspiration).
Broadcast information
18 April 1975 - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (in Episode 199)
13 June 1975 SOS (in Episode 208)
27 June 1975 - a second SOS version
all on AVRO, Netherlands
Watch for: At the very end of the song, someone walks in front of ABBA on screen.

Filmed: 3-4 March 1975 Broadcast: Friday 4 April 1975, 17:40-18:20, ZDF, Germany
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Although there is a reference on IMDb, I suspect that this is not a unique ABBA TV appearance because it's not mentioned anywhere else and it is most unlikely they went to Germany just for one TV appearance.
Most likely it was just showing a PROMO clip, but as the broadcast date is 4 April, so NOT impossible when ABBA went to The Netherlands on 3-4 March they made a short trip to Germany too - but it need to confirm yet. Cast (in credits order): Ulrike von Möllendorff (co-host) Gerd Mausbach (co-host) ABBA Click here for a TV listing from Leidsch Dagblad - 4 April 1975, p5

Filmed: Tuesday 4 March 1975 Location: NCRV TV Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands Broadcast: Thursday 6 March 1975, 21:10-22:00, on NCRV, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:This series ran from 18 March 1970 to 24 August 1976 on NCRV and contained 84 episodes. Episode 61
ABBA were interviewed by host Eddy Becker and performed Honey Honey, So Long and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (introduced by Björn) in a performance that is usually assumed to be from 1974.
Running order of the show: Duane Eddy * - Rebel Rouser Duane Eddy - Play Me like you play Guitar Marjan Schatteleyn - Mijn hart is er vol van (debut of the month) The Hollies - Give Me Time The Hollies - I'm Down The Hollies - Sandy ABBA - Honey Honey ABBA - So Long ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Frank Ifield - Lovesick Blues Frank Ifield - Silver Wings Frank Ifield - California Cottonfields NOTE: The guest images linked above are probably from rehearsals and are in black and white. It seems a strange mix of guests when The Hollies, Frank Ifield and Duane Eddy were all huge names from the 60s, not the 70s.
Information and pictures from this show has been pretty few and far between for many years. Until c.2011 there were only a handful of pictures from this which we now know were actually just dress rehearsal pictures, for example this one of Frida and Agnetha; this one of Frida; this one of Björn and this one of ABBA (note that Frida has no make-up on which is unusual for a TV appearance).
Information about the shows has been released in a book and DVD package called Pop op TV 1960-1975 (DVD & book). Before the book, it was thought that only two performances were made: Honey Honey and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do but now we now they performed So Long as well.
All early Eddy Becker shows (The Eddy Becker Show from 1974 and this one and The Eddy Go Round Show later in 1975) have been erased from the Dutch TV archive. Apparently TV company NCRV saved Best of Compilations but these were all destroyed in 1976 when the the show finished and the original logs were thrown away when they moved to a new building.
However, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do DOES still exist from this show (but only this one song) and only on a home-made VCR tape, where these images come from. And no, I don't have a copy of it, just the images below.
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was also broadcast on the Highlights Show on 24 July 1975 which might explain why only one song survived on video or could it have been broadcast on something like Toppop and salvaged from there?
* Duane Eddy made the following comments to Expressen in an interview published 15 March 1975, "We were in the same Dutch TV show. They did three songs, all of which were good. Amazingly good.” Apparently Duane Eddy took ABBA as a sign that pop music was getting better after a slump with flower power and drug-influenced music, which he didn’t understand.
Click here for a TV listing from Stem - 6 March 1975, p.21

Filmed: Tuesday 15 April 1975 Location: Belgium Broadcast: Saturday 26 April 1975, 20:40-21:35, RTB*, Belgium
Shown in: Belgium
Notes:Chansons à la Carte = Songs of the Map
Chansons à la Carte was a monthly music series run on Saturday evening on channel RTB from 15 October 1972 to 1983, hosted by André Torrent.
Rock Me was performed at the beginning of the show with I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do later in the programme.
This clip does not exist any more in the Belgian TV archives. Prepare yourself for some terrible information: the RTB technicians used the tapes to re-record sports events and football matches! They only have some episodes of Chansons a la Carte from the early 80s in their archives. I hope those guilty can sleep at night!
It's not known whether the above photos are from the TV broadcast or not given that it's been erased. They could just be taken from the audience - but as it's all we have, I am including them here. It seems that some pictures show Björn wearing the leopard-print cape and taking the lead so I presume that is for Rock Me. Frida and Agnetha are also both wearing their capes. Therefore, the other photos with capes removed must be I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do.
* RTB stands for Radiodiffusion-Télévision Belge but is now called RTBF.
Click here for a TV listing from Leidse Courant - 26 April 1975, p.2
Click here for a rehearsal picture.

Filmed: 16-20 April 1975 * Location: Paris, France Broadcast: 23 April 1975, 12:30-12:57, TF1, France
Shown in: France
Notes:Midi-Première = Midi-First
Apparently Midi-Première was always broadcast live from a different French city every day and was a variety show around 26 minutes long.
ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do on this programme which was broadcast from the newly-built and inaugurated Auxerre Market (ABBA performance probably not recorded there but back in Paris).
The edition on 23 April 1975 was broadcast from Auxerre Market and a short report about the market was filmed for the programme and that's the only part of this programme left in the archives. The ABBA appearance does not exist in the French TV archives.
* The filming date is according to ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez (p.112). ABBA were only in Paris for 2-3 days between the dates of 16-20 April 1975.
Click here for a TV listing from Nouvelliste - 23 April 1975, p.5

Filmed: 16-20 April 1975 * Location: Paris, France Broadcast: Sunday 27 April 1975, 19:30-20:00, A2, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2¼ mins. Full programme: 1:05:14
Shown in: France
Notes:Every Sunday evening, during the 1970s there was a TV show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). Ring Parade was shown every Sunday at 19.30 and was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20.00 and 20.30 followed by Système 2.
Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition. ABBA appeared in Ring Ring or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s.
ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do to playback on this show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel.
Agnetha, Frida and Benny can be seen at the end of the show in the guest line-up. Agnetha is in the front row, 3rd person on the left and Frida and Benny's faces can be seen in the middle of the back row. The guests on the show were: Guy Beart - La gambille, Tournez rotatives The Compagnons - Welcome Guy Beart - Il y a plus d'un an Carlos and Sophie Darel - Qu'on est bien Guy Beart and Sophie Darel (imitant Marie Laforet) - Frantz Pierre Perret - Chandernagor Nicole Rieu - L'eau vive Segment of an animated cartoon + a comedy sketch ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (edited version: the middle of the song is edited out) Nino Ferrer - Le Sud Sophie Darel with dancers - Il fait trop beau pour travailler Carlos - Senor météo Georges Brassens, Jacques Grello et Guy Beart - Une jolie vache Comedy scetch Guy Beart - Allo, tu m'entends End scene *ABBA were in Paris for only 2-3 days between these dates
Click here for a TV listing from Nouvelliste - 26 April 1975, p5

Filmed: 16-20 April 1975 * Location: Paris, France Broadcast: 19 April 1975
Shown in: France
Notes:ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do.
This is confirmed by the French INA archives but the tape must have been erased.
*ABBA were in Paris for only 2-3 days between these dates

Filmed: Thursday 24 April 1975 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Thursday 24 April 1975, 6.30-7.30pm, TV1 - Sweden - LIVE
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Sveriges Magasin = Sweden's Magazine
ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Rock Me and were interviewed by Lars-Gunnar Björklund and Ria Wägner.
The filming location alternated between Stockholm and Gothenburg (and possibly other cities as well).
The film archive contains some programme data: there were three reports on various subjects which were saved but not the ABBA section which is not listed in the archive.
The pictures above were taken from the TV set at the time by Swedish fan Micke Andersson.

Filmed: 28-29 April 1975 Location: mainly Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: ABBA - The Definitive Collection
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:The PROMOS for SOS, Bang-A-Boomerang, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Mamma Mia were directed by Lasse Hallström at a combined cost of less than 50,000 Swedish Kronor. These were the four songs that were felt to have the strongest hit potential from the ABBA album and filmed with a view to promote it.
Bang-A-Boomerang was filmed at the same time as the island bits for SOS on a windy, blustery Spring day in Stockholm. The promo is full of hair blowing in the wind. It's also full of wonderful, happy smiles which makes it probably ABBA's most joyous promo film.
The promo film is fast-moving with lot of close-ups of their faces in profile and the occasional face-to-face shot of the two couples - the kind of thing that would become known for in their promo films. Interspersed throughout the promo are cartoon stills including images of Superman and lots of 'Bangs', 'Pows', 'Crashes' and 'Booms'!
This is one of only three times (that we can find) where Björn wore his leopard-skin cape - the others being the performances of Rock Me on Chasons à la Carte and The Eddy-Go Round Show Special.
It was re-edited for the More ABBA Gold video 1993 and is available on the DVD ABBA - The Definitive Collection amongst other official releases.

Watch for: Frida fluffing her lines (and knowing it) over "never use it as a selfish tool"

Filmed: 28-29 April 1975 Location: SVT Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: ABBA - The Definitive Collection
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:The PROMOS for SOS, Bang-A-Boomerang, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Mamma Mia were directed by Lasse Hallström at a combined cost of less than 50,000 Swedish Kronor. These were the four songs that were felt to have the strongest hit potential from the ABBA album and filmed with a view to promote it.
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was filmed at the same time as the promo video of Mamma Mia and one scene was filmed whilst wearing the clothes for a very quick scene from SOS.
The most simple of promo videos - back-lit headshots then superimposed heads to seem like they're looking at each other.
No more than two ABBA members are seen together in the same shot - and that was Benny and Björn with their saxophones!
It's available on More ABBA Gold (video) and the DVD ABBA - The Definitive Collection amongst others. The following is from the ABBA Omnibus blog by Ian Cole:
(with thanks also to Matti Crocker and Trent Nickson) On Sunday 3 August 1975, Australian TV programme Countdown played the promotional film clip for I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. Countdown was a nationally-broadcast weekly music programme on the government-owned ABC network that ran from 1974 to 1987. The show's producers were always in search of popular music to play. They found that a song called I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do by ABBA was in the top 20 in Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Countdown's producers approached RCA, ABBA's Australian record company, requesting any footage they could play. RCA provided four film clips from the group. Countdown was impressed with the clip for the single I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, but were even more taken with another song, Mamma Mia. Mamma Mia was apparently also broadcast at the end of the show on 3 August 1975, in Melbourne (the capital of Victoria) only. But the following Sunday evening, Mamma Mia was broadcast nationally, and something amazing happened. Though the song was not scheduled to be released as a single, public demand on record stores, radio stations, RCA and Countdown led to RCA requesting from Polar Music in Stockholm permission to release Mamma Mia. Stig Anderson initially refused, claiming that "the Australians had released so many damn singles". In a way he was right: in the 16 months since Waterloo had been released, RCA had put out Ring Ring (its second local release, in remixed form), Honey, Honey, So Long, I've Been Waiting For You (separate singles released simultaneously), and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, plus a four-track EP. After Waterloo's peak at number four in August 1974, ABBA's highest chart position had been Honey, Honey's number 30 peak in January 1975. Eventually Polar relented, and Mamma Mia entered the singles chart at number 52 on 22 September. In the meantime, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was rushing up the national chart, reaching number one on 13 October. After three weeks at the top, it was replaced by Mamma Mia, which remained at number one for ten weeks. The songs' parent album, ABBA, was caught in the slipstream, entering the album chart on 8 September and reaching number one on 8 December 1975. The public reaction and quick chart success caught the attention of overseas media. Contemporary UK news programmes reported on the astonishing Australian success of this almost-forgotten Eurovision-winning group, whose latest domestic single SOS was gaining international attention thanks to interest in what was happening in Australia. SOS went on to reach number six in the UK in November, followed by Mamma Mia, which topped the UK chart in February 1976. Back in Australia, SOS replaced Mamma Mia at number one on 12 January 1976, and a compilation album The Best Of ABBA had been released, topping the chart on 28 March and becoming the first album to sell over one million copies in Australia (ABBA's Arrival later in the year would be the second).

Filmed: 28-29 April 1975 Location: SVT Studios and Djurgården, Stockholm
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:The PROMOS for SOS, Bang-A-Boomerang, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Mamma Mia were directed by Lasse Hallström at a combined cost of less than 50,000 Swedish Kronor. These were the four songs that were felt to have the strongest hit potential from the ABBA album and filmed with a view to promote it.
One studio shot with them all looking up was filmed at the same time as the PROMOs to Mamma Mia and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do which were both mainly filmed in a studio. That shot was part of the original PROMO to SOS but it was re-shot as this version as it was felt it was too similar to Mamma Mia.
It's available on ABBA Gold (video and DVD) and the DVD ABBA - The Definitive Collection amongst others.
Frida's pink jacket is on display at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm.
Watch for: The weirdest shot ever of Agnetha - it looks like a kneecap with a blonde wig over it and has a smiley face on it if you look hard enough!

Filmed: 28-29 April 1975 Location: SVT Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:The PROMOS for SOS, Bang-A-Boomerang, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Mamma Mia were directed by Lasse Hallström at a combined cost of less than 50,000 Swedish Kronor. These were the four songs that were felt to have the strongest hit potential from the ABBA album and filmed with a view to promote it.
These four clips were not intended to promote the songs as individual singles but the ABBA album as a whole. The four clips were distributed as one complete film and broadcast on Swedish TV under the name 4 x ABBA.
Mamma Mia was filmed at the same time as I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and the studio bit of SOS.
This PROMO film premiered the side-on profile shot of two members which were to go on and be the 'trademark' of ABBA's PROMO videos from then on.
This was the PROMO that started it all in Australia when it was shown on Countdown in August 1975 - see below.
The following is from the ABBA Omnibus blog by Ian Cole:
(with thanks also to Matti Crocker and Trent Nickson)
On Sunday 3 August 1975, Australian TV programme Countdown played the promotional film clip for I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. Countdown was a nationally-broadcast weekly music programme on the government-owned ABC network that ran from 1974 to 1987. The show's producers were always in search of popular music to play. They found that a song called I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do by ABBA was in the top 20 in Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland.
Countdown's producers approached RCA, ABBA's Australian record company, requesting any footage they could play. RCA provided four film clips from the group. Countdown was impressed with the clip for the single I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, but were even more taken with another song, Mamma Mia.
Mamma Mia was apparently also broadcast at the end of the show on 3 August 1975, in Melbourne (the capital of Victoria) only. But the following Sunday evening, Mamma Mia was broadcast nationally, and something amazing happened. Though the song was not scheduled to be released as a single, public demand on record stores, radio stations, RCA and Countdown led to RCA requesting from Polar Music in Stockholm permission to release Mamma Mia.
Stig Anderson initially refused, claiming that "the Australians had released so many damn singles". In a way he was right: in the 16 months since Waterloo had been released, RCA had put out Ring Ring (its second local release, in remixed form), Honey, Honey, So Long, I've Been Waiting For You (separate singles released simultaneously), and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, plus a four-track EP. After Waterloo's peak at number four in August 1974, ABBA's highest chart position had been Honey, Honey's number 30 peak in January 1975.
Eventually Polar relented, and Mamma Mia entered the singles chart at number 52 on 22 September. In the meantime, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was rushing up the national chart, reaching number one on 13 October. After three weeks at the top, it was replaced by Mamma Mia, which remained at number one for ten weeks. The songs' parent album, ABBA, was caught in the slipstream, entering the album chart on 8 September and reaching number one on 8 December 1975.
The public reaction and quick chart success caught the attention of overseas media. Contemporary UK news programmes reported on the astonishing Australian success of this almost-forgotten Eurovision-winning group, whose latest domestic single SOS was gaining international attention thanks to interest in what was happening in Australia. SOS went on to reach number six in the UK in November, followed by Mamma Mia, which topped the UK chart in February 1976.
Back in Australia, SOS replaced Mamma Mia at number one on 12 January 1976, and a compilation album The Best Of ABBA had been released, topping the chart on 28 March and becoming the first album to sell over one million copies in Australia (ABBA's Arrival later in the year would be the second).

Filmed: 19-21 May 1975 (over three days) Location: SVT Studios, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 10 October 1975 20.00-20.45 SVT2, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 30 mins (15 mins for ABBA bits)
Shown in: See below
Notes:Mamma Mia and So Long were performed for this short programme which was a showcase for Sweden and Swedish artists produced by Sveriges Radio/TV2. ABBA were the only artists in the programme to do more than one song.
A special film for I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was included in the programme.
Click here for a Swedish newspaper cutting from 22 May 1975.
This was the first time they had worn the cat costumes (using the colours of the national Swedish flag - a blue cat for Agnetha and a yellow one for Frida) for a TV appearance but because the programme wasn't broadcast until several months later, the costumes were then seen first on Disco which was broadcast later in May 1975, a week or so after this TV special was filmed.
The programme was directed by Leonard Eek. Agnetha, Björn and Benny had appeared in Midsommardans från Solliden hosted by Leonard in 1971 and would go on to work with him again in ABBA-dabba-dooo!! in 1976.
Running order of guests: ABBA - Intermezzo No.1 (opening credits) ABBA - Mamma Mia Merit Hemmingson Sylvia Vrethammar (NOTE: This is the same lady who sang Y Viva Espana in 1974) ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Björn Skifs Lill Lindfors ABBA - So Long ABBA - Intermezzo No.1 (closing credits) ABBA arrived at the start of the show emerging from a large crate and launched straight into Mamma Mia. The performance of So Long was extremely lively, especially Frida and for that they removed the long skirts revealing a shorter cat costume underneath (so that's where Bucks Fizz got the idea from!).
The show was presented at the 16th Rose d'Or Festival (also known as Montreux International TV Festival) as the competition film of SVT in 1976.
A PROMO LP was available featuring artists from the programme. See front cover here and back cover here. According to the back cover, there was an extended edition of the programme made. The track listing of the album was:
Side 1
ABBA - Intermezzo No. 1
ABBA - Mamma Mia
Merit Hemmingson - Lapp Nils Polska
Sylvia Vrethhammer - Dance The Samba With Me
ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
Björn Skifs - Michelangelo
Side 2
Lill Lindfors - A Song For You
ABBA - So Long
Lill Lindfors - Then Came You
Sylvia Vrethhammer - Mrs. Robinson
Björn Skifs - Why Don't You Go Your Way
ABBA - Intermezzo No. 1 Additional broadcast information:
17 January 1976, NRK, Norway
7 April 1976, Sweden, TV2 at 21:50
16 August 1976, 21:00-21:45, ARD, Germany
Monday 30 August 1976, 21:15, BBC2, UK
Thursday 28 October 1976 at 19:00-19:30, on Channel 9, Australia, renamed Songs of Sweden
Bits of this programme were used in a show An Evening with ABBA and Silver Convention which was basically just the ABBA clips from the programme (which were played first) and a Silver Convention Concert which was aired on 23 March 1977 with an Australian host.
Apparently Channel 9 received a large number of complaints about the lack of ABBA as it was at the height of their popularity when it was aired in October 1976,
This performance has been released officially on the ABBA - Deluxe Edition DVD, (not the whole programme, just the ABBA bits). SVT made the programme available on their Open Archive but it has since been removed.
Click here for The Australian Women's Weekly - 13 October 1976, p.25
Click here for the Victor Harbour Times - Wednesday 20 October 1976, p.16 (for following week's TV guide)
Watch for: At the very beginnig of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (and before the saxophones kick in), after Björn and Benny have successfully "fought" the other men, Benny seems a little dizzy and very unhappy. In I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Frida leans in for a glass of champagne from Benny while he's pouring one for himself and Björn - but he refuses!

Filmed: Saturday 24 May 1975 Location: Hamburg, Germany Broadcast: Saturday 24 May 1975, 19:30, ZDF Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 49:27; ABBA 3.5 minutes
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Apparently every Disco show from 1973 till 1976 was filmed in Hamburg and then moved to Munich in February 1976.
Programme 54
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - This was the first appearance of the cat costumes on TV although they had been worn the week before for Made in Sweden - For Export. However, as that programme wasn't broadcast until October 1975, this edition of Disco introduced the cat costumes to the world. Presenter was as usual Ilja Richter.
Other guests on the show:
Teach-In - Ding-a-dong
Cindy & Bert - Ich suche einen Schatz
Barry Manilow - Mandy
Stefan Waggershausen - Hollywood sieht anders aus am Morgan
ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
Monica Morell - Danny, mein Freund
Gunter Gabriel - Mit dem Hammer in der Hand
Labelle - Lady Marmalade
Udo Lindenberg + Das Panikorchester - O-Rhesus negativ
The Rubettes - I Can Do It
Click here for a rehearsal picture
This clip was also broadcast on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.

Filmed: Sunday 25 May 1975 Location: Paris, France Broadcast: Sunday 1 June 1975, Antenne 2, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 27:37; ABBA bit 3.15 minutes
Shown in: France
Notes:Ring Parade was shown every Sunday evening at 19.30 during the 1970s hosted by Guy Lux. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). The show was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20.00 and 20.30 followed by Système 2. Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition. ABBA appeared in Ring Parade or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s.
ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do to playback on this show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. Agnetha and Frid wore the long cat dresses.
ABBA on TV was the first to share these images with the world since their original broadcast thanks to a very generous and helpful Hungarian ABBA fan. Extra pictures at the end indicate that ABBA were present throughout the whole programme when all the stars waved to the audience.
Running order of the programme: Opening scene: group Chocolat dance "Brazilian carnival" Jacques Martin's sketch Nicolas Peyrac - So far away from LA The Osmonds - Having a Party (VIDEO) Danyel Gerard - Un grand amour ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Claude Francois - Toi et moi contre le monde entier Michel Sardou - Un accident

Filmed: Tuesday 27 May 1975 Location: Copengagen, Denmark Broadcast: Saturday 21 June 1975, DR1, Denmark
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Denmark
Notes:Omkring et flygel = Around a Piano
Omkring et flygel is not only the name of this TV show, but it is the Danish title of the original instrumental single released in 1961 by 'Bent Fabric and his piano' which was a hit in Denmark and which was later re-released worldwide as The Alleycat which was a US No.1 single.
The TV show, Omkring et flygel, was a weekly Danish TV show, hosted by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (Bent Fabric's full name). It was broadcast on DR from 1960 to 1982 and the greatest moment of the series was when Agnetha and Frida sang the title-song.
The other guest of this episode were: Dorthe Kollo (Danish singer) Arne Lamberth (Swedish trumpeter) and Ivo Caprino (Norwegian circkus performer). ABBA performed SOS and So Long and at the end of the programme hummed Alley Cat. It seems that every guest on this show hummed the tune at the end of the programme in honour of host Bent.
Note: Bent Fabricius-Bjerre was/is known as Bent Fabric outside of Denmark. When he was #1 in the US with Alley Cat, it was under the name Bent Fabric. He only uses his real name in Denmark and probably Scandinavia.

Filmed: Wednesday 11 June 1975 Location: NCRV TV Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands Broadcast: Thursday 21 August 1975, 19:05-20:00, NCRV, The Netherlands
Release status: See below
Duration: 45:55 (ABBA segment 22:43)
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:This series ran from 18 March 1970 to 24 August 1976 on NCRV and contained 84 episodes.
Episode 68
ABBA were interviewed by host Eddy Becker and performed in their first TV special outside of Sweden.
This is one of only three times (that we can find) where Björn wore his leopard-skin cape (for Rock Me) - the others being in the Bang-A-Boomerang PROMO and for Chansons à la Carte. Both Benny and Björn wore the same costumes as for their earlier 1975 appearance on The Eddy Go Round Show.
Frank Ifield was their guest on the show. He sang five songs: I Remember You (probably his most famous song), Joanne, Silver Wings, California Cottonfields and Excuse Me Friend.
Before the clip resurfaced in 2012, there was been much confusion over the years as to how many - and which - songs were performed. Dutch book d'ABBA d'ABBA doe reported that ABBA performed seven songs (Rock Me; SOS; Honey Honey; Waterloo; I've Been Waiting For You; I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and So Long). ABBA Annual also reported that eight songs were performed (SOS, Waterloo, Honey Honey, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, So Long, Rock Me, I've Been Waiting For You and Tropical Loveland). And according to ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez, ABBA performed six songs and an interview. However, these are the songs that were performed (there were only FIVE), and in the following running order: Ring Ring 1st interview Waterloo 2nd interview Tropical Loveland 3rd interview Rock Me Farewells SOS (and flower presentation) Frank Ifield then performs 5 songs All Eddy Becker shows (1974 and two in 1975) have been erased from the TV company archives. Apparently TV company NCRV saved "Best of" Compilations but these were all destroyed in 1976 when the the show finished and the original logs were thrown away when they moved to a new building.
However, on the 22 April 2012, 192TV (a cable TV channel in The Netherlands, broadcast a 3-hour ABBA special, including the Dutch top 30 (ABBA Fan Club magazine #100) as well as The Eddy Go Round Show in its entirety.
It turns out that host Eddy Becker himself had a Philips N 1500 VCR copy of the programme and it is that personal copy that has been cleaned up and used for this particular programme, (In 2006 the tape was rolled out, cleaned and played perfectly and so was used for this broadcast).
The quality is probably not deemed to be good enough quality for a DVD release however.
One of the the interviews and performance of SOS has been released officially on a multi-CD and DVD box set (in a re-edited version)
The first interview and performance of SOS has been released officially on a multi-CD and DVD box set (in re-edited version)
The main title, Eddy's opening intro, segments of Waterloo and Ring Ring and the segment of the 2nd interview has been released officially on Pop op TV 1960-1975 (DVD & book).
Watch for: Frida and Agnetha during Waterloo during "I tried to hold you back but you were stronger". Agnetha during Tropical Loveland playing the piano! The cat outfits - notice that the names "Agnetha" and "Frida" are NOT there on the back. Agnetha's face in the first interview when Björn says, "And a few years later Agnetha found me!" In Rock Me Benny and Björn giving it everything and Frida playing "air piano".

Filmed: July 1975 Location: Viggsö, Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 22 August 1975, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 2 mins, 33 seconds
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Die Drehscheibe = The Turntable
Die Drehscheibe was a daily tabloid magazine broadcast by ZDF Germany which ran from from 1 April 1964 to March 1982 in the early evening and contained 5,146 Episodes.
As part of a serious report on this German news programme, ABBA are seen relaxing on their island of Viggsö along with Stig and Gudren Anderson and their children, Anders, Lasse and Marie. A very cute little Linda is seen sitting on her parents knees.
The German Kultnacht ABBA special which was broadcast on 2 November 2002 on ZDF, showed a brief interview with Frida and Benny followed by Björn and Agnetha and then there was a performance of SOS sitting on the rocks near their island home.
The original clip however starts out with a performance of Waterloo, a clip of the Bang A Boomerang PROMO , then the interview and SOS. The Waterloo performance was recorded in a Frankfurt park with a castle in 1974 with ABBA in normal clothes running around a castle with a "Napoleon".

Filmed: Saturday 2 August 1975 Location: Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 2 August 1975, LIVE, Sweden, SR, TV2, (21.45-22.45)
Release status: See below
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Sommarnöjet = Summer Pleasure
Agnetha sang LIVE Dom har glömt and Tack for en underbar vanlig dag from her forthcoming solo album Elva kvinnor i ett hus (which would be released on 1 December 1975).
Agnetha's backing vocalists were brother and sister Anders and Karin Glenmark, who went on to perform in Chess and eventually became Gemini in the 1980s. Also featured is their uncle, Bruno Glenmark, and his wife Ann-Louise Hanson.
Those appearing on the show: Håkan Sterner (host) Fred Åkerström Maritza Horn (she would go on to appear as one of ABBA's backing singers on the 1979 tour) Agnetha Fältskog Per Blendulf Karin Öhman Anders Glenmark Ann-Louise Hanson)
A small snippet of Dom har glömt has been officially released on the ABBA fan's guide to Stockholm VHS video called, Essential Stockholm, produced by Northern Lights Productions.
The clip was also featured in the 2005 documentary, ABBA: Behind The Blonde.
The programme was available on the SVT Open Archive but it has since been removed.
Click here for colour picture.
Click here for another colour picture.
Watch for: Agnetha's backing singers - they include a very young Karin and Anders Glenmark.

Filmed: Friday 15 August 1975 Location: Clennon Valley, Paignton, Devon, UK Broadcast: Saturday 16 August 1975, 20:10, BBC1, UK
Release status: See below
Duration: 51:00; ABBA bits 6 minutes
Shown in: UK
Notes:Seaside Special was a BBC light entertainment show broadcast on summer Saturday nights from the mid-late 1970s (and I LOVED it!). It was an outside broadcast and was always filmed in a big top in a British seaside resort. Originally the big top belonged to various circuses (principally Gerry Cottle's Circus), but in later seasons, the BBC purchased their own big top to act as the venue. The programme was developed by BBC producer Michael Hurll.
The theme song, Summertime City was by Mike Batt (the man behind The Wombles). The main stage was held in a circus tent (Big Top). The shows were always featured a variety of acts - some music, some comedy.
ABBA were introduced by DJ Tony Blackburn and performed Waterloo which had been recorded outside earlier (and performed to playback - first verse only) and SOS LIVE quite beautifully. In the 1970s in the UK there was a rule that only British musicians could be heard on British TV (or something like that). So whenever ABBA performed on any UK pop programmess they had to re-record backing tracks with British musicians and sing live - which is why ABBA stopped doing such appearances after Fernando, by which time they didn’t need to do it to publicise the latest singles. The rules were relaxed in the late 70s that non-British backing tracks could be used, but all musicians on a recording had to be seen, hence the remixed version of If It Wasn’t For The Nights that ABBA performed on The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show in late 1978, which removed all but the basic keyboards/guitars/bass/drum.
In the days of buying video clips from other fans in the late 80s/90s/00s, the clip of Waterloo showed up on many video lists as being a "Swedish Folkpark" performance. But the proof that it's a UK performance is right there in the clip with the appearance of a bright red London bus in the right-hand corner of this shot.
The running order was: New Edition sing & dance to The Main Attraction, Be A Clown and Funky Gibbon Dailey & Wayne - Keep The Customer Satisfied and Hey There Des Lane - Yellow Rose of Texas and It's a Long Way to Tipperary Lulu - I Was Raised On Rock and Boy Meets Girl ABBA - Waterloo and SOS Janet Brown - The Pleasure Of Your Company Kimberley Clarke - Call The Preacher Kenneth McKellar - Without A Song and O Sole Mio Mike Batt - Summertime City Tony Blackburn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon The performance of SOS has been released on the ABBA Deluxe Edition CD/DVD
In ther performance of Waterloo, notice the two styles of dancing from the girls - Frida bounces to the beat whereas Agnetha moves to the melody.
Watch for: The names of "Agnetha" and Frida" appearing on the back of their outfits for the first time.

Filmed: Wednesday 20 August 1975 Location: Bremen, Germany Broadcast: Wednesday 20 August 1975, Germany
Release status: See below
Duration: 3.5 minutes
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Musikladen = Music Store
Episode 20
This (live vocal) performance of SOS was included in the 1976 Musikladen (The Best of ABBA) programme.
Other guests on this show were: 10cc - I'm Mot in Love Bay City Rollers - Give a Little Love Johnny Nash - Tears on my Pillow The Rubettes - Foe-dee-oh-dee The Cats - Like a Spanish Song Paper Lace - So What I Am ABBA - SOS Roger Glover - Love is All Creedence Clearwater Rivival - Proud Mary The Seekers - Sparrow Song and Break These Chains Available via a bootleg DVD Blue For You with Olivia! (Note: The DVD is NTSC format. I've heard the quality of Musikladen is "OK" and the quality of Olivia! is "fair/bad").
This Musikladen programme was released by ARD in August 2010 on their 1972-1976 Best of DVD box set of 10 DVDs (there were three available at 99.95 Euros each or 249 Euros for all three). The box set 1 included a 44-page booklet with liner notes and information about each episode and also included some pictures. For episodes 20 and 25 there are a few lines about ABBA while for episode 27 they explain how the Double LP The Very Best Of ABBA, ABBA's Greatest Hits came about. However, since November 2010, these boxes (including Box 2: 1976-1980 incl. Chiquitita (1979) and Box 3: 1981-1984 incl. solo performances) are no longer available because of copyright issues between the ARD and "a music company". According ABBA Intermezzo, in December 2010, "We have heard that fans are discussing whether it could be Universal objecting to the release of the Musikladen DVDs featuring ABBA performances. Unfortunately we can't tell you which record company is taking action against the release, but we can 100% confirm you that it's not because of the ABBA performances. A permission for this has been granted long ago."

Filmed: Thursday 28 August 1975 Location: Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 30 August 1975
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Sommarnöjet = Summer Pleasure
Frida performed Syrtaki and Aldrig Mej in front of a live audience. Both song were from her album Frida Ensam released on 10 November 1975.
According to the video Essential Stockholm, this footage no longer exists and is not known in circulation. However, it does have an archive number so it might just exist on a roll of film somewhere after all!
The final pictures above look like there may well have been an interview with Frida on the programme as well. Some of the other pictures were taken from the TV set at the time of the original broadcast.

Filmed: Saturday 30 August 1975 Location: Mysen, Norway Broadcast: LIVE on NRK, 20:00-21:00, Norway.
Release status: See below
Duration: 15 minutes approximately
Shown in: Norway
Notes:Momarkedet was the name of the largest charity event in Scandinavia, and was organised annually by the Red Cross.
After entering through the curtains, ABBA performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and SOS (both in long cat dresses) and Waterloo (short cat dresses) for the finale. At the end of the programme (which also featured Leo Sayer, Roger Whittaker and Vera Lynn), ABBA were given some soft toys.
The performances may be freely available now, but for many years Waterloo was the only performance widely available in fans' video collections. SOS was very rare and until very recently, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was unheard of.
There were rumours of FOUR songs (the fourth song being Mamma Mia) in the NRK vaults for this clip, but that is not the case - just the three songs listed.
Click here for a rehearsal picture.
Broadcast information:
A short snippet of the SOS clip was shown on a German TV commercial for a 5 CD box set of ABBA albums (Die Story) from Dominion c.1999
Waterloo was repeated in Songs of Europe in 1981*
Release information:
All three clips have been released on the DVD ABBA - Number Ones
Click here for a TV listing from Nordlands Avis - 22 Aug 1975, p.4 Click here for a TV article from Nordlands Avis - 26 Aug 1975, p.4
* On 22 August 1981, also in Mysen, Norway, the Momarkedt concert celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, calling the celebration concert Songs of Europe. Hosted by Rolf Kirvaag (and a very irritating puppet), it was broadcast live in Norway on NRK and transmitted in some European countries. A highlights programme was broadcast on the BBC in the UK on 25 September 1981 presented by Terry Wogan. The French version was narrated by Léon Zitrone.
The performers were previous Eurovision Song Contest winners from 1956 to the present day (1981). They included Lys Assia (1956), Jacqueline Boyer (1960), Jean Claude Pascal (1961), Isabelle Aubret (1962), Grethe Ingemann (1963), Udo Jurgens (1966), Sandie Shaw (1967), Massiel (1968), Lulu (1969), Lenny Kuhr (1969), Dana (1970), Séverine (1971), Anne-Marie David (1973), ABBA (1974), Teach In (1975), Brotherhood of Man (1976), Marie Myriam (1977), Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta 1978), Milk & Honey (1979), Johnny Logan (1980) and most recent winners from four months earlier, Bucks Fizz.
ABBA did not appear in person in 1981 but the original Waterloo clip from 1975 was shown instead. They were one of only a handful of acts who did not take part in the show in person.

Filmed: mid-September 1975 Location: Metronome Studios and Polar Offices, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Wednesday 3 December 1975, SVT, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 1.5 minutes
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:In September 1975, Sveriges Radio (or was it SVT Örebro?) produced a 30-minute documentary about Stig Anderson and his forthcoming trips around Europe. Entitled Mr Trendsetter. The 35-minute programme was clearly biased against Stig whose success and wealth was frowned upon in Sweden at the time. It was sheer luck that the production team accompanied Stig to the Metronome Studio at the same time as the vocals were recorded for what was to become ABBA's most famous song Dancing Queen. Although the studio scenes mainly functioned to illustrate the perceived ''cynical factory-process'' in Stig and ABBA's approach to music-making, today we must be thankful for the production team's diligence, for these scenes remain the only film ever shot of ABBA working in the studio. The scenes from the recording studio were spread out over the entire documentary, but have been edited together here to provide the viewer with as much footage as possible from this glimpse into ABBA's studio work. Also, it offers a unique opportunity to hear a verse that was subsequently edited out of the final version of Dancing Queen.
This clip of Dancing Queen in the studio is regularly used in ABBA compilation programmes - but the footage actually orginiates from this programme, Mr Trendsetter.
There is a three second clip of Björn strolling past the telex machine at Polar's offices looking surprised there was a camera there and footage of ABBA with Lotta at some function. Broadcast Information:
The brief footage of Stig, Benny and Björn around a table was broadcast in The Winner Takes It All - The ABBA Story which has been released on DVD. The footage of the recording of Dancing Queen has been released officially on the Arrival Deluxe Edition Very brief footage of ABBA sitting around a table with Lotta (from Svenne and Lotta) listening to Stig was broadcast in the 2012 programme ABBA: Vägen till Waterloo

Filmed: Filmed 21-23 September 1975 Location: Nazionale dal Palazzo del cinema al Lido di Venezia (Venice), Italy Broadcast: Saturday, 27 September 1975, Nazionale (RAI), Italy at 20:40-22:30 and again mid-1980's on RAI3
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 1 hour, 50 mins; ABBA approx. 7 mins
Shown in: Italy
Notes:XI Mostra Internazionale di Musica Leggera = XI International Pop Music Exhibition
This was the only Italian TV appearance by ABBA as a group.
This programme was hosted by Daniele Piombi and Aba Cercato and directed by Gianni Ravera and Regia di Giancarlo Nicotra. It appeared to be some sort of competition with the favourites being Iva Zanicchi, Ornella Vanoni and Mia Martini.
ABBA performed Mamma Mia and SOS. There are very few pictures of the performance. One is on the Italian (DigIt) cover of the SOS/Mamma Mia single.
Information in a television listings magazine does not indicate that ABBA were guests but there is lots of lovely information all in Italian. Here's a basic translation c/o "justforme" (thank you!): "Tonight was awarded the Golden Gondola '75 in recognition for the interpreter of the song that has had the greatest success among those proposed in the previous edition "Venice International Exhibition of her pop music" that takes place every year at the Palazzo del Cinema on the Lido . The scope Trophy candidates this year are three (Iva Zanicchi, Ornella Vanoni and Mia Martini), but the favourite seems Iva Zanicchi with the song I Stubborn Brazilian Roberto Carlos translated into Italian by Cristiano Larngioglio who made himself a name as lyricist with L ' important to finish Canata from Mina. The eleventh edition of the show that is broadcast live this evening by Daniele Piombi and Aba Cercato along with twenty Italian singers and foreigners who will be accompanied by a large orchestra. The characteristics of the event and to bring new pleas for viewers and for Guindi to the repertoire of the autumn-winter. The cast includes: Americans Bob James, Yvonne Fair, John Kincade, Van McCoy, Melanie and the group Shirley & Company; the British Carl Douglas and Peter Wingfield, this complex French, "Il etait une fois"; Italians Peppino Di Capri, Sandro Giacobbe, Enrico Intra, Marcella Chezzi Wess-Dori, Mino Reitano, the Viennese Iva Zanicchi and the native English Mal after the exploits talk to love Mary will launch not blush, fifteen years ago a song written by Giorgio Gaber. Transmission tonight to also participate, to compete for the Silver Gondola, the two leaders is the New Voices contest Castrocaro."
The appearance was re-broadcasted in the mid 1980's in a revival show hosted by Red Ronnie.
List of guests: Peppino Di Capri - Amo Sandro Giacobbe - Io prigioniero * Enrico Intra - ? Marcella Bella - Negro * Wess & Dori Ghezzi - È l'amore che muore Mino Reitano - Terre Lontane * Iva Zanicchi - Libera, senza complessi Mia Martini - Inno e Agapimu I Vianella - Vestiti, usciamo Grazia Vitale - Torna Mal - Non arrossire Mersia - Irraggiungibile Aldo Poli - ? ABBA (Sweden, guest star) - Mamma Mia and SOS Bob James (USA guest star) - Take Me To The Mardi Gras * Yvonne Fair (USA, guest star) - It Should Have Been Me John Kincade (USA, guest star) - Van McCoy (USA, guest star) - The Shuffle Melanie (USA, guest star) - La Bamba * Shirley and Company (USA, guest star) - Shame, Shame Shame Carl Douglas (UK, guest star) - Kung Fu Fighting Pete Wingfield (UK, guest star) - Eighteen with a Bullet Il était une fois (France, guest star) - ? Jair Rodrigues (Brasil, guest star) - Maravilhoso è sambar * a promotional single was released of these songs
Click here for a newspaper article (which does not mention ABBA) from l’Unità - 28 Sepember 1975, p.9
Click here for a TV listing

Filmed: Friday 26 September 1975 Location: Paris, France Broadcast: Sunday 28 September 1975 and repeated 19 October 1975 (just the
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: France
Notes:Every Sunday evening, during the 1970s there was a TV show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3).
Ring Parade was shown every Sunday at 19:30 and was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20:00 and 20:30 followed by Système 2.
Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition. ABBA appeared in Ring Parade or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s.
ABBA performed SOS to playback on this show hosted by Guy Lux and Michel Touret. The format of the show appears to be giving new artistes not currently in the charts a helping hand. The format is that of a boxing ring parade where viewers phone in to vote for their choice of song. The winning song would return for a monthly final. Three songs also take part in the "starter match" which is where ABBA took part in this edition of the programme.
ABBA wore jeans during the dress rehearsals of the show.
ABBA recorded this appearance while in Paris for two days where they also recorded Les Rendez-Vous Du Dimanche and Samedi est à Vous. Running order: Groupe Chocolat - Chuchucambo Afric Simone - Ramaya ABBA - SOS ** (A) Jean-Paul Barkoff - Music, Music (promo video) ** (B) Christophe - Petite fille du soleil ** (C) Michel David's puppet The Rubettes - I Can Do It * Jo Dolan - Lady in blue * Saint Preux - Your hair * Gloria Gaynor - Reach Out, I'll Be There * Dave - Dansez maintenant * Groupe Chocolat dance - Brazilian Carnival * Barry Collins' Ballet - dance excerpt from West Side Story * the six candidates for this week's competition
** starter match
The SOS clip was repeated on 19 October 1975 on A2, France

Filmed: c. 26-27 September 1975 Location: Paris, France Broadcast: 9 November 1975
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: France
Notes:ABBA performed SOS and appeared with host Michel Drucker.
Jean-Marie Potiez remembers Frida sat on the piano during SOS.
ABBA recorded this appearance while in Paris for two days where they also recorded Ring Parade and Samedi est à Vous.
There is no reference to this in the French TV archives so it has probably been deleted. What is strange is that there appears to be no photographs or images of this performance.

Filmed: 26-27 September 1975 Location: Paris, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: France
Notes:ABBA recorded this appearance for Samedi est à Vous while in Paris for two days where they also recorded Ring Parade and Les Rendez-Vous Du Dimanche.
There is no reference to this in the French TV archives so it has probably been deleted. But it is strange that there are no images from this performance.

Filmed: 30 September - 2 October 1975 Location: BBC Television Studios, London Broadcast: Thursday 2 October 1975, 19:10-19:45, BBC1, UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode 613
ABBA's UK visit was from 30 September - 2 October 1975.
They performed SOS LIVE on Top Of The Pops, originally introduced by Jimmy Saville with Noel Edmonds introducing the repeated clip on 16 October 1975 and Ed Stewart introducing the same clip on 30 October 1975. All three episodes are missing from the BBC TV archives but at least if there are home video copies of it there's three chances to find it! (However, this would depend on whether it was ever "sold" abroad. It seems unlikely with the song publishing rights and different labels around the world for various groups - plus the British BBC charts (on which Top Of The Pops was based) wouldn't mean much elsewhere. But I suppose there are three programmes including this clip so there's three times the chance than if it was just shown the once. I am ever hopeful).
The pictures above are confirmed as being Top of the Pops because one of the pictures was submitted by a book publisher for inclusion in Carl Magnus Palm's book, ABBA - The Complete Guide To Their Music. To back this up, the picture is also used on the Top of the Pops web-site. The third picture above, featured in ABBA - The Scrapbook by Jean-Marie Potiez, also confirms it as Top of the Pops.
In the darkest reaches of my mind the bubbles at the back in the pictures below do seem strangely familiar to me. I was only 10 years old at the time but my interest in ABBA had already been sparked.
Until the fourth picture above turned up in ABBA - The Scrapbook, the combination of Frida in long cat dress and Agnetha wearing jeans under her short cat dress seemed an odd one. Now it is clear they were merely rehearsal pictures. The fourth picture above must be from the actual performance.
Other guests on this edition: Mud - La La La Lucy Jonathan King - Una Paloma Blanca The Four Seasons - Who Loves You (danced to by Pans People) Mac & Katie Kissoon - Like A Butterfly ABBA - SOS Carl Malcolm - Hey Fatty Bum Bum Art Garfunkel - I Only Have Eyes For You The Chi-Lites - It's Time For Love The Goodies - Nappy Love David Essex - Hold Me Close This performance was repeated on 16 and 30 October 1975 on Top of the Pops as the song rose in the charts, but all three clips are missing from the archives.
The audio clip is from the 16 October 1975 broadcast (because it's introduced by Noel Edmonds).

Filmed: October 1975 Location: Outside Metronome Studios, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 18 October 1975, SR, TV2, (18.00-18.30)
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 4 minutes, 36 seconds (1:10 for ABBA segment)
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Lördags = Saturdays
Lördags was a TV show for children bringing up topics that might interest younger people.
ABBA, then Kjell Johansson (Swedish table tennis world champion), Lasse Berghagen (singer), Ted Gärdestad (singer) and Björn Skifs (singer) were asked the question, "What is it like to be an idol?"
The interviewer was Marianne Gillgren.
This clip, along with many others from SVT, was available in their open archive but has since been removed.

Filmed: early October 1975? Location: Sweden, presumably Broadcast: Tuesday 7 October 1975, Sweden
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:ABBA appeared on this show.
No further information.

Location: UK Broadcast: Sunday 12 October 1975, BBC1, UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: UK
Notes:This newspaper advert mentions seeing ABBA on Disco on 12 October (1975).
Disco was a music quiz show hosted by Terry Wogan and was broadcast on Sunday afternoons on the BBC (presumably BBC1). Apparently it only ran for a few weeks.
ABBA may have appeared on the panel or as video clip. Unless anyone has a particular memory of this, I would assume that it was the video clip that was shown (or perhaps the Top of the Pops performance was repeated. If so, and the BBC still has this Disco programme, that would be awesome!).
NOTE: This programme is completely different to the German programme of the same name.

Filmed: early November 1975 Location: Los Angeles, USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:The Music Thing (TMT) was an after-school Dick Clark dance/rock production. The show was a one-hour syndicated TV program which was apparently short-lived. It is only listed in LA Times TV schedule from 14 September 1975 through to 7 November 1975, and apparently was only shown on the US West Coast, on the (at the time) independent and trendy LA TV Channel 5. It does not appear either in Midwest or East Coast TV stations programming, so it was not a network TV program which may explain it not being listed in any of the TV reference books.
In his book ABBA by ABBA, Christer Borg writes that "in Los Angeles [in 1975
"During the course of this trip, 20th Century Fox invited the group to take part in a musical film alongside Barry Manilow and Phoebe Snow"

Apparently, ABBA appeared on one of the last The Music Thing shows, in LA in early November of 1975.

Filmed: Filmed Sunday 2 November 1975 Location: Aviary, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, USA Broadcast: Thursday 4 December 1975 at 4pm (EST) on Channel 2 (CBS), USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:Mike Douglas was a genial television host whose afternoon talk show was a beacon of popular culture in the 1960s and 1970s. The Mike Douglas Show was the first nationally-syndicated American daytime television talk show which aired from 1 December 1961 to 30 November 1981. It had more than 6,000 syndicated shows, mostly 90 minutes long and he had about 30,000 guests appear on his show over the years including: seven US presidents; John Lennon and Yoko Ono; The Muppets; Frank Zappa; Chuck Berry; Barbra Streisand; The Rolling Stones; Mother Theresa; Olivia Newton John; Alfred Hitchcock; Tiger Woods; Martin Luther King Jr; Gene Simmons of KISS and many others.
At the height of its popularity, in the late 1960s, it was one of the most watched shows on television. The program featured light banter with guests and musical performances. Instead of an opening comedic monologue (as was the case with The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, for example), Douglas, given his vocalist background, would begin each show by singing a popular song for the audience. Each week would have a different co-host who would appear every day with Douglas.
Season 14, Episode 69 ABBA were interviewed and filmed singing from the exotic birds cage at San Diego Zoo. They performed SOS.
Mike's co-host was actress Susan Saint James. Guests were: Mel Blanc (the voice of cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Sylvester and Tweetie Pie) ABBA Officials of the San Diego Zoo's (Joan Embrey, Dr Jim Bacon, Dr Jane Meier and Dr John Olsen) Joe Massimino band. San Diego Zoo have confirmed they have no photographic (or other) evidence of ABBA's appearance.
The Mike Douglas Show archives (no longer available) are being licensed for professional use in television programs, DVDs and documentaries: "Out of the 4000+ shows Mike hosted, only a small number have been re-mastered from the original 2" tapes. The majority of the programs have been re-mastered, but many more episodes and guests are available as well." So apparently all episodes of The Mike Douglas Show exist in CBS' archives.
Mike Douglas died on 11 August 2006.
Click here for a TV listing.

Filmed: 4-14 November 1975 Location: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, USA Broadcast: Live on NBC, USA and repeated on 22 December 1975 on West Coast, California
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:The Merv Griffin Show was a long-running daytime talk show, starring singer Merv Griffin. The series ran from 1 October 1962 to 5 September 1986 on NBC and on CBS, later in syndication afterwards. A typical show would begin with a short introduction by Griffin, during which he would sometimes sing a song. Various celebrity guests would follow, talking with Griffin. Merv hosted around 4,500 shows (with only around 1,800 episodes surviving), interviewed more than 25,000 extraordinary guests, and won 15 Emmys during 23 years of high ratings.
These types of talk/variety TV shows went on location in various cities. ABBA happened to be guests on one such show in Las Vegas.
Season 13 Episode 56
ABBA performed SOS and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and were introduced by presenter Merv Griffin (picture from a show dated 20 May 1976) and Neil Sedaka (who had, of course, co-written English lyrics for Ring Ring a few years earlier). Merv announced them as, "an international super group from Sweden".
Other guests this episode: Totie Fields (comedienne) Bert Convy (game show host) David Brenner (comedian) Abbe Lane (singer) The Great Andre - (dog act) Mort Lindsey conducted the orchestra. Mystery
Both The Merv Griffin Show and NBC’s Saturday Night were LIVE broadcasts. However, The Merv Griffin Show was filmed in Las Vegas on the USA west coat while NBC’s Saturday Night was filmed on the east coast in New York. It's obviously not possible to be in two places at the same time so it must be that ABBA's appearance for The Merv Griffin Show must have been recorded earlier (ie. 4-14 November) and inserted into the live broadcast (ie. on 15 November), while ABBA appeared LIVE in New York for NBC’s Saturday Night.
Click here for an entry from TV.com
King World Productions, Inc. (also known as King World Entertainment or simply King World) was a syndicator of television programming in the United States until its eventual 2007 incorporation into CBS Television Distribution. On 26 September 26 2006, CBS announced that KingWorld and CBS Paramount Television's syndication operations would be combined to form the CBS Television Distribution Group (CTD).
Currently (Oct 2012) this episode listed in the TV archive.
NB. Merv Griffin died, aged 82, on 12 August 2007

Filmed: 4-14 November 1975 Location: ABC Television Center, 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA Broadcast: Saturday 15 November 1975 (Frida's 30th birthday) at 11:30, ABC, USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from September 1952 on Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV Channel 6 (now WPVI-TV), to 7 October 1989. It was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark. The show featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 music introduced by Clark. In 1963 the programme was moved from its weekday slot and began airing weekly every Saturday afternoon.
Season 19, Episode 10.
Other guests on the show were: David Ruffin - Walk Away from Love Frank Gorshin (comedian) ABBA - SOS, interviewed by Dick Clark, then I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do The intro for this clip was shown on the Emmys award show 2006 during a Dick Clark tribute.
The show was repeated a minimum of 4 times in 1996-97 on the Best of American Bandstand on VH1.
Click here to see the different channel logos of various broadcasts.
Dick Clark died on 18 April 2012.

Watch for: Frida during SOS - she's a little late turning around during the instrumental break behind Agnetha Frida during I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do having to duck under the microphone lead.

Filmed: 4-14 November 1975 Location: Studio 31, CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA Broadcast: Friday 5 December 1975, 15:30, CBS, USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:Dinah Shore's show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home-oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah! and went on until 1981. This show was also known as Dinah and Friends during the summer of 1976.
Season 2, Episode 59
ABBA appeared and performed a very energetic SOS and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and had a small interview with American talkshow host, Dinah Shore. The interview was very short and they only discussed who lived with who, who was married to who and which one had the blonde hair!
Dinah's guests were: Redd Foxx (Comedian-actor) Nanette Fabray (Actress) Norm Crosby (Comedian) Timmie Rogers (Singer) Tommy Butler (Singer songwriter) - Precious Memories ABBA - SOS and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Redd Foxx & Timmie Rogers duetted with This Autumn. Nanette Fabray & Dinah Shore duetted with The Gentleman Is a Dope. Apparently, all joined in for There'll Be Some Changes Made (whether this refers to ABBA as well I do not know).
Click here for a listing from TV.com
The pictures above were sent to me. I do not have - and have never seen - the clips of the songs and they don't appear to be available at all on YouTube.
Until ABBA on TV presented these images of the show, the only pictures we had to go on were the following from the Australian and New Zealand Bubble Gum sets: Agnetha and Frida - SOS Frida, Agnetha and Björn - SOS Frida and Agnetha - SOS Frida and Agnetha - SOS Other pictures 'did the rounds' in books and poster magazines and it probably wasn't until ABBA on TV set about identifying the programmes that various images came from that we knew these were from Dinah!: ABBA - SOS ABBA with Dinah Shore Interview
Click here for a rehearsal picture - also from the Australian and New Zealand Bubble Gum cards.
Dinah Shore died in 1994.
Watch for: Over the closing credits is the notice: "The appearance of ABBA is paid for by Atlantic Records"!

Filmed: Monday 10 November 1975 Location: Aquarius Theatre, Los Angeles, USA Broadcast: Friday 16 January 1976
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: just under 20 minutes (the whole programme lasted 1.09)
Shown in: USA
Notes:Don Kirshner (born 17 April 1934), known as 'The Man With the Golden Ear', is an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing song-writing talent as well as successful pop groups such as The Monkees and The Archies.
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations. It premièred on 27 September 1973 with a performance by The Rolling Stones; its last episode was in 1981. With its long-form live performances, as compared to canned, often lip-synched performances that were the staple of earlier TV shows like Shindig!, it was a real breakthrough. The program featured many of the popular performers of the day during its run. Other notable guests included The Eagles, KISS, Foghat, The Ramones, Kansas and The Allman Brothers Band. The total number of episodes was 230.
Season 3 Episode 16
ABBA performed in 1974/1975 tour costumes - Frida and Agnetha removed their capes for the final song, Mamma Mia.
This was the ONLY time (that I know of) that ABBA performed Hey Hey Helen on TV so this programme is very special indeed.
Running order for the programme (ABBA songs were to playback): ABBA - SOS and Hey Hey Helen Gary Wright - Blind Feeling; Dream Weaver; Love is Alive andAre you Weepin'? Esther Phillips - One Night Affair; I Can Stand a Little Rain and What a Difference a Day Makes Atlanta Rhythym Section - Dog Days and Silent Treatment ABBA - Waterloo and Rock Me Atlanta Rhythym Section - Another Man's Woman ABBA - Mamma Mia The programme was originally broadcast in its entirety on Friday 16 January 1976, then (partly) 17 January 1976, 23:30 pm, and re-broadcast in 1979, ABC, USA
Filming date is from Görel Hanser's 1975 diary - a copy of which was available with the book ABBA - The Backstage Stories.
We may have an answer as to why Don Kirshner's Rock Concert has not been released on DVD (yet). According to the website Historic Films, Don Kirshner sold all his masters to them back in 2002. Historic Films licenses video footage out for any type of production. They operate as a stock video library/historical archive organization and have a treasure trove of stuff. The footage is made available for a fee to Film and Television Producers, Ad Agencies, Corporate Producers, Feature Film Producers and Documentary Filmmakers as stock footage. Don Kirshner's masters are allegedly in near pristine condition. So unless Historic Films agree to it, DVD releases of Rock Concert may never be released. However, the company also licences the Ed Sullivan Show and there are DVDs available for that so you never know.

Filmed: Filmed Saturday 15 November 1975 Location: Studio 8H, NBC Studios, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York, USA Broadcast: LIVE on NBC, USA, at 12 pm
Release status: See below
Duration: 1:06:37
Shown in: USA
Notes:Saturday Night Live (abbreviated as SNL), as it is now known, is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on 11 October 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest (who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast) and features performances by a musical guest. An episode normally begins with a cold open sketch that ends with someone breaking character and proclaiming, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", properly beginning the show.
Season 1, Episode 5
ABBA performed SOS (a beautiful live vocal over the existing backing track) and Waterloo on a set that was supposed to represent the inside of the Titanic. During Waterloo, more and more water was joked to be coming through the port-hole and the boat started to sink.
This appearance was filmed on Frida's 30th birthday.
Programme running order: Robert Klein's monologue ABBA - SOS Pong (ancient computer game) A bee (Garrett Morris) Loudon Wainwright III - Bicentennial Greg Allman's Love Life Comedy sketches The Muppets Loudon Wainwright III - Unrequited to the Nth Degree Robert Klein & The SNL Band - I Can't Stop My Leg ABBA - Waterloo Closing scene ABBA was the only musical act to ever lip-sync on this show - as pointed out during the Waterloo performance! (Apparently that's changed now as Ashley Simpson did it in 2005). To clarify, Lorne Michaels, creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live, and network middleman Dick Ebersol clashed over ABBA's usage of backing vocals; Lorne wanted live acts performing live, and Ebersol thought they were fine as they were. In the end, Ebersol won the battle but lost the war; his input in the show was greatly diminished after this episode. Since then, all musical guests have been required to perform live on stage (apart, presumably from Ashley Simpson in 2005).
Click here for TV listing.
You won't find clips from these performances on YouTube as they are always immediately blocked by NBC Universal.
The programme was broadcast LIVE on NBC, USA and 12pm and again on Saturday 7 May 2005 on NBC (was Sunday 8 May 2005 the further east you go in the US).
Both performances have been officially released on The Complete First Season 1975 - 1976 of Saturday Night Live.
See below for some rehearsal pictures - all from SOS: Rehearsal picture 1 Rehearsal picture 2 Rehearsal picture 3 Rehearsal picture 4
Watch for: During Waterloo, the camera angle tilts to give the impression that the 'ship' is sinking. During Waterloo, Benny and Björn cannot hide their amusement as the 'ship sinks' - while Agnetha and Frida maintain their cool professionalism!

Filmed: 26-27 November, 1975 Location: Hamburg, West Germany Broadcast: Saturday 6 December 1975, 19:30, ZSF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 44 minutes in total
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Apparently every Disco show from 1973 till 1976 was filmed in Hamburg and then moved to Munich in February 1976.
Programme 60 hosted by Ilja Richter.
ABBA performed SOS and left the stage through the audience at the end. Once again, the audience don't seem to care who they have behind them during the performance because they don't look!
An interesting thing to note here is the clothes they are wearing - far more casual and less 'stagey' than previously. But here's the interesting fact - Frida is wearing the white dress from the cover of her solo album Frida Ensam and Agnetha is wearing the red dress from the cover from HER solo album Elva kvinnor i ett hus!
Other guests on the show: 5000 Volts - I'm on Fire Chris Roberts - Du sag einfach, du Smokie - If you Think you Know How to Love Me ** Gunter Gabriel - Komm' unter meine Decke Billy Swan - Everything's the Same Cindy & Bert - Wenn die Rosen erblüh'n in Malaga Hello - New York Groove Michael Holm - Wart' auf mich ABBA - SOS Filming date is from Görel Hanser's 1975 diary - a copy of which was available with the book ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl-Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling.
** This may have been the first time Agnetha met her future backing singers- Smokie. She worked with three of Smoke - Chris Norman, Terry Uttley and Alan Silson - for her 1983 solo album Wrap Your Arms Around Me.
This clip was also shown on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.
Watch for: Frida missing her cue to turn around just before the instrumental break Frida and Agnetha waddling towards each other right at the end and banging foreheads (gently!).

Filmed: 4-5 December 1975 Location: Germany Broadcast: Wednesday 31 December 1975, 12pm-1:35, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Sylvester Tanz Party = Silvester Dance Party
The last day of the year, 31 December, is known by many different names throughout the world. In England it is known simply as "New Year's Eve" and in Scotland they call it "Hogmanay". Throughout much of central Europe however, it is known as "Silvester", in honour of Saint Silvester from the old Gregorian calendar. If the day is to honour Saint Silvester, why would the programme spell it "Sylvester" in the main title?
ABBA performed on this New Year's Eve programme recorded early in December 1975 but broadcast on 31 December 1975 just after midnight.
Wearing the blue satin suits for the very first time on TV, they performed I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and SOS in an extremely lively manner! ABBA-The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez claimed that Mamma Mia and Waterloo were also performed - but this NOT the case.
Running order: Intro and opening dance routine The Rubettes - Juke Box Jive Comedy skech Roberto Blanco - Manolitos Sweet - Fox On The Run Gitte - ABBA - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Demis Roussos - Rentnerband - El Bimbo Albert Hammond - Everything I want to do The Rubettes - I Can Do It La Belle - (dance routine) Ireen Sheer - Good bye mama (sketch) Sweet - Action Albert Hammond - The free electric band ABBA - SOS Demis Roussos - Rentnerband - Medley (dance routine) La Belle - Lady Marmalade Young Generation - Gitte - Nien, nien Rentnerband - Medley Albert Hammond The Rubettes - Foe-dee-oh-dee dum dum George Baker Selection (closing scene) The ABBA clips were included in the programme ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002 on ZDF, Germany.
Click here for a TV listing from Leidsch Dagblad - 31 December 75, p.5
Buy a copy here (I cannot vouch for this seller)
Watch for: Frida nudging Agnetha when she pretends to flirt with Benny during I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do Frida pretending to "bite" Agnetha towards at the end of SOS

Filmed: Never appeared in person Broadcast: Saturday 20 November and Friday 26 November 1976
Shown in: UK

Filmed: mid-January 1976 Location: London, England
Notes:According to a 21 January 1976 report in Swedish newspaper Kvällsposten, when ABBA were in London for their appearance on Top of The Pops, they were interviewed by “Russian TV’s London correspondent”. The article features interview quotes from Stig Anderson.

Filmed: Wednesday 14 January 1976 Location: BBC Television Centre, London Broadcast: Thursday 15 January 1976, BBC1, UK
Release status: See below
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode 629 - presented by Dave Lee Travis (DLT).
This episode has apparently been wiped, but the 25 December 1976 Christmas episode is still in the archives, so any repeated TV broadcasts of this clip is from Christmas 1976 episode and not the original 15 January 1976 one.
ABBA performed a rare live performance of Mamma Mia - sweet clear vocals over a pre-recorded backing track. Apparently two versions were recorded: firstly with Swedish musicians only (Caj Gunnar Högberg, Lasse Wellander and Ola Brunkert) and secondly with Swedish and British musicians.
A photograph of this performance was featured on the front cover of the The Pop Sensations of the 70s magazine. Caj Gunnar Högberg posted his work permit for the London trip on his website. The work permit was valid from 13 to 18 January 1976 so the filming date of 12 January (according to ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez) could not have been correct. Other guests: Billy Howard - King Of The Cops The Miracles - Love Machine (video) Fatback Band - Do The Bus Stop (danced to by Pans People) 10cc - Art For Art's Sake ABBA - Mamma Mia Mike Oldfield - In Dulce Jubilo Roxy Music - Both Ends Burning (video) The Walker Brothers - No Regrets Barry White - Let The Music Play (danced to by Pans People) Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (video) (end credits) This performance has been released on the ABBA Deluxe Edition CD/DVD

Location: London, England Broadcast: Friday 16 January 1976, 5 pm, BBC1, UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: UK
Notes:Crackerjack was kid's TV programme and was famous for its introductory line, "It's Friday, it's 5 o'clock and it's Crackerjack!" Every time the programme name was mentioned on the show, the kids in the audience would shout back "CRACKERJACK!".
It would have been the perfect show for them to be on at the time, along with The Basil Brush Show (although they didn't appear in person on that show).
I must admit I don't remember seeing this or anyone ever mentioning it, but I've been contacted by a fan who remembers seeing ABBA perform SOS on Crackerjack.
ABBA fan Tim is absolutely certain ABBA were featured miming on Crackjack (in person, not in a video) and very clearly recalls the song being SOS - one of his favourites - and Agnetha was wearing a trouser suit with a heart-shaped navel cut-out. (as he says, you don't forget this sort of thing at a certain age!).
There's only one outfit I can think of that fits the description for Agnetha and the 'heart-shaped navel cut-out' but this pink one wasn't worn beyond 1974. During early 1975 Agnetha wore the red silk dungarees with a heart but this was not cut-out and was over her chest.
BBC gettyimages.com listed this as the only 'ABBA' and 'Crackerjack' references:
Clip #: BBC_LLV1537H
License type: Analog archive (RR)
Transmission date: January 16, 1976
Collection: BBC Broadcast Archive
But by January 1976, ABBA were performing and promoting Mamma Mia rather than SOS.
If anyone has any extra information to confirm that ABBA did or did not appear on Crackerjack performing SOS in person (ie. not a PROMO video), please get in touch.

Filmed: February 1976 Location: Gardens, Monaco Broadcast: Télé Monte Carlo, Moncao
Shown in: France
Notes:Le Petit Bateau = Little Boat
ABBA recorded a clip of Fernando in Monaco's gardens in this show which consisted of mostly French singers. ABBA were wearing pullovers (jumpers) for this clip.
There is no evidence of this in the French TV archives and there is no listed programmes of this name between 22 February and 22 March 1976 by Télé Monte Carlo (TMC).
Do any other French fans remember this clip?

Filmed: Monday 2 February 1976 Location: Fattighuset, Döbelnsgatan 3, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: See below
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:Directed by Lasse Hallström.
At the time of filming, the location at Döbelnsgatan 3 was the premises of the discotheque Fattighuset. Alexandra's Disco moved into the premises the following year which was where the cover photography for Voulez Vous took place.
ABBA wore the velvet costumes worn recently for The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra).
Drummer Roger Palm and bassist Rutger Gunnarsson can also be seen in the video.
It was widely rumoured that Björn and Agnetha's daughter, Linda, appeared in the young dancing audience but this seems incredibly unlikely since she would have been just under three years old at the time!
The original 1976 PROMO for Dancing Queen has been widely released on VHS video and DVD over many years. The best collection is probably the DVD ABBA The Definitive Collection.
* * *
When Dancing Queeen was re-released as a single in 1992, an updated PROMO was released (not currently on YouTube) which mingled teh original Dancing Queen video with snippets from the promo videos for On & On & On, Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight), Take A Chance On Me Voulez Vous and Knowing Me, Knowing You. This version has been released on one of the DVDs included with ABBA The Complete Studio Recordings box set released in 2005.
Another version was made to promote the film Muriel's Wedding in 1994. It mainly featured clips from the film interspersed with very short clips from other ABBA promos including Super Trouper, Take a Chance On Me, The Name of the Game, Waterloo, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Mamma Mia, SOS, Voulez Vous, Lay All Your Love On Me and 3 seconds or so of Summer Night City.
Watch for: Frida giving it everything!

Filmed: Tuesday 3 February 1976 Location: Europa Film Studios, Tappvägen 24, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: approx. 4 minutes
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:Directed by Lasse Hallström, this was the first single that Frida took the lead vocal on - and the first time both girls appeared wearing the "gypsy" dresses (although Agnetha had worn her dress in The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra) a week or so earlier).
ABBA are seen sitting around a campfire with Benny and Björn on guitars. Lasse Hallström once again used the close-up views of one side-on/one full-on faces he started with Mamma Mia.
In a video shown at the ABBAWORLD exhibition in London (January 2010) - and then subsequently at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Lasse Hallström admitted that his close-up on the sunset in the first image was a pan-out of a magazine picture. He also admitted that the backdrop was just a black curtain with holes in so that light could get through!
This clip has been released officially several times. Most recently, you can find it on ABBA - The Definitive Collection.
Benny's guitar is on display at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm.

Filmed: Sunday 22 February 1976 Location: Sporting Club, Monte Carlo, Monaco Broadcast: Sunday 22 February 1976, LIVE, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: France
Notes:Every Sunday evening, during the 1970s there was a TV show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). Ring Parade was shown every Sunday at 19:30 and was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20:00 and 20:30 followed by Système 2. Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition. ABBA appeared in Ring Parade or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s. ABBA performed a short version of Waterloo and then Fernando. This was the French audience's first chance to hear Fernando on this show hosted by Guy Lux. It was the world TV première of the song.
Footage has emerged of Fernando but only from the first chorus onwards. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier were in the audience watching ABBA that night. The complete performance of Fernando (and presumably Waterloo also) for Système 2 has been lost/erased by the French TV archives. Luckily, Fernando became a big hit a few weeks later and so Guy Lux used a part of the footage again in a Ring Parade programme. It is this part of the performance (starting at the first chorus) that has emerged (which is a shame, but better than nothing).
I don't know about you, but I don't think these outfits SUIT Fernando .... it looks wrong!
Guy Lux died on 13 June 2003.
Note that the image captures above are from the re-broadcast of the clip on Ring Parade from 14 March 1976, remembering that the original performance was for Système 2).

Filmed: Tuesday 24 February 1976 Location: Paris, France Broadcast: Tuesday 24 February 1976, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 27:55 (ABBA bit just over 4 minutes)
Shown in: France
Notes:Midi-Première = Midi-First
Apparently Midi-Première was always broadcast live from a different French city every day and was a variety show around 26 minutes long.
ABBA appeared on the show and Fernando was performed to playback in front of what must be the ugliest background ever designed.
The "gypsy" dresses look like they are based on a kind of Hungarian embroidery known as matyó. The shirts that Benny and Björn are wearing are definitely "matyó" style - the dresses are not necessarily "matyó", but the embroidery/needlework itself is. This would appear to be the only time all four of them wore the "gyspy-style".
The guests on the show: Danyel Gerard - Ils viendront tous and Beau dimanche ABBA - Fernando Chantal Goya - Dans ma maison
Watch for: Benny and Björn are wearing male equivalents of the girls' "gypsy dresses" which I've never seen anywhere else. Perhaps they didn't like them and wore them only this once?! Also look out for the cheap way Benny keeps his guitar under control with a piece of string!

Filmed: March 1976 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Broadcast: Between Monday 22 - Fridy 26 March 1976
Release status: Unreleased
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Sveriges Magasin = Sweden's Magazine
Sveriges Magasin was topical news programme broadcast daily, Monday-Friday, between 18.30 and 19.30.
Wings were interviewed on Sveriges Magasin in March 1976, after one of their Copenhagen concerts that month, which they played on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March 1976.
The interviewer was Per Falkman, of ABBA-dabba-dooo!! fame, and as part of the report he also got brief comments from Benny and Ted Gärdestad, who both attended the show(s).
Benny said that Paul McCartney was such a great performer because he could be a rocker one minute and then sit down and do an acoustic ballad like Blackbird. And then he said: “Without The Beatles there wouldn’t have been any ABBA.”

Filmed: Monday 1 March 1976 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: 6 and 17 March 1976, ABC, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 6:03
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Countdown was the longest-running and most popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987 so it featured around 600 episodes in total. They were produced at the ABC studios in Melbourne and was broadcast nationwide on Australia's government-owned broadcaster, ABC, and commanded a huge and loyal audience. It screened a new episode each Sunday evening and then repeating it the following Saturday evening.
The majority of the performances on the show were lip-synched. The majority of the 1970s Countdown episodes are non-existent in ABC archives, they were wiped around 1981 when then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser slashed the ABC budget, which got the ABC bigwigs of the time to decide to re-use the video tapes that Countdown was filmed on. These were special tapes and worth about $1000s each. But luckily this segment survived this incident, as it was filmed (thank goodness!) onto 16 mm magnetic film material, from where edited into the videotape of the aired production.
Björn and then Benny and Frida are interviewed by ABC. It was archived onto 3 reels: Frida was interrupted by the regular scheduled general alarm signal test which took place quarterly on the first holiday-free Monday in the months of March, June, September and December - which therefore confirms the filming date as Monday 1 March 1976.
The interviews all took place in a freezing cold Stockholm with views across the water of City Hall and other landmarks. The Grand Hotel was in the background behind Benny and Frida.
The interviewer was Countdown's short-lived and nameless "London Correspondent" (who by the sounds of it was English) prior to the release of Fernando in Australia. This guy is definitely not Molly Meldrum nor Glenn A Baker as has been suggested to me.
Björn also recorded four cheesy 10-second promos for the channel, each with a different view of Stockholm behind them: Djugarden ferriesThis clip was broadcast in the Countdown 10th Anniversary episode. Norrbro Opera Källaren (Norrmalm) af Chapman (Skeppsholmen)
At the same time ABC filmed with Björn an intro for National Music Industry Awards 1976.

Filmed: Monday 1 March 1976 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Wednesday 3 March 1976, ABC, Australia, 20:30-21:10
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 1:02:00, Björn bits 37 seconds
Shown in: Australia
Notes:This was the 2nd edition of the Awards transmitted live from the Hilton Hotel, Melbourne. Before the main titles of the show started, a pre-recorded Björn message from Stockholm was shown, filmed as same time as the four Countdown promos. The actual award show was broadcast LIVE.
Björn's message from Stockholm thanked Countdown and Australia and wished good luck to the nominees.
The show's presenter was Peter Reagen. Some of the award winners were: The Little River Band - Best Group of the Year and Album of the Year Sherbert - Most Popular Group John Paul Young - Most Popular Male Performer Renee Geyer - Best Vocalist
Click here for a short article from The Canberra Times - 25 February 1976, p.17 Click here for a TV listing from The Canberra Times - 3 March 1976, p.22
Watch for: Björn reading the text continuously off camera

Filmed: Friday 5 March 1976 Location: Hilton Hotel, Sydney, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Sound Unlimited (later shortened to Sounds) was a two-hour music program on Channel 7 on every Saturday 16:00-18:00, featuring a mix of live performances, studio interviews and video clips. It went to air nationally from 1 March 1975 to December 1987, hosted by DJ Donnie Sutherland.
ABBA gave a press conference at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney after their arrival in Australia.
ABBA also had a gold record presentation and conducted radio and TV interviews after the press conference.
Later the same day they had a photo session at the Sydney Opera House.
The programme Sound Unlimited taped in 2 parts of this event, a short clip was rebroadcast perhaps as late as 1979 on a Sounds retrospective.
Click here for a TV listing from Victor Harbour Times - Wednesday 10 March 1976, p.11

Filmed: Friday 5 March 1976 Location: Sydney, Australia Broadcast: National Nine Network (Channel 9), Australia
Duration: 25 minutes (the whole programme)
Shown in: Australia
Notes:A Current Affair (ACA) debuted on Channel Nine on 22 November 1971 and was screened week nights at 19:00 presented by Michael Schildberger that year.
ABBA were interviewed and a clip of the Fernando PROMO was shown. It was Fernando's debut in Australia.
Frida didn't speak in this interview - they stood up and were wearing the same clothes as the Press Conference (as shown in Sound Unlimited) but were in the studio.
ABBA apparently asked to do the interview standing because they had been sitting at the Press Conference all day. Mike Minehan said that in his introduction.
In 2008 a Neil Diamond DVD included an interview from 9 March 1976 on A Current Affair on Australia's Channel 9 - so maybe the ABBA episode also exists.

Filmed: Sat 6 & Sun 7 and Thu 11 & Fri 12 March 1976 Location: Around Sydney, Australia (see below) Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: See below
Shown in: Australia
Notes:For versions of the Bandstand TV special The Best of ABBA (Filmed on 11 & 12 March 1976) to be sold overseas, it was re-packaged as ABBA in Australia (sometimes known as ABBA Down Under), and this version showed ABBA out and about on The Hawkesbury River; having a barbecue; at the Koala Sanctuary at Bobbin Head and at Taronga Zoo filmed on 6 & 7 March - and slotted into studio performances from The Best of ABBA.
The songs included the same line-up as The Best of ABBA except Tropical Loveland which was played over footage of them travelling on the boat to and from their beach barbecue. The closing credits for this version showed footage of them trying to throw boomerangs to the tune of .... Bang-A-Boomerang.
Songs performed: Mamma MiaBjörn talks about Australia and introduces the band while ABBA feed some wallabies Hasta Manana Ring RingFrida shows us a baby ring-tailed possum Tropical Loveland (footage of ABBA on the Hawkesbury River)Agnetha introduces ... Waterloo I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do **Agnetha introduces Ross the park ranger while he holds a wombat) and introduces ... Rock Me ** Dancing Queen (NB. this was NOT included in The Best of ABBA). Honey Honey **Björn holds a diamond snake (named Fernando) and introduces ... Fernando ** So LongBenny plays with a cockatoo and introduces ... SOSABBA say goodbye. Closing credits - Bang-A-Boomerang.
Another version of ABBA in Australia has the closing medley of songs from the The Best of ABBA (ie. Australian version in the studio only) played over the end credits.
NOTE: Dancing Queen was recorded for use later in the year for use with the planned next single - and was filmed under strict security. This performance was included in ABBA in Australia but NOT in The Best of ABBA. It was shown on the UK's Top Of The Pops programme and also on Bandstand in Australia in 1976.
ABBA in Australia has been official released on the CD/DVD ABBA Deluxe Edition and has been broadcast in Sweden.
Broadcast information for ABBA in Australia
5 June 1976, Sweden
9 October 1977, BBC1, UK (4.53pm)
30 December 1976, 9.50pm, rete 1, Italy called ABBA Show
Watch for: In the introduction, a wallaby jumps up to Frida and surprises her Frida turning the wrong way in Ring Ring at the end of the first chorus - they are supposed to turn the same way but she turns in an opposite direction to Agnetha - but carries on so you'd never know. Frida fluffing her lines in Ring Ring at "won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking." She knows she's made a mistake and plays with the camera! Benny's funny face during Rock Me

Filmed: Monday 8 March 1976 Location: Studio 9, GTV9, Melbourne, Australia Broadcast: LIVE, Channel 9, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: just over 10 minutes
Shown in: Australia
Notes:ABBA performed SOS and Fernando and were interviewed by host Don Lane in between the songs on this talk and variety show.
Agnetha tried to teach Don how to pronounce her name, then Frida tried to teach him how to pronounce the the Swedish sound "sju". Björn teased him about the Swedish tongue-twister "Sjutusensjuhundrasjuttisju sjösjuka sjömän" (7,777 Seasick Sailors!).
ABBA had to sneak out through the garage of their hotel to reach the TV studio due to fans besieging the hotel.
It had long been believed that this clip had been erased from the archives however, the great news from summer 2006 was that it had been found. It was transferred from the live-to-air recording tape to a Umatic-segments tape in 1976 and then was discarded by Channel 9 in 1978 but luckily saved by someone before it got to the rubbish bin. Apparently Channel 9 regularly chucked out stuff they didn't want any more to save tape and storage space - including this. They've probably regretted the decision many times since!
The show was LIVE in some states on Monday and Thursday nights at 9.30pm. It went out LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne and was recorded from air to be played in other areas who didn't get it live, then copied over as the wanted segments had already been transferred to segments tapes.
Apparently there's 5 minutes more footage from behind-the-scenes lurking around somewhere!
There was a trailer for when it aired in another state the following week in Adelaide on Wednesday nights.
A The Best of The Don Lane Show DVD was released in 2005 but the only ABBA clip was from 1977 as that is the only clip they have left in the archives.
Don Lane died 21 October 2009
Watch for: Frida waving to the audience when someone shouts her name

Filmed: Tuesday 9 March 1976 Location: TCN-9, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 55 minutes (whole programme)
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Bandstand was an Australian musical/variety television show which screened from November 1958 to 1972. It was the longest-running Australian pop television show of its time and for 14 years launched the careers of many Australian musicians. The duration of each episode was 55 minutes.
It was produced at the studios of TCN-9 in Sydney and eventually became a national programme as Nine Network expanded into other Australian cities in the early 1960s. It was based on Dick Clark's American show of a similar name, American Bandstand.
Later an attempt was made by the Nine Network to revive the show under the original title Bandstand with a new host Daryl Somers. So the series was briefly resurrected in 1976 and this new format was based on the BBC production UK Top of the Pops (for example the Top 30 at the start of the programme) and ran for only three years. The change in music tastes however gave this type of format a limited life for the 1976-78 series.
On this resurrected series ABBA performed Mamma Mia and were interviewed briefly by Daryl Somers. This was one week before the big TV special - The Best of ABBA - was broadcast. The interview was followed by the Fernando PROMO.
Broadcast Information
Saturday 13th March 1976, Channel 9, Australia (in some capital cities)
Saturday 20th March 1976, Channel 9, Australia (in some regional centres)
This perforamnce hadn't been broadcast since 1976 but has been rumoured to be lurking in the TV archives of Channel 9. The only things we had to identify the programme were pictures in magazines and bubble gum cards, for example: Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 The interview surfaced several years ago and in recent years, little bits of the Bandstand performance of Mamma Mia have been emerging: In 2012, an Australian TV programme called Howzat! Kerry Packer's War (about the true story of how legendary media mogul Kerry Packer fought a cricket war by secretly signing up 50 of the world’s greatest players to form a breakaway tournament) was broadcast. In the opening credits there was a montage of things that were big - or big news stories - in the 70s in Australia including the opening credit logo to pop programme Countdown but also, 2 seconds of ABBA's Bandstand performance of Mamma Mia. So, as this programme was made in 2012, it must mean the footage must be available. (NOTE: although the ABBA clip comes after Countdown in these opening credits, they never performed on Countdown. The Countdown opening credits are just part of the montage of popular things in the 1970s in Australia.) In 2014, a report on the Today programme about the Official ABBA Photo Book was featured on the Australian programme contained 25 perfect seconds of Mamma Mia from Bandstand. Apparently the whole footage has now been unearthed during research for the Australian documentary ABBA Bang-a-Boomerang!. The copyright notes however stated, "Not for repeat- refer Stig Anderson, Polar Music." As the production team behind the documentary were dealing with Universal, they got this repealed and got access to the full interview and song. But it all happened so late in the day and they already had picture-lock of the documentary, not to mention they had overspent their music licensing budget, so it was not included. But it's great news that it was found and there's hope we SHALL end up seeing it in full one day.
NOTE: Some picture agencies tout pictures of ABBA being interviewed by Daryl Somers as from the programme Hey Hey It's Saturday. However, this is incorrect because ABBA never appeared on that programme. However Daryl Somers did host both Bandstand and Hey Hey It's Saturday so this is probably where the confusion comes in.
NOTE: The title picture above is from Episode 20 on 20 November 1976 is used for illustrative purposes only.
Watch for: Agnetha's face during the interview when Daryl asks Björn about their unique sound and he replies that it's because of the girls (voices). When Benny is talking he clearly gives away future tour plans that he shouldn't have judging by Frida's reaction!

Filmed: Tuesday 9 March 1976 Location: TCN-9, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Channel 9, Australia, April 2004
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Previously unseen footage of ABBA rehearsing Msmma Mia for their Bandstand appearance was broadcast in April 2004 as part of Channel 9's coverage of ABBA's 30th Anniversary and the fifth anniversary of the stage show "Mamma Mia!".
The footage was apparently originally rough snippets but has been edited together so the piece flows smoothly.

Filmed: Wednesday 10 March 1976 Location: National Nine Network Studios, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Wednesday 17 March 1976, 17:45-18:15, National Nine Network (Channel 9), Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 30 minutes
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Celebrity Squares was a 30-minute long game show was based on the US Hollywood Squares and took the old noughts and crosses game as its theme (also known as tic-tac-toe). Two members of the public asked nine celebrities various questions and had to decide who was telling the truth, each correct answer gave them either a nought or a cross etc. It ran on Network Ten from 1967 hosted by John Bailey and was then revived on National Nine Network in 1975-76 from every Monday to Friday at 18:00 with Jimmy Hannan.
The programmes were apparently repeated in 1980 but it would appear that footage of those repeats were junked sometime after 1981. The only hope is if they turn up in an un-catalogued batch of 2" VT spools in the National Film Archive, donated by Fremantle Media the now owners of Reg Grundy Productions - and someone finds them. Audio tapes of two of the shows exist apparently.
Episode No. 6043
For this episode, the contestants were: Alfred Marks (actor) Ugly Dave Gray (actor) ABBA Bob Rogers (Australian disc jockey) Bert Newton (Australian entertainer) Chelsea Brown (actress) Stuart Wagstaff (Australian actor) Patti Newton (Australian singer) and Arte Johnson (American comic actor). All four ABBA members squeezed into one 'square' together. They appeared three times apparently which were probably all recorded on the same day wearing different outfits each time. For this appearance, they're wearing the same clothes they were photographed in outdoors on the roof at the studio in Australia and on the boat trip / wildlife park sections of their TV Special, ABBA in Australia.
Click here for a picture of ABBA posing with host Jimmy Hannan in front of their 'square' and apparently wearing the clothes from another edition.
In this appearance, the first question was to ABBA: "In 1972 Agnetha played in a musical. What was it?" Agnetha answered: "It was Godspell". But the contestant John Polar decided it was wrong And yes, the musical was Jesus Christ Superstar - of course!
Footage of this episode first turned up in May 2015.
After the initial broadcast on Wednesday 17 March 1976, 17:45-18:15, National Nine Network (Channel 9), Australia, it was repeated at some point in 1980 at 6.30am.
Click here for a TV listing from The Canberra Times - Wednesday 17 March 1976, p.19
Jimmy Hannan died in January 2019.

Filmed: Thu 11 & Fri 12 March 1976 Location: See below Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: See below
Shown in: Australia
Notes:This is the TV special that Australian fans were waiting for. It was a Bandstand TV Special and is sometimes referred to as the "Bandstand Special" (because it was an off-shoot of the Bandstand programme) although its Australian title was The Best of ABBA.
This is the programme that drew more Australian TV viewers than the moon landing in 1969 pulling in 58% of the viewing public.
Filmed on 11 and 12 March 1976 at the Channel 9 Studios in Artamon, Sydney, it shows ABBA in the studio performing all the songs below including Tropical Loveland (which was substituted for - but played over - footage of ABBA on the Hawkesbury River for ABBA in Australia).
ABBA performed in front of a studio audience. A competition was run in the Daily Mirror newspaper to win a double pass to the filming. The audience were just back from the stage and were present throughout on wooden benches which ran upwards in rows. Agnetha must have just asked "the kids" to step forward for Waterloo the audience was merely seated ten feet in front of them.
Due to local content regulations, ABBA were backed by a local band (though the entire performance was mimed to ABBA's studio recordings).
Songs performed: Mamma MiaBjörn introduces the band Hasta Manana Ring RingFrida introduces .... Tropical LovelandAgnetha introduces ... Waterloo I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do **Agnetha and Frida introduce ... Rock Me (introduced by Agnetha and Frida) **Björn introduces Guest appearance by Lucky Starr performing two songs (Lucky Starr first made the song I've Been Everywhere famous in 1962).This segment was in the show due to local content laws - they had to have some local performer in the show. When Björn filmed the introduction to Lucky Star, he (Lucky Star) wasn't even in the studio at the time. Björn kept stuffing it up and calling him "Happy Star" which is why you hear a huge round of applause for Lucky Star - it was because Bjorn finally got his name right! The interview between Björn, Benny and Lucky Star was filmed at a different time. Honey Honey ** Fernando ** So Long SOS Closing credits - medley of songs played above. A version of The Best of ABBA was repackaged to be sold overseas and was known as ABBA in Australia which had several differences (see separate entry).
A performance of Dancing Queen was recorded for use later in the year for use with the planned next single - and was filmed under strict security at the same time as The Best of ABBA. I strongly suspect the filming of these songs from The Best of ABBA,: I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, Rock Me, Honey Honey and Fernando were filmed on the same day as Dancing Queen as Agnetha's eyes look very different in these performances to the other ones (more blue eyeshadow!).
The end credits for The Best of ABBA showed snippets of each song that had been performed while the credits ran. Click here for two versions where one has clapping just over the first song, while the second version is shorter and has clapping throughout. This second one might be from the cut-down half-hour version of the show that was shown in 1976.
Broadcast information for The Best of ABBA
Saturday 20 March 1976, Australia (in capital cities)
Saturday 27 March 1976, Australia (in regional centre)
March 31 Sydney, April 24 1976 Melbourne and May 23 Brisbane on Ch9
Wednesday, 7 April 1976, 8.30pm on Ch9
Click below for cuttings from The Australian Women's Weekly on 14 April 1976: cutting 1
cutting 2 .
Watch for: Frida turning the wrong way in Ring Ring at the end of the first chorus - they are supposed to turn the same way but she turns in an opposite direction to Agnetha - but carries on so you'd never know. Frida fluffing her lines in Ring Ring at "won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking." She knows she's made a mistake and plays with the camera! Benny's funny face during Rock Me

Filmed: Thu 11 & Fri 12 March 1976 Location: Channel 9 Studios, Artamon, Sydney Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: See below
Duration: 3:37
Shown in: Australia and beyond
Notes:Recorded at the same time as The Best of ABBA, this performance was apparently filmed "under strict security" because the song was not due to be released until August later the same year. It would have been very exciting for the audience to hear this brand new song. It was the last song performed on its day of filming and they performed it a couple of times.
It was not included in The Best of ABBA,but it was included in ABBA in Australia.
Top of the Pops in the UK licensed it from Channel 9 and it was shown on the programme alternating between the official Dancing Queen PROMO, especially once the song dug its heels in at the number one slot to give the audience a bit of variety.
Release information Parts of this clip of Dancing Queen hasv been released on an official DVD called Rock Revolutions, a documentary "that explores how Rock & Rollb ecame the first true universal language and influenced the biggest social, political and lifestyle changes of the postwar era". Disc 1 is about the sixties while Disc 2 is about the Seventies. The clip for Dancing Queen is used together with an item about the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender) movement. So you get to see parts of the Dancing Queen clip and clips of drag queens, (gay) disco's, gay pride walks etc. The good thing is the quality of the clip is quite good. The 2DVD was originally released in 2005. The whole clip has been released officially as part of the CD/DVD ABBA Deluxe Edition (as part of the ABBA in Australia programme) in December 2012. I strongly suspect the filming of these songs from The Best of ABBA,: I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, Rock Me, Honey Honey and Fernando were filmed on the same day as this Dancing Queen performance as Agnetha's eyes look very different in these performances to the other ones (more blue eyeshadow!).

Filmed: Tuesday 6 April 1976 Location: CBS Studios, 31-37 Whitfield Street, London, UK Broadcast: UK
Release status: See below
Duration: 30 seconds
Shown in: UK
Notes:ABBA briefly appeared in a TV commercial for the Greatest Hits album aimed at the British market with a voiceover by the fantastic Capital Radio DJ Roger Scott.
The album topped the charts in a number of countries and was Great Britain's best-selling album of 1976.
They appear to be on stage somewhere (might be a studio but probably a theatre) and are seen singing very brief snippets of Waterloo, Mamma Mia, SOS and Fernando.
The filming style looks similar to the Arrival advert later in the year so was possibly the same director.
This clip has been released on the CD/DVD ABBA Deluxe Edition on 16 November 2012.
++++++++++++++++++
The location Thanks to Richard Knight (with some help from Carl Magnus Palm's ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions (2017 expanded and revised edition), it looks like we can identify a filming location for this commercial. Here's the impressive clues that Richard found to deduce where it was filmed. The commercial shows the silver sticker on the Greatest Hits LP cover - , this tells us that it is the later re-release of Greatest Hits which included their (then) new single Fernando so it makes sense that the filming was arond the time when it was in the UK charts. It entered the UK singles chart on 03/04/76. Due to the voiceover artiste being DJ Roger Scott of London station Capital Radio and, being a UK release, it was for EPIC Records, UK - so it's more than likely it was filmed in London. Knowing what a tight reign Stig Anderson and/or EPIC would like to hold on budgets for such things, it is doubtful it would run to having a recording console and other recording equipment moved especially to a TV studio or a theatre, for scenery and props, just for a quick TV advert. They’d have done it as quickly and cheaply as possible and therefore used a real recording studio - where all of this equipment was already in situ. It looks as if a black cloth back drop was been rigged behind the piano, but as the camera pans around Björn at 0:32 - we can see a little bit of the recording studio in front of him. There's also a recording engineer ‘extra’ - in a red jumper. As time was precious to the group - ABBA & Stig would utilise their time the best they could and ‘kill two birds with one stone’ if it were at all possible. ABBA came to London to record Top of the Pops on the 7 April 1976. As we know, it was their last Top of the Pops appearance, due to the crazy UK ‘Musician’s Union’ rules - by having foreign acts re-record the backing track of their song. It's likely that ABBA would have recorded the Fernando backing track on the first day of their UK visit (the visit was 6-7 April 1976) and the TV performance the next day on 7 April. A rehearsal would have be needed in the afternoon for Top of the Pops, so there’d be no time to go to a recording studio on the 7th. A quick look at Carl Magnus Palm's ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions (2017 expanded and revised edition) which tells us the re-recording of Fernando took place at CBS Studios, 31-37 Whitfield Street, London. After ‘pretending’ to re-record Fernando for the UK Union Official in the morning (probably) - ABBA then (after lunch probably) popped on some make-up, changed clothes and a small camera crew was brought into CBS recording studio to knock-out a very quick UK TV commercial for EPIC Records to promote the LP with the new extra track. Their hair is pretty much the same as on Top of the Pops for Fernando the next day - especially Benny’s hair. Frida parted her hair a little more on the 6th than on the 7th, but it’s basically the same. Conclusion: The Greatest Hits TV commercial was recorded during the afternoon (probably) of 6 April 1976 at CBS Studios, 31-37 Whitfield Street, London. NOTE: this was exactly two years after their Eurovision Song Contest triumph. Really impressive detective work - thank you Richard!
Watch for: Benny who appears to change outfits - firstly seen wearing a red Tshirt under a jacket and later wearing a navy ABBA Tshirt. Björn wearing a white ABBA Tshirt

Filmed: Wednesday 7 April 1976 Location: BBC TV Centre, London Broadcast: Thursday 8 April 1976
Release status: See below
Duration: 4 minutes (full programme: 40:30)
Shown in: UK
Notes:Top of the Pops was the longest running weekly, music chart show featuring videos and performances on BBC1, UK which ran for over 42 years from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006 and featured around 2,000 episodes in total. The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. Due to the BBC's former policy of deleting old programmes, the vast majority of the episodes from the first ten years of the programme's history have been lost. Of the first 500 episodes (1964-73) only about 20 complete recordings remain in the BBC archives. That's why only four of the seven ABBA studio performances exist in their full-length episodes). The 1976 Mamma Mia performance exists only in a Christmas retrospective episode; So Long from 1974 has been found thanks to the help of ABBA fans c/o this ABBA on TV website but it is feared the performance of SOS from 1975 is wiped forever.
Episode 641
A rare live vocal performance of Fernando introduced by DJ Noel Edmonds over a re-recorded backing track made in London.
(It was only around 1979 that Bjorn and Benny discovered that they could fool the musician's union by remixing the tracks a little in Sweden and then pretend to re-record the songs for the five minutes the union representative turned up to check the track).
The acts appearing on this episode (in the following order): Hot Chocolate - Don’t Stop It Now ABBA - Fernando Paul Nicholas - Reggae Like It Used To Be The Beatles - Paperback Writer (danced to by Pan’s People) 10CC - I’m Mandy Fly Me (VIDEO) Linda Lewis - Baby I’m Yours Bay City Rollers - Love Me Like I Love You (VIDEO) The Four Seasons - Silver Star Carpenters - There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World) (danced to by Pan’s People) Sheer Elegance - Life Is Too Short Girl Frankie Valli - Fallen Angel Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses For Me (No.1 this week) Barry White - You See The Trouble With Me (and credits) This performance was repeated on 21 October 2009 on Eins Festival, Germany and has been officially released on the CD/DVD Arrival Deluxe Edition.
Watch for: Pan's People danced to The Carpenters' There's A Kind of Hush (All Over The World) on the same stage set

Filmed: late January 1976 (going by Frida's hair!) Location: Polar Music offices, Baldersgatan 1, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 28 February 1976, 15:30-17:00, GDR (DDR) Television, 1976 (East Germany)
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: East Germany
Notes:Rund = Round
Rund was a youth program on East German TV which ran from 1973 to 1988 and was broadcast monthly. It featured a lot of international artists of the rock and pop genre and as such can be seen as the East German counterpart to the West German shows Musikladen and Disco.
Episode 32 As ABBA was too expensive to get for the show (however, in 1976 the host claimed that ABBA were too busy for the show but in the documentary* that was aired in June 2013 (showing this clip) they revealed that this was not true), they recorded the film in Stockholm which was a greeting for the viewers of the programme.
The promo clip for Mamma Mia followed that short segment. Then there was a short report about them while they performed a snippet of Fernando LIVE with piano and guitar (however the German commentary talked over the whole thing!). The clip from the SOS PROMO completed the ABBA segment.
The host of the programme was Bodo Freudl.
* The documentary shown was a compilation of the highlights of Rund and sometimes things were discussed. They even mentioned that tabloids created the rumour that ABBA performed in Trinwillershagen which was not true and that they then corrected. It would appear that there is no more footage of ABBA from the programme (otherwise it would probably have been included)
A brief clip was repeated 23 June 2013 on German Television MDR on the programme Es geht wieder rund.
Click here for a TV listing from Neue Zeit - 28 February 1976, p.6

Filmed: late January 1976 Location: Munich, West Germany Broadcast: 28 February 1976
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 43:04 (whole programme)
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Episode 63
During the opening credits you had short look into Agnetha's dressing room and being made up. In fact you can see in the background some moving footage of the rehearsal performance of Mamma Mia. You see a brief camera pan of the mixing desk with several TV monitors on the wall. In one of the TV monitors, you can see Frida wearing a scarf over her head.
ABBA were subjected to one of the most humiliating TV appearances ever by being made to march around the TV studio with the host and other guests clapping as they go - although I cannot see The Bay City Rollers nor Leo Sayer taking part in the humiliation!
Björn and Agnetha come across as embarrassed by this spectacle while Benny and Frida get into the spirit of it and have a laugh, especially as they walk 'as one' with John Richardson, drummer from The Rubettes. At one point when they think the worst is over, they stop and then have to sway backwards and forwards. The host grabs one of Agnetha's arms and Björn grabs the other and she is pulled in both directions with her arms nearly pulled out of their sockets! All she can do is laugh. There's one more march around the studio before they are allowed onto the stage for their performance of Mamma Mia when they regain all their dignity. Apparently this show was broadcast during the German "Carnival Season" hence the whole clapping/shlager thing. The song being sung as they marched around the studio was sung by German singer Tony Marshall and was Vom Hofbräuhaus zur Reeperbahn.
The annoying person in the white wearing an "comedy apron" and climbing on the set and generally showing off was John Richardson, drummer of The Rubettes.
The programme was hosted as always by Ilja Richter.
Other guests on the show: Bay City Rollers - Money Honey Costa Cordalis - Shangri-la The Rubettes - Little Darling Tony Marshall - Vom Hofbräuhaus zur Reeperbahn Leo Sayer - Let it Be Bernd Clüver - Ein fremdes Mädchen ABBA - Mamma Mia
Watch for: Agnetha almost getting her arms pulled out of their sockets when being pulled by the arms in different directions! Frida flicking her hair away from her eyes in time to the music at the start of the second chorus Frida patting Agnetha's head

Filmed: late November 1976 Location: Estudios de Prado del Rey, Madrid, Spain Broadcast: Friday 24 December 1976, 21:05-24:00, RTVE, Spain
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 6 minutes
Shown in: Spain
Notes:Especial Nochebuena 76 = Special Christmas Eve 76
This was ABBA's first visit to Spain after the 1974 incident on ¡Señoras y Señores!.
ABBA performed for RTVE two songs to playback: Waterloo was performed in front of large posters of themselves and was one verse only (two choruses). Fernando was first broadcast on 24 December 1976, 21:05-24:00 on a programme called Especial Nochebuena 76. This was the last outing for the blue satin suits, a year after their first appearance.
During Fernando, some familiar-looking wicker chairs were used - the same that was used for Elsa Baeza (performing Junto al mar) in ¡Señoras y Señores! and also an Aplauso episode on 31 December 1981. This gives us a clue that ABBA did go to Spain, rather than record the two performances in Sweden as previously thought.
Until now, both songs were thought to have been broadcast on a programme called La Noche de Lina Morgan, airing on 31 December 1976. However, there is no programme of that name in in the TV guide of the time. There was a programme named La Noche de Lina Morgan which was broadcast on TRVE in 1995-96. So it seems the two clips were recorded for Especial Nochebuena 76 and re-broadcast on La Noche de Lina Morgan in 1995-6.
A TV guide for ABC (Madrid) for the period 24 December 1976, p.94 ABC (Madrid) - 31 December 1976, on p.93 lists the TV programme Especial Nochebuena 76 at 21:05-24:00 (ie. not La Noche de lina Morgan).
A TV guide for ABC (Madrid) - 31 December 1976, p.93 also lists the programme Especial Nochevieja (again no La Noche de Lina Morgan).
Especial Nochebuena 76 is listed as being in two parts - can Spanish fans help with any information? Can you confirm that both these clips were broadcast on Especial Nochebuena 76 ?
The clips were re-broadcast on Canal Nostalgia around 2005, Spain.

Filmed: late January 1976 (over 2 days) Location: Bremen, Germany Broadcast: 31st March 1976 on NDR, Germany
Release status: See below
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Musikladen = Music Store
Musikladen was a Radio Bremen production, broadcast on ARD from 13 December 1972 until 29 November 1984 and contained 90 episodes.
Programme 27
This TV show (also mostly known as Musikladen Extra but also The Peter Frankenfeld Show; ABBA in Europe (in Australia); and ABBA at The Beat Club (in the UK), featured the songs: Waterloo Honey Honey Tropical Loveland SOS (the performance filmed in 1975)SOS had been recorded in 1975 and inserted into the programme. Rock Me Dancing QueenThe outro of Dancing Queen sounds different to the released version. It seems to be a few seconds longer and you hear the almost bare instruments a bit better. Mamma MiaMamma Mia also sounded a bit different compared to the released version. In the special it sounds like the drums are more noticeable (having a tougher, dry, punchier sound). I've Been Waiting For You FernandoThe mix for Fernando is a different mix from the version released on record. The differences are most noticeable in the instrumental spaces between lines of the chorus - the chime-like keyboards and guitar strums are much 'hotter' in the mix and it sounds a little "Christmassy". So Long (complete with dance routine later used on the 1977 tour and featured in ABBA - The Movie) The opening of the programme featured a few lines of Ring Ring (Swedish version).
There was also a brief interview with the group interspersed with the songs. Benny had never sounded as Swedish.
The programme was directed and produced by Michael Leckebusch.
Mamma Mia and Fernando only were first shown on a regular Musikladen programme on 6 March 1976 (episode 25). The full programme Musikladen Extra included all the songs.
Pictures from the performances from Musikladen Extra were featured heavily on the cover of the album The Very Best of ABBA released in Germany, Austria and The Netherlands.
The Australian version called, ABBA In Europe was 'hosted' by Johnny Farnham (later to be known as John Farnham who had a big hit with You're The Voice) who topped and tailed the show. Fernando and Rock Me were repeated at the end of the show because they were apparently his favourite songs. The programme was so popular it was repeated not long afterwards. The promo trailers for the show included the announcement that it included the then unreleased song Dancing Queen. Most of the clips were re-packaged a few months later as ABBA In Sweden but this time interspersed with interview footage and topped and tailed with the performance of Money Money Money from ABBA-dabba-dooo!!
According to newspaper reports from the time, this programme was sold to over thirty countries.
After a few years of speculation finally Musikladen will be produced for a DVD release in August 2010. Apparently it was given up on originally because a long list of right-holders would not give their permission to give it a DVD release. Someone is however keeping an eye on YouTube because clips keep disappearing with the words, "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Studio Hamburg Distribution & Marketing GmbH (SHDM)"
German TV special - Thank you For the Music (25 Jahre ABBA), 1999
This programme, broadcast in 1999, showed some interesting differences in some of the Musikladen Extra clips. Waterloo - If you've always found the Waterloo performance annoying because of the flashing lights, then there is evidence that a version without the flashing lights does exist - as per the opening credits of the German broadcast of Thank you For the Music (25 Jahre ABBA). Tropical Loveland - Thank You For The Music (25 Jahre ABBA) showed a slightly extended version of Tropical Loveland where Frida was messing about at the end of the song and they all put down their microphones and walk off the stage. Dancing Queen - One eagle-eyed fan has spotted a different version. The version featured in the original The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra) shows the reflection of ABBA in the floor. However, in the German TV Special Thank you For the Music (25 Jahre ABBA), a version was broadcast where the Musikladen logo is on the floor instead. You can compare the two versions together here. Other differences/versions I've Been Waiting For You - This different edit has materialised on YouTube with a cold start (you see them standing waiting for the music to start and Frida moves her left arm whilst preparing for the song to start) together with other camera angles and no red kaleidoscope effects, although much of it is still the same as the original. At the end, notice Agnetha turns around full circle and you get wonderful shots of the back of her head! Thanks so much to Erik Liebstaedter and SADL00KINM00N for the link. This was NOT part of the German TV Special Thank you For the Music (25 Jahre ABBA) - so where does it come from?You can compare the two versions together here.
Broadcast Information 31st March 1976 on NDR, Germany (and again 21st August 1976 on ARD, Germany) June 1976 in Sweden 9 October 1977 on BBC1, UK (between 16:53-17:29pm) 23 June 1976, Channel 7, Australia under the title "ABBA in Europe" and was sponsored by SANYO 2000, N3, Germany. 7 April, 2005 at 6am, Uhr, Germany Fernando was broadcast on German TV channel NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk, the local channel of the ARD/ZDF for the north of Germany) on Das große Wunschkonzert (The Big Musical Request Programme). The ratio was cut to 16:9 and it was the original alternative mix on the soundtrack.27 December 2013, Germany Release Information
Dancing Queen has been released officially on the Arrival Deluxe Edition This Musikladen programme was released by ARD in August 2010 on their 1972-1976 Best of DVD box set of 10 DVDs (there were three available at 99.95 Euros each or 249 Euros for all three). The box set 1 included a 44-page booklet with liner notes and information about each episode and also includes some pictures. For episodes 20 and 25 there are a few lines about ABBA while for episode 27 they explain how the Double LP The Very Best Of ABBA, ABBA's Greatest Hits came about. However, since November 2010, these boxes (including Box 2: 1976-1980 incl. Chiquitita (1979) and Box 3: 1981-1984 incl. solo performances) are no longer available because of copyright issues between the ARD and "a music company". According ABBA Intermezzo, in December 2010, "We have heard that fans are discussing whether it could be Universal objecting to the release of the Musikladen DVDs featuring ABBA performances. Unfortunately we can't tell you which record company is taking action against the release, but we can 100% confirm you that it's not because of the ABBA performances. A permission for this has been granted long ago."
Watch for: Waterloo - the only time Agnetha wore her hair in plaits for a TV performance Waterloo, Tropical Loveland, Rock Me and the interview - The only times Frida and Agnetha wore those dark blue denim jumpsuits Honey Honey - the only time Frida and Agnetha wore the blue satin suits without the jackets Interview - Agnetha having a little giggle with Frida like a naughty school girl! Rock Me - Frida and Benny messing about together at the piano Dancing Queen - you can see the edges of the backdrop which they are performing in front of - and see the studio beyond it in certain shots Fernando - Frida is wearing her Frida Ensam dress while Agnetha is wearing the 'gypsy dress' for its first appearance. So Long - Frida's enthusiastic dancing!

Filmed: Friday 18 June 1976 Location: Royal Opera House (Kungliga Operan), Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Friday 18 June 1976 LIVE, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: just under 4 minutes
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Det låg ett skimmer över Gustafs dagar = There was a shimmer during the Gustavian days
This was a special Gala on the eve of the wedding of King Carl Gustav to Silvia Sommerlath which was broadcast live on television. ABBA were the only pop act on the show.
It was felt that the song had been especially written for the future Queen Silvia but this was not the case as it had been written and recorded the previous year and performed earlier in January 1976 in Germany for The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra) in and in Australia recorded at the same time as the Bandstand TV special The Best of ABBA which was used in ABBA Down Under/ABBA in Australia in March 1976.
On 4 May 2012, Swedish channel, SVT broadcast the programme K Special about opera singer Kjerstin Dellert. One very brief clip in the programme showed her performance of O, min Carl Gustaf where she was accompanied on the accordion by Benny from this 1976 royal Gala.
The programme was repeated on 25 December 1976, Sweden.
When The television show The Story of ABBA was broadcast in 1982, it showed a short clip of the introduction of this performance by one of previous players who says, “Now make room for ABBA and music of this day. There’s absolutely no chance for gloom when they start to sing and play!”
NOTE: the clip in the VIDEO section showing this introduction is not from The Story of ABBA, but from Japan NHK's satellite channel BS-2 2-hour long ABBA NHK Special from the early 2000s.
The clip of Dancing Queen has been released officially on ABBA - The Definitive Collection.


Watch for: The fact there are no close-ups of Frida in the whole clip

Filmed: July 1976 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: See below
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:ABBA were interviewed in July 1976 on an old fishing boat and walking along Strandvägen in a sunny Stockholm city centre by Ian "Molly" Meldrum in a Network 7 production. The show wasn't broadcast until a few months later thus enabling it to include a clip of new song Money, Money, Money yet to be filmed for the programme ABBA-dabba-dooo!!.
ABBA talked about how they met, songwriting, the songs on the forthcoming Arrival album and their plans to tour Australia.
Manager Stig Anderson was also interviewed at Polar Music and you see a quick clip of him and Görel working together. Swedish DJ Ulf Elfving was also briefly interviewed along with a record shop owner. (Note: Ulf Elfving interviewed ABBA for the 1976 five-part radio series A för Agnetha, B för Benny, etc. He is also the voice heard interviewing Agnetha when she entered Svensktoppen for the first time, as featured on the Introduktion track on "My Love, My Life" and the De första åren box set).
ABBA's nterview was intermingled with clips: Money, Money, Money (from ABBA-dabba-dooo!!) Interview - ABBA Waterloo (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) Interview with Swedish DJ Ulf Elfving Interview - ABBA Interview with Stig Anderson Honey Honey (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) Interview - record shop owner Interview - ABBA Mamma Mia (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) SOS (from Musikladen) Interview Stig Anderson Interview - ABBA Rock Me (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) Interview Stig Anderson Interview - ABBA Dancing Queen (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) Interview - ABBA Fernando (from The Best of ABBA (Musikladen Extra)) Interview - ABBA Money, Money, Money (from ABBA-dabba-dooo!!) for a second time! Interview - ABBA Broadcast Information
According to Carl Magnus Palm
Sunday 17 October 1976, 19:30-20:30, Network 7, Australia - according to CMP According to Jozsef
This Network 7 programme was broadcast in Australia at exactly the same time as Channel 9 showed ABBA-dabba-dooo!! (re-titled ABBA From the Beginning). The performance of Money Money Money was shown twice in the programme - which was a big coup for Channel 7 to debut ABBA's new single before their rivals, Channel 9, who broadcast ABBA-dabba-dooo!!.
The following day (Thursday 28 October 1976 at 19:00-19:30), Channel 9 showed the Made in Sweden - For Export programme.
Click here for a TV listing from The Canberra Times - 22 October 1976, p.23, listing the next week's TV guide. ABBA in Sweden was broadcast on Wednesday 27 October at 19:30-20:30 on Channel 7.

Filmed: August 1976 Location: Around Stockholm, Sweden - see below Broadcast: Australia
Release status: These clips have not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 1 minute each
Shown in: Australia
Notes:An Australian film crew travelled to Sweden to film five one-minute commercials featuring ABBA for the Japanese electronics manufacturer National (now known as Panasonic).
ABBA recorded new lyrics, written by the advertising agency George Pattson Pty Ltd, to the tune of Fernando, stating how wonderful National was. There had been a competition where the public were invited to re-write two lines for the campaign. First prize was a trip to Sweden to visit ABBA in the studio. The jingle lasted for one verse and one chorus. The winner of the compeition wrote the first two lines of the chorus, "There are many things we share with you, Together you and National."
One of the many things different about re-recording the Fernando backing track is that the girls switch the lead vocals on the verse. For Fernando, Frida takes the lead for the first couple of lines before Agnetha harmonises. For National, Agnetha sings the lead with Frida harmonising for the first couple of lines. They then revert back to the normal 'order'.
The initial screenings of the commercials were advertised in the newspapers first so that people knew when to catch them on the TV ("Watch the Special to see the ads"). ABBA-dabba-dooo!! (renamed ABBA From the Beginning in Australia) had 5 advert breaks, one for each of the commercials.
Commercial 1
Filmed: Ballroom of The Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: For the first and only time, the blue and yellow cat outfits were matched with white trousers, rather than with either the short or long white skirts. This would appear to be the first appearance of the kimonos - as worn by Benny and Björn only.
Description: With Benny at the piano and Björn on the guitar, Agnetha and Frida we see ABBA sing the National jingle.
No voiceover.
Commercial 2
Filmed:Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing Description: ABBA are seen riding bikes; Frida takes a photo of Agnetha on a bike; shot of a portable radio/cassette player; larger cassette player; Agnetha wearing headphones; Frida laughing on a walkie-talkie with Benny in the background; Benny loads up a cassette player; ABBA walk along a path singing with Benny and Björn on guitars; Agnetha puts a (Polar) record onto a record deck; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; toaster; Agnetha plays with a camera and then a toy donkey; Frida uses an electric orange juicer; portable TV set.
Voiceover: "ABBA is right. National create and develop many things for better living - like batteries and flash guns to capture memories; like a complete range of excellent sound equipment for news and views, music and good fun and National can go with you anywhere, any time you wanna go. National can play your favourite ABBA records, help keep your house in order or get your day started right. Whatever you're looking for, look to a National product - sound equipment, home appliances and television."
Agnetha: "Remember this whenever you see their name."
Björn: "National - just slightly ahead of our time".
Commercial 3
Filmed:Ballroom of The Grand Hotel and Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: This was the first appearance of the kimono costumes for all four of them; casual clothing
Description: Agnetha and Frida sing National; Björn puts his passport, calculator, shaver and batteries into a briefcase. Agnetha plays with a toy donkey; Frida blows a kiss into a walkie-talkie; Agnetha and Frida sing National; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; Benny playing the piano, turns up the portable cassette player while Frida brings him a drink and he kisses her hand; Benny has his breakfast toast while reading the paper; large television set; all four sing National.
Voiceover: "National is more than calculators that add up or a shave away from home. National is more than batteries to power everything from big radios right down to little toys. National is more a way of living better - sooner."
Commercial 4
Filmed: Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing
Description: ABBA are havig a picnic, with a portable radio/cassette player and singing National; Agnetha puts on headhones and is surprised by what she hears; then she's seen with Benny and Björn, still wearing the headphones; , Frida laughing walke-talkie, then Benny in the background; portable TV; ABBA walking/singing; Agnetha puts a (Polar) record onto a record deck; Agnetha and Frida walking and singing; large TV set; close-up on controls, then Agnetha and Björn appear on the TV set; ABBA having a picnic/singing.
Voiceover: "National is a leader in world electronics and technology and National understands what it's all for - it's so we can all communicate better, so we can get the most out of our living, our laughter, our songs, our work and our leisure. In a way, enjoyment is a National product."
Agnetha (on the TV): "Remember this whenever you see their name."
Björn (on the TV): "National - just slightly ahead of our time".
Commercial 5
Filmed: Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden
Costumes: Casual clothing
Description: ABBA having a picnic and singing National; close-up Agnetha; close-up Benny, then Frida, National products: music centre, portable TV, portable radio/cassette player; Benny vacuums under Frida's raised feet; Björn turns on the music centre with headphones; Frida squeezes an orange; toaster; Agnetha plays with a toy donkey; large TV set; close-up on controls, then Frida and Benny appear on the TV set; ABBA having a picnic/singing.
Voiceover:
Frida (on the TV): "Remember this whenever you see their name"
Benny (on the TV): "National - just slightly ahead of our time".

Watch for: Commercial 1 - The blue and yellow cat outfits were matched with white trousers, rather than the usual long or short white skirts. Commercial 2 - Frida and Benny playing walkie-talkies. Benny is blurred in the background but you see him very briefly when Frida is blurred instead. Commercial 5 - Benny is playing the guitar from the Fernando PROMO

Filmed: August 1976 Location: Ballroom of The Grand Hotel, Grounds of Drottningholm Palace & Benny & Frida's apartment Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:This is behind-the-scenes footage during the making of the National commercials. There is no sound to the footage and its quality is rough (amateur) and very bright and over-exposed.
It shows ABBA getting ready for filming footage for the five National commercials: getting made-up; hair adjustments; waiting for the crew to be ready etc.
At the same time, ABBA recorded a couple of promos for "their new TV Special" (ABBA-dabba-dooo!! (or ABBA in the Beginning as it was known in Australia)) for Channel 9. One was voiced by Björn, and one by Frida.
Out-takes for this, together with much better quality behind-the-scenes footage, were included in the fabulous video release Essential Stockholm.
Broadcast information
Ch7, Australia and some very brief footage shown in the 1994 Australian programme Re-Björn ABBA.
Other (better quality) footage was included in the video release Essential Stockholm.
Apparently there was a National Money, Money, Money clip which was made up of out-takes from the National commercials.
The fan who told me about this can only recall seeing it on the Saturday morning music programme Sound Unlimited on Channel 7 (Australia) and doesn't know who would have made it and said it was strange that Channel 7 had the clip because the Nine Network were more associated with the National campaign and ABBA at the time and National sponsored the ABBA from the Beginning special where the commercials were first shown.
It may be that National may have sponsored Sound Unlimited for a while based on this photograph. The National font looks the same. It was never, as far as we know, called ‘NATIONAL Sound Unlimited’ even though the banner below shows that. It would however explain why an ABBA clip featuring National products would be shown on 7’s programme.

Filmed: Saturday 18 September 1976 Location: SVT Studios and streets of Stockholm, Sweden
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:As usual, the ABBA promotional film was directed by Lasse Hallström.
After two enormous world-wide hits (Mamma Mia and Fernando), money was now no object so this PROMO featured basic special effects in the form of flashing studio lights!
Filming of Frida rushing around was filmed at Slussen and on the Centralbron joining Gamla Stan to Södermalm.
It looks like Frida was wearing her little pink jacket fromt the SOS PROMO in the footage of ABBA in the car.
ABBA - The Museum posted a picture of the Money, Money, Money film reel on their Facebook page.
Some extra footage was used in the PROMO for That's Me.
Watch for: Frida getting bird shit on her nose - or what else is it or could be?! As the camera closes in on Frida laughing in the car just before the first chorus, the final frame only has a white something appear on Frida's nose - for one frame only! You don't actually see it on the PROMO unless you are eagle-eyed and have your nose up to the screen ready for it! If I hadn't been stopping it frame by frame to get the best video grabs, then I would never have seen it myself! Sloppy nail varnish on the finger holding the ring - it's on the finger as well as the nail!

Filmed: Wednesday 29 September 1976 (Studio performances) Location: Viggsö and Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: See below
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:This was the first real documentary about ABBA. It featured short interviews (in Swedish) with all four members together and individually (all looking fresh-faced, happy and fantastic) and film clips especially made for this programme as well as a mini-concert in front of an audience. Stig was also interviewed briefly and was shown playing and singing part of Tivedshambo on acoustic guitar.
The narrator and interviewer was Per Falkman.
One of my favourite bits is the few seconds at the beginning where you see them all laughing hysterically.
This would have been the first glimpse of the mysterious summer island of Viggsö and the song-writing cabin.
Songs featured: Knowing Me, Knowing You (Frida on the island of Viggsö and ABBA boating) When I Kissed The Teacher (PROMO clip especially for this programme). Dum Dum Diddle (LIVE studio performance) My Love My Life (PROMO clip especially for this programme - Agnetha only) Money, Money, Money (studio performance, but not sung live) Dancing Queen (PROMO) Tiger (PROMO clip especially for this programme ) Why Did It Have To Be Me? (LIVE studio performance) During the opening credits, there are also small snippets of Agnetha swirling around, Agnetha looking upwards and smiling (very briefly) and Frida winking which I'm not sure come from anywhere else, so must have been filmed as part of this programme.
The performance of Money, Money, Money was initially used in Australia as the PROMO until the proper Money, Money, Money PROMO became available.
This was the first performance of Knowing Me, Knowing You and the first appearance of the 1920s flapper dresses and white Arrival jumpsuits.
In Australia, it was during this programme (known as ABBA From the Beginning), that the five National commercials were first screened.
The programme was produced by Leonard Eek who had hosted Midsommardans från Solliden in 1971.
Click here for further information (Carl Magnus Palm's site)
This programme was included on the CD/DVD Arrival Deluxe Edition released in October 2006.
Broadcast information
Wednesday 27 October 1976 - Australia on Channel 9 19:30-20:30 (programme had been re-titled ABBA From the Beginning)
Friday 5 November 1976 in Sweden on Channel 2 at 20:00 and again on 14 July 1987 in Sweden as part of Det var då i TV2
21 December 1976, 16:00, AVRO, The Netherlands
28 December 1976, Norway
Summer 1977, Finland
1 May 2010 - YLE Teema, Finland from 21.00 - 21.56 as part of the channels Teemalauantai (Theme Saturday) series
19 March 2011 - YLE Teema, Finland from 21:00 - 21:57 as part of the channel's "ABBA Theme Saturday" a successful repeat from 2010
2 December 2012 - The Netherlands
The film clip of When I Kissed The Teacher was shown in the UK on Top of the Pops 2 - School Days programme on BBC2 from 22:45-23:45 on Saturday 25 September 2010.
3 January 2015, 22:00, Kultura TV channel, Russia
4 January 2015, 13:40, Culture channel, Russia.
The programme was broadcast in Australia at exactly the same time as Channel 7 aired ABBA in Sweden. The following day (ie. Thursday 28 October 1976 at 19:00-19:30), Channel 9 showed the Made in Sweden - For Export programme.
Click here for a TV listing from Victor Harbour Times - Wednesday 20 October 1976, p.16 which listed the following week's TV guide: ABBA from the Beginning broadcast on Wednesday, 27 October, 19:30-20:30 on Channel 9.

Watch for: The teacher in When I Kissed The Teacher was famous Swedish comedy actor Magnus Härenstam who went on to play Frida's lover in Jokerfejs in 1983.

Filmed: Thursday 7 October 1976 Location: Warsaw Okecie Airport (Port lotniczy Warszawa-Okecie), Poland Broadcast: Poland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 46 seconds
Shown in: Poland
Notes:ABBA arrived in Poland to film a TV Special (ABBA w Studio 2) to promote the forthcoming LP Arrival which would be released on 11 October 1976.
This was their 2nd (and last) visit beyond the iron curtain as a group (the first was in Berlin in East-Germany in late October 1974 to appear on Ein Kessel Buntes), with the aim of making a TV show to spread in the socialist countries.
Agnetha arrived in Warsaw with her father on Wednesday 6 October and the rest of the group, including Stig, arrived the following day with Agnetha there to greet them at Okecie Airport.
It is likely that this (probably news) footage has never been broadcast as it is different to that featured at the beginning of ABBA w Studio 2.

Filmed: Thursday 7 October 1976 Location: TVP Studio, Warsaw, Poland Broadcast: Saturday 13 November 1976, 20:40-21:20, TVP1, Poland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 46:10
Shown in: Poland
Notes:ABBA w Studio 2 = ABBA in Studio 2
Studio 2 was not a place as thought, but a periodical program series run on Polish TV (TVP1) between 1974-1983 on every third Saturday.
ABBA arrived in Warsaw to promote the forthcoming album Arrival which would released on 11 October 1976. The TVP team made a short documentary about the trip including a short interview with mainly Benny, Björn and Stig which was done by journalists during the flight.
In this show ABBA performed almost all new songs from the new album and the already well-known world hit Fernando twice. The show also known as ABBA in Poland.
ABBA performed (all to playback):- Arrival (only about 1.5 minutes of it) Waterloo (over footage of preparations for, and ABBA's arrival at the airport) SOS (separate footage of Agnetha on her own in Poland and Benny, Björn and Frida on the aeroplane) Nina Pretty Ballerina (over footage of them on the steps of the plane and arriving at their hotel) Dancing Queen My Love My Life When I Kissed The Teacher Knowing Me Knowing You Fernando Tiger Money, Money, Money Fernando Agnetha had travelled ahead with her father the day before and then met Benny, Frida and Björn off the plane. She had filmed SOS the day before and it was interspersed with a rather embarrassed looking Benny, Frida & Björn "singing" on the plane!
Broadcast information
Saturday 13 November 1976, 20:40-21:20, TVP1, Poland
Saturday 29 April 1978, 18:30-19:30, on channel WIN-4, Australia *
Repeated 23 and 25 February 2008 on channel Kultura, Poland
Knowing Me, Knowing Me was broadcast on the Rage programme in Australia on 3 November 2012 proving it's available for licence and broadcast.
Click here for a TV listing from Dziennik Polski - 12-13-14 December 1976
Click here for a TV listing from The Canberra Times - 28 April 1978, p.18 *
Watch for: Ingvar Fältskog (Agnetha's father) getting out of the car (Nina Pretty Ballerina) Agnetha getting ratty with her father! (Nina Pretty Ballerina) In My Love My Life there could be two versions of this filmed, with one shot of Agnetha on her own interspersed with the footage of her and Frida together (or do you think it's just camera angles?) Also My Love My Life - it ends rather abruptly with a sudden burst of audience applause. The reason for this is because there's a 2-second long picture and sound error on the master tape. Thankfully it's right at the end of the song. Frida playing air guitar at the end of Knowing Me Knowing You. Agnetha and Frida nearly losing control in a fit of giggles just before the start of the second verse of Fernando In the reprise of Fernando, in one shot Frida has lost her hair band yet seconds later it reappears!

Filmed: Thursday 7 October 1976 Location: TVP Studio, Warsaw, Poland Broadcast: Monday 27 December 1976, 22:20-22:55, TVP1, Poland
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 4:50 for ABBA segment
Shown in: Poland
Notes:Camerata was a 30-minute long review/magazine programme (Magazyn muzyczny), which was aired in late 1976 on channel TVP1 in 3 episodes.
In the 3rd Episode there was a short report about making the ABBA w Studio 2 TV Special. TVP filmed an alternate version for My love, My Life featured on this program.
15 seconds of it was re-broadcast on TVP2 in mid 2004 on program called ABBA in TVP.
Click here for a TV listing from Dziennik Polski - 27 December 1976, p.3

Filmed: Monday 11 October 1976 Location: Los Angeles, (not New York), USA Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This performance has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:ABBA recorded Midnight Special before their visit to Canada and was probably the first thing they did in Los Angeles ie. before Dinah! and Don Kirshner's New Rock Concert.
It would appear that ABBA performed four songs during their October 1976 visit to the Midnight Special studios. Their performances would then be shown in various episodes as follows: Friday 29 October 1976 at 1am (EST) on Channel 4 (NBC), USAEpisode 7, Season 5According to the VH1 book, The Midnight Special 1972-1981 this show was hosted by KC and the Sunshine Band and it was episode 193 of Season 4 in 1976. (Another source claims this was Episode 181 in Season 5). Performances: KC & the Sunshine Band - (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty; That's the Way (I Like It), Get Down Tonight & Baby I Love You (Yes I Do) ABBA - Fernando (LIVE) ABBA - Mamma Mia (LIVE) ABBA - SOS (LIVE) The Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be with You; Saturday Night & Rock 'n' Roller Billy Braver (comedian) Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Disco Duck Midnight Special salute to Gladys Knight & the Pips Friday 4 February 1977 (Another source claims 5 February)Episode 18, Season 5(episode 205, hosted by Glen Campbell). (Another source claims this was Episode 192 of Season 5). Performances: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host). Glen Campbell (host) - Southern Nights On film: A clip from the Barbra Streisand movie A Star Is Born Queen - Somebody to Love (probably a music video) Seals & Crofts with Glen Campbell - Dust on My Saddle ABBA - Fernando (LIVE) David Dundas -Jeans On Glen Campbell - Sunflower (or For Crying' Out Loud) Midnight Special salute to the Spinners with clips from past performances, medley of hits: Mighty Love, It's A Shame, One of a Kind Love Affair & Rubberband Man. ABBA - Dancing Queen Sly and the Family Stone - Heard Ya Missed Me Well I'm Back Seals & Crofts - Goodbye Old Buddies Glen Campbell - This Is (Sarah's Song) Glen Campbell - God Only Know (or Without You) & Early Morning Song Sly and the Family Stone - What Was I Thinkin' in My Head Seals & Crofts - Cause You Love Glen Campbell thanks his guests and reprises Southern Nights (with closing credits) 4 March 1977Episode 21, Season 5(episode 209) (Another source claims it was Episode 195 of Season 5)Performances: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host). Performances: KC & the Sunshine Band once again hosted. KC & the Sunshine Band - (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty Heart - Magic Man Gordon Lightfoot (performance taped in Canada) - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald On film: clips from Rocky starring Sylvester Stallone ABBA - Dancing Queen Jose Feliciano - Every Woman KC & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight Gordon Lightfoot (on tape) - Race Among the Ruins Andy Kaufman - sings I Trusted You in a comedy song routine Jose Feliciano - The Hungry Years Wolfman Jack presents Jose Feliciano with a "Best Guitar Player of the Year" award from "Guitar Magazine" Heart - Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child) KC & the Sunshine Band - That's the Way (I Like It) Heart - Crazy on You Heart - White Lightning and Wine KC & the Sunshine Band - Baby I Love You (with closing credits) 8 April 1977??? 13 May 1977Episode 29, Season 5Wolfman Jack hosted a COMPILATION episode (Million sellers of 1977) on 13 May 1977 (this is the version most people seem to have on video, not the original broadcast episodes) with the same two performances from 4 February (ie. Fernando and Dancing Queen). This was Episode 203 from Season 5. Performances: Glen Campbell - Southern Nights Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. - Your Love Natalie Cole - I've Got Love on My Mind Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded By the Light ABBA - Dancing Queen Heart - Magic Man Mary MacGregor - Town Between Two Lovers Stephen Bishop - Save It for a Rainy Day Brick - Dazz Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Spirit in the Night ABBA - Fernando (LIVE) Stephen Bishop - On and On Wolfman Jack closing comments Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded By the Light (reprise, with closing credits) Also: Heart - Crazy on You
Watch for: Fernando - it has an extra two bars of instrumental break just before the second verse on some versions SOS - rather than sing in unison with Agnetha for the chorus, (as on all the other live TV performances of this song), Frida sings a variation on the lower vocal line she sings on the original track.

Filmed: 11-17 October 1976 Location: Los Angeles, USA Broadcast: Saturday 11 December 1976 at 1am EST, ABC, USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Full programme 1.5 hours
Shown in: USA
Notes:Season 4, Episode 13
Don Kirshner (born April 17, 1934), known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who was best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups such as The Monkees and The Archies.
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations. It premiered on 27 September 1973 with a performance by The Rolling Stones; its last episode was in 1981.
With its long-form live performances, as compared to canned, often lip-synched performances that were the staple of earlier TV shows like Shindig!, it was a real breakthrough. The program featured many of the popular performers of the day during its run. Other notable guests included The Eagles, KISS, Foghat, The Ramones, Kansas and The Allman Brothers Band. The total number of episodes was 230.
ABBA performed six songs (listed in order that they are listed in the US TV Archive): Rock Me, Dancing Queen, Fernando, Mamma Mia, Waterloo, SOS. They wore the white Arrival jumpsuits throughout.
Running order for the programme: Natural Gas (Comedy Troupe) Ohio Players - Love Roller Coaster Natural Gas Ohio Players - Who'd She Coo Natural Gas ABBA - Waterloo and SOS Natural Gas ABBA - Rock Me and Dancing Queen Mike Preminger (comedian) ABBA - Fernando Ohio Players - Fire ABBA - Mamma Mia
Note that they had also performed Waterloo, SOS, Rock Me and Mamma Mia on their previous appearance a year earlier in 1975.
Don Kirshner died in 2011.
We may have an answer as to why Don Kirshner's Rock Concert has not been released on DVD. According to the website Historic Films, Don Kirshner sold all his masters to them company back in 2002. Historic Films licenses video footage out for any type of production. They operate as a stock video library/historical archive organization and have a treasure trove of stuff. The footage is made available for a fee to Film and Television Producers, Ad Agencies, Corporate Producers, Feature Film Producers and Documentary Filmmakers as stock footage. Don Kirshner's masters are allegedly in near pristine condition). So unless Historic Films agree to it, DVD releases of Rock Concert may never be released. However, the company also licences the Ed Sullivan Show and there are DVDs available for that so you never know.
You might find it on DVD Volume 35 here

Filmed: Sunday 17 October 1976 Location: Studio 31, CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA Broadcast: Friday 26 November 1976, CBS, USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: about 10 minutes
Shown in: USA
Notes:Dinah Shore’s show premiered 9 September 1974 and continued through to 4 September 1981. She started out the 70's with Dinah's Place which usually featured one guest and was more of a home-oriented show about cooking, crafts and occasionally music. This format lasted until May of 1974. When the show came back in October of 1974 the format had changed drastically to a variety talk show which was called Dinah! and went on until 1981. This show was also known as Dinah and Friends during the summer of 1976.
Season 3, Episode 48
Dinah Shore's guests were: George Kirby (impressionist-comedian) - Sailor Man Lynn Anderson (country singer) - Rose Garden ABBA - Mamma Mia, interview, Fernando Wild Cherry (rock group) - Play That Funky Music Miss Teenage America, Cathy Durden. The first few seconds of Fernando were played over shots of plants and scenery.
Dinah asked Benny and Frida if they'd like to get married on her show and they refused saying, "We will get married when we have the time, and in the place we want to, at least not in front of the television cameras."
Dinah Shore died in 1994.
Click here for a listing from TV.com

Filmed: Monday 18 October 1976 Location: Vancouver, Canada Broadcast: Saturday 6 November 1976, 19:30 and 5 March 1977, 19:30, CBC, Canada
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Canada
Notes:The Wolfman Jack Show was a weekly half-hour musical variety program which debuted as Here Comes The Wolfman on 5 October 1976 on CBC and ended on 15 March 1977. It contained 26 Episodes.
It was headlined by pop-culture hero Wolfman Jack (real name Robert Weston Smith) on a mock-up radio station set. Canadian singers and dancers, actors and performers, plus some of the country's top musicians were in the spotlight throughout the variety entertainment series. In addition to Canadian stars and newcomers, there were also international guest stars. The series ranged from the hectic early days of 1950s rock through the melodic harmonies of the Beatles era to the more lyrical contemporary music of the superstars of the 1970s.
ABBA performed Dancing Queen and Fernando (both in kimonos) and SOS (in blue satin suits). Whilst the performances were recorded at the same time, they were broadcast on separate episodes: 6 November 1976, guests were: The Bay City Rollers ABBA - which song(s)? the puppet troupe The Famous People Players. 5 March 1977, guests were: ABBA - which song(s)? Little Richard Bobby Curtola Sharon Lee Williams. There was a repeat of Dancing Queen which was sandwiched between guests Johnny Rivers and The Shirelles in that particular episode. Which broadcast date?
Wolfman Jack died on 1 July 1995 aged 57.

Filmed: 18-19 October 1976 Location: Vancouver, Canada Broadcast: Friday 3 June 1977, 18:00, CBC, Canada
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Canada
Notes:Both the books ABBA by ABBA and ABBA - The Book refer to two programmes being filmed in Canada. From ABBA by ABBA, "... they travelled to Canada where two additional TV programmes were made ..." and from ABBA - The Book: "... two television programmes were made in Vancouver". Neun at Night must be one of them with The Wolfman Jack Show being the other. Neun at Night was a Vancouver production, starring home-grown singer and comedian, Mike Neun. This series debuted on Tuesday 24 May 1977 at 21:30, as The Ottawa Journal reports on 21 May 1977 on p.118. The Ottawa Journal on 3 June 1977 on p.30, listed in the TV guide Neun at Night at 18:00, featuring ABBA.
ABBA performed Dancing Queen and Fernando. Frida doesn't look as happy and focussed as normal in the Dancing Queen clip. Sometimes the lighting makes the girls' outfits look purple rather than the light blue we know they actually are.
It does seem a little strange that CBC waited more than 7 months to broadcast the songs, but one of The Wolfman Jack Show also wasn't aired until March 1977 and comparing it to Frida’s Live It Up!, Citytv Interview and That's Life appearances, (recorded in September 1982 but not broadcast until February 1983), it does at least seem that CBC did not hurry such things.

Filmed: Thursday 21 October 1976 Location: WNEW/Metromedia Television Studios, 205 East 67th Street, New York, USA Broadcast: Sunday 31 October 1976 at 20:00 (EST) on PBS (WNEW), USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 17.5 minutes
Shown in: USA
Notes:ABBA performed Mamma Mia, SOS and Fernando and had a short cheesy interview with programme host Bob McAllister in front of an audience of loads of screaming little children.
Wonderama was a kids show based in New York City, shown on Metromedia television stations in other huge cities like Boston, Washington, and Cincinnati. It was shown on Sunday mornings and the host kept a whole audience of kids entertained with music, stunts and educational stuff. The theme song was Kids Are People Too.
Bob McAllister died in July 1998.
The programme was repeated a couple of times in 1977.

Filmed: Friday 22 October 1976 Location: Philadelphia, USA Broadcast: USA
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: USA
Notes:Episode summary: Actor and singer Anthony Newley was the co-host in Hollywood, Mike visits Carol Burnett and her husband Joe Hamilton; and regulars from The Carol Burnett Show including Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence. In the studio, singing group ABBA, Mel Tillis and author Wayne Dyer are guests. In film clips from past shows: Red Skelton and Marvin Hamlisch.
ABBA performed Money Money Money and Dancing Queen.
They were presented with an award by The Sun newspaper (UK) for Top Pop Act of the Year and the prize was given to them by Anthony Newley. This was relayed to British viewers by satellite. Björn said, "Now we want to come back to Britain to say thank you."
During their appearance on Wonderama, you can hear the presenter, Bob McCallister, say to ABBA, "I know that you appeared on Mike Douglas Show".
NB. When researching information, I contacted the organisation responsible for The Mike Douglas Show and they said, "We have no record of ABBA appearing on this show."
However, they are not listed on The Mike Douglas Show web-site as guests and this message was received from their production company after I enquired for information: "We don't see any dates with ABBA appearing on The Mike Douglas Show. However, we do have them listed as appearing on The John Davidson Show on 3/5/81. The show tape still exists, but in it's original 2" tape format. It would cost you between $200 and $300 to get the show transferred to a current day tape format."
Mike Douglas died on 11 August 2006.

Filmed: early November 1976 Location: Munich, West Germany Broadcast: Saturday 6 November 1976, 19:30, ZDF, Germany
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 8 minutes
Shown in: Germany
Notes:Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 19:30, with each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant. (The name of the show was devised before disco as a musical style existed).
Episode 72
ABBA performed Dancing Queen in the kimonos and Money Money Money in the 1920s flapper outfits.
At the start of the programme, ABBA, together with the other guests on the show walk towards the studio. For the performances, the Disco cameraman obviously felt that Benny and Björn were superfluous to requirements as they hardly got a look in.
This was their last appearance on Disco performing in person. Subsequent appearances were PROMOS, other than their message for the 100th episode in 1979.
Other guests on this episode: Sutherland Brothers + Quiver - "Arms of Mary" Mario Martens - "So ein Fußballspieler" ABBA - "Dancing Queen " view it here Frank Farian - "Spring' über deinen Schatten, Tommy" David Dundas -"Jeans on " Pussycat - "Smile" Chris Roberts - "Hier ist ein Zimmer frei " ABBA - Money, Money, Money

Filmed: mid-November 1976 Location: London and Shaftesbury Theatre, London, England Broadcast: UK
Release status: See below
Shown in: UK
Notes:Following the release of ABBA - The Movie on DVD which featured a long-forgotten advert featuring ABBA for ABBA - The Album, one ABBA on TV regular had his memory jogged and vaguely remembered that there was also an advert for Arrival. He said, "All I can recall was ABBA waving from upon high, looking down, smiling and waving and a helicopter flying (might be imagining the last part)."
Well done Richard! Now it's been released on the CD/DVD Arrival Deluxe Edition we can see that Richard's memory is pretty spot-on.
ABBA are seen getting out of a helicopter (Agnetha looks remarkably cheerful!), wearing their white Arrival outfits and each carrying a copy of the album, then in a car briefly, then in casual clothes on stage and in the kimonos at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London - yes ABBA performed on London's West End stage! Throughout the 30-second advert, ABBA are seen miming to Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money and Knowing Me, Knowing You.
A shorter, 15-second clip was also made which only featured on stage footage in casual clothes and the kimonos miming to Money, Money, Money and extremely briefly - Knowing Me, Knowing You. This was ever-so-slightly different footage to the 30-second commercial.

Filmed: mid-November 1976 Location: BBC Canteen, BBC TV Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherds Bush, London, England Broadcast: Monday 27 December 1976 (Boxing Day), 11:15, BBC1, UK
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 1.5 minutes
Shown in: UK
Notes:Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, more commonly known simply as Swap Shop, was a British children's entertainment programme that was broadcast on Saturday mornings on BBC1 for 146 episodes in six series between 1976 and 1982. It was ground-breaking in many ways: by being live; being nearly three hours in length; and using the phone-in format extensively for the first time on TV. The content of the programme included music, visits from celebrities, competitions, and cartoons, but the main element was that children would offer to swap something they no longer wanted in return for something else.
Series 1, Episode 13
ABBA were standing in a decorated BBC Canteen with Keith Chegwin (Cheggers). As their 'swap', they offer a silver disc for the Greatest Hits album in return for the answer to a question (the name of their home town in Sweden). Frida, Agnetha and Björn each said a few words and Agnetha commented that the album took about three years to record!
The episode was a "Swap of the Pops" special with other guests being Showaddywaddy, Mud, Smokie (who would go on to work with Agnetha on her Wrap Your Arms Around Me album), John Christie, White Rhino, Pussycat (their dreadful Mississippi knocked Dancing Queen from the No.1 spot in the UK and I've never forgiven them for that), The Wurzels, Dr Hook and Britain's only Quackologist!
The programme's successor was Saturday Superstore on which Agnetha and Benny appeared in November 1982.
Keith Chegwin died on 11 December 2017.

Filmed: Monday 15th November 1976 Location: Heathrow Airport, Battersea Heliport. Albert Bridge and BBC Studios, London, England Broadcast: Friday 19th November 1976, Nationwide, BBC1, UK
Release status: See below
Shown in: UK
Notes:Young Nation, was part of the youth segment of the Friday edition of BBC's Current Affair programme, Nationwide. The complete report and interview no long exists in the BBC archives.
Footage of ABBA arriving at Heathrow Airport, being transported to central London by helicopter and then being taken by car to the Albert Bridge for a Arrival promotional photo session has been widely used in other programmes over the years, but it appears here in its original form for Young Nation.
A short interview in the car is light-hearted and jolly but the studio interview is stiff and awkward but with some fascinating answers. For example, they are asked where they will be in 30 years time (ie. now!). Benny and Björn demonstrate how they write a song together on the piano and guitar.
This interview was a very welcome surprise included in the CD/DVD Arrival Deluxe Edition released in October 2006. A video copy was found in the Polar music international archives (as above, they are not in the BBC archives).
The interviewer (Maggie Norden (daughter of the UK's original It'll Be Alright on the Night presenter, Denis Norden)) talks to ABBA, especially the girls, in a very condescending manner which is pretty annoying.
The male presenter introducing the section was Lionel Morton (an ex-presenter of children's programme, Play School).
At some point while in the car, ABBA found time to film a few seconds for the Arrival commercials.

Filmed: Thursday 18 November 1976 Location: Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:News footage of ABBA arriving in The Netherlands for their appearance on Eén van de Acht the following day.
You can see the typical stuggle they experienced just trying to walk through the airport with news crews and cameras slowing them down.
Björn was presented with a suitcase by a girl representing Dutch channel Veronica. Apparently, if you reached No.1 in the Top 40, you got a 40 Award and there were several of them in the suitcase.
Broadcast information
Being news rushes, the footage could be licencsed and used in other programmes. The footage was variously used as follows: Countdown - 8 December 1976 Goodbye to the 70s, 1979 5 Jaar ABBA, 1979 Click here for a newspaper article
Watch for: Frida is wearing the fur coat she would wear in the Knowing Me, Knowing You PROMO Ad Visser can be seen (very tall!) in some shots next to Benny.

Filmed: Friday 19 November 1976 Location: Bel Air Hotel, The Hague, Netherlands Broadcast: ?, AVRO, The Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:News rushes of a press conference/interview lasting 14.09 minutes is listed at this archive web-site.
However, unless you're one of the artistes involved ("If you are/were a member of a band or the artist, and want to see the footage of yourself, we will usually supply (free of charge) a time-coded copy for your personal archives") or got more money than you know what to do with, then it's staying in their archives ...
During the press conference, which was organised by Polydor and the magazine Hitkrant and attended by 400 people, ABBA were presented with numerous gold and platinum discs.
On 27 January 2012, Ad Visser appeared as a guest on Pauw & Witteman (VARA, The Netherlands) to discuss the news of the forthcoming release of The Visitors Deluxe edition in April 2012 and in particular the inclusion of From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel on the album. During the interview there was footage of Ad presenting ABBA with a “Hitkrant” award for being voted most popular group in the Netherlands at this same press conference and also (part of?) his interview on Toppop.
Click here for an article from Nieuwe Leidsche Courant - 20 November 1976, p.11
Click here for an article from Hitkrant No.1, p.11
Watch for: Agnetha after being presented with the Hitkrankt award - she launches herself at Ad Visser for a very enthusiastic kiss!

Filmed: Friday 19 November 1976 Location: Congresgebouw, Hague, Netherlands Broadcast: LIVE on AVRO at 19:35 - 21:20, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: approx. 10 minutes in total (3 songs)
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:Eén van de acht = One of the Eight
This family entertainment programme was hosted by Mies Bouwman (the same person that interviewed Agnetha and Frida in 1981 and who interviewed Frida in 1982). The show broke viewing figures in The Netherlands and was broadcast once a month around 20:00 or 20:30 from 1970. The format of the show was four family pairs of different generations competing in various games with eventually one couple in the finale and the winner sitting behind a conveyer belt where objects passed in front for one minute. The winner (ie. "The One of the Eight" original contestants) would then have to remember as many of those objects as possible.
The German version of this game show Am Laufenden Band was hosted by Dutchman Rudi Carrell. Apparently Rudi and Mies Bouwman (creator of the Dutch and original programme) clashed over the rights of the programme because Rudi allegedly didn't pay her enough for the programme. There was also an English version, known as The Generation Game hosted by Bruce Forsyth, and then Larry Grayson in the 1970s. (It was the Larry Grayson version that Mike Yarwood sent up in his 1978 The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show and ABBA joined in the spoof).
ABBA were introduced at the start of the show in normal clothes (and they may or may not have been given an award). Apparently, Mies introduced them along the lines of, "Are they really here - yes they are!". Their performance was between the second part and the final part of the show and for this they wore their kimono stage outfits.
In October 2015, some fantastic news emerged that Money, Money, Money had turned up on a VCR Philips VC-60 N1500 tape and then uploaded to YouTube. It seems that this was the last of any performances because they are presented with flowers by Mies before leaving the stage.
On 20 May 2019, the YouTube channel of the Dutch TV archives, TelevisieArchief, uploaded the performance of When I Kissed The Teacher, unseen since 1976 but in perfect condition.
There has long been a great deal of confusion about which (and how many) songs were actually performed and broadcast. Depending on which book, magazine, website or fan memory you refer to, ABBA performed two or more of the following songs: Dancing Queen When I Kissed The Teacher Money, Money, Money Why Did It Have To Be Me. Knowing Me, Knowing You Dum Dum Diddle However, after the Money, Money, Money clip emerged in October 2015 on YouTube, the Televisiearchief confirmed in the comments section underneath the YouTube clip what the THREE songs were. They were: Why Did It Have To Be Me When I Kissed The Teacher Money, Money, Money Click here for a TV listing from Leidsch Dagblad - 19 November 1976, p.5
Click here for a TV listing from Leidse Courant - 19 November 1976 p.2
Click here for a feature from Leidse Courant - 19 November 1976, p.2
Click here for a rehearsal picture.
Mies Bouwman died 26 February 2018.
Watch for: If the performances of Why Did It Have To Be or When I Kissed The Teacher ever come to light, we need to see what happened to Björn's guitar strap - unless these photos are from a dress rehearsal? Money, Money, Money - Frida's dancing at 2:44.

Filmed: Friday 19 November 1976 Location: Bel Air Hotel, The Hague, Netherlands Broadcast: Tuesday 30 November, 1976, 19:05-20:00, AVRO, Netherlands
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: The Netherlands
Notes:ABBA gave a New Year greeting and then were interviewed by Ad Visser.
The first six pictures above are the New Yeargreeting and the rest are the interview.
Footage of an out-take (blooper) of an attempt at the New Year Greeting was aired on 26 December 1976 in Toppop Jaaroverzicht 1976 presented by Ad Visser and Krijn Torringa along with Dancing Queen from Musikladen Extra - The Best of ABBA. Agnetha counts, "One, two, three," and they start to say "A very Happy New Year to all" but they are not in time with each other and start to laugh. Agnetha counts again, "One, two, three" and then they successfully manage the rest of the greeting, "A very Happy new Year to all our Dutch viewers from Frida, from Benny, from Björn and from Agnetha".
Click here for a TV listing from Nieuwe Leidsche Courant - 30 November 1976, p.4
On 27 January 2012, Ad Visser appeared as a guest on Pauw & Witteman to discuss the news of the forthcoming release of The Visitors Deluxe album in April 2012 and in particular the inclusion of From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel on the album. During the interview there was footage of Ad presenting ABBA with a Hitkrant award for being voted most popular group in the Netherlands and also (part of?) this interview.

Filmed: Wednesday 24 November 1976 Location: Paris, France Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: France
Notes:Les Rendez Vous du Dimanche = Sunday's appointments
ABBA, wearing the kimonos, performed Money Money Money and When I Kissed The Teacher in this show presented by Michel Drucker. The performances were shown on separate editions of the programme (see below).

To appear one on of his shows meant that ABBA truly were superstars.
Broadcast information
Money, Money, Money was broadcast on Sunday 28 November 1976, Television Française (TF1), France
When I Kissed The Teacher was broadcast on Sunday 2 January 1977, Television Française (TF1), France

Filmed: early December 1976 Location: Polar Music offices, Baldersgatan, Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Saturday 25 December 1976, SVT, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 6:28
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:ABBA were interviewed around a table at their offices in Stockholm and asked about their success all over the world in three short years. One of the interviewers was British DJ Richard Skinner who was interviewing them on behalf of American radio. Stig Anderson was also interviewed and listed sales volumes country by country (including over 800,000 for Arrival in Australia).
ABBA also model the Keep Australia Beautiful t-shirts for the Australian Keep Australia Beautiful campaign. They were photographed in the Polar offices by Bengt H. Malmqvist (who died in 2008).
The TV advert didn't feature ABBA live/moving at all, it was just the shot taken in the Stockholm offices with a voice over saying, "ABBA support Keep Australia Beautiful and know that those of you who love your country will do the same". The advert had Tropical Loveland playing underneath. This segment was aired on Channel 10 in Australia.
They are also seen giving voice samples to accompany the ABBA cartoon project that was in its infancy (and never got further than Happy Hawaii and Money, Money, Money.) During the report, we see a handful of stills from this project.
Benny & Björn were shown playing piano and guitar respectively at the beginning and end of the report. Firstly, they played Jingle Bells and they ended with a snippet of a brand new song called Thank You For The Music.
Extra scenes not included in this Rapport piece, were included in the Japanese programme Ohayo 700 where they were interviewed by the Ohayo 700 reporter Bosse. In that report, Bosse handed over the score of the Ohayo 700 theme tune and Agnetha and Frida tried to sing it in Japanese and Björn and Benny tried to play it.
A small part of this report was briefly used on Channel 10, Australia and a small part was also briefly used in ABBAMania 2, ITV2, December 2004, UK
This clip has been released officially on the CD/DVD Arrival Deluxe Edition.

Shown in: Australia
Notes:We're looking for more (any!) information on this programme which was mentioned in the TV listings at the time.
It lasted for just 5 minutes and actually implies it was televised at the same time as ABBA - Sweden to Perth for about a week in Melbourne (and possibly elsewhere?).
Can any Australian fans shed any light on this?

Duration: 40 seconds
Shown in: Norway and Sweden schools
Notes:Det hender ikke meg = It doesn't happen to me
Directed by Jan Troeltz, ABBA took part in this Norwegian documentary (entitled Det händer inte mig in Swedish) about the effects of smoking which was probably shown in many Swedish schools at the time, considering its format with children interviewing a person suffering from lung cancer.
ABBA spoke in Swedish.
According to the Swedish media database (part of the Swedish national library), other famous people such as Ingmar Bergman and Lena Nyman, also took part in this short film.

Broadcast: See below
Release status: See below
Duration: approx. 3 minutes each
Shown in: Never broadcast
Notes:These two cartoons were a test for a possible Australian ABBA cartoon show (in the same vein as The Osmonds & The Jackson Five cartoon shows from the 70's) that was never picked up.
Another theory is that the two cartoons were not meant to be part of a series per se, but just a collection of cartoon clips available for distribution to childrens' magazine-type shows, much the same way as the film-clips were available to pop shows.
Two songs were created - Money, Money, Money and Happy Hawaii: Money, Money, Money featured images from the Money, Money, Money PROMO, in particular Benny's hands on the piano and Frida laughing in the limousine. Money, Money, Money was shown on Australian TV in a special called ABBA in the USA hosted by Sounds Unlimited's Donnie Sutherland. The show traced ABBA's rise to No.1 with Dancing Queen with their TV appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (including him introducing ABBA to the USA for the first ever time with the video of Waterloo) & other shows (including Ring Ring from Tommy Cooper Show) and was shown on 19 August 1977 and ran for 60 minutes, on Channel 7. The show was hosted by a different host for Queensland, NSW/Victoria and South Australia/Western Australia so there are three different versions.This clip has been released officially on ABBA GOLD CD & DVD special edition on 3 December 2010.Click here for a TV listing from Victor Harbour Times - 10 August 1977, p.15 (listing the following week's TV). Happy Hawaii was included in the DVD to accompany the 30th Anniversary re-release of Arrival in October 2006. News rushes of ABBA arriving at Perth Airport around 13:30 and then leaving by car to their hotel, the Parmelia.
There are three known sets of footage about this event with different camera angles made by two different TV stations: ABC - shown on 9 March 1977 ABC - shown on 9 March 1977 (see VIDEO section (first 20 seconds only) Channel 9. Most unused footage is usually junked and the only footage to be filed is that included in the story that finally airs. Even stuff of this vintage has a high chance of not surviving. Thanks to the huge hype surrounding ABBA's visit, all material was probably archived for stock usage. If you click the i in the top left-hand corner of the picture gallery, this will expand to give descriptive information on each image ie. which song.

Location: Hannover, Germany Broadcast: LIVE, Germany
Shown in: Germany
Notes:I have received the following request to identify a German TV music show from 1977 but I need help because I don't know anything about it:
"It was a Gala of the Nations but this is not the programme title, but presumably something similar.
The programme featured ABBA, Tom Jones and Italian singer Donatella Rettore who fell down the stairs (this bit could not be edited out since the programme was LIVE)." Donatella herself has confirmed the event and said she performed her first hit called Lailolà. The programme was a LIVE broadcast from Hannover in 1977. The exact broadcast date is unknown, but probably after 13 March, because ABBA were in Australia until then.
The 'stairs' incident is confirmed here: "Though not succesful, producer Roberto Danè suggested that she translated and sing a Spanish ballad - Lailolà- for the North European market. This lead to an appearance on German TV: during her performance she stumbled and fell to the floor. Nevertheless she kept singing while jauntily getting back on her feet. In the morning, Donatella's coolly-tackled incident was reported by all the German dailies pushing sales towards 300,000 copies in Germany.”
Does anyone know anything more about this programme - its title or when it was filmed? The arcticle mentioned all the German daily newspapers, so if somebody can find one of them, we’ll know more…

Filmed: Never appeared in person Broadcast: Saturday 26 November 1977
Shown in: UK
Notes:I am including this here to clear up a few misconceptions.
ABBA never appeared on The Basil Brush Show in person.
The misconception probably comes from the fact that it was so long ago and we were all just little kids ourselves with memories wanting to believe they were on the show - and none of us had video recorders back then to prove it one way or the other. Another thing to fuel this misconception is that they were pictured with The Foxy One during their promotional trip (for "Arrival") to London in November 1976 - around the time when they *could* have appeared on the show.
The are listed in TV schedules and TV archives as appearing on The Basil Brush Show in 1977, but it was The Name of the Game PROMO. The other guests on the 1977 show were Greek singer Demis Roussos and British boxer Henry Cooper.
The reason I know this is because The National Film Theatre in London held an ABBA at the BBC evening on 20 December 1995 and The Basil Brush Show was on the list of appearances to be shown. I was beside myself in anticipation that nearly 20 years later I'd get to see these clips again but it turned out to be nothing unusual or unique.

Filmed: January 1977 Location: Lidingö?, Lasse Hallström's apartment and SVT Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: See below
Duration: 3:58
Shown in: Worldwide
Notes:Directed by Lasse Hallström. Here he really ensured there were plenty of side-on and face-to-face shots.
Stig Anderson - rather famously - made very little budget available for the making of the early PROMO videos and this was no exception. Consequently, cheap or free locations were used wherever possible.
It's highly likely the snow scenes were shot at Lidingö, close to where all four ABBA members lived at that time. Click here for a photo taken at the time of filming.
The interior shots were filmed inside Lasse Hallström's own apartment - where he would also go on to film the Happy New Year and One of Us PROMOs. Note that a photograph taken at the time of filming has ABBA leaning against a distinctive wallpaper - which is the same that Agnetha uses in the One of Us PROMO, four years later.
In a film at the ABBA The Museum, Lasse Hallström reveals that while filming in his apartment, he used a sheet as a backdrop and that if you look closely, you can see that it wasn't ironed!
Apparently, Agnetha and Frida re-shot the second verse ("Memories, good days, bad days ..." etc) at SVT Studios a couple of days after the original shoot. I used to think there was a fancy special effect on Agnetha's 'ghost' above Frida - but in truth, she was probably standing on chair with fuzzy spotlight on her.
Some extra footage was used in the PROMO for That's Me.

Watch for: Note when Frida and Agnetha are back-to-back, Agnetha never looks at the camera, but Frida constantly does. Whether this was intentional, or just typical Agnetha/Frida performances, i do not know. Straight after the instrumental break, Frida and Agnetha almost run out of shot to the right of the screen ("Knowing Me, Knowing You ...") to quickly get in the right positions for their next part ("there is nothing we can do.") I always got the impression Agnetha seemed very self-concious in the embracing shots It always breaks my heart to see Frida's face when Benny pulls away from their embrace.

Filmed: January 1977 Location: Europa Film Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Release status: Some footage included on ABBA - The Movie DVD
Duration: 3 minutes
Shown in: ABBAWORLD, Sydney, 2010-2011
Notes:Rehearsal footage for the 1977 tour of Europe and Australia emerged in two separate sets in recent years showing most of the musicians and crew. ABBA were included as were all the main players in the ABBA team.
In 2005, brief snippets were included in the ABBA - The Movie: Looking Back documentary. Then some extra footage, clearly from the same filming sessions (and now credited as being filmed by Jack Churchill) was included in the ABBAWORLD exhibition when it appeared at Sydney in 2011 (it was not shown at ABBAWORLD Melbourne, London or in Hungary!).
Some of the footage is similar in both sets of footage (Agnetha and Frida rehearsing their dancing for I'm a Marionette and ABBA on the stage discussing plans) and some of it is exactly the same (Rune Soderqvist talking to Björn and Owe dressing Agnetha and Frida) . The footage was silent.
Broadcast information:
Some shown for the first time at ABBAWORLD in Sydney, 2010-2011
Some included in the ABBA - The Movie DVD released 2005

Filmed: Monday 31 January 1977 Location: Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark Broadcast: Monday 31 January 1977, 19:00, DR, Denmark
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Denmark
Notes:The TV news showed a report on ABBA as they were performing live at the Brøndbyhallen that night and the following night in Copenhagen.
The reporter claimed that had tried their best to broadcast direct from the concert hall but were not allowed, so instead footage of the outside of the concert hall and the entrance hall were shown along with a small interview with Stig and old footage of ABBA.
ABBA could be heard faintly in the background.

Filmed: Thursday 10 February 1977 Location: Odeon, Birmingham, England Broadcast: Sunday 13 February 1977, SVT, Sweden
Duration: 3:51
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:ABBA were shown being interviewed in Swedish after one of their British concerts.
In the same report concert-goers were asked for their comments along with New Musical Express journalist Bob Woffinden.

Filmed: Monday morning (Swedish time zone), 21 February 1977 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Broadcast: Monday 21 February 1977, LIVE, Channel 9, Australia
Release status: See below
Duration: approx. 30 minutes
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Don Lane was an American-born talk show host and singer. He became best-known for his television career in Australia, especially for hosting The Don Lane Show which aired on the Nine Network from 1975 to 1983.
In this episode, he interviewed ABBA live by satellite and they mainly talked about their imminent tour of Australia. The video of Knowing Me Knowing You was shown.
This is the interview when Agnetha and Björn were asked if their daughter Linda had realised who they were and Björn replies, "She called me Father this morning!".
The full segment was originally on a Umatic tape until the time that the 1976 show was transferred in July 2006. The tape had been unspooled so it had to be re-spooled and the end had come off the spool and had eaten into the tape itself either cutting or chemically affecting it so that when it was played it went into bits as it disintegrated inside the machine. After many attempts, only 3 minutes were saved. However, the likelihood is that it was gone 20 or more years ago. We can perhaps just hope that SVT (if it was them who arranged the satellite broadcast to Australia) may have a copy in their archives.
Don Lane died 21 October 2009.
In the VIDEO section, you can see the salvaged 20 seconds of the actual interview and listen to the AUDIO of the whole interview in two parts (note that the pictures accompanying the audio come from unrelated TV appearances).
Click here for a newspaper advert in The Herald from 21 February 1977 promoting the show. It says, "Abba - on the Don Lane Show tonight! (Direct by satellite from Sweden). Don Lane interviews Abba! By satellite from Sweden. With a film of their fantastic hit 'Knowing me, knowing you'. Never seen before in Australia!"
The interview was repeated the following afternoon (unadvertised) during one of the kid's cartoon shows for those who were not old enough to stay up late enough to watch it live.
The only available snippet in the archives of this programme was been officially released on The Best Of The Don Lane Show on 11 August 2004. Unfortunately only this clip (about 9 seconds) is on the DVD, not any other ABBA appearance as it would appear that this is the only thing remaining in the archives that hasn't been lost or wiped.

Watch for: Agnetha - she's wearing the same outfit she wore in the Knowing Me, Knowing You PROMO

Filmed: Monday 21 February 1977 Location: Agnetha - she's wearing the same outfit she wore in the Knowing Me, Knowing You PROMO Broadcast: Thursday 24 February 1977, Sweden, SVT
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 11:56
Shown in: Sweden
Notes:Sveriges Magasin = Sweden's Magazine
ABBA were interviewed for this programme at the same time as for The Don Lane Show, although for this show, Frida and Benny had swapped places and the camera angles were different.
During the interview they were asked the next step in their musical development and Benny mentions it would be fun to do a musical or a pop opera in a clear premonition of what was to come.
Watch for: Agnetha - she's wearing the same outfit she wore in the Knowing Me, Knowing You PROMO

Filmed: Sunday 27 February 1977 Location: Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Monday 28 February 1977, ABC and Nine Network, Australia
Release status: This footage has not been released on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:ABBA arrived at Sydney Airport at 21:15 where the media onslaught began before retiring for the night at their hotel, the Sebel Town House.
1,000 fans turned up to greet them, but could not see them. They stood outside a Customs Hall door, only metres from ABBA, but were unable to see the group. As shown in ABBA - The Movie, the announcement was made over the tannoy, "ABBA wishes to thank their supporters for coming and are sorry they cannot see you."
ABBA spent about one minute in the customs area posing for press and television photographers. TV channels ABC and Nine Network filmed footage, both of which is different to that used in ABBA - The Movie, as that was filmed onto other format and system (ie. 2.35 : 1 ratio with Panavision cameras) but it is interesting to see the same event from different angles.
Perhaps this is the Channel 9 camerman in ABBA - The Movie footage on the right-hand side of the image?
Snippets of both channel's footage were used in the ABC TV special Bang-a-Boomerang in 2013.
Click here for a newscut from The Canberra Times - 28 February 1977, p.7

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Monday 28 February 1977, ABC, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:A report on ABBA's press conference for this Australian current affairs show. There must have been more than one press conference as they enter the stage from the left on this one, yet in ABBA - The Movie they enter from the right. In this clip, Frida is the first on stage, while in ABBA - The Movie Björn entered first.
There were 350 press representatives welcomed to the 45-minute press conference. In the introduction, they were told that ABBA had performed 11 concerts in 10 days and expected to play to some 140,000 people, probably the biggest turn-out for a single performer Australia had ever seen. The tour entourage consisted of 105 people who would travel Australia in a chartered Boeing 727. Also accompanying ABBA were a 25-member film crew which would record all aspects of the Australian visit for cinema and television.
An arcticle about the press conference in The Canberra Times on 1 March 1977 reported some of questions and aswers as follows: How much of their fan mail do they get to see?ABBA’s microphone appeared to fail but from Frida we heard, "most of it is from girls.” What is the ’real’ ABBA like?Frida’s microphone was not very good again, but it sounded like "Well, we have breakfast every morning like everyone else.” What about their incredible earnings and that 85% tax slug in Sweden?Bearded, brown-booted Benny, slumped in his chair after an attack of food poisoning (Note: that was Björn, not Benny!), but for all that probably the most relaxed member of the group, told us that ABBA would never reside anywhere other than Sweden, even as a tax dodge. "We love Sweden,” he said, "we have enough money so that we don’t have to worry for the next five or 10 years. But money is not that important thing is to please yourself by doing what you enjoy doing the best.” The inevitable question: Does Agnetha, as various media polls have suggested, possess the sexiest bottom in the world?Impeccably made-up and clad in plain white, Agnetha made the joke of the evening: "I just don’t know,” she said, "I've never seen it.” (as featured in ABBA - The Movie) Will the group, like the Beatles, ever break up?"A break-up in inevitable,” said Benny, "but the reason will be because it just isn’t fun to work together any more. We haven’t worked out the exact details of our break-up yet, i can assure you of that.” Has the group been over-exposed?Benny again: "Well, an over-exposure is not our fault, is it? If television channels choose to show something over and over again … we just have to take that, don’t we?”
A familiar-sounding question is asked during this press conference which then featured - as audio only in a shot from the press conference in ABBA - The Movie. The question asked is, "Are you clean?" The response, "No, we are not clean, but do not take drugs" (again, as featured in ABBA - The Movie). This last question was by two girls, Tracy Wilson and her sister Jodie, who had won a competition to ask ABBA a question at the press conference and were also shown in this clip. But it is only their voices you hear in ABBA - The Movie asking their question.

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 between 18:15 and 18:45 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Saturday 12 March 1977, 18:00-18:55, ABC, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 6:11 minutes
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Countdown was the longest-running and most popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987 so it featured around 600 episodes in total. They were produced at the ABC studios in Melbourne and was broadcast nationwide on Australia's government-owned broadcaster, ABC, and commanded a huge and loyal audience. It screened a new episode each Sunday evening and then repeating it the following Saturday evening.
The majority of the performances on the show were lip-synched. The majority of the 1970s Countdown episodes are non-existent in ABC archives because they were wiped around 1981 when the then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser slashed the ABC budget, which made the ABC bigwigs of the time decide to re-use the video tapes that Countdown was filmed on. These were special tapes and worth about $1000s each.
But luckily this segment with ABBA being interviewed by Ian 'Molly' Meldrum survived this incident, as it was filmed onto 16mm reversal film material, from where edited into the videotape of the aired production.
Click here for a TV listing from The Canberra Times - 12 March 1977, p.14
Watch for: Agnetha - she looks really miserable at times during the interview.

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Monday 28 February 1977, ABC News at 18:00 and Nine Network, Seven Network, Australia
Release status: This show has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: ABC footage: 3:25 / Nine Network footage: 1:20 / Seven Network footage: 3:40
Shown in: Australia
Notes:ABBA held a number of press conferences and interviews on this day - Monday 28 February 1977. It all kicked off at 11:30 and not finishing until 18:45.
This is a different press conference to the one featured in ABBA - The Movie as they all move about a bit before finding where they're supposed to be sitting! In ABBA - The Movie the line-up from left-righ is Björn, Agnetha, Frida and Benny but here it is Benny, Frida, Agnetha and Björn.
Three different channels (and therefore different camera angles for their own cameramen) are known: ABC Nine Network Seven Network. The Seven Network footage contains the well-known question and answer from ABBA - The Movie: "Are you clean?", "No, we're not clean, but do not take drugs." Footage is available here. If you click the i in the top left-hand corner of the picture gallery, this will expand to give descriptive information on each image ie. which channel.
Watch for: The reporter (ABC's John McGregor) - his voice from this report is heard during the montage of audio reports over footage of ABBA socks and t-shirts in ABBA - The Movie, "The group's arrival in Australia has been accompanied by a blaze of publicity. According to the promoters, they're bigger than the Beatles and with an entourage 105 people, they're almost twice as big as the Rolling Stones concert. While they're here, they'll perform at 11 concerts in 10 days to an estimated to an estimated 140,00 people. ABBA are obvioulsy very big business and the organisers are treating them like royalty."

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Channel 7, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Luckily (besides ABC) Seven Network also got exclusive rights to made an interview.
A short segment of it was rebroadcast on a review program.

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Channel 7, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 23 seconds
Shown in: Australia
Notes:One year after the start of colour TV transmissions in Australia all the TV networks were heavily pitching promos that involved the colour theme.
Channel 7 were no exception and their campaign was Colour Machine two years after their Colour Your World promos which featured a variety of local and overseas talent as well as the public, who were more than happy to flash the famous 5 and 2 fingers to the camera.
ABBA featured in a one whole promo which was made up of Channel 7's footage of the Sydney Press Conference and the Sound Unlimited interview. It inlucdes them trying to flash the 5 and 2 fingers to the camera.
Agnetha and Frida only feature in a second Colour Machine promo together with Olivia Newton-John, Spike Milligan, Shaun Cassidy ("Hardy Boy" and half-brother of David) and Bryan Ferry. The very brief footage of Agnetha and Frida was the same as that included in the ABBA Colour Machine promo.
A couple of Australian ATN Channel 7 Sydney Colour Machine promotional films were also made at the same time when Channel 7 taped their exclusive interview for Sound Unlimited. Later they stated they were from a 1976 campaign but the footage used of ABBA is from February 1977 at their Sydney press conference.

Filmed: Monday 28 February 1977 Location: Sebel Town House, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Channel 7, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: 11:37
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Willesee at 7 was a long-running nightly current affairs program on Seven Network which ran from 1976 and early 1982.
ABBA were interviewed by Paul Makin, the "light interviewer" / comedian on Willesee at 7 in the same hotel room at the Sebel Town House hotel as that featured in Sounds Unlimited ie. with a big rug of a butterfly behind them not the gold records as featured in the press conference.
There isn't any footage of this interview (at least that I can find) but you can hear the interview (in the VIDEO section). Please be aware that the description says that it's from 1976 and most of the pictures are also from 1976. But the interview is from 1977.

Filmed: 28 February - 5 March 1977 Location: Sydney & Melbourne, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:National 9 News report covering ABBA's trip to Australia shows footage of one of the concerts - performing That's Me (from Sydney?), meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser; arriving at Melbourne; Town Hall Reception; chaos in Melbourne trying to talk to Frida to ask after her recent fall on stage; an incident where a policeman collided with Agnetha and ABBA waiting for 10 minutes in their cars while the drivers went for a coffee!

Filmed: Tuesday 1 March 1977 Location: Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: 2 and Thursday 3 March 1977, Nine Network (Channel 9) and Channel 7, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: B&B interview 1:50, Paul Dainty 1:32 (Nine Network) & 1:30 (Seven Network)
Shown in: Australia
Notes:Benny and Björn gave a short interview and are seen walking towards the camera with the tour promoter Paul Dainty. They informed the media about the forthcoming concerts confirming that they would go ahead even in the rain.
The Paul Dainty interview was aired on Wednesday 2 March 1977 on Nine News while the Benny and Björn interview on was broadcast on Thursday 3 March 1977 (on the day of the first concert) on Nine News.
Seven Network also filmed this Paul Dainty interview and while Nine Network camera shows him from front, the Seven Network camera shows him from the left-handside.
The Benny and Björn snippet appears around 1:35 into the clip in the VIDEO section.
Watch for: Benny and Björn are dressed in the same clothes (because it was filmed on the same day) seen throughout the Sydney set-up in ABBA - The Movie - especially Benny sitting in the seat and declaring that it was, "very comfortable."

Filmed: 3 or 4 March 1977 Location: Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney, Australia Broadcast: Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Shown in: Australia
Notes:This is either news footage or fan footage, although the shots of Agnetha seem too good and too close to have been been taken by a fan. I am assuming the footage below is from Sydney because of the umbrellas ...