What’s happened to the release of The Visitors half-speed remaster? The 40th anniversary has passed. Will it be released?

Tom 

Presumably, it was delayed because of the November release of ABBA’s new album Voyage. The Visitors anniversary fell in the same month. Hopefully it will come sometime this year, though nothing has been announced yet.

I would like to buy a copy of Voyage in a hard plastic CD case. How do I go about doing that? 

Ross

Voyage in a jewelcase is available from a few places, primarily in the UK and Europe. Currently it is listed at Bengans Sweden, Grooves.land Germany, imusic Denmark, jpc Germany, Media Markt Germany, Saturn Germany, Supraphnonline Czechia, UMG South Africa, Universal Music Austria. UK supermarkets and music stores have it, but I can’t find any online. The US Amazon site has the jewelcase listed, but actually ships the cardboard softpack. The catalogue number is 00602438885800 – make sure that’s the one your order. There is more information about the various Voyage releases here.

What can you remember from the ABBA concert you attended in 1977? Anything particular come to mind?

Simon, UK

That’s an unusual question, Simon. I have a lot of memories of that night. Arriving at Sydney Showground and finding seats in the grandstand out of the rain (and arguing with my mother about being allowed to go down the front). The anticipation rippling through the crowd. The screams from the fans in the grandstands as we could see cars arriving behind the stage. The guy who kept passing us selling “fairies floss” (that should be fairy floss, aka cotton candy) – apparently he slipped on the stairs and broke his leg later in the evening. Going in search of someone selling the tour programme – that and the Scandecor Arrival poster were the only merchandise I saw. The opening of the concert, with the booming sound and the lights and the flashing of cameras going off. The sound cracking as water ran through the speakers. Björn announcing “hello Sydney”. Bits and pieces of many songs. Writing down the song titles so I’d know what was performed. The silhouette of a palmtree projected during ‘Sitting In The Palmtree’. Björn’s verse in ‘I Am An A’ – dunno why that particular one stuck in my memory. Flames projected during ‘Fernando’, and the singalong. Björn joking that the whole audience would be signed to a record contract for singing so well. Björn joking that the whole audience was invited backstage to meet ABBA as thanks for sitting out in the rain. The mini-musical going on seemingly forever – I can only remember ‘Thank You For The Music’ and ‘I’m A Marionette’, which seemed interminable. The murmur in the crowd as ABBA went off stage, but we hadn’t heard ‘Dancing Queen’ yet. Then ABBA came back on for the encore of ‘Dancing Queen’ – who knew an encore was a thing? After the reprise of ‘Thank You For The Music’ fireworks going off.
That was a fun quick trip down memory lane. There is probably a lot more I’d remember if I sat down a bit longer and thought about it some more.

I saw a Brazilian Voyage CD and a Brazlian Deluxe Edition as well on Discogs. On the Brazilian ABBA Voyage site there are also these versions. Unfortunately it was not possible for me to make an order on the site. They ask for a special number, which I can not provide. Any experience on this?

Falk, Germany

I haven’t tried to order from the Brazilian Voyage site myself, but I have heard of other people coming across this requirement. To place an order requires a Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF), or ‘Natural Persons Register’ number. I’m sure the CD is available elsewhere – I found this list of record stores in Brazil, but possibly they would also requires the CPF number. Maybe a Brazilian fan can help you out. I’d suggest reach out to any Brazilian fans you might know in ABBA forums or groups. Or maybe some kindly Brazilian reader can help – if you can, please contact abbaomnibus@gmail.com.
There are also Argentinian pressings of the standard softpack and jewelcase CDs to look out for. There is a similar requirement for a CUIT and CUIL on the UM Argentina site, plus Argentina is the only delivery country on that site.

Another question: have the US and Canada different Voyage CD / vinyl pressings?

Falk, Germany

There are US pressings on the Capitol label of the standard softpack, alternate cover with the four avatars, and the four individual avatar covers CDs. It has also been packaged in a jewelcase, but this so far has only been available in the two limited edition US-only box sets (see picture below). The CDs are actually manufactured in Mexico for the US market. I’m not sure if Canada has the US versions or imports from the EU.
All the vinyl and cassette versions available in the US and Canada are manufactured in the EU, the same pressings available elsewhere. There is more information about the various Voyage releases here.