ABBA - In Concert [1979] | ![ABBA - In Concert [1979]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11F8TXCBYZL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Actor: Abba
Studio: Universal Island
Category: DVD
List Price: £14.99
Buy New: £8.94
You Save: £6.05 (40%)
New (20) Used (1) from £6.39
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 7490
Format: Pal
Languages: German (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Exempt
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.7
UPC: 044006564692
EAN: 0044006564692
ASIN: B0001KZNYW
Theatrical Release Date: 1979
Release Date: March 29, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Ships from U.S.A., to anywhere in the United Kingdom! Orders only take 3-5 days! We specialise in service to the U.K. and only ship airmail.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
The title ABBA--In Concert is perhaps a little misleading in promising something a bit more "live" than is actually delivered. While this "official" TV film provides a fascinating insight into ABBA's 1979 tour of North America and Europe, the first segment of the 50-minute documentary is given over almost exclusively to behind-the-scenes material. As the film progresses and the action shifts from the US to London's Wembley, more live performance footage is included such as full length renditions of "Chiquitita", "Dancing Queen" and "Summer Night City". Made by Swedish television company SVT, and released for the first time on DVD in 2004 to coincide with ABBA's 30th anniversary, Urban Lasson's film begins by charting the group's attempts to crack the US. Rather than using a narrator to guide the viewer through the scenes, the film competently uses stylish images to tell the story of the group's trip across the continent. Recorded at the height of the disco era, the American footage is dominated by images of roller skaters, and some of the live material from the Wembley shows was shot by a roller-skating cameraman, so that he could move more quickly on stage to get the best shots. The four split just a couple of years after this tour, making the film one of a few quality recordings of the band playing live. It's a shame that additional full performances of other ABBA favourites were not recorded, or included in the final cut. However the disc does include previously unreleased DVD footage of "The Way Old Friends Do", "I Have A Dream" (Unedited Live Version) and "Thank You For The Music" to partially compensate for this. On the DVD:As well as the bonus concert performances, the DVD includes recently recorded interviews with the film director Urban Lasson, and the promoter and tour producer Thomas Johansson. A tour souvenir programme picture gallery is also included, and the disc comes with a 28-page colour booklet, which features an excellent extended essay by Carl Magnus Palm on the making of the film. The soundtrack has been painstakingly remastered in 5.1 Surround Sound, making the live performances sound stunning. --John Galilee
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good, but a little something missing June 21, 2007
Joel Antony (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was a little disappointed in 'Abba - In Concert' - but not because it's bad.
The sound quality, in particular, is excellent - I shut my eyes a couple of times and could imagine being right there in the crowd. Also, it's filmed very intimately - the real focus (and rightly so) being the band and not the crowd, with plenty of close-ups and on-stage shots. And all the 'life on the road' clips at the beginning are insightful and intriguing.
But while the performances are good, I think the concert falls a little flat in parts. In 2007 we are used to seeing highly produced and choreographed music shows, and Abba's energetic but slightly inpromptu stage movements look quite dated now.
Also, I know that the film was only ever supposed to be an hour long, but I can't help but feel a little dissappointed that we didn't see the whole concert from start to finish - it might have made up for the fact that the majority of songs were short versions.
Having said that, it's worth a look, and while some of the magic is missing, it's still Abba and the music is still fantastic!
It Was Twenty-Five Years Ago...ABBA August 10, 2005
Martin A Hogan (San Francisco, CA.)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is a great DVD for fans that want to see ABBA as they really were in the seventies. However, remember that this is over twenty-five years ago and the quality of the picture; the camera work and the sound (God forbid) are not anything like they are now. It is fun to see ABBA camp it up on stage and the vocals (although tough to hear) are actually excellent. The outfits are a riot and only Benny seems to survive the 'big butt syndrome' by hiding behind the keyboards. No more tight outfits, please. The first few songs are not complete in entirety and there is quite a bit of editing for on-the-scenes- commentary about the excitement of doing their first tour. Eventually there are some full-length songs. It seems as if this was a documentary filmed for television in the format it is edited, so be prepared. This is not like a "Bee Gees-One Night Only" concert or an "Eagles" tour that goes from song to song without interruption. It is more of a documentary than a simple concert, but that shouldn't matter one bit for any ABBA fan.
 I'm a great ABBA fan but... May 13, 2004
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I bought almost everything that was selled about ABBA, and I have to say that I was waiting for this Dvd, but it was sort of a bad surprise: the songs are amazing but I expected to find some more. In my opinion, the most beautiful song in this dvd is "The way old friends do": the version of that song came out so well in this concert that hey decided to put it (in the liveversion) in one of their cds: simply extraordinary.
 abba in concert 1979 April 17, 2004
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
i found this very disapointing .the track list looks impressive but they only play half of alot of the songs too much talk and not enough music
 Abba In Concert (1979) US and Wembley. April 8, 2004
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
A truly spectacular release. The DVD is an updated version of a 1980 TV special for Swedish television. The footage follows ABBA around the USA on their tour of the US in September 1979. Some good atmospheric shots, interviews with Bjorn on the road, an insight into the day to day running of the biggest tour of the 1970's. The DVD then switches to Wembley in November of '79 and the 5 sell out nights ABBA performed. ABBA were never a good live band, but this DVD sounds incredible. The sound has all been remastered and the negatives cleaned up for DVD.There are bonus tracks, interviews with producers of the shows and people close to ABBA at the time. They recount their memories of their time with ABBA on tour. A good insight into what happenned and a few snippets of current information. Will they reform? Not even a billion dollars as reportedly offered recently will make them reform. Extra concert footage includes unseen and renovated "The Way Old Friends Do" preceded by Agnetha and Bjorn recalling how well this track sounded live. So much so they added it to their 1980 album "Super Trouper". A great unseen "Thank You For The Music" and "I Have A Dream", an uninterrupted version in full. A great historical record of a great group at the height of its popularity in the 1970s. This DVD is a must for anyone studying music and of course for anyone who likes ABBA.
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