ABBA at 50

A wonderful book full of gorgeous photos of ABBA. This book charts the journey of ABBA from their separate beginnings in pop, forming the group, Eurovision 1974 (how embarrassing that the UK judges gave them zero points 😳), their rise to worldwide fame, personal relationships, the break up and right through to Mamma Mia the musical and ABBA voyage (which I’ve seem and is absolutely amazing!). This book will delight ABBA fans of all ages and I loved it so much, I’ve preordered a hard copy! Mamma Mia how can you resist?!

ABBA at 50 takes fans on a remembrance journey…before, during, and after this group took the music world by storm. The author has included little known tidbits about the writing process, touring, costumes, biographies and increasingly stressed family life. The biggest reason for the ABBA fan to read this book, however, are the pictures; the wonderful pictures public and private. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

This is a beautiful book and would make a great present for any ABBA fan in your family. It’s full of beautiful images over the last 59 years of their career along with stories about their career.

ABBA At 50 by Carl Magnus Palm will be out on September 8, 2022. Palazzo Editions provided an early galley to review.

As a child of the 70's, I was very aware of ABBA right from the start of their popularity in the United States; my older brother had a 45 of "Waterloo". As I began buying music as a pre-teen and teen, my allowance money often went to picking up the latest ABBA single that was soaring up the Billboard charts. The melodies and the vocal harmonies appealed to my music taste (and still do to this day).

As much as I knew the music, I only knew some of the general details of the band. I knew that they were two married couples that eventually got divorced. So, this book had tons of details for me to absorb. The author balances the professional aspects (recording, touring and promoting, studio interactions) with the personal aspects (romantic relationships and children) seamlessly.

The book is also full of fantastic photographs of the quartet - from their lives before ABBA, during and after. I like that the book is laid out with the pictures and text going hand in hand (as opposed to some books that just put a few picture sections each third of the way through. Seeing the pictures in-line with the story as it unfolds really rewards the reader. The same goes for having each album's details at the end of each chapter; the integrated discography works for me in this presentation.

For a full story, beginnings to most recent, ABBA At 50 has got you covered.

After winning 1974’s Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Waterloo,” ABBA catapulted to fame, capturing hearts across the globe with their melodic and ever so catchy pop songs. Formed in Stockholm, in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide with classic hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight),” “SOS,” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.”
After their split in 1982, it seemed the ABBA story was all but over. But the 1990s ushered in a new wave of ABBA appreciation, and their music found favor again in modern popular culture. A host of ABBA-themed entertainment followed, including stage musical Mamma Mia! (1999), two box-office hit movies Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008), and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), and in 2013 the opening of ABBA The Museum, in Stockholm. In 2021, after a forty-year hiatus, the band released a new album Voyage, and announced an accompanying concert featuring their digital avatars, dubbed “ABBAtars.”
Now celebrating their fiftieth year, ABBA are one of the great tales of pop music. From their humble beginnings in post-war Sweden to global superstardom, ABBA at 50 charts the remarkable story of this Swedish quartet. Beautifully illustrated with essential images, this book examines the group’s enduring legacy and much-loved musical repertoire of perfectly crafted pop. A must for all ABBA fans.
Really enjoyed this book I read it in one sitting totally gripping and totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Palazzo Editions
I just reviewed ABBA at 50 by Carl Magnus Palm. #ABBAat50 #NetGalley

This is a perfect present, buy for any music fan; and even more so for all those millions who love ABBA. A very well-illustrated book with a well-written history/biography of the group, and their impact on popular culture.

My only comment is - although one can read it electronically, it will be so much better as a book.

With many thanks to NetGalley and Palazzo Editions for an ARC.

ABBA is one of the bands that is on the soundtrack of my life. From my childhood to being an adult it seems ABBA is always somewhere in the background. Even my teenage daughters love Abba and because I knew next to nothing about them I couldn’t wait to read this book. It was so interesting learning how they met, who met first and how they became a band. I didn’t know they were already famous in the role vans respectively before creating the group ABBA. I didn’t know about the incident with the fan in Australia and so many other things. This was an interesting book and I learned a lot about a band I loved and found it so interesting especially the beginning. For a nonfiction book it flows nicely in the story is put together well it’s all I would have to say I highly recommend this book it is a great read. I received this is book from net galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A delightful and we'll documented biography about one of the most influential band. It was a pleasure to read. So many memories...