This was the only Italian TV appearance by ABBA as a group.
This programme was hosted by Daniele Piombi and Aba Cercato produced by Gianni Ravera and directed by Regia di Giancarlo Nicotra. It appears to be some sort of competition with the favourites being Iva Zanicchi, Ornella Vanoni and Mia Martini.
They 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 shown below.
Other guests on the show were Van McCoy ("The Shuffle"), Yvonne Fair ("It Should Have Been Me"), Carl Douglas ("Kung Fu Fighting"), Peter Wingfield ("Sixteen with a Bullet") and Shirley and Company ("Shame, Shame Shame"). 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:
1. Bob James - Take Me To The Mardi Gras
2. Yvonne Fair - It Should Have Been Me
3. John Kincade -
4. Van McCoy - The Shuffle
5. Melanie - La bamba
6. Shirley and Company - Shame, Shame Shame
7. Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
8. Peter Wingfield - Sixteen with a Bullet
9. Peppino Di Capri
10. Sandro Giacobbe - Io prigioniero
11. Enrico Intra -
12. Marcella Bella - Negro
13. Wess-Dori Ghezzi -
14. Mino Reitano - Terre Lontane (a
promotional single was released of this song)
15. Iva Zanicchi -
