Top Club

Filmed 18 October 1978
Location Studio 102, Maison de la Radio, Paris, France
Broadcast 23-28 October , Antenne 2 (A2), France
REPEATED in early April 2011 on TV Télé Melody - watch out in case they are repeated again!
Released This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Notes Top Club was a daily TV show presented by Guy Lux with high viewing figures as it was broadcast just before the evening news at 8 o'clock.

ABBA performed six songs (changing costumes between each one) which were broadcast over six evenings (ie. one song per night for six evenings).

1. "Waterloo" (to playback) - broadcast on Monday 23 October 1978 and interview
2. "Fernando" (to playback) - broadcast on Tuesday 24 October 1978
3.  "SOS" (to playback) - broadcast on Wednesday 25 October 1978
4. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (to playback) - broadcast on Thursday 26 October 1978
5. "Thank You For The Music" (to playback) - broadcast on Friday 27 October 1978*
6. "Money, Money, Money" (to playback) - broadcast on Saturday 28 October 1978

* repeated Saturday 28 October 1978

                 Waterloo                                         Fernando                                          SOS
       

     Knowing Me Knowing You          Thank You For The Music                 Money Money Money
     

"Waterloo" was performed in a more lively manner to that we are used to with faster dancing and lots of clapping.  They were interviewed by Guy Lux afterwards. He asked Benny, "Who keeps the money?" to which Benny answered, "Nobody keeps the money. The Manager keeps the money."  Agnetha mimes her little heart out for "Thank You For the Music" and looks really happy.

("Vincent2" at ABBA - The Site seems to remember "Summer Night City" was broadcast on the Sunday but the archive does not list this song as being performed on this programme. One other ABBA on TV regular says "Summer Night City" was not performed.  Jean Marie Potiez wrote in "ABBA - The Book" that there was a strike in France that day and the song was apparently recorded but not broadcast on the day that was planned. In fact the archives indicate that the strike was on 1 November 1978.  The archives also reveal that another French programme, "Les Rendez Vous du Dimanche" showed the "Summer Night City" PROMO so this could be the reason for the conflicting memories.)  UPDATE 13 April 2008:  Apparently, ABBA were supposed to sing "Summer Night City" on 19th October, the day after recording the other six songs, but because of the strike (see above) , the whole recording of the show was cancelled.

On 19 October, ABBA did some shopping on the Champs Elysées, they had a photo session in the city and they had a dinner at Le Grand Véfour restaurant with Mireille Mathieu and Alain Boublil.

An "ABBA on TV" exclusive - the colour pictures below are being shared for the first time since the original broadcast from what I can gather.

Click here for rehearsal and other pictures
Duration  
Watch Out For

Transcript  
Lyrics  
Pictures Click on thumbnail for larger view (and to view further images per song):
Related Links  
Credits

Thanks to Michael Price, Jean-Marie Potiez, Petr Mlejnek, Jun Seo, Sam Shervz, Abel & Betsa and Harry Ehler c/o ABBAMAIL.
Most information c/o ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez. Other information c/o ABBA - The Site and "vincent2".
Thanks to Trijnie's ABBA Annual for pictures before I got all these beauties.
Track-listing supplied by Johan Jerreling. Thanks also to Mandy Samuels, Mohammed,  Eduardo Souza, Petr Mlejnek, David Legrand, Melinda, Neil Barber, Pascale Ranson and ABBA4ever Forum. Huge thanks to JOZSEF.  YouTube links c/o thepiperchile, , and Mira6610