ABBA In Helvmark: 1982

The end is near…

ABBA fail to win any awards at the 1982 Helvmark Music Awards, despite the huge success they had in 1981. This is the first sign that the music industry in Helvmark is perhaps moving on…

Slipping Through My Fingers hits #1 on the HitList at the end of January but Polydor Helvmark releases the international release Head Over Heels b/w The Visitors in February. The single is their worst performing for some time (for a mainstream single) and only manages to hit #6 on the HelvTop though the a-side does hit #2 on the HitList (the b-side hits #4).


In March, When All Is Said And Done starts to be played on HR-3 and this results in a #1 on the HitList where it stays for 5 weeks. Obviously sensing the popularity, Polydor Helvmark release When All Is Said And Done b/w Soldiers which hits #1 on the HelvTop for 3 weeks.


In July, Polydor Helvmark use ABBA to try and push the new Cassette Single format by releasing Greatest Hits EP on cassette only. The single consisting of Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All, Our Last Summer and One Of Us reaches #16 on the HelvTop.


ABBA return to Helvmark in November to promote the new hits package The Singles – The First Ten Years plus the new single The Day Before You Came b/w Cassandra.


They perform The Day Before You Came and Cassandra on HT-1’s Live From Studio One, The Day Before You Came on HT-1’s TopHits and have an interview with video clips on HT-2’s Erik! They also appear on Not another comedy show on HT-3 with HT-3 also showing a special documentary called Ten Years of ABBA. They also appear on independent television for the first time by being interviewed on Spotlight on T4H.

The single hits #2 on the HelvTop and #1 for 2 weeks on the HelvList with the album hitting #1 for 3 weeks.


ABBA round off 1982 in Helvmark with a satellite performance of Under Attack on HT-1’s TopHits at the beginning of December. At the 1981 TopHitAwards they win Best International Group.