ABBA In Helvmark: 1978

ABBA Month turns into ABBA Year…

February is declared ‘ABBA Month’ in Helvmark with the release of a new single, new album and new film! The single Take A Chance On Me b/w I’m A Marionette and the album The Album are released on the same week both reaching #1 – the single stays at #1 for 6 weeks and the album stays at #1 for 10 weeks. On the HitList Take A Chance On Me also hits #1 for 6 weeks. The film ABBA - The Movie launches with a big premiere (attended by ABBA) and becomes the 3rd most successful film of 1978 behind Saturday Night Fever and Grease.

During ‘ABBA Month’ ABBA do a lot of promotion in Helvmark including the attendance at the premiere of ABBA – The Movie. The promotion is kicked off with the Helvmark Music Awards ’78 (broadcast on HT-1) where they win Best International Group and Best Single (Knowing Me, Knowing You) and a special award for the number of records they have sold since 1973. They also perform Take A Chance On Me and Eagle. Other appearances on radio and television include HT-1’s TopHits (performing Take A Chance On Me), The Star Show: ABBA (a special show with an interview and performances of Take A Chance On Me, Thank You For The Music and Eagle), Roxy (performing Take A Chance On Me); HT-2’s Erik! (performing Take A Chance On Me and Eagle) and Det Karens Montre which has an interview. Independent Radio network a special It’s ABBA! programme.

The HitList chart sees many tracks taken from The Album doing very well especially Thank You For Music (#1 in March), Eagle (#1 in April) and One Man One Woman (#3 in April). The double A-side Eagle/Thank You For The Music is released in April and reaches #2 on the HelvTop.


September sees the release of Summer Night City b/w Medley which again hits #1 on both charts staying there for 5 weeks on the HelvTop and 4 weeks on the HitList.


ABBA end 1978 with a brief promotional tour to Helvmark including appearances on HT-1’s TopHits Christmas ’78 (performing Summer Night City and Take A Chance On Me), The Charles Highton Christmas Show (spoof gameshow plus performances of Thank You For The Music and If It Wasn’t For The Nights) and HT-2’s Jultid med Erik.

At the HT-1 TopHits Top Awards 1978 they win Best Album for the The Album. They don’t win Best International Group as that goes to Boney M.