“

The most commercially successful pop group of the 1970s, the origins of the Swedish superstars ABBA dated back to 1966, when keyboardist and vocalist Benny Andersson, a onetime member of the popular beat outfit the Hep Stars, first teamed with guitarist and vocalist Bjorn Ulvaeus, the leader of the folk-rock unit the Hootenanny Singers. The two performers began composing songs together and handling session and production work for Polar Music/Union Songs, a publishing company owned by Stig Anderson, himself a prolific songwriter throughout the 1950s and 1960s. At the same time, both Andersson and Ulvaeus worked on projects with their respective girlfriends: Ulvaeus had become involved with vocalist Agnetha Faltskog, a performer with a recent number one Swedish hit, "I Was So in Love," under her belt, while Andersson began seeing Anni-Frid Lyngstad, a one-time jazz singer who rose to fame by winning a national talent contest.... Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue from ABBA featuring the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players). Part of a eight-album ABBA Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue series featuring the albums "Ring Ring," "Waterloo," "ABBA," "Arrival," "The Album," Voulez-Vous," "Super Trouper," and "The Visitors." Robert Taylor -g- All Music

”

One disc can hardly encompass the full scope of the late Sviatoslav Richter's artistry and repertoire sympathies. This one, however, offers a judicious sampling of studio and live recordings from the seventies and early eighties. Newbie pianophiles wishing to just taste this pianist's wares before plunging full force into Richter collecting (and subsequent debt!) will enjoy this well-rounded sampler.

THE 69 EYES return with their ninth studio album, 'Back in Blood,' 12 goth n roll anthems guaranteed to rock the crypt. Unsurprisingly, the main inspiration for the album came from the vampire realm, vocalist Jyrki 69 explains. It s almost like vampires are taking over the world! he muses referring to the current Twilight mania. The first single will be the tongue-in-cheek Dead Girls Are Easy a nasty power anthem for sleazy pin-ups complete with a sing-a-long chorus aimed at those online chicks with the looks that kill! The video will be directed by MTV superstar and close friend Bam Margera, who was also responsible for the Eyes rock homage to 80s cult movie The Lost Boys .

Matt Hyde s (Slayer, Monster Magnet) ultra-tight production has brought the danger back to THE 69 EYES sound. The artwork has been designed by Estevan Oriol, whose work has graced countless covers from Cypress Hill to The Transplants and Snoop Dogg. We ve worked so hard over the last two years, says Jyrki. We played around 125 shows worldwide but all our sacrifices paved the way for the birth of this baby. Back In Blood is a culmination of 20 years worth of hard work.

Finland's Jean Sibelius is perhaps the most important composer associated with nationalism in music and one of the most influential in the development of the symphony and symphonic poem. Sibelius was born in southern Finland, the second of three children. His physician father left the family bankrupt, owing to his financial extravagance, a trait that, along with heavy drinking, he would pass on to Jean. Jean showed talent on the violin and at age nine composed his first work for it, Rain Drops. In 1885 Sibelius entered the University of Helsinki to study law, but after only a year found himself drawn back to music. He took up composition studies with Martin Wegelius and violin with Mitrofan Wasiliev, then Hermann Csillag. During this time he also became a close friend of Busoni. Though Sibelius auditioned for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, he would come to realize he was not suited to a career as a violinist.