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When MAMMA MIA!, a new stage musical based on With Meryl Streep signed on to play Donna Sheridan, the inde-
the songs of ABBA, opened at the Prince Edward pendent, strong-willed mother, other cast followed, with Julie
Theatre in London on April 6, 1999, no one had Walters and Christine Baranski playing Donna’s best friends,
any idea that the overnight hit would become an Rosie and Tanya, respectively. A trio of Hollywood’s hottest men,
enduring worldwide phenomenon, the first block- Pierce Brosnan (Sam Carmichael), Colin Firth (Harry Bright) and
buster of the new millennium. Stellan Skarsgård (Bill Austin) joined to play the dads. Amanda
Seyfried (Big Love) and Dominic Cooper (The History Boys) were
The story of the making of the MAMMA MIA! movie begins before cast as the young romantic couple, Sophie and Sky.
that auspicious West End opening.
From the outset Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus decided that
Global Producer Judy Craymer knew ABBA’s Benny Andersson and the classic ABBA sound should be featured on the MAMMA MIA!
Björn Ulvaeus from working with them as executive producer on soundtrack and it was also important that the recording stand
the London premiere of the musical ‘Chess’ in the early 1980s. alone as a pop music album.
The concept of MAMMA MIA! began with Judy’s idea of using ABBA
songs to tell a new story. Her inspiration really came from ‘The Benny and Björn reunited in Stockholm with the musicians who
Winner Takes It All’, an emotional roller coaster of a song about played on the original ABBA songs to record the soundtrack in
the break up of a relationship. (‘Winner’ is sung on the film and February, 2007. This was the first time these musicians had
soundtrack by Meryl Streep). played these songs together since ABBA toured more than 25
years ago.
Once Benny and Björn had endorsed Judy’s concept for the show,
playwright Catherine Johnson was chosen to write the book, and The fifteen month journey from those first recording sessions to
renowned theatre director Phyllida Lloyd was invited to stage the the completion of the sound-editing in New York could have been
production. a daunting experience, but for Benny every moment was a revela-
tion.
One of the most successful groups of all time, ABBA dominated the
pop music charts between 1974 and 1982. The remarkable record Along with producing the recording, Benny played keyboards.
sales and the volume of hits – a dozen Top Twenty singles in the US Playing together again in the studio, the music came rushing
and nine Number Ones in the UK alone – made the Swedish group back. Says Benny, ‘We didn’t have to think about it. It was in the
international stars. fingers.’
Since the London opening, MAMMA MIA! has been seen on stage Setting out to record one or two backing tracks a day, they man-
around the world by over 30 million people in twenty productions aged to record all the music beds in less than a week.
in eight different languages, selling more than two billion dollars The actors joined together for the first time to record their vocals
worth of tickets at the box office. in London in April, 2007, prior to the commencement of filming,
With these extraordinary statistics, it was inevitable that MAMMA which began at Pinewood Studios June, 2007, and continued later
MIA! would become a motion picture. that summer on location on the beautiful Greek island paradises
of Skiathos and Skopelos, as well as Damouchari on the Pelion
What was unusual was that the three women who led the creative Peninsula.
team for the stage musical, Judy Craymer (producer), Phyllida
Lloyd (director) and Catherine Johnson (writer) would repeat their Although none of the actors had much experience in the recording
roles in the making of the MAMMA MIA! film. studio, they were undaunted and completely at ease singing the
classic ABBA songs. The sessions were a joyous process which
Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, you can hear on this recording, that not only brings back that fan-
MAMMA MIA’s romantic tale unfolds on a sun-soaked Greek island. tastic experience of watching the film, but also perfectly captures
On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the iden- the heartwarming, feel-good spirit that is MAMMA MIA!
tity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to
the island they last visited 20 years ago.
Honey, Honey I wanted to know some more My life will never There’s a fire within my soul Having the time of your life I still see it all It was like shooting
Benny Andersson, And now I’m about to see be the same Just one look Ooh In the tourist jam a sitting duck
Björn Ulvaeus What you mean to me Money, money, money... and I can hear a bell ring See that girl ‘round the Notre Dame A little small-talk, a smile and baby
& Stig Anderson One more look Watch that scene Our last summer I was stuck
Money, Money, Money and I forget everything Diggin’ the Dancing Queen Walking hand in hand I still don’t know what you’ve done
Honey, honey Mamma Mia with me
Benny Andersson Oh You’re a teaser, Paris restaurants
How he thrills me, Benny Andersson, A grown-up woman
& Björn Ulvaeus Mamma mia, you turn ‘em on Our last summer
aha, honey, honey Björn Ulvaeus should never fall so easily
here I go again... Leave ’em burning and then you’re Morning croissants
Honey, honey I work all night, & Stig Anderson I feel a kind of fear
Nearly kills me, I work all day gone Living for the day
I was cheated by you Dancing Queen Looking out for another Worries far away When I don’t have you near
aha, honey, honey To pay the bills I have to pay Benny Andersson, Unsatisfied
And I think you know when Anyone will do Our last summer
I've heard about him before Ain’t it sad? Björn Ulvaeus I skip my pride
So I made up my mind You’re in the mood We could laugh and play
I wanted to know some more And still there It must come to an end & Stig Anderson I beg you dear
And now I know never seems to be for a dance And now you’re
Look at me now And when you get the chance working in a bank Don’t go wasting
what they mean, A single penny left for me Will I ever learn? Ooh your emotion
He’s a love machine That's too bad You can dance You are the Dancing Queen... A family man
I don’t know how A football fan Lay all your love on me
Oh, he makes me dizzy In my dreams I have a plan But I suddenly lose control You can jive Don’t go sharing your
Honey, honey If I got me a wealthy man Having the time of your life Our Last Summer And your name is Harry
There’s a fire within my soul devotion
Let me feel it, I wouldn’t have Ooh Benny Andersson & How dull it seems
Just one look Lay all your love on me
aha, honey, honey to work at all See that girl Björn Ulvaeus Are you the hero of my dreams?
and I can hear a bell ring I’ve had a few little love affairs
Honey, honey I’d fool around One more look Watch that scene I can still recall
I can still recall our last summer... They didn’t last very long and they’ve
Don’t conceal it, and have a ball and I forget everything Diggin’ the Dancing Queen Our last summer been pretty scarce
aha, honey, honey Money, money, money Oh Friday night and the I still see it all I used to think that
The way that you Must be funny Mamma mia, Lay All Your Love
lights are low Walks along the Seine was sensible
kiss goodnight In a rich man’s world here I go again On Me
Looking out for a place to go Laughing in the rain It makes the truth even more
The way that you Money, money, money My, my, how can I resist you? Benny Andersson &
Where they play Our last summer incomprehensible
hold me tight Always sunny Mamma mia, Björn Ulvaeus
the right music Memories that remain ‘cause everything is new
I feel like I wanna sing In a rich man’s world does it show again? Getting in the swing We made our way Don’t go wasting And everything is you
When you do your thing A-ha My, my, just how You’ve come to look for a king along the river your emotion And all I’ve learned
Honey, honey All the things I could do much I’ve missed you Anybody could be that guy And we sat down Lay all your love on me Has overturned
Touch me, baby, If I had a little money Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted Night is young and the in the grass I wasn’t jealous What can I do?
aha, honey, honey It’s a rich man’s world Blue since the day we parted music’s high By the Eiffel Tower before we met Don’t go wasting
Honey, honey It’s a rich man’s world Why, why did I ever With a bit of rock music I was so happy we had met Now every man that your emotion...
Hold me, baby, A man like that is let you go? Everything’s fine It was the age of no regret I see is a potential threat
aha, honey, honey hard to find Mamma mia, You’re in the mood Oh yes And I’m possessive,
You look like a movie star But I can't get him now I really know for a dance Those crazy years, it isn’t nice
But I love just who you are off my mind My, my, I should not And when you get the chance that was the time You’ve heard me saying that smok-
And honey to say the least Ain’t it sad? have let you go You are the Dancing Queen Of the flower-power ing was my only vice
You're a doggone beast And if he happens to be free I was angry and sad Young and sweet But underneath But now it isn’t true
Honey, honey I bet he wouldn’t fancy me When I knew we were through Only seventeen We had a fear of flying Now everything is new
How you thrill me, That’s too bad I can’t count all the times Dancing Queen Of growing old And all I’ve learned
aha, honey, honey So I must leave, I have cried over you Feel the beat from A fear of slowly dying Has overturned
Honey, honey I’ll have to go Look at me now the tambourine We took a chance I beg of you
Nearly kill me, To Las Vegas or Monaco Will I ever learn? Like we were dancing Don’t go wasting
Oh yeah
aha, honey, honey And win a fortune I don’t know how our last dance your emotion
You can dance
I’ve heard about you before in a game But I suddenly lose control You can jive I can still recall