Filmed: 3-4 March 1975
Location: Hilversum, Netherlands
Broadcast: See below for detailed info
Release status: See below
Shown in: The Netherlands
AVRO's Toppop ran from 22 September 1970 to 27 June 1988.
Two songs were shown on this programme in 1975 - SOS and I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. However, in 2006 it became apparent that it was ONLY SOS that was recorded exclusively for this show. The performance of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do that was shown on Toppop in 1975 was actually a repeated broadcast of the one from The Eddy Go Round Show.
However, in early 2007, it was confirmed that I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was recorded at the same time as SOS via the book AVRO's Toppop released in 1999. Apparently ABBA were in the Hilversum studio and filmed both clips (a picture appears in the book). As soon as I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do was ready, Toppop did not have to use The Eddy Go Round Show clip anymore and on 18 April 1975 they showed their own Toppop clip of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (on 21 March they had to show The Eddy Go Round Show version of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do). Sadly all master tapes of Toppop between February and September 1975 have been erased. SOS survived because they filmed it to be used after SOS was released.
The SOS clip has not been available for sale or broadcast for many years due to "legal issues" although has been available in fan circles.
Other artists on the SOS episode included:
- Leo Sayer
- Patty Labelle
- The Cats
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
- Rufus and Chaka Khan
- Sparks
- Shirley & Co
- Donna Summer
- Slade
- Teach-In
- Demis Roussos
- Pilot
- Bay City Rollers
- Guys & Dolls
- Gene Pitney
- Wizzard
- Jigsaw and
- Trammps.
Click here for a either a rehearsal picture - or perhaps it is from the performance of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"? Note that Agnetha and Frida have both discarded their capes.
Information about the show has been released in a book and DVD package called Pop op TV 1960-1975.
Filming date confirmed by Görel's diary from 1975 as seen in the leaflet supplied in ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling.
An alternative version of SOS came to light in October 2015 of a more serious performance around Benny's piano, most likely filmed on the same day.
The SOS clip is available on the DVD AVRO 85 jaar muziekinspiratie (AVRO, 85 years of music inspiration).
Broadcast information
18 April 1975 - I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (in Episode 199)
13 June 1975 SOS (in Episode 208)
27 June 1975 - a second SOS version
all on AVRO, Netherlands
At the very end of the song, someone walks in front of ABBA on screen.
TopPop (Waterloo), 1974;
TopPop (SOS), 1975;
TopPop (New Year Greeting and interview), 1976;
TopPop (Björn), 1979;
TopPop (Frida), 1982;
(TopPop (Gemini - Just Like That), 1986);