Filmed: Monday 8 March 1976
Location: Studio 9, GTV9, Melbourne, Australia
Broadcast: LIVE, Channel 9, Australia
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: just over 10 minutes
Shown in: Australia
ABBA performed SOS and Fernando and were interviewed by host Don Lane in between the songs on this talk and variety show.
Agnetha tried to teach Don how to pronounce her name, then Frida tried to teach him how to pronounce the the Swedish sound "sju". Björn teased him about the Swedish tongue-twister "Sjutusensjuhundrasjuttisju sjösjuka sjömän" (7,777 Seasick Sailors!).
ABBA had to sneak out through the garage of their hotel to reach the TV studio due to fans besieging the hotel.
It had long been believed that this clip had been erased from the archives however, the great news from summer 2006 was that it had been found. It was transferred from the live-to-air recording tape to a Umatic-segments tape in 1976 and then was discarded by Channel 9 in 1978 but luckily saved by someone before it got to the rubbish bin. Apparently Channel 9 regularly chucked out stuff they didn't want any more to save tape and storage space - including this. They've probably regretted the decision many times since!
The show was LIVE in some states on Monday and Thursday nights at 9.30pm. It went out LIVE in Sydney and Melbourne and was recorded from air to be played in other areas who didn't get it live, then copied over as the wanted segments had already been transferred to segments tapes.
Apparently there's 5 minutes more footage from behind-the-scenes lurking around somewhere!
There was a trailer for when it aired in another state the following week in Adelaide on Wednesday nights.
A The Best of The Don Lane Show DVD was released in 2005 but the only ABBA clip was from 1977 as that is the only clip they have left in the archives.
Don Lane died 21 October 2009
The Don Lane Show (SOS & Fernando), 1976;
The Don Lane Show, 1977;
Thanks to Ian Cole, Harry Ehler, Charles Pylad, Graeme Read and Grant Whittingham c/o ABBAMAIL (no longer online). Some info from Bright Lights, Dark Shadows by Carl Magnus Palm. Thanks also to Peter Kennedy and JS. Extra thanks to Erik Liebstaedter, Jun Seo, Jozsef, Sam Shervz and Abel & Betsa.
Thanks to Harold Hanlon c/o ABBA Village.
YouTube link c/o nsw3000