Buried in the mix!

According to engineer Michael B. Tretow, Benny was always the one most keen to fill every available space on the ABBA recordings. Ultimately, though, there is only so much the human ear is able to process!  Many ABBA songs contain extra layers of vocals and instrumental overdubs that became casualties of the mixing desk, because there just wasn’t enough room to give them the attention they deserve.

It is surprising just how much is laid down – and what casualties of the process are left wanting – after all is mixed down ready for release. Take the second verse of  “Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)” for example.  Listen beyond the obvious upfront vocal and backing track. You’ll hear electric guitarist Janne Schaffer playing a poignant solo beneath Agnetha’s lead.  Another is Lasse Wellander’s exquisite acoustic guitar playing  in the verses of “Dum Dum Diddle” that is all but smothered by the girls’ vocals. The guitar sparkles like gold here; his contribution to this song is justifiably singled out in the original liner notes.

Again in “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, there is a neat backing vocal courtesy of Agnetha just discernable in the chorus, but you rarely hear it reproduced when cover bands perform this song. It occurs over the phrase “time we’re through” and again on “have to go”. The extra vocal line descends one tone at a time, on each of the three words in each phrase. Listen also for the glockenspiel countermelody during the electric guitars’ twin-layered lead in the refrain. It is virtually inaudible in the studio recording of “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, but you can see it  take centre stage in the live version from the 1981 Dick Cavett Meets ABBA show, stylishly executed by percussionist Åke Sundqvist.

Just three of many gems … and there’s the odd bum note in a few! Check out verse one of “The Name Of The Game”: Benny’s synthesiser doubles Rutger Gunnarsson’s bass part in one of ABBA’s funkiest refrains. At the end of the phrase “it seems to me”, the synth note clashes with the bass. Unless you listen for it, you would never know. Channel separation reveals all …

Elaine Paige & angular ABBA melodies

Hi there!

I recently saw a performance of the diva of musical theatre, Elaine Paige, in my hometown of Brisbane.  It was a superb evening of entertainment, and I for one will be lining up for the special 40th Anniversary DVD, filmed live at the Sydney State Theatre.  Elaine delivered an extraordinary and almost flawless performance, and of course I eagerly anticipated her tribute to the music of Benny and Bjorn.

This arrived in the second half. The atmosphere was superbly set by a CHESS overture featuring the exotic Bangkok and the CHESS signature instrumental.  It was fascinating  to watch such a treasure trove of theatrical songs spanning forty odd years, and to hear how seamlessly Benny and Bjorn’s material slotted in to the groove.  It also revealed how deceptively challenging songs like  Someone Else’s Story and I Know Him So Well (the featured two) are to sing, particularly live.  Very angular melodies in both; little wonder Elaine needed more than a costume change to prepare for them.

This angular approach to melody writing (where the melody line leaps around quite considerably) is showcased in another CHESS song,  Nobody’s Side, where Florence’s vocal acrobatics in the verses served an important story-telling role in the form of a musical recitative.

Back in the ABBA days, angular writing permeates theatrical songs like Thank You For The Music and I Wonder (Departure) among others. For Agnetha, The Winner Takes It All and Happy New Year would also have demanded some considerable warm-up period before recording; both lead vocals contain sizeable leaps across two octaves.  So too for Frida,  the unashamedly thespian I Let The Music Speak. These songs are true performance vehicles for the ABBA women.

Who knows?  Like Elaine,  Agnetha and Frida may one day feel similarly inspired to celebrate a milestone in their entertainment careers … a 40th anniversary of their first recording together perhaps? If not, there are plenty more milestones waiting in the wings …

Best regards,

Chris

BOOK SIGNING – SAT 12 SEPT 2009

Dear friends

For those living in my home city of Brisbane in Queensland, I hope you are enjoying the early summer weather!

Just wanted to let you know that Angus & Robertson Bookshop at Brookside Shopping Centre, Mitchelton is hosting a signing for my book this coming Saturday, 12 September at 10.30am.

If you’re at a loose end this Saturday it would be lovely to see you, to help me celebrate the arrival of the revised and updated 2nd edition.

A & R Brookside is easy to find: Brookside Shopping Centre is in Osborne Road at Mitchelton. Just turn right off Samford Road into Osborne, and right again into Brookside Centre. Plenty of undercover parking, and the bookshop contact details are as follows:

phone:     07 3855 1612
address:  Shop 49, Brookside S/C Osborne Rd, MITCHELTON QLD 4053

Look for the big pull-up banner of my book cover. I’ll be happily signing away and enjoying a decent chinwag with anyone who’s in the mood, so hope to seeing some old and new faces on Saturday!

Warm regards to all,

Chris

Second Edition is here!

Hi all! I’ve been on the road over the past few months, and have just returned from a short promotional visit to Melbourne, where I appeared on Radio 94.9 JOY FM for an extended interview on the “Been There Done That” morning show. Hosts Brian, Gordon and Chris made me very welcome, and we spent a stimulating hour discussing the finer details of ABBA’s music and playing selected tracks, the most unusual being a country-and-western cover version of “Dancing Queen”!

While in town I also visited the Readings Books Music & Film shops, which now stock my book. Readings is the Australian Independent Bookseller of the Year for 2009, as well as the official bookseller at the 2009 Melbourne Writers Festival, so it’s great to see my book on the shelves there in one of Australia’s most cultural cities. My book is now also available in Sydney at The Bookshop in Darlinghurst, and in Brisbane, at Riverbend Books, Bulimba and The Avid Reader, West End.

“ABBA: Let The Music Speak” is now in its second printing, with only a few boxes of the first edition remaining. The book’s recommended retail price has been reduced to AU$39.95 to celebrate the arrival of the updated second edition.

To those who tuned in regularly to my daily ABBA album-by-album track-by-track sessions with breakfast radio host Spencer Howson on 612 ABC Brisbane from January to June … thanks for listening! It was an amazing six months on air. It has inspired other ABC networks across Australia to join the happy band of hosts and listeners who can’t get enough of ABBA! 891 ABC Adelaide invited me on for a week’s worth of guest hosting back in May, and I have another week’s worth coming up on 1233 ABC Newcastle later this month. A few weeks ago I was on 91.7 ABC Coast FM discussing the book and a musical ‘investigation’ of the song “SOS”. The extended session of 17 minutes enabled me to delve into the wonders of one of ABBA’s greatest songs in more detail.

I’m returning to Melbourne very soon to join 94.9 JOY FM host Alan Ross on his popular “Café Latte” Sunday afternoon show. I’ll post dates and details of this and other upcoming interviews as they come to hand.

Very pleased to hear the news that “Mamma Mia!” (The Musical) is set for a return Australian season later this year, commencing in Sydney in October and moving to Melbourne and Brisbane in 2010. Looking forward also to following the global journey of the new ABBA World Touring Exhibition being launched in September.

More updates soon!

Cheers,
Chris Patrick

Email link technical issues solved!

Hi everybody!

Just an update to reassure anyone who has been trying to contact me and has not had a reply, that the reason for the delay has been due to an ongoing technical issue with the email connections from my website, which my IT team and I have finally resolved.

The glitch caused some delays, which were contrary to my stated intentions on the website.  As a consequence, it’s my firm intention to rectify any problems which may have arisen as a result.

Please contact me at info@christopherpatrick.com.au at any time if you have encountered any problems. I am also always very happy to assist with any questions you may have about ABBA’s music, and of course any subject close to your heart that appears in the book!

Kind regards,
Chris Patrick

ABBA : Let the music speak – interview with Chris on YouTube!!

Fantastic 10-minute segment with Chris on Channel 7’s national “The Morning Show” broadcast live across Australia from their Sydney studios on Friday 24 April ~ visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W3UevrqJNw
to see the interview!
Cheerz all
Matt
Graphic designer / Production editor
http://www.abbaletthemusicspeak.com

A long-overdue update from me! I’m pleased with the enthusiastic response I’ve had to my book, both in Australia and internationally.

Most recently, I took part in a feature interview for the March issue (#98) of the Official International ABBA Fan Club magazine, entitled “Two Books, Two Authors, Two Fans”. I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss so many aspects of the writing and publishing process, and I thank Helga van de Kar for inviting me to contribute.

Earlier this year, I was invited to appear as a regular weekday
guest with Brisbane radio 612 ABC’s breakfast presenter Spencer Howson
(http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/01/wake-up-with-bj.html?program=612_breakfast). We discuss and play ABBA, musically speaking, album-by-album, track by track.  For the first time on Brisbane radio, every single ABBA song ever recorded (excluding Spanish versions) is being featured. Unfortunately the segment goes to air at 5.50am every morning … a bit early for most, but there has been a very positive response from listeners who enjoy hearing ABBA on a station that traditionally excludes the group from its playlist. (We record one album’s worth at a more civilised hour
once every two weeks, in case you’re wondering.) The breakfast show has won the first ratings battle of the year, which is heartening news.

Now the book has been out for several months, I have started to receive emails and enthusiastic reviews from readers around the world, soon to be included on my updated website. Thank you all for your support!

Best regards,

Chris Patrick

BOOK REVIEW : “HERE IS A MAJOR REFERENCE…”

ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK reviewed by Barbara Baker;
published in Brisbane’s The Courier-Mail (ETC section, p62) Saturday 03 January 2009

“GUARANTEED – with this book to guide you – you will never listen to an ABBA recording the same way again. The familiar “simple” sound is in fact composed of layers of imaginative and technical complexity, and Brisbane musician Chris Patrick analyses them right down to the use of the AKG-440 microphone, the “group’s trusted standard”.

“A life-long fan – many of the black and white illustrations are from his own collection – Patrick has broken new ground and won the endorsement of other ABBA experts and of musicians such as Judith Durham.

“He includes the personal histories of the group, but only as they affect the music. Frida’s break with Benny, for example, resulted in her “volatile and pitiless” rendition of verses in Should I Laugh Or Cry. He focuses on the quartet’s musical evolution and the unique skills each brought to it.

“By including excerpts from scores, and explaining them at both laymen’s and trained musicians’ levels, Patrick proves that Benny and Bjorn have always put melody first. But then they find “the right blend of colour to fully express the emotional character of a song.”

“He explains what this means musically. He can’t always avoid jargon, but there is a glossary; there’s also a timeline, selected discography and index.

“The book is in three parts: The Albums, The Sound, The Melodies, allowing individual songs to be approached from different angles. Here is a major reference for fans, musicians and the general public (but have recordings handy), enlivened by Patrick’s enthusiastic prose where past glories “erupt”, and where performances are “quirky”.”

ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK BOOK LAUNCH PHOTOS

Host Howard Ainsworth, presenter on 4MBS Classic FM and the doyen of Brisbane radio, graciously compered the launch event (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Graphic designer and production editor Matt Tesch describes the 'birthing process' for the book (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Judith Durham, former lead singer of Australian music phenomenon The Seekers, was our special VIP guest speaker at the official launch (photo: Alex Djachenko)

A very delighted author Chris Patrick acknowledges the crowd at the book launch (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Judith Durham signs a copy of ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK for Chris (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Crowds queue at the launch for signed copies (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Judith & Chris meet an adoring table of Ilse, Pene, Rose & Mimi at the launch (photo: Alex Djachenko)

It's standing-room only at the book launch! (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Guest speakers Matt, Howard, Graham & Judith listen to Chris at the book launch (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Queueing for signed copies at the book launch! (photo: Alex Djachenko)

Proud authorial parents Robin and Nick Patrick at the book launch (photo: Alex Djachenko)

WONDERFUL BOOK LAUNCH last night!

Sensational atmosphere at the official launch at The Queensland Orchestra Studios in Brisbane’s West End last night. It was a beautiful summer evening overlooking the river, with fantastic food and drink provided by a small army of “Team Patrick” volunteers for the 120+ guests.
Keynote speakers touched on their relationships with Chris’ musical career, and the evolution and ‘birth process’ of ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK, capped off by the delightful and charming words of our VIP guest Judith Durham of The Seekers fame.
Dozens and dozens of still images. and hundreds of minutes of footage, were taken, and we hope to be able to post a selection here in the very near future.
Meantime, Ian Cole, who we were also thrilled could join us from Sydney specially for the occasion, has posted his own illustrated account at http://abbaworld.wordpress.com/

PS ~ I SAW ABBA MANIA TODAY ON THE GOLD COAST!
What a sensational show it is too: everything Chris (who’s playing cello in the band’s string section) said it was, and more ~ incredible atmosphere, audience participation and, perhaps best of all, meticulously authentic renditions of the famous four, their costumes, singing and stage presence … I closed my eyes several times and would swear I was listening to a studio album track!
This is an absolute ‘must-see’ show for anyone living in or visiting Southeast Queensland in the next two months of its season.
More from Chris when he’s recovered and has a chance to compose himself!
Cheers, Matt