Thank you for writing this masterwork. Congratulations on the inclusion at ABBAWORLD and continued success.

Regards from Nashville,
Don Fenceton
Songwriter, USA
 

“YOU’VE ENRICHED MY ABBA APPRECIATION IMMEASURABLY”
I still can't thank you enough. You've enriched my ABBA appreciation immeasurably. And I will be evangelist for your book for a long time to come. Very best to of luck you; you are a gentleman and, obviously, a scholar. This book will maker a name for itself. It may take time, but the good stuff on the Internet tends to rise rapidly to the top, and it seems you 're well on the way.

Rchard B, USA

“INVALUABLE AS A TEACHING TOOL”
I had a good look at your book … and I am confident that many teachers will enjoy having such a thoroughly researched resource of popular material to use in the classroom. The fact that the teachers will all know this repertoire really well and that it is very cleverly conceived will make it invaluable as a teaching tool and a lot of fun to work with too. All good for everyone and for music education.

Linda Brady, Australia
Director of Choral Music, Somerville House.

612 ABC LISTENER KRIS G
HAS RAVE REVIEW READ ON-AIR!!
“During Spencer Howson’s penultimate ABBA broadcast, on 25 June2009, he read out, on-air, the following fax from dedicated breakfast listener Kris (reproduced here by permission):

Dear Spencer,
Now that we have nearly reached the end of the ABBA journey, I felt I should mark the occasion. A bit corny, but you know how I feel about the Super Swedes.

"My Happy New Year began when, as if in answer to an SOS, Spencer took us on a musical journey from Waterloo to Mamma Mia, and beyond. Spencer, I’ve Been Waiting for You to play lots more ABBA for So Long, and hearing the songs again, it’s obvious they’re As Good As New, and that no amount of Money, Money, Money could buy the fun we’ve had on this journey through the songs of ABBA: track by track, album by album.

My Mama Said the journey has gone On and On and On, but When All is Said and Done, we’ve enjoyed Two for the Price of One, with the Arrival of Christopher who said, “I Let the Music Speak”. Christopher, you have been The Piper and we have happily followed. I can’t remember now what I was doing The Day Before You Came!

I kept hoping time would pass Andante, Andante because not only do People Need Love, they need music too and I Am Just a Girl who loves ABBA – yes,
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do.

One of Us (That’s Me) will be sad to see the end of this week as the days are Slipping Through My Fingers, but The Winner Takes It All, and I feel like a winner: there is no Disillusion here. I even had the opportunity to Ring Ring the ABC and have my questions answered, and I’m Head Over Heels with happiness to have a copy of Christopher’s book too!

Spencer, Knowing Me, Knowing You, some of these songs will have the Bang a Boomerang effect and will return to the airwaves later in the year.

But now it is time to Put on My White Sombrero, and just Dance While the Music Still Goes On! So Long, Christopher and Hasta Manana, Spencer, till you return from holidays. We will remember these few months fondly, The Way Old Friends Do.

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC!!
Cheers
Kris

IN A FOLLOW-UP CONTACT, Kris (!) said to Chris (!!):
“I have so enjoyed the ABBA journey and I am thrilled that you liked my little tribute.
“Your musical knowledge and expertise has added such an important dimension to the segment every morning on 612 … There is so much to learn so I really do thank you for the new knowledge I am developing. I would be happy for you to include what I wrote on your website news. It would be an honour.”

“ABBA LET THE MUSIC SPEAK IS AN AMAZING BOOK”
“Prior to reading this book, the best I could ever really offer about why I like ABBA music is because I love how it sounds, but thanks to Christopher Patrick’s book, I can do more than that. I feel like I’ve had a course in music instruction just with this one book alone. And I didn’t even need to pay for a college course! I wouldn’t be surprised if some colleges start to teach classes off this book. Of course, the trick here is that they need to see the book first to know what a wonderful resource it is. “

Ryan C, USA
Read the full review at Ryan’s Incredible World Blog

“I HAVE TO SAY I’M COMPLETELY HOOKED!”
“You’ve written a book that easily rivals Carl Magnus’ Complete Recording Sessions in terms of adding something so totally new and fresh for ABBA fans to read about, and you’ve done it with flair! ABBA Let The Music Speak is a completely unique look at the group and their music and I thank you for writing it.”

Mark W, UK
First edition buyer

“THIS IS A BOOK YOU NEED TO GET … IT’S MADE ME LOVE THE MUSIC EVEN MORE.”
“This book counts among the three essential books about ABBA. If you want to know the ‘what’ about ABBA’s recordings, get ‘The Complete Recording Sessions’ by Carl Magnus Palm. If you want to know the ‘who’ about ABBA, get ‘Bright Lights, Dark Shadows’, again by Carl Magnus Palm.

“But if you want to know the ‘how’ about ABBA’s sound (with a good measure of the others thrown in as well), then ABBA Let The Music Speak is the book you need. Chris’ knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of ABBA’s output – both instrumentally and vocally – is unparalleled in anything I have ever read about the group. It is simply amazing. It is obvious … that Chris loves this music, and that passion is what makes the book so readable.”

Darren L, Brisbane
Hard-core afficionado, who “can’t recommend it highly enough”

“I’M HUGELY IMPRESSED … THIS BOOK IS NOW AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY ABBA FAN’S COLLECTON”
“Wow. Talk about a technical analysis of ABBA’s music! I’ve never read/seen anything like this approach, to this extent, and I now have 15 books of ABBA in my collection … there were plenty of new thoughts and expert opinion throughout this book … The ABBA Timeline section was something new to me, as Christopher Patrick went year-by-year … through the group’s history … And I must add that the index is extremely helpful. For instance, if you look up the phrase “lead vocals”, you will see no less than 35 page references. So it makes it quite easy to pick and choose your subject and go directly to it … I want to thank you for making this book available to me.”

Charles R, Indiana USA
Unexpected first edition recipient

“A COMPELLING READ … THAT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY IT HASN’T BEEN WRITTEN BEFORE.”
“Written by a true musicologist, the book is … the sort of book that every fan needs to have on their bookshelf … With his detailed, thoughtful and respectful analysis, Chris Patrick peels away the layers of the music – instrument by instrument, voice by voice, note by note – bringing forward entirely new perspectives on tracks that ABBA fans have been listening to for more than 30 years … But it’s not a book that will appeal only to fans of Benny and Bjorn’s music; any true lover of music will appreciate the craftsmanship with which Benny and Bjorn constructed ABBA’s music, and which Chris Patrick unveils with a craftsmanship all of his own.”

David M, Brisbane
Surprised Christmas 2008 gift recipient

“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 in ABBA: Let the Music Speak, Brisbane musician Christopher 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 … 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".

Barbara Baker, Brisbane
Book reviewer for “The Courier-Mail”

“I’M UNABASHEDLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS BOOK”
“I very much like your writing style. At first I thought it might be a little florid for my taste, but I soon discovered that you know how to stop well short of becoming tedious. On the contrary, I’m beginning to wonder if I wouldn’t do well to emulate you … I like the fact that you are enthusiastic without being worshipful. That lends credibility to the work … This is a fascinating read. If I were to tell you all I like about the book, I’m afraid I might have to quote most of it back to you. I consider myself an accomplished listener, but you’ve pointed out many things I’ve never noticed.”

Mike S, USA
First edition buyer

“THIS IS DEFINITELY A REFERENCE BOOK AS WELL AS A HIGHLY ENJOYABLE READ.”
“Anyone interested in the music of ABBA would want a volume as a companion … Above all, I came away after reading this book with a new-found RESPECT for all of ABBA’s music, a much better appreciation for the chemistry that has gone into the composition of ABBA music, as well as a very genuine admiration for the author. His abundant integrity and genuine love for the ABBA music will enable the reader to understand more intimately just how “..the music speaks” because it is clear that the writer is above all a fellow ‘Musical Soul’ who has shared in the wonderful world of ABBA music.”

Stephen (Ming Ming) Wu, Australia
Peer-reviewed acclaim

“An amazing book … informative and extraordinarily well written, it’s engaging and passionate … all the things a great book should be.”

Graham Simpson
Creative writer and author of “The Judith Durham Story: Colours Of My Life”
(Random House, Australia, 1994)

“Well written, informative and entertaining.”

Barbara Hannay
Published author, Harlequin Mills & Boon, London

“This book is doing all the right things from a musical viewpoint. And it is really important that books do address the music – the sound, the notes – and not just the social context and meaning of lyrics.”

Professor Malcolm Gillies
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Canberra
Vice-Chancellor and President of the City University, London

“With his lively prose Chris shares his findings … to let the non-musically trained reader in on the secrets ... I found it all a fascinating read with many clever observations being made of things that I had never noticed ...”

Carl Magnus Palm
author of ABBA biography “Bright Lights, Dark Shadows” (Omnibus Press, London, 2001)

“A very comprehensive and unusual study of the music of ABBA.”

Kay Scarlett
Publishing Director, Murdoch Books, Australia
 

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