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  ABOUT THIS LANDMARK BOOK
 
LAUNCH A STUNNING SUCCESS!
On the remarkable coincidence of Benny’s 62nd birthday ~ 16 December ~ around 150 invited guests and their families packed into The Queensland Orchestra’s West End studios in Brisbane to celebrate the launch of ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK on a balmy, storm-free, summer’s evening overlooking the Brisbane River.

Bubbles and nibbles flowed and mingled as easily as did our VIP guests ~ our very gracious compere, 4MBS Classic FM’s Howard Ainsworth, and our VIP guest speaker, Judith Durham from Australia’s own music phenomenon The Seekers, were a smash hit with the crowd.

But no-one and nothing could overshadow the enormous pleasure and sense of achievement of author Chris Patrick and his landmark literary debut, a moment shared by proud parents Robin and Nick Patrick and sister Fiona, accompanied by best wishes from brother Cam in the USA who couldn’t be with us.

Judith Durham’s manager, Graham Simpson, provided some wonderful background on their connections with Chris, and on the origins of the book. Former high school mate and designer/production editor Matt Tesch painted some verbal pictures of the ‘birth’ and ‘delivery’ process. And Judith herself spoke delightfully of her musical time with The Seekers, their parallels with and influences to/from ABBA, and obviously derived immense pleasure in officially launching ABBA : LET THE MUSIC SPEAK to the acclaim of everyone present.


MORE MEDIA AND PROMOTION

NEWSPAPER FEATURES AND REVIEWS
Quest Newspapers’ “City South News” ran a full-page photo interview with Chris in its Thursday 11 December issue, the week before the launch event, which has been picked up and posted online in the ABBA fan community around the world.
A major Brisbane newspaper is also currently reviewing the book, and we’ll bring you details once it’s published, early in the New Year.

LOOK OUT FOR MORE ABC RADIO DELIGHTS IN JANUARY!
Following the resounding success of Chris’ debut session with top-rating 612 ABC Radio breakfast presenter Spencer Howson on Thursday 4 December, we can look forward to further morning treats once Spencer returns from summer holidays on Monday 19 January … can’t say too much more at this time, but now, more than usual, it would pay to be tuned in to 612 AM from the 19th (or you can stream online from
http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/radio/.


NEWS AND REVIEWS

SWEDISH SURPRISES
In an even more remarable coincidence, no less a person than Benny himself received a copy of Chris’ book on the day after his brithday in Stockholm, and we understand that Björn should also be receiving a copy early in the New Year … exciting times, as we await the thoughts of two of the ABBA ‘masters’ themselves in coming weeks!

READERS’ COMMENTS
Given the Christmas Season and summer/winter holidays (depending on where in the world you are!), it’s perhaps not surprising that things have been very quiet on the review front ~ after all, it’s been less than three weeks since the books arrived from the printers, and Chris and his team have ‘moved Heaven and earth’ to ensure that all preliminary orders have been dispatched as promptly as possible.

Everyone seems to be ‘hunkered down’ either busy with Seasonal festivities or else taking advantage of their holidays to immerse themselves in the book!
We’re looking forward to your thoughts in due course ~ once you ‘come up for air’ (!) ~ but comments received so far suggest readers are surprised and delighted, and using words like “amazing” and “detailed” and “completely unique” and “totally new” to describe the book.

More reviews on the (More Reviews) page, once we start to hear from you all!


BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER
Sorry, everyone, but the limited offer for the first 100 numbered and signed copies has been well and truly finalised!
However, although the limited ‘first edition 100’ offer can never be repeated, it is still possible for you to request a signed and suitably-dedicated copy autographed by Chris if you order from the
(Buy Now) page of this website ~ you can note your requests in the appropriate message field or use the ‘Contact’ link to send a message to Chris about your order.


LIVE –
“ABBA MANIA” ON THE GOLD COAST

Party with London’s West End sensation at Conrad Jupiters at Broadbeach on Queensland’s beautiful Gold Coast in live performances of the smash-hit show!

Chris and his cello are part of a superb orchestral line-up bringing the ABBA hits to life, along with all the lights, colours and fabulous costumes of the stage performers, in unforgettable matinee and evening sessions, 28 October 2008 to 14 February 2009.

Visit:
http://abbamania.com/
and
http://abbamanialive.com.au/

More information:
www.conradjupiters.com.au/

MEDIA –
MUSIC LOVER’S CHOICE ON BRISBANE’S 4MBS-FM
What a fabulous two hours of live radio that was on Saturday 29 November!  Chris, together with host Howard Ainsworth, presented an engaging and enlightening selection of music by Benny and Björn, discussing the vocal contribution of Agnetha and Frida, and ranging across the entire spectrum from “Arrival” through BAO, CHESS and KRISTINA pieces, to conclude with the seminal “Thank You For The Music”!

“Sensational”, “informing”, “revealing” and “fantastic” were just some of the comments made following the program, which was re-broadcast on 4MBS Classic FM the following Monday night (01 December) between 10pm and midnight (AEST-Qld time). Included in the program were several references to the fabulous ABBA MANIA show, in which Chris is playing cello, currently running at Conrad Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast.

More detailed and timely news announcements will be made on Chris’ blog page, so you should also keep an eye on:
http://abbaletthemusicspeak.wordpress.com/

   
 
BOOK SPECIFICATIONS
  • 420pp (plus covers)
    illustrated paperback

  • B5 size
    175mm (W) x 250mm (H) or 7in (W) x 10in (H)

  • ISBN
    978 0 646 49676 4 (pbk)

  • Illustrated with reproductions of single/album covers
    from the author’s own
    private collection,
    plus hundreds of
    specially-created
    musical figures

  • Includes:
    Index
    References
    List of figures
    Glossary

    of musical terms
    used throughout
    the book
    Selected Discography
    and
    ‘The world of ABBA’
    – a timeline of
    the group’s history,
    and a snapshot of
    ‘what in the world’
    was happening
    at the time.

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ABBA Let The Music Speak by Christopher Patrick


Both ABBA: Let The Music Speak – title and all text – are Copyright © Christopher Patrick 2004-2008.
The ABBA ‘musical logotype’ graphic is Copyright © Matthew Tesch 2008. None of these elements may be reproduced without permission of the author and/or graphic designer.
Please use the
CONTACT page link on this website for approvals.


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