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

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

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

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

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”.”

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

Hi everyone

Production editor Matt here, just letting you know that Chris and I and his team have spent this afternoon unloading the delivery truck, stacking and storing the books, and starting the mailout process for everyone who’s placed an advance order.

It’s been an exhausting but exciting day, but we were lucky that Brisbane’s stormy summer weather stayed fine – if a little humid – for the crucial stages of the arrival of the shipment!

And if you want to know what one tonne (or 1.7 cubic metres!) of books looks like – and feels like to carry – there are several people who can tell you: me, for one!

Chris is making a few posts elsewhere before he collapses in a heap tonight; he luckily has a hectic schedule of media interviews (radio, newspapers, etc) this week, as well as his eight performances in ABBA MANIA on the Gold Coast … and that’s all before the official launch for his book next Tuesday 16 December in Brisbane!

RSVPs for the event, featuring our VIP guest Judith Durham of The Seekers fame, are coming in thick and fast from around Southeast Queensland, but there’s still time to register your interest, if you use the “Contact” link on Chris’ website/s – http://www.abbaletthemusicspeak.com or http://www.christopherpatrick.com.au or – before Thursday this week (11 December).

So far – in less than six hours!! – we’ve managed to work our way through despatching all the Australian domestic orders, and the international orders begin tomorrow with The Netherlands and Europe followed by our enthusiastic supporters in the USA, South America, Asia and the Middle East.

Our intention is to have all pre-orders underway before the end of this week, so there is a very very good chance they will be received before Christmas … wherever you are!

A very long, dedicated and difficult journey – for Chris himself,  and for the other people who’ve believed in his vision and helped along the way – is reaching an exhilarating climax, and we are looking forward to our readers’ comments and reviews as you start to receive your orders.

One or two more posts to come before we can properly wish you all Season’s Greetings, but hopefully there will be a magical surprise under the chimney or in the stocking for you!