Listen to Richard Ashcroft's new version of The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony'
His new album 'Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1' also features Liam Gallagher
Richard Ashcroft has premiered a new stripped back version of The Verve’s seminal song ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ from his upcoming new album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1.’
Released on Friday 29th October 2021, ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ features newly recorded acoustic versions of eight songs from The Verve’s 1997 album ‘Urban Hymns’ and four tracks from Richard Ashcroft’s solo back catalogue.
The album opens with a seven-minute reimagining of The Verve’s timeless anthem ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, which Richard Ashcroft penned 24 years ago.
The original version of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ sampled the iconic sweeping strings from the Andrew Oldham Orchestra reworking of The Rolling Stones’ 1965 song ‘The Last Time’, and in 2019 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards made the “magnanimous gesture” of relinquishing their writing credits to Richard Ashcroft.
Listen to Richard Ashcroft’s new version of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’:
Another standout moment on ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ is a duet between Richard and his good friend Liam Gallagher on a reworking of his 2000 solo single ‘C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now).’
Other tracks on the album include ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Sonnet’, ‘One Day’, ‘Velvet Morning’, ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘A Song for the Lovers.’
The album artwork features a photograph of Richard Ashcroft wearing a hoodie and sitting alongside his wife Kate Radley.
‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ was produced by Richard Ashcroft alongside regular collaborator Chris Potter, and it boasts string arrangements by Wil Malone (Black Sabbath, Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden) that were recorded at London’s world-famous Abbey Road Studios.
Together with Richard’s regular live band, the album also features Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers) on piano, Roddy Bloomfield leading the brass section, and Steve Wyreman on acoustic guitar and backing vocals.
Richard Ashcroft’s ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ track-listing:
1) Bittersweet Symphony
2) A Song for the Lovers
3) Sonnet
4) C'mon People (We're Making It Now) – featuring Liam Gallagher
5) Weeping Willow
6) Lucky Man
7) This Thing Called Life
8) Space & Time
9) Velvet Morning
10) Break the Night with Colour
11) One Day
12) The Drugs Don't Work
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