Across his prolific recording career that now spans nearly thirty years, Richard Ashcroft has time and time again proven his penchant for crafting timeless songs that stay forever lodged within your mind, heart and soul. Announced earlier today and slated for release October 29th, his forthcoming album Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 features newly stripped-down versions of his most memorable compositions with The Verve and a handful of songs from his underappreciated solo repertoire.
Eight of the twelve tracks are culled from the widely acclaimed (and perennially beloved) Urban Hymns (1997)— which is largely considered one of the greatest albums of the past 25 years—alongside “A Song For The Lovers” and the Liam Gallagher-featuring “C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now)” from his debut solo LP Alone With Everybody (2000), “Break The Night With Colour” from 2006’s Keys To The World and a rehauled version of “This Thing Called Life” from the 2010 RPA & The United Nations Of Sound project.
Noticeably absent from the track listing are songs from The Verve’s three other excellent albums (1993’s debut A Storm In Heaven, 1995’s A Northern Soul and 2008’s reunion LP and presumed swan song Forth), as well as songs from Ashcroft’s recent solo gems These People (2016) and Natural Rebel (2018). But here’s to hoping that the follow-up second volume of Acoustic Hymns is not too far behind.
Listen to the newly recorded acoustic version of “Bittersweet Symphony” below.
PRE-ORDER Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 from Richard Ashcroft’s Official Store
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