Carrying a Torch
"Carrying a Torch" | |
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Song by Van Morrison | |
from the album Hymns to the Silence | |
Released | 1991 |
Recorded | 1991 |
Genre | Folk-rock |
Length | 4:26 |
Label | Polydor Records |
Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison |
Producer(s) | Van Morrison |
"Carrying a Torch" | ||||
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Single by Tom Jones and Van Morrison | ||||
from the album Carrying a Torch | ||||
A-side | "Carrying a Torch" | |||
B-side | "Walk Tall (Valley of the Shadows)" | |||
Released | March 1991[1] | |||
Genre | Celtic, Folk-rock | |||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | Dover | |||
Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
Producer(s) | Van Morrison | |||
Tom Jones singles chronology | ||||
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"Carrying a Torch" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and released on his 1991 double album, Hymns to the Silence. It was also included on his 2015 album "Duets: Re-working the Catalogue" with Clare Teal.
Rolling Stone magazine reviewer Elysa Gardner praised the song, saying that it "has the makings of a classic, with a stately chorus and shining verses that tie the flesh to the spirit: 'You're the keeper of the flame/And you burn so bright/Baby why don't we re-connect/Move into the light'."[2]
Cover versions
[edit]Tom Jones also recorded the song, together with Van Morrison, on his album Carrying a Torch (released the same year, in March). Their version of the song was released as a single and charted at No. 57 in 1991 in the UK. This collaboration came about when Morrison showed his newly written song "Carrying a Torch" to Jones, who was "so impressed that he invited Morrison to play on his new record" (Johnny Rogan). Morrison wrote, played on and produced four tracks that appeared on Jones' album.[3]
Bob Dylan has also performed the song occasionally at his concerts.[4]
Personnel on original release
[edit]- Van Morrison – vocals
- Paul Robinson – drums
- Nicky Scott – bass
- Neil Drinkwater – piano, synthesizer
- Carol Kenyon and Katie Kissoon – backing vocals
- Fiachra Trench – string arrangements
- Gavyn Wright – string section leader
Notes
[edit]- ^ "BBC Wales – Music – Tom Jones – Tom Jones discography". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (1 October 1991). "Van Morrison: Hymns to the Silence : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Rogan, No Surrender, p.401
- ^ "Bob Dylan-Bob Links-Reviews-11/09/02". boblinks.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
References
[edit]- Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 978-0-09-943183-1