RICHARD ASHCROFT

Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 (BMG)

Award-winning singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft’s latest album, Acoustic Hymns, Vol. 1, consists of 12 rerecorded versions of hit tunes from his solo career and his time with the Verve. Tracks include Bittersweet Symphony, Lucky Man, and the beautiful A Song For The Lovers. The album was produced by Ashcroft with the help of Chris Potter and Wil Malone who had both previously worked with the Verve; musical collaborators include keyboardist Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers Band and guitarist Steve Wyreman, and it was recorded at Abbey Road.

This all sounds very impressive, but the first thing I noticed was how similar the songs sound to the originals – Acoustic Hymns, Vol 1 is essentially a greatest hits album. These songs are classics and it’s nice to have them all in one place, but anyone expecting pared-back renditions with a simple acoustic guitar will be sorely disappointed. 

words LYNDA NASH