Today, celebrating 65 years in the music industry, Cliff Richard announced the release of his brand new orchestral album, a career-spanning hit laden collection with a full orchestra. Featuring 12 tracks over seven decades, ‘Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life’ will be out digitally and on CD on East West Records on 3 November,with the vinyl release following on 24 November 2023.
His first release since last year’s epic number one chart battle with Stormzy, Cliff Richard has marked his incredible 65th year in the music industry by compiling and curating an album of his biggest hits and favourite tracks to be reworked with the orchestral arrangements by Chris Walden.
From debut number one single Living Doll (1959) as well as other number one hits Summer Holiday, The Young Onesand We Don’t Talk Anymore, plus Wired for Sound, Carrie, My Kinda Life and The Best of Me (Cliff’s 100th single), the collection brings new life and clarity to original vocal recordings with beautiful new orchestral and string arrangements. Most poignant on the album is the inclusion of Cliff Richard’s hit duet Suddenly from the 1980 film Xanadu with the late great Olivia Newton-John. Taken from one of their last performances together at Cliff Richard’s 75th Birthday concert on 14 October 2015, the new arrangement brings an emotional beauty to the two voices in harmony.
Spanning a full seven decades the collection not only includes 1993’s Peace In Our Time, but also the very rare recording from 1999 of Cliff Richard’s performance of Everything I Do (I do it For You) at his Millenium Countdown concert. The track has only ever been available on the DVD release of the concert.
Cliff Richard said: “After 65 years in the business, it is really an emotional journey to listen back to some of my original vocals and hear just how young I was and how my style changed over the years. These tracks mean a lot to me and they are so refreshed with the orchestral arrangements. The most emotional track on the album for me is Suddenlywith my dear friend Olivia Newton-John. We recorded this version together live for my 75th birthday in 2015 and it always strikes me how well our voices sounded together and the crystal gentility that Olivia always managed to exude. I’m glad I was able to highlight this great performance again.”
Tracklisting:
Side A
The Best Of Me
Carrie
My Kinda Life
Wired for Sound
Living Doll
Marmaduke
Side B
Everything I Do (I Do It For You)
Suddenly
Peace In Our Time 1
Summer Holiday
The Young Ones
We Don't Talk Anymore
