The combination of The Living Years lyrics with Paul Carrack’s vocal is spine tingling in itself but add a 300 strong passionate choir and a worthy cause and it really melts the heart. The charity track to be released on 16 December is being backed by Strictly’s Len Goodman
The multi-generational choir made up of 300 patients, families, staff and volunteers from 18 hospices (including our local Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted), led by Paul Carrack, recorded the cover of classic track at Abbey Road Studios and shot a music video with patients at Clapham’s Royal Trinity Hospice.
“The Living Years has been an important song for me for many years, but this is the version that means the most.” says Paul Carrack, “Recording it with this incredibly special group of people for such a worthwhile cause has created some kind of magic. It’s a powerful and inspiring track, and I hope that everyone gets behind it this Christmas.”
Len Goodman, Vice President of Demelza Hospice Care for Children adds
“It is so important that we all support the hospices – they are the most life-enhancing places ever, bringing families together when life is at its most precious. But they also really struggle for funding and awareness, so to get the London Hospices Choir to number 1 this Christmas would be a dream come true. And this track is a beautiful version of a wonderful song – it warms the cockles of your heart.”
“The song’s message was reflected so strongly as I watched generations come together at a place of such serenity and life to share important conversations” says Producer James Hawkins, who had the idea of recording the classic track with the choir when walking around the pond at London’s Royal Trinity Hospice, “It couldn’t be a better message for everyone to hear this Christmas.”
And, as Paul is a Chorleywooder, we should help it soar up the charts towards that Christmas Number One.
Released on 16 December on Amazon and iTunes. Pre-order now.
#Hospices4XmasNo1.