Carrying a Torch
"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.
| "Carrying a Torch" | |
|---|---|
| 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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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
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
- 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
- "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.
- Rogan, No Surrender, p.401
- "Bob Dylan-Bob Links-Reviews-11/09/02". boblinks.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
References
- Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 978-0-09-943183-1