Richard Ashcroft set to release new album this October

Richard Ashcroft is set to release a new album, Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1, on 29 October via RPA / BMG. The album features 12 newly-recorded acoustic versions of songs from his back catalogue spanning both his solo career and his time with The Verve.

The album is now available to pre-order here with Bittersweet Symphony provided as an instant download.

The full track listing features:

‘Bittersweet Symphony’ The initial idea for the recording of this new version of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ has special resonance as it was the catalyst for the the initial conversation that led to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards returning the song writing credit to Ashcroft.
‘A Song For The Lovers’
‘Sonnet’
‘C’mon People (We’re Making It Now)’ featuring Liam Gallagher. A favourite tune of both of theirs since Ashcroft originally played it to Gallagher on a piano somewhere in Majorca in 1998.
‘Weeping Willow’
‘Lucky Man’
‘This Thing Called Life’ A totally reworked version of the song which was originally recorded with No I.D. in the USA for the RPA & The United Nations Of Sound project.
‘Space & Time’
‘Velvet Morning’
‘Break The Night With Colour’
‘One Day’
‘The Drugs Don’t Work’

Produced by Richard with Chris Potter, the album features his regular live band boosted by some special collaborators. Wil Malone provides the string arrangements, which were recorded at Abbey Road Studios. In addition, Chuck Leavell performs piano, Roddy Bloomfield leads the brass section, and Steve Wyreman contributes further acoustic guitar and backing vocal arrangements.

Ashcroft recently announced details of four special shows, each billed as “An acoustic evening of his classic songs.” After quickly selling out two nights at London’s Palladium, he subsequently added two further shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to fulfil huge public demand for tickets.