Carrying a Torch

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"Carrying a Torch"
Song by Van Morrison
from the album Hymns to the Silence
Released1991
Recorded1991
Genre Folk-rock
Length4:26
Label Polydor Records
Songwriter(s) Van Morrison
Producer(s) Van Morrison
"Carrying a Torch"
Van Morrison Carrying A Torch single cover.jpg
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)"
ReleasedMarch 1991 [1]
Genre Celtic, Folk-rock
Length3:50
Label Dover
Songwriter(s) Van Morrison
Producer(s) Van Morrison
Tom Jones singles chronology
"Couldn't Say Goodbye"
(1991)
"Carrying a Torch"
(1991)
"I'm Not Feeling It Anymore"
(1991)

"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.

Contents

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

Notes

  1. "BBC Wales – Music – Tom Jones – Tom Jones discography". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. Gardner, Elysa (1 October 1991). "Van Morrison: Hymns to the Silence : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.[ dead link ]
  3. Rogan, No Surrender, p.401
  4. "Bob Dylan-Bob Links-Reviews-11/09/02". boblinks.com. Retrieved 16 October 2009.

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