"Carrying a Torch" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards.
As a teenager in t ...
and released on his 1991 double album, ''
Hymns to the Silence
''Hymns to the Silence'' is the twenty-first studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was his first studio double album. Morrison recorded the album in 1990 in Beckington at Wool Hall Studios and in London at Townhouse an ...
''. It was also included on his 2015 album "Duets: Re-working the Catalogue" with
Clare Teal
Clare Teal (born 14 May 1973) is an English singer and broadcaster who has become famous not only for her singing, but also for having signed the biggest recording contract by a British jazz singer.
Biography
Teal was brought up in the Kildwic ...
.
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
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'."
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
John Rogan (14 February 1953 – 21 January 2021) was a British author of Irish descent best known for his books about music and popular culture. He wrote influential biographies of the Byrds, Neil Young, the Smiths, Van Morrison and Ray Davies. ...
). Morrison wrote, played on and produced four tracks that appeared on Jones' album.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
has also performed the song occasionally at his concerts.
Personnel on original release
*Van Morrison – vocals
*Paul Robinson – drums
*Nicky Scott – bass
*Neil Drinkwater – piano, synthesizer
*Carol Kenyon and
Katie Kissoon
Mac and Katie Kissoon are a pop soul duo, consisting of brother and sister Mac Kissoon (born Gerald Farthing, November 11, 1943, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) and Katie Kissoon (born Katherine Farthing, March 11, 1951, Port of Spain).
E ...
– backing vocals
*
Fiachra Trench
Fiachra Terence Wilbrah Trench (born 7 September 1941, in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish musician and composer from Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland.
Trench first studied Chemistry at Trinity College, Dublin, before moving on to t ...
– string arrangements
*
Gavyn Wright
Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
He is best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions (including Elton John, Simply Red, Bush, Mecano, Oasis, ...
– string section leader
Notes
References
*
Rogan, Johnny (2006). ''
Van Morrison: No Surrender'', London:Vintage Books
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Van Morrison songs
Songs written by Van Morrison
Tom Jones (singer) songs
1991 singles
1991 songs