"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

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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

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– 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 *

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– string section leader

Notes

References

* Rogan, Johnny (2006). '' Van Morrison: No Surrender'', London:Vintage Books {{authority control Van Morrison songs Songs written by Van Morrison Tom Jones (singer) songs 1991 singles 1991 songs