LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Classic Rock ”Renaissance” [remastered +6] (2023)
Originally conceived by producers Don Reedman & Jeff Jarratt and titled ‘Classic Rock’, this was the first album in the Classic Rock series by LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA performing Rock n’ roll songs. Released in 1978, this platinum-selling LP featured songs from Led Zeppelin, Queen, Rolling Stones, etc, and following recordings of Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ (Rainbow’s version), etc.
The original ”Classic Rock” LP became a pioneering phenomenon with it’s groundbreaking mix of rock and pop songs rearranged in an orchestral style and went platinum in the UK. The album has become a forefather to all kinds of symphonic crossover projects, seen now everywhere amongst every genre from rave to dance to hip-hop.
Now it’s time for ”Classic Rock Renaissance”, a brand new follow up to the original ‘Classic Rock’ featuring a much needed 2023 remastered versions of the original track list, as well as 6 new recordings, previously unreleased ‘classical takes’ on modern day hits including Human, Viva La Vida, Uprising, Hello and Run. It also contains a new recording of Queen’s hit ‘Somebody to Love’.
Along with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), who also feature on the new album, as well as the Royal Choral Society, Reedman and Jarratt paved a musical path on ‘Classic Rock’ that still to this day is resonating.
Don Reedman says : “I thought the combination of classical and rock music was obvious: Classic Rock. It described how those worlds could collide in two words. I wondered: ‘What if I could make this happen?’ The potential of the idea gave me goosebumps.”
The new album “Classic Rock Renaissance” cements the legacy of the original in its truest spirit with its lush sound remastered, and the addition of 6 new tracks.
On the album and working with the LSO again, Don says: “The LSO were so thrilled to do Classic Rock again. They said that they still get a steady flow of enquiries about Classic Rock, after all these years. There’s something magical about that orchestra. They’re so committed and so excited. Those new recordings sound so fresh – but so do the songs from that first album in 1978. They still sparkle.”
Highly Recommended
– Disc 1 –
1 Human *
2 Viva la Vida *
3 Hello *
4 Somebody to Love *
5 Whole Lotta Love (2023 Remaster)
6 Life on Mars (2023 Remaster)
7 Run *
8 God Only Knows (Feat. the Royal Choral Society)
9 Nights in White Satin (2023 Remaster)
10 Baker Street (Feat. Raf Ravenscroft) (2023 Remaster)
11 Paint It Black (2023 Remaster)
12 Uprising *
– Disc 2 –
1 Bohemian Rhapsody (2023 Remaster)
2 Stairway to Heaven (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
3 Space Oddity (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
4 Question (2023 Remaster)
5 Jet (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
6 House of the Rising Sun (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
7 Ruby Tuesday (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
8 Layla (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
9 Another Brick in the Wall (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
10 Vienna (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
11 You Really Got Me (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
12 Get Back (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
13 MacArthur Park (Feat. the Royal Choral Society) (2023 Remaster)
– Disc 3 –
1 Fanfare Prelude (2023 Remaster)
2 Reach Out I’ll Be There (feat. Royal Choral Society) [2023 Remaster]
3 Eye of the Tiger (feat. Royal Choral Society) [2023 Remaster]
4 Since You’ve Been Gone (feat. Royal Choral Society) [2023 Remaster]
5 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (2023 Remaster)
6 She’s Out of My Life (2023 Remaster)
7 Eve of the War (2023 Remaster)
8 A Whiter Shade of Pale (2023 Remaster)
9 A Day in the Life (feat. The Royal Choral Society) [2023 Remaster]
10 I’m Not in Love (2023 Remaster)
11 Pinball Wizard (feat. Pete Townshend) [2023 Remaster]
12 Sailing (2023 Remaster)
13 Standing in the Shadows of Love [2023 Remaster]
*Previously unreleased tracks
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