The ‘Lovin’ You’ album opens with its first single ‘Lover’. The song interpolates Joan Armatrading’s classic ‘Love And Affection’, which earned the praise of the legendary songwriter herself: “I love how he’s used my song and I love his song.”

That single sets the standard for a record which finds Richard at the peak of his powers. It’s a set which spans the many facets of his sound, from his classic string-soaked acoustic balladry and anthemic indie-rock, through to flashes of Americana, soul and glitchy electro beats. Its themes are intimate and personal, dominated by love, romance and affecting messages of support for those struggling with life’s challenges.

The songs on ‘Lovin’ You’ were written by Richard, who co-produced the album with Chris Potter and Emre Ramazanoglu. There is also the track ‘I’m A Rebel’, co-written and produced with Mirwais of Madonna fame.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: He's had a good yeah hasn't he, Richard? Some lovely reissues of those killer Verve albums, a load of superb performances at the biggest live shows of the year and now a brand new album, spanning the melodic indie-folk vibes of yesteryear and Richard's take on grooving, dancefloor pop as well as everything in between. Keep 'em comin, Rich.

TRACK LISTING

1 Lover
2 Out Of These Blues
3 Heavy News
4 Oh L'amour
5 I'm A Rebel
6 Find Another Reason
7 Lovin' You
8 Live With Hope
9 Crimson Fire
10 Fly To The Sun

Originally issued on Hut Records in October 2002, 'Human Conditions' built on the success of 'Alone With Everybody', retaining the new fans he had gained with that record - This reissue replicates the 2002 UK first pressing and is available on audiophile 180g double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

"It's a beautiful world," sings Ashcroft on opening track and lead single 'Check The Meaning'. Its eight-minutes seem a culmination of all of Ashcroft's work to date – a haunting guitar figure, swelling strings, and subtle orchestration back a lyric that catalogues the battle of love over evil, ending with Ashcroft assuring the listener "It's gonna be alright." It is a powerful beginning to a powerful album. 'Buy It In Bottles' maintains the introspection of 'The Drugs Don't Work', a mood that can be also found on 'Running Away' and 'Lord I've Been Trying'; while 'Bright Lights' and 'Paradise' bring the anthemic rock.

When Brian Wilson guests on one of your albums, it suggests a certain status has been attained; Richard Ashcroft demonstrated that he could hold his own in such company; both are songwriters of the human condition, and the song Wilson appears on 'Nature Is The Law', closes 'Human Conditions' in stellar fashion.

TRACK LISTING

1. Check The Meaning
2. Buy It In Bottles
3. Bright Lights
4. Paradise
5. God In The Numbers
6. Science Of Silence
7. Man On A Mission
8. Running Away
9. Lord I've Been Trying
10. Nature Is The Law

Originally issued on Parlophone in January 2006, 'Keys To The World' was Ashcroft's first release in four years, coming soon after he had guested with Coldplay at Live 8 - Released at the height of CD's popularity, 'Keys To The World' is available on vinyl for the first time and is pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Chris Martin introduced Ashcroft singing 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' at Live 8 saying it was "probably the best song ever written, and here's the best singer in the world." 'Keys To The World' was a very welcome return, reaching No 2 in the UK charts and being certified Platinum.

The album certainly has a spring in its step – 'Why Not Nothing' blasts the album off, with strings and saxes over a northern soul beat. With its sample of Walter Jackson's 'It's All Over', 'Music Is Power' is one of Ashcroft's best songs – another where he celebrates the command that popular music has had over him. The catchy, incessant 'Break The Night With Colour' – the album's first single – placed him back in the UK Top 10; with it vocal samples and ominous string bed, the title track is powerful, topped with a passionate vocal. 'Sweet Brother Malcolm' is one of Ashcroft's most poignant numbers, inspired by the flowers and tributes that amass on suburban lampposts after a tragic occurrence.

TRACK LISTING

1. Why Not Nothing?
2. Music Is Power
3. Break The Night With Colour
4. Words Just Get In The Way
5. Keys To The World
6. Sweet Brother Malcolm
7. Cry Til The Morning
8. Why Do Lovers?
9. Simple Song
10. World Keeps Turning

Originally issued on Hut Records in June 2000, 'Alone With Everybody' was eagerly anticipated, as it was Ashcroft's first recordings since the demise of the group he founded and led, The Verve - This re-issue replicates the 2000 UK first pressing and is available on audiophile 180g double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Opening the album with its string overture, 'Song For The Lovers' signalled Ashcroft's intent immediately. Intensely melodic, anthemic, it picked up exactly where The Verve's 1997 multi-platinum album 'Urban Hymns' left off. Lifted as a single, it reached No 3 in the UK and spent most of the summer on the charts.

Recorded at Olympic Studios and Metropolis in London, big, bold and frequently beautiful, 'Alone With Everybody' raced to No 1 in early July; it played to all of Ashcroft's strengths, memorable hooks, catchy choruses, beats subtly influenced by dance music; the brass-blazing bold hoedown of 'Money To Burn' was the album's second single; other highlights include the ballad 'Slow Was My Heart', the upbeat joy of 'C'mon People (We're Making It Now)' and the reflective, string-enrobed 'You On My Mind In My Sleep'.

TRACK LISTING

1. A Song For The Lovers
2. I Get My Beat
3. Brave New World
4. New York
5. You On My Mind In My Sleep
6. Crazy World
7. On A Beach
8. Money To Burn
9. Slow Was My Heart
10. C'mon People (We're Making It Now)
11. Everybody

The album features twelve newly recorded acoustic versions of classic songs from his back catalogue spanning both his solo career and his time with The Verve.

After lockdown was lifted, Richard decided to start the project as a way to reunite the community around him, bringing a selection of great musicians and old friends back together again. As the project took shape, they discovered just how varied their new approaches could be. Some of the arrangements proved to be timeless and remained similar to the originals, with years of experience and a new found passion that saw Richard’s vocals express a fresh empathy within their lyrics. Meanwhile, other songs took on a new shape in this stripped-back set-up.

The rebirth of the iconic ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ was an emotional moment for Richard. It felt particularly poignant re-recording a song that he had written almost twenty-five years ago, especially as it's now officially his composition after Mick Jagger and Keith Richards relinquished their writing credits to him.

Another big moment comes with the new version of ‘C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now)’, a duet with Richard’s old friend Liam Gallagher. The pair have often talked about recording or performing the song together since it was first released in 2000, and now it’s finally happened - the sheer energy and delight that they shared during the session is palpable as the new recording beams with a joyous feeling of optimism.

‘Velvet Morning’ is another track that has been transformed. The vocals on the original version, as featured on The Verve’s classic ‘Urban Hymns’, were sung via a megaphone that Richard had purchased from a car boot sale the day before the recording session. Now Richard’s vocal really shines as it unleashes the song’s full magnitude.

The biggest surprise on ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ is the inclusion of ‘This Thing Called Life’, a song which Ashcroft has rarely played live. It was originally recorded with No I.D. in the USA as a highlight of his soul-tinged RPA & The United Nations Of Sound project. Now taken back to basics, the new arrangement reveals a song that feels perfectly at home alongside Richard’s most highly regarded work.

Produced by Richard with regular collaborator 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 (The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers) performs piano, Roddy Bloomfield leads the brass section, and Steve Wyreman (Leon Bridges, Vic Mensa) contributes acoustic guitar and backing vocals.

TRACK LISTING

CD
Bittersweet Symphony
A Song For The Lovers
Sonnet
C'mon People (We're Making It Now) – Featuring Liam Gallagher
Weeping Willow
Lucky Man
This Thing Called Life
Space & Time
Velvet Morning
Break The Night With Colour
One Day
The Drugs Don't Work

Vinyl Tracklist
SIDE A
Bittersweet Symphony
A Song For The Lovers
Sonnet
SIDE B
C'mon People (We're Making It Now) – Featuring Liam Gallagher
Weeping Willow
Lucky Man
SIDE C
This Thing Called Life
Space & Time
Velvet Morning
SIDE D
Break The Night With Colour
One Day
The Drugs Don't Work

As the frontman for the epic British drone-pop band The Verve, Richard Ashcroft proved himself the spiritual descendant of rock & roll icons like Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison - rivetingly charismatic, menacingly serpentine, and possessed of an almost shamanic intensity, he embraced and articulated the anthemic fervor of rock music with a power and eloquence unparalleled by any of his contemporaries.

Featuring ten new songs, all of which were written by Ashcroft, ‘Natural Rebel’ was produced by the singer-songwriter alongside Jon Kelly (Paul McCartney, Kate Bush) and Emre Ramazanoglu, Bobby Gillespie). The majority of its recording took place at State of the Ark Studios in Richmond, with further sessions at The Bunker, Tileyard Studios and Hoxa HQ.

TRACK LISTING

1. All My Dreams
2. Birds Fly
3. Surprised By The Joy
4. That's How Strong
5. Born To Be Strangers
6. That's When I Feel It
7. We All Bleed
8. A Man In Motion
9. Streets Of Amsterdam
10. Money Money