Linn Records have just released Barb Jungr’s fourth solo album, perhaps her most exciting and daring album yet. ‘Love Me Tender’ (Linn AKD 255) draws from the eclectic repertoire of Elvis Presley which Jungr, widely regarded as Britain’s foremost chansonnier and song stylist, has completely reconceived. Linn staff are already great fans of the new album, which has been top of our playlist since it arrived at our desks. We hope that you will enjoy the experience (and it is, truly, an experience) as much as we have.
Fans of Barb’s second album ‘Every Grain of Sand’ (Linn AKD 230) will be pleased to see two Dylan songs featuring on ‘Love Me Tender’. They are ‘I Shall Be Released’ and ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’. Following the critical success of Barb’s own songs on ‘Waterloo Sunset’ (Linn AKD 222), Barb, along with pianist and arranger Adrian York, has written the song ‘Looking For Elvis’ for this new album.
Barb Jungr has deconstructed some his most famous songs, as well as some of his lesser known and gospel songs, and created a dark and intriguing journey through, love, loneliness, obsession and faith. These new and revealing interpretations will surprise those who know the songs only as performed by Presley. Jungr’s renditions shift meaning and tone to create a completely new landscape and reveal as they do how the singer transforms a song. ‘Love Me Tender’ underlines Jungr’s reputation as one of the most original artists of our day.
The track listing is:
‘Love Letters (Straight From Your Heart)’
‘Heartbreak Hotel’
‘Long Black Limousine’
‘Wooden Heart’
‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’
‘Kentucky Rain’
‘In The Ghetto’
‘Love Me Tender’
‘Always On My Mind’
‘I Shall Be Released’
‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’
‘Looking For Elvis’
‘Peace In The Valley’