As the world buckled down with COVID-19, iconic vocalist Engelbert Humperdinck had to adjust to the shifting restrictions provided by the pandemic. With his 2020 worldwide tour cancelled, Engelbert insisted on getting new music to his myriad of fans who were upset about missing the “King of Romance” do his thing. In lieu of the tour, he opted to use his time off the road to record ‘Sentiments’, a new EP out now via OK! Good Records.
Recorded this summer by producer Jurgen Korduletsch, Humperdinck recorded his vocals remotely, a very different experience for him. The result is a six-track EP which includes covers of Elton John’s ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’, Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’, Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’ and a duet with UK singer/songwriter Janet Devlin of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.
“During these troubled times that we are all living in, I decided to remotely record a special album of songs that have great meaning for me and I hope for you as well. I have never done a project like this where the musicians were all at their own homes, the producer was in New Jersey, and I was in my studio. I think that you will find special meaning in the lyrics to these songs as I do” said Engelbert.
Engelbert was inspired to record a cover of ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ after learning that the song was originally written for Engelbert but it never made it to him. On this new recording he infuses his own life experience into the track which might not have been present had he recorded it in 1973 when it was originally intended.
‘What Am I Living For’ gets a fourth makeover by Engelbert following Chuck Willis’ version which was a #1 R&B hit, Conway Twitty’s country hit in the 50s, and Percy Sledge’s pop hit a decade later. A love song straight from the heart that speaks to Engelbert with its simplicity, he dedicates his version not only to his true love and darling wife Patricia but also to his fans all over the globe with the lyrics, “What am I living for / if not for you?”
Featuring a duet with internationally-acclaimed Irish singer/songwriter Janet Devlin, the Elvis Presley standard ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ gets a modern remake, directed not at each other but as a dedication to his wife Patricia and her daily struggles with Alzheimer’s Disease. A fan favourite from UK’s X-Factor from 2011, Devlin had performed the song on the show as a tribute to her grandfather who passed away that same week.
Closing out the heartfelt EP are his versions of Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ and Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’. Engelbert performed the latter track recently on his very first livestreamed concert this past July (which is approaching 500,000 views). He is also due to perform his first ever Christmas special on December 12th with a livestream from his home in America.
Engelbert recently celebrated 50 years in showbiz. With his most recent albums, ‘The Man I Want To Be’ (2017), and ‘Warmest Christmas Wishes’ (2018), and last year’s ‘Reflections’ EP, Engelbert has shown another side of his talent by picking more introspective songs that connect with his life’s experience proving his continuing relevance with today’s audiences.
You can order Engelbert Humperdinck’s ‘Sentiments’ EP here. Follow Engelbert Humperdinck online on his official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
