Engelbert Humperdinck will release his new album, ‘The Man I Want To Be’, on Friday November 24, through OK! Good Records. A love letter to his wife, Patricia Healy, who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease and to whom he has been married for 53 years, the album includes songs by Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Willie Nelson and more.
Iconic careers don’t come any bigger than Engelbert Humperdinck’s. One would be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with his multiplatinum-selling hits such as ‘Release Me’, ‘The Last Waltz’ or ‘After the Lovin’. These and many other of his hits have contributed greatly to 150 million worldwide album sales by the “King of Romance”, as Engelbert is lovingly nicknamed by his legion of fans. Just having entered a new decade of his life, the very youthful Engelbert is also celebrating his 50th year in showbiz with the release of a brand new album ‘The Man I Want To Be’ on November 24, 2017 via OK! Good Records.
Not content with being a legacy artist, Engelbert demonstrates effortlessly with this album (his first album of original material in over a decade – as well as two unexpected but very beautiful covers, ‘Photograph’ from Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars’ ‘Just The Way You Are’), that he is very much a relevant artist for today’s audiences as he has been over the last five decades of his career.
Doubling as a love letter to his wife Patricia of 53 years who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, ‘The Man I Want To Be’ presents the singer in a much more contemporary style and introspective mood, covering topics such as self-realisation (‘The Man I Want To Be’, ‘I Followed My Heart’, ‘Absolute Beginner’), remorse (‘How Can You Live’, ‘Prodigal Son’), and melancholic nostalgia (‘Photograph’, ‘I’m Glad I Danced With You’).
A collection of love songs crafted by stellar array of songwriters like Willie Nelson (‘Crazy’), Jon Allen (‘The Man I Want To Be’), Richard Scott (‘Just Like The First Time’), Steve Mac (‘Absolute Beginner’), Richard Marx and Fee Waybill (‘How Can You Live’), the covers of ‘Just The Way You Are’ and ‘Photograph’ are definite highlights. Much more than simple cover versions Engelbert gives the songs a much deeper reading, lyrically and musically. Another unexpected surprise is a duet with his nine year old granddaughter Olivia, ‘I’m Glad I Danced With You’, a bittersweet ode dedicated to his wife Patricia.
To celebrate his 50th anniversary in show business, his original label Decca Records released a comprehensive Greatest Hits package in May of 2017, which promptly became a Top 5 Chart record in the UK Official Album Charts. Decca honoured his celebrated career with an additional 11 CD box set which includes Engelbert’s first 11 albums recorded for the label.
Engelbert will be taking the new songs on the road, making them an integral part of his ongoing 50th Anniversary Live tour to destinations all around the world. Still performing 100 shows every year is proof positive that there is no stopping the man. A very special show focused mostly on the new album is being arranged for the beginning of 2018 in Los Angeles. In a departure from his usual big room shows this one will be in a much more intimate setting.
‘The Man I Want To Be’ is out this Friday, November 24. Pre-order here. You can find Engelbert Humperdinck online on his official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Listen to Engelbert Humperdinck’s very beautiful treatment of Ed Sheeran’s hit, ‘Photograph’:
