JUSTIN HAYWARD: "Classic Blue"

Original released on CD Trax MODEM 1040

(UK, 1989)

This album is a personal trip very few artists can afford to indulge in (only their solid reputation allows them to get away with it). It is made up of cover versions of the most varied and unthinkable sources: Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park" rubs shoulders with the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" alongside Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". Hayward pulls some off quite nicely: "Vincent", and particularly "Bright Eyes", are so touching they'll move you to tears, especially if you've ever seen the movie "Watership Down". It's a very relaxing listen. Orchestrations are fine all the way and somehow create very movie-like atmosphere. There are many personal favourites of mine, and Hayward, more or less, is doing alright job with them. "Stairway to Heaven" is suited very well in this kind of handling, I'm not missing guitars and drums one bit. "Man of the World" instead loses some of its reflective beauty here. (in RateYourMusic)