James Morrison’s return with the Joss Stone duet ‘My Life Goes On’ demonstrates that there’s a huge following for one of the biggest success stories of his era. It’s reached a huge radio audience after being picked as Record of the Week and being added to the A-list at Radio 2. It’s also picking up strong streaming stats too, with 4 million streams already.
It suggests that the March 8th release of his new album ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ will add another glowing chapter to a career that’s already encompassed two #1 albums, five Top 10 singles, a BRIT Award and 7 million sales. He further builds anticipation for the album by sharing the new instant grat track ‘Power’.
A sumptuous modern soul classic, Morrison wrote ‘Power’ in support of his long-term partner Gill when she was feeling vulnerable after the birth of their youngest daughter. “I was like, I still love you and I still think you’re amazing, but she didn’t see it,” he recalls. “That’s where the title ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ came from. I can say that about her. And I can say that about myself too.”
Harking back to the Stax and Motown eras that he loves, ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ is the album that James Morrison has always wanted to make. Vocally he’s never sounded better, with his honest songwriting inspiring a voice that exudes power, tenderness and experience. His band, meanwhile, hit that life-affirming sweet spot between rambunctious energy and tight musicianship.
While the album possesses some darker moments, the overriding feeling is that it offers a beacon of positivity in a climate of bad news. You wouldn’t guess that these songs emerged from such a turbulent time in his life.
Everything threatened to collapse around him as he worked on a follow-up to his 2015 set ‘Higher Than Here’. His relationship with Gill hit tough times and he lost his natural songwriting instinct. His previous label was pushing him to write uplifting music when he was in the pits of despair. He also wanted to stand apart from the rush of male singer-songwriters who had followed in his wake.
Writing songs with no particular end goal in mind, Morrison gradually overcame his struggles until he realised that he had some of the best material of his career – and more than enough to make an album.
It’s a collection which sees Morrison bravely digging into his emotions over the past four years. It’s particularly striking in the powerful centrepiece ‘Slowly’, in which he questions how to reignite his creativity and tackles his tumultuous upbringing with his parents.
Family is also a consistent theme throughout the record. The uplifting closing ballad ‘Until The Stars Go Out’ was written in support of his eldest daughter when she was bullied in school, while other songs such as ‘So Beautiful’ celebrate his love and appreciation for Gill. He wrote ‘So Beautiful’ with Gary Barlow a decade ago, but only recently discovered that the song spoke to his current feelings.
For the first time in his career, Morrison made the record with one producer (Mark Taylor) which infuses it with a cohesiveness that’s a hallmark of all of the classic albums. British Grove Studios in London provided the perfect location for recording with a balance between vintage equipment and modern technology. The core of the album was recorded within a week, before a second was spent adding the finishing touches – overdubs, backing vocals and horns.
Set to be released on CD and digital formats, ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ is now available to pre-order from https://ADA.lnk.to/YSTYK, with ‘Power’ and ‘My Love Goes On’ provided as an instant download.
Next month will see James Morrison embark upon first full UK tour in three years.
‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’ tracklisting:
1. ‘My Love Goes On’ (featuringJoss Stone)
2. ‘Brighter Kind Of Love’
3. ‘So Beautiful’
4. ‘Feels Like The First Time’
5. ‘Glorious’
6. ‘Power’
7. ‘Slowly’
8. ‘Ruins’
9. ‘I Still Need You’
10. ‘Don’t Wanna Lose You Now’
11. ‘Cross The Line’
12. ‘Until The Stars Go Out’
UK tour dates:
MARCH
25th– Norwich, UEA
26th– Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
27th– London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
29th– Bristol, O2 Academy
30th– Birmingham, O2 Institute
APRIL
1st– Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket
2nd– Manchester, Albert Hall
MAY
2nd– Cheltenham, Jazz Festival
JUNE
16th– Essex, Live at Down Hall