15 years since the release of Katie Melua’s debut album, the chart topping ‘Call Off The Search’, BMG are releasing ‘Ultimate Collection’. Compiled by Katie, ‘Ultimate Collection’ features 30 songs from her 7 studio albums as well as her cover of ‘Fields Of Gold’ (the Children In Need 2017 single) and 2 brand new recordings: ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Diamonds Are Forever’.
‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, available as an ‘instant grat’ when ordering the album, was recorded earlier this year with The Gori Women’s Choir and the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nikoloz Rachveli, and was produced by Katie and Adam ‘Cecil’ Bartlett.
‘Diamonds Are Forever’, which Katie first performed live at the Don Black Songbook concert at London’s The Royal Festival Hall, is produced by legendary American record producer and musician, T Bone Burnett. Katie is the sole performer on the track – on vocals and acoustic guitar – which was recorded at T Bone’s home studio in Los Angeles, on vintage gear and to tape.
It is Katie’s extraordinary voice, and the ability to truly inhabit a song, that has been the constant since the young 19 year-old first appeared in 2003 with her debut single ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’. One of the UK’s highest-selling female recording artists of all time, Katie has released 7 top-10 studio albums: ‘Call Off The Search’, ‘Piece By Piece’, ‘Pictures’, ‘The House’, ‘Secret Symphony’, ‘Ketevan’ and, most recently, 2016’s self-produced and hugely acclaimed ‘In Winter’.
‘Ultimate Collection’ celebrates the singer, the songwriter, the musician and the collaborator while paying tribute to the musicians, arrangers, producers and songwriters with whom Katie has worked. The songs are musical landmarks – in both Katie’s life and those of her fans; classic songs that stand the test of time, chosen for this collection for their musicianship, the quality of the writing and the pure emotions they elicit.
Wed 28th Nov, Bournemouth Pavilion
Thu 29th Nov, Cardiff St David’s Hall
Fri 30th Nov, Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sun 2nd Dec, Salford Lowry
Mon 3rd Dec, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Tue 4th Dec, Guildford G Live
Thu 6th Dec, Brighton Dome
Fri 7th Dec, Bath Forum
Sat 8th Dec, London Central Hall Westminster
Mon 10th Dec, Liverpool Philharmonic
Tue 11th Dec, Gateshead Sage
Wed 12th Dec, York Barbican
Thu 13th Dec, Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
