Following in the footsteps of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and The Beach Boys, Cilla Black is the next artist to receive the grand orchestral treatment.  On November 16, Warner Music U.K. will release Cilla with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring fourteen classic songs by the late superstar with all-new orchestral backings.

Producers James Morgan and Juliette Pochin have selected favorite songs including three top ten hits penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (“Step Inside Love,” featuring McCartney on guitar; “Love of the Loved;” and “It’s for You”); the top five smashes “Something Tells Me (Something’s Gonna Happen Tonight” and “Surround Yourself with Sorrow;” and the singer’s interpretations of songs by Joni Mitchell (“Both Sides Now”) and Elton John and Bernie Taupin (“Your Song”).  Three newly-recorded virtual duets are featured on the album, with Rebecca Ferguson joining Black on her chart-topping rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” stage and screen star Sheridan Smith (who portrayed the artist on the television miniseries Cilla) appearing on Bacharach and David’s “Alfie,” and Sir Cliff Richard on the anthemic “You’re My World.”

Additionally, one previously unreleased vocal by Black on “Have I Told You Lately” has been adorned with a new orchestration from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.  Cilla’s son Robert Willis, who is also involved with Cherry Red’s ongoing series of deluxe Black reissues, comments in the press release, “The first thing I ask myself with any ‘new’ Cilla music project is, ‘Would my mother approve?’. And then I ask myself, ‘Would the fans, the collectors, the guys who have everything, would they be happy? Is there something new for them?’. With this album, the answer is an overwhelming Yes! It’s been really cool to see so many talents converging to create something truly meaningful. Music was my mother’s first love and this project really does come from the heart. I’m incredibly proud of it, as I am sure both Cilla and [her husband and Robert’s father] Bobby would have been too.”

Cilla with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is due on November 16 and is available for pre-order now at the links below!

Cilla Black, Cilla with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Warner U.K., 2018) (Amazon U.S. Link TBD / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

1. Step Inside Love
2. Anyone Who Had a Heart (with Rebecca Ferguson)
3. Don’t Answer Me
4. Surround Yourself with Sorrow
5. You’re My World (with Sir Cliff Richard)
6. Both Sides Now
7. Conversations
8. Alfie (with Sheridan Smith)
9. Something Tells Me (Something’s Gonna Happen Tonight)
10. Your Song
11. Love of the Loved
12. Love’s Just a Broken Heart
13. Have I Told You Lately (previously unreleased vocal)
14. It’s for You