NEWS

TORONTO - Engelbert Humperdinck decided to dial up friends and non-friends alike for his first duets record, "Engelbert Calling" — and apparently he wasn't daunted by international fees.

Two Toronto-based artists — celebrated songwriter Ron Sexsmith and country-ish singer Johnny Reid — both appear on the record, a double album that also features Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd and Il Divo.

Reid and Humperdinck vamp through a version of Smokey Robinson's "You've Really Got a Hold On Me," and when reached by phone, the 78-year-old Humperdinck leapt unprompted to praise Reid.

"Gutsy singer with a raw sound," the Indian-born, England-raised easy listening vet offered.

"He has great appeal."

Sexsmith, meanwhile, co-croons one of his own compositions: the holiday tune, "Something To Hold On To."

Humperdinck credited his record label with bringing Sexsmith to his attention.

"He's very talented. Great writer," said Humperdinck, best-known for the songs "Release Me," "The Last Waltz" and "After the Lovin'."

"It's a Christmas song, so we've got something that's going to be forever at Christmastime."

Otherwise, Humperdinck enlisted appearances from Kenny Rogers, Dionne Warwick and even Kiss mogul Gene Simmons, whom Humperdinck terms a "charismatic character."

Perhaps it would be fair to say the guest of honour is Elton John. Humperdinck was listening to one of the six-time Grammy winner's live albums in which he actually referenced a fondness for Humperdinck, which prompted a phone call to John to see if he would record a duet.

"He started the whole thing by being the first to sign up," said Humperdinck. "He's like the honeycomb. You've got Elton John, you've got a great name."

Humperdinck also duets with two of his children, Bradley and Louise Dorsey. His other son, Scott, manages him.

He still tours near-endlessly — he has three Ontario dates over the next month — and claims this is his 80th album. But he's already mulling the next one.

"I had my wishlist of all my people I wanted," he said. "The ones I didn't get on this album will definitely be on the next one. It's called 'Engelbert Redialled.'"

By Nick Patch, The Canadian Press October 3, 2014 1:00 PM

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Engelbert+Humperdinck+duets+with+Canadians+Sexsmith+Johnny/10259506/story.html#ixzz3F7OTaYtz

Humperdinck Coming to Westbury Oct. 11th

Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2014 12:03 pm

Vocalist Engelbert Humperdinck will grace the stage at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.   

Humperdinck has been a legend in the international music industry for more than 40 years with 150 million records sold and hits such as “Release Me,” “The Last Waltz,” “After The Lovin’” and “A Man Without Love.”  

He has recorded some of the most romantic ballads of the past several decades, and his remarkable voice and extraordinary talent has endeared him to millions of fans around the globe with the MTV generation having just “discovered” what a magnificent musician the rest of the world has celebrated for decades.

Several of the major forces in the history of rock n’ roll, including such stars as Jimi Hendrix and The Carpenters, started out as opening acts for Humperdinck in the late’60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. 

With four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for “Entertainer of the Year” (1988), 63 gold and 24 platinum records and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Humperdinck might rest easy on his laurels. 

Hardly. In the past few years, he has joined in elite group of musical artists, such as Tony Bennett and Burt Bacharach, who have crossed over successfully to strike a new chord with a younger generation. 

Humperdinck has appeared on several MTV programs, including two appearances on “MTV Beach House”, “Chilling with the Weaze” and “Oddville.”

In 1999, Humperdinck recorded “The Dance Album” as his first album in the dance genre. Released by the red-hot dance label Interhit Records, the album featured newly recorded dance versions of six of Engelbert’s greatest hits, along with five original songs. 

Favorites such as “Quando, Quando, Quando” and “Release Me” are set to an infectious dance beat by dance producer/ remixers Chris Cox and Barry Harris, known collectively as Thunderpuss 2000. The album has enjoyed tremendous success, with “Release Me” hitting Top 10 in the Billboard Dance charts. 

Humperdinck has just about finished recording a brand new CD with Grammy award winning producer Martin Terefe (Train, Jason Mraz, James Morrison, and Beverly Knight).  His new album of duets, Engelbert Calling, features duets with legendary artists including Elton John, Willie Nelson and Smokey Robinson.  The album is his 80th release and arrives 45 years after his debut, “Please Release Me,” topped the charts.

For more information visit www.engelbert.com

Tickets are $59.50, $49.50 and $39.50 plus applicable service charges and are available now online at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at the Westbury box office.  Event, date and time are subject to change.  For more information, visit: www.thetheatreatwestbury.com.

http://www.theislandnow.com/dining_entertainment/humperdinck-coming-to-westbury-oct/article_b6265ee2-4a4d-11e4-941f-77eba999a91b.html

The new album is still the #1 CD on the Adult Contemporary Chart.  

Order Your Copy Today:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/engelbert-calling-engelbert-humperdinck/27858441?ean=689289013026

Charlie talks with Pop Singer Engelbert Humperdinck about his double album release "Engelbert Calling."

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/09/30/charlie-brennan-tuesday-september-30-engelbert-humperdinck-rabbi-susan-talve-on-ferguson-brian-costa-on-baseball-hateability-index-and-ginger-imster-of-arch-grants/

KISS legend and tongue-acrobat Gene Simmons said he and Engelbert Humperdinck compared their talents while recording their duet “Spinning Wheel” for the British singer’s recent album, “Engelbert Calling,” which also includes duets with Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Willie Nelson and Smokey Robinson.

Simmons recalled that, “While Engelbert and I were posing for photos, we made jokes. The usual stuff guys do. Some [were] inappropriate for younger ears, so I’m not sharing . . . He was curious if my tongue was as long as he had heard. And I offered that I would normally stick my tongue out, but noticed the floor wasn’t all that clean.”

By Emily Smith, New York Post, September 30, 2014 

(note: Smokey Robinson track appears only on the UK release)

http://pagesix.com/2014/09/30/gene-simmons-and-engelbert-humperdinck-compare-tongues/

Today we are proud to announce the release of Engelbert Humperdinck's new duets CD, 'Engelbert Calling,' available now at music retailers nationwide. The deluxe double CD features 23 duets with some of the biggest and best voices on the planet, such as Elton John, Willie Nelson, Gene Simmons, Il Divo, Olivia Newton-John, Shelby Lynne and more! | http://www.okgoodrecords.com/?p=8049

'Engelbert Calling' is available online at:
okgoodrecords.com: goo.gl/uVMKU0
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/engelbert-calling/id917502158
Amazon: goo.gl/ypVW1H
Barnes & Noble: goo.gl/3cJDCK
Google Play: goo.gl/kVe0jP
Bandcamp: goo.gl/nmc2E8
Spotify: goo.gl/2XTzxS
YouTube: goo.gl/y2FEH1

Father And Son, a track from Engelbert Humperdinck’s new duets CD, Engelbert Calling, has been featured as the Jam Of The Day on the Jamspreader music blog. Father And Son is a duet between Engelbert Humperdinck and his son Bradley Dorsey and an acoustic cover of a Cat Stevens song.

JamSpreader is a multi-genre music blog that seeks to expose new music and artists to a wider audience of potential fans. They’ve been featuring a single a day and adding them to their Spotify playlist as well. Father And Son is in good company on that playlist with some of the hottest music artists of the day including Meghan Trainer, The Gaslight Anthem, Train, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Andrew McMahon, Shaggy, Barbra Streisand, and lots of others.

Engelbert Humperdinck celebrates his 80th album release today with Engelbert Calling, a deluxe double CD that features 23 duets with top artists such as Elton John, Willie Nelson, Gene Simmons, Il Divo, Olivia Newton-John, Shelby Lynne and others. This collection arrives 45 years after his first number one hit single and signature tune - "Release Me".

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 30, 2014

"Engelbert Calling" is the new album and the first ever duets album from the legendary and incomparable Engelbert Humperdinck. Known as the world's greatest balladeer, this collection is his 80th album release, arriving more than 45 years after his massive hit “Release Me” reached #1 on the pop charts and created a worldwide frenzy. This new album comes as a celebration of his remarkable career which has spanned nearly five decades and includes sales of more than 150 million albums world-wide, including 24 certified with platinum status and 63 with gold.

The album was produced by Grammy award winner Martin Terefe, who is best-known for his work with Jason Mraz, James Morrison, KT Tunstall, and Mary J Blige. “Working with Engelbert is such a truly remarkable experience,” Terefe stated when asked about his work with Engelbert. “He is without a doubt one of the best singers around today and brings so much other musical knowledge to the table.”

“He is one of the sweetest and nicest people I have ever worked with,” Elton John said about his experience collaborating with Engelbert. “We had a great time singing together and he is so quick, what I call a ‘one-take singer,’ 76 years old and still sounding as good as ever!”

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to partner up with some of the best artists in the history of music." Engelbert said about the album. "To continue putting out successful albums after 45 years in the business is a real testament to the loyalty of my great fans and this album is a ‘thank you’ to all of them.”

Engelbert Calling is available today at music retailers nationwide and online.

Tracklisting:

CD 1 

01. Something About The Way You Look Tonight with Elton John 

02. Since I Lost My Baby with Cliff Richard 

03. Never Never Never with Olivia Newton-John 

04. Spanish Eyes with Il Divo 

05. Make You Feel My Love with Willie Nelson
06. I Need You Now with Lulu
07. Spinning Wheel with Gene Simmons 

08. Real Love with Shelby Lynne 

09. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me with Johnny Reid 

10. Release Me with Wynonna Judd 

11. She Believes In Me with Kenny Rogers
12. Better with Louise Dorsey

CD 2
01. Ain’t That Peculiar with Andrea Corr 

02. A Certain Smile with Johnny Mathis 

03. Kiss Me Honey with Tini
04. The Hungry Years with Neil Sedaka 

05. It Matters To Me with Dionne Warwick 

06. She with Charles Aznavour
07. After The Lovin’ with Beverley Knight
08. It’s Impossible / Somos Novios with Armando Manzanero
09. Quien Te Dijo Eso with Luis Fonsi 

10. Something To Hold On To with Ron Sexsmith
11. Father And Son with Bradley Dorsey

For more information and future performance dates for Engelbert Humperdinck, please visit http://www.okgoodrecords.com and stay up-to-date on his current projects by following him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEngelbertHumperdinck and Twitter https://twitter.com/ehumperdinck.

###

Engelbert Humperdinck says, "I think I was very lucky to start in an era when you could understand every word of a song and arrangements were great. I love a song that has meaning, a storyline, something they can relate to it's like a release valve for them. If you can't understand the lyric, what's the point? And you can't understand what they're saying in a lot of songs today."

But, just because what we hear a lot of today is not what one would think of as his type of music, does not by any means that Humperdinck has retired. Quite the contrary. He has a busy tour schedule, beginning on the east coast this month. He has toured constantly for years, but this one is in support of "Engelbert Calling," his new album of duets that comes out in the US and Canada tomorrow, September 30.

He says, "The album happened when my son Scott and I listened to a live recording of Elton John's (with Engelbert at right). On it he said, 'In the old days as a struggling songwriter I would sit around the flat with Bernie (Taupin) and wait for the phone to ring...wait for Engelbert Humperdinck to call and say he was looking for a song.' When I thought about doing this album I called up my good friends and fellow artists to collaborate, so it felt natural to title the album 'Engelbert Calling.'"

His duet with Elton John -- "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" -- is the first track on the CD. "I consider Elton to be the honeycomb and then everyone else joined after he did. It's an exciting project. It took two years and was recorded in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and London."

He and his duet partners revisit some songs new to each of them and some old hits of his and his duet partners. He sings "After the Lovin'" with British singer Beverley Knight, "Release Me" with Wynonna Judd; "She" with Charles Aznavour, " "She Believes In Me" with Kenny Rogers, along with 18 other songs on two CDs. Also singing with him are Willie Nelson, Shelby Lynne, Johnny Mathis, Cliff Richard, Andrea Corr, Ron Sexsmith, Armando Manzanero, Luis Fonsi and Il Divo.

Two of the songs are bonus tracks. He sings "Better" with Louise Dorsey and "Father and Son" with Bradley Dorsey, two of his children. "I'm thrilled, he says, " that my fans will know that my children have talent."

His fans, by the way, are very devoted. Some travel from great distances to see him and may go to several shows in several cities on one tour.

"I like traveling the world and letting people in Russia, India and Africa see the face behind the music. You never forget your homeland, so I go home Christmas and New Years. I take my business seriously. I take my fans seriously," he says. "I do the crossword every morning, write a quote every morning, and now we're making a documentary of my life. Audiences will be like a fly on the wall. People will be surprised. "

"Engelbert Calling" is likely to be a revelation to many of his fans who may be surprised at some of his duet partners but it is also likely to surprise the fans of some of those partners. For example, fans of Kiss frontman Gene Simmons (in photo right with Engelbert) probably don't picture him with Engelbert.

Simmons says, "He contacted me and said, 'Wouldn't it be fun to sing a song together?' I said, 'Sure. Pick a time and place. I'll be there."

He also left the choice of song to Engelbert who chose the Blood Sweat and Tears hit "Spinning Wheel."

"Englebert Calling" was released in the UK, Australia and New in May. It was a major hit. Asked if there's anyone else he'd like to duet with, he's quick to answer, "Andrea Bocelli, one of my favorite singers, and Lady GaGa. She's so talented, a great musician, a great artist. And she's unusual in that she dresses to fit the music. If she does an old song, she'll fashion her hair in keeping with the music."

Simmons adds, "It's a great matter of pride to be on this album. Engelbert is 'that' guy, the one whose career spans over 50 years."

Asked how it feels to be called an "icon," as he is in many articles, Simmons said, "I appreciate that kind sentiment. But I whatever it is you do in life you should do a great job at it."

As for his taste in music, Simmons says, "If it's early morning and no one's around, I blast Mantovani. In the early afternoon it's the blues. Ray Charles continues to be my favorite voice."

But he is full of appreciation for Engelbert Humperdinck, recognizing him as a "real pioneer."

Posted: 09/29/2014 by Ellen Sterling Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-sterling/engelbert-calling-on-a-ne_b_5904186.html

Multi-platinum selling singer Engelbert Humperdinck has a double CD coming out this week called Engelbert Calling. It features duets with Sir Elton John, country legend Willie Nelson, KISS lead man Gene Simmons, andGrease star Olivia Newton-John, among others. Spoiler alert: Engelbert and Simmons sing the Blood, Sweat & Tears song Spinning Wheel.

The first single released from Engelbert Calling is Something About the Way You Look Tonight with Sir Elton John. Elton recently praised Engelbert as “one of the sweetest and nicest people I have ever worked with.” He went on to say, “We had a great time singing together. He is 76 years old and still sounding as good as ever.” Humperdinckers are excited. Engelbert is also launching a North American tour in October.

by 2Paragraphs in Culture | September 29, 2014

http://2paragraphs.com/2014/09/gene-simmons-sings-duet-with-engelbert-humperdinck/