Motown Gems Reimagined On ‘A Symphony Of Soul‘ With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Motown/Island Records/UMC have announced the November 19 release of A Symphony of Soul, a new album featuring tracks from the storied Motown catalog reimagined with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Produced by the Grammy-winning Brian Rawling (Cher, One Direction, Rod Stewart), the 11-track set gives a new dimension to some of Motown’s best-loved songs. The new renditions use the original vocal performances by many of the label’s most celebrated artists, including the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

Two tracks also feature newly-recorded vocals by distinguished British soul stars Mica Paris, who accompanies Jimmy Ruffin on his 1966 classic “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted,” and Beverley Knight, who sings alongside Marvin Gaye on his 1969 version of “Abraham Martin & John.”

The album was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Mark Knopfler’s British Grove Studios in west London. A Symphony of Soul complements the musicality of the songs with an orchestral backdrop set against the original vocal stems and parts, typically recorded on a mere four tracks compared to the almost limitless number available in modern recording. The treatments thus add a new layer to these timeless songs while remaining faithful to the beauty of the originals.

Pre-order A Symphony Of Soul, which is released on November 19.

The full A Symphony Of Soul tracklist is:

1. Dancing In The Street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
2. Reach Out I’ll Be There – The Four Tops
3. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
4. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin with Mica Paris
5. The Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
6. I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5
7. I Hear A Symphony – The Supremes
8. Abraham, Martin & John – Marvin Gaye with Beverley Knight
9. My Girl – The Temptations
10. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) – The Temptations
11. With You I’m Born Again – Billy Preston & Syreeta