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The first single from the Lighthouse Family's long-awaited new album brings together an unlikely combination of two classic songs - Nina Simone's '(I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be) Free' and U2's 'One'... Paul claims that a successful third album from the band does not depend on financial reward, "It's never been about money, we'd just like these songs to be heard... I'd love to play to play to 50,000 people and hear them singing these songs."
I suspect there might be an out-of-context element here, but I have to say that quite a lot of people had heard these two songs beforethe Lighthouse Family got anywhere near them. Indeed, this is the second cover of 'One' to show up on a Now album (though the U2 original never made it) and even if you thought you hadn't heard the Nina Simone track, you might know it as the theme from Film 92, Film 93, Film 94 or whatever.
To be fair, the intro to this track is actually quite pleasant, maybe thanks to the influence of producers Bacon & Quarmby. Once the actual singing takes over, though, the passionate civil-rights anthem drains into mediocrity, and by the time it's segued into one of Bono & Co's most affecting moments, it's a struggle to get through. The best thing I can say about this single is that there weren't many more after it: despite their chart domination in the later 90s, the Family struggled to cope with the new century, and after only one more Top 40 hit ('Run' - another track that's good for the first 30 seconds) and a couple of flops they were gone, pausing only to release the same Greatest Hits album twice within six months. Few seemed to shed tears over their demise, or indeed notice. Apparently they've just got back together though.
Also appearing on: Now 33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
Available on: Whatever Gets You Through The Day
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