Universal Music Australia is proud to announce the release of Harrison Craig’s third studio album,Kings Of Vegas, on Friday November 4th. The release see’s the much loved platinum-selling performer as the creative force behind the project, following his lifelong passion to the spiritual home of some of the greatest performers ever to command a 90-piece band, Las Vegas.
Now available for pre-order, Kings Of Vegas is homage to the most important music in Harrison’s life. From Nat King Cole to Sinatra’s Rat Pack, Elvis Presley to Tom Jones, Mel Torme to Frankie Valli the album includes new interpretations of classics such as Almost Like Being In Love, She’s A Lady and the first instant grat track Comin’ Home. Kings of Vegas will be supported by a 25 minute documentary filmed by Tim Glastonbury.
“These guys created a style and turned it into a timeless genre,” Harrison says. “The way the songs were written, directed and orchestrated… Nothing was done in a small way. I came back from Vegas extremely inspired. I knew exactly what kind of record I wanted to make.”
Harrison brought to the planning table a long list of some 300 songs, many remembered from poring through his mother’s record collection when he was 12 years old. The selection alone took “eight or nine months”, he says, but the next phase —arrangement, production, recording — was a no-brainer for the 22 year old crooner turning to Chong Lim (Farnham, Kylie, Dancing With the Stars) whom Harrison has known since the State School Spectacular, six years ago.
With songs of the stature of Route 66, My Eyes Adored You, Under My Skin and Fever, the pair’s approach to arrangement had to be meticulous. “It’s about the notation, the hard work, the art,” Harrison says. “We both knew it had to be done in a formal way. It took six months to arrange and record everything because we paid such close attention to detail.”
Undeniably a swing record, the 10-track album with its rock solid emphasis on rhythm, lavished with a blend of strings and brass is a stripped back version of swing that emphases the singer’s first-hand intimate experience of Old Vegas in all its 4am glory. An intoxicating cocktail of swing, glamour, cool and the thrill of anything goes!
The world will soon share the experience in a 25 minute documentary shot on a once-in-a-lifetime road-trip from LA via San Bernardino and Barstow. Through Harrison’s own eyes, vintage Route 66 landmarks like Roy’s Motel and even Frank Sinatra’s legendary Palm Springs home will illustrate a style and sound of timeless class.
The road has carried Harrison Craig a long way since millions of Australians were stopped in their tracks by his astonishing voice on the second season of The Voice, followed by his platinum debut album of 2013, More Than A Dream. Kings Of Vegas is the next stop on a trip that has just began.
‘KINGS OF VEGAS’ TRACKLISTING
Comin’ Home Baby
Fever
Almost Like Being In Love
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
She’s A Lady
Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Route 66
Danke Schoen
My Eyes Adored You
The Lady Is A Tramp
HARRISON CRAIGS ‘KINGS OF VEGAS’ ALBUM OUT FRI NOV 4th – PRE-ORDER NOW!