Another album from Mary Hopkin’s archives has been drawn into the domain of Mary Hopkin Music. Fans can once again buy the album ‘Spirit’, a collection of Mary’s favourite classical pieces. The album was recorded in 1989 and has been unobtainable for many years. The recordings show off Mary’s stunning vocals in a very different way from the folk and pop for which she has been known. The concept of ‘Spirit’ was to remember favourite pieces of music more as songs rather than as traditional classical pieces, and this especially shows in tracks such as ‘One Fine Day’ and ‘Jerusalem’, and the lullaby ‘Sweet and Low’.

The album was produced by Benny Gallagher, who with Graham Lyle had written for Mary in her Apple Records days. Alan Park, a founder member of Beggars Opera, arranged and played most of the tracks, and Alan Clark of Dire Straits arranged and played Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’.

‘Spirit’ adds another dimension to Mary’s performances on record. While her liner notes state that there are “No aspirations to classical accuracy here...” the vocals are all the more breathtaking because they are not confined to traditional interpretations and Mary’s passion shines through.

Mary Hopkin shot to fame in 1968 with ‘Those Were the Days’, recorded on the Beatles’ Apple label. ‘Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1972’, the first release on MHM, is a recording of her “farewell” concert, which marked her retirement from the public eye to concentrate on her family. She has since recorded various projects and guest appearances on albums. She has appeared on work produced by her then husband Tony Visconti - most notably on ‘Sound and Vision’ by David Bowie, and both worked together on songs that have now been released on Mary Hopkin Music.

MHM distributes only on the internet at www.maryhopkin.com .

Mary Hopkin Music was set up in 2005 to release material by Mary entirely on her own terms. It is run by her daughter Jessica Morgan from Space Studios in Cardiff (owned by Jessica and her partner Christian Thomas), which is where Mary records new material. Mary loves to write and record with her son, Morgan Visconti, and Jessica. Devoted and loyal fans as well as new listeners can look forward to previously unheard music as well as new songs by Mary.