Collin Raye has a new album out of him covering some of Pop Music’s greatest love songs. The album is titled Everlasting, and was released today with covers of Billy Joel, Bryan Adams, Elton John, The Bee Gees, and more!
“Before coming to Nashville, I played years in the casinos, waiting to be discovered,” says the 54 year old Raye. “These are songs that I would perform. These are the artists that moved me and the songs I truly love.”
Raye also had to say, “Like most people, I remember being struck with a melancholy, bittersweet feeling, the first time I heard Dan Fogelberg singing, ‘Same Old Lang Syne.’ Even though I was only 20 years old when it was first released, I distinctly recall being emotionally moved by the story, and inserted myself into it, thinking of a ‘past love.’ Obviously, at that age, I didn’t know much about true love, but I certainly thought I did. That’s the power and magic of this particular song…no matter what age you are, from 19 to 90, you can’t help but become swept up into that common feeling we all possess…that belief that once upon a time, in our lives, there was that someone…that one love, that got away…that for whatever reason, didn’t work out. There’s a need in us all, to want to drown ourselves in that memory, sometimes…to try to ‘resolve’ it…make it make sense to us…not to get over it…to just sit still in it…for awhile. That desire comes from that poetic slice of us, that makes us human. This song wields that kind of emotional impact. I thought it was time to revisit Same Old Lang Syne and offer up that beautiful bitter sweetness again, while paying tribute to its creator, the late, great, Dan Fogelberg. Dan was one of those once-in-a-century poet / composers…who was taken from us far too soon. It’s an honor for me to be the instrument that brings back Dan’s words, melody, and his own ‘gentle means of sculpting souls.’ This is both a tribute…and a celebration. Happy New year to us all…and may God bless the spirit and memory of Dan Fogelberg.”
Check out the track listing for the album: