Mary Hopkin

Former Apple Records artist Mary Hopkin keeps it all in family with latest CDs

Mary Hopkin's voice has always been one of the real treasures of the Apple Records catalog. And it's been years since there's been anything new to listen to as her most recent releases have been CDs taken from her archives.

But all that has changed. Mary and her son Morgan Visconti have teamed up to release "You Look Familiar," which came out late in 2010.

Morgan's no stranger to the music business. Previously, he's composed for TV and film and is now living in London after 20 years in New York, according to his biography, which also says he and mother Mary worked across the Atlantic in composing songs.

In some respects, "You Look Familiar" is not the same Mary Hopkin you knew from her Apple Records. Mary's voice, while still tender and lilting, is fuller. On the upbeat "America" that opens the album, she sings about "finding a better life in America." Definitely not the nostalgic sentiment of "Those Were the Days."

The CD has a more down-to-earth sound than her Apple albums, in part because the CD also has a more modern tone on some songs. But then there are beautiful songs like "Chimes" that go back to Mary's acoustic roots.

But the beauty of Mary Hopkin's voice that was such a wonderful part of the Apple Records catalog is still there. And the whole CD is definitely a family affair. Mother Mary and son Morgan wrote and produced the album and did the photography and layout, son Morgan did the mixing, daughter Jessica Lee Morgan added vocals and Mary conceived the cover.

"You Look Familiar" holds a few surprises to anyone who knows the Mary Hopkin of the past, but having new work by a talented woman like Mary Hopkin is great news.

And not only that, there's the next generation. Released at the same time as "You Look Familiar" was "I Am Not," the debut album by Jessica Lee Morgan. Jessica inherited the tenderness of mother Mary's voice, but with a slightly lower singing voice that reminds us in spots of a young Annie Lennox.

Like "You Look Familiar, this one is also very much a family affair. In addition to help from Mary and brother Morgan, Mary's ex-husband Tony Visconti helped with string arrangements, mixing and co-production. The result is a very enjoyable album -- and very interesting hopes for the future.

Both albums are available through Mary Hopkin's official website http://www.maryhopkin.com/.

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