Photo: Simone Cecchett
Tommy Emmanuel Shares Video for ‘Far Away Places’ With Raul Malo
Grammy-nominated acoustic guitarist extraordinaire, composer and global touring artist Tommy Emmanuel has shared the video for “Far Away Places” featuring Raul Malo who today (August 7) is celebrating his birthday.
The acoustically performed song is a tender and aching expression of longing. It appears on Emmanuel’s current album Accomplice Two (the follow-up to 2018’s Accomplice One album) that was released this past April via CGP Sounds. “Far Away Places” is an American standard, written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, first popularized by Bing Crosby and then Vera Lynn. Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard (for Neighborhoods Apart) directed and edited the video, which captures Emmanuel and Malo recording the song live together at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN.
“When you work with Tommy, anything is possible,” says Malo, who turns in a masterfully subtle and emotionally stirring performance. “His command of arrangements and melodies allows you to dig deep into a treasure chest of songs that only a few on the planet dare play. He is that kind of musician.”
“I chose to put this song as the final one on this album because it leaves us with a feeling of comfort and lets us marvel over such a great vocal performance,” says Tommy. “It was my honor to record with Raul—he’s in a league of his own!”
“Far Away Places” is a beloved standard that’s in wonderful hands in this entrancing video. Tommy Emmanuel is a perfect accompanist to vocalist Malo, playing gorgeous chordal backup on nylon strings. He holds his well-documented guitar chops in reserve here, playing exactly what’s needed and nothing more. Even in his solo, he never breaks the yearning mood of the moment. Malo’s lead vocal is beautifully executed, pulling your heart into the lyrics immediately. The combination of these extraordinary musicians and this timeless song is quietly magnificent and will take you with it where it goes. Make it a priority and your day will improve.
Watch “Far Away Places”
Q&A with Tommy Emmanuel About “Far Away Places”:
What inspired your collaboration with Raul Malo on “Far Away Places”?
“When I asked Raul to sing a song with me for this album, he sent me three choices of Sam Cooke recordings. We knew it had to be a song that would suit just voice and guitar, not a big production. I chose “Faraway Places” for its beautiful melody, simple structure and Raul’s fabulous style of singing it! As you can see by the video, it was a stunning and perfect vocal performance by Raul—I am so proud to be his accompanist!”
“Far Away Places” is an American standard, written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, and first popularized in 1948 by Bing Crosby (peaking at #2 on the Billboard chart). What led you to interpret the song?
“I didn’t hear the original Bing Crosby version; I heard Sam Cooke singing it and knew Raul would smash it out of the park! With a tight schedule to keep, I had to choose a song that I could arrange quickly and get a recording / performance in one or two takes. Raul and I did two takes and the second one is the one we thought was the best.”
On this track, you play with nylon string and steel string guitars. Can you talk about the dynamic of playing these two different guitars and what it brings to the song?
“I played my Kirk San Nylon-string guitar for the main accompaniment, then overdubbed the solo on my Maton Steel String. I kept it simple and tried to stay on the melody in my solo, an obvious choice to me.”
Watch “Mombasa” with Yasmin Williams HERE
Look for Tommy, coming off his July U.S. tour dates, to return to America September 7 for a major fall tour. See the tour dates HERE.
Regarded by guitar great Chet Atkins as “one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen,” the 16-track Accomplice Two is a spirited mix of new takes on indelible classics and brand-new originals from Tommy Emmanuel. His collaborators are some of the most remarkable musicians on the planet—an “A” list of musicians including Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Michael McDonald, Jamey Johnson, Raul Malo, and many more. Emmanuel has continued to release videos including most recently these, filmed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard for Neighborhoods Apart.
Leave A Comment