First, let me say, I command you to put a Post-It note over the video screen here so that you can’t actually see this totally retarded cliched YouTube video of this gorgeous song. I mean, Charlie Sheen from Two and a Half Men is involved at one point. Like, wha??
I listened to a few different versions of this hard-to-find song and thought this one had both the best sound quality and the absolute worst visuals — and that’s saying something. It was a Sophie’s Choice moment for me, I tell you.
So Post-It note. I command it.
Alternatively, in lieu of scrounging around for those Post-It notes we all have but can never find, I suppose I could allow you to do something like, oh, close your eyes and simply listen. Put on headphones and listen.
This song was a one-hit wonder back in 1972 from British pop band The English Congregation, featuring singer Brian Keith. (Not actor Brian Keith. Although that would be interesting, I gotta say.)
I’m in love with this song now. I can’t stop listening to it. I don’t know how I stumbled across it but I’m so glad I did. So much going on here. So much that’s unexpected. It starts off sounding like a choral piece from the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Literally, the entire first minute of the song sounds like a right proper churchy choir where everyone is singing with their hands clasped in front of their chests, breathing perfectly from their diaphragms, and making perfect O’s with their proper churchy mouths. But then ….. oh then, all hell breaks loose at the minute mark and nothing is the same. The single curl of an electric guitar slams into you and leaves you breathless. The flutes come in — yes, flutes, for God’s sake — in a piping adamant percussive. Which is weird if you really think about it. I play the flute. They’re generally not all that adamant.
And Brian Keith. Good Lord, Brian Keith. All I can say is that the minute …. no, the second …. he opens his mouth to sing, he has me, forever. I don’t want to give it away, but his entrance into the song makes me want to run up and do naughty things to random strangers. He doesn’t sing this song. He declares it. He declaims it. And while he declaims and the guitar curls and the flutes percuss, the perfect churchy choir sings perfectly behaved backup. The elements are kind of nuts, but the whole ….. the whole is brilliant.
And the lyrics …. I kind of love the lyrics …… I can feel your warm face ever close to my lips …..
Ahem. Indeed.
Here’s the weird thing: The first time I heard this song, I thought, “I know this voice. I know I’ve heard this voice before. Where??” I mean, he did not become a well-known singer, unfortunately. So where would I have heard him? Then it hit me: Jesus Christ Superstar. I researched it to see if I was hearing right. I was.
Brian Keith played Annas in the original 1970 concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar.
(Which, in my opinion — and I do intend to write about this — far outshines the movie soundtrack).
The fact that I recognized this not-well-known singer is proof of just how much of my publicly puritanical youth I spent dancing with the devil, blasting this album in secret whenever my parents weren’t home, wailing along at the top of my hellbound lungs. I recognized this man’s voice. Clearly, in some little naughty nook of my brain, I am permanently joined with Brian Keith.
And that’s just fine with me.
So, take a listen. The English Congregation, Softly Whispering I Love You.
(The song takes about 10 seconds to kick in. And, again, I would implore/command you to close your eyes.)
Thanks Tracey – I enjoyed that. You weren’t kidding about the Post-It note.
I hear this ssong daily on itunes flower power radio It is fab
I’m so glad this song is still being heard. I was involved with this project behind the scenes in promotion. Was just thinking of Brian and Alan today wondering whatever happened to those putting those types of sessions together (choirs, orchestras, etc). Christmas brings sentimental thoughts back as the music aired gets worse.
Hello Tracey
I heard this tune for the very first time the other week (which surprises me because I’m 37 right now!) on the UK’s radio station – BBC Radio 2. It was on Tony Blackburn’s ‘Pick of the Pops’ show and what stood out more than anything was Brian’s voice. Wow..! I can only echo your comments above.
At first, I wondered whether Blackburn had got it right – the 53 second opening really didn’t meet my expectations of what I had thought I had heard from the wee snippets I had caught while I was driving that particular day. Fortunately, for a little App called ‘Shazam’ on my iPhone (dare I say), I managed to capture a brief 20 seconds through the phone and BANG – it flashed up “The English Congregation – Softly Whispering I Love You”, so I played it when I got home and that was it…
What a wonderful song! There have been many iterations and covers so it transpires, but this for me is the real deal. Even my brother, who is a bit of a music pundit (and someone who I thought that would laugh in my face when I played it to him) wrote the name of the song down and said he would download it later as he liked it so much.
We both agreed that there is a certain something about Brian Keith’s baritone voice and having researched him a little it’s a real shame to discover that since the 70’s he was never snapped up by the music industry and made a real career earning huge money akin to Tom Jones or Engelbert who I reckon would have given them a run for their money any time.
Brian is still about and still in the music industry, but focussing on playing the trombone rather than singing. Based on his website (http://www.oshea-keith.com) he is now in the US as Brian O’Shea (his orignal name?), but some recent footage on Youtube proves that he can still sing and all these years later he has retained the vocals – his voice hasn’t changed one bit.
A superb write up, Tracey.
Best wishes
Scott
I was in high school when I first heard this song. I was going through a tragic time. One day I heard the entro to this song and it had such a peaceful effect on my life, it was like the voice of angels singing to me.
Yeah, Brian O’Sheay sings and plays trombone in Vegas. I passed that info along to Ian Gillan the other day. Ian, of course, sang the part of Jesus and is still with Deep Purple (which put out a great album last year titled, “Now What?!”). Haven’t seen Ian in a couple years, but I heard from him in an email around New Year’s Day. DP is supposed to tour the U.S. in summer 2014.
I heard this a few years ago on the radio and was totally gripped from the moment Brian Keith opened his mouth (forgive me, I initially thought he was a black singer with a wonderful voice) then had to search engine him…Spellbinding!
Thank you for writing this. I enjoy your take on it, which I totally agree with! I can’t stop listening to the song either. Kudos on connecting it to Jesus Christ Superstar. I don’t know if I would have done that even though I know the album well.
Keep up the good work