Dion’s “Blues With Friends” album will feature Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Steven Van Zandt and others.
A new version of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion’s fiery ’80s gospel-rock song “Hymn to Him” featuring vocals by Patti Scialfa and guitar by Bruce Springsteen will be included on his upcoming album Blues With Friends. You can listen to the original version of the song below.
The song will be released as a single, May 1, and the album will be released on June 5.
(May 1 Update: I have added the new video for this song, below.)
Other friends who will be featured on the album include Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Steven Van Zandt, Billy Gibbons, Brian Setzer, Joe Bonamassa, Sonny Landreth, John Hammond, Samantha Fish, Joe Louis Walker, Jimmy Vivino and Rory Block. Bob Dylan wrote the liner notes.
In a press release, Dion said about “Hymn to Him”: “I first recorded this song for my 1987 gospel album Velvet & Steel. But songs are never finished … I kept hearing this with Patti’s voice, so I asked her to help me remake the song. When she started singing and layering her vocals down, I got a big surprise. Bruce walked into the studio with his guitar and asked to play a solo. They made it something sublime.”
He also said about “Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More),” which features Van Zandt on guitar: “It started with a rhythm. It got me and wouldn’t let go. My dear friend Stevie Van Zandt just rocked it with his grit and nasty grunge guitar. We had a lot of fun in the studio and then we went out to eat to celebrate.”
For more about Dion and Blues With Friends, visit diondimucci.com.
“The Wanderer,” a musical based on Dion’s life and music, is scheduled to premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn in 2021. For more information, visit papermill.org.
Here is the original version of “Hymn to Him”:
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