Last up-date May 2009
(Archived news 1999-2006)

2007 2008

"It was 40 years ago today"
"Those were the days"
31/08/68

 

May 23rd 2009
Some lovely new pictures and new tracks uploaded on Mary's MYSPACE PAGE and also on her FACEBOOK page

May 20th 2009
'Now and Then' Mary's new CD release date May 25th 2009; order via Mary Hopkin Music

‘Now And Then’ comprises 14 gems recorded between 1970 and 1988 and follows the release of ‘Valentine’ in May 2007 and “Recollections” in January this year, both also collections from the archives. ‘Valentine’ saw 12 previously unreleased tracks, including three of Mary’s own compositions while ‘Recollections’ featured two of Mary’s own, ‘Another Day’ and ‘Who’s the One?’ with a cluster of other fabulous songs. Both albums were produced by her then husband Tony Visconti.

‘Now And Then’, features a Mary original as well as songs from other legendary names including Bert Jansch, Tom Paxton, Jim Croce, John Kongos and Patti Hill. Some of the tracks have been brought bang up to date with the use of modern technology - notwithstanding being classics such as Happy Birthday.

May 2009
Mary has been doing lots of radio interviews go here to listen to some of them
Mary Hopkin Music

April 5th 2009
News From Mary's MYSPACE site
Hello lovelies!

Thought I'd check in as it's been a while. I hope you're all doing well. Mary has done her bit making the last of the archives as good as they can be for release on the next album. It's just up to me now to get all the bits and bobs done so you can buy it! It'll be called 'Now and Then' and we think every track's a winner!

That's it for the "archives", those dusty boxes in the attic. There may be some more that we can find on them, but never fear, there's not only other tapes, DATs and CDs around but new songs coming all the time from Mary's head.
She is unstoppable!

I'm also arranging some digital distribution which means that Mary's music will be available on iTunes and other download stores.

To those of you who heard about a boxed set - apologies, we have decided to keep it for next year. By then, we'll have found loads of goodies that we can include that will make it extra special rather than just special! Again, Mary's imagination has been whetted and she's got all sorts of great ideas that we know you'll love.

Thank you so much for all your support and love. It really does make all the hard work worthwhile!

Best wishes to you all from us all!
Jessica x

March 26th 2006
Some great news
The BBC is releasing Series 5 of The Morecambe and Wise Show at the beginning of May. Episode 5 features Mary singing Jefferson. (First time available on DVD.)
My thanks to Dave Hawthorne for this info..

March 5th 2009
Message taken from Mary's facebook page

Hi Mary fans!

Thanks so much for joining us here on Facebook We're still also to be found on MYSPACE and MARY HOPKIN MUSIC

Mary is locked away working on the last of the archives, and we'll be getting that out into the fresh air in May. We're going to put them all together in a boxed set with an extra treat for you too!

Thanks for listening to my efforts on the radio too. There'll be more to come there too.

Keep listening!
Jessica

February 3rd 2009
Another interview with links to some videos

January 31st 2009
CALLING ALL ANGELS  
Brian and Cathryn's long awaited new album is available for download in its entirety at a mere 79p per track, or £6.99 in total for all eleven tracks, from Amazon

This includes the beautiful Mary and Cathryn duet "rejected lover" The CD is not yet available, but if you can't wait click here on Amazon 
  
The album was originally going to be called "Surrender", but it is now called "Calling All Angels". A beautiful and extremely artistic cover too, as you'll see if you go to Amazon.  

January 29th 2009
UPDATES
First of all a new Facebook page has been set up come and join and get lots of updates from Mary Hopkin Music

Also Jessica has been busy of late and has been giving a few radio interviews promoting "Recollections"one interview you can listen to (it has a playback feature) is here on City Radio click on Thursday's Dean Sullivan show and fast forward to 02.23 for Jessie's interview.

Also have you all had a chance to hear Mary's duet with Cathryn Craig on youtube?
It was recorded at Space Studios (the home of MHM) and it is wonderful here is the link "Rejected Lover Live"

January 14th 2009
Happy New Year to you all!

Hope you all had lovely Christmases.

We've been busy here trying to make waves for Mary all over the world, and news is dripping in that she is being heard here and there. We'd like to enlist your help to tell us where she is spotted:

1. On the radio - please tell us what song was played, on what station and when
2. On the web - a link if you can
3. In the press - what magazine or paper, and when.
4. Anywhere else!

You can post them on this Myspace page, message us or email mhm@spacestudios.co.uk

We'll be sure to let you know when there are more releases!

Thanks so much, as ever, for your support!

Take care all!
Jessica

Jaunuary 8th 2009
Exciting message from Brian Willoughby below, if you have not yet heard the wonderful "Alice's Song" have a listen... it is beautiful.

Hi everyone, "Alice's Song" will be a "Sunday Spotlight" this Sunday (11th.) on Aled Jones' show on Radio 2.
His producer said that information about us, would be posted on the Good Morning Sunday website...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/goodmorningsun/index.shtml

The song is available for download from the 10th., on...

January 2nd 2009
Some new links for Mary information
Mary now has a FACEBOOK page some great pictures on there lots of new friends as well

See also Judy Totton publicity agent there is a great new biography on there click on current promotions.

A few other important sites
Mary Hopkin Music
Mary Hopkin Myspace

December 18th 2008
Great newspaper article in the "Western Mail" ( Welsh Newspaper ) today

Singer Mary Hopkin issues new album
Dec 18 2008 by Robin Turner Western Mail

December 15th 2008
Thanks to a good friend of the site Dave Hughes for pointing this out... I had failed to point out to friends that there is a CD for sale on quite a few sites called "Portrait of Mary Hopkin" (easy to spot she is pictured playing the guitar left handed) it is in fact the Sundance CD badly reproduced in flimsy packaging.

This great CD is easily available via ANGEL AIR with some great pictures of Mary and the two Mike's and it includes a very comprehensive history of the band in the CD booklet ..

November 29th 2008
"Recollections" and "Christmas Songs" arrived this morning I have played it about half a dozen times and it gets better with each play ... Email me and let me know whats your favourite song I honestly cannot pick one yet...

November 28th 2008
maryhopkin.net seems to be working ok now

November 23rd 2008
Having real problems with my Dot Net account - so advising everyone to use this http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pat.richmonds/newmhfs.htm
until its sorted...
Everyone looking forward to the CD, should be just a few days now!
Bye
Pat

November 7th 2008
RECOLLECTIONS + A wonderful Christmas surprise now availalbe via MHM
Wait until you seet the track list, just wait.... WOW

November 4th 2008
New book available by C M Hopkin "Sensualist" (Carole Hopkin) who is of course Mary's sister. For more information and how to order your autographed copy go here to C.M. Hopkin

October 31 2008
News from Mary Hopkin Music
Recollections to come...

Scary News! The new album, 'Recollections', is now at the pressing plant and features 11 previously unheard tracks sung by Mary.

Mary Hopkin continues to explore her archives, dust off some long-forgotten recordings and sends them out to air and to see the light of day in a new album of old songs. Following the release of 'Valentine' in May 2007, featuring a collection from the archives, 'Recollections', due out in mid-November, is a further 11 gems recorded between 1970 and 1986. 'Valentine' saw 12 previously unreleased tracks from the same stash, including three of Mary's own compositions. 'Recollections' features two of Mary's own, 'Another Day' and 'Who's the One?' with a cluster of other fabulous songs.

"There were about 30 hefty 2-inch tapes weighing heavily on my mind, and also on my bedroom ceiling," recalls Mary. "They had been gathering dust in my loft for many years, and one morning, I woke up to an ominous creaking sound, as a huge crack appeared in the ceiling. So, with some prodding from my daughter, Jessica, we decided to release them from their dusty boxes before the ceiling fell in."

Mary Hopkin shot to fame in 1968 with 'Those Were the Days', recorded on the Beatles' Apple label. 'Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1972', the first release on MHM, is a recording of her "farewell" concert, which marked her retirement from the public eye to concentrate on her family.  She has since recorded various projects and guest appearances on albums. She has appeared on work produced by her then husband Tony Visconti - most notably on 'Sound and Vision' by David Bowie. The songs that feature on Valentine and Recollections were produced by Tony during this period.

Some other legendary names appear on the album – Blue Weaver (Amen Corner) on piano, Dave Mattacks (Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention) and Gerry Conway (Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull) on Drums, and Bruce Lynch (Cat Stevens, Richard Thompson) on bass.

The original recordings have now been digitally remixed and remastered at Space Studios in Cardiff, where Mary bases her recording work and record label, Mary Hopkin Music. MHM distributes only on the internet at www.maryhopkin.com

October 25th 2008
Great news from Mary's Myspace Page please visit and leave Jessie a message!
"Something's gotta go - more of those boxes in the attic. Please stand by, Mary fans, for more music very very soon!

Stuck for a Christmas gift? I think I have something here that might interest you...

Thank you for all your loyalty and patience"

Jessie

Great news so fingers crossed its going to be a "Very Mary Christmas" yet again...
August 16th 2008
Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby have a new album coming soon possibly September, the CD is titled "Surrender"
Included is the track "The Rejected Lover" a stunning duet featuring Mary Hopkin and Cathryn

August 16th 2008
I do not know how many of us use YouTube but I absolutely love it.
I have started putting some of Mary's songs on there so if your interested in taking a look here is my home page address and you can click from there .... http://www.youtube.com/user/richpat
I hope you like them I have tried to put as many new photos as I can on there and uploaded some songs that many of you have possibly not heard ... I have had lots of requests for "Oasis" and "Sundance" videos but because of copyright etc I am not sure I can use them.

June 2008
Kate's tribute to Mary Hopkin Kate Corrigan, the former Ermington schoolgirl, is performing a tribute to 60s singer Mary Hopkin at the Troubadour, London, on Thursday 18 September The mezzo soprano is a former member of the Madrigirls who performed at many festivals in the UK and internationally. She has since gone solo and is performing her tribute to one of Britain's most appealing and reclusive artists of the early 1960's. The tribute to Mary is a celebration of the career of this young Welsh folk singer. Twiggy, the 1960s fashion icon, having seen her performance on Opportunity Knocks recommended her to Paul McCartney and Mary became one of the first artists to record on the Beatle's Apple label. Mary went on to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest and has worked with the likes of McCartney, Donovan, Bob Johnson and Pete Knight of Steeleye Span, and Vangelis. With Kate Corrigan, audiences can expect a nostalgic trip down memory lane, with the rich vocal talents of one of the UK's rapidly emerging artists. The Troubadour is the last 50s coffee house in Earls Court. The venue has a proud history as a low temperature centre of courtesy, peace and artistic energy. Tickets for the show, which starts at 8pm and ends at 10pm, are priced at just £10 and are available from www.wegottickets.co.uk. For more information about Kate, visit www.kate-corrigan.com.

May 2008
News from Mary Hopkin Music Official Mary Hopkin Music Website
Good Morning Mary fans! Thank you for all your kind birthday wishes for Mary. I'm reliably informed that she spent it with a cup of tea in the garden. Sorry there's no birthday release this year, and yes, you're all incredibly patient! But Mary has been working hard and there are some treats in the pipeline. If they don't appear by autumn I will lock her in Space Studios until it's done. So lots of love to you all around the world, and we will let you know when there's news to report! Remember all is available from www.maryhopkin.com, and we're now taking credit cards at the studio so when the banking monkeys have sorted out the technicalities we'll be changing from PayPal to credit cards on the site. All the best Mary's monkey at MHM

April 4th 2007
MHM launches the New Official Mary Hopkin Music Website
Welcome to Mary Hopkin's Official Website. This site is run by Mary Hopkin Music, which was set up to release Mary's own music on her own terms. Mary's wish to remain out of the public eye is well documented, but that doesn't mean her music should be hidden

And "just for us" on Mary's birthday the 3rd may WE get a present, 3 new songs ...
'Valentine', a new release from the archives which includes three of Mary's own songs. Released on 3rd May and available from this site.

March 28th 2007
I have been waiting for this for a long time... Got both shows on audio tape, but only a bad version of 1 on video, now at last we get to see Mary on the Tom Jones shows... Mysapce have a great page set up in anticipation of the release below is a snippet from Tom Jones dot com (amazon have a good deal and you can pre-order)

Great News!! Finally!!

For years fans have been hankering for a release of Tom's original TV show, This Is Tom Jones. As many of you know, this great show was filmed in both Los Angeles and London from 1969-1971 and was considered the pinnacle of the variety show genre. It's with great pleasure we can announce the release of the first of a series of DVDs, exclusively from Time Life, that contain the great design, sets, music and performances from Tom and his many guests on This Is Tom Jones.

The first set of 3 discs, subtitled 'Rock 'N Roll Legends', features Tom singing some of his biggest hits, along with classic performances by The Who, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Moody Blues and many more. In addition, you'll get over an hour of extras, including a fresh new interview with Tom as he spins some stories about his experiences on the show.

These shows are full of great music and tv moments. You'll see the fabulous style of the times in its original form, and witness music, dance and production numbers that were the cutting edge of the era. The film is of very high viewing quality — its a real time-capsule of the range of entertainment at the time. At last — Tom in all his glory, fantastic guests — what enormous fun to watch!

Time Life will launch the DVDs by direct-response TV in the US on May 21, and the 3-DVD set will be out at retail on June 5th. Watch this space for more info soon!

February 2007
A new release this week of the film Kidnapped on DVD has some nice little extras for us Mary Hopkin fans. The first is in the original film trailor. There are various clips put together and the normal voice overs. There is the loving kiss between hero and heroine and Mary starts to sing 'For All My Days' suddenly her name and song title is emblazzened across the screen in gold writing.  

The second gem is in the end credits. Mary sings the whole song. Instead of the normal fade out, her voice can be heard in un-interrupted strength. The picture turns to a black screen and the song continues to the end with new finger picking on the guitar to the final strum. This has never been heard on the original album or the CD release from a few years back.  

The film itself is in wide screen and is a crisp image with deep colours. For the Michael Caine fans, there are three extra interviews from various Russel Harty shows. There is also a short featurette from 1971 but the focus is mainly on the young actor as a fresh new hero to the screens.   It is out on the NETWORK label number 7952588 and can be found in most stores or can be ordered on www.networkdvd.co.uk

It first started out in 2001 in New York as a review, then came to London for another review where it had dialogue added to it.  

This year Philip George and David Lowenstein re vamped it.   The plot is very much a 'Mama Mia' experience where songs tell the story for 90 mins.

It tells the story of  five young women as they come of age during the liberating days of the 1960's that made London, England swing. 

All of the hits are from the UK pop charts of the time and are mostly from the female pop stars, Mary Hopkin, Lulu, Dusty Springfield, Petula etc.  

NOW THE BEST BIT   there is a website for this show.

www.shoutthemodmusical.com

After the very eyecatching musical intro; 

Click on the timeline and go to 1968. There is a picture of Jane Fonda. Click on it and it peels away like a magazine ... keep clicking and Mary will appear!!!!  

Then click on multimeadia, first click on videos. then click 'Shout Promo' you will see the cast perform a few bars of "those were the days".