Following the overwhelming reaction to their Christmas No.1, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir have signed a record deal with Decca Records, to release their debut album ‘Something Inside So Strong’ on 27 May – a collection of uplifting classics from those at the heart of the NHS.
Decca is part of Universal Music – which is also home to Justin Bieber, their No.1 fan! The choir topped the Official UK Singles Chart at Christmas with ‘A Bridge Over You’, ahead of Justin’s ‘Love Yourself’, after the pop star urged his 72 million Twitter followers to buy the single.
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir is made up of around 30 members staff from right across the NHS workforce, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, porters, chaplains, administrators and many more. They are joining together in harmony for a new album, marking the 70th anniversary of the passing of the NHS Act in July 1946.
Choir co-ordinator Caroline Smith, who works as a children’s physiotherapist, says: “I’m delighted to be able to represent and support the NHS with such a special album. When everyone comes together in the choir it’s really powerful, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.”
The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust have directed that a minimum of £40,000 from the sale of the album are paid to its charitable funds, and will be used for the benefit of LGT patients and staff, to provide things that are not NHS provision but enhance patient experience or staff working lives – e.g. arts for health projects such as dance and singing groups for patients.
For their major label debut album, the choir have recorded a wide variety of popular tunes, including Bill Withers’ ‘Lean On Me’, Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’, Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, Billy Joel’s ‘And So It Goes’, ‘The Seal Lullaby’ by Eric Whitacre, their Christmas No.1 mash-up ‘A Bridge Over You’ and the title track ‘Something Inside So Strong’.
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir were first seen on Gareth Malone’s BBC2 show ‘Sing While You Work’, where they were narrowly beaten in the final. The choir perform regularly for hospital patients and the local community, as well as singing in concerts across the UK. Now they are sharing their passion for the NHS with a new album of stirring music to lift our spirits and warm our hearts.
Something Inside So Strong – Tracklisting:
1. (Something Inside) So Strong (Written by: Labi Siffre) Soloist: Brenda Harrydass-Clark
2. Angel (Written by: Sarah McLachlan) Soloist: Nora S Smith
3. A Bridge Over You (Written by: Paul Simon, Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman) Soloists: Dr Zoë Davies, Dr Chidi Ejimofo
4. And So It Goes (Written by: Billy Joel)
5. Lean On Me (Written by: Bill Withers) Soloists: André Anthony Levy, Dr Chidi Ejimofo
