I am sitting with one of the cats, a Dr. Pepper and my laptop. I have finished the decorating, cleaned the living room and repaired my son’s IKEA drawer – all in a day’s work! Then, with a quick look through the magazine emails, there was Engelbert Humperdinck. Not a name you forget.
An artist who has sold over 140 million records and currently has more than three million monthly listeners on Spotify, Engelbert is perhaps not the most obvious stopping point for a magazine that often features artists at the start of their careers. Nor, in all honesty, are romantic piano tracks. BUT I saw the cover – Engelbert on a motorbike in leathers – and the track list, with songs from Ozzy Osbourne, KISS and Journey, among others. Then I saw the list of musicians playing alongside the man/legend and I was in!
So although Engelbert Humperdinck is probably not the first name you’d expect to see reviewed in Rock the Joint Magazine, at 90 years old Engelbert has done something nobody could accuse of being predictable. And just noting that figure of 90, he is not only recording new material but, although he apparently tried slowing down after his manager suggested it, lasted three months at home before basically saying, bugger this, and going back to work. Respect!
The Press Release
Internationally renowned vocalist and performer Engelbert Humperdinck, one of the most enduring and beloved voices in popular music history, will release his highly anticipated new album Faithfully on August 28 via Cleopatra Records. Marking a powerful new chapter in a career that has spanned more than six decades, the forthcoming release stands as one of the most ambitious and hit-packed recordings of Humperdinck’s storied career.
Celebrated as one music’s most recognizable generational icons whose unmistakable voice has captivated audiences worldwide since he rose to superstardom in the 1960s and 1970s, Humperdinck brings fresh interpretation and emotional depth to a dynamic collection of blockbuster songs originally made famous by Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Aerosmith and more. The album features a newly composed original track “Always My Love”, adding a very personal touch to the project.
The 15-track release is elevated by an extraordinary lineup of guests including Journey’s Jonathan Cain, legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman (Yes, David Bowie), Grammy Award-winning guitarist Al Di Meola, Canned Heat’s Harvey Mandel, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson and acclaimed guitarist Eric Gales. Rich, full orchestral and string arrangements underscore the albums sweeping production, blending classic sophistication with modern rock energy.
“Our entire team at Cleopatra Records couldn’t be more thrilled to embrace this global legend into our beloved artist roster and are looking forward to what we feel could truly be a shining release in his remarkable career” says Cleopatra’s VP/General Manager, Tim Yasui.
With a career defined by timeless hits such as “Release Me,” “After the Lovin,” “Spanish Eyes” and “The Last Waltz,” Humperdinck has sold over 140 million records worldwide and earned a place among music’s most distinguished performers. His ability to transcend generations continues to resonate, making this new release both a celebration of his legacy and a bold step forward.
Says Humperdinck: “I am so grateful for my good friends Brian Perera and Tim Yasui of Cleopatra Records for coming up with the fantastic idea of this album and the music videos we did for it. And I am really honored by all of the incredible renowned musicians who joined on the tracks.”
My Review
The album is released on August 28, 2026 and has 15 tracks.
“Faithfully” – the Journey track is, in many ways, a great place to start, as it has the piano opening in the original that translates well here. I have to be honest and say I was never a Journey fan, but this is a more than decent opener. Impressive vocals and a decent Radio 2 mid-afternoon-with-a-coffee type of track!
“Take My Breath Away” is a song I always enjoyed. The Berlin track from Top Gun always had a wistful romance to it. This cover strips it back a little, puts an emotive connection into the lyrics and made me think of times past and the earlier memories we connect with songs. This one was always in my back pocket!
“More Than Words” is a cover of the Extreme classic. As a song, it suits this album well. So far I have enjoyed listening, I know the songs, they make me smile and I am happy with the covers. I think Humperdinck has enjoyed himself too – you can tell he is having fun and has made it a pleasing sing-along.
“Something” turns George Harrison’s love song from Abbey Road into something very Engelbert. This is one of those moments where I love the original so much that I find it difficult to listen to an alternative. So it is praise to say I didn’t jump past this remake; it is done with heart and respect for the original.
“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” – I am a KISS fan, and this number turned into a rock classic live, with the Download crowd jumping up and down while the pyro blasted and scorched the front rows! One billion streams, and there have been a few covers. Humperdinck does a good job; it has the melody and guitar work on point, and his vocals more than do it justice. It is a very good version.
“Mama, I’m Coming Home” comes from Ozzy’s sixth solo album, No More Tears. Ozzy was more than capable of turning his vocals to Beatles-style ballads (“So Tired” or “Aimee”, for example), but this is probably the best known. I liked this version personally. I think Humperdinck more than does it justice. It has that uplift in the chorus just right and kicks at the right time. Well done.
“Drive” sees the Cars classic get a run out. By this stage in the album I am just listening to these great songs and relaxing into them. They are not being radically redrawn; they are being faithfully given a rework with a bit of freshness, and you are listening to a compilation of musically very fluid and listenable classics.
“Feel Like Making Love” takes us to Bad Company. I am listening to this album and thinking of a soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy, where they have all these great tracks. This is one of the less immediate tracks on the album, it sits happily mid-section and, again, the vocals are really neat, with the flute adding a nice extra layer to it.
“Heaven” – originally recorded by Plain Jane before becoming Warrant’s biggest hit – worked really well. It has a rock bite to it, a modern layer in the groove and a neat guitar break. What a solid vocal performance too, with a great connection to the track. One of the best on the album.
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” – hands up, I never much liked Aerosmith, and I never liked this song much either! Nevertheless, listen without prejudice. I listened to this without wanting to skip it and it gets the chorus neat, we still dream on and miss you babe!
And I skipped it half way along – sorry!
“Beth” (featuring Rick Wakeman) placed me in happier territory. This huge hit from KISS’s Destroyer album has me hearing Peter Criss if I close my eyes. This cover retains the emotion of the original and the melting piano. It brought me into happier times. It is a song of happy memories for me, and the piano section remains lovely. I do hope Beth will be alright.
“Always My Love” is the original track on the album. It is, of course, the most Engelbert Humperdinck track on the album. The Engelbert album I have is Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions (2003), as I liked his take on Gospel music, and this in many respects reminds me of the material on that album. The backing singers, the harmony and the feeling of the South are all here again on this number.
“Alone” by Heart was always a powerhouse of a song – the haunting ticking of the clock, the Wilson sisters’ voices and that huge emotional delivery. No Wilson sisters in this version, but it slots neatly into the album – crisp production and a sense of giving everything to the song. Bluntly, Engelbert Humperdinck has nothing to prove – but he still delivers.
“Can’t Get It Out of My Head” covers the ELO song, and it does so very well. It makes no attempt to be ELO; it becomes Engelbert Humperdinck, and it provides a surprisingly modern take that I found myself enjoying in my late evening – 10pm review, cup of tea on hand now. I was slipping into the music by this stage.
“I Won’t Back Down” from Tom Petty closes the album in rocking style, and for an artist who has often had his times when he has needed to stand his ground, he places his standard in the ground.
I have resisted saying this, but I can’t hold off any longer – I can’t believe he is sounding this good at 90.
In Summary:
Faithfully isn’t going to turn Engelbert Humperdinck into a rock artist, nor does it need to. What it does is take a collection of songs that many of us already know and love and give them a new home, with Humperdinck’s unmistakable voice at the centre.
There are tracks I preferred to others, and there was a moment when I reached for the skip button (due more to the song than the cover), but overall this is a good, enjoyable album. The arrangements are polished, the guest musicians add plenty of interest and Humperdinck sounds remarkably good.
And yes, I am still struggling with the fact that the man singing these songs is 90 years old. I don’t think “Faithfully” is going to make me suddenly declare myself an Engelbert Humperdinck superfan – let’s not get carried away – but it has certainly earned its place in Rock the Joint Magazine.
Not bad for a man who arrived in our inbox wearing a leather jacket and sitting on a motorbike.
Love what we do? Rock the Joint Magazine is completely free — no paywalls, no ads ruining the read — just passionate music journalism for 1,000+ readers a day. If you enjoy hanging out with us, please consider hitting the “Support Us” button and buying us a coffee on Ko-Fi. Even a small donation genuinely helps keep the magazine running, lets us publish more features, and reminds us that people value independent music writing. Remember, I work hard for you here!
Stream music from Engelbert Humperdinck here
By Anna-Louise Burgess
Join Rock the Joint Magazine on the road to the best independent music journalism, interviews and reviews. We cover Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues and Christian music. Support us on Ko-Fi (link on each page) to help the magazine grow and value independent journalism.