I recently Heard Suzanne Lynch's cover version for the first time and today found Neil's version. It's the theme song for a children's lobby group in NZ and has been out for at least a year.

Well done David. I found Suzanne's version on the web a few months back - never expected to hear this one. Thanks

Neil doesn't seem to get a credit for it though?

quote:

version

Good find. This is the first I've heard of this. Can anyone provide any info?

Color of Summer was released last year. It includes this song and also covers (neither of which I've heard) of Can't Carry On and Tim's Love is the Roughest Toughest Game.

I presumed Neil had given Suzanne the song, although it seemed an unlikely connection But I've just done a little more Googling - now I know what I'm looking for - and it appears he wrote it for the charity back in 2002:

Plunket Media Release

That one slipped under our radar, didn't it?

That press release mentions a CD and video as well.

Beautiful song, thanks for sharing the info.

Oh my, this is magnificent! Thank you! Only wish we had it in better quality

That is lovely. Thanks David.

What a gorgeous song. Thanks for posting the link.

Direct link to the mp3 so you can save it:
http://www.littlieslobby.org.nz/rayofhope.mp3

Ah thankyou very much Shadowman

So is this song available for purchase anywhere? (the Neil Finn version)

This song reminds me a lot of the "Parables, Lullabies and Secrets" material that Neil was doing around the same time. I really wish somebody would put that stuff on to CD and release it. I think it's been broadcast a couple times on Australia radio. Anybody have a recording?

Good point.

Would love to buy the CD if i could.

ATB

Pretty song for a good cause! A universal theme with some nice lyrics especially the following:

If the brand new day will find us
willing and prepared to learn
put the broken past behind us
let the days of love return

How true!

I'm bumping an old thread here... If anybody hasn't already heard this song, listen to it - it's excellent.

Does anybody know if there's a higher quality version knocking around anywhere?

-Tom

I find it strange that such a well-written, well-recorded song would just linger like this as a poor quality MP3 on an obscure website. Why not release this somewhere? If nothing else, it would make a great rarity for a fan club cd!

Did Neil write this (beautiful) song?

quote:

Originally posted by Jabberz:
Did Neil write this (beautiful) song?

Better late than never:
The credits for Suzanne's cover version confirm Neil wrote the song.

quote:

Originally posted by David Goldsmith:
That press release mentions a CD and video as well.

I recall reading the press release at the time, think I even sent an email to the charity but didn't get a reply - did anyone ever get their hands on a CD with Neil's Ray Of Hope?

Michael

That's very easy listening.

Thanks for bringing this thread back, and back. I missed it the first time around.

Are there copyright issues relating to songs which are written for/recorded for charity?