Hooked on Classics 3: Journey Through the Classics
Hooked on Classics 3 is the third album in the Hooked on Classics series, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Louis Clark. Released in 1983 by RCA Records, the album continues the series’ distinctive blend of classical repertoire with contemporary rhythmic backing, designed to make orchestral music accessible to a wider audience.
Background
In the early 1980s, Hooked on Classics became an unexpected musical phenomenon. Conceived by producers Don Reedman and Jeff Jarratt and arranged by Louis Clark of the Electric Light Orchestra, the project combined excerpts of well-known classical works with a steady disco beat. Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the album was released in 1981 and its opening track reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Inspired in part by the success of the Dutch production team that produced Stars on 45, which popularized disco medleys of familiar pop hooks, Reedman and Jarratt applied the same formula to classical repertoire, creating a new crossover project.
Reception
The Hooked on Classics series was commercially successful in the early 1980s, appealing to audiences unfamiliar with classical music. While some classical purists criticized the disco-style drum machine backing, the albums were praised for their creativity and for introducing orchestral repertoire to new generations.