Who was it that said music has more power than any other form of creative expression to transport us to a moment or place in time? Van the Man takes me back to the carefree, exhilarating days of utter freedom known as youth, to the days of cheddar cheese omelets, biscuits and fried potatoes at Ann …
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The Official Visualiser Video for “Problems” by Van Morrison, taken from his upcoming album ‘Accentuate The Positive’. Pre-order the album at https://VanMorrison.lnk.to/ATPSR And here’s the Official Visualizer for “Shakin’ All Over” from the same upcoming album.
“Don’t you love, ‘us?’ My fault I fear…” While I was searching for the Van Morrison-Chet Baker version displayed above I discovered this live take (below) of Sarah Vaughan doing the same tune. Van and Chet have their moments, particularly Chet’s subtle trumpet emoting under Van’s cooler than usual voice, and their version should have …
Having completed my “50 Albums in 50 Days” expansion of Mr. Chris Estey’s August 24th directive “to post 25 albums in 25 days that have had a major CREATIVE impact on you”, I’ve decided to add a THIRD [slash] final batch of 25, in order to fill some remaining “gaps”—at least as I perceive such …
Very cool! Great sound, great image and just uploaded to YouTube today. https://youtu.be/RI0Ki1NMsXY
“Why didn’t they leave us to wander through buttercup summers?” – Van Morrison, “The Master’s Eyes” For me, this is Van Morrison’s most most memdorable lyric, by far. Please engrave it on my my tombstone. Don’t worry, I’m not ill. You’ve got many years to plan for this.
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Legendary American singer, songwriter and performer Don McLean recently helped raise funds for Teen Cancer America (TCA) and UCLA Health. At the Backyard Concert 2018, McLean joined Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Van Morrison and Roger Daltrey, as well as GRAMMY Award winner Ed Sheeran and others for a once-in-a-generation …
Thanks to Pat Thomas for this Dylan quote. Pat is working on a Van Morrison bio right now. “Tupelo Honey has always existed, Van Morrison was merely the vehicle and the earthly vessel for it.” – Bob Dylan Ronnie Montrose’s minimalist guitar on this track from October of 1971 cuts the heart deeper than a …
YOU SEE I KNOW THIS SQUIRREL that is quite obsessed with Van Morrison: As I trade texts with the great Rock & Roll music critic Dennis Cook about the virtual Morrison mix tape he is making for me, for you, and for Mother Earth, I recalled this amazing little story I forgot to tell you. …
After 72 years, Sir George Ivan “Van” Morrison is still wandering through buttercup summers and playing new games down in the hollow. “Transformation,” (above) a song from his upcoming album, his 37th, forms his latest summer into fall meditation. It’s gold baby, this “Transformation,” and it comes to us just as northern hemisphere leaves turn …
On the way to forging his own way in music, Van Morrison penned a sentimental ditty called “Brown Eyed Girl.” Sung with gusto over a simple, three-chord melody, the song remains Morrison’s biggest hit 50 years later. “Brown Eyed Girl” is still sung around campfires and is an oldies station staple, but I think it’s …
A couple weeks ago I was working up an acoustic arrangement of Van’s song, “Crazy Love,” for May May and me to sing with another couple. After a few passes at it, I abandoned it for a different song by a more harmony-inclined band. Despite the catchiness & simplicity of “Crazy Love,” it just isn’t …
Drinking a cold beer and listening to Van Morrison’s near masterpiece Veedon Fleece. I always wanted to track down this album, now I am tripping through Van’s own Irish myth and stream of conscious ramblings toward rich green patches of brilliance. He’s just a giant mushroom. He doesn’t make much sense, but you are free …
Here’s a lovely version of “In the Garden” off No Guru, No Method, No Teacher recorded at Van Morrison’s 70th birthday (8/31/2015) concert on Cypress Avenue in Belfast, near Hyndeford street, near Sir George Ivan Morrison’s childhood home. It’s amazing to me that there’s any musician out there who can still make great music on …
A moment of eerie synchronicity with this tune just caught me. I hadn’t heard it in 25 years, but a lyric from here, actually a line William Blake’s poetry, has stuck with me ever since I eagerly lapped up A Sense of Wonder on day of release in 1985: “Wisdom is sold in the desolate …
1970: Domino. This opening track on his fourth album is a tribute to Fats Domino and was originally a longer piece but was cut down when Morrison was asked for more ‘radio-friendly’ singles. White R&B with a touch of God thrown in for good measure. Classic Van. – Kristen Anderson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89-BxTA7JQo
It was a “Cold wind in August” with Mick Ronson on guitar, Dr. John on piano – excellent live video footage from 1977. – Pat Thomas is the author of Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975. https://youtu.be/DAxeGcGIV7A
Recently, a new article about the origins of Van Morrison‘s Astral Weeks was making the rounds of Facebook, here’s a few words that I’ve jotted down on how I “hear” that album: I’ve never understood why people feel the need to expand the tale (and myth) of Astral Weeks. It’s perfect just the way it …
45 years ago today, 2/28/1970 – Van Morrison released the Moondance album. I jotted down a few thoughts on what I think in 2015. Van Morrison’s second Warner Brothers album is so good; it arguably could have been a ‘best of’ collection. One of those rare records in which there’s no bad tracks. At least …
40 years ago today, Van Morrison released the Veedon Fleece album – for every person who moans that Van never recorded another Astral Weeks – this album is for you. For everyone who claims Van is an “old git” – but thinks that someone like Robyn Hitchcock is still relevant, then keep in mind that …
I’m very glad someone filmed this appearance by Van at Montreux in 1980. Different Youtubed song clips from it float my way from time to time. Right after Common One, this had to be A peak, even THE peak. …not to mention fishing poles…
This live version of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” is OK, although the foghorn needs some help. But I should have flagged this file: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVAnlke_xUY, the original album version. It’s the heart of Moondance, a nearly perfect album. This song seems to be about a spiritual quest and also about an act of love as …
This truly is an “awesome” version. It may have additional lyrics not heard on the album version. Or it may not.
I don’t know that I’ve heard this version before, but it is pretty good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=p4OxQ7960nY I’ve loved Van’s reading of it since Hymns to the Silence, but this is nice. Never had heard this either. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyCAZRKXaQk I am becoming more and more a fan of Youtube. It pretty much replaces my worn out turntable and …
This eloquent trad-rocker is a gem from George Ivan “Van” Morrison’s later career. First released on the full and excellent 1991 recording, Hymns to the Silence, this many-layered tune offers numerous wise and poetic turns of phrase such as Van’s characterization of his audiences, “there were hypocrites and parasites and people that dream” and his …
A lovely, minimalist version of “In the Garden” from No Guru No Method No Teacher with Van’s inimitable voice surrounded by transcendant piano, bass and acoustic guitar.
This may have been a small step for Van at the time, but it comes across as a giant leap for Vankind 30 plus years later. Recorded at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1980, here is a clip with top notch sound of Van at a late career peak– Common One had just come out– …
Go here to view the vid. Thanks to Pat Thomas for the tip.
There’s no need to worry about coverage or co-pays when you get your health insurance through John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison:
Here is a previously unreleased early 70’s Van Morrison recording, never been issued, (yanked from several releases), Van says, “It’s hard to work out why you didn’t put something out at the time. Usually it felt like it didn’t fit… When I was with Warner Brothers they were very minimalist.” – Pat Thomas is the …