A Van Morrison Primer

That album doesn’t have anything to do with my life or the way I live. It’s just a record of songs.
Van Morrison, “I’m Not a Rock & Roll Performer,” an interview with Cameron Crowe, Rolling Stone Magazine, August 30, 1973


Following up on last week’s posting—“‘Troubadours’: Notes on a Magical Performance—I’d like to offer those who are not familiar with Van Morrison’s catalog a listing of my favorite albums. I own thirty-eight of his recordings—almost his entire oeuvre. (Didn’t I say I’m a hardcore fan?) Allow me, then, to save you some time—and certainly money—as I guide you through what I believe is Morrison’s most outstanding work:

• A place to begin, perhaps: Still on Top (2007). Van Morrison fought the record companies against compiling a “Greatest Hits” package. But, finally, after twenty-five years in the music business, he agreed to the release of Van Morrison’s Greatest Hits (1990). Still on Top, a three compact disc anthology and his fourth compilation, offers a good, and occasionally quirky, overview of Van Morrison’s body of work. The set includes many of his best songs (it would take about a six cd collection to accomplish this), plus a handful of selections that will make you wonder what he was thinking when he chose them. But Still on Top is a suitable starting place if this is your first foray in Van’s music.
  

Van Morrison’s best individual recordings, in chronological order:

• Astral Weeks (1969): His debut solo album is one for the ages. Hauntingly beautiful songs, acoustically conceived and performed, that, although repetitive at times, can be as soothing as Buddhist chants. Astral Weeks consistently ranks in critics’ polls as one of the top ten albums in rock history.
  
• Moondance (1970): A classic. How can anyone resist the charm of this collection? Beautiful compositions, handsome arrangements. The first six tracks alone are enough to guarantee Van’s entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
  
• St. Dominic’s Preview (1972): Many Morrison fans will probably groan when they see that I excluded Tupelo Honey (1971), but St. Dominic’s Preview is, I believe, more spellbinding. The longer songs—“Listen to the Lion” and “Almost Independence Day” can, if the listener is in the right mood, hypnotize, relieving one's worries. Plus, the arrangements on the horn-based songs are the best of Van’s earlier work.
  
• Veedon Fleece (1974): This collection harkens back to the acoustic approach of Astral Weeks. Veedon Fleece is often overlooked and considered one of Van’s minor works, but the songs are beautiful in their understatement.
  
• Into the Music (1979): The previous year’s Wavelength brought Van back to the charts with his most rocking album since Tupelo Honey. But with Into the Music Morrison returns to the things he does so well: writing and singing thoughtful, catchy songs of great spiritual and personal intensity.
  
• Beautiful Vision (1982): Beginning with Common One (1981) and on through Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (1983), Van Morrison enters a musically ethereal period. During this time his work approaches a new age feel. Still, songs like “Cleaning Windows” show that he can still swing. Beautiful Vision is a lovely, meditative collection.
  
• No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986): A return again to the feel of Astral Weeks, only this time the songs have a harder edge.
  
• Poetic Champions Compose (1987): This album is in a softer vein of No Guru, No Method, No Teacher. It includes two of Van’s most memorable love songs: “Queen of the Slipstream” and “Someone like You.” A gorgeous, sensuous set.
  
• Irish Heartbeat (1988): Although there were hints during his ethereal period that Van was interested in returning to his roots, Irish Heartbeat, a stunning collaboration with The Chieftains, startled fans for its pure, joyous celebration of Irish folk music.
  
• A Night in San Francisco (1994): Live albums don’t get much better than this one. What’s most impressive is that the greatest curmudgeon of the rock era appears to be having a blast—and Van’s backing band is absolutely fantastic.
  
• The Healing Game (1998): On the compact disc cover photograph it looks like Van is on a mission, and the music inside proves this. The Healing Game is his best studio work in ten years.
  
• Magic Time (2005): Van Morrison becomes a crooner, but the results are worthy of someone who has successfully made the transition from angry young man to sixty year old prophet.

Happy listening.