CD-Charts Position 1
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Still On Top: The Greatest Hits

by: Van Morrison

Release Date October 22, 2007
I got this before going to see Van Morrison Live at Symphony Hall. The CD made up for the lack of known songs sung by Van in his live performance. It was a strange affair, he did not speak to the audience and performed a very self indulgant show. However I can't fault the CD it is great.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Astral Weeks

by: Van Morrison

Release Date May 01, 1987
Is this the greatest album of all time? Truthfully, I don't know. At the tender age of 18, I thought so. I had no concept of Van Morrison except for Dexy's great cover of Jackie Wilson Said. So, I got on the train to Chester, because they had Penny Lane Records, and I knew I'd find it there. I bought it together with St. Domininc's Preview, so that if I didn't dig Astral Weeks I'd have the album with JWS on and all would not be lost. From the floating, opening strains of the title track, I was immediately hooked. I had never heard anything so fresh, so free, and I already loved Dylan and The Beatles and - for good measure - Scott Walker, but nothing matched this, until I later discovered the likes of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Neil Young, etc. But ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Keep It Simple

by: Van Morrison

Release Date March 17, 2008
Some Van Morrison albums take some time to get into but this one hits the spot straight from the off. As a long time fan, it is hard to place this album against his impressive back catalogue, will take living with it for awhile but I can't see any Van lovers being disappointed as it includes some great simple Celtic Soul and Blues music, featuring guitar, harp, organ, banjo, fiddle, accordion, sax, etc and some beautiful singing. Lover Come Back is another great love song, Behind The Ritual another mystical atmospheric classic, Keep It Simple something of a manifesto and all the other songs add up to a quality album. Remember, Van knows.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Veedon Fleece

by: Van Morrison

Release Date June 30, 2008
For me, this is maybe his best album, although it's quite hard to quantify the guy's output as he has been so prolific over what must be a 45 year career, and his material has veered from r'n'b to jazz, and on to traditional, country and several points in between.

Although recorded in America, a lot of the tracks seem very influenced by Ireland, and I believe he moved back to live there around this time. As with many of his albums, the lyrics are open to interpretation. I've read various tomes dealing with this, and I've always ended up more confused than when I started. My advice would be to shut the books, let this album float over you, and the lyrics will mean whatever they mean - to you.

Pastoral - Celtic - and in the case ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Tupelo Honey

by: Van Morrison

Release Date January 28, 2008
It has long been my suspicion that when record companies re-sell us what we already have under the guise of 'remastered' or improved sound, there is actually very little difference, if any at all.
As I still had the older version of this cd I was able to test my theory. I'm no audiophile but to my ears at least there was no difference between the two. If I had to choose I'd say the earlier version is actually slightly better!
I must have now re-bought dozens of albums with 'updated' sound, and the only ones that I can tell have significantly improved are the King Crimson re-issues; the album Islands for example was originally badly recorded.
As far as this Van Morrison release is concerned however I can hear no difference. I have also purchased ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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It's Too Late To Stop Now: Live (2CD)

by: Van Morrison

Release Date January 28, 2008
This album is so great because all of Morrison's familiar gems gain something by these live performances. The band is tight, the audience appreciative and Van is firing on all cylinders. Old favourites like Into The Mystic and These Dreams Of You take on new rhythmic and vocal dimensions whilst I Believe To My Soul is a breathtaking R&B workout.

I honestly prefer this magnificent live version of Here Comes The Night with its flowing violins, although the original remains a classic too. Another stunning performance is Gloria, which I first heard in Patti Smith's version, but this one is amazingly gripping and powerful, as demonstrated by the enthusiastic reaction of the audience.

I have very few live albums and as a rule I prefer studio sounds, but this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Moondance

by: Van Morrison

Release Date March 04, 1986
Up until a couple of years ago I had the leighman's knowledge of Van Morrison's work and assumed Brown Eyed Girl was his peak and was thus uninterested in finding out more. It was the introduction of Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz by the Band that made me an instant fan. In my opininion, his performance at that concert was easily the best of the film and one of the best ever recorded.

I bought the album purely for love of the song "Caravan" which he banged out on the Last Waltz with unbelievable soul. I was blown away by the range of vocals produced by the Irishman, from the assured "And It Stoned Me", to the tender and vulnerable "Crazy Love", to the soulful "Caravan". It raises the question, is he the singer/songwriter with the best voice?

The arrangement ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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The Best of Van Morrison

by: Van Morrison

Release Date June 18, 1999
This Best Of is a seamless compilation of Morrison's earlier work, from the bouncy Bright Side Of The Road through timeless songs like Gloria, Browned Eyed Girl, Jackie Wilson Said and And It Stoned Me, to his duet with Cliff Richard in the 1980s, Whenever God Shines His Light. It's hard to pick favourites from the abundance of quality songs collected here, but personally I most love Queen Of The Slipstream, And It Stoned Me, Jackie Wilson Said, Have I Told You lately and Gloria, a song that was covered by Patti Smith. All the styles of Van are covered here: Celtic soul, inspirational rock, moving ballads, soulful gospel, raunchy R&B and bubbly pop. These are all gems, songs with poetic lyrics and unforgettable melodies, all infused with true spirit. This impressive compilation would be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Astral Weeks/Moondance/His Band and The Street Choir

by: Van Morrison

Release Date June 09, 2008
This Best Of is a seamless compilation of Morrison's earlier work, from the bouncy Bright Side Of The Road through timeless songs like Gloria, Browned Eyed Girl, Jackie Wilson Said and And It Stoned Me, to his duet with Cliff Richard in the 1980s, Whenever God Shines His Light. It's hard to pick favourites from the abundance of quality songs collected here, but personally I most love Queen Of The Slipstream, And It Stoned Me, Jackie Wilson Said, Have I Told You lately and Gloria, a song that was covered by Patti Smith. All the styles of Van are covered here: Celtic soul, inspirational rock, moving ballads, soulful gospel, raunchy R&B and bubbly pop. These are all gems, songs with poetic lyrics and unforgettable melodies, all infused with true spirit. This impressive compilation would be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Common One

by: Van Morrison

Release Date July 07, 2008
This masterpiece has been enhanced by the addition of two alternative versions of original tracks. The deeply spiritual music is comparable to the hymns of medieval visionaries. Summertime In England, whence the album title is drawn, is a magnificent devotional piece with complex but oh so beautiful instrumentation and soulful vocals.

Van's brand of funky soul emerges in Satisfied with its jazzy saxophones over a brooding rhythm track, whilst the ballad Wild Honey shows Morrison at his bucolic best. The uplifting track Spirit is very uplifting and inspirational; it reminds me of a stirring song with the same title by The Waterboys.

I suspect that the awesome but gentle tour de force When Heart Is Open - which appears in two versions - refers esoterically to the opening ... Read More: