Do Love the Caledonian Soul Orchestra. What i've heard from him live from around that time has been pretty great, as long as the sound is good.
he's pretty good throughout '74 too I think. Though CSO cease to be sometime during that.
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 27 April 2016 16:15 (seven years ago) link
yeah i find myself wondering about all the people who played w/ van during this time ... how good they are, and how they seem to disappear after van gives them the boot!
― tylerw, Wednesday, 27 April 2016 16:17 (seven years ago) link
Revival of this thread finally got me to some of the music linked from Tyler's great blog, like the sets in this post (though better to do Google Advanced Search than tumblr's own search semi-function)http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/77389633507/van-morrison-live-at-the-lions-share-san
― dow, Wednesday, 27 April 2016 16:35 (seven years ago) link
― tylerw, Wednesday, April 27, 2016 12:17 PM (45 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Ha, yeah, the last time I listened to it I thought, hm, ok, these are obviously big-deal players, wonder who they are? Didn't recognize a single name.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 27 April 2016 17:04 (seven years ago) link
yeah, i assume a lot of 'em in the early to mid-70s are bay area session dudes ... maybe i'm just looking in the wrong places for them. would be interesting to read an oral history from van's sidemen. i imagine some of it wouldn't be pretty.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 27 April 2016 17:11 (seven years ago) link
Oh well yknow Morrison had some well-known jazz musicians (and Ronnie Montrose) on previous albums, but the only name that comes to mind re mid-70s Caledonia Soul is John Platania, who also played with Raitt, Newman, a bunch of others back then, and even got back with Van for the 2000s live album verion of Astral Weeks---how is that, btw??
― dow, Thursday, 28 April 2016 01:05 (seven years ago) link
i've never heard that live astral weeks ... not sure if i really want to.
― tylerw, Friday, 29 April 2016 21:15 (seven years ago) link
new album sounds good!
― niels, Sunday, 16 October 2016 17:39 (seven years ago) link
Van still seems very cranky, though:http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/van-morrison-on-blues-roots-rock-roll-bulls--t-w441824
― niels, Sunday, 16 October 2016 17:40 (seven years ago) link
what's new
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 October 2016 17:54 (seven years ago) link
Exactly
― Special Derrida Blues (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 16 October 2016 18:38 (seven years ago) link
i like the new one a lot, v autumnal
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 16 October 2016 20:39 (seven years ago) link
Cranky or not looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night in SF.
― that's not my post, Sunday, 16 October 2016 20:45 (seven years ago) link
Cool, let us know how it goes!
― niels, Sunday, 16 October 2016 21:29 (seven years ago) link
Is there still now news about the reissue of the cd catalogue?Was really hoping to get at least the early 70s studio stuff.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 16 October 2016 21:37 (seven years ago) link
The Van show at Davies Symphony Hall in SF was fantastic. His voice has held up amazingly well. Hardly said boo to the audience and when he did talk it was mostly mumbles. Some of the lyrics were mumbly as well. But no bother, the band was hot and Van was there to preach.
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 18 October 2016 05:53 (seven years ago) link
damn str8, I'll make sure to catch him next time he's in Denmark (tho tickets are v v expensive...)
apparently he needs the money
― niels, Wednesday, 19 October 2016 16:48 (seven years ago) link
does he really? that is too bad -- I just assume that these older dudes with huge catalogs are pretty well off at the end of the day. But I guess it all depends on a bunch of factors.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 19 October 2016 17:44 (seven years ago) link
I'm sure he's not poor, but probably not swimming in cash either. And if I were Van, I would be cranky too...imagine getting screwed out of the royalties for Brown Eyed Girl.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 19 October 2016 18:03 (seven years ago) link
yeah that song has to be one of the most played tracks of the past 50 years -- he really makes zero dollars off it?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 19 October 2016 18:08 (seven years ago) link
I don't know about zero, but he definitely got a small percentage of what it earned. I recall seeing somewhere that it's the single most downloaded song of the entire 1960s.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 19 October 2016 18:57 (seven years ago) link
Don't know about royalties for Brown Eyed Girl but there are plenty of interviews where he talks about being dead broke in the late 60s. Astral Weeks, no surprise, wasn't much of a seller. Said he did Moondance to make some $$. At the show on Monday he was at his best singing the blues.
― that's not my post, Thursday, 20 October 2016 05:23 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, I think Astral Weeks only took off after a couple of years.
The early 70s stuff is great, so wish they would come along with the cd reissues if they're happening. Not sure why I didn't get St Dominic's Preview in the last remaster. Probably thought it would be around for a while so prioritised other stuff. Then next time I looked for it it was gone, seemed like that 00ies series of reissues disappeared over night. Also looks like it might not have got as far as SDP while I definitely got Veedon Fleece and It's Too Late To Stop Now in it
― Stevolende, Thursday, 20 October 2016 08:01 (seven years ago) link
xpost If Van Morrison is really having financial problems then he's either very careless with his money or he's got the worst manager ever. He's had a ton of songs covered by other artists and featured in big movies. He's got to be raking in royalties. "Brown Eyed Girl" was a long time ago.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 20 October 2016 14:32 (seven years ago) link
It's on the internet so it must be true. http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/van-morrison-net-worth/
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 20 October 2016 14:37 (seven years ago) link
More like a couple of decades, I think. I recall a 1987 issue of RS saying it had sold fewer than 100,000 copies.
But hey, Van, I bet if you released that 1968 live version of Astral Weeks that Peter Wolf has tapes of, that'd bring in some cash. Just sayin'.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 20 October 2016 14:57 (seven years ago) link
He may be down to his last million. I can't believe he needs the money. Jazzbo otm.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 October 2016 15:00 (seven years ago) link
You have a drive to do this – writing, recording, touring – your own way.It's not a drive. It's what I do. It's like Robbie Robertson said to me: "It's like breathing." I've been doing a lot of touring in the past several years because I need the money. I was running out of money, paying for a lot of stuff. I had to go out there again.
― niels, Thursday, 20 October 2016 15:53 (seven years ago) link
I think the renown for Astral Weeks came a long way before 87. It was on a few Best of all time lists a while before that.I've heard that it was popular on the hippy trail in the early 70s
I got a copy on Original Rock Classics sometime in the mid 80s, or slightly earlier that I've just seen came out in 74. Would think that indicated that whatever label thought it worthy of release in that form recognised it was likely to sell.
Would like to hear that 68 live set. Have enjoyed the early 70s ones I've heard.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 20 October 2016 16:07 (seven years ago) link
yeah, it must've been highly esteemed at some point (see Lester Bangs' Stranded essay), but probably only became a "major" record in the CD era.
― tylerw, Thursday, 20 October 2016 16:08 (seven years ago) link
Kicked your gift-horse in the teethCrowd gathered round in the streetYou killed your saviour new one can't be foundTalk is cheap your saviour's highway bound
― brimstead, Saturday, 29 October 2016 21:07 (seven years ago) link
I gotta rep for "inarticulate speech of the heart" as far as 80s van goes. immense album.― blank, Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:39 PM (four years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― blank, Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:39 PM (four years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
This is my favorite Van, his "Avalon"
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 22 January 2017 15:09 (seven years ago) link
My list of hi sthirty-two best.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 01:59 (six years ago) link
Hmmm. You've got some great ones on there no doubt. But I'm a petty, small minded man and I need to say it.
No Saint Dominic's Preview, no Astral Weeks, no credibility. Those are my 2 favorite Van songs. Almost Independence Day is up there too.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 03:45 (six years ago) link
"Common One" kicks ass!
― Carlotta's Portrait (Ross), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 06:56 (six years ago) link
underrated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwIT0mVLTZM
― Carlotta's Portrait (Ross), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 06:59 (six years ago) link
Finally got the vol 2,3,4 ITLTSN cos I found it cheap on Amazon. It looks to be standard £5+ cheaper than it was btw, I got for even less.But still hoping more early stuff gets reissued. Has anybody heard anything about that?
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 12 April 2017 07:34 (six years ago) link
Next reish appears to be an "Authorized" collection of the Bang Records stuff.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 April 2017 07:51 (six years ago) link
days before rock n roll on radio atm at work
have we ever polled 'worse tracks in history?' asking for a friend
― spud called maris (darraghmac), Friday, 19 May 2017 10:55 (six years ago) link
the new record will perhaps not be a very original statement, but I'm enjoying the singles so far - this Goin' to Chicago version is cool:https://open.spotify.com/track/4u9Xyg324bx3c5ZfZMhtlm
― niels, Wednesday, 13 September 2017 12:18 (six years ago) link
But the most thrilling moment on the record is when its volume suddenly drops for “Goin’ to Chicago,” so that it sounds as if Morrison, Georgie Fame, and Chris Hill—who plucks the walking bassline which forms the song’s spine—are exchanging simple melodic ideas in the uncrowded air. Morrison sings, “Goin’ to Chicago/So sorry that I can’t take you,” and then Fame, his vocal a liquid counterpoint to Morrison’s more inflexible and geologic formations, sings, “I come from Chi-town, Chi-town is my town,” and the effect is lovely, two powerful vocalists tracing and retracing each other’s phrases just as they start to evaporate from the arrangement.
nice, brad!
― niels, Saturday, 30 September 2017 14:31 (six years ago) link
oh thanks! i was nervous about that review bc i wish i liked the record more
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Saturday, 30 September 2017 14:58 (six years ago) link
Another album of standards due out next month:http://www.recordstore.co.uk/recordstore/Out-in-December/Versatile/5PKS0EAN000
― Ari (whenuweremine), Sunday, 5 November 2017 17:17 (six years ago) link
haha, taking the Dylan route
― niels, Sunday, 5 November 2017 19:03 (six years ago) link
Weird that this thread would be bumped right now. I'm very into A Period of Transition today.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 5 November 2017 19:10 (six years ago) link
"out in the cold again" from last year's keep me singing is really nice.
In between the times where it feels alright. To the dead of the cold black night
― brimstead, Monday, 4 December 2017 22:48 (six years ago) link
i've a feeling van does not gaf about album title anymore, he already told us born to sing: no plan b why do we have to 'keep him singing' now
― brimstead, Monday, 4 December 2017 22:50 (six years ago) link
Next year he'll release I Have an Album Out.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 5 December 2017 01:25 (six years ago) link
To be followed up by "$16.99 At Barnes & Noble"
― Never Learn To Mike Love (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 5 December 2017 02:12 (six years ago) link
if only! I bough a lot of obscure Rykodisc shit at B&N.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 5 December 2017 02:15 (six years ago) link