Category Archives: VAN MORRISON

VAN MORRISON Part 10 – Astral Weak? / In Conclusion

Posted on May 1, 2011 by

I’ve spent most of the last month listening to Van Morrison’s catalog numerous times. It’s been really enjoyable getting to know these CDs that have been sitting on my shelves for so long, and I saved what many fans & … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 9 – A Magic Time In The New Millennium

Posted on April 18, 2011 by

Van Morrison released 8 albums in the first decade of the new millennium. Since this corresponded with a period where I was less of a completist than in the past, I’m actually missing 3 of these albums. One of them, … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 8 – Philosopher Stoned At The End Of The 1990’s

Posted on April 14, 2011 by

In the last half of the ‘90s, Van Morrison released four new albums as well as a 2-CD rarities compilation. He continued to cover the same musical ground as usual, with a couple of small tweaks to keep his fans … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 7 – Enlightened In The First Half Of The 1990’s

Posted on April 11, 2011 by

When Van Morrison began the 1990’s, he had been a recording artist for over 25 years. In that time he covered a lot of musical ground, and went from being a popular million-selling hit maker with gold & platinum records … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 6 – An Irishman In The Second Half Of The 1980’s

Posted on April 8, 2011 by

For No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), the now 40-year-old was feeling nostalgic for his younger years on the first song, “Got To Go Back.” Lyrically it’s pleasant, but the muted production doesn’t do the song any favors. He … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 5 – An Irishman In The First Half Of The 1980’s

Posted on April 6, 2011 by

The 1980’s were not a great decade in Van Morrison’s career, although he was prolific, releasing 8 studio albums (including a collaboration with The Chieftains) and 1 live album. On my first pass through these albums this past week, I … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 4 – Closing Out The ’70s

Posted on April 1, 2011 by

As I approached the five studio albums (and one live album) that Van Morrison released between 1973 and 1979…the years immediately following his run of commercial and artistic success which concluded with 1972’s Saint Dominic’s Preview…I was unsure of what … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 3 – The Early Warner Bros. Years (1970-1972)

Posted on March 29, 2011 by

All great artists have at least one period in their career where almost everything they touch turns to gold, and if it occurs when they’re young it usually allows them to pursue a singular path through the rest of their … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 2 – The Big “Bang”

Posted on March 28, 2011 by

The earliest Van Morrison “album” I own is Bang Masters (Epic/Legacy 1991). The reason I placed “album” in quotes is that these recordings were never designed to be a proper album. By 1967 Van had left his R&B group Them, … Continue reading →

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VAN MORRISON Part 1 – Thoughts On An Artist

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

I must have heard Van Morrison for the first time when I was very young, maybe 6 or 7. It was probably “Moondance” or “Wild Night,” the only songs that would’ve been played on the Top 40 radio stations at … Continue reading →

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