Van Morrison - Album by Album discussion - PART THREE

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by DJ WILBUR, Feb 29, 2008.

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  1. drewslo

    drewslo Forum Resident

    I forgot to mention that the remix string version of "Meet Me In The Indian Summer" is worth tracking down. It might be on one of the Van collections.
     
  2. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    I'm no longer under the impression that Van has anything to do with his album covers other than a grunt of assent/disdain for ideas presented to him, but the cover for Down the Road was an inspired choice, whoever came up with it. An antiquated record store front carries the same stubborn affection for nostalgia as our Van, even as time appears to have passed it by: Lots of people have written off record stores just as they've written off Van.

    But as Van explains in "The Beauty of Days Gone By"--one of two Instant Van Classics (IVC);) to appear on this particular album--it is the recollection of youthful vigour which sustains us as we age. If we reach back, even as we lurch forward, we can at least head into the unknown bolstered by the remembrance of what it was like to be young. I believe it for this very reason Van, in spite of the general public's Curbach-ian indifference ;) to Van's recent musical excursions, continues to make new music rather than rake in the dough playing casinos. He's not making the music for us, he's doing it to sustain himself. Mark my words, if Van goes two years without releasing an album of new material you can be sure he's deathly ill.

    The other IVC here is "Steal My Heart Away," which is another song that I want to play for the Astral Weeks/Moondance faction who reject the idea that Van hasn't written anything of note in [insert 10, 20, 30] years.

    But there's so much more here. Sneaky Pete wrote eloquently about "Choppin' Wood", and then there's "Evening Shadows", "Meet Me in the Indian Summer"---so many great songs! We really should be thankful he's still cranking out gems like these.
    Okay, big confession, I'm not a fan of "Georgia" -- I just don't like the song, it's got nothing to do with Van, so I could lose that one and be happy, and "Man Has to Struggle" is sort of a less objectionable version of "Why Must I Always Explain?" from Hymns to the Silence---meaning we've heard this melody over and over again. Apart from those minor missteps, this is a wonderful record full of depth and vivid evocations of the past produced by a man fully grounded in the present.

    Like the journey to get to its front door, and the aisles of bins one encounters once inside the few remaining cool record shops out there, Down the Road is a long walk, but there's so much to see and hear along the way that you don't mind at all.
     
    Sneaky Pete likes this.
  3. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    I'm no longer under the impression that Van has anything to do with his album covers other than a grunt of assent/disdain for ideas presented to him, but the cover for Down the Road was an inspired choice, whoever came up with it. An antiquated record store front carries the same stubborn affection for nostalgia as our Van, even as time appears to have passed it by: Lots of people have written off record stores just as they've written off Van.

    But as Van explains in "The Beauty of the Days Gone By"--one of two Instant Van Classics (IVC);) to appear on this particular album--it is the recollection of youthful vigour which sustains us as we age. If we reach back, even as we lurch tentatively forward, we can at least head into the unknown bolstered by the remembrance of what it was like to be young. I believe it for this very reason Van, in spite of the general public's Curbach-ian indifference ;) to Van's recent musical excursions, continues to make new music rather than rake in the dough playing casinos. He's not making the music for us, he's doing it to sustain himself. Mark my words, if Van goes two years without releasing an album of new material you can be sure he's deathly ill.

    The other IVC here is "Steal My Heart Away," which is another song that I want to play for the Astral Weeks/Moondance faction who reject the idea that Van hasn't written anything of note in [insert 10, 20, 30] years.

    But there's so much more here. Sneaky Pete wrote eloquently about "Choppin' Wood", and then there's "Evening Shadows", "Meet Me in the Indian Summer"---so many great songs! We really should be thankful he's still cranking out gems like these.
    Okay, big confession, I'm not a fan of "Georgia" -- it's got nothing to do with Van, I just don't like the song--so I could lose that one and be happy, and "Man Has to Struggle" is sort of a less objectionable version of "Why Must I Always Explain?" from Hymns to the Silence---meaning we've heard this melody over and over again. Apart from those minor missteps, this is a wonderful record full of depth and vivid evocations of the past produced by a man fully grounded in the present.

    Like the journey to get to its front door, and the aisles of bins one encounters once inside the few remaining cool record shops out there, Down the Road is a long walk, but there's so much to see and hear along the way that you don't mind at all.
     
  4. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    :tsk: we can't be friends then....Scandalous....
     
  5. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    ok, you know I'm being a drama queen here....:nauga: but wow, just blow my Ray Charles down...
     
  6. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    If Richard Manuel and Ray couldn't get me to like the song, Van never stood a chance.
    Aw, can't we be buddies anyway?------------->:cheers:
     
  7. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    :laugh:

    I was all worried until I saw the nauga. Whew!
     
  8. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    oh man, I was going to suggest you hear this then...:help:
     
  9. drewslo

    drewslo Forum Resident

    I think Van must have had something to do with the album cover because the albums seem to be such specific personal favorites of his.
    Satchmo: check
    Ray Charles: check
    James Brown, Muddy Waters, Chet Baker, Mose Alison, B.B. King etc etc. check.

    Or they could have made that infamous list of artists Van has namechecked over the years in his songs and based the art on that!
     
  10. curbach

    curbach Some guy on the internet

    Location:
    The ATX
    It is quite an honor to have a variety of indifference named after me. Very fitting. I am now confident that my life has indeed been worth living :nyah:
     
  11. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    ;):thumbsup:
    A suitably Curbachian response.
     
  12. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    we're up to four reviews/posts on this one, not bad in 24+ hours:rolleyes: thank you to the members taking the time to contribute.

    ...seems we're losing bodies album by album...shall we move on this weekend then Tom? I'm getting to the place where I'd like this thread to be, as the stones once sang; "Just a memory"....

    we've done our time...."What's Wrong With This Picture"? :confused:
     
  13. dee

    dee Senior Member

    Location:
    ft. lauderdale, fl
    Went to the local Borders with the idea of buying Down The Road with the 40% off coupon, but they didn't have it in stock. I tried.
     
  14. albert_m

    albert_m Forum Resident

    Location:
    Atl., Ga, USA
    Down the Road is a fine album that touches most of the bases of Van’s influences. Even though the album cover is simple, it’s a great cover by Van standards and really says what this one is about too.

    I’ll start by saying that I like the song Georgia on My Mind, but Van’s version is not a highlight for me. No it’s doesn’t have to be Ray (listen to Steve Tyrell do a fine version, but then again he does great on most standards…)

    The title song covers familiar territory. It’s no classic, but it’s well done (I thought it would be a good album closer though)

    Only a Dream and Hey Mr DJ are both very good 60’s style soul tunes.
    For me, these two and The Beauty of Days Gone By are my favorites on this one. Solomon Burke does a good cover of Dream it’s worth noting.

    We get the usual touch of country, jazz and blues as well. What makes this album work for me is the variety. I prefer the soul, as the other styles he performs less consistently, but largely does well in this effort.
     
  15. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    the sign of the times these days, I never find any cd's I want a retail stores, and seemingly the only cd I bought in a "building" in 2008 was in a Starbucks....:sigh:
     
  16. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    Before I'm drummed out of this thread for conduct unbecoming, let me say that I respect and appreciate 'Georgia' as the standard it is, it's just not one of my personal favourite songs, that's all.
    Just one of my many foibles that makes me such a complex individual.;) :laugh:

    There are no Heylin references available because the book ends in 2001.
     
  17. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter


    i'm banging the drum....dig that hole deeper there dear old Tommy boy!!!:winkgrin:
     
  18. curbach

    curbach Some guy on the internet

    Location:
    The ATX
    If only Gene Clark had covered the song, I'm sure he'd be on board. But to be honest, it's not one of my favorite songs either :shh:
     
  19. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    :laugh:
    Oh, well, that's entirely different, you see.

    He did cover 'In the Pines,' which mentions Georgia, I believe.;)
     
  20. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    :laugh:
     
  21. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    Yeah, he's got my number.
    I believe the appropriate phrase at a time like this, my dear curbach, is touche.:laugh:
     
  22. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    you got curbach on your mind...
     
  23. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    Scheduling note:
    We'll be moving on to Van's 2003's Blue Note release, What's Wrong with This Picture? tomorrow.
     
  24. DJ WILBUR

    DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Thread Starter

    where we will surely dissect what is wrong with it!
     
  25. curbach

    curbach Some guy on the internet

    Location:
    The ATX
    Oh, yes. Some of us will :angel:
     
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