Really appreciate this post, and of course our Mr. Morrison, a person with guts and talent to spare. Van's contribution to the arts resembles a form of 'service to a higher order' in a number of instances, which lends him a status that kindles yet more respect. The artist has proven his worth many times over, simply an incredible legacy. Thanks for this fine piece, Tom.
Van Morrison has been my all time favorite artist for over 50 years. Some of his songs make my blood happy as it courses through my veins. The lyrics, the fabulous music and his vocals- he’s very blessed. And I feel blessed listening to him. Thank you for a great article on an artist who has had a considerable impact on my life. An old boyfriend went to see Van M. Perform Astral Weeks at the Hollywood Bowl and I’ve been jealous ever since…
Thank you so much for your evocative comment! I saw the ASTRAL WEEKS tour at The Theater in Madison Square Garden (originally the Felt Forum) in February 2009. It was a good show but not the best of the times I've seen him; that would be 13 October 2007 at the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights (Reverend Ike's old church!), NYC:
Van's band at the time was mostly black jazz artists, and the crowd very mixed and knowledgable of the more obscure material and covers. Van was in good spirits and we got TWO encores, which is very rare and the only time I've seen him give more than one (I've also seen him give zero, and once a very short insult, less than two minutes of "Send in the Clowns" before stalking off-stage and gone). Only time the show's gone more than two hours, too, IIRC.
Washington Heights' United Palace Theatre is amazing, incidentally. It's worth seeing a show there no matter what or who is performing if you are in the Manhattan area. It was originally the Loew's 175th Street Theatre, and is renown for its distinctively opulent and ornate interior design, as well as being the last of Loew's "Wonder Theatres" that were built in NYC and NJ between 1925 and 1930. When I lived in Weehawken, I saw a few old films at the Loews Wonder Theatre in Jersey City summer 2010 during weekend revivals and the place was amazing but also without air conditioning and sweltering and one night it got so bad we left before the movie ended. Still a phenomenal piece of architecture nearly a century old. Thank you again for your comment!
I've followed Van over the years first seeing him live, along with my girlfriend (still together) with his Caledonian Soul Orchestra at Birmingham Town Hall, which the power of t'internet tells me was the 22nd July 1973. The internet also tells me that was 51 years, 11 months and 3 days ago. So a fair old time.
I've dipped in and out of his career over the years seeing him in some smallish venues and also sharing the bill with Bob Dylan. I think the thing to say is that he has always been his own man and done what he wants. At times he can be infuriating (I have that confirmed on good authority from a musician I knew who was playing with him at Glastonbury one year.) At times he has turned out some shite, but at least it's his shite. But when he is on form I agree he is the best.
I gave this a listen on Spotify and likewise found it reminding me of the 'old Van'. My only comment is I did find one or two tracks in there that felt very much like 'fillers' to me.. Personally I'd give it 8 out of 10. I'll probably actually buy it (a rarity these days for me)
I haven't followed him much in the last 10 years or so but have to give him kudos for calling out the Covid and subsequent nonsense. Great to find someone actually thinking for themselves these days.
Years ago, producer Don Was said CDs were diminishing albums and artists' quality because they gave artists up to 80 minutes, unlike the trimmer 45-50 minutes maxx for a LP. If you were to cut the 68 minute/14 songs REMEMBERING NOW down to, say, the same 38 minutes/10 songs length as MOONDANCE, you'd have an amazing album — I just created it in my head and it's pretty stacked.
I've seen Van more than any other artist, but not until nearly two decades after your first show (1990, the ENLIGHTENMENT album tour); he's never been less than okay and a couple times transcendently good. Band is always top-flight. He's certainly always been his own man, for better and for worse; he might've caught a ton of flack and pushback during the Covid con job, but he's sitting pretty now.
To reiterate the review, the new album is solid, worth attention, and it's always good to be on the Zeitgeist of what's current if you choose to buy it. But artistically that double album from 2021 during Covid is killer stuff: The jazzy, staccato "He's Not the Kingpin" is probably my fave, but "Double Agent" is a pop song good as "Domino"; "Stop Bitching, Do Something" can fairly stand next to punky rants from 1966 Them; the daring insults "Why Are You On Facebook?" and "They Control the Media" are the rebel songs real rock'n'roll used to bang out; on and on, 28 tracks for $15 on Amazon, deal of a lifetime!
Otherwise, thank you so much for your comment! I appreciate your musical memory and contemporary perspectives!
Thank you for re-introducing me to Van Morrison. I stopped buying music in the late 80's and stopped listening to the radio about the same time- according to radio programmers, Mr. Morrison only made a half dozen songs. I'm listening to 'Remembering Now' and enjoying it.
That is a "Wonderful Remark" (to cite a Van Morrison single from 1983)!
Best/Most Mainstream Accessible Van Morrison albums, should you choose to explore further: MOONDANCE, INTO THE MUSIC, DAYS LIKE THIS and my personal favorite although it's far from mainstream COMMON ONE.
Plus of course there's the always safe bet BEST OF VAN MORRISON, by far his biggest seller, 8x Platinum just in the USA, and 80 straight minutes of classic songs.
Either way, I am grateful for your comment and hope you get much entertainment enjoyment from Van the Man. I write in hopes of broadening the cultural awareness and enjoyment of my fellow human beings of worthy creative artists; getting word of such success makes my day, truly. Thank you again!
Never really was a fan of Van Morrison or Clapton, but they deserve so much respect for speaking out against the vaxx. Rod Stewart went the opposite way and now seems to be dying.
The difference between Van Morrison and Eric Clapton is that Van the Man figured it out by doing his own investigation and not taking the word of the authorities. Eric Clapton is more of a tragic figure where he had to personally experience vaccine damage before realizing he'd been hoodwinked by the Establishment.
Worse for Rod Stewart than being an old millionaire rock star who's led a wild life dying is the fact his young kids (his wife is 30 years his junior) have had health problems since their parents forced the mRNA vaxx on them.
The most accessible front-to-back album from Van Morrison is probably MOONDANCE. If you don't even like that one, I'm not sure we can still be friends. ;-) We can stay allies to save America, though! Thanks for your cogent comment.
O wow! You mean Van the Man's 80th birthday celebration/concert that caps & completes his 2025 tour in Belfast end of August?!? That would be GLORIA-OUS. Maybe I'll join you... ;-)
TODAY, June 26th, Neil Young is doing one of those three shows with Van: The most interesting one IMHO, a rare live concert at the 12th Century Malahide Castle, outside Dublin. Seems to be for Ireland's farmers, that's probably why Van is on board; he has become more of an activist for the Irish the past few years. Thank you for your comment!
Really appreciate this post, and of course our Mr. Morrison, a person with guts and talent to spare. Van's contribution to the arts resembles a form of 'service to a higher order' in a number of instances, which lends him a status that kindles yet more respect. The artist has proven his worth many times over, simply an incredible legacy. Thanks for this fine piece, Tom.
Thank you so much, Kristin!
Van Morrison has been my all time favorite artist for over 50 years. Some of his songs make my blood happy as it courses through my veins. The lyrics, the fabulous music and his vocals- he’s very blessed. And I feel blessed listening to him. Thank you for a great article on an artist who has had a considerable impact on my life. An old boyfriend went to see Van M. Perform Astral Weeks at the Hollywood Bowl and I’ve been jealous ever since…
Thank you so much for your evocative comment! I saw the ASTRAL WEEKS tour at The Theater in Madison Square Garden (originally the Felt Forum) in February 2009. It was a good show but not the best of the times I've seen him; that would be 13 October 2007 at the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights (Reverend Ike's old church!), NYC:
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/van-morrison/2007/united-palace-theatre-new-york-ny-23ddc453.html
Van's band at the time was mostly black jazz artists, and the crowd very mixed and knowledgable of the more obscure material and covers. Van was in good spirits and we got TWO encores, which is very rare and the only time I've seen him give more than one (I've also seen him give zero, and once a very short insult, less than two minutes of "Send in the Clowns" before stalking off-stage and gone). Only time the show's gone more than two hours, too, IIRC.
Washington Heights' United Palace Theatre is amazing, incidentally. It's worth seeing a show there no matter what or who is performing if you are in the Manhattan area. It was originally the Loew's 175th Street Theatre, and is renown for its distinctively opulent and ornate interior design, as well as being the last of Loew's "Wonder Theatres" that were built in NYC and NJ between 1925 and 1930. When I lived in Weehawken, I saw a few old films at the Loews Wonder Theatre in Jersey City summer 2010 during weekend revivals and the place was amazing but also without air conditioning and sweltering and one night it got so bad we left before the movie ended. Still a phenomenal piece of architecture nearly a century old. Thank you again for your comment!
I've followed Van over the years first seeing him live, along with my girlfriend (still together) with his Caledonian Soul Orchestra at Birmingham Town Hall, which the power of t'internet tells me was the 22nd July 1973. The internet also tells me that was 51 years, 11 months and 3 days ago. So a fair old time.
I've dipped in and out of his career over the years seeing him in some smallish venues and also sharing the bill with Bob Dylan. I think the thing to say is that he has always been his own man and done what he wants. At times he can be infuriating (I have that confirmed on good authority from a musician I knew who was playing with him at Glastonbury one year.) At times he has turned out some shite, but at least it's his shite. But when he is on form I agree he is the best.
I gave this a listen on Spotify and likewise found it reminding me of the 'old Van'. My only comment is I did find one or two tracks in there that felt very much like 'fillers' to me.. Personally I'd give it 8 out of 10. I'll probably actually buy it (a rarity these days for me)
I haven't followed him much in the last 10 years or so but have to give him kudos for calling out the Covid and subsequent nonsense. Great to find someone actually thinking for themselves these days.
Cheers for the review.
Years ago, producer Don Was said CDs were diminishing albums and artists' quality because they gave artists up to 80 minutes, unlike the trimmer 45-50 minutes maxx for a LP. If you were to cut the 68 minute/14 songs REMEMBERING NOW down to, say, the same 38 minutes/10 songs length as MOONDANCE, you'd have an amazing album — I just created it in my head and it's pretty stacked.
I've seen Van more than any other artist, but not until nearly two decades after your first show (1990, the ENLIGHTENMENT album tour); he's never been less than okay and a couple times transcendently good. Band is always top-flight. He's certainly always been his own man, for better and for worse; he might've caught a ton of flack and pushback during the Covid con job, but he's sitting pretty now.
To reiterate the review, the new album is solid, worth attention, and it's always good to be on the Zeitgeist of what's current if you choose to buy it. But artistically that double album from 2021 during Covid is killer stuff: The jazzy, staccato "He's Not the Kingpin" is probably my fave, but "Double Agent" is a pop song good as "Domino"; "Stop Bitching, Do Something" can fairly stand next to punky rants from 1966 Them; the daring insults "Why Are You On Facebook?" and "They Control the Media" are the rebel songs real rock'n'roll used to bang out; on and on, 28 tracks for $15 on Amazon, deal of a lifetime!
Otherwise, thank you so much for your comment! I appreciate your musical memory and contemporary perspectives!
Thank you for re-introducing me to Van Morrison. I stopped buying music in the late 80's and stopped listening to the radio about the same time- according to radio programmers, Mr. Morrison only made a half dozen songs. I'm listening to 'Remembering Now' and enjoying it.
That is a "Wonderful Remark" (to cite a Van Morrison single from 1983)!
Best/Most Mainstream Accessible Van Morrison albums, should you choose to explore further: MOONDANCE, INTO THE MUSIC, DAYS LIKE THIS and my personal favorite although it's far from mainstream COMMON ONE.
Plus of course there's the always safe bet BEST OF VAN MORRISON, by far his biggest seller, 8x Platinum just in the USA, and 80 straight minutes of classic songs.
Either way, I am grateful for your comment and hope you get much entertainment enjoyment from Van the Man. I write in hopes of broadening the cultural awareness and enjoyment of my fellow human beings of worthy creative artists; getting word of such success makes my day, truly. Thank you again!
Never really was a fan of Van Morrison or Clapton, but they deserve so much respect for speaking out against the vaxx. Rod Stewart went the opposite way and now seems to be dying.
The difference between Van Morrison and Eric Clapton is that Van the Man figured it out by doing his own investigation and not taking the word of the authorities. Eric Clapton is more of a tragic figure where he had to personally experience vaccine damage before realizing he'd been hoodwinked by the Establishment.
Worse for Rod Stewart than being an old millionaire rock star who's led a wild life dying is the fact his young kids (his wife is 30 years his junior) have had health problems since their parents forced the mRNA vaxx on them.
The most accessible front-to-back album from Van Morrison is probably MOONDANCE. If you don't even like that one, I'm not sure we can still be friends. ;-) We can stay allies to save America, though! Thanks for your cogent comment.
Your last name's Siebert?
I promise, yes!
O wow! You mean Van the Man's 80th birthday celebration/concert that caps & completes his 2025 tour in Belfast end of August?!? That would be GLORIA-OUS. Maybe I'll join you... ;-)
TODAY, June 26th, Neil Young is doing one of those three shows with Van: The most interesting one IMHO, a rare live concert at the 12th Century Malahide Castle, outside Dublin. Seems to be for Ireland's farmers, that's probably why Van is on board; he has become more of an activist for the Irish the past few years. Thank you for your comment!