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Rating: ****
(4 stars)
Title: Blowin'
Your Mind
Company: Bang
Catalog: BLP-218
Year: 1967
Grade
(cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: small
punch out hole in middle of LP; mono pressing
Available: 1
Price: $30.00
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Having left Them in mid-1966 on the heels of a brutal American tour (see separate entry), singer Van Morrison returned to his native Dublin, Ireland. Having previously worked with Them, producer Bert Berns learning that Morrison had quit the group. He contacted Morrison offering a one way airline ticket to New York and an offer to finance a series of four singles. With nothing to lose Morrison accepted the offer. Signed to Berns' newly formed Bang label, the duo's first release was the single "Brown Eyed Girl" b/w "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" (Bang catalog number B 545). A massive radio hit, the track promptly went top-10, in the process creating a wave of controversy. In the wake of criticism that the original lyric was obscene (hard to image folks got upset over the phrase "making love in the green grass, behind the stadium" and "my how you've grown"), Bang released subsequent versions of the album with a censored lyric.
Unknown to Morrison, in the wake of the single's success, producer Berns cobbled together material from the earlier sessions, releasing 1967's
"Blowin' Your Mind". Given it's ragtag origins the set was surprisingly strong and entertaining. A reflection of different agendas, musically the album wasn't particularly consistent. Berns' interest in commercial success was clear on tracks such as "Brown Eyed Girl", "Spanish Rose", "Ro Ro Rosey" and the rocking "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)". In contrast, tracks such as the dark and disturbing "T.B. Sheets", "Midnight Special" (almost a nod to his Them R&B roots) and "Who Drove the Red Sports Car" found Morrison taking tentative steps towards a more experimental (and personal) genre. In spite of occasional lapses, it's still one of our favorite Morrison LPs. Boosted the earlier single, the album eventually hit #182. Unhappy with the album; disappointed with Berns' willingness to capitulate to censorship and unhappy with Berns' ongoing pressure for a continued commercial approach, Morrison balked at recording a follow up. Holding a signed contract, Bern's responded by threatening to release another Morrison collection without the artist's approval. Ironically, before the issue could be settled Berns died of an unexpected heart attack. His death left Morrison (then living in
Massachusetts), free of his contract and free to renegotiate a new deal.
"Blowin' Your Mind" track listing:
1.) Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison) - 3:03
2.) He Ain't Give You None (Van Morrison) - 5:13
3.) T.B. Sheets (Van Morrison) - 9:44
4.) Spanish Rose (Van Morrison) - 3:06
5.) Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) (Bert Berns - Wes Farrell) - 2:57
6.) Ro Ro Rosey (Van Morrison) - 3:03
7.) Who Drove the Red Sports Car (Van Morrison) - 5:35
8.) Midnight Special - 2:51
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Rating: *****
(5 stars)
Title: Astral
Weeks
Company: Warner
Brothers
Catalog: WS
1768
Year: 1968
Grade
(cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold
sleeve
Available: 2
Price: $25.00
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Effectively stranded in the States, virtually penniless and left without a record contract, Morrison started shopping around for a contract, eventually finding a mentor in the form of executive Joe South who signed him to Warner Brothers. According to legend, working with producer Lewis
Merenstein, Morrison recorded his label debut "Astral
Weeks" in two days. Regardless of the time invested in the studio, the resulting collection stands as nothing less than a classic '70s album. While the set isn't particularly commercial (you can't label it a rock set), the combination of Morrison's unrestrained,
freewheeling jazz influenced vocals and the music's seductive, mystical Celtic qualities combine for an album which is simply amazing. Apparently largely autobiographical (though the lyrics are vague), material such as the title track, "Madame George" (move over Ray Davis and Lola) and "Slim Slow Slider" (ah, another drug dealer tale) is both musically and lyrically dense and challenging (no you're not
gonna' hear this on your local top-40 station). Anyone expecting catchy top-40 melodies had to be disappointed by these eight
extended tracks. The thing is, if you can focus the time and effort required to get into the album, it's well worth the investment ! Simply a wonderful LP ... In spite of strong reviews, the set failed to chart in either the States or the UK.
"Astral Weeks" track listing:
1.) Astral Weeks (Van Morrison) - 7:00
2.) Beside You (Van Morrison) - 5:10
3.) Sweet Thing (Van Morrison) - 4:10
4.) Cyprus Avenue (Van Morrison) - 6:50
5.) The Way Young Lovers Do (Van Morrison) - 3:10
6.) Madame George (Van Morrison) - 9:25
7.) Ballerina (Van Morrison) - 7:00
8.) Slim Slow Slider (Van Morrison) - 3:20
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Rating: ***
(3 stars)
Title: The
Best of Van Morrison
Company: Bang
Catalog: BPS
222
Year: 1967
Grade
(cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: minor
ring wear
Available: --
Price: SOLD
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In the wake of Morrison's critical and commercial success, Bang Records reached into its archives releasing
1967's "Best of Van Morrison". The lineup pulled together five tracks from the debut, adding
five previously unreleased Morrison tracks. Like the first Bang LP, this one was released without Morrison's consent. It's interesting for the unreleased material.
"Best of Van Morrison" track listing:
1.) Spanish Rose - 3:09
2.) It's All Right - 5:04
3.) Send Your Mind - 2:54
4.) The Smile You Smile - 2:55
5.) The Back Room - 5:30
6.) Brown Eyed Girl - 3:0
7.) Goodbye Baby - 2:51
8.) Ro Ro Rosey - 3:07
9.) He Ain't Give You None - 5:11
10.) Joe Harper - 2:53
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Rating: *****
(5 stars)
Title: Moondance
Company: Warner
Brothers
Catalog: WS
1835
Year: 1970
Grade
(cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold
sleeve
Available: 2
Price: $15.00
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Stylistically, Morrison's 1970 follow up "Moondance" was every bit as inspired as the predecessor, though this time he had the common sense to ensure the material was somewhat more mainstream and accessible. His first self-produced effort, the collection offered up a mixture of Morrison's own unique brand of Irish soul, brass arrangements and jazz shadings (particularly on the title track). Overall the album rocked harder than it's predecessor, but still exhibited a smooth and seductive quality (check out the beautiful "And It Stoned Me"). Lyrically it remained difficult to get a handle on Morrison's interests; selections such as "Brand New Day" and "Into The Mystic" (the latter one of his prettiest efforts), seemingly exploring the concept of
spirituality and personal redemption ??? A return to the charts, the set hit #29 in the States. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"Moondance" track listing:
1.) And It Stoned Me (Van Morrison) - 4:30
2.) Moondance (Van Morrison) - 4:35
3.) Crazy Love (Van Morrison) - 2:34
4.) Caravan (Van Morrison) - 4:57
5.) Into The Mystic (Van Morrison) - 3:25
6.) Come Running (Van Morrison) - 2:30
7.) These Dreams Of You (Van Morrison) - 3:50
8.) Brand New Day (Van Morrison) - 5:09
9) Everyone (Van Morrison) - 3:31
10.) Glad Tidings (Van Morrison) - 3:13
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Rating: ***
(3 stars)
Title: Hard
Nose To the Highway
Company: Warner
Brothers
Catalog:
Year: 1972
Grade
(cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold
sleeve
Available: 2
Price: $12.00
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Having long reigned as a critics favorite,
1973's "Hard Nose To the Highway"
was the first Morrison album to receive widespread criticism. Perhaps due to
the fact his personal life was in a state of chaos (his marriage to Janet
collapsing amidst a nasty divorce), the majority of the album sounded
rushed. With the exception of the 10 minute ballad "Autumn Song"
(the set's one classic effort), "I Will Be There" and the single
"Warm Love" b/w "Wild Children" Morrison showed little
enthusiasm for his material. (Our nomination for dumbest lyric of the year:
"The pancake house is always open 24 ours a day.") While nowhere
near as consistent as earlier efforts the album still sold well, peaking at
#27. (The collection was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"Hard Nose To the Highway" track listing:
1.) Snow In San Anselmo (Van Morrison) - 4:34
2.) Warm Love (Van Morrison) - 3:22
3.) Hard Nose To the Highway (Van Morrison) -
4.) Wild Children (Van Morrison) - 4:20
5.) The Great Deception (Van Morrison) - 4:51
6.) Green (Joe Raposo) - 4:20
7.) Autumn Song (Van Morrison) - 10:37
8.) Purple Heather (arranged by Van Morrison) - 5:42
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