26×26 – V is for Van Morrison
I found Van’s music a little late in life. It’s Too Late To Stop Now was the first record of his I heard. It’s a legendary live album, recorded in 1973 at concerts in LA, Santa Monica and at The Rainbow in London. It’s completely brilliant.
Before I make further comment on it, let me tell you a tale.
He’s a curmudgeonly old chap, is Van. You could argue he’s earned the right to be, with the classic material he’s put out over the years. He’s a legend, and he can do as he pleases. The times I’ve seen him in concert I was seeking the It’s Too Late To Stop Now experience, and I did get it, once, with a classic band led by Georgie Fame following Mr Morrison’s every move, sympathetic to the cause. Two hours of transcendent genius.
But the other times? A distracted, often grumpy Van and a parade of unnecessary ‘guest stars’ (if I want to hear Brian Kennedy sing Tupelo Honey I’ll go and see Brian Kennedy). Richard Gere on guitar one night. You think that sounds weird? It was. And not in a good way.
However, when Van is ‘on’, he’s really ON. It’s Too Late To Stop Now is the best officially released example of that: a storming collection of blues and soul classics (from Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Bobby Bland and more) plus eleven Morrison originals, belted out by The Man himself on top form. All his on-stage energy is constructive, not destructive, and he throws himself into the music. He’s backed by the superb Caledonia Soul Orchestra (eleven of them, including horns and strings). All the excitement of the original gigs is translated onto vinyl. All killer, no filler.
During the dramatic ten-minute-plus Cyprus Avenue which closes the album, the band drops back for a second, maybe summoning some last reserves of energy to really bring it home.. and some wag in the crowd dares to shout “Turn it on!”. With impeccable timing, the perfect amount of dramatic tension – will he reply? won’t he? – Morrison snaps back “It’s turned on already”.
Is it ever.
P.S. I could have just as easily written about: The Velvet Underground and the album The Velvet Underground
Wonder what W will be?
N.B. Van is assiduous in chasing down posting of his material on the net, so play this track from the album quickly, before Grooveshark are asked to take it down. Videos on YouTube are scarce for the same reason.
