Any Van Morrison fans here?

[pokerfan]

Anyone ever see him live?

[Moondog]

1. Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison?

Sadly, no, I never say him live.

[likesmountains 52]

2. I did...in 1969 or 70...

[pokerfan]

3. Awesome

And....

[likesmountains 52]

12. he was awesome, I am struggling to remember who he opened for. He was not the main act!

[abq e streeter]

4. HELL YEAH, I'm a fan

saw him in'75 , with, get this, Little Feat opening, at the old Civic Auditorium in Albuquerue. He just had a 4 piece band (including himself)so he not only sang, but played some guitar, and much better harmonica and sax than I would have expected. Seemed like sort of a weird guy though ,but can't really describe exactly how. Just did... Who knows, maybe he was as stoned as we were, which would explain a lot.

[pokerfan]

7. Van Morrison AND Little Feat?

:yourock:

[abq e streeter]

19. caught a maraca L.F. threw into the audience ( bounced off my friend's head first)

but it somehow vanished over the years. I knew Van played some harmonica, but had no idea he was as good as he was, and had no idea he played sax at all ...An amazing talent...And this was '75 so Lowell George was still alive. Quite an amazing show. There were no seats except in the balcony, so we were standing, probably not more than maybe 30 feet away from the stage, if that... ( I bet the ticket was probably about 5 bucks too)----and barely still on the subject, I've actually seen both bands that had original hits with Gloria ( so not counting Patti Smith). Saw the Shadows of Knight in Chicago in'67...

[hippywife]

5. Most definitely!

Haven't had the pleasure of seeing him live, tho.

:hi:

[pokerfan]

10. Me neither

:hi:

[gmoney]

6. How come they never put "Tupelo Honey" on his greatest hits rekkids?

It's probably his best song... and it's not on any of his 5 greatest hits packages.

[pokerfan]

8. According to the HOF

Essential Songs:

• Moondance
  
• Tupelo Honey
  
• Wild Night
  
• Brown-Eyed Girl
  
• Domino
  
• Have I Told You Lately
  
• Cypress Avenue
  
• Hymns to the Silence
  
• A Sense of Wonder
  
• Into the Mystic

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/van-morrison

[gmoney]

13. well, they're half right...

I'd agree with the first five, and maybe the last one, but 6-9 are pretty obscure. I'd trump those with "Jackie Wilson Said" and "Gloria" and "Here Comes the Night".

Call me superficial, but actually, beyond those 10 cuts, I don't think I'd need any other Van in my collection.

His "contractual obligation" stuff on "The Bang Sessions" notwithstanding. "Ring Worm"!

[Zomby Woof]

39. Beautiful song

One of my dearest friends is a beekeeper, and she loves that song for many reasons, not the least among them is that Tupelo honey is an incredible varietal prized highly in her field.

[Cant trust em]

9. He was just touring Astral Weeks Live

I was out of town when he did it. I was pretty pissed.

[underpants]

11. Never heard of him

are there some songs of his that get played endlessly in bars or by bands in bars or on the radio?

[pokerfan]

15. been performing for fifty years, R&R HOF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SP60n9v2YM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojGuCttS55w

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Morrison

Origin: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Genre: Blues, rhythm & blues, folk, blue-eyed soul, Celtic, rock & roll, jazz
Occupation: Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument: vocals, guitar, harmonica, saxophones, keyboards, drums, tambourine, ukelele
Years active: 1958–present

Morrison has received several major music awards in his career, including six Grammy Awards (1996 – 2007); inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1993), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (June 2003), and the Irish Music Hall of Fame (September 1999); and a Brit Award (February 1994). In addition he has received civil awards of an OBE (June 1996) and an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1996), and he has honorary doctorates from the University of Ulster (1992) and Queen's University Belfast (July 2001).

[underpants]

16. Oh VAN Morrison

sorry didn't read that correctly the first time

Yeah I have heard of him

heard his songs too

They are good

heard them about 5,000 times

[abq e streeter]

21. Some are horribly overplayed---too many audiences who want to hear the same song

over ..and over...and over...I've been in R&B cover bands for decades, and you'd think Moondance and Brown Eyed Girl were the only things Van ever did, or I Feel Good was James Brown's only song, or Mustang Sally ( and maybe Midnight Hour) were the only songs Wilson Pickett did... for each of those, the first 2,000 times I played em were pretty fun, the next 2,000, not as much...I finally had a really good band that did mostly originals a few years ago, and at every damn gig, we'd hear nothing but people yelling for Brown Eyed Girl, Mustang Sally and Stevie Ray stuff. The bass player called the songs, and wuss that he was, inevitably gave in and we'd blow off most of our really high quality originals and play mostly covers; after a night like that a couple of years ago, I quit the band right after the gig.So its back to cover bands (no sense working up originals if you chicken out of playing them), and at my next gig, we'll be doing all the above ,and Tupelo Honey, Wild Night and Domino.Great songs, all of em, but Van has such an incredible number of great songs, its just a damn shame to do the same ones year after year after...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

30. You want to hear something very, very good?

Get yourself a copy of Van's new album - Astral Weeks Tour, Live At The Hollywood Bowl. It's only 10 songs, but he does some very offbeat songs, and it's just terrific

I could live the rest of my life without ever hearing "Brown Eyed Girl" again. As a brown-eyed girl, I've had enough.

Ever hear Van's album, "Avalon Sunset"? It's my favorite......................

[abq e streeter]

31. havent't heard Avalon or Astral Live--will try to check em out

Brown Eyed Girl is a great song, but yeah, ENOUGH...yet every single time I play it, the dance floor fills up immediately. Same with all those other overplayed ones I listed (and forgot to include Stand By Me on that list). I'd like to say I don't get it, but unfortunately I do; "play me stuff I know and don't challenge me in any way shape or form". I'm actually glad I'm not playing much right now (except for not being glad about the drop in income, of course). In the simple but eloquent words of the terribly under-appreciated ( as far as being more than a vapid pretty-boy; the guy had talent, and had soul) Rick Nelson: " ...if memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck."

[Tangerine LaBamba]

33. "Garden Party"

Rick Nelson was so much more than he ever got credit for - except from his fellow musicians.

Another one gone too soon. It would have been interesting to see where he would have gone ............

[Bennyboy]

14. On of his most underrated songs (and my favorite)

Wavelength http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLJcnre6QF8&feature=PlayList&p=66F9CCD3FD7C7A00&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15

I saw him on this tour with Mose Allison.

The first time I saw him was with Vince Guaradli (Peanuts theme) in the Alhambra theater in sacramento. It was benifit to sve the theater...One of the great old theaters that was (SADLY) torn down to build a Safeway. It was the first time I became aware of politics, greed and how things really work.

When he came onstage at the Last Waltz, it was all over.


His Astral Weeks live album is really really good too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JywEgTm4HAA&feature=PlayList&p=66F9CCD3FD7C7A00&index=19

His daughter,is amazing in her own thing too. She has a band, Caledonia that rocks it and she does some torch type stuff on her own as well as jamming with all the Bay Area blues bands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHvzbwl1-r4&feature=related

[pokerfan]

17. Thanks for all that!

Love Guaradli and the Linus & Lucy theme, of course.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

32. thanks for all the links, Bennyboy. and yes. Pokerfan

I am a huge Van The Man Fan.

[Shell Beau]

18. I LOVE Van!!! LOVE him! I wish I could see him in concert!

[Swede]

20. I'm a fan.

Never seen him live,however.

[elshiva]

22. I am a big fan, but I've never seen him live.

I have two of his live albums one from the 70s and the other from the 80s, both are amazing.

[pokerfan]

23. I can guess

It's Too Late to Stop & Grand Opera House Belfast

:hi:

[elshiva]

24. Those are the ones. Do you have them?

:hi:

[pokerfan]

25. I have the first one

but not the second.

[Kat45]

26. A friend of mine got to play with him live once.

I'm a fan, but I've never seen him live.

[Minimus]

27. YES! --Into the Mystic-- one of my all time favs

We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I dont have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when thst fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I dont have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic

[Zomby Woof]

41. That song can still evoke tears

But in a good way. :-) My favorite of his.

[maddezmom]

28. Love him

Have seen him few times. Last time, 2 summers ago at Hampton Palace. :)

[marzipanni]

29. I do like Van's music a lot, but it makes me feel wistful and nostalgic

Y'see, those were the good old days, in the late sixties and seventies, when young people could live in Marin County cheaply.
In 1981 we had torrental rains there in the late fall/early winter, and on January 2, 1982 the creeks overflowed and flooded several towns. A couple of weeks later Van Morrison, Huey Lewis and the News, and a bunch of other musicians held a benefit concert at the Marin Civic Center Auditorium to help flood victims. I invited my old boyfriend, who was visiting from Hawaii.
I always thought it was nice that in the early 70's Van brought his parents over from Ireland and they opened a record store in Fairfax, near where he lived.

[Mendocino]

34. I consider that rock has only produced four true

geniuses:

Buddy Holly

Bob Dylan

Duane Allman

and Van Morrison.

With honorable mention to Lowell George, Roger Mcguinn, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.

[Bennyboy]

46. PULLLLEEEZZZZZZZE!

Frank Zappa? Jerry Garcia? Jimi Hendrix? Bruce Springsteen? Gram Parsons? John Lennon/Paul McCartney? Professor Longhair?

How about Warren Haynes who is so good he holds down the Jerry Garcia slot in the Dead, the Dickie Betts slot in the Allman Brothers (and once did the Duane slot when Dickie was in the band)and has his own band, Gov't Mule, that seriously kicks ass and plays hundreds of different covers and great originals.

Genius...there are tons of them.

[Mendocino]

49. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion

and I'll respect yours, but here is why I named the artists in my response.

Buddy Holly-I really can't think of any 50's artists that surpassed the era and continued to make meaningful music. BH, I feel could have and would made the transition. He split from the Crickets, went into the studio, moving beyond the raw garage sound. He seemed before his time and will we never know the limits of what He could have done.

Bob Dylan-Best songwriter ever. Some say if he wrote so well, why isn't he covered more? Maybe because some knew they couldn't any better. I'll take his wracked voice and seemingly simple delivery over nearly anyone.

Duane Allman-I saw The Allman Brothers at the 2nd concert I ever attended(at 13). Perhaps I'm a little jaded but when you've been to the mountaintop... I've seen Jeff Beck, Clapton, SRV, Carlos Santana, Pete Townshend and Keith Richard but Duane was like a mountain spring bubbling from pure blues pain. I think there has been no finer instrumentalist.

Van-My most favorite musical artist ever (after Edvard Grieg). Like Dylan, a somewhat wracked voice, but in his case what we call soul. Could have been a great artist in any genre. Somehow I think he and Mozart would have been great drinking buds.



Have as good day

[Zomby Woof]

35. He is in my pantheon

And yes, I saw him in 1998 at the Gorge Ampitheater in George, WA, when he toured with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

Has he ever made a bad album? I suppose "Hard Nose The Highway" from way back in 1973 is the least of his works, but really, one or two mediocre albums in a career spanning back to Them in the mid-60's, and I would say his winning percentage is WAY above par.

[RagAss]

36. St. Dominic's Preview

Very rare album. Glad I have it on cd.

[Zomby Woof]

37. LOVE that album

As I said, he is almost completely incapable of making a bad album, but if forced to pick a Top 5 Best, that would make the list. "Almost Independence Day" is sublime. Who wouldn't find "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" catchy as all hell? And the spiritually powerful "Listen To The Lion" is one of his all time best.

Great choice!

[RagAss]

38. Yes...

"Listen to the Lion"....wore the grooves out of that one on vinyl back in the day. The title track is no slouch tune either.....and "Redwood Tree" always makes me smile.

[Zomby Woof]

40. Let's throw in "Gypsy"

Because it keeps the feet moving until we get to the contemplative parts. :-)

Ronnie Montrose is a big part of the album. Ted Templeman produced the album (he was VP of Warner Bros. and the one who signed and produced Van Halen, produced the Doobie Bros., etc.), and was able to pool some of his better known talent into the mix.

Thanks for calling attention to an album all too often in the shadow of "Astral Weeks", "Moondance", and "Tupelo Honey" - not that those are albums anyone shouldn't love with all their hearts. :-)

[RagAss]

42. Thank you for the info on the album....I hope it has a second life.

[abq e streeter]

43. Very tough call -but if forced to pick THE best Van album, this might just be it

[abq e streeter]

44. Also proud to say I own every Them album

[Visine]

45. Absolutely.

I have left strict instructions that his version of Just A Closer Walk With Thee is to be played, loudly, at my funeral. Sometime...hopefully in the far far far future

[A-Schwarzenegger]

47. Saw him last month at the Orpheum in LA doing Astral Weeks.

Su-blime. Seen him six, seven times (not sure because some were when I still drank & did extras). Saw him first at Santa Monica Civic--1971?--a show which comprised a lot of the double live album--Too Late to Stop Now? He's a master.

[mvd]

48. I love Van

I just hazven't explored his stuff much beyond his Greatest Hits..