Van Morrison On My Mind.

Today I played a few Van Morrison tunes on my blip.fm station and a few friends commented on them. So that prompted me to take another look at Van Morrison's Amazon.com Store.

I really can't say enough to reflect how impressed with Van Morrison that I am. I think any fan of music, or musician starting out would do well to study his music.

I also ran across a couple of interesting YouTube clips of an interview that Mr. Morrison did. I hope you enjoy viewing them.





Still on Top: The Greatest Hits

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Georgie Fame -Super Musician

Georgie was born near us - in Leigh and has been in the music business since he was 16. I've seen him several times over the years and hope to see him soon in Marsden - his fan site is here.

He is here with his good friend Alan Price

Georgie Fame & Alan Price - Rosetta

From the late 1980's until 1997 he toured with Van Morrison as musical director.


He has toured with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings


He has had a number of residencies at Ronnie Scott's - a marvellous musician!

White Soul

There is a certain degree of musical snobbery when the topic of 'blue-eyed soul' comes up. Well I have blue eyes and am white and I enjoy all sorts of music. I don't like the idea of ghettozisation of music - surely its about creativity not race, colour etc. I include a list of my favourite artists often labelled as such.

Dusty Springfield - this performance spot on - so are lots of Black versions as well but so is this!

Van Morrison
Elkie Brooks - I first saw her in her Vinegar Joe days.
Steve Marriott
Average White Band - Scottish soul at its best. I remember seeing them 35ish years ago at 3.00am having breathed in substances - (only ever done that 3 or 4 times by the way) - brilliant

Steve Winwood
George Michael

I melt everytime I hear this

Anastacia Heavy on the Heart
Uploaded by mccarraa

Bonnie Raitt
Duffy
Adele
Sharleen Spiteri - love her

Paul Weller
Lisa Stansfield - she comes from 'round the corner'

"no white man sings like Van Morrison."

Van Morrison - I have a stack of LP's, CD's and downloads from Van the Man. He is in his 5th decade of performing - I am sold on the man. I have seen him lots of times with all sorts of people - Chieftains, Georgie Fame,Ray Charles etc. The Ray Charles concert was very strange because they never appeared on the same stage at the same time - there seemed to be two separate sets of fans as well who were not really interested in the other guys' music.

His repertoire of songs is glorious - there are so many sublime songs.

He is a perfectionist on stage and I have seen him really grumpy with his band - but so what - his voice is great. Anyway, you can probably tell that I'm a fan - so rather than continue to gush I'll just post some of my favourite tracks.

With Them in the early days


Astral Weeks has often been placed on the most authoritative lists of best albums of all time. In the 1995 MOJO list of 100 Best Albums, it was listed as number two and was number nineteen on the Rolling Stone magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003.


I saw this - Van Morrison and Chieftains

I have seen both of these separately - there is a video with Santana comparing the two of them as having the same characteristics.
John Lee Hooker

The all time love song - suitable for Weddings, Christenings, anniversaries and funerals.
Have I told you lately that I love you?


There are so many other good songs and albums - 'Days Like This' etc.

Happy Moods

The snow is on the ground - much of it has turned to ice. Supposed to get down to minus 7C at the weekend, more snow tomorrow. I run kilometres in the time I used to run miles. I go to work in the dark and come back in the twilight. Roll on Spring - so I have to revert back to some 'happy' songs which include in no particular order

Anastacia - One day in your life. (A real belter)
Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around (In those hotpants_
Anything by Van Morrison - but probably Brown Eyed Girl
Blues Brothers - Soul Man
Goldfrapp - Happiness
Diana Ross - anything again - but Chain Reaction probably.
Aretha Franklin - R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

lots and lots more