The Celtic Album

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
American hipster-harpist Deborah Henson-Conant was a featured player on 1998's Celtic Harpestry, and is best known for her jazz and 12-bar blues playing. On The Celtic Album Henson-Conant spreads her wings, stretching her talent to the traditional Celtic music she's always loved. "The Drunken Sailor" boasts a smooth jazz flavor, jamming with multiple harps, and with rhythm & bluesy solos. But Henson-Conant has a flair for the traditional too; her light touch blends beautifully with the flute of Peter Barnes on "Slieve Russell." Her electric harp, used exclusively on this album, has a warm jazz guitar feel on "She Moved Through the Fair" as well as on "Gussie's Great Escape." But this nontraditional style is what makes Henson-Conant special: leave the preservation of pure Celtic music to Sileas, Deborah Henson-Conant is leading us into modern ancient territory. --Karen Karleski

Product Description
The Celtic Album has many tunes familiar to Americans as well as some Celtic-flavored Henson-Conant originals and tunes she heard for the first time in her travels to Celtic lands. The all-instrumental album is varied inn arrangements blend traditional Celtic tunes with blues and, at times, startling harmonies with an energy that is truly Deborah Henson-Conant.

The Celtic Album

The Celtic Album,Deborah Conant-Henson,Golden Cage Records,Celtic Fusion,New Age / Meditation,Pop,This is Deborah's version of some Celtic classics along with a few Celtic influenced tuned of her own. (Just Harp, No Vocals)

The Celtic Album

Tracks:

And It Stoned Me
Moondance
Crazy Love
Caravan
Into The Mystic
Come Running
These Dreams Of You
Brand New Day
Everyone
Glad Tidings

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks (1968), and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection, and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You." The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favorite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grownup in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

eternal listening pleasure.......2007-08-04

Van Morrison...Moondance...TERRIFIC...large jazz ensemble based music...simple, fun, and descriptive lyrics...what a joy to have this album once again...future generations will enjoy this one!

The Best.......2007-08-04

I am excited just thinking about this album. This is one of the top 100 albums of all time, period! Okay some people might disagree with me on that, but what most agree with is that Moondance itself is a work of art. Blends of Jazz, Folk and Easy listening with enough tinges of Americana to rival anything by Springsteen or Mellencamp. Oh, did I forget to mention there are some blues to this as well? Again, a work of art and I think Moondance and Into the mystic are a couple of my favorites, but it is hard to choose when again, the entire album is simply amazing. Despite being released over three decades ago, it still chimes with a radiance that words cannot describe.

The Moondance album is somewhat prolific to me when looking at all of Van Morrison's studio releases, perhaps because I do not think he put out an album after this one that could even come close to matching it. A one of a kind find that I will always treasure.

slice of heaven..........2007-06-22

She looked at me with those dark, mysterious eyes of hers and asked me to put on my favorite music. It didn't take but a moment for me to slip in MOONDANCE and so the night only got better from there. Smooth, mellow, rocking, with more soul then a Southern Baptist Church on a Sunday afternoon. No fillers here. Every song with a legacy of it's own. If music is the food of the gods then this one is a gift from the gods. Give it a listen and feel the rapture.

Moondance.......2007-05-03

This album came after "Astral week" I find "Moondance" every bit as good, in fact more enjoyable to listen to. It has a timeless quality about it, and it really dos not sound like it's 37 years old. Overall it has a good fel to it. The first song,"And it Stoned Me",reminds me a lot of the band, and the brass, which is used throughout. The album has a very soulful vibe. On a couple of the songs there's even a gospel flaver ("come running" and 'crazy love"). When he sings"iI want to rock your gypsy soul" in "into the mystic", he makes it sound like tere is nothing mor important in the world. The best moment on the whole album is"Turn it up? Turn it up? Turn it up? a little bit higher" in caravan.
If people listen to the album a few times, the songs will stay with them forever.

polished gems............2007-02-25

Every cut on this album is a polished gem; there are no fillers. "Stoned Me" starts the journey; "Moondance" still retains its sparkle (especially for Libras in October); "Into the Mystic" still haunts.

My personal favourite, "Brand New Day" still inspires me like a reverant hymn. Join Mr. Morrison for a quiet journey that soothes the senses.

Average customer rating:

Van the man...
Always a writer of songs ...it's raining and i have this on...
WONDERFUL
Almost perfect
Wondering why they call this guy Van the Man?

The Best of Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Moondance
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Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000009DDJ
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Bright Side Of The Road
Gloria
Moondance
Baby Please Don't Go
Have I Told You Lately
Brown Eyed Girl
Sweet Thing
Warm Love
Wonderful Remark
Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
Full Force Gale
And It Stoned Me
Here Comes The Night
Domino
Did Ye Get Healed
Wild Night
Cleaning Windows
Whenever God Shines His Light
Queen Of The Slipstream
Dweller On The Threshold

Amazon.com

Van Morrison reputedly wasn't crazy about the idea of a greatest-hits package, and this set's haphazard programming--which leaps from period to period, style to style, tossing in two key singles by his mid-'60s band Them--speaks to his lack of involvement. Still, it rivals Moondance as Morrison's most popular album, and for a reason: like that classic, it offers one deeply soulful, spiritually and musically thoughtful track after another. Much of his more "difficult" work is ignored here; in fact, Best of... gives us an intriguing picture of a Van who's almost eager to please. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Import pressing of this ace collection now deleted in the US! Van Morrison has boldly followed his own musical path since the '60s and this compilation proves that he has the talent to match his own vision. From the early days with Them ('Gloria') through his critically successful solo career ('Moondance', 'Brown Eyed Girl', 'Have I Told You Lately'), he remains one of the most beloved and influential artists in modern music, 20 tracks total, also including 'Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)', 'Domino', 'Here Comes The Night' and more. Universal. * Please note this version is not remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Van the man..........2007-06-22

There's no organization to the music on this cd which has always been one of the great joys of a Van Morrison release where one song seems to lead to another and the sound as a whole is like listening to one inspiring arrangement but even with that in mind this collection is wonderful. Rather then having one large spiritual experience, you get 20 small spiritual miracles. Because to me, Van's music has always been so full of soul it is like a spiritual ride.

Always a writer of songs ...it's raining and i have this on..........2007-01-27

These are awesome..good album.

I like them as much as Philosopher's Stone, In the Midnight, Precious Time, Back on Top, When the Leaves Come Falling Down.....Rain check, These Dreams of You, Golden Autumn Day, Reminds Me of You, High Summer....opps there is my favorites list.

I'd recommend listening to Van. He's a poet. He's able to say what I'm thinking. And I'm going to see him one day because I have a ticket to go to an upcoming concert....like his concerts.Glad he comes to LA. So this is just a CD to get me in the mind frame. But even without that I'd listen to these. I guess I can IPOD my favorites now....

WONDERFUL.......2006-11-10

This is my favorite CD ever. I have bought it for many friends as gifts, and they all love it! He is the best!

Almost perfect.......2006-08-14

I had this disc once before and it was stolen. Loved it so much I had to buy it again. I wish it cotained Tupelo Honey and Into the Mystic. Other than that I love this disc . I recommend this to anyone. Whether you are a big fan or just only know a couple of his songs. Lively and uplifting. Great for traffic jams.

Wondering why they call this guy Van the Man?.......2006-07-15

Then you obviously don't own this CD. Fix that sometime soon. Any album with Brown Eyed Girl and a bunch of crappy songs is still worth a purchase, but you get lots more: Three good songs by Them (garage-band anthem Gloria, Baby Please Don't Go, Here Comes the Night) and several great songs by Van himself: the aforementioned Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Thing, Moondance, And It Stoned Me, Domino, Jackie Wilson Said, Cleaning Windows and the previously-unreleased Wonderful Remark especially stand out, though there's more.
Still, it's not perfect. I don't care how popular Have I Told You Lately is, I don't like it. In my mind it's a sap-fest from someone who isn't really sappy. Same with Queen of the Slipstream. Get rid of these two, as well as Dweller on the Threshold and Warm Love. Swap in Madame George and Caravan. Then you'll have the true Best of Van Morrison.

Average customer rating:

Van's Best Album
I wish more stars were available...
Ridiculous Good
IT STILL MAKES ME CRY
The Second Best Album of All Time

Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Moondance
His Band and the Street Choir
Into the Music
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Saint Dominic's Preview

ASIN: B000002KAT
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Astral Weeks
Beside You
Sweet Thing
Cyprus Avenue
The Way Young Lovers Do
Madame George
Ballerina
Slim Slow Slider

Amazon.com essential recording

Never mind that Van Morrison is one of the most indelible songwriters of the 20th century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine a form as he would be 20 years hence. In the sociopolitical context of the times, the album cried out about such ubiquitous '60s themes as cultural oppression and social upheaval. But it is Morrison's vocal dexterity and passion that maintains such timeless appeal. Take tracks like "Madame George" or "Cyprus Avenue" and you'll find such beautiful mourning, it'll be clear why modern songwriter Sinéad O'Connor once publicly exclaimed: "Van Morrison should be friggin' canonized." --Nick Heil

Customer Reviews:

Van's Best Album.......2007-08-01

This album is so beautiful i literally wept the first time i ever heard it and it never fails to touch me every single time i listen to it. It is in my opinion, the greatest album made by anyone at any time, ever. It makes you long to be newly in love, to feel those first butterflies in your stomach.
Album favorites are Astral Weeks, Sweet Thing and Madam George but every song is beautiful and the album flows effortlessly. I can't say enough about this one. Seriously, if you are a fan of Van or of music in general, you won't be disappointed.

I wish more stars were available..........2007-07-21

Moondance has always been one of my favorite CDs. Why it took me so long to buy Astral Weeks I'll never know. I can't stop listening to this album (and I've had it for almost a year now). I think it's one of the most honest albums I've ever heard. Van puts his all into every single line. Later on in his career it's almost like he stopped caring and just "talks" through the lines live. Here there is actual emotion and it's so precisely captured that every song takes you to a place that you feel like you've been before. The liner notes mention that there are no noticeable "singles" here, but I think every song works great in the context of the work as a whole and also stands on it's own admirably. This is in my top ten.

Ridiculous Good.......2007-07-03

Half the songs on here give me goosebumps. Astral Weeks is probably my favorite Van Morrison album, granted Tupelo Honey and Moondance are a lot more fun, Astral weeks is transcendental. In this album Van seems very in love, nostalgic, or sentimental. Key tracks (really all of them) include:
Astral Weeks- Strong and solid,
Sweet Thing- The strings in this are awesome
Cyprus Avenue- More like familiar Van Morrison
Madame George- It's long, and good. Again and as usual, an awesome arrangement. (for David Gray fans, this is where part of "Say Hello, Wave goodbye comes from)

The other tracks on here are all good, no real dancing numbers, but all the songs are beautiful, the kind you put on a mix CD for a new (or not so new) love. Anyone who considers themselves a Van fan had better own this.

IT STILL MAKES ME CRY.......2007-06-21

I think it came out in '68 when I was a sophomore in high school...shy, insecure, just moved to a new school. These songs became part of my very being, and they will always be a part of who I am. There was just something about Van: the words, the stylings, the chord progressions. His music made my soul scream, and it felt so good.

The Second Best Album of All Time.......2007-06-13

FREE FORM VOCAL STYLINGS

This album rates very highly on many critics list of the all time best. It routinely comes up in the top ten. About 10 years ago, Rolling Stone magazine voted it the second best album of all time, behind the Beatle's Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Released in 1968, this is Van Morrison's second solo album. It is 46 minutes long and the sound quality is good, although the music is mixed a little thin.

The Way The Young Lovers Do is the only thing on this album that is anything close to pop song along the lines of Brown Eyed Girl. I am not a big pop music fan, but I like this song. The rest of the album is something completely different.

The rest of the album is some nice music with some interesting playing, mixed really low. It is a mixture of jazz and folk with a little blues thrwon in. There are some interesting bits on flute, vibes and keyboards. But, the music remains just a back drop and is mixed in at a very low volume. The CD comes with a fold out cover that tries to give a historical perspective of the album. Intrestingly, it is pretty subdued and does not rave about the album like the critics do.

Morrison's wild and unstructured vocals are mixed loudly on top of the music. He seems to be always riffing and jamming. He'll be singing along and then he'll jump into a repeated riff, such as "you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out, you breath in, you breath out".

I know people are going to get mad at me, insult me and call me names, but I have to admit that I just don't get it. I don't think this is a personal, emotional album, and I don't think it has interesting stories. It comes off to me as an experimental album that didn't quite work.

Music is a very personal thing. People can get really mad when you don't agree with them on music that they really love. They take a low review on thier favorite album as a personal attack. They say nasty things about the reviewer.

To get even, people will mark a review as "hot helpful", like that evens things up. But, a review like this is helpful to buying public that might not know much about this ablum and are thinkging about buying it because of all the rave reviews (that is why I bought it).

Just because certain people love it doesn't mean everyone will. In fact, many people did not like this album. It is the only Van Morrison album not to chart. And you might wonder why Morrison did not do anything like this again. He certainly still had the artistic freedom to do what he wanted, because he had a pretty lose contract from Warner Brothers. What he came up with next, is Moondance, which was completely different. In later albums, Morrison did incorporate some of the Astral Weeks vocal stylings on some songs, but it was much more controlled.

Van Morrison started out in a group called Them. Them had a minor hit with Baby Please Don't Go, and bigger hit with Gloria, written by Morrison. Them was going through changes, so Morrison retired from music for a few years, before coming up with Brown Eyed Girl, and his first ablum, Blowin' Your Mind. He did not approve of the album and withdrew. His manager died, freeing him from his contract, so he was able to sign with Warner Brothers, have much more artistic freedom and came up with this.

Average customer rating:

Celtic Soul Brother #1
Sounds from somewhere above the clouds
van again.
Great Mellow Atmosphere
Vanfan

Beautiful Vision
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002KNG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Celtic Ray
Northern Muse
Dweller On The Threshold
Beautiful Vision
She Gives Me Religion
Cleaning Windows
Vanlose Stairway
Aryan Mist
Across The Bridge Where The Angels Dwell
Scandinavia

Amazon.com

This 1982 sleeper captures Van Morrison banking the fires of his more urgent, R&B-flavored '70s classics to sculpt a quieter, contemplative synthesis laced with Celtic flourishes, minimalist synthesizers, and the skeletal horn charts of saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trumpeter-synthesist Mark Isham. Neither as expansive as the pastoral jazz meditations of the underrated Common One nor as limpid as the glossier, sometimes gloomier confessional pop that dominates his later-'80s albums, Beautiful Vision hews to ballads and loping, midtempo songs that allow Morrison gentle foils for his unmistakable vocal melismas. On its best tracks, "Dweller on the Threshold," "Cleaning Windows," "Vanlose Stairway," and "She Gives Me Religion," he alchemizes soul, gospel, and his own Irish roots in a balance he would often pursue from this point forward. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Celtic Soul Brother #1.......2007-07-26

This belongs in the category of Van's great Celtic Soul albums like Astral Weeks, Common One and Veedon Fleece. Van expresses his Northern Irish roots in titles like "Northern Muse" and "Cleaning Windows". The latter song is as down-home and funny as Van has ever allowed himself to get since the out-takes from the Bang sessions. The closing improv where he raps in a broad Belfast accent about finding a "tanner and a three D bit" on the windowsill and having to "go down the dole" are classic stuff. In the same song, Van fills in his early musical and mystical history. "I heard Leadbelly and Blind Lemon on the street where I was born" "I went home and read my Christmas Humphries book on Zen". "Celtic Ray" is a beautiful evocation of life in Ireland, "When the coal brick man comes around, on a cold November day, You'll be on the Celtic ray, are you ready?" Yeah Van, I'm ready. Rock on celtic soul brother #1.

Sounds from somewhere above the clouds.......2007-05-22

think this may be my favourite Morrison album...but I am still not sure. "Poetic Champions", "Moondance" and "Into the Music" are also favourites, how can I narrrow it down to one? Well, either way this one is special - "Beautiful Vision" really does descend into the meditation and etheral zones and delivers some of the most uplifting popular music ever composed. In this way I see connections with other VM albums (Into the Music's "Healing has begun" and "its all in the Game/You know what they are talking about" and Common one's " summertime in England"). But this one is more consistent in its main themes of love, happiness, nature and spiritual nourishment. The listener may suspend the harsh realities of the modern world and just maybe "chill out" with the aspirational views and sounds. "Celtic Ray" celebrates the links between the Celts of the home countries. "Dweller on the Threshold" may be linked to hope and bravery of choice. "She gives me religion" opens us up to many possibilities but it takes joy in the simple but extemely powerful act of love. Then there a number of jewels that convey the joy of vision through music - "Beautiful Vision", "Aryan Mist" "Vanlose Stairways" and "Scandinavia". These songs are "bridged" by one of Van's most joyful, triumphant and hope-inspiring songs "Across the Bridge where Angels dwell". It's a place I definately want to be. The album ends with the oddity "Cleaning windows", a song that is misplaced on this album. Music for a cold winter's night with the lights down low. Beautiful Vision, Beautiful music.

van again........2007-01-12

This one is also gentle jazz, a little celtic rhythm too. And may I also recommend "Into the Music", which I just found recently. All good, middle era Van Morrisoon: mellow, mystic, celtic, lovely.

Great Mellow Atmosphere.......2006-02-20

Van is in a mellow grove on "Beautiful Vision". One of his more celtic-inspired albums, this one will take you on a wonderful and beautiful journey. Van's vocals, as always, are a wonder to behold.

Vanfan.......2005-10-22

This is one of my favorite cd's. I can listen all day and I'm floating!

Average customer rating:

Forever Gold
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: St. Clair Entertaiment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000O78LCI
Release Date: 2007-05-03

Tracks:

Beside You
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Product Description

1.Beside You ;2.Brown-Eyed Girl ;3.Chick-A-Boom ;4.He Aint Give You None ;5.I Love You (Have I Told You Lately) ;6.Its All Right ;7.Midnight Special 8;Spanish Rose ;9.The Back Room ;10.The Smile You Smile

Average customer rating:

Another mystical experience
Poetic Champions Compose
A workingman in his prime
Poetry
Sublime

Poetic Champions Compose
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000009DDN
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Spanish Steps
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Queen Of The Slipstream
I Forgot Love Existed
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Celtic Excavation
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Give Me My Rapture
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Allow Me

Amazon.com

If his albums are any indication, Van Morrison seems to have bounced between religions like a demented pinball. Amazingly, for a decade that saw the Belfast enigma explore Christianity and Scientology before returning, on Avalon Sunset, to Christianity, Poetic Champions Compose serves as a reminder that Van managed to even cram in an agnostic phase along the way. With this in mind, a desperately bleak version of the folk standard "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" lacerates the heartstrings. But the album shouldn't be assumed by any means to be a depressing affair. Three saxophone instrumentals, including the Miles Davis-influenced "Spanish Steps," lend a crisp Sunday morning feel to much of the proceedings, while "Queen of the Slipstream" and the live favorite "Did Ye Get Healed" suggest that, however bad the crisis of faith was (and the quite awesome preceding album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher suggests it was pretty bad), here is a man ultimately happy to find redemption in a love song. --Peter Paphides

Customer Reviews:

Another mystical experience .......2007-03-12

Relating to this album as another Van Morrison release is missing the point. Each of his recordings give a glimpse as to where he is on a mystical, spiritual journey. Morrison likes to plumb the depths; this is no bubblegum artist. However, this fact doesn't negate a playful side. Morrison is versatile enough to touch all bases.

" Poetic Champions..." seems a great introduction to the "adult" Van Morrison. After rollicking good times on many old gems ( " Tupelo Honey", " St.Dominics...") Morrison got serious in the mid 80's. 1987 saw the release of this album, containing dreams and lullabies for the mature set.

" Spanish Steps" purrs. An instrumental, it actually sasheys and purrs. "The Mystery" is an open invitation to embrace the unknown while having faith, the challenge all spiritual seekers wrestle with.

" I Forgot That Love Existed" is a wake-up call. The heart still beats, even as the head tries to snuff it out. " Someone Like You" has been featured in quite a few romantic films, but it plays better among its family. " Allow Me", the closing, another instrumental, floats along like a flower, mid-air, on a spring day.

Always rich in imagry, Morrison begins a cycle that recalls seasons; "Poetic Champions..." is fitting for this time of year, awakening from a long winter, happily drifting toward a warm spring.

Poetic Champions Compose .......2007-01-17

I had not bought a Van Morrison album in many years but one night my wife was watching one of her chic flicks, "Bridget Jones Diary" and I heard an awesome, soulfull love song in the film and it sounded like Van Morrison. I checked it out. The song was "Someone Like You" and I finally found a vinyl copy of the album and I listened to it probably four hours that night. The album never grows old. I'm 54 years old and I have an enormouse record collection spanning 5 decades. This album would be in my top 5. All songs on the album are wonderful, but my favourite is "Queen of The Slipstream". Anyone not moved by this album is not human.

A workingman in his prime.......2006-06-07

The line above is from Cleaning Windows, a song from another CD, but it applies to Poetic Champions Compose as well -- Van Morrison is INTO this music, committed to it, and it is music that means something. Neil Drinkwater's keyboards are silk; Van's saxophone chops are up to the task; and his distinctive voice is as expressive as ever. True enough, this is a more romantic, spiritual side of Van, but artists worth the name always strike out for new territories. For 40 years, Van has led his listeners through combinations of rock, pop, soul, folk, country, jazz, celtic, r&b, and whatever else moved him. This is the record that got me hooked on Van, and years later, it is the record that still pierces my heart.

Poetry.......2005-10-26

The moment you start this journey, hearing Mr. Morrison blowing his alto sax, you KNOW this is no regular event. The mood is set - somber, deep and achingly beautiful. Be ready for the simple, honest lyrics set to true soul music from this small powerhouse of a man. He gets spiritual with THE MYSTERY, shares his longing on QUEEN OF THE SLIPSTREAM, bares his heart on I FORGOT THAT LOVE EXISTED, and on and on. But when he sings SOMEONE LIKE YOU, a tear should fall from anyone who's been in love's eye - man or woman. Van continues on a journey into the blues and then back to the spiritual. It doesn't have to end there if you hit repeat. Perfection!!

Sublime.......2005-10-11

This cd has been in my sound system for ten years, on and off. It simply refuses to grow old. I get withdrawal symptoms when I haven't heard it for a length of time. Beautiful, haunting, romantic, melodic...I do not command the vocabulary to describe the power of this cd.

I have nearly 900 cds in my collection. This is in the top three. This is a Desert Island Disc, for those of you who know what that is.

Beyond description. Beyond compare.

Average customer rating:

One of many neglected albums by Mr. Van Morrison...
One Of Van's Best
the sheep baabbaaaaaaaa
to long in exile
If you're a fan of Van, get this cd man!

Too Long in Exile
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001E32
Release Date: 1993-06-08

Tracks:

Too Long In Exile
Big Time Operators
Lonley Avenue
Ball & Chain
In The Forest
Till We Get The Healng Done
Gloria
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Wasted Years
The Lonesome Road
Moody's Mood For Love
Close Enough For Jazz
Before The World Was Made
I'll Take Care Of You
Instrumental / Tell Me What I Want

Customer Reviews:

One of many neglected albums by Mr. Van Morrison..........2007-06-04

This is one of my favorite Van albums. This one is really good and terribly underrated. Most of Van's 90's work is unjustly ignored, but he's been very consistent throughout his career and has put out an amazing amount of quality work. This album has a very cool, mellow, jazz feel to it, even though it's more than that. I love the arrangements here, especially the interplay between the organ and the piano. The best songs are the title track, the intense Til We Get the Healing Done, the new version of Gloria, the bluesy Big Time Operators, and the gentle ending of the album, with 3 songs intertwining (I'll Take Care of You/Instrumental/Tell Me What you Want). This is a Van album I revisit a lot.

One Of Van's Best.......2004-02-18

In some of my other reviews of Van Morrison recordings, Too Long In Exile has served as a point of comparison, but for some reason I never got around to reviewing the CD itself.
I bought this on cassette way back when it was issued but hadn't listened to it for years until I recently bought it on CD. When I shoved it in the CD player, it brought forth a flood of memories.
When originally released, the big selling point was a couple of duets Van did with his long time idol John Lee Hooker. I am going to go against the general positive commentary on the results of their collaboration. I think both songs they did together pollute and dilute the CD both musically and in spirit. Gloria was lame and commercial in the original and the insertion of Hooker into the remake made it worse. Wasted Years is in fact a waste of vinyl.
It is the strength of most of the other material which makes Too Long In Exile one of Van's best despite the aforementioned duets. Highlights are Big-Time Operators, his rant against those who tried to cheat him in the music business; a heartfelt version of the 50s classic Lonely Avenue; Van's surrender to love on Ball and Chain; an excellent bluesy rendition of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl; the jazzy vocal expression on Lonesome Road and Moody's Mood For Love; and the soulful I'll Take Care of You which segues with a dreamy instrumental interlude into the finale.
There are not enough superlatives in the lexicon to describe how good this CD is when you disregard the Morrison/Hooker duets. Too Long In Exile sets the bar high and indeed Morrison will not issue another CD of this quality for 10 years until the issue of Down the Road.
If you are an old fan of Van Morrison who has somehow missed this, don't miss it for another day. If you are new to Morrison's music and are reading this out of curiosity, why not start with this? Neither of you will be disappointed!

the sheep baabbaaaaaaaa.......2003-02-03

buy this one for the sheep noise van does it rules he sounds like a poor little sheep in the fields it's an ok cd what do you want the guy gets older and he cant make everything great

to long in exile.......2002-12-12

this is with out a doubt his best work. He has many great albums but this is just fantastic!

If you're a fan of Van, get this cd man!.......2001-11-02

Great, great bluesy tunes. A mellow album that you can play all day.

Average customer rating:

As said, enjoyable from start to finish, room for more?
The clarinet and flute solos are a part of my dreams now.
A beautiful song receives gracious arrangements.
gHosts of ChristmAses Past-Sung in Angelic muse Cleansings--

The Fabulous Danny Boy Album

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ave Maria Album
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ASIN: B00004KD2S
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Danny Boy - Mario Lanza
Danny Boy - James Galway
Danny Boy - Richard Stoltzman
Danny Boy - Arthur Fiedler And The Boston Pops
Danny Boy - Leopold Stokowski And His Orchestra
Danny Boy - Robert White
Danny Boy - Ofra Harnoy
Danny Boy - Peter Nero
Danny Boy - Al Hirt
Danny Boy - The Chieftains
Danny Boy - Roger Whittaker
Danny Boy - Kate Smith

Customer Reviews:

As said, enjoyable from start to finish, room for more?.......2007-02-04

A well done collection; Elvis Pressley has a stirring rendition and perhaps there are copyright reasons as to why this is not on this album; and the Glenn Miller bigband version would have fit in well too. The Roger Whittaker track is moving and has a nice contemporary sound; but I still find fault with his ommission of some of the lyrics, poetic license should only go so far. Still, you will not be disappointed; I was in fact, captivated for the first few hours of listening to this CD, glad I got it on a Saturday. I am already, to the dismay of my old college roommates, one of those sorts who might listen to the same song 5 times in a row off an album. This is certainly solved here. My favorite versions must be the Mario Lanza and Kate Smith tracks; however, my choices may well change because each version certainly has it's merits. Oh, and lastly, some of you may need a box of kleenex to go along with this set.

The clarinet and flute solos are a part of my dreams now........2005-08-19

The concept of a single CD or multi-track recording focusing on a single melody has always seemed out of reach -- at least in a manner that would hold me in rapture from beginning to end. This CD did the job! In spades! Who could imagine the likes of Al Hirt, James Galway, Peter Nero, Richard Stoltzman (amazing! How does he do it?), Mario Lanza, Roger Whittaker and on and on . . . all in a dreamlike collection of wonderful renditions of a familiar melody that transported me back to my childhood (and that's over several decades to before World War II)? It's a good thing that CDs don't wear out! I put the Stoltzman (clarinet) solo on "repeat" while sleeping the other night and wow! My dreams were like none I can ever remember. Anyone who enjoys the "Danny Boy" melody should absolutely hear this marvelously well-balanced collection of . . . well, what else? . . . "Danny Boy" !!!

A beautiful song receives gracious arrangements........2002-10-29

This CD is enchanting from the very start. The variety of renditions keeps the listener tuned in. While it would be hard to imagine anyone purchasing this CD that didn't like the title song, the music is wonderful, especially when shuffled with other similar music on a multiplay CD player.

gHosts of ChristmAses Past-Sung in Angelic muse Cleansings--.......2000-04-11

I urge all unheroes of Archies,rightists, leftists and deGrEEd licensured dogooders to listen to these spirited cleansing sounds in quiet solitude, as did I; briefly--.It is, I believe, for all for have suffered the Terror,Fear, Anger,shame--and (in) dignity of surviving a war or two--Whether domestic, foreign, Corporal-(including religious,Judicial,legal, or NFP "Living Entity") or as a mere de facto human being.This one is a definite threat to the licensured do g-ooders--of long term chit bounty medical pillings!In Short--I felt my inner stoned walls melt with oh so cleansing pearls of solitude(ed) remembrances--briefly--passionately--and timelessly.Its a gemmed must for any who think they are stone cold dead and who dont think they have the best of the spirits of lost ones preserved within them as their shining lights-!A few times with this one and Viagra sales will suffer your mates amazements--from sea to shining -saltined sea !shew--Still welling on this one! But oh so cleansing--and "self" inflectively reflective and healing(softening)-- lil mac g!

Live On Letterman : Music From The Late Show

Average customer rating:

Excellent collection of Music
Sheila Rogers Produced This CD?
Worth a Reprise
Live On Letterman : Music From The Late Show [LIVE]
Dead on Letterman

Live On Letterman : Music From The Late Show
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002NJD
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

Friend Of The Devil - Jerry Garcia & David Grisman
Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow
Sweet Jane - Lou Reed
Too Much - Dave Matthews Band
Think - Aretha Franklin
I Don't Want To Wait - Paula Cole
God Give Me Strength - Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
Funny How Time Slips Away - Lyle Lovett & Al Green
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? - Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor & The Chieftans
You Were Meant For Me - Jewel & Flea
Reason To Believe - Rod Stewart
Crush With Eyeliner - R.E.M.
Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
Who Do You Love - Patti Smith

Amazon.com

"Wanna buy a monkey?" It'd be more exciting than this safe collection of musical performances from the Late Show. Although some of the duet pairings are intriguing (including Lyle Lovett with Al Green and Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach), most of the musicians sound like they're well aware they're playing in front of a national TV audience of millions. While performances from Paula Cole and Dave Matthews predate their explosion onto the charts, yesterday's top acts (Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow) sound like musical footnotes here. In truth, old timers Lou Reed and Patti Smith show their forebears how it's done. In the album's defense, it's an eclectic mix--but ultimately an uninspired one. --Greg Emmanuel

Customer Reviews:

Excellent collection of Music.......2007-05-30

I lost this CD in Hurricane Katrina and I had to replace it. Fantastic collection of music.

Sheila Rogers Produced This CD?.......2006-04-29

Let's face it, this compilation is so outdated, no wonder it comes in at a whopping 87,000 on Amazon in sales! The singers on this CD are dinosaurs and some are extinct!

Regardless, this CD's a good self-promotional tool for one of the Letterman's show music producers, Sheila Rogers which is its real purpose. It's her very first! Seeing how she hasn't produced any other records in her career, one can only guess the recording industry didn't think too highly of Ms. Roger's CD producing stunt.

I did some research on this CD's producer and Sheila Rogers is a former Rolling Stone Random Notes gossip columnist who jumped over to Letterman's show as a talent scout, later promoted to being one of the shows music producer's.

Ms. Rogers' manipulation of Letterman, who she personally suggested this CD project to, is a testiment to herself. Let me take this opportunity to worship thee, with 1 well deserved star.

Worth a Reprise.......2005-06-26

"Live On Letterman" is a great collection that stands up 8 years later. Sheila Rogers has done an excellent job producing this for Reprise Records. The sound quality is crisp. The audience applause flows seamlessly between tracks giving the sense to the listener that you're listening to one long concert. There are some delightful tracks on the disc. Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" blazes out with his edgy vocals and slashing lead guitar. Aretha Franklin may have sung "Think" 3,000 times, but she belts it out with an energetic band that'd have James Brown looking up their phone numbers, "I ain't no psychiatrist or doctor with degree, but it don't take much high IQ to see what you're doing to me." Lenny Kravitz also blasts out with "Are You Gonna Go My Way" with a thunderous guitar storm. Other tracks on the set are also strong including R.E.M.'s "Crush With Eyeliner" & the softest track on the set, Elivis Costello & Burt Bacharach on "God Give Me Strength." This little walk down memory lane from the small screen is worth a reprise on your changer. Enjoy!

Live On Letterman : Music From The Late Show [LIVE].......2003-09-17

I've read the other reviews for this incredible CD; and have to admit...many of you are missing the big picture here. This collection of artists and titles are a must for any music buff. I play it regularly and find it endlessly entertaining. I just wish there were others produced and available...with Dave's fame and continued run on late night TV...I'm certain there'd be a dozen by now.

Dead on Letterman.......2002-10-13

Good sound quality from Letterman's vaults, but many of the performers on this CD have been around too long. Quite frankly, this collection resembles the status quo of unchanging music including "dead" I mean REAL deadheads. They had their day in the sun -- time to move on!

Average customer rating:

Jazzy and atmospheric
A must-have for Van Fans
A classic

Poetic Champions Compose
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
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Hymns to the Silence

ASIN: B000001FMO
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Spanish Steps
The Mystery
Queen Of The Slipstream
I Forgot That Love Existed
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Celtic Excavation
Someone Like You
Alan Watts Blues
Give Me My Rapture
Did Ye Get Healed?
Allow Me

Customer Reviews:

Jazzy and atmospheric.......2006-03-17

The instrumental Spanish Steps is the languid jazzy introduction to this album of understated songs. The album takes it name from a line in Queen Of The Slipstream, a gentle ballad with a haunting melody. I Forgot That Love Existed is another jazzy number with gorgeous instrumental flourishes, whilst Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child has more of a soul or R&B feel in its yearning vocals and has something of the same effect as Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home.

Celtic Excavation is an ethereal and evocative instrumental with tinkling piano and a lovely lilting flow and Someone Like You is a slow and moving love song. My favourites include the bouncy Alan Watts Blues with its twanging guitar and the rhythmic uptempo Give Me My Rapture, a catchy inspirational song with great organ flourishes.

The piece Did Ye Get Healed? has swirling female backing vocals and the album concludes with another jazzy instrumental titled Allow Me. The album is quite cohesive in creating a mood of contented contemplation with Morrison's characteristic spiritual undertone. It is probably not considered to be amongst his greatest work, but still a classic in my opinion.

A must-have for Van Fans.......1999-10-12

This is one of my three favorite Van Morrison albums, the others being "No Guru" and "Moondance". This is one that even non-fans will love. Beautiful instrumentals, love songs, songs of spiritual longings. The best from the best.

A classic.......1998-05-29

This and "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" are my personal favorites out of Van Morrison's many albums. The instrumentals are among his best efforts in the jazz vein, the Black spiritual "Motherless Child" is done with great depth of feeling, and the other songs run the emotional gamut from the cheery "Give Me My Rapture" to the deeply touching "I Forgot That Love Existed." This album shows off Morrison at his best, and I still listen to it often.

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