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Van Morrison

Sir George Ivan Morrison OBE (born 31 August 1945), professionally known as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer whose six-decade career has blended blues, soul, jazz, R&B, and Celtic folk into a distinctive body of work characterized by improvisational live performances and poetic, mystical lyrics.^[1]^[2] Morrison first gained prominence as the frontman of the garage rock band Them, formed in Belfast in 1964, which produced the enduring hit "Gloria." His solo breakthrough came with the jazz-infused Astral Weeks (1968), followed by the more accessible Moondance (1970), both of which established his reputation for emotive vocals and genre-defying innovation.^[1]^[1] Among his honors are six Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, a knighthood in 2015, and the OBE, reflecting his enduring influence on popular music. Morrison has released over 40 studio albums and continues to tour, while drawing attention for his outspoken criticism of COVID-19 lockdowns, including the release of protest songs asserting that government measures infringed on personal freedoms and livelihoods.^[1]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Life and career

Early life and musical roots: 1945–1964

George Ivan Morrison was born on 31 August 1945 at 125 Hyndford Street in Bloomfield, a working-class area of east Belfast, Northern Ireland, as the only child of George Morrison, a shipyard worker and avid record collector, and Violet Morrison, a singer.^[1]^[6] His family belonged to the Protestant community in a city marked by sectarian divisions, though Morrison later described his upbringing as culturally insular yet musically rich due to his father's influence.^[7] From childhood, Morrison absorbed American musical traditions through his father's collection of approximately 500 records, spanning blues, country, gospel, and jazz genres.^[1] Key early exposures included blues recordings by Muddy Waters, gospel performances by Mahalia Jackson, and jazz works featuring Charlie Parker, which shaped his affinity for raw, emotive vocal styles and improvisational phrasing.^[7] At age 11, his father bought him an acoustic guitar, marking the start of his instrumental pursuits; Morrison's first purchased record was by blues harmonica player Sonny Terry, reflecting an initial draw toward folk-blues traditions.^[8] By his early teens, Morrison taught himself guitar and expanded to harmonica, keyboards, and saxophone, instruments he played proficiently enough to join local bands in Belfast's burgeoning rhythm and blues scene during the late 1950s.^[9] His professional debut came around age 13 or 14, performing in small venues and contributing to semi-professional groups that covered American R&B and skiffle numbers.^[8] In 1962, at age 17, he made his first studio recording, playing saxophone on "Boozoo Hully Gully" with the International Monarchs, a local outfit.^[8] Throughout 1963 and into 1964, Morrison toured with a showband, handling saxophone, guitar, and harmonica duties at clubs and U.S. Army bases in Scotland, England, and Germany, honing a versatile, high-energy stage presence amid the era's beat and R&B revival.^[8] These experiences solidified his roots in blues-infused rock, drawing from transatlantic imports rather than indigenous Irish folk, and positioned him as a lead vocalist and frontman in Belfast's competitive club circuit by mid-1964.^[9]

Them: 1964–1966

Them, a Northern Irish garage rock band, was formed in April 1964 in Belfast when Van Morrison responded to a local advertisement seeking musicians for rhythm and blues performances at the new Maritime Club.^[10] The original lineup consisted of Morrison on lead vocals and saxophone, Billy Harrison on guitar and vocals, Alan Henderson on bass guitar, Ronnie Milling on drums, and Eric Wrixon on keyboards. Drawing from American blues and R&B influences such as Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker, the group quickly built a following through energetic live shows at Belfast venues, often extending sets with improvisational jams that showcased Morrison's raw, emotive singing and harmonica playing.^[11] Under manager Ronnie Millings, Them signed with Decca Records' subsidiary label in the UK, releasing their debut single "Baby Please Don't Go" backed with Morrison's original "Gloria" on 25 October 1964; the A-side, a cover of a Big Joe Williams blues standard, reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1965.^[12] "Gloria," though not a UK chart success at the time, became an enduring garage rock anthem due to its primal riff and Morrison's intense delivery, later covered extensively by bands like the Shadows of Knight and the Doors.^[13] The band's follow-up single, "Here Comes the Night" (written by Bert Berns and produced by Dick Rowe), entered the UK charts on 13 March 1965 and peaked at No. 2, bolstered by orchestral arrangements that contrasted their raw live sound.^[12] Them's debut album, The Angry Young Them!, was released in July 1965, featuring a mix of covers like "Got My Mojo Working" and originals including "Mystic Eyes," recorded at Decca Studios in London under producer Tommy Scott.^[12] The record captured the band's aggressive R&B style but suffered from overdubbed audience noise added post-production without the group's input, diluting its authenticity.^[14] A US tour in April–May 1966, supporting artists like the Yardbirds, exposed Them to American audiences and led to live recordings like those on Them Again (released October 1966), which included tracks such as "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" but was largely compiled after Morrison's exit.^[15] Tensions escalated due to management disputes, uneven songwriting credits, and Morrison's growing frustration with the band's direction and promotional control by Decca.^[13] In mid-1966, following the US tour, Morrison abruptly left Them to pursue a solo career, signing with producer Bert Berns' Bang Records label in New York; he announced the split to Decca, effectively dissolving his contract with the group.^[15] Henderson and others briefly continued as Them with new vocalists, but the original configuration ended, marking Morrison's transition from band frontman to independent artist amid the British Invasion's peak.^[11]

Solo debut and breakthrough: 1967–1969

Following the dissolution of Them in 1966, Morrison signed a contract with Bang Records in New York, marking the start of his solo career.^[16] He recorded his debut album, Blowin' Your Mind!, over two days, March 28–29, 1967, at A & R Recording Studios in New York City, with producer Bert Berns overseeing sessions that yielded eight tracks blending R&B, folk, and pop elements.^[17] The album was released in September 1967, featuring Morrison's raw vocal style and guitar work backed by a small ensemble including organ, bass, drums, and backing vocals from the Sweet Inspirations.^[18] The lead single, "Brown Eyed Girl," released in June 1967, became Morrison's first major solo hit, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving similar success on Cash Box charts at number 8.^[19] ^[20] Written by Morrison during a period of personal turmoil, the upbeat track—with its calypso-influenced rhythm and nostalgic lyrics—provided commercial breakthrough amid his transition from band frontman, though Morrison later expressed ambivalence toward it, viewing the album as transitional rather than definitive.^[21] Despite the single's airplay success, Blowin' Your Mind! sold modestly, highlighting tensions with Bang over creative control and royalties.^[22] Relations with Bang deteriorated rapidly, leading Morrison to record over 30 intentionally absurd demo tracks in a single day in 1967—songs with nonsensical lyrics like "Ring Worm" and "Freight Train"—to fulfill his contractual obligations and exit the label.^[16] Warner Bros. Records subsequently bought out his Bang contract, allowing Morrison to sign with the label in 1968 under the guidance of executive Joe Smith.^[7] This shift enabled greater artistic freedom; in September–October 1968, Morrison recorded Astral Weeks at Century Sound Studios in New York, employing jazz musicians such as Richard Davis on upright bass and Jay Berliner on guitar for an improvisational, acoustic jazz-folk suite without drums or overdubs.^[23] Astral Weeks was released on November 29, 1968, presenting poetic, stream-of-consciousness songs drawing from Morrison's Belfast upbringing and spiritual themes, but it achieved minimal commercial impact initially, with low sales reflecting its esoteric style amid the era's rock dominance.^[24] Morrison faced financial hardship during this period, later recalling near-starvation while the album languished; critical reception was mixed at launch but grew into widespread acclaim over time for its innovation, though contemporaneous sales underscored the gap between artistic ambition and market breakthrough.^[25] By 1969, Morrison began sessions for his follow-up, signaling a pivot toward more structured soul-jazz fusion, though Astral Weeks laid the foundation for his enduring reputation as a singular songwriter.^[7]

Commercial peak and artistic evolution: 1970–1979

Moondance, released on January 27, 1970, marked Van Morrison's commercial breakthrough, peaking at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number 32 on the UK Albums Chart.^[26]^[27] The album shifted from the introspective jazz-folk of Astral Weeks toward a more structured, R&B-infused sound with jazz elements, featuring tracks like the title song, "Into the Mystic," and "Caravan," which showcased Morrison's vocal improvisations and ensemble interplay.^[28] Its enduring sales and critical acclaim established Morrison as a prominent artist, contrasting the prior album's limited commercial reach.^[26] Later in 1970, His Band and the Street Choir followed in November, incorporating gospel choirs and soulful arrangements, with singles like "Domino" achieving moderate chart success.^[29] Tupelo Honey, released October 15, 1971, peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200, drawing from Morrison's recent marriage and featuring warm, country-soul tracks such as the title song, which reached number 47 on the US pop chart.^[30]^[26] This period reflected personal stability influencing a brighter, more accessible style compared to earlier mysticism. Saint Dominic's Preview (1972) and Hard Nose the Highway (1973) continued prolific output, blending R&B, jazz, and Celtic motifs, though with varying commercial results; the latter included "Snow in San Anselmo," noted for its atmospheric production.^[1] The live album It's Too Late to Stop Now (1974) captured intense performances from 1973 tours, highlighting Morrison's commanding stage presence and band dynamics.^[1] Veedon Fleece (1974), inspired by a 1973 Ireland visit, emphasized poetic, folk-infused introspection with tracks like "Streets of Arklow," marking a return to Celtic roots and personal reflection amid personal challenges, including divorce.^[31] In November 1976, Morrison performed "Caravan" at The Band's farewell concert, The Last Waltz, at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, delivering an energetic, improvisational set filmed by Martin Scorsese.^[32] By the late 1970s, A Period of Transition (1977), Wavelength (1978)—which reached number 28 on the UK chart—and Into the Music (1979) showed evolution toward radio-friendly pop-soul with hits like "Wavelength," balancing commercial appeal with artistic depth while incorporating reggae and brighter production.^[33] This decade solidified Morrison's reputation through consistent releases and stylistic range, from soulful accessibility to exploratory lyricism.^[1]

Exploration and consolidation: 1980–1989

In 1980, Morrison released Common One, his twelfth studio album, recorded over nine days in the Bath, England studios of Ronnie Lane's mobile unit.^[34] The double album featured extended improvisational tracks emphasizing spiritual and mystical themes, with influences from Celtic folklore and Eastern philosophy, marking a shift toward more expansive, jazz-inflected compositions.^[35] It achieved modest commercial performance, becoming Morrison's lowest-charting U.S. album since Moondance in 1970, though it received praise for its ambitious scope from reviewers who noted its departure from pop structures.^[36] That July, Morrison delivered a notable live performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, blending material from Common One with earlier hits like "Moondance," showcasing his evolving stage energy with a horn section led by Pee Wee Ellis.^[37] Beautiful Vision, released on February 16, 1982, after sessions from May to summer 1981, incorporated Celtic folk elements alongside American jazz, featuring guest guitar from Mark Knopfler on tracks like "Scandinavia."^[38]^[39] The album peaked at number 31 on the UK Albums Chart, reflecting Morrison's continued exploration of introspective, non-R&B territories while maintaining rhythmic drive in songs such as "She Gives Me Religion."^[40] Critics highlighted its blend of personal spirituality and accessible melodies, though some observed uneven pacing in its fusion of traditions.^[41] The 1983 release Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, recorded in 1982, included instrumental pieces like "Celtic Swing" alongside vocal tracks exploring transcendence and nature, produced with assistance from David Hayes.^[42]^[43] This fourteenth studio album emphasized Morrison's interest in wordless expression and Celtic swing rhythms, earning recognition for its atmospheric depth despite limited singles.^[44] A Sense of Wonder followed in 1985, drawing on Morrison's Irish heritage and poetic influences, with recordings from 1983 sessions yielding tracks like the title song referencing youth and creativity.^[45]^[46] The album balanced reflective ballads with upbeat numbers, including a cover of "What Would I Do," and was noted for its lyrical focus on wonder and memory.^[47] By 1986, No Guru, No Method, No Teacher—recorded in 1985 and released in July—delved into spiritual self-reliance, featuring collaborations with Georgie Fame on Hammond organ and Michele Lind on vocals for tracks like "Got to Go Back" and "Foreign Window."^[48]^[49] Reviewers commended its gospel-tinged introspection and avoidance of dogma, with Morrison's phrasing evoking raw emotional authenticity.^[50] Morrison toured extensively that year, performing over 60 concerts across Europe and the U.S., often emphasizing newer material alongside staples.^[51] Poetic Champions Compose, recorded in summer 1987 and released in September, consolidated Morrison's songwriting prowess with concise, literate songs like "Queen of the Slipstream" and "I Forgot That Love Existed," backed by a tight ensemble including drummer Mick Green.^[52]^[53] The album's polished production highlighted themes of artistic inspiration and romance, receiving acclaim for its melodic economy. In 1988, Morrison collaborated with The Chieftains on Irish Heartbeat, recorded from September 1987 to January 1988 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, reinterpreting traditional Irish folk songs such as "Star of the County Down" and originals like the title track.^[54]^[55] This eighteenth studio effort underscored Morrison's deepening engagement with Celtic roots, blending uilleann pipes and fiddles with his soulful delivery for an authentic revival sound.^[56] Avalon Sunset, released on May 30, 1989, marked a commercial resurgence, featuring the duet "Whenever God Shines His Light" with Cliff Richard and reflective tracks like "Have I Told You Lately," which later gained broader recognition.^[57]^[58] Produced with accessible arrangements, it achieved strong sales and critical favor for its mature blend of spirituality and melody, solidifying Morrison's stylistic consolidation.^[59] Live recordings from this era, including a November 1989 Beacon Theatre performance, captured his commanding presence in blending eras of his catalog.^[60]

Sustained output and refinement: 1990–1999

In the 1990s, Van Morrison maintained a consistent pace of recording and releasing material, producing six studio albums that further honed his signature fusion of rhythm and blues, jazz, Celtic soul, and introspective lyricism, while incorporating live performances and compilations to revisit earlier work.^[61] This period emphasized thematic depth, with recurring motifs of enlightenment, exile, and healing drawn from personal reflection and musical improvisation, often featuring collaborations with jazz and blues musicians.^[62] Albums like Enlightenment (1990) and Hymns to the Silence (1991) explored spiritual awakening, while later releases shifted toward blues revival and jazz standards, reflecting Morrison's ongoing refinement of vocal phrasing and ensemble dynamics without diluting his core intensity.^[63] Enlightenment, Morrison's twentieth studio album, was released on October 8, 1990, by Polydor Records, peaking at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and earning acclaim for its meditative tone amid tracks blending soulful grooves with philosophical lyrics on transcendence and daily epiphanies.^[64] The following year saw the double album Hymns to the Silence on September 24, 1991, his first such format, which reached number 5 in the UK and spanned 20 tracks addressing ordinary life, professional frustrations, and inner peace, recorded primarily in October 1990 with contributions from musicians like Georgie Fame.^[65]^[63] Compilations such as The Best of Van Morrison (1990) and Bang Masters (1991) supplemented this output, curating hits and early demos to underscore his evolution from garage rock roots to mature artistry.^[66] Too Long in Exile, released June 8, 1993, marked a return to blues and R&B foundations, peaking at number 4 in the UK and praised for its raw energy across 15 tracks, including covers of classics like "Gloria" and originals evoking wanderlust and cultural displacement, recorded at The Wool Hall Studios.^[62]^[67] That year, Morrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 12, 1993, though he did not attend the ceremony, with Robbie Robertson accepting on his behalf amid Morrison's cited work commitments.^[3] The live album A Night in San Francisco (1994) captured a three-hour performance from that city's Paramount Theatre, highlighting his improvisational prowess with guests like John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells.^[66] Days Like This, the twenty-third studio album, arrived June 20, 1995, offering a eclectic mix of pop-soul and folk elements, with the title track performed live for an audience of 60,000–80,000 during President Bill Clinton's visit to Belfast on November 30, 1995.^[68]^[69] Shifting to jazz territory, How Long Has This Been Going On (subtitled "with Georgie Fame and Friends"), recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club on May 3, 1995, and released December 1995, featured standards like "Moondance" and "Sack O' Woe" in a small-group setting, emphasizing Morrison's scat-like vocal improvisations alongside Fame's organ work.^[70]^[71] The decade closed with The Healing Game on March 4, 1997, reaching number 10 in the UK, where tracks like the title song and "Rough God Goes Riding" balanced gruff blues-rock with introspective ballads, though reviews noted uneven production amid Morrison's push for emotional catharsis.^[72] This sustained productivity, averaging an album every 1–2 years, demonstrated Morrison's commitment to iterative refinement, prioritizing live energy and thematic consistency over commercial trends, as evidenced by chart performance and critical focus on his undiminished vocal command.^[73]^[66]

Prolific later years: 2000–2009

In 2000, Morrison released two albums reflecting his early musical roots. You Win Again, a duet project with Linda Gail Lewis, consisted of covers of rockabilly, country, and R&B standards such as "Jambalaya" and "Crazy Arms," recorded at The Wool Hall in Bath, England.^[74] Later that year, The Skiffle Sessions – Live in Belfast 1998 appeared, capturing a 1998 reunion concert with skiffle originators Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber at Whitla Hall, featuring tracks like "It Takes a Worried Man" and "Midnight Special" that evoked Morrison's formative influences from 1950s British skiffle.^[75] These releases underscored his ongoing interest in archival and collaborative homages to pre-rock traditions. Morrison followed with a series of studio albums blending original compositions and covers across genres. Down the Road (2002) incorporated nostalgic R&B, blues, country, and folk elements in tracks like "Meet Me in the Indian Summer," expanding to fifteen songs over sixty-seven minutes.^[76] What's Wrong with This Picture? (2003), his thirtieth studio effort, drew on jazz, blues, and soul with songs such as "All Work and No Play."^[77] Magic Time (2005) explored similar territories, including covers and originals like "They Sold Me Out," dedicated in part to the memory of saxophonist Foggy Lyttle.^[78] Pay the Devil (2006) shifted to twelve American country and western covers, including "Half as Much" and "Things Have Gone to Pieces."^[79] Keep It Simple (2008), comprising original material, addressed themes of hard knocks and entrainment in songs like "How Can a Poor Boy."^[80] A 2007 compilation, Van Morrison at the Movies – Soundtrack Hits, gathered nineteen tracks used in films, from "Gloria" to "Into the Mystic."^[81] Throughout the decade, Morrison sustained rigorous live activity, with tours encompassing dozens of performances annually in venues across the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom, including multiple shows at sites like the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles and extensive U.S. dates in 2009.^[82] This period's output, marked by five new studio albums amid explorations of Americana and Celtic-infused styles, affirmed his commitment to genre-spanning creativity into his later career, often self-produced and rooted in personal musical history.^[80]

Contemporary releases: 2010–2019

Van Morrison's output during the 2010s accelerated, with multiple studio albums released in quick succession, emphasizing jazz, blues, and standards alongside original compositions. This period marked a return to collaborative efforts and reinterpretations of earlier material, while maintaining his signature blend of Celtic soul and improvisational phrasing.^[61] In 2012, Morrison released Born to Sing: No Plan B, his 35th studio album, which incorporated R&B, blues, and jazz elements with improvisational solos. The album addressed themes of materialism and greed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, delivered through Morrison's gravelly vocals backed by horns and a rhythm section. Critics noted its energetic arrangements, though some highlighted inconsistencies in the band's execution. AllMusic rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising the alchemy of Celtic soul and jazz influences across its 10 tracks.^[83]^[84] Duets: Re-working the Catalogue followed in March 2015, featuring 16 reimagined songs from Morrison's extensive catalog performed with guest artists including Bobby Womack on "Some Peace of Mind," Mavis Staples on "If I Ever Needed Someone," and Mark Knopfler. The album revisited lesser-known tracks spanning decades, revitalizing them through new interpretations rather than new originals. Released on Exile Productions, it showcased Morrison's selective curation from over 360 songs in his discography.^[85] Keep Me Singing, Morrison's 36th studio album of original material, appeared on September 30, 2016, via Caroline Records. Comprising 12 self-written songs, it reflected personal introspection and musical refinement honed over decades. The release aligned with Morrison's pattern of sustained productivity into his later career.^[86] The year 2017 saw two albums: Roll with the Punches, released September 22 on Caroline Records, which included blues covers and five new originals, drawing from rock 'n' roll cornerstones with raw, intimate delivery. It peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Later that year, on December 1, Versatile emerged, focusing on jazz standards like "A Foggy Day" and "Bye Bye Blackbird," underscoring Morrison's affinity for vocal jazz and big-band swing.^[87]^[88] In 2018, Morrison collaborated with jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco on You're Driving Me Crazy, released April 27, blending show tunes, standards, and originals in a jazz framework with organ and trumpet features. The 15-track set highlighted improvisational interplay. Later, The Prophet Speaks, issued December 7, continued the partnership with DeFrancesco, delivering 14 tracks of new material rooted in soul, standards, and jazz blues, marking Morrison's 40th studio album. AllMusic awarded it 4 out of 5 stars for its stylistic range.^[89]^[90] Concluding the decade, Three Chords and the Truth, released October 25, 2019, on Exile Productions and Caroline, featured 14 original compositions evoking country, blues, and rock influences. Tracks like "March Winds in February" and "Fame Will Eat the Soul" explored themes of spiritual yearning and societal critique. AllMusic rated it 4 out of 5 stars, noting its encapsulation of Morrison's enduring style.^[91]

2020s developments and thematic shifts

In 2020, Van Morrison publicly opposed COVID-19 lockdown measures imposed by the UK and Northern Ireland governments, citing their adverse effects on live music performances and personal freedoms.^[92] He released three protest singles that September—"Born to Be Free," "No More Lockdown," and "As I Walked Out"—with lyrics decrying government overreach, pseudoscience, and restrictions on indoor performances, such as accusations of "phony government" and "making up crooked facts."^[93] These tracks marked a departure from his prior focus on mystical, Celtic-influenced soul and jazz, incorporating direct socio-political critique amid the pandemic's economic fallout for musicians.^[94] This stance escalated into legal disputes; Morrison challenged Northern Ireland's blanket ban on indoor gigs, dropping the suit in August 2021 after policy changes allowed performances.^[95] Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann countersued for defamation in 2021 over Morrison's claims of mishandled pandemic response, with the case settling out of court in September 2024 without admission of liability.^[96] ^[97] Morrison also pursued action against the Northern Ireland Health Department in May 2022 for an article labeling his views as "dangerous," reflecting his broader resistance to institutional narratives on public health mandates.^[92] His 2021 album Latest Record Project 1803 amplified these themes across 28 original tracks, his longest studio release, targeting media bias, regulatory "tyranny," and perceived corruption in science and governance, with songs like "Where Have All the Rebels Gone?" questioning societal conformity.^[98] This contrasted his earlier work's emphasis on spiritual introspection and roots music, shifting toward raw, blues-infused polemics that prioritized individual liberty and skepticism of authority—views often framed critically by mainstream outlets as conspiratorial, though rooted in lockdown impacts on his profession.^[99] Subsequent releases, including What's It Gonna Take? in 2022, sustained this edge with tracks addressing personal resilience and institutional distrust.^[100] By mid-decade, Morrison balanced critique with prolific output and live activity, releasing Remembering Now on June 13, 2025—his 47th studio album and first originals since 2022—featuring soul-jazz blends on joy, wonder, and influences like Ray Charles, signaling a partial return to affirmative, genre-rooted expression amid ongoing tours.^[101] Performances resumed post-lockdown, including European dates like Groningen on July 1, 2025, and U.S. appearances at Summerstage, incorporating new material with classics.^[102] This evolution underscored a thematic pivot: from abstract mysticism to explicit advocacy against perceived erosions of artistic and civil autonomy, while maintaining his core stylistic fusion of blues, folk, and improvisation.^[103]

Live performances

Formative and breakthrough tours: 1960s–1970s

In the mid-1960s, Van Morrison's formative touring experience came as the lead singer of the Northern Irish R&B band Them, which he co-founded in April 1964 in Belfast.^[104] The group initially performed in local clubs and maritime hotels in Belfast and surrounding areas, building a reputation for raw, energetic R&B covers and originals like "Gloria." By early 1965, following UK chart success with "Baby, Please Don't Go," Them expanded to national tours across the United Kingdom, including high-profile appearances such as the NME Pollwinners Concert at Wembley Empire Pool on April 11, 1965.^[105] These shows honed Morrison's stage presence amid tensions with bandmates and management, emphasizing his intense vocal delivery and harmonica work. International exposure followed, with a notable performance of "Gloria" at the Olympia Hall in Paris on October 19, 1965.^[106] Them's breakthrough came with their first U.S. tour in May 1966, following the release of Them Again and capitalizing on "Gloria"'s garage rock popularity stateside.^[107] The tour, running from late May to mid-June, included dates alongside acts like the Rolling Stones and exposed Morrison to American audiences, though internal conflicts led to his departure from the band later that year.^[107] Morrison's early solo tours in 1967–1968 were sporadic and marked by personal struggles, including stage fright and contractual disputes after his debut album Blowin' Your Mind! yielded the hit "Brown Eyed Girl." His first documented solo outing included a March 1967 trip to the Netherlands, backed by Cuby + The Blizzards, and a September 1967 concert in Santa Barbara, California, billed as the Van Morrison Group.^[108] By April 1968, he performed at venues like the Electric Circus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, promoting emerging material amid a transitional phase.^[109] The 1970s saw Morrison's touring resurgence align with his artistic peak after Moondance (1970), though performances remained infrequent due to persistent stage fright. Key early-decade shows included multiple nights at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, such as April 26, 1970, where he previewed soul-infused sets blending new tracks with R&B standards.^[110] Activity tapered in 1971–1972, with limited U.S. and European dates supporting albums like Tupelo Honey, focusing on intimate venues rather than extensive tours.^[111] Morrison's true breakthrough as a live performer arrived in summer 1973 with a three-month tour of North America and Europe alongside his 11-piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra, featuring horns, strings, and a choir for expansive arrangements.^[112] Highlights included the Rainbow Theatre in London on July 24, 1973, where sets drew from Hard Nose the Highway and classics like "Cyprus Avenue," capturing his improvisational intensity.^[113] This tour, yielding the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now (1974), marked a shift to confident, orchestral spectacles that solidified his reputation beyond studio work.^[112]

Established performer: 1980s–1990s

In the 1980s, Van Morrison solidified his reputation as an established live act through consistent touring, with annual concert counts rising from 18 shows in 1980 to a peak of 69 in 1986, spanning venues in Europe and North America.^[104] These performances typically featured his core band augmented by horns and percussion, allowing for extended improvisational explorations of songs from albums like Common One (1980) and Beautiful Vision (1982), blending Celtic folk elements with jazz-inflected R&B.^[114] A notable example occurred at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 10, 1980, where Morrison delivered a set including tracks such as "Moondance" and "Kingdom Hall" alongside saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis.^[37] The era's live output culminated in the 1984 release of Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast, recorded over two nights on March 11 and 12, 1983, at Belfast's Grand Opera House with a 10-piece ensemble.^[115] The album documented Morrison's commanding stage presence, with medleys like "It's All in the Game/You Know What They're Saying" and spiritually themed pieces such as "Dweller on the Threshold," emphasizing his vocal scatting and thematic depth drawn from Celtic mysticism and personal introspection.^[116] Morrison also appeared at events like the 1987 Glastonbury Festival, performing songs including "Full Force Gale" and "Bright Side of the Road," which underscored his ability to adapt material for festival audiences.^[117] Entering the 1990s, Morrison sustained high activity levels, logging 81 concerts in 1990 alone across theaters and arenas in the US and Europe.^[118] His sets often revisited classics like "Gloria" and "Brown Eyed Girl" while incorporating newer material from Enlightenment (1990), with frequent encores featuring high-energy Them-era rockers.^[119] This period highlighted his collaborative ethos, as seen in performances with guests like saxophonist Candy Dulfer. A pinnacle was the 1994 double album A Night in San Francisco, recorded live at San Francisco's Masonic Auditorium and featuring extended sets with blues luminaries John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, and Jimmy Witherspoon.^[120] The recording captured over two hours of material, including a 20-minute rendition of "It's All in the Game" medley and tributes to influences like Hooker via "Serve You Right to Suffer," demonstrating Morrison's command of blues dynamics and his penchant for loose, jam-oriented structures that could stretch songs into transcendent vehicles.^[121] Annual tour volumes remained robust, with 72 shows in 1994, reflecting his enduring draw as a performer prioritizing artistic integrity over commercial predictability.^[104]

Modern era and recordings: 2000s–present

In the 2000s, Van Morrison sustained an intensive touring regimen, often performing two or three times weekly across venues in North America and Europe, emphasizing improvisational jazz-inflected renditions of his catalog alongside blues and R&B standards.^[122] This period saw the release of The Skiffle Sessions – Live in Belfast in 2000, capturing a 1998 performance at Ulster Hall with guest artists including Micky Most and Lonnie Donegan, highlighting Morrison's roots in skiffle traditions.^[123] A pivotal event occurred in late 2008 and early 2009 when Morrison performed his 1968 album Astral Weeks in its entirety for the first time at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, backed by an ensemble including original collaborators like Richard Davis on bass and Connie Kay's successor Jay Berliner on guitar.^[124] These concerts, documented on the live album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl released in 2009, showcased matured interpretations of the material, extending tracks with spontaneous scatting and modal explorations characteristic of Morrison's stage approach.^[124] The 2010s featured expanded global touring, including a 2017 world tour with 48 concerts and a 2018 iteration comprising 52 shows, often incorporating big band arrangements and covers from his recent studio outputs.^[125] Archival live releases supplemented this activity, such as It's Too Late to Stop Now... Vols. 2, 3 & 4 in 2016, drawn from 1973 performances but remastered for contemporary audiences.^[126] Entering the 2020s, Morrison's live schedule faced disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, yet he resumed performances, including dates tied to promotional efforts for albums like What's It Gonna Take? (2022).^[104] In 2024, he released Live at Orangefield, recorded at his former Belfast school, blending career-spanning selections with local tributes.^[126] Scheduled appearances in 2025, such as two nights at Belfast's Europa Hotel on June 23 and 24, underscore his ongoing commitment to live engagement into his late 70s.^[127] Throughout this era, Morrison's concerts prioritized artistic experimentation over predictable setlists, frequently favoring lesser-played originals and standards, which elicited varied fan responses regarding accessibility versus authenticity.^[122]

Collaborations

Key partnerships: 1960s–1970s

In the mid-1960s, Van Morrison fronted the Belfast-based R&B band Them, formed in 1964, which featured guitarist Billy Harrison, bassist Alan Henderson, keyboardist Eric Wrixon, and drummer Ronnie Millings on early recordings, yielding hits such as "Gloria" (1964) and "Here Comes the Night" (1965) under producer Bert Berns.^[1] After Them disbanded in 1966, Morrison signed with Berns' Bang Records label, collaborating closely with the producer—who had also helmed Them's sessions—on his debut solo album Blowin' Your Mind! (released December 1967), including the single "Brown Eyed Girl" recorded on March 28, 1967, at A&R Studios in New York with guitarists Hugh McCracken and Al Gorgoni.^[128] ^[1] Following Berns' death in late 1967, Morrison moved to Warner Bros. Records and partnered with jazz producer Lewis Merenstein, who assembled a ensemble of New York session musicians for Astral Weeks (recorded September–October 1968; released November 1968), emphasizing acoustic folk-jazz arrangements without prior rehearsals to capture improvisational intensity.^[129] ^[130] Merenstein's selection included bassist Richard Davis, guitarist Jay Berliner, drummer Connie Kay, flautist John Payne, and percussionist Warren Smith Jr., whose contributions blended Celtic mysticism with urban poetry in tracks like "Madame George."^[131] By 1970, Morrison shifted toward tighter R&B grooves on Moondance (recorded 1969; released February 1970), executive-produced by Merenstein, with a core band comprising guitarist John Platania, saxophonist Jack Schroer, keyboardist Jeff Labes, bassist John Klingberg, drummer Garry Mallaber, and flautist Colin Tilton, enabling hits like the title track and "Into the Mystic."^[132] ^[26] This ensemble evolved into Morrison's touring group, incorporating producer Ted Templeman for Tupelo Honey (1971), which featured expanded horns and strings.^[133] In 1973, Morrison formed the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, a 10-piece ensemble including Platania on guitar, Labes on keyboards, bassist David Hayes, drummer Dahaud Shaar, Schroer on saxophone, and trumpeter Bill Atwood, alongside string and vocal sections, to support the Hard Nose the Highway tour and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now (recorded 1973; released 1974), capturing extended improvisations on classics like "Cypress Avenue."^[112]

Mid-career joint works: 1980s–1990s

In 1988, Van Morrison collaborated with the traditional Irish ensemble The Chieftains on the album Irish Heartbeat, marking his first major joint project emphasizing Celtic musical traditions alongside his established blues and soul influences.^[134] Recorded primarily at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin from September 1987 to January 1988, the album features ten tracks blending Morrison's original compositions with Irish folk standards, such as "Star of the County Down" and "She Moved Through the Fair," arranged for uilleann pipes, bodhrán, and fiddle.^[135] Morrison's vocals and harmonica integrate with The Chieftains' instrumentation, including Paddy Moloney's pipes and tin whistle, to evoke a roots-oriented sound that drew on Morrison's Northern Irish heritage.^[54] The title track, "Irish Heartbeat," co-written by Morrison and performed as a lively reel, exemplifies the album's fusion of rhythmic energy and lyrical nostalgia for home and kin, while other originals like "Celtic Ray" incorporate soulful phrasing over acoustic backings.^[136] Released on October 15, 1988, by Polydor Records, Irish Heartbeat achieved commercial success, reaching number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1989.^[135] The collaboration extended to live performances, including concerts at Ulster Hall in Belfast and tours that showcased the album's material, reinforcing Morrison's exploration of Irish identity amid his solo output.^[137] Beyond Irish Heartbeat, Morrison's joint endeavors in the 1980s and 1990s remained selective, often limited to guest appearances or backing contributions rather than full co-led projects; for instance, his daughter Shana Morrison provided vocals on select tracks from albums like Beautiful Vision (1982) and No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), but these were integrated into his solo releases without constituting standalone collaborations.^[54] This period's emphasis stayed on Morrison's individual artistry, with Irish Heartbeat standing as the era's preeminent joint work, bridging his personal Celtic motifs with ensemble traditionalism.^[134]

Recent collaborations: 2000s–present

In 2000, Van Morrison released You Win Again, an album of country and western covers recorded in collaboration with Linda Gail Lewis, sister of Jerry Lee Lewis, featuring traditional songs such as "You Win Again" and "Jambalaya".^[123] The project emphasized Morrison's affinity for roots music, with Lewis providing harmonies and piano throughout the 23 tracks. Morrison's collaborative output expanded in the 2010s with jazz-oriented recordings alongside organist and trumpeter Joey DeFrancesco. Their 2016 album You're Driving Me Crazy presented a mix of standards and originals in a trio format, including tracks like "You're Driving Me Crazy" and "The Way Young Lovers Do". This was followed by Versatile in 2017, which incorporated larger ensembles and guest vocalists such as Natalie La Rose on "Let It Rhyme" and Georgia Anne Muldrow on "Skye". A major milestone came in 2015 with Duets: Re-working the Catalogue, where Morrison reinterpreted 16 songs from his discography alongside prominent vocalists. Collaborators included Michael Bublé on "Someone Like You", Mavis Staples on "If I Ever Needed Someone", Taj Mahal on "Wild Night", Natalie Cole on "Crazy Love", George Benson on "Higher Than the World", Joss Stone on "Wild Honey", and his daughter Shana Morrison on "Whenever God Shines His Light".^[85] The album highlighted Morrison's selective approach to partnerships, focusing on artists aligned with his stylistic vision.^[138] In 2024, Morrison issued New Arrangements and Duets, featuring big band reinterpretations of his material and fresh vocal pairings. Notable duets encompassed Kurt Elling on "Ain't Gonna Moan No More" and "Broken Record", Curtis Stigers on "Close Enough for Jazz", and Joss Stone on "Someone Like You", alongside orchestral tracks like "Avalon of the Heart".^[139] These efforts underscore Morrison's ongoing interest in ensemble reinterpretation over the past two decades.^[140]

Musical style and artistry

Vocal technique and delivery

Van Morrison's vocal technique draws heavily from blues, jazz, and R&B traditions, featuring improvisational elements such as scat singing, horn-like phrasing, and sudden bursts of yelps or growls that mimic instrumental solos.^[141] This approach treats the voice as a versatile instrument, allowing for real-time extensions of phrases beyond structured lyrics, as evident in live recordings where he integrates repetitive motifs and rhythmic scat to build intensity.^[142] His delivery often incorporates raw emotional propulsion, with abrupt dynamic shifts—from whispered intimacy to forceful exclamations—that convey urgency and transcendence, distinguishing his performances from more polished vocal styles of contemporaries.^[143]^[144] Critics note Morrison's precise control over tonal nuances, pitch variations, and rhythmic phrasing, likening his timbre to a "leather saxophone" capable of hair-splitting subtleties in volume and attack.^[143] Despite his Northern Irish origins, his singing adopts an Americanized inflection influenced by emulations of artists like Ray Charles, masking much of his accent while retaining a gritty, soul-infused quality that evokes both pain and ecstatic release.^[145] In extended improvisations, such as those on tracks from Astral Weeks (1968) or live sets documented in It's Too Late to Stop Now (1974), his voice modulates uniquely—twisting through high soars, squalls, and snuffles—to prioritize experiential depth over semantic clarity, creating a sense of vocal presence that suggests unmediated emotional truth.^[146]^[147] This technique, rooted in Celtic soul fusion, yields a "violent transcendence" through sustained rawness, though later works show refined control amid occasional gravelly wear from decades of touring.^[144]

Songwriting and lyrical themes

Van Morrison's songwriting draws heavily from blues traditions, particularly the emotive phrasing of artists like Sam Cooke and songwriters for Bobby "Blue" Bland, which informed his early techniques for crafting introspective, rhythmically fluid compositions.^[148] This foundation merged with folk, jazz, and soul elements absorbed from his father's extensive record collection, enabling Morrison to structure songs around extended improvisational forms and vivid, narrative-driven verses rather than conventional pop choruses.^[149] His process often involves layering personal anecdotes with abstract imagery, as seen in the stream-of-consciousness style of his 1968 album Astral Weeks, where lyrics evoke sensory memories without rigid rhyme schemes.^[150] Central to Morrison's lyrical themes is a quest for spiritual transcendence, infused with Celtic mysticism and references to ancient wisdom, portraying music as a conduit to higher consciousness.^[151] Songs like "Into the Mystic" from Moondance (1970) depict a soulful journey toward enlightenment, blending maritime folklore with inner awakening, while "Listen to the Lion" (1972) uses roaring metaphors to symbolize ecstatic release from mundane constraints.^[152] These works reflect a recurring motif of escaping urban alienation—rooted in Morrison's Belfast upbringing—toward harmonious union with nature and the divine, often framed through gnostic or Eastern-influenced spirituality rather than orthodox religion.^[153] Place serves as a pivotal lyrical device, anchoring abstract mysticism in concrete locales that trigger epiphanies, such as the streets of Belfast in "Cypress Avenue" or Irish landscapes evoking ancestral heritage.^[154] This incarnational approach links physical environments to metaphysical insights, as in tracks where everyday settings dissolve into timeless reverie, emphasizing themes of belonging and eternal return.^[155] Later lyrics occasionally shift to critiques of the music industry and interpersonal betrayals, though these remain secondary to the persistent undercurrent of soul-searching and cultural rootedness.^[156]

Performance approach and stage presence

Van Morrison's live performances prioritize improvisational exploration and vocal intensity over audience interaction or theatrical flair. He frequently treats studio recordings as frameworks for spontaneous extensions, incorporating extended vocal improvisations, scatting, and rhythmic swaying that evoke a trance-like state, as observed in concerts where songs evolve unpredictably through in-the-moment phrasing and ensemble interplay.^[157]^[158] His stage presence is notably restrained and inward-focused, characterized by minimal eye contact, closed eyes during peaks of emotion, and occasional turns away from the audience, which reviewers have described as detached or stiff yet underscoring the raw authenticity of his delivery. This approach eschews showmanship—no elaborate costumes, banter, or encores in many instances—emphasizing musical labor and Celtic soul-infused transcendence, as Morrison himself references in songs like "I've Been Working."^[159]^[160]^[147] Performances exhibit marked variability, with transcendent highs of emotional depth contrasting frustrating lows, including abrupt set endings or muffled acoustics that have prompted walkouts and mixed reviews, reflecting Morrison's mercurial disposition and aversion to conventional expectations.^[161]^[162]^[163] Live albums like It's Too Late to Stop Now (1974) capture this duality, documenting exhaustive improvisations across three discs that reveal both the exhaustive physicality of his style and moments of profound vocal presence, though some critics find the thoroughness overwhelming.^[164]^[147]

Genre fusion and evolution

Van Morrison's musical style emerged from a synthesis of rhythm and blues, blues, country, and gospel influences absorbed during his youth in Belfast.^[1] With the band Them in the mid-1960s, he honed an energetic R&B sound, evident in tracks like "Gloria," which fused raw blues energy with rock structures.^[1] This foundation allowed Morrison to transition into solo work by blending these elements with emerging poetic and improvisational tendencies. The 1968 album Astral Weeks marked a pivotal evolution, integrating folk narratives, blues phrasing, jazz improvisation, and Celtic invocations into a cohesive, stream-of-consciousness framework, accompanied by jazz session musicians.^[1] Departing from commercial pop like his 1967 single "Brown Eyed Girl," the record emphasized Afro-Celtic blues and spiritual exploration, setting a template for Morrison's genre-defying approach.^[1] Subsequent releases expanded this palette: Moondance (1970) incorporated soulful brass and jazz-inflected swing reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, while Tupelo Honey (1971) drew on country motifs.^[1]^[126] In the 1970s and 1980s, Morrison deepened Celtic ties, as in Irish Heartbeat (1988) with The Chieftains, merging traditional Irish folk with his soulful delivery.^[1] Later works revisited blues roots in Roll with the Punches (2017), featuring covers of Lead Belly and collaborations with Jeff Beck, and embraced jazz standards on Versatile (2017), reinterpreting pieces by Chet Baker and Louis Armstrong while blending them with gospel, folk, and original Celtic soul compositions.^[1]^[165] This album highlighted his lifelong jazz affinity, traced back to Belfast exposures and echoed in Astral Weeks' improvisational ethos.^[165] Throughout his career, Morrison's fusions reflect a deliberate evolution driven by personal influences rather than market trends, resulting in a sound that resists categorization yet consistently merges R&B, soul, jazz, folk, and Celtic elements into transcendent expressions.^[166]^[126] His ability to evolve while maintaining core stylistic integrity underscores a commitment to musical authenticity over genre boundaries.^[1]

Recurring motifs like 'Caledonia'

Van Morrison's oeuvre features recurring motifs drawn from Celtic mythology and ancestral landscapes, with Caledonia—the ancient Roman designation for Scotland and northern Britain—serving as a potent symbol of ethnic heritage, spiritual questing, and soulful introspection. This imagery evokes a mystical fusion of Irish roots and broader Celtic lore, often intertwined with themes of transcendence and elemental forces, as Morrison's roots lie in the mystical folk traditions of Celtic legends.^[167] Such references underscore a causal link between his Northern Irish upbringing in Belfast and an imagined primordial homeland, privileging undiluted evocations of place over abstract universality.^[168] The motif manifests explicitly in the naming of the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, a ten-piece ensemble Morrison assembled in 1973, incorporating strings and horns to blend R&B propulsion with Celtic-inflected soul during a three-month U.S. and European tour.^[112] This group's live performances, captured on the 1974 album It's Too Late to Stop Now released February 1, 1974, exemplify the motif's embodiment in extended improvisations that mimic shamanic journeys, with Morrison's vocal roars and scatting channeling a raw, elemental Caledonian spirit.^[169] An associated outtake, "Caledonia Soul Music" from late-1960s or early-1970s sessions possibly linked to Moondance, further illustrates this through playful, mandolin-tinged grooves inspired by domestic moments like playing with his daughter Shana, blending familial warmth with archaic soul archetypes.^[168]^[170] Lyrical invocations of Caledonia recur as waypoints in Morrison's narratives of migration and enlightenment, as in "Listen to the Lion" from 1972's Saint Dominic's Preview, where "sailed to Caledonia" depicts an ancestral voyage from Denmark-like origins to a redemptive northern realm, symbolizing rebirth amid personal turmoil.^[171] Similarly, "I Believe I've Transcended" references "heaven Caledonia" amid mountainous ascents, framing the motif within ecstatic visions of otherworldly purity.^[172] These elements parallel broader patterns, such as invocations of Irish locales like Cyprus Avenue or astral seas, forming a causal web of geographic mysticism that critiques modern alienation by reclaiming pre-Christian vitality—though academic analyses sometimes overemphasize romanticism at the expense of Morrison's empirical grounding in Belfast's working-class Protestant ethos. Morrison's 1974 cover of the jump blues standard "Caldonia" with the Caledonia Soul Express band reinforces this through rhythmic exuberance, adapting Louis Jordan's 1945 hit to his soul revue style on a single backed by "What's Up Crazy Pup." Such motifs persist, as in 2019's Three Chords and the Truth, where traditional structures gain "Caledonia soul heaviness," evidencing evolutionary continuity rather than novelty.^[173]

Influences received and exerted

Van Morrison's musical development was profoundly shaped by the diverse record collection of his father, a jazz aficionado and record collector, which exposed him from childhood to blues, gospel, country, and early rhythm and blues artists.^[149] Key early influences included Lead Belly, whose folk-blues style remained a constant from Morrison's garage band days with Them in the 1960s through his mature catalog.^[174] He frequently cited black American musicians as primary sources, learning songwriting techniques from Sam Cooke's slower ballads and the composers behind Bobby "Blue" Bland's hits, while absorbing the gritty delivery of Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Muddy Waters, Jelly Roll Morton, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Little Walter.^[148] ^[175] These roots informed the raw R&B energy of his early work with Them and the soulful structures of solo albums like Moondance (1970).^[7] Celtic folk traditions from his Northern Irish upbringing intertwined with these American imports, fostering a hybrid "Celtic soul" that emerged distinctly in Astral Weeks (1968), blending stream-of-consciousness lyrics with jazz improvisation.^[1] Jazz influences grew more explicit later, evident in reinterpretations of standards on albums such as Versatile (2017) and You're Driving Me Crazy (2018), where Morrison channeled the improvisational freedom of artists like John Coltrane and the harmonic complexity of his father's favored big bands.^[176] Skiffle, via Lonnie Donegan, also played a role in his formative years, bridging British folk revival with American blues.^[177] Morrison exerted significant influence on rock, soul, and singer-songwriter genres through his genre-blending approach, with Rolling Stone's Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll asserting that only Bob Dylan rivals his impact on subsequent singers and songwriters.^[178] Bruce Springsteen has credited Morrison's organ-horn arrangements and R&B intensity for shaping his debut albums Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973), while covering tracks like "Gloria" and ranking Astral Weeks among his favorites.^[179] ^[180] U2's Bono described encountering Morrison as akin to "meeting God," praising his angelic voice and spiritual depth as pivotal to the band's lyrical and vocal evolution, particularly in Irish-rooted rock.^[181] ^[182] Other artists, including Elvis Costello, Thin Lizzy, John Mellencamp, and Ray LaMontagne, have drawn from his emotive phrasing and thematic mysticism, often covering songs like "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic."^[178] His pioneering fusion helped define blue-eyed soul and inspired mid-1970s heartland rock, though Morrison himself critiqued derivative emulation in the genre.^[183]

Personal life

Family background and relationships

George Ivan Morrison was born on 31 August 1945 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as the only child of George Morrison, a shipyard welder with a collection of American blues, country, and gospel records that profoundly influenced his son's early musical interests, and Violet Stitt Morrison, a singer of Ulster Scots descent.^[1]^[184]^[185] The family resided in the working-class Protestant area of Bloomfield on Hyndford Street, where Morrison's exposure to his father's record collection fostered a deep appreciation for roots music genres.^[186] His father died in 1988, and his mother passed away in 2016 at the age of 94.^[187] Morrison married American model and photographer Janet Rigsbee (also known as Janet Planet) in 1970, with whom he had a daughter, Shana Caledonia Morrison, born on 7 April 1970; Shana later pursued a career as a singer-songwriter, occasionally collaborating with her father.^[188]^[189] The couple divorced in 1975 amid personal and professional strains during Morrison's early solo career.^[190] In the mid-1990s, Morrison began a relationship with Michelle Rocca, a former Miss Ireland and lawyer, whom he married; they had two children together, daughter Aibhe Rocca Morrison (born 2006) and son Fionn Ivan Patrick Morrison (born 2007).^[188]^[189] The marriage ended in 2018, though details remain private as Morrison has consistently maintained a low public profile regarding his family life.^[190]

Spiritual and religious explorations

Van Morrison was born into a Protestant family in Belfast in 1945, with his mother adhering to Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs, providing him early exposure to that denomination's teachings.^[191]^[192] This influence appears in his 1978 song "Kingdom Hall," referencing a Jehovah's Witnesses place of worship.^[192] Throughout his life, Morrison has pursued an eclectic spiritual path, exploring mysticism, Scientology—crediting L. Ron Hubbard in his 1984 album Inarticulate Speech of the Heart—Rosicrucianism, Zen Buddhism, and Tibetan esoteric ideas from Alice Bailey's writings.^[191]^[193]^[194] Morrison has identified as a Christian mystic, drawing inspiration from poets like William Blake and John Donne, and emphasizing personal encounters with the divine over institutional religion.^[192]^[195] He has stated that his songs originate from an external source, reflecting a belief in transcendent inspiration.^[195] This mysticism permeates his lyrics, as in "In the Garden" (1986), which depicts a sensory communion with nature and the Holy Ghost, and "If I Ever Needed Someone" (1970), invoking direct reliance on God.^[195]^[191] Other works, such as "Whenever God Shines His Light" (1989) and the hymn covers in Hymns to the Silence (1991), including "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Be Thou My Vision," underscore a return to Christian themes after earlier esoteric detours.^[192]^[191] In June 2017, Morrison attended a service at Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, where he performed "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" and described the event as "what an adventure," marking a notable spiritual experience after following the center's teachings remotely.^[196] He has distinguished spirituality—broad and personal—from organized religion, which he views as potentially variable in application.^[196] Celtic traditions also inform his spiritual expressions, blending with Christian mysticism in songs evoking Irish heritage and soulful transcendence.^[193]

Experiences during The Troubles

Van Morrison, raised in the Protestant working-class district of east Belfast, experienced the city's ingrained sectarian divisions during his formative years in the 1950s and early 1960s, prior to the full outbreak of The Troubles in late 1968. Born on August 31, 1945, at 23 Hyndford Street, he navigated a landscape of underlying Catholic-Protestant tensions that simmered beneath the surface of daily life, though overt violence remained sporadic until civil rights marches and riots escalated the conflict. By 1965, Morrison had departed for London with his band Them, and by 1967, he relocated to the United States, largely sparing him direct immersion in the intensified bombings, shootings, and civil unrest that claimed over 3,500 lives from 1969 to 1998.^[197] From abroad, Morrison reflected on Belfast's pre-Troubles innocence through his music, notably in the 1968 album Astral Weeks, recorded in New York but evoking the sensory details of his childhood streets like Cyprus Avenue and Hyndford Street amid the initial stirrings of unrest back home. The album's release coincided with the eruption of political violence in Northern Ireland, yet it served as an escapist reverie, contrasting the era's turmoil with personal memories of jazz clubs, gospel influences, and natural landscapes unmarred by partition's scars. Critics have noted how this work captured a longing for a lost harmony, underscoring Morrison's detachment from the conflict's frontline while highlighting the cultural fragmentation it wrought.^[198]^[197] Morrison later articulated an acute awareness of The Troubles' human toll, emphasizing how manipulated identity politics deepened communal rifts in a society already strained by historical grievances. In reflections tied to his oeuvre, he conveyed the irreplaceable loss of familiar places—many razed or altered by the violence—evident in later tracks like those on 1991's Hymns to the Silence, which yearn for a return to unaltered roots. Despite occasional returns for performances, such as in Belfast during the 1970s amid security risks, Morrison avoided explicit political endorsements, prioritizing artistic transcendence over sectarian allegiance, consistent with his Protestant upbringing in a staunchly unionist enclave.^[198]^[199]

Stance on COVID-19 policies and lockdowns

Van Morrison voiced strong opposition to COVID-19 lockdown policies, particularly those imposed by the UK and Northern Irish governments, arguing they infringed on personal freedoms and harmed the music industry. In September 2020, he announced plans to release three protest singles explicitly targeting the restrictions: "Born to Be Free" on September 25, "As I Walked Out" on October 9, and "No More Lockdown" on October 23.^[200] In lyrics such as those in "No More Lockdown," Morrison accused authorities of using safety pretexts to "enslave" citizens and labeled government actions as overreach by "fascist bullies disturbing our peace."^[201]^[93] Morrison extended his critique through public statements and advocacy for affected musicians. On September 29, 2020, he urged Northern Ireland's Health Minister Robin Swann to publicly disclose all scientific evidence justifying the restrictions, emphasizing transparency to allow public scrutiny.^[202] Earlier, in July 2020, he joined over 150 artists, including Snow Patrol and Ash, in a letter calling for urgent financial aid to Northern Ireland's live music sector, which faced indefinite closures under lockdown rules.^[203] His position aligned with concerns over economic fallout for performers, as he planned concerts in Belfast defying venue bans and collaborated with Eric Clapton on the anti-lockdown track "Stand and Deliver," released December 4, 2020, with proceeds supporting a hardship fund for musicians.^[204]^[205] Legal disputes underscored Morrison's resistance. In January 2021, he initiated a judicial review challenging Northern Ireland's prohibition on live indoor performances, contending the measures lacked proportionate evidence and devastated livelihoods.^[206] By May 2022, he filed proceedings against the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Minister Swann over an opinion piece in Rolling Stone that criticized his songs as undermining public health efforts, alleging defamation and misuse of public funds.^[92]^[207] These actions drew rebukes from officials, with Swann describing the protest songs as a "smear" on health responses, reflecting tensions between artistic dissent and policy enforcement.^[208]^[209] Morrison maintained his stance prioritized empirical validation of restrictions over compliance, amid broader debates on their causal impacts versus benefits.

Positions on Northern Irish identity and unionism

Van Morrison was born on August 31, 1945, in Belfast's Hyndford Street, a predominantly Protestant area in east Belfast historically associated with unionist sentiments.^[210] Raised in a Protestant household by a father who collected American blues records and a mother of Ulster Scots descent, Morrison's early environment reflected the cultural and political fabric of unionist Northern Ireland, emphasizing resilience amid sectarian tensions.^[211] This background positioned him within communities that identified strongly as British and opposed Irish unification, though Morrison has rarely articulated explicit political endorsements.^[212] Biographer Johnny Rogan, in Van Morrison: No Surrender (2005), portrays Morrison's personality as embodying the "No Surrender" mentality—a slogan synonymous with Ulster unionism's defiance during crises like the Ulster Workers' Council strike of 1974 and opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. Rogan links this to Morrison's Belfast upbringing, where interpersonal conflicts and a siege-like worldview mirrored unionist cultural stubbornness, fostering an inner discovery amid the Troubles without direct republican alignment.^[213] Morrison's acceptance of British honors, including the OBE in 1996 and knighthood in 2016 as Sir George Ivan Morrison, further signals affinity with UK institutions over Irish republican narratives.^[214] Public associations underscore a pragmatic unionist tilt. In June 2021, during a Belfast event, Morrison joined DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr.—a prominent unionist voice—on stage in chanting "Robin Swann is very dangerous," targeting the Ulster Unionist health minister over COVID-19 gig cancellations, an act that drew intra-unionist criticism but highlighted Morrison's alignment with hardline figures against perceived overreach.^[215] While not overtly partisan, Morrison's lyrics often evoke a localized Northern Irish identity rooted in Belfast's Protestant topography—streets like Cyprus Avenue—prioritizing personal transcendence over pan-Irish unity, as analyzed in cultural critiques of his work.^[216] This reflects a unionist-inflected "Northern Irishness" distinct from southern Irish or republican framings, emphasizing empirical ties to place and heritage without romanticized nationalism.^[214]

Broader critiques of authority and censorship

Van Morrison has articulated a longstanding skepticism toward institutional authority, viewing it as prone to overreach and suppression of individual freedoms. In interviews, he has positioned his artistic output as inherently anti-establishment, emphasizing resistance to both governmental mandates and cultural conformity that stifle creative expression.^[99] This perspective manifests in his 2021 album Latest Record Project 7089, where tracks challenge perceived elite control over public narratives, including the song "They Own the Media," whose lyrics decry concentrated media ownership—"They own the media, they control the media"—as enabling biased information dissemination.^[217] Critics, including some in Jewish media outlets, interpreted the track's framing as invoking antisemitic tropes, though Morrison has not directly addressed such charges beyond defending artistic liberty.^[217] Morrison's critiques extend to what he describes as a cultural erosion of free speech principles, particularly when dissenting views face professional or public ostracism. In a 2021 discussion, he attributed backlash against his work to an environment where "freedom of speech used to be OK. Why not now?" and lamented that expressions of opposition elicit "a very negative reaction" from media and peers.^[218] He has accused press coverage of his positions as infringing on open discourse, framing it as part of a broader pattern where artistic protest is marginalized rather than debated.^[219] This stance aligns with his historical independence from industry pressures, as seen in early career disputes over song alterations for radio viability, such as the retitling of "Brown Skinned Girl" to "Brown Eyed Girl" in 1967 to avoid content objections, though Morrison himself has rarely commented on such incidents as censorship.^[220] In legal actions, Morrison has contested governmental restrictions on live performances, filing a 2022 High Court challenge in Belfast against Northern Ireland's health department and minister over policies he argued unlawfully curtailed artistic gatherings without sufficient evidence.^[92] Although the suit was later withdrawn, it underscored his contention that authorities prioritize control over empirical justification, echoing first-principles demands for verifiable cause-and-effect in policy-making. Mainstream outlets, often aligned with institutional consensus, have portrayed these efforts as contrarian or fringe, highlighting a credibility gap where dissenting artists encounter amplified scrutiny compared to compliant voices.^[221] Morrison's approach privileges unfiltered personal reasoning over prevailing narratives, as evidenced in his 2022 album What's It Gonna Take?, which continues themes of institutional skepticism without deference to orthodox sensitivities.^[99]

Recognition and legacy

Awards and honors

Van Morrison has received several prestigious awards and honors for his contributions to music, including inductions into major halls of fame and lifetime achievement recognitions. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, acknowledging his innovative body of work spanning rock, soul, folk, and jazz influences.^[3] In 1994, Morrison was awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the ceremony held in London.^[222] He received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1995, honoring his songwriting prowess.^[223] Morrison was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1996 for services to music.^[224] Morrison has won two Grammy Awards out of seven nominations: in 1996 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and in 1998 for the same category, shared with John Lee Hooker for "Don't Look Back."^[225] In 2015, he was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music and tourism in Northern Ireland, formally receiving the honor from the Prince of Wales in 2016.^[4] ^[226] In 2017, he was presented with the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting.^[227]

Critical reception and rankings

Van Morrison's solo career began with mixed critical responses, but his early work established a reputation for innovative fusion of R&B, folk, jazz, and Celtic influences, often praised for lyrical depth and emotional intensity. His 1968 album Astral Weeks garnered initial indifference or criticism for its abstract, non-commercial structure, with reviewers at the time describing it as monotonous or dull despite its poetic mysticism and improvisational jazz elements.^[228] ^[229] Over decades, however, it achieved canonical status, lauded for capturing spiritual yearning and raw vulnerability, with critics like Lester Bangs later highlighting its transcendent qualities.^[230] The 1970 follow-up Moondance marked a commercial and critical breakthrough, receiving immediate acclaim for its accessible yet sophisticated blend of soul, jazz-pop, and upbeat rhythms, solidifying Morrison's status as a major artist.^[231] ^[28] Tracks like "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic" were singled out for their melodic invention and confident execution, helping to pioneer soft rock while achieving strong FM radio play.^[232] Subsequent albums like His Band and the Street Choir (1970) and Tupelo Honey (1971) continued this positive trajectory with warm reviews for their soulful accessibility, though later works such as Common One (1980) and No Guru, No Method, No Master (1986) elicited divided opinions, with some praising their exploratory mysticism and others critiquing perceived self-indulgence.^[233] Overall, aggregate critic scores across his discography average around 69 out of 100 based on hundreds of reviews, reflecting consistent respect tempered by variability in later output.^[234] In rankings, Astral Weeks and Moondance frequently top lists of Morrison's best albums, with Moondance often placed first for its enduring accessibility and influence.^[235] Publications like Rolling Stone have highlighted both as essential, alongside underappreciated entries like No Guru, No Method, No Master.^[232] Morrison himself has been ranked #37 on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, a placement he publicly dismissed as undervaluing his vocal range and phrasing compared to lower-ranked artists.^[236] ^[237] He appears in broader artist rankings, such as #73 on VH1's 2010 list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, acknowledging his influence on rock, soul, and singer-songwriter traditions despite evolving critical consensus on his prolific but uneven catalog.^[238]

Cultural impact and tributes

Van Morrison's fusion of rhythm and blues, folk, jazz, Celtic folk, and gospel has shaped the work of numerous singer-songwriters, earning comparisons to Bob Dylan's breadth of influence in blending genres and lyrical depth.^[178] His songbook, rooted in blues and informed by diverse traditions, continues to inspire reinterpretations across rock, soul, and Americana.^[239] Tracks like "Brown Eyed Girl" (1967) and "Moondance" (1970) have achieved standard status, with covers by Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Buckley, Elvis Costello, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers demonstrating their adaptability and enduring appeal.^[240] ^[241] Morrison's early hit "Gloria" (1964, with Them) has been recorded by over 100 artists, including Patti Smith (1975) and Iggy Pop, underscoring its foundational role in garage rock and punk.^[241] In March 2019, an all-star tribute concert at Carnegie Hall celebrated Morrison's catalog, featuring performances by Patti Smith, Bettye LaVette, and others who rendered his Celtic soul-infused compositions in fresh arrangements.^[239] For his 75th birthday on August 31, 2020, Irish magazine Hot Press curated "Rave On, Van Morrison," a project involving 75 Irish artists covering 75 of his songs, with contributions from Damien Rice, Andrea Corr, and President Michael D. Higgins, broadcast daily on YouTube throughout August and September.^[242] ^[243] Dedicated tribute acts, including Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute (active since at least 2023) and Van The Band, regularly perform his repertoire, preserving his live energy and drawing audiences to venues across the United States and Europe.^[244] ^[245] Morrison's 1976 performance of "Caravan" at The Band's The Last Waltz concert further cemented his reputation for improvisational prowess, influencing collaborative rock spectacles.^[239]

Discography

References

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Biography | Van Morrison | Official Website
Sir Van Morrison's unique and inspirational musical legacy is rooted in postwar Belfast. Born in 1945 Van heard his Shipyard worker father's collection of ...
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On This Day: Belfast rocker Van Morrison born in 1945 - Irish Central
Aug 31, 2025 · Van Morrison is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a six-time Grammy Award winner, a recipient of the Brit Award for Outstanding ...
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VAN MORRISON. < Class of 1993 · All Inductees >. YEAR. 1993. INDUCTED BY. Robbie ... Van Morrison is an artist in the purest sense. Van Morrison's body of ...
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Van Morrison knighthood leads NI awards in Queen's Birthday ...
Jun 12, 2015 · The Belfast-born musician, whose full name is George Ivan Morrison, will be known as Sir George. He described his new title as a "huge honour".
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Van Morrison Announces three Protest Songs Against Lockdown
Sep 18, 2020 · Born To Be Free, As I Walked Out, and No More Lockdown are songs of protest which question the measures the Government has put in place.Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies<|control11|><|separator|>
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Morrison milestone — Van the Man at 79 | The Irish Post
Aug 3, 2024 · Early Belfast days. VAN Morrison was born on August 31,1945 in east Belfast to a working-class family. His father George was a shipyard ...
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Van Morrison - Blue Note Records
George Ivan Morrison was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 31, 1945; his mother was a singer, while his father ardently collected classic American ...Missing: reliable sources
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Van Morrison - This Day In Music
Mar 18, 2024 · The first record Van ever bought was by blues musician Sonny Terry. Morrison's father bought him his first acoustic guitar when he was 11 ...
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Van Morrison - WBSS Media
George Ivan "Van" Morrison was born on 31 August 1945, at 125 Hyndford Street, Bloomfield, Belfast, Northern Ireland, as the only child of George Morrison, a ...
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Them: Belfast R&B Legends & Van Morrison's Early Hits | Rock Bio
Formation and Early Days. The story of Them began in 1964, when Van Morrison answered an advert seeking musicians to play at a new R&B club in the Maritime ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
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Them | Garage Hangover
May 17, 2010 · Back in Belfast, Morrison and Henderson have formed a new version of Them with lead guitarist Jim Armstrong (b. 24 July 1944, Belfast, N.
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https://www.discogs.com/artist/275791-Them-3
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Van Morrison - classicbands.com
In frustration, Morrison finally left Them following a 1966 tour of the U.S., quitting the music business and returning to Belfast. After Berns relocated to ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Van Morrison's Complete Them Recordings Released
Van Morrison's Complete Them Recordings Released · 1. “Don't Start Crying Now” · 2. “One Two Brown Eyes” · 3. “Baby Please Don't Go” · 4. “Gloria” · 5. “Philosophy”
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'The Complete Them' Showcases Van Morrison Before He Went Solo
Mar 17, 2016 · Morrison flew back to London and told Decca he'd signed as a solo act with Bert Berns' new label, Bang, and dissolved the band's contract. He ...
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Why Van Morrison Wrote and Recorded Three Dozen Songs in a Day
Aug 7, 2025 · After leaving Them in 1966, he was lured to New York by producer Bert Berns, who'd been familiar with him since Them covered Berns' "Here ...
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https://www.discogs.com/master/16557-Van-Morrison-Blowin-Your-Mind
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Blowin' Your Mind | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Blowin' Your Mind! is the debut album by Van Morrison, released in 1967. It was recorded March 1967 and contained his first solo pop hit "Brown Eyed Girl".Missing: solo | Show results with:solo
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Brown Eyed Girl | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning · Chart Performance: Pop (#10); 1967 · Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne.
[20]
Today in Music (1967): Van Morrison charted with “Brown-Eyed Girl”
Jul 15, 2017 · Van Morrison (see lyrics here). First Charted: June 24, 1967. Peak: 10 US, 8 CB, 4 GR, 7 HR, 1 CL, 60 UK, 13 CN, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts ...
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Van Morrison: Blowin' Your Mind! (1967) - cinematelevisionmusic
Sep 2, 2024 · Although Blowin' Your Mind! is technically Van Morrison's first solo album it feels more like a work in transition.
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Graded on a Curve: Van Morrison, Blowin' Your Mind!
Aug 18, 2017 · Van Morrison may have found Blowin' Your Mind! spew-worthy, but I certainly don't. It's a revelation is what it is, and a very fine debut album.<|separator|>
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The Miracle of Van Morrison's “Astral Weeks” | The New Yorker
Mar 7, 2018 · In November, 1968, the irascible songwriter from Belfast released a jazz-influenced acoustic song cycle that featured minimal percussion, an ...
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Behind the Masterpiece: Van Morrison's Astral Weeks at 50
May 12, 2021 · So begins Astral Weeks, the sublime, eight-song album released in 1968 with little fanfare, though it endures 50 years later as Van ...
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Van the man Morrison: Astral weeks a classic - Facebook
Jul 24, 2024 · He has said, "When Astral Weeks came out, I was starving, literally." Released in 1968, the album originally received an indifferent ...Van Morrison's Astral Weeks album releaseVan Morrison's Astral Weeks Album DiscussionMore results from www.facebook.com
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Moondance by Van Morrison - Classic Rock Review
Jul 10, 2015 · Moondance was a critical and commercial success, peaking in the Top 40 in charts in both the US and the UK. It has continuously sold well during ...
[27]
MOONDANCE – VAN MORRISON - Official Charts
Chart facts. Peak position32; LabelWARNER BROTHERS; Catalogue numberWS1835; First Chart Date 18/04/1970. Weeks on chart.
[28]
55 Years Later: Van Morrison Drops Jazz-Pop Triumph With ...
Jan 26, 2025 · Van Morrison's Moondance (released 1/27/70) is a sublime pleasure to rediscover, whether in its original 1970 form or the 2013 expanded edition.
[29]
50 Years Later: Revisiting Van Morrison's Impressionable 'His Band ...
Nov 13, 2020 · Beginning with 1967's “Brown Eyed Girl” and followed by the near-mythic Astral Weeks of a year later, his solo efforts exceeded any expectations ...
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50 Years Later: Revisiting Van Morrison's Blissful 'Tupelo Honey'
Oct 15, 2021 · Tupelo Honey (released 10/15/71), falls squarely between the polished, jazz-inflected likes of Moondance and the earthier, blues, and soul-rooted tones of His ...
[31]
45. VAN MORRISON – VEEDON FLEECE (1974)
Jun 27, 2015 · Inspired by a trip to the Emerald Isle he made in October 1973, Morrison composed this set of songs, where a Blakeian romanticism inhabits the spirits of ...
[32]
The Band Bids Farewell At The Winterland For 'The Last Waltz', On ...
Nov 25, 2024 · On Thanksgiving 1976, The Band took to Bill Graham's Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for their star-studded farewell, 'The Last Waltz'.<|separator|>
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VAN MORRISON songs and albums | full Official Chart history
VAN MORRISON songs and albums, peak chart positions, career stats, week-by-week chart runs and latest news.Missing: 1970s | Show results with:1970s
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https://www.discogs.com/master/16617-Van-Morrison-Common-One
[35]
Common One - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7.7/10 (568) Common One by Van Morrison released in 1980. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[36]
Doing a 180: Van Morrison, Common One / Beautiful Vision ... - Rhino
Jan 26, 2016 · Unfortunately, the album itself proved to be Morrison's lowest-charting effort in the US since before the release of Moondance in 1970, but it ...
[37]
Van Morrison: Live at Montreux 1980 (High Quality) - YouTube
Mar 15, 2023 · Recorded live on July 10, 1980 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. An all-timer. Van Morrison – vocals, electric guitar | Pee Wee Ellis – soprano ...
[38]
https://www.discogs.com/master/14875-Van-Morrison-Beautiful-Vision
[39]
Beautiful Vision | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Beautiful Vision is the 13th studio album by Van Morrison. It continued Morrison's departure from R&B at the time, favouring Celtic folk and American jazz.Missing: details | Show results with:details
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Fans Of Van Morrison | Up next Beautiful Vision released on 16th ...
May 28, 2025 · Up next Beautiful Vision released on 16th February 1982 and reached number 31 in the UK album charts. Not listened to this album in a long time ...Missing: details | Show results with:details<|separator|>
[41]
Van Morrison in the 1980s: Five Best Albums
Nov 6, 2018 · For much of the 1980s, Morrison alternated between exploratory works, a la Astral Weeks, and pop-oriented records, a la Moondance. This duality ...
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https://www.discogs.com/master/16586-Van-Morrison-Inarticulate-Speech-Of-The-Heart
[43]
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart | Van Morrison Official
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart is the 14th studio album by Van Morrison. The track "Celtic Swing" made an appearance on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones.
[44]
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart - Van Morriso... - AllMusic
Rating 7.6/10 (426) Release Date: March, 1983. Duration: 47:10. Genre: Pop/Rock. Styles: Adult Contemporary, Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Jazz-Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft ...
[45]
A Sense of Wonder | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
A Sense of Wonder is the 15th studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison released in 1985. It features "What Would I Do" (Ray Charles).Missing: 1985 | Show results with:1985
[46]
https://www.discogs.com/master/16605-Van-Morrison-A-Sense-Of-Wonder
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A Sense of Wonder - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7.3/10 (622) A Sense of Wonder by Van Morrison released in 1985. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[48]
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher | Van Morrison Official
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher is the sixteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1986 on Mercury.
[49]
https://www.discogs.com/master/16625-Van-Morrison-No-Guru-No-Method-No-Teacher
[50]
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher - Van Morrison ... - AllMusic
Rating 8.3/10 (470) No Guru, No Method, No Teacher by Van Morrison released in 1986. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[51]
Van Morrison - 10 Brilliant Live Performances from 1986
60 gigs in 1986, 49 in Europe & 11 in the US. Most Played songs: * Vanlose Stairway - 60 * Northern Muse Solid Ground - 57 * Moondance - 53 * It's All In ...
[52]
https://www.discogs.com/master/16659-Van-Morrison-Poetic-Champions-Compose
[53]
Poetic Champions Compose - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 8.3/10 (433) Poetic Champions Compose by Van Morrison released in 1987. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[54]
Irish Heartbeat with The Chieftains | Van Morrison
Irish Heartbeat is the 18th studio album by Van Morrison and is a collaboration with the traditional Irish musical group the Chieftains, released in 1988.
[55]
https://www.discogs.com/release/1181957-Van-Morrison-The-Chieftains-Irish-Heartbeat
[56]
Irish Heartbeat - Van Morrison, The Chieftains... - AllMusic
Rating 8.4/10 (391) Irish Heartbeat by Van Morrison, The Chieftains released in 1988. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[57]
Avalon Sunset | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Avalon Sunset is the 19th studio album by singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in 1989 by Mercury Records to both commercial and critical success.
[58]
https://www.discogs.com/master/16593-Van-Morrison-Avalon-Sunset
[59]
Avalon Sunset - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7.7/10 (597) Release Date: June, 1989. Duration: 42:22. Genre: Pop/Rock, R&B. Styles: Adult Contemporary, Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Singer/ ...
[60]
Van Morrison - The Concert - Live At The Beacon(Nov. 1989)
Nov 14, 2022 · Van Morrison - The Concert - Live At The Beacon(Nov. 1989) · Comments.
[61]
Music | Van Morrison | Official Website
### Summary of Van Morrison Studio Albums (1990–1999)
[62]
Too Long in Exile - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7/10 (338) Too Long in Exile by Van Morrison released in 1993. Find album reviews ... Release Date. June 8, 1993. Duration. 01:17:04. Genre. Pop/Rock, R&B. Styles. Adult ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[63]
https://www.discogs.com/master/16791-Van-Morrison-Hymns-To-The-Silence
[64]
https://www.discogs.com/release/716638-Van-Morrison-Enlightenment
[65]
Hymns to the Silence | Albums | Van Morrison Official
Released September 1991 · Professional Jealousy · I'm Not Feeling It Anymore · Ordinary Life · Some Peace Of Mind · So Complicated · I Can't Stop Loving You · Why Must ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[66]
https://www.discogs.com/artist/255411-Van-Morrison
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https://www.discogs.com/master/137785-Van-Morrison-Too-Long-In-Exile
[68]
30 years ago today: Van Morrison released Days Like This | Hotpress
Jun 5, 2025 · On this day 30 years ago, Van Morrison released his iconic, Mercury Prize-nominated album Days Like This – featuring the beloved title track.
[69]
https://www.discogs.com/master/25770-Van-Morrison-Days-Like-This
[70]
How Long Has This Been Going On - Van Morrison... - AllMusic
Rating 7.1/10 (188) How Long Has This Been Going On by Van Morrison, Georgie Fame released in 1996. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
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https://www.discogs.com/release/1034235-Van-Morrison-With-Georgie-Fame-Friends-How-Long-Has-This-Been-Going-On
[72]
The Healing Game - Rolling Stone
Feb 11, 1997 · During the course of a 30-year solo career, he has crafted classic albums like Astral Weeks, Moondance and Into the Music. He has also chased ...Missing: Enlightenment | Show results with:Enlightenment
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https://www.vanmorrison.com/music/the-healing-game
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YOU WIN AGAIN | Linda Gail Lewis and Van Morrison - Bandcamp
Free deliveryYOU WIN AGAIN by Linda Gail Lewis and Van Morrison, released 03 October 2000 1. Let's Talk About Us 2. You Win Again 3. Jambalaya 4. Crazy Arms 5.
[75]
The Skiffle Sessions | Albums | Van Morrison Official
The Skiffle Sessions – Live In Belfast 1998 is a live album by singer-songwriter Van Morrison, with Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber, released in 2000.
[76]
Down the Road | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Down the Road is the 29th studio album by Van Morrison. The album has a nostalgic tone, and its arrangements mix R&B and blues with country and folk.Missing: details | Show results with:details
[77]
What's Wrong with This Picture | Albums - Van Morrison
What's Wrong with This Picture? is the thirtieth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 21 October 2003 by Blue Note…
[78]
Magic Time | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Magic Time is the thirty-first studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 17 May 2005 by Geffen Records.
[79]
Pay the Devil | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Pay the Devil is the 32nd studio album by Van Morrison. It was released in 2006. The album features 12 cover versions of American country and western tunes.
[80]
Keep It Simple | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Keep It Simple is the thirty-third solo studio album recorded by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 17 March 2008.
[81]
Van Morrison at the Movies | Albums
Van Morrison at the Movies – Soundtrack Hits is a compilation album by Van Morrison, released in 2007 comprising 19 songs as featured in various movies.
[82]
Van Morrison Concerts 2000s
January 21-22, 2000 Reno Hilton Theatre, Reno, NV January 25-26, 2000 Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA January 27, 2000 Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco, ...
[83]
Born to Sing: No Plan B - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7.7/10 (288) Born to Sing: No Plan B by Van Morrison released in 2012. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.Missing: performance | Show results with:performance
[84]
Born to Sing: No Plan B - Rolling Stone
Oct 2, 2012 · At 67, on his 35th studio album, Morrison feels like an endangered species, surrounded by jive and crooks, with nothing to fall back on but his sinuous growl.
[85]
Duets: Re-working the Catalogue - Van Morrison
Released March 2015 · Bobby Womack: Some Peace Of Mind · Mavis Staples: If I Ever Needed Someone · George Benson: Higher Than The World · Joss Stone: Wild Honey · PJ ...
[86]
Keep Me Singing | Albums | Van Morrison Official Website
Keep Me Singing is the 36th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The album was released on September 30, 2016, by Caroline Records.
[87]
Roll With The Punches | Van Morrison Official
Roll with the Punches is the 37th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The album released on Sept 2017, charted at No 4 in UK charts.
[88]
Versatile | Van Morrison Official
Versatile is the 38th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The album will be released on 1 December 2017.
[89]
You're Driving Me Crazy - Joey DeFrancesco, Va... - AllMusic
Rating 7.8/10 (180) You're Driving Me Crazy by Joey DeFrancesco, Van Morrison released in 2018. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
[90]
The Prophet Speaks - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 7.8/10 (188) Release Date: December 7, 2018. Duration: 01:09:00. Genre: Pop/Rock. Styles: Soul, Standards, Vocal Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Jazz Blues.
[91]
Three Chords and the Truth - Van Morrison | Album - AllMusic
Rating 8.1/10 (253) Release Date: October 25, 2019. Duration: 01:07:46. Genre: Pop/Rock. Styles: Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Contemporary Blues, Celtic ...
[92]
Van Morrison takes legal action against Northern Ireland health ...
May 30, 2022 · In September 2020, Morrison released three anti-lockdown songs, with lyrics that accused scientists of “making up crooked facts”.
[93]
Van Morrison protests Covid-19 lockdowns in three new songs - CNN
Sep 18, 2020 · The 74-year-old Northern Irish singer has criticized the government for canceling live music shows and questioned the science behind ...Missing: 2020-2022 | Show results with:2020-2022
[94]
Van Morrison Shares 'No More Lockdown,' the Third and Final in His ...
The third and final Van Morrison 'anti-lockdown protest song' is here, and "No More Lockdown" makes his stance as clear as can be.Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
[95]
Coronavirus: Sir Van Morrison ends legal action over live music ban
Aug 3, 2021 · Sir Van Morrison has dropped a legal challenge against the "blanket ban" on live music in licensed venues in Northern Ireland.Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
[96]
Van Morrison, Robin Swann Settle Defamation Lawsuits
Sep 6, 2024 · Back in 2020, Morrison emerged as one of the most vociferous critics of Covid-19 lockdown measures and their impact on the live entertainment ...
[97]
Van Morrison and Robin Swann's Defamation Lawsuit Settled
Sep 7, 2024 · Northern Ireland's health minister Robin Swann filed a defamation lawsuit after Van Morrison accused him of mis-handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
[98]
ROCK & ROLL 19 WOKE 0 - Jaideep Varma - Medium
May 24, 2021 · While 28 songs on the album, plainly called Latest Record Project Volume 1, make it Van Morrison's longest studio album in his 54-year-old ...
[99]
Van Morrison's Self-Absorbed Descent Into COVID Lunacy
May 31, 2022 · The basis for Morrison's unabashed conspiracy spouting and bad-faith COVID denial are unpredictable lockdowns that have prohibited him from ...
[100]
Album of the week: Van Morrison, Remembering Now, (Exile ...
Jun 19, 2025 · REMEMERING Now is veteran Belfast mystic musician Van Morrison's first collection of original compositions since 2022's What's It Gonna Take?<|separator|>
[101]
Van Morrison Releases New Album 'Remembering Now' (Listen/Buy)
Jun 13, 2025 · Van Morrison released his new studio album, Remembering Now. The 47th studio album from the legendary Northern Irish singer/songwriter, it arrived today, June ...
[102]
Van Morrison - Concert - Setlist.fm
Van Morrison at Summerstage 2025 · Into the Mystic · Cutting Corners · Only a Dream / Bonaparte's Retreat · Jumping With Symphony Sid · If I Ever Needed Someone · For ...
[103]
Van Morrison - Remembering Now Review: His best album in decades
Jun 10, 2025 · Morrison's first set of originals since 2022 finds him back in the moment - and soaring. Read MOJO's review and the track list in full.
[104]
Van Morrison Concert & Tour History (Updated for 2025)
Van Morrison tours & concert list along with photos, videos, and setlists of their live performances.
[105]
"THEM" WITH VAN MORRISON - Angelfire
Van Morrison quit the band in 1966 and went on to a successful career as a solo artist. Although Them had a short-lived existence, the Belfast group had ...
[106]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WsGHcl_jlk
[107]
Them biography | Last.fm
Jan 5, 2025 · With Van Morrison on vocals and harmonica, it featured as well Billy Harrison on guitar, Eric Wrixen on piano and keyboards, Alan Henderson on ...
[108]
Van Morrison with Cuby & The Blizzards,Deventer, Holland March ...
Mar 2, 2022 · This is Van`s first recording post Them Van said "Cuby + The Blizzards was my back up band on my first trip to Holland in March 1967" One ...
[109]
Van Morrison Concerts 1960s
1968 April 16, 1968 Electric Circus, Cambridge, MA (billed as “Van Morrison Controversy”) April 20, 1968 Boston Common, Boston, MA ("Spring Sing", billed as “ ...
[110]
Van Morrison April 1970 Fillmore West SF KSAN - Internet Archive
Mar 25, 2025 · Van Morrison and his band in peak form at the Fillmore West in San Francisco on April 26, 1970. Van had just released Moondance 3 months before this concert.
[111]
Van Morrison Tour Statistics: 1972 - Setlist.fm
This table lists how often a song was performed by Van Morrison in 1972. Multiple performances from the same setlist are also counted towards the total. Song ...
[112]
Inside Van Morrison's Legendary 'It's Too Late to Stop Now' Tour
Aug 31, 2017 · Musicians who toured with Van Morrison in 1973 recall the run of shows that led to legendary double live LP 'It's Too Late to Stop Now.'Missing: breakthrough | Show results with:breakthrough
[113]
July 24: Classic concert – Van Morrison at Rainbow Theatre London ...
Jul 24, 2020 · In 1973 Van Morrison and the Caledonia Soul Orchestra went on a three-month tour of the United States, and Europe with the result of which ...
[114]
Van Morrison Tour Statistics: 1980 - Setlist.fm
This table lists how often a song was performed by Van Morrison in 1980. Multiple performances from the same setlist are also counted towards the total. Song ...
[115]
Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast | Van Morrison
Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast is a live album by Van Morrison. It was recorded from four live shows in March 1983 at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.
[116]
https://www.discogs.com/release/2119112-Van-Morrison-Live-At-The-Grand-Opera-House-Belfast
[117]
Van Morrison – 7 Brilliant Live Performances from 1987
Oct 5, 2017 · Van Morrison – 7 Brilliant Live Performances from 1987 · Foreign Window – Glastonbury, England – June 26, 1987 · Full Force Gale/Bright Side Of ...
[118]
Van Morrison's 1990 Concert & Tour History
Van Morrison had 81 concerts in 1990 (Page 3) ; Jul 08, 1990. Van Morrison. Setlists. Skeppsholmen ; Jul 07, 1990. Van Morrison. Setlists. Scandinavium ; Jul 06, ...
[119]
https://www.setlist.fm/stats/van-morrison-1bd6adc4.html?year=1990
[120]
A Night in San Francisco (Live) - Van Morrison
A Night in San Francisco is a live album by Van Morrison, released in 1994. The album features various guest artists including Candy Dulfer.
[121]
https://www.discogs.com/release/4320431-Van-Morrison-A-Night-In-San-Francisco
[122]
Van Morrison | IrishRockers.com
Van Morrison continued to record and tour in the 2000s, performing two or three times a week. Playing fewer of his well-known songs in concert than almost any ...
[123]
Van Morrison's complete discography in chronological order
Sep 7, 2025 · Reached the end of my project of ranking the top 25 albums of Van Morrison so here's my chart rundown. 1. Mooddance 2. Astral Weeks 3. Tupelo ...Up next in my top 25 albums of Van Morrison is Peotic - FacebookVan Morrison's music career and achievements - FacebookMore results from www.facebook.com
[124]
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Van Morrison
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl is the 5th live album recorded by singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and released in the US on February 24, 2009.
[125]
Van Morrison Concert Map | setlist.fm
Tours · 2009 U.S. Tour (5) · 2012 Culloden Hotel Warm-up Gigs (4) · 2017 World Tour (48) · 2018 World Tour (52) · A Sense of Wonder (33) · Accentuate the Positive (30) ...
[126]
Van Morrison - Apple Music
Listen to music by Van Morrison on Apple Music. Find top songs and albums by Van Morrison including Brown Eyed Girl, Into the Mystic and more.
[127]
Van Morrison Live Belfast - The Europa Hotel
The world-famous Sir Van Morrison returns to the legendary Europa Hotel for two unforgettable nights of music on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th June 2025.<|control11|><|separator|>
[128]
How Van Morrison recorded his greatest song - MusicRadar
Oct 16, 2025 · Producer Bert Berns signed Morrison to his new label, Bang, and released the tracks as the album, Blowin' Your Mind!. But while Brown Eyed ...
[129]
Lewis Merenstein, Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks' Producer, Dead at 81
Sep 9, 2016 · Lewis Merenstein, producer on Van Morrison's classic Astral Weeks and Moondance LPs, died Tuesday from complications due to pneumonia.
[130]
In Full: Lewis Merenstein, producer of Astral Weeks
Mar 1, 2009 · A seasoned jazz producer, Merenstein was sent by Warner Brothers to check out the latest batch of Morrison's songs, and upon hearing Morrison ...
[131]
Lewis Merenstein(1943-2016) - IMDb
Lewis Merenstein, producer on Van Morrison's classic Astral Weeks and Moondance LPs. With his jazz background, he is credited with assembling and ...
[132]
Classic Tracks: Van Morrison 'Moondance' - Sound On Sound
While its generally introspective, pessimistic tone perhaps accounted for its lack of commercial success, this was rectified by its equally brilliant yet ...
[133]
How Van Morrison Gave Van Halen Producer Ted Templeman His ...
Oct 3, 2019 · Van Halen producer Ted Templeman recalled how Van Morrison kickstarted his career by having him work on 'Tupelo Honey' in October 2019.
[134]
Irish Heartbeat (Van Morrison and The Chieftains)
'Irish Heartbeat', a collaboration album with Van Morrison, was Van's first attempt to reconcile his Celtic roots with his blues and soul music.
[135]
https://www.discogs.com/release/1572383-Van-Morrison-The-Chieftains-Irish-Heartbeat
[136]
Van Morrison & The Chieftains – Irish Heartbeat Lyrics - Genius
Irish Heartbeat Lyrics: Oh won't you stay / Stay awhile with your own ones / Don't ever stray / Stray so far from your own ones / For the world is so cold ...<|separator|>
[137]
The 1988 collaboration of the Chieftains and Van Morrison ...
Jun 27, 2024 · The 1988 collaboration of the Chieftains and Van Morrison produced an album and concernts of the highest quality . Bill Taylor has made the ...Van Morrison's complete discography in chronological orderUp next in my top 25 albums of Van Morrison is Peotic - FacebookMore results from www.facebook.com
[138]
Van Morrison on 'Re-Working the Catalogue' with an all-star lineup
Mar 23, 2015 · Van Morrison, on "Duets," revisits songs in his catalog in duets with Mavis Staples, Natalie Cole Michael Buble and others.
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New Arrangements and Duets - Van Morrison
'Ain't Gonna Moan No More' - with Kurt Elling · 'Broken Record' - with Kurt Elling · 'Avalon of the Heart' · 'Close Enough for Jazz' - with Curtis Stigers · 'I'll ...
[140]
Album: Van Morrison - New Arrangements and Duets - The Arts Desk |
Sep 25, 2024 · Of the duets, which include Curtis Stigers getting “Close Enough for Jazz” and Joss Stone getting worked up on “Someone Like You”, it's the two ...Missing: guest | Show results with:guest
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Recording Van Morrison - Gearspace
Jul 1, 2014 · Along the same lines, he has a very "horn" like vocal sound, he often scat sings like he's part of a horn section, and definitely is inspired ...Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
[142]
Learn to Sing Like Van Morrison with Singing Carrots
His iconic singing style often involves abrupt shifts in dynamics and timing, as well as unconventional use of repetition and harmony. One of the best ways to ...
[143]
Van Morrison - The Washington Post
Dec 2, 1978 · Morrison uses his voice like an instrument, like a leather saxophone capable of hair-splitting nuances in tone, pitch, volume and rhythm.
[144]
Van Morrison: Between the Heart and the Throat - Paste Magazine
Aug 31, 2015 · In his voice there's pain and comfort, a squealing anger. Resentment, and a squall, a snuffle. The meandering arrow of a fitful quest for transcendence.Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
[145]
Music Makers: Van Morrison - Little Patuxent Review
Mar 11, 2013 · Although when speaking he has a heavy Irish accent, Van's singing voice sounds American–probably because he practiced imitating Ray Charles, ...Missing: style | Show results with:style
[146]
Van Morrison's Vocal Ventures - Yale Daily News
Oct 17, 2014 · At other points, his voice soars ever higher, trying to pierce its way into our souls. He can twist and modulate his voice like no one else, ...Missing: technique | Show results with:technique
[147]
'My Tongue Gets t-t-t-': Words, Sense, and Vocal Presence in Van ...
Mar 14, 2016 · Morrison's voice constantly suggests that it is reflecting important experience and can be understood both as an attempt to capture something ...
[148]
Van Morrison on Blues Roots, 'Rock & Roll Bulls--t' - Rolling Stone
Sep 26, 2016 · My influences were black. I learned to write songs from Sam Cooke – the slow stuff – and the guys who were writing for Bobby “Blue” Bland.
[149]
Leo Green: My Songwriting Hero, Van Morrison
Sep 19, 2025 · Born in Belfast in 1945, Van Morrison grew up steeped in his father's record collection of blues, gospel, country and jazz – influences that ...
[150]
Between The Viaducts Of Your Dream - Rock and Roll Globe
Nov 29, 2018 · Astral Weeks was an unexpected and radical break from Morrison's previous pop hits. Jazz-influenced and blending elements of blues, folk ...
[151]
Van Morrison's 50 Greatest Songs - MusicThisDay
It is steeped in spirituality, Celtic roots and eternal wisdom. If this sounds pretentious, so be it, the song is as close to religion as I'll ever come.
[152]
Van Morrison – 10 of the best - The Guardian
Jun 1, 2016 · From radio-friendly R&B via religious fervor to spiritual reawakening, these tracks map the Northern Irish songwriter's soul-searching career.
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That's Entrainment - A rare, rare find...
Apr 8, 2008 · Van has also been into Celtic mysticism, gnostic Christianity, Buddhism and other Oriental brands of religion and spiritual techniques. It ...
[154]
Venturing in the slipstream : the places of Van Morrison's songwriting
This thesis explores the use of place in Van Morrison's songwriting. The central argument is that he employs place in many of his songs at lyrical and musical ...Missing: style | Show results with:style
[155]
The Incarnational Art of Van Morrison - Progarchy
May 11, 2013 · His music is worth considering, I believe, for several reasons. As music, apart from message and lyrical themes, most of it is very good.Missing: songwriting | Show results with:songwriting
[156]
The difficulty of writing about music – Van Morrison - The Afterword
Jul 6, 2022 · In the last thirty years it might be enough to say that his lyrical themes are uninteresting ( love, the music business and stupid people).Missing: songwriting | Show results with:songwriting
[157]
Review: Van Morrison at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium
Jan 16, 2016 · As he often does in concert, he used the basic framework of his recorded versions of songs as a springboard to in-the-moment vocal and ...
[158]
Bring It On Home To Me - Van Morrison - Sep 5, 1971 - Wolfgang's
This is a potent performance with Morrison singing as if in a trance. The new single, "Wild Night" follows in gloriously frenetic fashion.
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Van Morrison In Concert - All About Jazz
Feb 17, 2018 · Sir Van's rather stolid stage presence belies the emotion in his voice when he's singing: a detached demeanor and somewhat stiff body ...
[160]
Van Morrison is sounding better than ever | The Spectator
Apr 12, 2025 · But as a live act his failure to even turn round to face the audience, short sets and lack of encores is exasperating. Nevertheless there are ...
[161]
Van Morrison's Concert was Terrible (and I Loved Every Note of It)
Jan 19, 2016 · Morrison's very worst stage shows have induced walk-outs and harsh reviews, only contributing to his self-imposed exile from all the trappings ...Missing: approach | Show results with:approach
[162]
Van Morrison review, Royal Albert Hall: When it's good, it's great
Jun 4, 2024 · The 78-year-old singer treats the historic London venue to a characteristically mercurial night of covers.Missing: style | Show results with:style
[163]
A Night to Remember (and one to forget): Two sides of Van Morrison
Plus his voice is as good as ever. Overall his latest double album is pretty good, but it also has some of his most predictable, banal, throwaway, lyrics.Missing: critics | Show results with:critics
[164]
It's Too Late to Stop Now - Van Morrison - 1001 Albums Generator
Rating 3.2 (15,997) As a document of Van Morrison's stage presence, it's thorough—painfully so. There's a great one-album live record hiding in here, but instead, we get a ...
[165]
Versatile: How Van Morrison Got Back In The Swing With Jazz
Renowned for legend-enshrining albums such as Moondance and Tupelo Honey, which skillfully blend strands of gospel, pop, folk and Celtic soul, Van Morrison's ...<|separator|>
[166]
Van Morrison's Musical Journey: A Tale of Intricacies, Expressions ...
Nov 1, 2022 · This ability to blend musical styles can be attributed to his early exposure to different music genres at home in Belfast, where he grew up.
[167]
The History of Rock Music. Van Morrison - Piero Scaruffi
A guide to Van Morrison: biography, discography, reviews, ratings, best albums.
[168]
VAN MORRISON – ” Caledonia Soul Music “ | The Fat Angel Sings
Jan 23, 2021 · One of the key musicians on the album was drummer Dahaud Elias Shaar, who went on to become an essential member of Morrison's Caledonia Soul ...
[169]
Van Morrison …It's Too Late To Stop Now. Recorded live in the ...
Feb 7, 2025 · In 1973 Van Morrison and the Caledonia Soul Orchestra went on a three-month tour of the United States, and Europe with the result of which ...In 1973 Van Morrison and the Caledonia Soul - Facebook11 Cyprus Avenue Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra ...More results from www.facebook.com
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Van Morrison - Caledonia Soul Music - Non-Album Tracks (1973)
Aug 12, 2018 · Published lyrics have "John, play a taste of mandolin". I can't find him listed anywhere as a mandolin player, but it's likely the best ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[171]
Listen to the Lion - song and lyrics by Van Morrison - Spotify
Sailed to Caledonia. And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed, and we ... Useful links. SupportFree Mobile AppPopular by CountryImport your music ...
[172]
Van Morrison – I Believe I've Transcended Lyrics - Genius
I Believe I've Transcended Lyrics: Heaven ... Caledonia ... heaven Caledonia, Caledonia Caledonia... Going up that Mountainside... ...Look down at the valley below.
[173]
Caldonia - Wikipedia
In 1974, Van Morrison covered the song with his Caledonia Soul Express band, releasing it as a single backed with his own song "What's Up Crazy Pup".
[174]
Van Morrison: Three Chords and the Truth Album Review | Pitchfork
Oct 31, 2019 · On his 41st album, Van Morrison splits the difference between nostalgia, impassioned gripes, and spiritual yearning.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Van Morrison: 'People who say others are difficult ... - The Guardian
Jun 4, 2015 · Lead Belly was one of the formative influences on Morrison, a constant in his life from the R&B of his days with Them, through his classic 60s ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[176]
Van Morrison Names His Five Favourite Singers - YouTube
May 20, 2025 · Explore the solo artists who had the biggest impact on Van Morrison's music, including Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, and Lead Belly.
[177]
A Tour of Van Morrison's Jazzy Side in Honor of New 'You're Driving ...
Apr 27, 2018 · Here are 10 examples of Van Morrison letting his jazz influences take the wheel.
[178]
Billy Bragg Interviews Van Morrison - Mojo Magazine
Aug 31, 2023 · Last month, MOJO sat Morrison down with skiffle scholar Billy Bragg to talk about the huge importance of skiffle in the history of British music ...Missing: influences | Show results with:influences
[179]
Influences on Van Morrison - Shmoop
The blues, R&B, and soul were powerful parts of the household playlist, so Morrison grew up on Ray Charles, Jelly Roll Morton, Muddy Waters, and Lead Belly. But ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[180]
The Influence of Van on Bruce Springsteen
Dec 16, 2023 · He found the combination of organ and horns intoxicating, and the influence on his first two albums is unmistakable. If you don't believe that, ...
[181]
Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison - The Circuit - Greasy Lake
Feb 8, 2007 · Bruce has always mentioned that he's a Van Morrison fan, as in a 1984 interview with Rolling Stone. He covered GLORIA, BROWN EYED GIRL, CRAZY LOVE / TUPELO ...Musical similarities between Van Morrison and BruceVan Morrison said - The Circuit - Bruce SpringsteenMore results from the-circuit.greasylake.org
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Bono said meeting Van Morrison was like “meeting God,” praising ...
Aug 26, 2025 · Bono said meeting Van Morrison was like “meeting God,” praising his voice as angelic and calling him a hero who deeply shaped U2's music and ...
[183]
Bono and Van Morrison: The Influence That Shaped U2's Rock Legacy
Aug 24, 2025 · Van Morrison influence on Irish rock and U2, inspiring Bono's voice and spiritual themes. Van Morrison's soulful voice shaped generations of ...
[184]
Why Van Morrison Had Issues With Bruce Springsteen
May 29, 2024 · Though they aren't completely set apart from one another, saying that Bruce Springsteen ripped of Van Morrison would generate pause.
[185]
Featured Artist - Van Morrison - Life 103.1 Radio stations
Van Morrison was born George Ivan Morrison in Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 31, 1945. His mother was a jazz singer, and his father worked in a shipyard ...Missing: family | Show results with:family
[186]
Van Morrison | Research Starters - EBSCO
Moondance (1970). Morrison followed the artistic triumph (but commercial failure) of Astral Weeks with another completely different album, determined not to ...
[187]
The importance of Van Morrison's father for Irish music
Sep 4, 2025 · Growing up in Bloomfield's working-class Protestant Hyndford Street in East Belfast, the Morrison household held a glowing reputation in the ...Missing: background parents
[188]
Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born August 31, 1945 ...
Oct 6, 2025 · Morrison's father died in 1988, and his mother, Violet, died in 2016. Morrison and his family have been affiliated with St Donard's Parish ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
[189]
Van Morrison facts: Singer's age, wife, children, career and net worth ...
Mar 16, 2022 · He also has two children with second wife Michelle Rocca: Aibbe (born 2006) and Fionn Ivan Patrick (born 2007).
[190]
Inside Van Morrison's ultra-private family life — meet his three children
Jun 6, 2024 · "Brown Eyed Girl" singer Van Morrison is the father of three children, with ex wives Janet Higsbee Minto and Michelle Rocca.
[191]
Inside Van Morrison's Multiple Marriages - The List
Aug 9, 2021 · Van Morrison was married twice, to Janet Rigsbee and former Miss Ireland Michelle Rocca; Morrison and Rocca's marriage ended in 2018 after a ...
[192]
The Most Religious Singer-Songwriter of the past 50 Years
Oct 18, 2016 · For one thing, Van Morrison's background was at best peculiar: he was born and raised a Jehovah's Witness in staunchly-protestant Belfast (he ...
[193]
Songs of Praise from Unlikely Artists, Part Three
### Summary of Van Morrison's Spiritual Inspirations in Music
[194]
Van The Man Was Lifted Up Again - Mockingbird Magazine
He was born into Northern Irish Protestant Anglicanism, had some childhood exposure to the Jehovah's Witnesses, later on flirted with both Scientology and ...Missing: beliefs | Show results with:beliefs
[195]
The Gospel According to Van Morrison - Sunshine Coast Van Fans
Dec 4, 2014 · He read books and wrote songs about all kinds of religious ideas like Scientology, Roscrucianism and the Tibetan influence of Alice Bailey. Into ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[196]
'In the Garden' – Van Morrison - The Friday Fix
Feb 12, 2021 · He has often said he considers himself to be a Christian mystic. He might well draw back (depending on what day of the week it was I suspect) ...
[197]
Van Morrison has religious experience during LA service
Jun 26, 2017 · "My aspiration is that every individual who is touched by the vibration of Agape is inspired to cultivate a heart of love as wide as the world.".
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Belfast: the war against cliché | Van Morrison - The Guardian
Jan 23, 2003 · In pop music, Belfast is usually reduced to a series of recurring themes: bombs, guns and suffering; images based on perceptions established by ...<|separator|>
[199]
Astral Weeks and the Troubles - Furious.com
According to Hoskyns, Van sank into an alcohol-aided depression while living in New England. A recording artist with a top ten hit and a professional musician ...
[200]
The Belfast that made Morrison - Irish Echo
Mar 22, 2018 · As an alternative history, Dawe remembers Van Morrison's pre-Troubles Belfast as a free, cultural space: “we had a wonderful time and it ...
[201]
Van Morrison Set to Release Anti-Lockdown Songs - Variety
Sep 18, 2020 · First up is “Born to Be Free,” out Sept. 25, followed by “As I Walked Out” on Oct. 9, and “No More Lockdown” on Oct. 23. Morrison's lyrics are ...
[202]
Van Morrison criticises 'fascist bullies' in anti-lockdown Covid songs
Sep 19, 2020 · Van Morrison has described the British government as “fascist bullies disturbing our peace” in one of three new tracks he has written to protest against safety ...
[203]
Van Morrison calls on health minister to 'prove the science' behind ...
Sep 29, 2020 · ... Health Minister to disclose all the scientific evidence he has to hand to the people of Northern Ireland so that it may be open to public ...
[204]
Van Morrison, Snow Patrol and Ash in music industry aid plea - BBC
Jul 3, 2020 · Sir Van Morrison, Snow Patrol and Ash are among almost 150 artists urging "urgent financial support" for NI's music industry to survive.
[205]
Van Morrison Plots Legal Action Against Live Music Ban in Northern ...
Jan 19, 2021 · Van Morrison is planning a legal challenge against regulations in Northern Ireland that have banned live music over Covid-19 concerns.
[206]
Eric Clapton, Van Morrison under fire for anti-lockdown song, 'Stand ...
Nov 27, 2020 · It will be available to the public on Dec. 4. Proceeds from the song will go to Morrison's Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which helps ...
[207]
Van Morrison Threatens Legal Bid Over Coronavirus Lockdown
Jan 21, 2021 · Van Morrison has started legal action regarding the Northern Irish government's refusal to open live music venues amid the coronavirus pandemic.
[208]
Coronavirus: Sir Van Morrison takes legal action against Robin Swann
May 30, 2022 · Sir Van Morrison is taking legal action against Northern Ireland's Department of Health and its minister Robin Swann over an opinion piece ...Missing: open letter<|control11|><|separator|>
[209]
Van Morrison's new anti-lockdown songs condemned by Northern ...
Sep 22, 2020 · Northern Ireland's Health Minister has called Van Morrison's anti-lockdown songs a “smear on all those involved in the public health response [to coronavirus]”.
[210]
Northern Ireland health minister criticises Van Morrison anti ...
Sep 22, 2020 · Northern Ireland health minister Robin Swann has criticised Van Morrison, after the veteran songwriter condemned coronavirus lockdown measures as “fascist”.
[211]
Exploring Van Morrison's connections to Northern Ireland
Jun 12, 2022 · Morrison's second album, Astral Weeks, is to Belfast what Dublin is to James Joyce, providing a roadmap to the region that shows his commitment to the region.
[212]
Unionist or Republican? - Sunshine Coast Van Fans
Oct 25, 2017 · As other answers have noted, Van Morrison grew up in a Protestant household in East Belfast and thus likely was “unionist” by birthright.
[213]
Is Van Morrison sympathetic to the Unionists or Republicans ... - Quora
Nov 8, 2014 · Van Morrison was born to a Protestant family in a working class district of East Belfast, an overwhelmingly Unionist area (Van Morrison to ...
[214]
Angry man in the Van | Books | The Guardian
May 27, 2005 · No Surrender is an epic, which the author began researching 20 years ago. In reporting on Morrison's family history in the heart of the ...
[215]
Northern Irishness must be celebrated as distinct identity
Nov 5, 2018 · Cover of Van Morrison's “Astral Weeks” (1968): his music offers northerners the liberating message that they do not have to be one thing.Missing: unionism | Show results with:unionism
[216]
Sir Van Morrison: Ian Paisley defends joining anti-Swann chant - BBC
Jun 11, 2021 · Ian Paisley and the singer chanted about the NI health minister after cancellation of Belfast gigs.
[217]
From Dublin up to Sandy Row: Van Morrison and Cultural Identity in ...
Van Morrison's music embodies a paradox of rootedness and transcendence, crucial to Northern Irish cultural identity. The text articulates the significance ...Missing: unionism | Show results with:unionism
[218]
Van Morrison's 'They Own the Media' faced with antisemitism claims
May 8, 2021 · In 2005, Morrison came under fire for his song "They Sold Me Out," as he reportedly spun tunes of antisemitism within its lyrics as well.
[219]
Van Morrison on criticism for his anti-lockdown stance - KSLX
Apr 27, 2021 · Van Morrison stirred up controversy last year when he urged his fellow artists to "fight the pseudoscience," meaning end the COVID-19 ...Missing: authority censorship<|separator|>
[220]
Van Morrison Is Whining About Free Speech Because No One Likes ...
Apr 25, 2021 · In addition to blaming the press for infringing on his free speech, Morrison also accused World Economic Forum executive chairman Klaus Schwab ...
[221]
Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl - Straight Dope Message Board
Oct 4, 2000 · The censorship on Van Morrison's song goes back to when it was first written. The original title was “Brown Skinned Girl”. Engineer_Don ...
[222]
Van Morrison's latest is a protest album and triggered critics
May 13, 2021 · Speaking truth to power doesn't include denouncing groupthink censorship, economy-destroying lockdowns, or soul-numbing socialism. One can ...Missing: critiques authority
[223]
1994_0010 - The BRIT Awards
Van Morrison: Outstanding Contribution. 1994_0010. Stereo MCs: Best British Album. M People: Best British Dance Act. Dina Carroll: Best British Female. Stereo ...
[224]
Van Morrison | Songwriters Hall of Fame
Morrison's matchless vocal and songwriting talents produced instant classics such as the much covered “Gloria,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Moondance,” “Domino,” “Crazy ...
[225]
Van Morrison receives knighthood - NME
Jun 13, 2015 · The 69-year-old Belfast-born singer-songwriter, whose real name is George Ivan Morrison, received the honour yesterday. Advertisement. SEE ...
[226]
Van Morrison | Artist - GRAMMY.com
Van Morrison, artist, Van Morrison, wins, 2, nominations, 7, 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards, nomination, Best Contemporary Blues Album.
[227]
Sir Van Morrison overjoyed at receiving knighthood - BBC News
Feb 4, 2016 · Van Morrison has described becoming a Sir as "amazing" and "exhilarating" after receiving a knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.
[228]
Van Morrison to receive Americana Lifetime Achievement Award
May 12, 2017 · May 12, 2017 - The Americana Music Association is proud to announce Van Morrison as the recipient of the 2017 Americana Lifetime Achievement ...
[229]
Throwback album review: 1968's “Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison
Feb 12, 2016 · Upon its release, Astral Weeks received generally negative reviews from critics who said it was shallow, dull and monotonous. Crazy to think ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[230]
Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks' Is 50, but It Never Ages - The Ringer
Nov 28, 2018 · Astral Weeks was largely misunderstood in its time, and it certainly wasn't commercially successful when it came out in 1968. It didn't chart, ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[231]
Van Morrison, 'Moondance' (3/19/70) (w/Lester Bangs) - Greil Marcus
Apr 14, 2018 · Moondance is an album of musical invention and lyrical confidence; the strong moods of “Into the Mystic” and the fine, epic brilliance of “Caravan” will carry ...
[232]
Van Morrison: Moondance Album Review - Pitchfork
Nov 25, 2018 · The album would solidify Van Morrison as an FM radio mainstay, act as a midwife for the burgeoning genre of “soft rock,” and help usher in the '70s in America.
[233]
Van Morrison's Essential Albums - Rolling Stone
Nov 8, 2019 · We survey Van Morrison's greatest albums, from staples like 'Moondance' to overlooked gems like 'No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.'
[234]
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/artist/3262-van-morrison/
[235]
Van Morrison - Discography - Album of The Year
Information on Van Morrison. Complete discography, ratings, reviews and more.
[236]
Top 10 Van Morrison Albums Ranked With Complete Discography
Our Top 10 Van Morrison albums list looks at the brilliant body of work of one of the most prolific musical artists of the past sixty years years.
[237]
Bono and Van Morrison represent Ireland on Rolling Stones 200 ...
Jan 3, 2023 · Bono and Van Morrison have been listed in Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list. ... Morrison was ranked in 37th position, while ...
[238]
Van Morrison isn't happy about Rolling Stone's list of the 200 ...
Feb 27, 2023 · “People keep calling me to say, 'Congratulations, you are No 37 in Rolling Stone's 200 singers,'” Morrison explains. “Oh great, thanks very much ...
[239]
UPDATED VH1's '100 Greatest Music Artists of All Time' List
Aug 25, 2010 · R.E.M. 72. Janis Joplin 73. Van Morrison 74. The Cure 75. Rush 76. Run-D.M.C. 77. Lynyrd Skynyrd 78. Judas Priest 79. Eminem 80. Mary J ...
[240]
Van Morrison's Vast Catalog Shines at All-Star Carnegie Hall Tribute
Mar 22, 2019 · And yet his songbook, grounded in the blues, inspired by jazz, informed by folk, gospel and country, and communicated in his fierce Celtic R&B, ...
[241]
The 10 Best Covers of Van Morrison Songs - Paste Magazine
Aug 31, 2012 · We've complied a list of the top ten covers of Van Morrison songs, to salute the man himself. 10. Bruce Springsteen – “Brown Eyed Girl” The Boss ...<|separator|>
[242]
10 Great Covers of Van Morrison Songs - MusicThisDay
10 Great Covers of Van Morrison Songs ... 10 woderful cover versions by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jeff Buckely, ...
[243]
Rave On, Van Morrison: President Michael D. Higgins Leads 75th ...
Aug 26, 2020 · Rave On, Van Morrison: President Michael D. Higgins Leads 75th Birthday Tribute To Belfast Songwriting Legend Van Morrison · Hot Press 44-09: Van ...
[244]
Leading artists unite in musical tribute to Van Morrison
Jul 30, 2020 · Rave On, Van Morrison has been created by Ireland's Hot Press magazine and will mark the singer's birthday on August 31. Sir Van, who was ...
[245]
MOONDANCE | The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute
Jan 30, 2023 · Moondance is the ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert. This incredible show captures the Van Morrison concert experience like no other.
[246]
Van The Band: Van Morrison Tribute Band
Van The Band is the definitive tribute to the iconic music legend Van Morrison. See the band at their Van Morrison tribute experience show AMOSS Center.