My Favourite Van Albums, Number 8, Common One

I never bought Common One when it came out because i was gallivanting around Europe at the time.I first bought it when i lived in Taunton,that was on vinyl.I have quite an amusing anecdote about the day i bought my CD copy.We went to Glastonbury for the day with two friends John and Dale and sat on top of the Tor drinking alcho-pops then we went to a pub in Glastonbury,the one opposite the Abbey carpark.We thought we would sit out the back in the fresh air.It had been raining the night before and without looking i pulled out a chair at this table and sat down in about two gallons of water.I was drenched.The others nearly broke their faces laughing but i couldn't see the joke.Kim went off to buy me a new pair of trousers but came back with these hippy things that i refused to wear so i spent the afternoon with a wet bum.It was strange in that yard that afternoon because there was an old eccentric chap there who played 78 records on an old wind up gramophone, there was also an American hippy called Odin (made up name i bet) who played the harp,i don't mean a harmonica i mean a real harp.I asked him to sing a Van song and he sang Caravan brilliantly accompanying himself on the harp.There was also a bloke from Newcastle who played guitar and claimed he used to be in Lindisfarne but i knew he was lying because i knew exactly who had been in that band.Anyway to get to the point i bought Common One on CD that day.

Lets have a look at the cover.It shows an old man with a stick walking up a hill that looks a bit like the tor but i dont think it is.The concept of the picture is Vans idea.I think the old man is a pilgrim on a spiritual quest.On the back cover is a deer in a circle in a sort of William Morris type design.I wonder what that is all about?.The album was recorded in Super Bear studio's in the south of France.It seems very unusual for Van to go all that way to record which must have been quite a logistical problem.I think Pink Floyd recorded The Wall at this studio but that is by the by.
The opening track 'Haunts Of Ancient Peace' is a wonderful piece of music with Pee Wee Ellis and Mark Isham excelling on this.Beside the garden walls is an image that Van often refers to.The new Jerusalem is a reference to William Blake-

And did the Countenance Divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here

Among these dark Satanic mills?

"Be still" ,whispers Van at the end of this song which is a great jazzy evocative atmospheric opening to the album.

Peter Van Hookes drums start the next song which is the epic 'Summertime In England'.The opening line 'Will you meet me in the country in the summertime in England',i particularly like for personal reasons because i always used to look forward to seeing Van in Summertime at Glastonbury festival. I expect it was opium that Coleridge and Wordsworth were smoking up in Kendal.I know Coleridge was quite partial to it.In fact Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy dispaired of the amount of opium Coleridge was smoking.It did give him great dreams and visions such as Kubla Khan whereas Wordsworth could only conjure up a few manky daffodils.Van says in the song 'Did you ever hear about Jesus walking down by Avalon?'.It is known that Jesus's uncle Joseph Of Aramathea came to Glastonbury because he was a trader and after the age of 12 Jesus was unheard of for years.It is possible that he went travelling with his uncle.William Blake thought this as well-

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon England's mountains green
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

The Church Of St John would probably be the one in Glastonbury High St across the road from the Abbey.Anyway, i'm going to move on because you can get lost in the lyric's and its probably best not to analyse them too much.After all it ain't why it just is.

The following song 'Satisfied' continues the pastoral scene and mentions Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger which is a great book.Salinger is a grumpy old git who doesn't like giving interviews.'For Esme With Love And Squalor' by Salinger is one of my favourite stories.The images of mountains, hillsides, valleys and light shining through is carried on in 'Wild Honey' which is one of Vans best and underrated love songs. 'Spirit' is another song in the same theme as the previous songs .They are about finding happiness by looking within and changing from the inside first.Listen to the lion in a way.

'When Heart Is Open' is a forerunner of where Vans musical development would take him as the 80's unfolded.Music would become like an aid to meditation and contemplation.Many critics have said this song is pretentious but thats because they are stupid and don't understand it.I am listening to it at the moment and its a magnificant piece of music.When theres no coming and no going you will tarry. (tarry is a good old word!).I once heard a recording of somebody playing the flute in the dome of the Taj Mahal and this reminds me of it.The music just floats around like a butterfly.This is great music for listening to in the dark.It is quite amusing though where Van says 'hand me down my great coat and big boots'.You feel like saying"Get yer own big boots you lazy little git". This track lasts fifteen minutes but it could go on for an hour and still not be boring. It brings to an end one of Vans most experimental but rewarding albums.