Be Just And Fear Not: Van Morrison Live At Orangefield.

July 12 is always a significant date in Northern Ireland. It is a time of parades and bonfires. This year for me it is a day to celebrate because a brand-new CD by Van Morrison arrived through my letterbox called, Be Just And Fear Not, Van Morrison Live At Orangefield. ‘Be just and fear not’ must be the motto of Orangefield Secondary School which Van attended in the 1950’s. In August 2014 Van returned to his alma mater to perform three concerts before the school closed for good, and it is from these concerts that the songs for this live album were selected. I am on my second listen at this very moment, and I must say I am very pleased with the result, and I don’t think any Van fans will regret buying it either. I have several Facebook friends who attended these concerts, and after hearing this recording I think they were privileged to be there; 

It is the second release on the Orangefield label. The first was the excellent Beyond Words instrumental album. Van started the Orangefield label to release archive recordings he thought were worthy of an audience, but which the major labels were too slow, or reluctant to release. The CD is attractively packaged with the cover showing a well-worn old-school desk which must have been salvaged from the school. In the sleeve notes Van reminisces about his old teachers such art teacher Mr Preston who would say things like, ’Imagine the smell of an orange’. Van said he didn’t get it at the time, but years later when reading a book about meditation he read those very same words. I think that book Van read might have been by Thich Nhat Hahn because I have heard him talk about ‘orange meditation’. There are also sleeve notes by Gerald Dawe who has published books about Van and Belfast previously. The sleeve notes also tell us that the band members on this recording are Paul Moran, Dave Keary, Paul Moore, Bobby Ruggerio, Alistair White, Chris White, Dana Masters & Jolene O’Hara. Now, Jolene wasn’t a member of Van’s band in 2014, so I think her vocal contribution must have been added when the album was mixed and mastered recently in Belfast.

There are sixteen tracks on this 79-minute-long album. The first voice heard is Bobby’s, “Ladies and gentlemen. Mr Van Morrison”. Then the warm sound of Van’s sax on the instrumental Celtic Excavation which leads to Into The Mystic. This explains why Van performed the song recently at Westonbirt, they wanted to get it perfect for the album launch concert in Belfast on Thursday. I love how Jolene whispers ‘Mystic’ towards the end, and Van exclaims,’ turn around, your head on my shoulder, and you say peace’. Cleaning Windows is a trip down memory lane for Van as he recalls his early life as a window cleaner in the streets of East Belfast. Orangefield is a great song from the Avalon Sunset album which Van must have felt obliged to sing on this occasion. Moondance as usual gives all the band a chance to shine. Applause from this very respectful audience is kept to a minimum on this recording to concentrate on the music. Some people don’t like Precious Time, but I do, and it gives Chris and Alistair an opportunity to make their presence felt. That’s Life is a song I associate with Frank Sinatra and Van shows he is as good as the best as a jazz crooner. Too Many Myths isn’t one of my favourite Van songs by any means, but Dave Keary shows what a versatile guitar player he is on this track. Got To Go Back is one of Van’s greatest songs which is given a jazz treatment here, and the audience appreciate the references to Orangefield School where Van would look out of the classroom window and dream. 

Real Real Gone / You Send Me gives Dana and Jolene the chance to show off their vocal skills and Dana excels herself as a great soul singer on Rough God Goes Riding. Van’s harmonica introduces Enlightenment “It’s up to you, the way you think, wake up!” exclaims Van to the audience. Sometimes We Cry again shows Dana at her best duetting with Van, and “Blow your horn” Van instructs Chris. Northern Muse/ Solid Ground is another great song Van has been performing recently in preparation for the album launch. “This is poetry corner”, says Van to introduce On Hyndford Street. With all the local references, the audience acknowledge mentions of places like Fusco’s for ice-cream. Anyone who was there will never forget the mesmerising performance of this song on Cyprus Avenue a year later. Van knows very well what his greatest songs are, and he brings this album to a close with two of them, Ballerina and In The Garden, “Holy guardian angel, in the midnight hour”, Van sings as the sound fades away. I think this album is essential to the collections of all Van fans, and I look forward to hearing more great archive material in the near future from Orangefield Records.