Today I have been enjoying listening to a new Van Morrison 2CD set which arrived recently. I was searching on the internet for info about Van’s forthcoming 43rd studio album when I stumbled across it. This recording was made on September 5th, 1971, at Pacific High Studios for broadcast on KSAN-FM radio. I don’t know why it has only emerged as an album now, but I am pleased it has because I think it is a great recording with Van at the peak of his powers and sounding like he was enjoying this session. I was a bit dubious about ordering it because I had never heard of the label called London Calling. I think they specialise in releasing radio recordings.
I feared it might be a badly produced bootleg product. When I opened the package, I was pleased to find an attractive double CD with nicely designed artwork and a little booklet of sleeve notes with some nice photos of Van & Janet Morrison and a contemporary interview with Van from the NME. (I did have a little bit of trouble initially removing CD from the centre piece though). Judging by what the interviewer says about meeting Van I don’t think Van would approve of this release. I expect a lot of long-time Van fans will already possess a bootleg of this session, but if you haven’t then I heartily recommend it. The band are excellent. With Ronnie Montrose on guitars, Mark Jordan on piano & organ, Bill Church on bass, Bill Atwood on trumpet and trombone, Jack Schroer on saxophones, Rick Schlosser on drums and percussion, and Janet Morrison and Ellen Schroer on backing vocals. This was the beginning of the band who would eventually evolve into the Caledonia Soul Orchestra which I think most fans would agree was the best band of Van’s career.
CD 1 opens with Into The Mystic, which is a great start, followed by I’ve Been Working which always sounds greater performed live. I really like Friday’s Child on this album. It is one of Van’s lesser-known songs from the Them era which was only released on a single in 67 after Van had left the band. The sax playing of Jack and the backing vocals of Janet & Ellen here are wonderful. By the way, Lisa Stansfield does a great version of this song which you can find on YouTube if you want. This is followed by Van singing an intro of Que Sera Sera by Doris Day before launching into a rocking version of Hound Dog with Mark Jordan excelling himself on piano. I think this shows the good humour of this recording. Two great songs follow which I’m sure were inspired by Janet, Ballerina and Tupelo Honey. Then Van announces a new single coming out which is Wild Night, and then his version of Dylan’s classic Just Like A Woman brings CD 1 to a close.
CD 2 opens with Moonshine Whiskey which is another Van song that I think is better performed live. Jack, Ellen & Janet again sound great here. Dead Or Alive follows, and I see from recent concerts that Van has returned it to the present day set-lists. I think it was his Skiffle Sessions album where I first heard this song, but it is obviously a lot older than that because Woody Guthrie wrote it. You’re My Woman reflects Van’s domestic contentment of the time. These Dreams Of You is followed by Domino which became a big hit single for Van in the USA. Two other songs from the Street Choir album Call Me Up In Dreamland and Blue Money follow, which make me wonder if I was a bit harsh on that album when I reviewed his 70’s songs the other night. Bring It On Home To Me by the great Sam Cooke follows, before a very humorous version of Buona Sera Signorina by Louis Prima brings this most enjoyable performance to a close. If you are one of the fans who prefer Van’s older work and you don’t already have a copy of this recording, then I think this could be just what you need..
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