Now known more for his fearsome reputation as a curmudgeonly r&b shouter in a hat, at one point in the dim and distant past, Van Morrison was, well… a happy curmudgeon. In the early '70s his magnificent voice and mystic vision were wedded to an idyllic private life and final acceptance within a music industry that had consistently dealt him a bad hand. Many of his fans regard 'The Man' as hitting his artistic peak around this point. Certainly, between the late '60s and mid-'70s he amassed a body of work that remains peerless in the pantheon of blue-eyed soul. Tupelo Honey is, perhaps the most approachable of all these remarkable albums, now included in the first batch of this year's remasters.
Having moved to the States under the management of Bert Berns as early as 1967, by 1970 the Belfast Cowboy was living in the hippy haven of upstate New York in Woodstock; next door neighbour to The Band amongst others. Having set out his stall – the richly varied fare of soul, jazz, r&b, and Celtic folk - on his previous three albums, he now could call on Warner’s new staff producer, Ted Templeman. He also used a studio band that drew on those who’d helped make Astral Weeks such a sonic milestone (Connie Kay on Drums) as well as a host of seasoned players including his regular right hand man, Jack Schroer on horns, Ronnie Montrose on guitar, and - giving the album its more bucolic vibe - John McFee on pedal steel.
Wrapped in a cover showing Van exploring the rural heaven of his farm along with, then wife, Janet Planet, horse and even cat (!) TH is full of sweetly autobiographical songs detailing the joys of nuptial bliss (You're My Woman, Old Old Woodstock, Starting A New Life, Tupelo Honey) as well as the kind of raucous shouters and jaunty, countrified numbers that always translated into brilliant live vehicles (Wild Night, Moonshine Whiskey, (Straight To Your Heart) Like A Cannonball). It's a mellow stew, mostly recorded live and guaranteed to brighten up anyone weary of the blues-by-numbers approach he seems to have adopted of late.
With this new edition boasting an alternative take of the single, Wild Night, as well as an unreleased version of Down By The River Side, this is finally the CD release of TH that the fans deserve. Anyone else would be crazy to stay away too…
by Chris Jones, 2008
1. Wild Night - 3:33
2. (Straight To Your Heart) Like A Cannonball - 3:41
3. Old Old Woodstock - 4:15
4. Starting A New Life - 2:09
5. You're My Woman - 6:43
6. Tupelo Honey - 6:55
7. I Wanna Roo You (Scottish Derivative) - 3:25
8. When That Evening Sun Goes Down - 3:02
9. Moonshine Whiskey - 6:45
10.Wild Night (Alternative Take) - 5:37
11.Down By The Riverside (Traditional) - 3:54
All compositions by Van Morrison except where noted.
Musicians
*Van Morrison - Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals, Backing Vocals
*Ronnie Montrose - Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Backing Vocals
*Bill Church - Bass
*Rick Shlosser - Drums
*Connie Kay - Drums
*Jack Schroer - Alto, Tenor, Baritone Saxophones
*Mark Jordan - Piano, Electric Piano
*Gary Mallaber - Percussion, Vibraphone
*John McFee - Pedal Steel Guitar
*Ted Templeman - Organ On
*Bruce Royston - Flute
*Luis Gasca - Trumpet
*"Boots" Houston - Flute, Backing Vocals
*Ellen Schroer - Backing Vocals
*Janet Planet - Backing Vocals
1967 Blowin' Your Mind! (extra tracks edition)
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