Customer Reviews

Back on Top (Exp)

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's been some time since Van Morrison released an album that was as approachable, as spirited, and as fun as his classic works from the early 70's, Moondance and Tupelo Honey. In the past decade or so, his music has become increasingly complex, and has felt more remote. But with Back on Top, he has produced an album that has a feel that is similar to that of his earlier work, but with the additional maturity and bittersweet sadness that almost 30 years brings.

Back on Top is an example of the best that Van Morrison can offer, his ability to combine insightful lyrics with a soulful beat. The more internal ballads like Philosopher's Stone and When the Leaves Come Falling Down are softer, with the focus on the poetic lyrics that he has always been capable of, while rockers like Precious Time, Back on Top, and New Biography give us that combination of gravelly voice with a tight backup band consisting of guitar, bass, hammond organ, and horns that made his early work so outstanding.

Yes, it's familiar ground, and it's a pleasure to walk it again. This is a terrific album. Thanks Van, you're doing great work.

Typical. The CD you least want to buy - turns out being the one you need the most!

Here's why. Back in 1999 when "Back On Top" was issued, it was touted in the music press as something of a return to form (how many times have we heard that) and on tracks like "Reminds Me Of You" and "When The Leaves Come Falling Down" it actually was. It also boasted truly superlative production values - sound so warm, so clear, and at times so loud, that you had to rush over to the stereo to turn the volume down. So this January 2008 reissue in remastered form of an album that's only a few years old, an album that already boasts truly beautiful sound quality - is a bit superfluous to requirements to say the least. And worse - it's a reissue that forces fans to repurchase what they already own without any discernable bonus in the purchase. Until of course you hear the two previously unreleased bonus tracks they've added on here - and lo and behold - they're absolutely brilliant and must owns!

First up is an Alternate Version of one of the album's strongest songs "Philosopher's Stone" which is done in a jaunty almost sauntering blues fashion with MIKE SANCHEZ providing fantastic Piano and Guitar work. The subtle and smooth Double Bass is played by IAN JENNINGS. It's not as good as the finished more soulful version for sure, but it is excellent - and genuinely deserves the moniker "bonus". But best is kept to last. "Valley Of Tears" is a new song and a truly lovely ballad. JOOLS HOLLAND plays subtle and beautiful piano work on it with a trio of superbly emotive brass fills from PEE WEE ELLIS, LEO GREEN and MATT HOLLAND on Trumpet, Tenor and Baritone Sax. Fans will absolutely have to own these.

All 10 songs on "Back On Top" are written by Van (as are the two bonuses) and the backing musicians and their contributions are typically outstanding. MICK GREEN features on Electric and Acoustic Guitars, PEE WEE ELLIS on Soprano & Tenor Saxophone and GERAINT WATKINS fills in for Georgie Fame with really complimentary keyboard work on both Piano and Hammond Organ. If anything the album's mood is defined by Watkins' warm and slinky Hammond Organ sound, a mellow warm hum that imbibes almost every track with an `old' feel. BRIAN KENNEDY'S duet vocals on preceding albums had been criticized by some fans for almost drowning out the tunes and many just didn't like his high-pitched slightly whiny voice intruding on everything - his contributions on 9 of the albums 10 tracks have been downplayed to just backing vocals - and the songs are better for it. The album's finisher, "Golden Autumn Day", is a good example of ensemble contribution showing how the top quality musicians add so much to the finished song. FIACHRA TRENCH (who did the string arrangements for Fairytale of New York by The Pogues) provides both Piano and string accompaniment to really lovely effect, while PEE WEE ELLIS puts in a tasty Sax solo too. And not to be undone, Van himself blows up a deliciously hooky harmonica solo that's probably the best I've ever heard him do.

The upgraded booklet contains all the lyrics in the same style as the original CD release and a detailed list of who sessions on what, but disappointingly there's no history of where the album fits in, no new liner notes, nor any photographs. The lyrics to the bonus tracks are newly reproduced at the end of the booklet. The original master tapes have been 96K/24 Bit digitally remastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering in London for this 28 January 2008 release and the sound is GORGEOUS - really amazing (but then so was the original).

To sum up - of the 7 discs I've bought in the initial part of this exemplary re-issue campaign, this CD boasts the best sound quality and the best previously unreleased bonus tracks. Newcomers should dig in with confidence; it's a good Van album with great extras. While fans will just have to grit their teeth and smile at their bank managers once again. Oh dear!

PS:
Like "Back On Top", 28 other Van Morrison albums are to be re-issued in remastered form throughout 2008 and into early 2009. Each will contain upgraded booklets, previously unreleased material and all will be at mid-price. They'll be released in 4 batches as follows (29 in total):

January 2008 (7 titles)
Tupelo Honey (1971), It's Too Late To Stop Now (2 CD Live Set) (1974),
Wavelenght (1978), Into The Music (1979), A Sense Of Wonder (1985),
Avalon Sunset (1989) and Back On Top (1999)

June 2008 (8 titles)
Veedon Fleece (1974), Common One (1980), Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (1983), Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast (1984), No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), Enlightenment (1990), A Night In San Francisco (2CD Live Set) (1994) and The Healing Game (1997)

September 2008 - delayed until February 2009 (7 titles)
Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), A Period Of Transition (1977), Beautiful Vision (1982), Poetic Champions Compose (1987), Hymns To The Silence (2CD Studio Set) (1991), How Long Has This Been Going On (Live At Ronnie Scott's) (1995), Tell Me Something - The Songs Of Mose Allison (1996)

January 2009 (8 titles)
Hard Nose The Highway (1973), Irish Heartbeat (with The Chieftains) (1988),
Too Long In Exile (1993), Days Like This (1995), The Story Of Them (2CD Set) (1999), The Skiffle Sessions - Live In Belfast (with Lonnie Donegan & Chris Barber) (2000), Down The Road (2002) and What's Wrong With This Picture? (2003)

PPS:
Those hoping to see desperately needed sonic upgrades of his 1st and 2nd album masterpieces on Warner Bothers "Astral Weeks" (1968) and "Moondance" (1970) or even "His Band & The Street Choir" (late 1970) will be disappointed to find that they're NOT in this re-issue campaign. Apparently there is still some dispute between the record label and Van that remains unresolved. A damn shame! "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance" in particular have both been languishing around on crappy-sounding non-remastered CDs for over 20 years now and they're glaringly obvious omissions in this otherwise extensive and superb re-issue campaign. These universally recognized masterpieces deserve 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment and soon. (Some tracks in remastered form are available across the 3 volumes of "Best Of"). Let's hope they sort their differences and soon!

Also, Van's new studio album "Keep It Simple" is due on 17 March 2008 in the UK and 1 April 2008 in the USA

(For those interested in this re-issue series, I've also done separate reviews for almost all of the titles in Batch 1 and 2)

Van Morrison packs interesting ballads into this CD. The sound patterns are simple, underlined at times by a Hammond organ. We've listened to this CD well over a hundred times, and it continues to be a pleasure to hear songs like "When the Leaves come falling down" and "Philosophers Stone." Out of the 10 songs, we pretty much like 8 of them, and that alone justifies five stars. Folks not familiar with Van Morrison, may have to listen through the album a few times to fine-tune their ears. But once you're into it, the lyrics tell stories about life and at times they really work on your soul. The music is uncomplicated and the rhythm is easy going in typical blues mode. We think you'll enjoy this CD.

Each of Van Morrison's CDs in the 90s has been of quality. His prolific music writing is impressive. Before I listened to "Back on Top", I thought that Morrison might have run out of creative music. After listening to the CD, I quickly put that thought away! Morrison's music today is fresh and alive. His reflections on career, spirituality, and home is refreshing. It is dissapointing to hear music fans regard Van Morrison as a 70s artist, it truely shows that they have not listened to Van Morrison lately.

I've been a fan of Van since an old boyfriend used to sing "Brown-eyed Girl" to me in the 60's. He's been through lots of changes, from the ebullient "Tupelo Honey" through the reflective "Period of Transition" to his present philosophical view of his life.

It was pure serendipity that I bought this album now; so much of it perfectly expresses where I am in my own life. And Van still has his incredible ability to capture life's ups and downs in simple poetry. Most importantly, the man is still growing, changing and opening up his soul to us, and his overall message is one of hope.

As always, he has chosen a great back-up band; listen to the sax on Reminds Me of You and New Biography. The choice of Brian Kennedy to sing backup vocals was also inspired. His plaintive, aching tenor provides a stark contrast to Van's gruffer, bluesier voice. I first heard Brian on "A Night in San Francisco" and liked him then. I hope he continues to work with Van.

This is Van's best collection of original music in several years; I can't recommend it highly enough.

I own almost every Van Morrison album, and I think almost all of them are very good if not outstanding, but this album shocked me. I honestly consider this to be the best of his career. Stylistically this is a throwback to his 70's heyday, calling to mind classics like "Moondance", "St. Dominic's Preview", and "His Band And The Street Choir", with some of the dreaminess of "Into The Music" thrown in for good measure. The songs are uniformly excellent, the only exception being the opener, a pedestrian blues number called "Goin' Down Geneva". I was beginning to think that continuing to buy each new Van Morrison album was no longer paying off the expected dividends, but I'm sure glad I didn't quit on him before "Back On Top".

Van Morrison has been overshadowed on the charts for many years by new styles, trends and fads in pop music. But Van continues to turn out amazing music that most artists will never be able to produce, especially at the considerable rate that Van does. "Back on Top" is another stellar effort. Moody, happy, fun and at times wonderfully strange, the album is true Van Morrison. "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" is an elegant song filled with imagery and warmth. This song could well be called a masterpiece. I personally love "High Summer". The song is a strange look at perception. But I love it's somber mood and amazingly catchy melody. "Precious Time" sounds like a pop tune and I understand it has received a good bit of radio play in the UK. In typical Van fashion though, it's much smarter and meaningful than most pop songs ever try to be. ( I hope it catches on here in the US). "Reminds Me of You" is a sweet little tune, "Goin Down Geneva" reaches into Van's blues soul and the reflective "Philosophers Stone" reminds us all of just how amazing it is to create wonderful works of art over and over again as Van Morrison does. Overall the album is a fine piece of art. Van Morrison is simply one of the greatest singer songwriters the world has ever known. Unfettered by trends, fads or popular styles, he continues to write music he knows and understands. Van is like one of the great master painters. His canvases are recognizable, his subjects may be similar but his brush strokes are uniquely his, thus turning everything he creates into a masterpiece. The album is "Back on Top", it should have been "Still on Top". Mr Morrison will always be a pinnicle for which other artists will strive, almost all of them will fail. Buy this album, then buy everything else you can find by Van Morrison. Afterall, don't you want to have as many masterpieces as possible in your collection?

I bought this when it first came out. I have a friend who loves Van's music as much as I do. I didn't bother to tell him how good it was, I just went ahead and bought him a copy! (He loved it.) This CD sounds GREAT! There are some great rocking songs like Geneva and Precious Time and then there are the more subdued, yet highly introspective songs such as Philosopher's Stone and Golden Autumn Day. I love to put this CD on and go for a drive. I'd put this next to "Moondance" as required Van Morrison CDS. And Days Like This. Oh yeah, don't forget No Guru No Method No Teacher. Good CD to listen to alone, or while having a lovely gathering with friends.

He doesn't care what anyone thinks. He doesn't care what critics, fans, or producers think about him or his music. His music is his own and it will not be influenced by anyone. Thank God! Just like Dylan, Van makes music for music's sake only; not for fame or fortune. If only today's dreadful pop stars could make the music as important as the videos, clothes, hair, fame, and fortune, we would all benefit greatly. Take time to learn more about Van Morrison, his music, his roots, and his influences and you will go on a musical journey that will change you forever. This CD is a nice, accessible start, but there is much more to be unearthed. Van is truly one of the 10 most important rock artists of all-time. Will you find many people that admit this? No, because Van won't sell out and play the political games.

I think it was Bruce Springsteen who said "Van Morrison releases a great album every two years and hardly anybody notices"...or something like that. For the past 10 years I have bought all of Van's music, (already owning most of his previous work). This CD is full of great music, nobody puts it out there like Van Morrison, the Genuine Article, you make life better than it is. God Bless you Van.