Customer Reviews

Beautiful Vision

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard this album when I was living outside London in the early 1980s, and quickly became a re-confirmed Van Morrison fan. No one has a wider range of styles, interpretations, and abilities than Van, and he puts all of his eclectic talents to use here. From the opening "Celtic Ray", a celebration of the simple joys of Irish country life to the final refrains of the instrumentally provocative "Scandanavia', Morrison shows why he has so confounded fans and critics for the last three decades. This album marked a new, less popular, but much more mature style, or styles, since Morrison is so multi-faceted in his approach to each song that it is hard to describe his musical tastes, uses of instruments or arrangements that he has to be heard across a number of albums to recognize common and recurring themes or approaches. There is much to appreciate and enjoy here, from the haunting "Beautiful Vision" to "Dweller On The Threshold" to the comically caustic commentary in "Cleaning Windows", Morrison's take on a multi-talented artist moonlighting as a workman. There are several instrumentals here, and they do much to provide the atmospherics for the mood of the album. My favorite is the aforementioned "Scandanavia", although a number of other songs like "Aryan Mist" have instrumental sections that are absolutely beautiful. Morrison later revved up his career with the blockbuster "Avalon Sunset" album later in the 80s. But all the elements he brought so memorably into that later comeback and reemergence onto the popular charts was here in this album in spades. I think you will a lot to enjoy and appreciate in this sleeper of an album by one of the best of the sixties generation of singer/songwriters. Enjoy!

"Beautiful Vision" is one of Van Morrison's most accessible and enjoyable works. Besides such high quality "hits" as "Dweller On The Threshold", "She Gives Me Religion", and "Cleaning Windows", it also contains the delicate and haunting "Across The Bridge Where Angels Dwell" and the eventual concert favorite "Vanlose Stairway" in its original form. The lyrics are intriguing and the Van's voice is strong and emotional as he sings of his return to his Irish roots. The musical arrangements are just the right balance between pop/rock and Van's unique fusion of jazz, soul, r&b and Lord knows what else. A real winner.

I am confounded as to how and why people do not appreciate the greatness of this work. I first heard "Cleaning Windows" while driving from San Francisco to Oakland on the Bay Bridge, and said to myself "I MUST find and purchase this CD!". I have a lot of other Van, but this is still by far the BEST! Seriously. The odd thing is, all the other songs on the CD are masterpieces, also. Some day this work will be rightly appreciated. What's not to love?

By the time Van recorded Beautiful Vision, his spiritual journey, first tentatively sketched out in Hard Nose, amplified in bits and pieces in subsequent releases, but really filled out in Common One, had reached the tipping point: He finally put the sounds, the words, the atmosphere, the vision -- into a complete package, and Beautiful Vision is the result. To me every song works and flows gently into the next, revealing additional layers of depth and beauty to Van's journey. The production here is warm and inviting, and the musicianship top-notch, punctuated by Mark Knopfler's tasteful guitar and Mark Isham's pipes.

Although there are other Van albums for other moods, ones that may have more upbeat songs or more spirited performances, it is Beautiful Vision that to me holds up and warrants repeated listens. If this were the only album Van released it would be enough to secure his name in the pantheon. Fortunately it's not, but it's a must-have.

This is a beautiful CD and I do think it is one of his best. I didn't know much about Van before this album, other than his renowned Brown-Eyed Girl. Every song is lovely & generally up-tempo, Cleaning Windows is fabulous. Really. I have bought many of his CD's after this one and though they are good, this is better. I do wish he would print the words to the songs though-can hardly understand a word the man is saying!

If a piece of music can move you to tears, it has to be special. The song that does that do me every time is Across the bridge where angels dwell. The place where we can only hope to end up someday. Thank you Van.

Van is in a mellow grove on "Beautiful Vision". One of his more celtic-inspired albums, this one will take you on a wonderful and beautiful journey. Van's vocals, as always, are a wonder to behold.

Morrison's vision finds a mellow, subdued expression here. Instead of his jubilant R&B numbers or his more passionate vocalising, the mysticism here is drawn out in slow pieces like Celtic Ray and Northern Muse, the last with particularly beautiful female backing vocals. The more uptempo Dweller On The Threshold with its esoteric imagery has a lovely lilting rhythm and joyful sax, whilst the powerful title track shows his strong voice at its best. Aryan Mist is another great flowing piece and Across The Bridge Where Angels Dwell is dreamy and meditative, also embellished with gorgeous female vocals. Scandinavia is a moody instrumental with prominent piano or keyboards, like a theme from an art movie. This is not the most familiar Van Morrison album and the songs do not display his usual musical variety, but I enjoy it and there are some great moments here. If you're in the mood for a more quiet, contemplative spiritual listening experience, you'll find much here to enjoy. But if you prefer a more rousing form of gnosis, try a song like Be Thou My Vision from Hymns To The Silence. Both Van, both beautiful.

This album may not be Van's best, but it's very close. Only the title track seems weak to me.
Every other song is stong. Lately I seem to like Aryan Mist and Celtic Ray best but some time ago Across the Bridge Where Angels Dwell and She gives me Religion were my favorites. Give the album a spin. You won't be sorry.

This is one of my favorite cd's. I can listen all day and I'm floating!