Customer Reviews

The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fans of Van Morrison will be pleased with this collection in that the song choices were from Van himself.
Those less familiar will find themselves hooked on this well balanced collection of more recent works by Van Morrison including some exceptional duets with the likes of Ray Charles, BB King, Tom Jones, Jim Hunter, Jimmy Witherspoon, the Chieftains, and John Lee Hooker. There are also some notable remastered, live and never before heard selections and some classics from Van's last several releases.
Highly recommended.

This 'Best Of' is a must for any Vanatic (Van fan)... but more importantly it is a must for anyone who thinks Van's career ended in the 1970s... all the tracks on "Vol. 3" are from 1993-2005 - Van's later writing and singing are well represented on this compilation and with a superb supporting cast of John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Carl Perkins, Lonnie Donegan, Bobby "Blue" Bland and the great Georgie Fame as they come along for the journey...

Van is still a mighty force in a world that needs more soul and less pop.

www.vanmorrisonnews.blogspot.com

You either love or hate Van the Man. Over 40 years he has given the world some of the most heartfelt beautiful music ever recorded. This best of provides a stunning glimpse into the breath and depth of what he is capable of delivering. Showing respect to those who came before him, this collection is absolutely outstanding from start to finish. In the hands of the recording company this offering could have been a diaster. Thanks Van for giving us your gems for this collection.

Van is his element, you won't hear this almost 9 min track on
any broadcast radio station in the US.
I have quite a few of the tracks on other albums over 60% but
didn't hesitate on this purchase.

I won't call this definitive, but the collection's got some previously unreleased and seldom heard numbers that merit the price and hype. This is a very listenable CD that's something you can just stick in the changer and let it play. Definitely worth the money.

I have been a VM fan for years and listen to all of his music. This is the best of his three best of volumes because of the previously unreleased material and somewhat unknown duets with Tom Jones, James Hunter, Bobby Bland, Ray Charles, Carl Perkins, and BB King. It has something for the diehard VM fan as well as the occasional listener.

An amazing compilation of Van Morrison's enchanting and haunting melodies. Although I am not a big jazz or blues fan, he has managed to put those two elements together in a way that is a lyrical treat. The melodies are addictive and very catchy. As he has matured, his renditions of some of his earlier works are performed now with more conviction, passion, and confidence than ever before. Van is an extremely talented musician and lyricist that successfully impacts music for the ages. I could listen to Van Morrison 24/7.

You can tell that Van chose these himself -- by the quality of his performance more than the songs themselves. He's always been about heart and soul -- and these songs deliver. Ancient Highway -- I was on a plane with my iPod the first time I heard it, and listened to it five times all the way through. Sometimes Van doesn't reach the heights/depths of feeling that he's capable of, but when he does, he's incomparable -- a duet with Ray Charles...... a perfect pairing! I've always thought that Van is so sensitive about his business relationships and the non-music related demands his audience sometimes puts on him because he goes so deep and reaches so high -- for us, really. If that's not enough, ain't nothin else he can do.

The first two "Best of Van Morrison" were ok, but this one, the one he did the choosing, is absolutely superb - I can listen to it over and over, it is just so beautiful. I actually think I like every selection, but everyday I have a new favorite. Just starting out with "Cry for Home" with Tom Jones blows me away. Van always seems to sense the right mood, the right words, the right music to, as he puts it so well, "steal my heart away." This cd spoils me for the others I'm afraid - it is fabulous!! I never get tired of it!

I can not say enough good things about this 2 CD set. Long after the music has stopped the songs keep running though my head. What I most like about it is that the songs on it were chosen by Van Morrison which to me makes it more special and less just commercial successes. Also, the list of people who accompany him is pretty mind blowing. I'd forgotten just how much I liked the sax playing of Candy Dulfur. Anyway folks, I love this set and I think you will too. Van has indeed been "too long in exile..."