Customer Reviews

Hard Nose the Highway

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There is just something about this album. I'll agree with anyone that it's not in the same category as something like Moondance, Tupelo Honey, and St. Dominic's Preview; but neither is Astral Weeks and Vleeden Fleece. The first three albums (Moondance, etc.) can be considered pop albums for their time while the second two (Astral Weeks...) as well as Hard Nose The Highway can be seen as very personal statements about the artist's life and love of music.

I think the reason why many fan's of Van Morrison don't go to this album as an artistic high point or their favorite is that it doesn't have the emotional extremes that Astral Weeks through Vleeden Fleece have. Instead he touches on the ordinary facets of life with a calm objectiveness that makes for the mellow mood throughout much of the record. The feel kind of reminds me of Frank Sinatra circa 1950's; something like "Song For Swinging Lovers!"

Like Bill Evans (the jazz pianist) the music is very passionate yet not confrontational; instead it is inviting and mature, relaxing yet fun, while maintaining an interesting introspection that is consistent in most of Morrison's work.

Every song on this album is excellent. I always feel quite satisfied after listening to it. Every other album of Morrison's has a couple of songs on it that I either have to be in a certain mood or just don't think is as consistent in it's quality as the other songs. Hard Nose The Highway I have no such complaint; each song is unique yet melody and production-wise relates to each other quite well. I also think it's interesting that he did two covers on this album considering how many songs that he recorded around this time (many of them are on Philosopher's Stone).

Snow In San Anselmo may be the strangest and most experimental song Morrsion ever did. A full choir and very jazzy interludes that follow a somewhat surreal observations. I am especially fond of Autumn Song, it just gently sways in it's on special way, but so does everything on this album....

Overall I think that it took a great deal of confidence for an artist to make an album so cool and mellow. This was 1973 after all. The music of the day was progressive/glam rock which was out to impress the listener with musicianship and bombast. You listen to this and it sets your mind at ease- it looks back on things with a simple fondness and enjoys the present without a worry of tomorrow.
Highly Recommended.

morrison's early period comes to an end with this album marked by "snow in san anselmo," "warm love," and "hardnose the highway." A fine band explores the rather jazzy style that morrison was just them developing after dabbling with it on parts of astral weeks and moondance. if you are a morrison fan, this would be a good place to branch out from the more typical basic albums.

Although I am a fan of all of Van's many periods, moods, and styles, I find myself coming back to this album again and again. There's just a certain depth and spirituality to the music, a passion to the playing, that makes this one stand out as a deeply personal and expressive piece of music-making. For me, this album begins Van's long spiritual quest, in which shorter song structures were abandoned for more open, personal tone poems. This album nicely complements and serves as a bookend to Common One, in which Van takes the concepts explored here, both musically and lyrically, and moves them to the next level. "Warm Love" should have been a hit, "Hard Nose" is, to me, a song of redemption for those struggling through the culture wars and Vietnam, and his version of "Being Green" is strangely affecting. If you have relegated this album to Van's B or C list, I think it worth another spin -- you will not be disappointed.

Music critics are more than often very right and sensible in their judgements, although I must say - sometimes I just don't understand them. "Hard nose the highway" is an album that sparkle and glow. "Van the man" succeeds in combining ultra nostalgic feeling - true vocal sensitivity - with cool distance, almost nonchalance. Three or four of the songs are works of a true genius - "Snow in san anselmo", "Hard nose the higway" and "the great deception". They are laid back, yet enthusiastic, otherworldly yet down to earth, sensitive yet distanced, unique yet approachable. And they are all sung by a soulful voice that can leave no one untouched.

Critics, listen again.

I love this album. It is my favorite album ever, and I come back to it again and again. It makes me nostalgic for something but I don't know what it is. I love Van Morrison, and own most of his albums, and this is easily the best one ever. Of course, Moondance is fabulous and heart wrenching, but nothing beats the simple beauty of Autumn Song, the soul and inspiration given to Kermit the Frog's "Bein Green", and the lyrical mastery of "Hard nose the Highway". There are not words in the english language to describe the great beauty and depth in this album. If you love music that is nostalgic and sweetly sad, you MUST buy this album. Buy two and give one to a friend. The folks that gave this record a bad review are missing something in it. Have patience with the songs on this album and you won't be disapointed.

As a dedicated fan of Van since high school, I thoroughly enjoy all of his music from the late 60's through mid-1970's. Suffice it to say that this album is an absolute must for fans of Van's earlier music- a la Astral Weeks, St. D's, Street Choir, Moondance, Tupelo Honey, etc. (If you primarily enjoy his later work, I just haven't experienced enough of it to suggest whether this album is for you.) Viewed as a whole, the album blends Van's country rhythym with that contemplative, wistfulness that is so uniquely his own. However, the emphasis is on the latter style, so the music, with the exception of "Autumn Song", is not carefree. If you are the type of Van listener who likes to put the time in to get to know an album, I guarantee you that this album will not disappoint. "Snow in San Anselmo" and "Wild Children" showcase Van's wistful, intelligent sound at its best. The title track and his cover of "Bein' Green" are the earthy, get-what-you-see Van. (As an aside, what Van does with Kermit's tune "Bein' Green" speaks volumes about his talents.) Finally, Purple Heather is an uplifting hymnal tune with beautiful melody similar to "Old Old Woodstock" on the Tupelo Honey album. Indeed, "Purple Heather" has an amazing crescendo and fade out- that very much reminds me of the guitar climax and fade on "Listen to the Lion" from St. D's Preview. If you are the type of fan I have described, you should buy this album. Otherwise, you will kick yourself for not buying this album sooner- I did.

Most people think of Van Morrison and Ireland, but on Hard Nose to the Highway, Van moves west. With songs like Snow in San Anselmo and lyrics about Tennesse Williams this Irishman really captures the heart of America as represented through the El Dorado-like San Fransisco Bay. This is an album to lie back, turn the light down low, burn some incense, and float way to. Its up there with Astral Weeks and St. Domonick's Preview.

After the somewhat stilted SAINT DOMINIC'S PREVIEW (1972), Van Morrison could have been disappointed by it all. But seeing as how Van never considered himself a musical artist (always the modest one, like Bob Dylan) more like a person doing his job, he must have just brushed it off & got down to business on his next project. That would be his 1973 album HARD NOSE THE HIGHWAY. This album was recorded while Van was still making his home in America, but HIGHWAY has a few more hints of Van's Irish upbringing, which would culminate in him moving back to Europe after this album. But the opening "Snow In San Anselmo" is firmly rooted in the States with its celebration of something the normally-warm state of California wouldn't have too much of. The music & lyrics are a thing of beauty just like California itself, so maybe Van traveled there during his time in America. "Warm Love" continues the shiny feel of the previous song, and while Van may have not been worried about commercial success anymore by now, this song very nearly became a hit single. It's only appropriate because it's a song that manages to be commercial without selling out to do so. The title track, "Wild Children" (which could be about Van's childhood) & "The Great Deception" are other great examples of great, if rather underrated lyricism. But what has to be this album's most baffling yet appropriate moment is Van's cover of "Bein' Green". Those who watched SESAME STREET as a kid will know that this song is Kermit The Frog's theme song almost. While Van Morrison doing a song like this would easily have people running for cover, he doesn't do too bad of a job actually. He turns the song into a statement of individuality & how it can have its side effects from people who want you to be something else you're not. A stroke of genius, I think. Near the end, HIGHWAY returns to the countryside (American, of course) sound of albums like TUPELO HONEY (1971) with the epic "Autumn Song" (a 10-minute epic like that of SAINT DOMINIC'S PREVIEW, but it works this time) & the closing traditional "Purple Heather". But those songs could easily be coming from someone who was a bit homesick for his native Ireland. Indeed, after this album, Van would move back to Europe & record the very Irish VEEDON FLEECE (1974). After that, Van would temporarily retire from music, claiming writer's block. So with HARD NOSE THE HIGHWAY, Van may have been nearing the end of his most prolific period. But while Van Morrison has always been prolific in a sense, even he can hit a wall sometimes. In that respect, HARD NOSE THE HIGHWAY, while it may be a good album if not spectacular, is a good marking point in Van's long career.

First, I would like to apologize in advance for my English writing deficiencies. I'm a French Canadian but I'll try my best. Tnx !

I'm 40 years old and a big fan of Van since I was 15. I'd like to know one important thing from all those who are enthousiastic about Hard Nose : if you give 5 stars, or even 4, to this album, how many, for God's sake, do u give to pure masterpieces like Astral Weeks, Moondance, St Dominic Preview, Veedon Fleece or Into the Mystic (only to speak of Morrison's timeless classics he did before his long and painful wanderings of the 1980-1985 period) ??? In NO WAY Hard Nose can be classified in the same category that these brillant ones.

Hard Nose is a good album ; in my book, it is even better than Tupelo Honey for instance (who has easily 3 or 4 songs rather forgettable). There is absolutely no bad song in Hard Nose, I agree big time with u. But also there is nothing genius or fantastic in that sixth studio album of the Master. This is an album who gives us smooth, mellow and very loose music, jazzy in some regards. There is nothing here boisterous or exuberant like, for instance, Domino, Wild Night or Jackie Wilson Said.

When listening Hard Nose, I personally feel serenity or calm joy of playing from Van's musicians, not nostalgia or sadness like some reviewers wrote. Musically, this album rest heavily on the beautiful piano of Jeff Labes and the subtil electric guitar of John Platania (Hard Nose, by the way, was recorded in a small studio behind Platania's house on top of a hill !) with strings and horns sections to back it beautifully.

But again, none of these eight songs - six composed by Van - are something to roll on ground or knock our head on the wall, except may be the shortest song of the album Warm Love (which is a pure classic in the same vein that Crazy Love or Crazy Face) ! I would be tempted to say that Hard Nose is the perfect background music album for doing what we like to do most during a beautiful summer day (something relax like read a book or make BBQ)... but I will not said so since when a Master's record is playing, there is NOTHING ELSE to do than stop everything, sit down, close our eyes and listen carefully and respectfully. There is no other way to listening an Artist (note the A majuscule) who sings with so much soul and emotion that to listen him with our own heart and soul. Get Into the Mystic !

Best songs of Hard Nose are, in that order : Warm Love (4.0 stars), Wild Children (3.5, but much better live), Snow in San Anselmo (3.5), Autumn Song (3.5, and easily rating of 4 if these useless five last minutes were not there), Purple Heather (3.0, note that this song is the first foray into Irish folklore in all Van's discography), Hardnose the Highway (3.0), The Great Deception (3.0) and Bein' Green (3.0).

In summary, this Hard Nose the Highway of the summer of '73 is good but not great. There's nothing bad to receive 3 stars (album or song) but please, control your frantic ecstasy about this album : 4 or 5 stars... come on ! Hard Nose didn't negatively affect in any sense the solid reputation of Morrison... but it didn't contribute to his legendary stature too !

Some people read too many reviews, like the many tin-eared screeds from Rolling Stone. (Read the publication's reviews retrospectively and find that, over the years, it has consistently proven itself unable to understand contemporary music.)

"Hard Nose the Highway" is another of Van Morrison's forays into jazz-infused popular music. Vocally and instrumentally all of the songs are complex, extraordinarily well performed and, thanks to good engineering, clearly presented to the world.

If there is such a thing as an Irish soul, you'll find it in this album. To me its central theme is liberating ourselves by saying good-bye to the past, but not losing ourselves by forgetting it. And, geez, sometimes that process doesn't warrant a minor chord.

Get this album and listen.