His Band and the Street Choir

Van Morrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KBD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,684 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #55 in Music > R&B > Soul > Blue-Eyed Soul

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

His Band and the Street Choir appeared at a time--1970--when Van Morrison was building on the great critical successes of Astral Weeks and Moondance. His third Warner Bros. album contains a number of radio-friendly tracks clearly aimed at the singles market and few clues of the serious, brooding melancholy of Astral Weeks. Kicking off with the jaunty "Domino," the album is generally dominated by uptempo swingers such as "Call Me Up in Dreamland," "Give Me a Kiss," and "Blue Money." The cover photography and liner notes by then wife Janet Planet reveal a smiling Morrison and hint at a newfound personal contentment. This mood did not last long after Van left the artists' community of Woodstock. But even here, in "I'll Be Your Lover Too" and "Crazy Face," there are moments that are essential listening for fans of his sullen splendor and mysticism. --Rob Stewart

Product Description

Pressed on 180gram vinyl at RTI. Mastered from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Grey at Acoustech Mastering. Features all original packaging. Van Morrison's 1970 release His Band and The Street Choir had a more relaxed sound than its predecessor "Moondance." This release was just one of many critically acclaimed releases for the equal parts blue-eyed soul shouter and wild eyed poet sorcerer. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joyful noise., September 5, 2001

By 

slomamma (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: His Band and the Street Choir (Audio CD)

The first time someone tried to play this album for me, I was really reluctant to listen. It was the early seventies, a few years after the album came out, and the Van Morrison song that was getting the most radio play at the time was TB Sheets. Brilliant song, but harrowing Ð certainly not something you want to listen to every day. So when my friend said he was going to put on a Van Morrison album, I said, "This is going to be painful, isnÕt it?"

Before the first song (Domino) was over, I knew I was wrong. This has got to be the most joyous album ever made. That great old Biblical phrase "a joyful noise" is the only way to describe it. ItÕs not a sappy, moon-June kind of happiness. I keep thinking of a line from Blue Money. He sings, "YouÕre so glad to be alive, honey." ThatÕs the spirit that courses through this album. It sounds like a man who has been deep down in the blues (the man who sang about TB sheets, I guess) and came up laughing and smiling and singing his heart out.

If youÕve listened to any later Morrison albums, you know that joy didnÕt remain in much of his music. But at least weÕve got this album. Even the most pensive song on the CD Ð IÕll Be Your Lover Too Ð is warm and contented, full of quiet joy. Most of the songs on here really do make you glad to be alive.

IÕve heard His Band and The Street Choir described as a "minor" Moondance Ð the same rich and soulful horns, the same jazz feel, but without the lyrical depth. Maybe. ItÕs true thereÕs not a song here with the poetry of Into the Mystic or And It Stoned Me (both from Moondance), but pure, unadulterated happiness is nothing to turn up your nose at. Owning this album really is like owning a little chunk of joy.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hippie Soul, February 20, 2002

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: His Band and the Street Choir (Audio CD)

Van Morrison has made so many albums, many vastly different from the one preceding, that it would be hard for a new fan to know where to start. I have a recommendation: get Moondance then get His Band and Street Choir. Together these albums provide the listener with the essential expression of Van Morrison's love of American rhythm and blues.
Most of us have heard Domino and Blue Money. Good as they are for top 40 tunes they are hardly the best songs on the CD. The insouciant swing of Give Me A Kiss and Call Me Up In Dreamland are in stark contrast to the morose introspection that imbues some of his later masterpieces. The hard-driving sax on I've Been Working makes it impossible not to want to dance. If I Ever Needed Someone gives voice to Morrison's deep spirituality and Street Choir seems a scolding antidote to the anti-Americanism that was rife at the time of recording.
Put this CD on, and it will lift you right up no matter how down you are feeling. Out of all his albums, I rate this in the top 5. It is upbeat, it is rock, it is jazz, it is blues, and it is hippie soul at its best.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many great classics from the early days, September 6, 2001

By 

Gabriel (Norwalk, CT, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: His Band and the Street Choir (Audio CD)

This albums contains many great classics from Van Morrison's early days that you really don't hear much anymore. Not to mention, this album also contains that great hit from "Proof of Life" that no one can find called "I'll be your lover, too". Definitely a great album for those who like that early seventies folksy song of Van Morrison