Saint Dominic's Preview [Original recording remastered, Original recording reissued]

Van Morrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Original recording reissued
• Label: Polydor
• ASIN: B000002GNL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,006 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)

2. Gypsy

3. I Will Be There

4. Listen To The Lion

5. Saint Dominic's Preview

6. Redwood Tree

7. Almost Independence Day

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Conceived in the wake of his bucolic classics, Moondance and Tupelo Honey, 1972's Saint Dominic's Preview sustains their mix of crisp R&B ("Jackie Wilson Said") and anthemic folk-rock ("Almost Independence Day") while insinuating a darker, warier spirit to Morrison's music. In what would amount to the first major installment in an ongoing cycle of digs at the music business, the title song pits the singer's authentic art against the false idols of the predators and sycophants surrounding him--a familiar Morrison theme decades on but given a soulful urgency here that makes it tough to dismiss as the ravings of a career curmudgeon. --Sam Sutherland

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Caledonia soul music February 19, 2001

By David Kinney

Format:Audio CD

It's impossible for me to be objective about Van Morrison and I'm not even gonna try. His music has meant more to me over the years than any other. This isn't my favorite Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks is, but I've chosen to review this one because I think it best represents the many facets of seventies era Van.The lesser tracks here are all pleasant Tupelo Honey style soft rock, and that ain't a bad thing, but the five star rating is based on four cuts that stand out even in the exceedingly high standard that Van has set in his thirty-plus year career. The first of these is the wonderful "Jackie Wilson Said" that finds an upbeat and jubilant Van scatting over cartwheeling horns, it should have been a massive hit. The title cut is a moving account of Van's life in the New World with the gospel overtones he uses like no other singer. This is a guy who could sing the Belfast phone book (and to the uninitiated it may sound like he is) and make it soulful and deep. Almost Independence Day returns Van to the long introspective tone poems of Astral Weeks and would be the standout cut on a great album were it not for the magnificent "Listen To The Lion". Uplifting, and heartbreaking at the same time, it lasts nearly ten minutes, and when it's over you'll want to hear it again. And then once more. It's simply the finest single song in this giant's considerable repetoire. Van confronts all his dreams, all his doubts and all of the tangled web of the celtic diaspora and emerges triumphant. Sound a little too heavy? No way. He has the gift of the true soul singer in his ability to make his soul searching his listener's as well. It's a gift, and Van Morrison gives it to anyone who wants it. And yes, that is heavy metal hero Ronnie Montrose strumming acoustic guitar behind the Man.... He knows. Read more ›

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful January 27, 2003

By John Stodder

Format:Audio CD

Is there a more perfect album than this from the rock era? I can't think of one. This album takes you on a journey. It is the most well-rounded LP of Van Morrison's career. Whereas most of his albums choose a specific genre to mine, this is one of the few that gives you a taste of his different favorite styles: Punchy AM-radio pop-soul (Jackie Wilson Said), a fabulous, no holds barred soul-blues number (I Will Be There), a gorgeous, sentimental hippie anthem (Redwood Tree), two rewarding and never boring stretch-out/space out explorations (Listen to the Lion, Independence Day), and to top it all off, one of his most affecting major compositions, in the title track. The remastering is terrific, putting Van's still-youthful, roaring voice up front. This album has the same air of mystery as Astral Weeks, but with a more solid grounding in classic musical forms, its a mystery you can hum and tap your toes to. This was Van's artistic peak, and it's a joy.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of Van's Best! April 26, 2000

By M. Scagnelli VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This album is classic Van Morrison. Van had an incredibly good run in the 60s and 70s, releasing his best five albums. These albums in chronilogical order are Astral Weeks, Moondance, His Band, Tupelo Honey and this album. All five of these albums are five star albums. This album ends that incredibly good run that few artists had. Buy all five of the mentioned albums.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This would be one of Van Morrison's top 5 albums. August 5, 1998

By [e-mail]

Format:Audio CD

After the astonishing first solo album "Astral Weeeks", Van Morrison's writing went through a very variable patch, where albums presented included traditional songs (Brown Eyed Girl) with more varied offerings (various tracks on Moondance and Tupelo Honey). St Dominic's Preview presents an assured hand at the end of this period, where the influence of the record industry has waned, and he has become his own man. Some small jazz influences (Jackie Wilson said) but the three sublime tracks on this LP are St Dominic's Preview, Listen to the Lion, and Independence Day. This is the peak of a journey started with "Madam George" on Astral Weeks. More assured, smoother, more approachable, voice somewhere near the widest range, great musicianship all combine into a small kind of perfection. After 25 years, in "St Dominic's Preview", the sound of the Irish immigrants approaching Ellis Island, and life in the New World is as powerful as ever.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of his greatest February 26, 2007

By Darin Collison

Format:Audio CD

For some reason, this is one of his lesser known works. However, it is comfortably one of the best - alongside Moondance and Astral Weeks. However, the cd remaster is pox. There is no bass. Zip,Zero. Nada. To qualify that comment, I am a bit of an audiophile, use great sounding components - Arcam, Plinius, Magneplanar - and have the album on vinyl. The vinyl sounds great - rich and warm. Why are there no decent remasters of such an important, revered and basically great artist?!?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This record is a thing of beauty May 31, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Once again a brilliant record from one of the greatest recording artists on earth. The range shown in these songs is stunning -- from romping ("Jackie Wilson Said") to short and very sweet ("Redwood Tree") -- to alluring ("Gypsy") -- to the show-stopper blues of "I Will Be There" -- to the three magnificent longer tracks, each tours-de-force that in many ways defy description. At least it can be said that these three works are the grand ruminations of an exile, or at least an expatriate, each with a character all its own. My personal favorite is "Listen to the Lion," one of my favorite tracks of all time on any record and an absolute glory--a completely captivating and transporting piece of work that has brought tears to my eyes on many occasions over the years. Then, though, the high standard of art set by "Lion" is actually met by the steadily burning fire in the heart of the operatic "Almost Independence Day" and by the sheer mastery, both musical and lyrical, of the title track. Folks, this album is without question the document of a genius.