Sense of Wonder

Van Morrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001FA1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,353 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tore Down à la Rimbaud

2. Ancient of Days

3. Evening Meditation [Instrumental]

4. The Master's Eyes

5. What Would I Do Without You

6. A Sense of Wonder

7. Boffyflow and Spike [Instrumental]

8. If You Only Knew

9. Let the Slave

10. A New Kind of Man

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of Van Morrison's A Sense of Wonder was originally released in 1985. Previously unreleased bonus tracks are 'Crazy Jane On God' and 'A Sense Of Wonder' (alternate takes). Features the classic track 'Tore Down A La Rimbaud' with the Irish folk group Moving Hearts on the title track as well on the electrified Celtic dance instrumental 'Boffyflow and Spike'. This CD includes original artwork and full lyrics to Van's compositions. 12 tracks. Polydor/Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Fall air (and airs) in Eire, September 24, 2004

By 

buckwheatbarleycorn "buckwheatbarleycorn" (Bala Cynwyd, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sense of Wonder (Audio CD)

Autmunal images (seared orange, pale yellow and green leaves), meditative paens to nature's harmonious beauty and God's love, musical notations on being a solitary human being in a large and sometimes difficult world, a rootsy and jaunty celtic instrumental. "Pastoral and low key" would be some of the surest adjectives to describe "A Sense of Wonder;" "soulfully soothing and occassionally enthralling" would be my humble critique. There is a wonderful and rare spiritual cohesiveness and harmony to this delightful, deceptively modest album that is rare to find or even stumble upon in any period. You can smell the leaves on the air.


A Sense of Wonder qualifies

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of His Best!, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sense of Wonder (Audio CD)

This is easily one of the best albums that this brilliant musician has ever made. I highly recommed it. It happens to be the album that got me hooked on Van and made me realize just how brilliant, how sublime, how deep, he is. Prior to hearing this album, I only knew Van from his radio hits; I enjoyed them greatly, but (let's face it) they were far lighter, bouncier, and without the "spiritual" depth than you will encounter on this great album. I recommend turning down the lights, sipping some wine, adjusting the headphones just right, and then listening to each song three times before proceeding to the next one. Enjoy!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aptly named, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sense of Wonder (Audio CD)

While not quite achieving the same pinnacle as (say) "No Guru ...", this is still a very fine album. Van is at the peak of his form vocally, and, as usual, his collaborators are superb musicians. The title tune is lovely, and "What Would I Do Without You" is heartfelt without being sentimental. And the version of "Boffyflow and Spike" on this album has a jazzy "flow" that's missing from the livelier (but still delightful) traditional-instruments version he does with the Chieftains on "Irish Heartbeat." I found "Let The Slave" rather weak, not because of the material or the melody, but because Morrison's diction isn't quite up to it at times. His ventures into mysticism (e.g., "The Master's Eyes") are well done but tend to be repetitious. And what's with that Zorro suit he wears on the cover? But, overall, I like the album a lot.