Customer Reviews

Them Again

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Van Morrison's distinctive vocal talent and rock `n' roll, 1966 - what could be a better combination than that ?? I loved this LP, and I love this CD. His vocal work with Them was energetic and emotive, and his timing (slightly off the instrumental rhythms sometimes) contributes to the enjoyment of these songs. "Could You Would You," "My Lonely Sad Eyes," "Bad Or Good," and "Bring Em On In" by Van Morrison. (But not Them's lively rendition of "Gloria!") "Hello Josephine" by Fats Domino. "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan (with a soft, "rippling" piano in this wonderful rendition). "Out Of Sight" by James Brown. "I Got A Woman" by Ray Charles. And seven more great songs. It's said that the band Them consisted of whomever could be gotten together with Van for a performance or a recording session. An occasional vocal chorus, guitars, percussion, bass, piano, organ, harmonica, sax, and is that a flute?? Maybe that's another reason why this is an album that holds my attention throughout repeated listenings!

...especially since I got it as a free selection from BMG or Columbia House some years ago.

A rumor propagated in Hammer of the Gods (and substantiated by the liner notes of the 1989 Decca CD release) has Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page playing many of the guitar parts on this album.

This is a young, raw, hungry Van Morrison, singing Ray Charles, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Fats Domino, Dylan ("It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" as sampled later by Beck), and Bobby Bland tunes amongst several of his own. It's a far cry from Astral Weeks -- generally louder, faster, and more inherently R&B derived than any of Morrison's later spiritual Irish soul solo material. Contains the excellent originals "My Lonely Sad Eyes" and "Bring 'Em On In."