Customer Reviews

You Win Again

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

When I first saw this cd I was shocked. I had totally forgotten about Linda Gail Lewis. I saw her open for Jerry Lee in 1970 in Lubbock, Texas. In those days anyone who opened for the "killer" was in for a tough evening. Since that night, I had not heard or seen anything about her until this disc. This could have been a great cd if they could have kept the tone of the first five cuts throughout the recording. "Let's Talk About Us" is an old B side of a Jerry Lee recording made in the late 50"s at Sun Records. Van and Linda Gail capture the spontaneity and grit of the great old rockabilly sound. The same goes for "You Win Again." Linda Gails' pumping piano(a la Jerry Lee) keeps these cuts rockin. "Jambalaya, Crazy Arms, and Old Black Joe" continue in the same vein. After that, the album starts to flounder with lackluster songs except for John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen" and Van's "No Way Pedro." The reason I love Van Morrison so much is that he continues to take chances and never loses his artistic integrity--the public be damned. On this cd he sounds like he is having an absolute blast and could care less about what the audience thinks! With more country and rockabilly songs on this set he could have been close to making a great record. While this is not one of Van"s best, it certainly beats the heck out of the majority of swill that is being released these days.

Van Morrison delivers a beautiful set of traditional C&W, blues and rockabilly with Jerry Lee Lewis' younger sister, Linda Gail Lewis. These are songs that Van grew up listening to from his father's record collection. Songs are written by his idols, including Hank Williams, John Lee Hooker and other musicians and songwriters from his childhood. The only Van Morrison original is No Way Pedro, a really fun track that sounds like a slice of rockabilly from the 50s.

Linda Gail Lewis has a great voice and blends in with Van almost perfectly. She also play a mean killer boogie woogie piano and is quite talented in her piano solos.

I would recommend this disc for anybody who is a fan of 50s or 60s rockabilly, C&W or blues.

Being a Van Morrison fan, I was a bit perplexed at the thought of a duet album with the "killer's" little sister. How would these two stong voices blend? After one song (the single, Let's Talk About us) all my questions were answered! These two are Rockin' and having a fabulous time doing it.

Linda Gail has really brought Van back to life! Just take one look at the album cover and you can see that. This album has taken Van back to his first musical love, Rock 'n' Roll. I hope that everyone will have as much fun with this one as my family has!

Who cares what genre 'The Man' inhabits this time out. No musician alive compares with Van's vocal talents. Now that he appears to have appropriated "The hardest working man in show business" title from James Brown this CD presents the Van Morrison equivalent of having fun on the weekend away from the day job. Why ask why? Just relax and enjoy!

I think what the naysayers really mean is that they don't care for the choice of material. Of course this isn't a bad CD - Van is incapable of producing lousy music. And his hard core "fans" should be grateful that their hero doesn't consistently churn out the same stuff over and over again. Van Morrison has always been a kind of one-stop shop of musical genres so that no matter what mood you're in - whether it's sitting around with friends listening to the blues, lying in a meadow reading Blake, or sitting home alone staring at your lava lamp, there's always been Van to accompany the occasion. And now if you're having a jamboree, there's Van for that as well. This CD brings us back to his roots. The arrangements are tight, the band is on target and Van's voice sounds better than ever. So lighten up, slather up some ribs and give it a chance.

The prolific Van captivates his fans once again with a collection of 50s country and Rockabilly standards.Clearly following his own muse without regard to commercial sales,Van records 13 duets with Linda Gail Lewis that are fun to listen to whether or not you are familiar with the originals.Van's vocal phrasing is reminiscent of Ray Charles and the band sounds as if it just came from a Jerry Lee Lewis gig.One complaint is that Ms Lewis sometimes sounds as if she were singing to the record rather than harmonizing with Van.Her vocals sometimes are a quarter beat behind which can be distracting.The three Hank Williams tracks are the standouts. Dont expect "Man on Top" or "Enlightenment" but this is a far superior effort compared to last years "Skiffle Sessions".

My love of music started with the Stones, Beatles and Who in the 60's, oh yes there was another great influence: THEM, like G.L.O.R.I.A., like Van Morrison. He was great them, he's only gotten better. I don't know how he came across the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis for this Duet album, but he "hit the nail on the head"(see Amazing Rhythm Aces). If you like good old fashioned Rock & Roll with a bit of Rhythm & Blues and Country Goodness, this has got to be the tops for you too. I hadn't heard any recent music of Van's for years until last week laying in bed watching Jay Leno, when out comes a rockin' Van & Linda Gail. I got up early the next day and bought the best Album I've ever heard in many years. I can guarantee you this one won't get lost with the 700+ other CD'd I've collected in my 15 years as a paid professional Disk Jockey. Play it loud and be ready to start dancing! I love it! This is what Rock & Roll is all about!!

This CD would be worth it just to see Van smiling. I had to look three times before I could believe it. If you like to dance this Van CD is a good bet with some hot rockin' tunes to get you up on the scud track and groovin'. I have always appreciated Van's wide diversity in musical styles and with You Win Again, I have, in fact, won again. He shows that he is willing to let it all hang out and take more than his share of the risks. I found Linda Gail's voice a good match with Van's and the obvious pleasure these two performers were having comes right through the music. Along with the Skiffle Sessions I think You Win Again is the best Van has released in years. Do yourself a favor and tune in to this CD for some happy, playful Jump tunes.

This is wonderful, fun, feelin' good music. Some blues, some country, lots of rhythm, good guitar. We were all rockin' and reelin' around the room -- ages 19 months to 42 years. I'd recommend this CD to anyone who wants an instant Good Mood.

I find it somewhat amusing that several reviews criticize "You Win Again" for the very qualities that have made Van Morrison's music so vital and compelling for more than three decades: his divergence from the mainstream, his sense of wonder, and his ability to crossover various musical genres and styles. And to criticize him for failing to live up to the standards set by "Astral Weeks" or "Moondance" is laughable: very little contemporary music holds its own with such comparisons. Instead, approach "You Win Again" with an open mind and a willingness to be entertained and you won't be disappointed. Approach "You Win Again" as music that's both fun and an homage to writers and performers from the past and you won't be disappointed. Listen to "You Win Again" again and again and I'm certain you'll come to enjoy the fact that Van Morrison is having a flat-out rollicking good time. As is Linda Gail, who's voice and style nicely counterbalance Van. In short, don't analyze so much... just have fun with this slightly rough gem.