Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits [Soundtrack]

Van Morrison

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: February 12, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Manhattan Records
• ASIN: B000KQF748
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,340 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If Hollywood's marriage with pop music is too often a marketing-driven shotgun affair, there remain musicians whose artistry can't help but elevate whatever film project they're associated with. This 19-track compendium underscores that notion, gathering a career-spanning collection of the Irish rock-R&B legend's contributions to an eclectic body of films that stretches from Pope of Greenwich Village's effusive early solo hit "Jackie Wilson Said" to the unlikely live collaboration with Roger Waters on "Comfortably Numb" that seasons Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated The Departed. The collection serves as a concise primer to the high points of Van Morrison's mercurial career, from the gritty career-breakout hits ("Gloria," "Baby Please Don't Go") of his British Invasion band Them through such early solo touchstones as "Wild Night," "Brown Eyed Girl," "Domino," and the collection's fine, previously unreleased live version of "Moondance" from An American Werewolf in London. But, as tracks like "Wonderful Remark," "Bright Side of the Road," "Someone Like You," and his Chieftains collaboration "Irish Heartbeat" ably argue, it's also an invitation to explore less heralded, if equally seductive, corners of the singer's rich oeuvre. --Jerry McCulley

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Isn't Marketing A Wonderful Thing?, February 13, 2007

By	Alan Dorfman "JukeboxJunkie812" (DELRAY BEACH, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Instead of releasing Van Morrison's Greatest Hits Vol. 243, pick some songs that have appeared on soundtracks, add live versions of big hits, a couple of pre-solo songs and a couple of classics that weren't hits and suddenly you have a package that can be marketed as "At The Movies" and put in stores just in time for the Oscars.

Nevertheless, just ignore the crassness of the marketing. This is, after all, another Van Morrison's Greatest Hits and, as such, is 19 slices of heaven. A legendary performer, we get several live takes of oldies that show they remain fresh. As does everything on the CD - some of which originally dates back 40 years. It is a tribute to his genius that these songs are as vital and relevant today.

The man, the myth, the mystic - Van Morrison. It's sad such wonderful music needs this kind of marketing gimmick but if it brings younger listeners not so familiar with Van to their iPods to try the music then it is worth it.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Single Disc Van Morrison Collection Available!, February 16, 2007

By	Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are in the market to own just one Van Morrison CD collection, Van Morrison "At The Movies", is the disc for you. This cd combines 19 tracks from all phases of his long distinguished career. The Irish soul man has never sounded better with remastered clarity, that makes this the choice over "Greatest Hits Vol-1 & Vol-2. This cd actually combines the best of those two collections and more. His classic gems from the "Them" days "Gloria", and "Baby Please Don't Go", are included here as well. His reworking of "Brown Eyed Girl", proves he has not lost anything from those vocal chords. His live take on "Caravan" from the "Last Waltz", is one of the finest live recordings ever. Lots of modern gems here as well, like 'Days Like This", "Real Real Gone", and the "Bright Side Of The Road". The real treat on this collection however, is the inclusion of his collaboration with Pink Floyds Roger Waters, on "Comfotably Numb", which was recorded live in Berlin in 1986 and features Rick Danko and Levon Helm. Some outstanding ballads are here as well like, "Someone Like You", "Have I Told You Lately", "Wonderful Remark", and "Hungry For Your Love". Considering the price and the fantastic content of this cd, I consider this cd essential to everyone who is both new to Van Morrison music and to well seasoned fans who would like to add a career retrospective not available until now. It doesn't get any better than this.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Movies Van is Good Van, February 18, 2007

By	Data Guy (Texas) - See all my reviews

I'm a huge Van Morrison fan - I own everything he has ever released as well as just about every bootleg, too. With that said, when I first saw this release on the schedule I thought "Oh, I'll already own all of that stuff, so I can probably forgo buying it."

Well, I was wrong. Yes, most of the stuff on this has already been released, but if you are a Van completist, you'll need this CD. First of all, it has a couple of live versions you might not already own. But most importantly, there is a re-recorded version of "Brown Eyed Girl" that is essential. It is not better than the now 40-year-old original radio chestnut, but it is great to hear Van's mature voice on this awesome song.

And if you are a casual Van fan then this is as good a place to start as Van's Best of CD.