There are a few fine [songs on Absolutely Live]: "Who Do You Love," "Build Me A Woman," and Willie Dixon's "Close To You," but they account for about 15 minutes in an 80-minute set. We are then left with the rancid/poetic "Celebration of the Lizard" …, a mediocre new song, "Universal Mind," which sounds like a single that would not have made it, plus the old war horses "Five To One," "Music's Over," etc. These are enlivened by Morrison's humorous raps on life and liberty in concert hall America….

But in the end we are left with the music, and when tackling his own material, the result is hysterical slaughter. Listen to his juvenile-soul rant at the close of "Five To One," his intoxicated "Petition the Lord" intro to "Break On Through." It's enough to make you want to get up and punch him. What's theater on stage is...