| Poetic Champions Compose | |||||
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| Studio album by Van Morrison | |||||
| Released | 1987 | ||||
| Recorded | Summer 1987 | ||||
| Genre | Celtic, Folk-rock | ||||
| Length | 47:45 | ||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||
| Producer | Van Morrison | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
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All Music Guide |
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| Van Morrison chronology | |||||
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Poetic Champions Compose is an album by Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music.) As described by Brian Hinton: "It is an album which is more than the sum of its parts, exuding an overall sense of calm and optimism."[1]
Contents |
Recording
The album was recorded in London and Bath, England, and features British only musicians.
Songs
It was originally intended to be an album of wholly jazz instrumental works but Morrison said that as lyrics began to come into his mind, he abandoned the idea. However the album was still bookended with the instrumentals, "Spanish Steps" and "Allow Me" and "Celtic Excavation" filled in the center. Morrison's philosophy reading list was evident in "Alan Watts Blues" and Socrates and Plato were mentioned on "I Forgot That Love Existed". Rudolph Steiner's pronouncement about the importance of "thinking with the heart and feeling with the mind" was included in the lyrics also. Fiachra Trench played a string and woodwind arrangement on "The Mystery" which was spiritual in nature. Two love songs that have had a continuing popularity were "Queen of the Slipstream" and the popular movie soundtrack hit, "Someone Like You.[2] The only song that was not penned by Morrison was the traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, whose subject is a man waiting for the Kingdom of God. Brian Hinton says " It is "Mother Ireland" whom Van is missing and his world weary vocals are like sobs of pain."[3] "Give Me My Rapture" and "Did You Get Healed" were powerful and optimistic statements of the deep spiritual priorities in his music.
Van Morrison on recording mood
Morrison has said, "Psychologists will tell you that artists have to be in a state of despair before they produce great work, but I don't think that ....In my case I know it doesn't create better work. I produce better work if I'm content. I can't create that feeling if I'm in a state of conflict. [4]
Track listing
All songs by Morrison unless noted otherwise
- "Spanish Steps" (Instrumental) – 5:20
- "The Mystery" – 5:16
- "Queen of the Slipstream" – 4:55
- "I Forgot That Love Existed" – 4:17
- "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (traditional) – 4:27
- "Celtic Excavation" (Instrumental) – 3:17
- "Someone Like You" – 4:06
- "Alan Watts Blues" – 4:24
- "Give Me My Rapture" – 3:44
- "Did Ye Get Healed?" – 4:06
- "Allow Me" (Instrumental) – 3:53
Personnel
- Van Morrison - Guitar, harmonica, saxophone (alto), vocal
- Mick Cox - Guitar
- June Boyce - Vocal (background)
- Neil Drinkwater - Synthesizer, piano
- Martin Drover - Trumpet fluegelhorn
- Royce Jones - Percussion, drums
- Steve Pearce - Bass guitar
- Fiachra Trench - strings, woodwind
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Billboard 200 | 90 |
Album - UK Album Chart
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1987 | UK Album Chart | 22 |
Notes
References
- Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
- Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
