- For other uses, see Wavelength (disambiguation).
| Wavelength | |||||
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| Studio album by Van Morrison | |||||
| Released | September, 1978 | ||||
| Recorded | Spring 1978 | ||||
| Genre | Pop rock, R&B | ||||
| Length | 49:32 | ||||
| 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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Wavelength is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1978. The album had a different atmosphere from his previous albums, as it had a more pop oriented sound due to his heavy use of electric guitars and synthesizers. Bobby Tench and Peter Bardens were given special credit as "Special Assistance in Production."[1]
Contents |
Album's cover
The cover on the album was by photographer Norman Seeff (associated with Joni Mitchell's album sleeves) and shows Morrison for once almost smiling and looking James Dean like dressed in tight white trousers smoking a cigarette down to the butt.
Recording history
Wavelength was recorded at the Manor in Oxfordshire England over several months time and then completed at Shangri-la studios in America. Morrison had brought together musicians that represented almost all phases of his musical history: Herbie Armstrong from his showband days in Belfast, Peter Bardens from Them, Garth Hudson from The Band and Peter Van Hooke from the mid-70s.[2]
Songs
The songs on this album also recall various stages of Morrison's life, starting with the album opener, "Kingdom Hall" which reflected back to his childhood in Belfast when he attended services with his mother, a practicing Jehovah's Witness at one time. "Wavelength" was about fond memories of his adolescence, listening to the Voice of America. "Checking It Out" is about a relationship going wrong and being rescued by "guides and spirits along the way". "Natalia", "Lifetimes" and "Venice USA" are love songs. "Santa Fe" which he wrote with Jackie DeShannon, is Morrison's first ever collaboration to appear on an album. It segues into "Beautiful Obsession". "Hungry For Your Love" appeared in the hit 1982 movie An Officer and a Gentleman and has become one of the more enduringly popular songs on the album along with the title song. Morrison plays electric piano on this song accompanied by Herbie Armstrong's acoustic guitar.[3]Morrison also included "Hungry For Your Love" on his 2007 compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits.
Aftermath
It quickly became the fastest selling album that Morrison had recorded at that time and went gold within three months. Melody Maker reviewed the album as evidence of Morrison's "drift into the American dream." Morrison denied that the songs were anything but about personal experience, and were not about the country. [4] (Relocating to Europe within a few years, his work during the 1980s would not be so "radio friendly" and so easily accessible to the casual listener.) With the success of the album, Morrison assembled a Wavelength band to promote it that was similar in many ways to the abandoned The Caledonia Soul Orchestra from It's Too Late to Stop Now fame.
Track listing
All songs by Morrison unless noted Side One
- "Kingdom Hall" – 5:59
- "Checkin' It Out" – 3:29
- "Natalia" – 4:04
- "Venice U.S.A." – 6:32
- "Lifetimes" – 4:15
Side Two
- "Wavelength" – 5:44
- "Santa Fe / Beautiful Obsession" (De Shannon/Morrison)– 7:04
- "Hungry for Your Love" – 3:45
- "Take It Where You Find It" – 8:40
Personnel
- Van Morrison: Guitar, keyboard, piano (electric), saxophone, vocal
- Herbie Armstrong: Guitar, vocal
- Peter Bardens: Synthesizer, horn, keyboard
- Ginger Blake: Vocal, vocal (background)
- Laura Creamer: Vocal, vocal (background)
- Mitch Dalton: Guitar
- Linda Dillard: Vocal, vocal (background)
- Mickey Feat: Bass guitar
- Garth Hudson: Organ, synthesizer, accordion, keyboard
- Bob Tench: Guitar, vocal (background)
- Peter Van Hooke: Drums
Production
- Producer: Van Morrison
- Engineer: Mick Glossop
Album - Billboard
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1979 | Pop Albums | 28 |
Album - UK Album Chart
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1979 | UK Album Chart | 27 |
Samples
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Wavelength Image:Van Morrison-Wavelength.ogg Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978) Kingdom Hall Image:Van Morrison-Kingdom Hall.ogg Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978) Natalia Image:Van Morrison-Natalia-Wavelength-1978.ogg Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978) - Problems playing the files? See media help.
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
