Having a Van Morrison moment this morning. Dunno why, just had a yen to listen to Whenever God Shines His Light, because it’s a nice track. Cheesy, yeah, and features Harry Webb himself, but it’s a chilled listen.
Which, of course, has led to wanting to hear Into The Mystic again, because as far as I’m concerned it’s Van Morrison’s masterpiece. A song that feels like it should be ten minutes, whose only failing is in being 3:30.
Ambition can consume a band, and this sprawling, beautiful pop masterpiece ate Tears for Fears (along with four years, four producers, numerous sidemen [including Phil Collins and Pino Palladino] and a lot of money).
It’d be 15 years before Orzabal and Smith would work together again (on the great Everybody Loves a Happy Ending), so no doubt the process was painful.
Has anyone else ever deigned to package a hefty 3-LP set in a single, cheap cardstock cover like The Clash did back in 1980 with their "Sandinista!" album? Some retro pop-punker act is really missing a trick.
Inspired by a thing I saw on Reddit earlier today, I’m going to try listening to more complete albums this year. Maybe daily? We’ll see how it shakes out.
#AnAlbumADay 144/366: Blood Spills Not Far from the Wound by Necessary Response
Meant to post this yesterday (got distracted by Baldur’s Gate); this will appeal to fans of bands like Covenant, VNV Nation, and Assemblage 23. I dig it.