Cheapest When That Rough God Goes Riding

The rock critic and author Griel Marcus was interviewed on the Public Radio program "soundcheck" on May 5, two days ago. I just listened to the downloaded show. Based the on that intervew I warn anyone with an interest in Van Morrison to read ANYTHING BUT this book. The author's knowedge is weak on his subject. Maybe that's why he decided to write a book not about Van or his music, but about "his listening to Van Morrison." When he was asked why Van's performances were so uneven. (He is famously uneven in performance) Marcus answered "I can't really say." Well, let's start with the fact that Van sufferred for years and years from serious STAGEFRIGHT. Doesn't Marcus know this?

Marcus critized Van for not always wanting to play his most song popular songs in concert. There was a period this was true and it was certainly his right as an artist. But it's hard to make this stick if you listen to three of Van's very finest releases, which are live albums, each released ten years after the previous: Ut's Too Late To Stop Now (1974), Live from the Belfast Opera House (1984) and A Night in San Francisco (1994),

Morrison first wrote and recorded "Gloria" and "Here Comes the Night" as lead singer of THEM in 1965 (at 20). i His first solo album contained "Brown Eyed Girl." His third was "Moondance." In between he created an album that still connot be pigeonholed named "Astral Weeks." This recording sold fifteen THOUSAND copies the year of release. Twenty years later it had sold several million copies and was named of the fifth best rock and roll ablum ever recorded by Rolling Stone Magazine. Since that time Van has released 36 additional original recordings (leaving out "bestofs"). He has been incredibly prolific, a troubador never at rest and always searching intellectually and musically. By the way, Van has been dubbedhe the best while blues singer in the world again and again. But no real reference to this vocal instrument by Mr. Marcus. Oh, well.

I like John Shaeffer (host) and listen often to soundcheck. On this occasion he was simply out his depth...uniformed and unprepared, relying only on Marcus' opinions to frame his questions. And questions like "what has he done lately betray his lack of preparation.
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