Showing posts with label Van MORRISON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Van MORRISON. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Van MORRISON & John Lee HOOKER - Together 2007


Van MORRISON & John Lee HOOKER - Together 2007

Blues

Blues dean John Lee Hooker and Belfast cowboy Van Morrison, together again. For many listeners, it doesn't get much better than this. The two have collaborated on piecemeal projects for the last 25 years but unite definitively on Hooker's new album, "Don't Look Back." It's produced by Morrison, who also sings on four tracks and seems to be living a disciple's dream. "A lot of people can't work with Van, but him and me team up well," Hooker said last week. "We got a lot of love and respect for each other.

"We're good buddies. He calls me all the time to see how I'm doing. I say, `I'm an old man, but I'm still hanging in there, Van.' "
**
01. I Cover The Waterfront
02. Serves Me Right To Suffer
03. Ball & Chain
04. Don't Look Back
05. Never Get Out Of This
06. Travelin' Blues
07. The Healing Game
08. Wasted Years
09. Rainy Day
10. Gloria
**
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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Van MORRISON & Linda Gail LEWIS - You Win Again 2000


Van MORRISON & Linda Gail LEWIS - You Win Again 2000

Blues

Van Morrison, never the most predictable of performers, takes yet another odd turn with You Win Again, a collection of rootsy duets with one Linda Gail Lewis. And who is this belter who holds her own while sharing the mic and billing with Van the Man on cuts ranging from Hank Williams's "Jambalaya" to Stephen Foster's "Old Black Joe" to John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen"? Turns out she's the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis; in fact, Morrison came across her at a Jerry Lee convention in Wales. The unlikely twosome were soon rushing through live studio recordings of a bunch of country, blues, and R&B favorites backed by a rockin' combo. Coming as it does on the heels of Morrison's for-the-fun-of-it Skiffle Sessions, You Win Again signals Morrison's continuing impulse to wallow joyfully in the music of his youth. It's actually superior to The Skiffle Sessions, and while it won't make anyone forget Astral Weeks, so what? There's no reason Morrison fans can't have as much fun listening to You Win Again as their hero apparently had making it.
By Steven Stolder.
**
Van Morrison delivers a beautiful set of traditional C&W, blues and rockabilly with Jerry Lee Lewis' younger sister, Linda Gail Lewis. These are songs that Van grew up listening to from his father's record collection. Songs are written by his idols, including Hank Williams, John Lee Hooker and other musicians and songwriters from his childhood. The only Van Morrison original is No Way Pedro, a really fun track that sounds like a slice of rockabilly from the 50s.
Linda Gail Lewis has a great voice and blends in with Van almost perfectly. She also play a mean killer boogie woogie piano and is quite talented in her piano solos.
I would recommend this disc for anybody who is a fan of 50s or 60s rockabilly, C&W or blues.
By Mark Mccabe.
**
Van Morrison- Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Harmonica
Linda Gail Lewis- Vocal, Piano
Ned Edwards- Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Background Vocals
Paul Godden- Steel Guitar
Lee Goodall- Saxophone
Pete Hurley- Bass
Colin Griffin- Drums
**
01. Let's Talk About Us (2:53)
02. You Win Again (3:01)
03. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (2:57)
04. Crazy Arms (3:37)
05. Old Black Joe (3:21)
06. Think Twice Before You Go (2:38)
07. No Way Pedro (3:44)
08. Shot of Rhythm and Blues (3:59)
09. Real Gone Lover (3:09)
10. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)? (2:23)
11. Cadillac (2:33)
12. Baby (You've Got What It Takes) (3:45)
13. Boogie Chillen (4:00)
**
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