Back on Top
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| Back on Top | |||||
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| Studio album by Van Morrison | |||||
| Released | March 9, 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | 1999 | ||||
| Genre | Blues, R & B | ||||
| Length | 52:08 | ||||
| Label | Point Blank/Virgin | ||||
| Producer | Van Morrison | ||||
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Back on Top is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison released in 1999. This album marks a slight return to the forms of music he is most known for: blues and R&B. Rolling Stone Magazine reviews it as one Monet "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" (which it calls a masterpiece) and nine Norman Rockwell's.
The January 29, 2008 reissued and remastered version of the album contains an alternative take of "Philosopher's Stone" and a new arrangement of Fats Domino's song, "Valley of Tears".[1]
Contents |
[edit] Recording history
Recorded at The Wool Hall, Bath, England and Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland.
[edit] Songs
The musicians on the album are understated with Ian Jennings playing acoustic bass, Geraint Watkins playing classy Hammond organ and Pee Wee Ellis on saxophone. The title track is an optimistic statement of the singer's outlook and may be a view of his personal relationships or professional standing. "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" is a ballad set in autumn and enhanced by a string section. Another song with a fall setting, "Golden Autumn Day" is about being mugged in an unnamed city in Britain. The ballad of lost love and heartbreak, "Reminds Me of You" was written in 1996 after a break-up of his engagement to Michelle Rocca and was not recorded for three years during which time they had reunited.[2]"Precious Time" has since become an often performed concert tune for Morrison with very meaningful lyrics about the quick passing of time and the need to enjoy life while we can; 'It doesn’t matter to which God you pray/Precious time is slipping away." A very blues influenced tune, "Going Down Geneva" is set in European cities instead of the American South as typical for blues songs.
The video for the song "Back On Top", received significant airplay on the Canadian music station, "MuchMoreMusic", when it was released.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Van Morrison
- "Goin' Down Geneva" – 4:24
- "Philosophers Stone" – 6:05
- "In the Midnight" – 5:07
- "Back on Top" – 4:23
- "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" – 5:39
- "High Summer" – 5:12
- "Reminds Me of You" – 5:39
- "New Biography" – 5:23
- "Precious Time" – 3:45
- "Golden Autumn Day" – 6:31
[edit] Extra tracks (reissued, remastered album 2008)
- "Philosophers Stone" (alternative take)
- "Valley of Tears" (Fats Domino, arranged Morrison)
[edit] Credits
- Van Morrison - vocal, acoustic guitar, harmonica
- Mick Green - acoustic and electric guitars
- Pee Wee Ellis - soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones, background vocals
- Matt Holland - trumpet
- Geraint Watkins - piano, Hammond B-3 organ
- Fiachra Trench -piano
- Ian Jennings - double bass
- Liam Bradley - drums, percussion, background vocals
- Bobby Irwin - drums
- Brian Kennedy - background vocals
- Irish Film Orchestra - strings
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Billboard 200 | 28 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Van Morrison Official Website
- ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p.460
[edit] References
- Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7
- Van Morrison Back on Top by George Graham
[edit] External links
- Lyrics and Audio Samples 1990s, Back on Top
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