How Long Has This Been Going On

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For other uses, see How Long (disambiguation).
How Long Has This Been Going On
How Long Has This Been Going On cover
Studio album by Van Morrison
Released January, 1996
Recorded Ronnie Scott's, London
May 3, 1995
Genre Jazz, Be-bop
Length 50:49
Label Mercury
Producer Van Morrison & Georgie Fame
Professional reviews

All Music Guide 2/5 stars link

Rolling Stone 4/5 stars link
Van Morrison chronology
Days Like This
(1995)		 How Long Has This Been Going On
(1996)		 Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison
(1996)

How Long Has This Been Going On is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, "with Georgie Fame and Friends", released in 1996.

Contents

[edit] Reissue and remastered album

In September 2008, Exile/Polydor will release this album as part of batch three of the four catalogue reissues of Morrison's albums dated from 1971 through 2002.

[edit] Recording history

The album was recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, England on 3 May 1995, and features a number of jazz standards and a be-bop influenced rendition of Morrison's classic "Moondance." According to Van Morrison, "the album took four or five hours to record and Ronnie Scott's was chosen for the vibe."[1] Georgie Fame remembers the album came about after the two musicians had discussed it for several years when, "I got the band together, and we ran through some ideas one quiet afternoon...that went very well, so Van said, "Let's do it."'[2]

[edit] Songs

Pee Wee Ellis played saxophone and also served as arranger, along with Fame, Morrison and saxophonist Leo Green. There were more cover songs on this album than usual with Morrison's albums. Annie Ross appeared on "Blues Backstage" and also on the song, "Centerpiece". This song is also featured on the 2007 compilation album, The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3. "Heathrow Shuffle" is an instrumental composition from the 70's that was brought back on this album. Morrison had performed this song when he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974 and therefore it is included on his 2006 DVD, Live at Montreux 1980/1974.

[edit] Reviews

The reviews for the album were mixed with the American critics more favourable. The Daily Telegraph said "Van huffs and puffs where he should whisper," while Rolling Stone stated: "It's an old blues trick – laughing in the face of trouble – but Morrison does it with such contagious enthusiasm, it sounds fresh again."

[edit] Track listing

  1. "I Will Be There" (Van Morrison) – 2:30
  2. "The New Symphony Sid" - (King Pleasure, Young, add'l lyrics Fame) – 3:53
  3. "Early in the Morning" - (Bartley, Hickman, Jordan) – 2:44
  4. "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" - (Bricusse, Newley) – 4:02
  5. "Sack O' Woe" - (Adderley, Hendricks) – 4:06
  6. " Moondance" (Morrison)– 7:18
  7. "Centerpiece" - (Edison, Hendricks), including section from "Blues Backstage" (Foster) – 4:08
  8. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" - (Gershwin, Gershwin) – 3:49
  9. "Your Mind Is on Vacation" - (Allison) – 3:06
  10. "All Saint's Day" (Morrison) – 2:19
  11. "Blues in the Night" - (Arlen, Mercer) – 3:22
  12. "Don't Worry About a Thing" - (Allison) – 2:22
  13. "That's Life" - (Kay, Gordon) – 3:52
  14. "Heathrow Shuffle" (Morrison) – 3:18
  • Tracks 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 12 arranged by Georgie Fame.
  • Tracks 3, 4, 9 & 13 arranged by Pee Wee Ellis.
  • Tracks 6 & 14 arranged by Van Morrison.
  • Track 1 arranged by Leo Green.
  • Track 11 arranged by Georgie Fame and Pee Wee Ellis.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1996 The Billboard 200 55
1996 Top Jazz Albums 1

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hinton. Celtic Crossroads. p326
  2. ^ Heylin, Can you Feel the Silence, p464

[edit] References

  • Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7
  • Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X

[edit] External links

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