Poetic Champions Compose
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| Poetic Champions Compose | |||||
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| Studio album by Van Morrison | |||||
| Released | 1987 | ||||
| Recorded | Summer 1987 | ||||
| Genre | Celtic, Folk-rock | ||||
| Length | 47:45 | ||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||
| Producer | Van Morrison | ||||
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Rolling Stone (Not rated) link Robert Christgau (B+) link |
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| Van Morrison chronology | |||||
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| Singles from Poetic Champions Compose | |||||
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Poetic Champions Compose is an album by Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music.) As described by Brian Hinton: "It is an album which is more than the sum of its parts, exuding an overall sense of calm and optimism."[1]
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[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
The album was recorded in London and Bath, England, and features British only musicians.
[edit] Songs
It was originally intended to be an album of wholly jazz instrumental works but Morrison said that as lyrics began to come into his mind, he abandoned the idea. However the album was still bookended with the instrumentals, "Spanish Steps" and "Allow Me" and "Celtic Excavation" filled in the center. Morrison's philosophy reading list was evident in "Alan Watts Blues" and Socrates and Plato were mentioned on "I Forgot That Love Existed". Rudolph Steiner's pronouncement about the importance of "thinking with the heart and feeling with the mind" was included in the lyrics also. Fiachra Trench played a string and woodwind arrangement on "The Mystery" which was spiritual in nature. Two love songs that have had a continuing popularity were "Queen of the Slipstream" and the popular movie soundtrack hit, "Someone Like You.[2] The only song that was not penned by Morrison was the traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, whose subject is a man waiting for the Kingdom of God. Brian Hinton says " It is "Mother Ireland" whom Van is missing and his world weary vocals are like sobs of pain."[3] "Give Me My Rapture" and "Did Ye Get Healed?" were powerful and optimistic statements of the deep spiritual priorities in his music.
[edit] Van Morrison on recording mood
Morrison has said, "Psychologists will tell you that artists have to be in a state of despair before they produce great work, but I don't think that ....In my case I know it doesn't create better work. I produce better work if I'm content. I can't create that feeling if I'm in a state of conflict. [4]
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Morrison unless noted otherwise
- "Spanish Steps" (Instrumental) – 5:20
- "The Mystery" – 5:16
- "Queen of the Slipstream" – 4:55
- "I Forgot That Love Existed" – 4:17
- "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (traditional) – 4:27
- "Celtic Excavation" (Instrumental) – 3:17
- "Someone Like You" – 4:06
- "Alan Watts Blues" – 4:24
- "Give Me My Rapture" – 3:44
- "Did Ye Get Healed?" – 4:06
- "Allow Me" (Instrumental) – 3:53
[edit] Personnel
- Van Morrison - Guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone, vocal
- Mick Cox - Guitar
- June Boyce - Backing vocals
- Richie Buckley - Soprano saxophone, flute on "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"
- Neil Drinkwater - Synthesizer, piano
- Martin Drover - Trumpet, flugelhorn
- Roy Jones - Percussion, drums
- Steve Pearce - Bass
- Kate St. John - Oboe on "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"
- Fiachra Trench - String, woodwind arrangement, organ
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Billboard 200 | 90 |
Album - UK Album Chart
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1987 | UK Album Chart | 22 |
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
- Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
[edit] External links
- Lyrics and Audio Samples 1980s, Poetic Champions Compose
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