My heart sinks at the news that Van Morrison has re recorded some of his songs with such luminaries as PJ Proby, Chris Farlowe and Mick Hucknall for a duets album. Everyone seems to do one of these records these days, and they’ll all rubbish aren’t they- basically just money making exercises? Or are there some good examples out there?
The duets album
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Covers albums or albums with lots of guest vox are usually signalling the ideas well is running dry yep. Brian Wilson’s new one was mooted to be just that although it sounds like he’s stopped short of making the whole album duets, and some are with former Beach Boys Al Jardine and the mighty Blondie Chaplin so that might be alright.
The sleeve of the Van one is laughably bad though, like a 5th form art project…and even with my lack of design skills, the way his name and the album title align is just bang wrong isn’t it?
Same here. Michael Bubble ? Van – WTF ?
Heard that – hideous. What happened Van? Hasn’t done a good album in 25 years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pH014sAAdg
I tried with his so called post 1990 comebacks. I really did. They are just so dull and lacking in inspiration. His often (wrongly) derided 80s output is what I return to most. Some beautiful work in that era.
His 80s work, up to and including 1991’s ‘Hymns To The Silence’, is consistent wonderful. All those since may have contained the odd outstanding song, but on the whole they’ve been so disappointingly mediocre.
*consistently*
Does One From The Heart count? Cos that’s aces.
Oh, I dunno, there are some good ‘uns, just not always big names.
Los Lobos do a good one, the Ride, with such as Elvis Costello, Richeard Thompson, Bobby Womack etc. (I notice they also have a spanish language one with Celia Cruz et al, which I may have to look out for.)
On the subject of Van, he has an odd track record in self-adulation, as his self-curated tribute to himself, No Prima Donna, displays. (Vanthology, v hard to find, is much better)
The Los Lobos one is top notch and is worth the price of admission just for the version of Somewhere in Time with Dave Alvin on it.
John Lee Hooker’s The Healer was well received when released. I haven’t listened to it in years. Does it still hold up?
Yes
John Prine’s album of duets is fantastic.
Hell yes! That number he does with Iris DeMent is a cracker.
I love Lulu. There I’ve said it. Her duets album Together has some great guests and some frankly ropey ones. This track with Sting is one of the better ones.
Oh do stop moaning about that nice Van Morrison!
I agree that, more often than not, ‘Duet’ albums generally stink but this seems to be one of the better ones. Obviously it doesn’t stand up to his ‘classic’ stuff but at least he puts a different slant on the songs included.
The album is on Spotify ( which is unusual for Morrison!) so those of you who with preconceived thoughts about it should at least give it a try.
Oh do stop moaning about that nice Van Morrison!
I agree that, more often than not, ‘Duet’ albums generally stink but this seems to be one of the better ones. Obviously it doesn’t stand up to his ‘classic’ stuff but at least he puts a different slant on the songs included.
The album is on Spotify ( which is unusual for Morrison!) so those of you with preconceived thoughts about it should at least give it a try.