Van Morrison released his sixth album, 'St. Dominic's Preview', in 1972, and it was warmly received by both fans and critics alike, with Erik Hage writing "it is one of the strongest albums in the Van Morrison canon because it seems to adapt and incorporate all of the lessons and discoveries of the rich period of evolution that came before it while still opening up new windows". Morrison now had to follow that with something as good, or even better, and so he built a recording studio next door to his home in Fairfax, California, and assembled a team of musicians that he felt could bring his new songs to life. This was to be the first album that was completely produced under his control, and during a series of prolific recording sessions, Morrison recorded nearly thirty songs, with at least three quarters of them original compositions. In fact, the new album would be his first solo album since his 1967 debut 'Blowin' Your Mind!' to contain songs not written by Morrison, and covers included the song 'Bein' Green', usually associated with Kermit the Frog, and a take of the traditional song 'Purple Heather'. In the end there was more than enough material to fill a double-album, and so Morrison proposed the idea to Warner Bros. Records, but he was ultimately convinced to release a single LP. A few of the leftover tracks, such as 'Bulbs' and 'Country Fair', were saved and re-recorded for his next album 'Veedon Fleece', but most of them, including 'Madame Joy', 'Contemplation Rose' and 'Drumshanbo Hustle', were consigned to the vaults. On the abridged version of the album, 'Snow In San Anselmo' is the opening song, featuring the backing vocals of the Oakland Symphony Chamber Chorus, and this was followed by 'Warm Love', which was released as a successful single. 'Bein' Green' was the first non-original composition Morrison had included on any album for Warner Bros., and the ten and a half-minute 'Autumn Song' reflects the splendours and moods of the season. The album enjoyed rave reviews at the time of release, although one dissenting critic, Charlie Gillett, didn't think the record lived up to the high standards that Morrison had set himself. If you've ever wondered what a double-album version of this release would have sounded like, then you can now experience just that, as I've slotted back in nine of the songs which were excised to trim it down to a single disc, and as would be expected, considering that they were recorded at the same time as the original eight songs which did make the record, they perfectly match the mood of those other recordings.
Track listing
01 Snow In San Anselmo
02 Warm Love
03 Madame Joy
04 Contemplation Rose
05 Hard Nose The Highway
06 Not Supposed To Break Down
07 Wild Children
08 Laughing In The Wind
09 Try For Sleep
10 The Great Deception
11 Don't Worry About Tomorrow
12 Bein' Green
13 Wonderful Remark
14 Autumn Song
15 Lover's Prayer
16 Drumshanbo Hustle
17 Purple Heather
Many thanks
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