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Over the past four years, Van Morrison has recorded no less than six albums. Most have been populated with excellent covers of blues, soul, and jazz standards with a smattering of original numbers woven in between. Three Chords and the Truth (titled after Harlan Howard's famous description of country music), is his first collection of all-new original material since 2016's Keep Me Singing. Morrison penned 14 of the 15 songs here. In addition to his road band, he recruited old friend, acoustic jazz guitarist Jay Berliner (who played on Astral Weeks) for some of the sessions. The album's sound is warm, punchy, and immediate, despite being cut in five studios.
Opener "March Winds in February" boasts a punchy upright bassline, bubbling B-3 organ, brushed snares, and traded lead guitar lines between Berliner's acoustic and Dave Keary's electric. It crisscrosses Celtic R&B, gospel, and jazz; it's timeless Morrison. "Fame Will Eat the Soul" is a raw-sounding duet with the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley, who out-growls the singer. "Dark Night of the Soul" references the metaphorical spirituality and hypnotic musicality that informed his records between 1980's Common One and 1991's Hymns to the Silence. "In Search of Grace" and "Read Between the Lines," with their bumping, jazzy calypso B-3s, find Morrison digging deep into the memorial previous with grooving authority. The cultural indictment in "Nobody in Charge" is fueled by the same vamp that drove "These Dreams of You" so many years ago. When Morrison takes on the jazz-blues in "You Don't Understand," he's supported by a meaty upright bass and a brooding organ. His singing wields the tension and authority of an apocalyptic gospel singer, and the tune purposely contains a direct harmonic nod to Bob Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man."
We hear Celtic Soul Brother No. 1 on "Does Love Conquer All," and the skiffle and rockabilly devotee delivering the choogling boogie of "Early Days." Morrison co-wrote the tender balladic waltz "If We Wait for Mountains" with fellow OBE honoree, lyricist Don Black. The title track is an excellent example of fingerpopping, hard-swinging R&B. "Bags Under My Eyes" is a humorous take on the perils of the road, delivered as a honky tonk waltz. "Days Gone By" completely reimagines -- lyrically and musically -- "Auld Lang Syne" by using bits of the original melody in a modern paean to acceptance and aspiration. Given Three Chords and the Truth's 70-minute run time, there's a lot to digest, but it's worth it. Morrison is in excellent voice throughout; his energy is kinetic and his songwriting -- even when he's complaining -- is fresh, humorous, soulful, and insightful. A natural companion to Keep Me Singing, this is Morrison at his best.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
Bill Medley, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - VAN MORRISON, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
Paul Moran, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Brown, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Don Black, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Bouzouki, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Author, Producer, Arranger, Piano, Vocals, Work Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Traditional, Composer - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Bouzouki, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mez Clough, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Masters, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Teena Lyle, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mez Clough, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dana Masters, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart McIlroy, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Berliner, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Hayes, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Allair, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Ruggiero, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mez Clough, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
VAN MORRISON, Producer, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Dunn, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Teena Lyle, Percussion, Vibraphone, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Evans, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Stern, Mixer, Mastering Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Mills, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Enda Walsh, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Keary, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Snider, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mez Clough, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Colin Griffin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Luis Pacheco, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben McAuley, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
Album review
Over the past four years, Van Morrison has recorded no less than six albums. Most have been populated with excellent covers of blues, soul, and jazz standards with a smattering of original numbers woven in between. Three Chords and the Truth (titled after Harlan Howard's famous description of country music), is his first collection of all-new original material since 2016's Keep Me Singing. Morrison penned 14 of the 15 songs here. In addition to his road band, he recruited old friend, acoustic jazz guitarist Jay Berliner (who played on Astral Weeks) for some of the sessions. The album's sound is warm, punchy, and immediate, despite being cut in five studios.
Opener "March Winds in February" boasts a punchy upright bassline, bubbling B-3 organ, brushed snares, and traded lead guitar lines between Berliner's acoustic and Dave Keary's electric. It crisscrosses Celtic R&B, gospel, and jazz; it's timeless Morrison. "Fame Will Eat the Soul" is a raw-sounding duet with the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley, who out-growls the singer. "Dark Night of the Soul" references the metaphorical spirituality and hypnotic musicality that informed his records between 1980's Common One and 1991's Hymns to the Silence. "In Search of Grace" and "Read Between the Lines," with their bumping, jazzy calypso B-3s, find Morrison digging deep into the memorial previous with grooving authority. The cultural indictment in "Nobody in Charge" is fueled by the same vamp that drove "These Dreams of You" so many years ago. When Morrison takes on the jazz-blues in "You Don't Understand," he's supported by a meaty upright bass and a brooding organ. His singing wields the tension and authority of an apocalyptic gospel singer, and the tune purposely contains a direct harmonic nod to Bob Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man."
We hear Celtic Soul Brother No. 1 on "Does Love Conquer All," and the skiffle and rockabilly devotee delivering the choogling boogie of "Early Days." Morrison co-wrote the tender balladic waltz "If We Wait for Mountains" with fellow OBE honoree, lyricist Don Black. The title track is an excellent example of fingerpopping, hard-swinging R&B. "Bags Under My Eyes" is a humorous take on the perils of the road, delivered as a honky tonk waltz. "Days Gone By" completely reimagines -- lyrically and musically -- "Auld Lang Syne" by using bits of the original melody in a modern paean to acceptance and aspiration. Given Three Chords and the Truth's 70-minute run time, there's a lot to digest, but it's worth it. Morrison is in excellent voice throughout; his energy is kinetic and his songwriting -- even when he's complaining -- is fresh, humorous, soulful, and insightful. A natural companion to Keep Me Singing, this is Morrison at his best.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:23:13
- Main artists: Van Morrison
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Exile Productions Ltd.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2019 Exile Productions Ltd. ℗ 2019 Exile Productions Ltd.
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