(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball

Last updated
"(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball"
(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball single cover.jpg
Netherlands single cover
Single by Van Morrison
from the album Tupelo Honey
B-side "Old Old Woodstock"
Released1972
Genre Country rock
Length3:43
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Van Morrison
Producer(s) Van Morrison, Ted Templeman
Van Morrison singles chronology
"Tupelo Honey"
(1971)		"(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball"
(1972)		"Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)"
(1972)

"(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" is a song written by Van Morrison that was first released on his 1971 album Tupelo Honey . It was also released as the third single from the album but did not chart.

Contents

Lyrics and music

The lyrics of "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" propose taking advantage of nature to solve one's problems. [1] An example is the opening verse "Well you know sometimes it gets so hard/And everything don't seem to rhyme/I take a walk out in my backyard and go/Do do loo do do, do do loo, do do." [1] The lyrics show country music influences with references to love, weather and being outdoors. [2] [3] In reviewing Tupelo Honey, Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau suggested that "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" "transmutes the expression of generalized need for excitement and fulfillment on [the previous song and hit single] "Wild, Wild Night" into an expression of desire for a single person." [4]

The music is lively with a triple metre time signature. [1] [4] The feel of the music shows jazz and R&B influences. [1] [4] [5] Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn suggested that it as an "uptempo spirit." [6] Producer Ted Templeman felt that Ronnie Montrose's electric guitar playing was particularly effective on this song, stating that his "infectious strummimg and catchy fills made 'Cannonball' worthy of release as a single." [7] Templeman also praised the 2-note hook Montrose played after the "Do do loo do do, do do loo, do do" line that ends most of the verses. [7] Templeman felt that "it was a simple lick that any guitarist could have played but the way he played was special. It brightened the tune right up and gave it this pop sheen." [7] Morrison played acoustic guitar on the song. [7] Copley News Service critic Judy Hugg praised "Boots" Houston's flute playing on the song. [8]

Recording

"(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California, during the first set of recording sessions for Tupelo Honey. [9]

Reception

Billboard chose "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" as a recommended pop single when the single was released. [10] Nonetheless, "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" failed to make the Billboard Hot 100, topping out on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at #119. [11]

Record World called it a "superb cut" and said that this "smooth, rolling song highlighted by some great 'la-las' is a natural for just about every kind of music lover." [12] Windsor Star critic John Laycock praised the "cheerful banality" of the song. [13] The Dispatch critic Dink Lorance described it as a "bouncy little number with nice guitar and vocal." [14] Patrick Humphries praised the song's "verve and panache." [15] Music journalist Erik Hage described the song a "focused medicine-show Americana." [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Maginnis, Tom. "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  2. ↑ Mills, Peter (2010). Hymns to the Silence: Inside the Words and Music of Van Morrison. Continuum. p. 24. ISBN   978-0826429766.
  3. ↑ "Van Morrison's greatest albums - a baker's dozen recommended recordings". Goldmine. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. 1 2 3 Landau, Jon (November 25, 1971). "Tupelo Honey". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  5. 1 2 Hage, Erik (2009). The Words and Music of Van Morrison. Praeger. p. 57. ISBN   9780313358623.
  6. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (November 7, 1971). "The Yes or No of Album Rating". Los Angeles Times. p. 42. Retrieved 2020-08-03– via newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Renoff, Gregg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music. ECW Press. ISBN   9781773054797.
  8. ↑ Hugg, Judy (November 22, 1971). "Morrison Recalls Early Days". Austin American-Statesman. p. 58. Retrieved 2020-08-03– via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Heylin, Clinton (2004). Can You Feel the Silence?: Van Morrison: A New Biography. Chicago Review Press. p. 248. ISBN   978-1556525421.
  10. ↑ "New Radio Action and Billboard Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 18, 1972. p. 58. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  11. ↑ "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. April 8, 1972. p. 45. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  12. ↑ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. March 18, 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  13. ↑ Laycock, John (November 6, 1971). "Morrison walks in the sun". Windsor Star. p. 44. Retrieved 2020-08-03– via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Lorance, Dink (February 12, 1972). "Nitty Gritty Up with Another Hit LP". The Dispatch. p. A-10. Retrieved 2020-08-03– via newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Humphries, Patrick (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of Van Morrison. Omnibus Press. p. 18. ISBN   0711956006.
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