Live at Montreux 1980/1974

Last updated

Live at Montreux 1980/1974
Montreux-dvd.VM.jpg
Video by
Released16 October 2006
Recorded30 June 1974, 10 July 1980
Genre Various
Length144:00
Label Eagle Vision for Exile Productions Ltd.
Van Morrison chronology
Van Morrison The Concert
(1990)
Live at Montreux 1980/1974
(2006)
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl: The Concert Film
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmovie (Favorable) [1]
All About Jazz (Favorable) [2]
Blog Critic (Favorable) [3]
Concert Live Wire Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Vintagerock.com (Favorable) [5]

Live at Montreux 1980/1974 is the first official DVD by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 16 October 2006. The films consist of two separate performances by Van Morrison at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. It was certified gold in May 2007 and platinum in June 2009. [6]

Contents

A note by Claude Nobs on the sleeve notes for the DVD: "For all the years I have been producing the Montreux Jazz Festival, these two concerts will remain very deeply set in my memory as well as in the memory of all the people who enjoyed these concerts." [7]

Performances

1974

The concert performance at Montreux for the 1974 set (disc 2) was recorded on 30 June 1974. [8] One of the songs played was "Bulbs", which was released as the single on the album Veedon Fleece . Three of the songs, "Twilight Zone", "Foggy Mountain Top" and "Naked in the Jungle", would not be officially released by Morrison until his 1998 compilation of outtakes, The Philosopher's Stone . [9] Morrison wrote "I Like It Like That" when he was in Them, while "Heathrow Shuffle" was released on the 1995 live jazz album How Long Has This Been Going On . "Swiss Cheese" was never officially released except on this DVD. [9] All of the songs, except for "Street Choir", were unfamiliar to the audience, who were expecting his more recognizable songs and according to Clinton Heylin, in Montreux "a familiar conflict arose between his own thirst for spontaneity and an audience's preference for being eased into any new musical progression." Less than a year later, Morrison would say that as soon as "you are committed to a series of concerts you lose all spontaneity. It's not jazz any more. The reason I first got into music and the reason I was then doing it were conflicting. It was such a paradox." [10] During the concert but not shown on the DVD, Morrison angrily confronted a woman heckler who said he did not know how to play the blues. [11]

Morrison's stripped-down band was assembled when he arrived at Montreux, with the help of festival manager Claude Nobs. Drummer Dallas Taylor from Crosby, Stills and Nash, British keyboardist Pete Wingfield and Jerome Rimson, bass player from Detroit, Michigan rounded out the quartet, with Morrison contributing vocals, saxophone, guitar and harmonica. [12]

Critical response

Reviewer Doug Collette commented: "The way he altered his phrasing of the lyrics on "Street Choir" is the kind of ingenuity that made him one of the most remarkable singers of our time. A genuine charisma arises from his self-absorption that rivets the camera on Van." [13]

In his review, Shawn Perry stated that "you’d never know that keyboardist Pete Wingfield, bassist Jerome Rimson, and drummer Dallas Taylor were not regular members of Morrison’s band, if such a band even exists. Together, the players meld into a tight and swift permutation." [14]

1980

The Montreux concert performances of the songs on the first disc took place on 10 July 1980 and featured four of the songs that would appear on Morrison's next album, Common One . Other songs played were chosen from albums over the last twelve years of Morrison's recordings, returning even to Astral Weeks for an over seven-minute-long version of "Ballerina".

Unlike the 1974 Montreux performance, Morrison had played with all of the band members previously. Four of them had been part of the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, disbanded in 1973: David Hayes, Jef Labes, John Platania, and Dahaud Shaar. The other band members had all played on his last two recordings. David Hayes was a seasoned performer, having been part of the Caledonia Soul Orchestra and played bass on Common One and Into the Music .

Erik Hage singles out two of the performances at the concert, calling the interaction between the brass and Morrison "simply stunning" on "Troubadours" and "Angeliou" remarking that: "On the former, Ellis and Morrison were locked in with each other, Ellis offering high, intense blasts and Morrison crying out right back at him in the throes of that elusive musical 'connection' he spent so much of his life seeking out." [15]

Critical response

Ray Ellis wrote of Morrison's 1980 performances: "He doesn't only give the individual band members room to stretch (in the best tradition of jazz), he immerses himself so deeply into the groove, his voice literally becomes one of the instruments, alternating between second sax and percussion in some of the songs." [16]

Erik Hage summed up his impression of the concert performances with: "Here, a more gracious and positive Morrison threw himself into the experience and brought along a fleshed out big band." [15]

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison – except as noted.

Disc one – Live at Montreux 1980

  1. "Wavelength" – 7:44
  2. "Kingdom Hall" – 4:24
  3. "And It Stoned Me" – 4:00
  4. "Troubadours" – 5:52
  5. "Spirit" – 9:06
  6. "Joyous Sound" – 2:52
  7. "Satisfied" – 7:01
  8. "Ballerina" – 7:12
  9. "Summertime in England" – 10:03
  10. "Moondance" – 4:11
  11. "Haunts of Ancient Peace" – 7:53
  12. "Wild Night" – 3:20
  13. "Listen to the Lion" – 7:02
  14. "Tupelo Honey" – 8:17
  15. "Angelou" – 9:22

Disc two – Live at Montreux 1974

  1. "Twilight Zone" – 6:34
  2. "I Like It Like That" – 4:53
  3. "Foggy Mountain Top" – 4:34
  4. "Bulbs" – 5:25
  5. "Swiss Cheese" – 4:50 (Morrison, Pete Wingfield)
  6. "Heathrow Shuffle" – 3:27
  7. "Naked in the Jungle" – 6:33
  8. "Street Choir" – 6:47
  9. "Harmonica Boogie" – 11:36

Personnel

Musicians

Disc one (1980)

Disc two (1974)

Production

Certifications

Certifications for Live at Montreux 1980/1974
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [17] Platinum15,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [18] Platinum10,000^
Ireland (IRMA) [19] Platinum4,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [20] Gold2,500^
United States (RIAA) [21] Platinum100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montreux Jazz Festival</span> Music festival in Switzerland

The Montreux Jazz Festival is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annual jazz festival in the world after Canada's Montreal International Jazz Festival.

<i>Veedon Fleece</i> 1974 studio album by Van Morrison

Veedon Fleece is the eighth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in October 1974. Morrison recorded the album shortly after his divorce from wife Janet (Planet) Rigsbee. With his broken marriage in the past, Morrison visited Ireland on holiday for new inspiration, arriving on 20 October 1973. While there he wrote, in less than three weeks, the songs included on the album.

<i>Its Too Late to Stop Now</i> 1974 double live album by Van Morrison

It's Too Late to Stop Now is a 1974 live double album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It features performances that were recorded in concerts at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and the Rainbow in London, during Morrison's three-month tour with his eleven-piece band, the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, from May to July 1973. Frequently named as one of the best live albums ever, It's Too Late to Stop Now was recorded during what has often been said to be the singer's greatest phase as a live performer.

<i>Into the Music</i> 1979 studio album by Van Morrison

Into the Music is the 11th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and was released in August 1979. It includes "Bright Side of the Road", which peaked at number 63 on the UK Singles Chart, and other songs in which Morrison sought to return to his more profound and transcendent style after the pop-oriented Wavelength. The record received favourable reviews from several music critics and was named as one of the year's best albums in the Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

<i>Common One</i> 1980 studio album by Van Morrison

Common One is the twelfth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1980. The album was recorded over a nine-day period at Super Bear Studios, near Nice, on the French Riviera. Its title is in the lyrics of the song "Summertime in England": "Oh, my common one with the coat so old and the light in her head".

The Caledonia Soul Orchestra was the band created by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 1973. The band was named after an eighteen-minute instrumental outtake on the His Band and the Street Choir album.

<i>How Long Has This Been Going On</i> (Van Morrison album) 1995 studio album by Van Morrison

How Long Has This Been Going On is the twenty-fourth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, "with Georgie Fame and Friends", released in December 1995 in the UK. It charted at No. 1 on Top Jazz Albums.

<i>Back on Top</i> (Van Morrison album) 1999 studio album by Van Morrison

Back on Top is the twenty-seventh studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1999 by Point Blank. It reached the Top Twenty in seven countries, building on the success of 1997's The Healing Game.

<i>The Philosophers Stone</i> (album) 1998 compilation album by Van Morrison

The Philosopher's Stone is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison released in 1998.

William Peter Wingfield is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summertime in England</span> 1983 single by Van Morrison

"Summertime in England" is the longest song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1980 album, Common One, and is approximately fifteen minutes long. Although the album on which the song appeared was not critically or commercially successful, the song would be performed by Morrison in concert for almost two and one-half decades, taking on new meaning when performed live. A truncated version of the song with an early fade-out was also released as the B-side of the 1983 single "Cry for Home".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moondance (Van Morrison song)</span> 1970 single by Van Morrison

"Moondance" is a song recorded by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison and is the title song on his third studio album Moondance (1970). It was written by Morrison, and produced by Morrison and Lewis Merenstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino (Van Morrison song)</span> 1970 single by Van Morrison

"Domino" is a hit song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track of his fourth studio album, His Band and the Street Choir. This song is Morrison's personal musical tribute to New Orleans R&B singer and pianist Fats Domino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleaning Windows</span> 1982 single by Van Morrison

"Cleaning Windows" is a song written by the Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, recorded on his 1982 album Beautiful Vision.

"And It Stoned Me" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track on his 1970 solo album, Moondance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wavelength (song)</span> 1978 single by Van Morrison

"Wavelength" is the title song from the 1978 album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Released as a single in 1978, it climbed to number forty two in the US charts, and stayed in the Hot 100 for eleven weeks. According to Howard A. Dewitt, this "was the song which re-established Morrison's hit making abilities".

"Ballerina" is the second to last song on Astral Weeks, the 1968 album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison.

"Vanlose Stairway" is a song written by the Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and included on his 1982 album Beautiful Vision. It has remained a popular concert performance throughout Morrison's career and has become one of his most played songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulbs (song)</span> 1974 single by Van Morrison

"Bulbs" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was the only single to be taken from his 1974 album Veedon Fleece, with a B-side of "Cul de Sac" for the US release and "Who Was That Masked Man" for the UK release.

"I've Been Working" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison appearing on the album His Band and the Street Choir, released in 1970. The song was first an outtake from Morrison's well received album Astral Weeks of 1968. Other versions of "I've Been Working" were recorded for Morrison's next album Moondance, of which, three were released on the 2013 deluxe edition.

References

  1. Link
  2. Link
  3. Link
  4. Link
  5. Link Archived 3 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Riaa Gold & Platinum search results:Van Morrison". riaa.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  7. Sleeve notes: Live at Montreux 1980/1974
  8. "Eagle Rock Entertainment". electricrev.net. Archived from the original on 28 February 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Live at Montreux 1980/1974". vintagerock.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  10. Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 291
  11. Hage, The Words and Music of Van Morrison, pp. 80–81
  12. Hage, The Words and Music of Van Morrison, p. 79
  13. Collette, Doug (1 February 2007). "Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher live at Montreux". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  14. Perry, Shawn. "DVD Review:Van Morrison:Live at Montreux". vintagerock.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  15. 1 2 Hage, The Words and Music of Van Morrison, page 91.
  16. Ellis, Ray (7 January 2007). "Music DVD Review: Van Morrison Live at Montreux 1980/1974". blogcritics.org. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  17. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 DVDs". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  18. "Canadian video certifications – Van Morrison – 1974/1980: Live at Montreux". Music Canada . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  19. "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  20. "Latest Gold / Platinum DVDs". Radioscope. 3 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. "American video certifications – Van Morrison – Live at Montreux 1980". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 27 July 2021.