Wavelength (song)

Last updated

"Wavelength"
Wavelength.jpg
Single by Van Morrison
from the album Wavelength
B-side "Checkin' It Out"
ReleasedOctober 1978
RecordedSpring 1978
Studio Shangri-La, Malibu, California
Genre Pop rock
Length5:44
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Van Morrison
Producer(s) Van Morrison
Van Morrison singles chronology
"Moondance"
(1977)
"Wavelength"
(1978)
"Natalia"
(1979)
Audio sample

"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". [1]

Contents

Recording and composition

"Wavelength" was recorded in spring 1978 at the Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California. [2]

The most important contribution to the music was made by Peter Bardens who played synthesizer.

In his biography, Brian Hinton states that it is, "a love song about the mysterious and unspoken communication between a couple" and also refers to the singer's adolescent years when he would listen to the Voice of America and the sounds of his favorite artists such as Ray Charles singing "Come back baby, come back". [3] In the song Morrison refers to his first solo hit single "Brown Eyed Girl", using the lyrics "Won't you play that song again for me, about my lover, my lover in the grass". [4]

The Allmusic reviewer wrote that, "'Wavelength' makes some nods to its era (1978), most notably and obviously via the use of fat 1970s synthesizers—played by Peter Bardens—which play spacy loops that mimic the interference and bubbling feedback one gets when dialing up shortwave radio stations. It is a little bit of cleverness, as Morrison elicits the same feelings on his own recording that he no doubt had discovering his favorite new music." [4]

Live performances

As performed by the Wavelength band on tour, it was a very popular song. Morrison assembled the band to promote his album, Wavelength that was released at the same time.

Acclaim

Record World said that "Morrison's classic jazz/rock style is particularly effective" on this song. [5]

"Wavelength" was rated at No. 253 in Dave Marsh's 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul, The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever. [6]

Other releases

"Wavelength" was the opening track on the Live at Montreux 1980/1974 DVD released in 2006. It is one of the songs remastered in 2007and included on the compilation album Still on Top - The Greatest Hits . It was also performed in 1979, on Morrison's first video Van Morrison in Ireland , which was released in 1981.

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Tupelo Honey</i> 1971 studio album by Van Morrison

Tupelo Honey is the fifth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in October 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. Morrison had written all of the songs in Woodstock, New York, before his move to Marin County, California, except for "You're My Woman", which he wrote during the recording sessions. Recording began at the beginning of the second quarter of 1971 at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Morrison moved to the Columbia Studios in May 1971 to complete the album.

<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>Saint Dominics Preview</i> 1972 studio album by Van Morrison

Saint Dominic's Preview is the sixth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in July 1972 by Warner Bros. Records. Rolling Stone declared it "the best-produced, most ambitious Van Morrison record yet released."

<i>A Period of Transition</i> 1977 studio album by Van Morrison

A Period of Transition is the ninth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1977. It was his first album in two-and-a-half years. At the time of its release it was received with some disappointment by critics and fans: "Most were hoping for a work of primeval vocal aggression that would challenge the emerging élite of Morrison pretenders, whose ranks included Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Phil Lynott, Graham Parker and Elvis Costello." However, the album is still notable for several major compositions, including "Heavy Connection", "Flamingos Fly", "The Eternal Kansas City" and "Cold Wind in August".

<i>Wavelength</i> (album) 1978 album by Van Morrison

Wavelength is the tenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and was released in the autumn of 1978. The album has a different musical sound from his previous albums, leaning towards a pop rock sound with prominent electric guitars and synthesizers. Wavelength was Morrison's best selling album at the time of the original release. Mick Glossop, Bobby Tench and Peter Bardens were given credit for special assistance in production.

<i>Inarticulate Speech of the Heart</i> 1983 studio album by Van Morrison

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart is the fourteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1983. Morrison said he arrived at the title from a Shavian saying: "that idea of communicating with as little articulation as possible, at the same time being emotionally articulate". As his last album for Warner Bros. Records, he decided to do an album which had more than the usual complement of instrumental tracks. As he explained in 1984, "Sometimes when I'm playing something, I'm just sort of humming along with it, and that's got a different vibration than an actual song. So the instrumentals just come from trying to get that form of expression, which is not the same as writing a song." Although not expanded upon, of note is that a special thanks is given to L. Ron Hubbard in the liner notes. The reissued and remastered version of the album contains alternative takes of "Cry for Home" and "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 2".

<i>No Guru, No Method, No Teacher</i> 1986 studio album by Van Morrison

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher is the sixteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1986 on Mercury.

<i>Poetic Champions Compose</i> 1987 studio album by Van Morrison

Poetic Champions Compose is the seventeenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1987 on Mercury Records. It received generally positive reviews from critics, most of whom viewed it as adequate mood music.

<i>Irish Heartbeat</i> 1988 studio album by Van Morrison and The Chieftains

The eighteenth studio album Irish Heartbeat by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison is a collaboration with the traditional Irish musical group the Chieftains, released in 1988. It was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland, and reached number 18 in the UK album charts.

"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, It's Too Late to Stop Now.

<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">Bright Side of the Road</span> 1979 single by Van Morrison

"Bright Side of the Road" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1979 album Into the Music. It was also one of the outtakes that made up the 1998 compilation album, The Philosopher's Stone. As a single "Bright Side of the Road" was released in September 1979 and charted at No. 48 in the Netherlands, No. 63 in the UK and just outside the Billboard Hot 100 in the US at No. 110. In 2020, the song reached its highest radio airplay chart position in Ireland, peaking at #2.

<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.

<i>Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast</i> 1984 live album by Van Morrison

Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast is a live album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1984. It was recorded from four live shows in March 1983 at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The album was composed of songs from Morrison's last four recordings. It is the second live album Morrison released, following 10 years after It's Too Late to Stop Now.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Healing Game (song)</span> 1997 single by Van Morrison

"The Healing Game" is the title song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1997 album. It was released twice as a single in 1997 as an A-side with different B-sides – including "Have I Told You Lately" and "Gloria". The single reached number 46 in the UK.

"And the Healing Has Begun" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1979 album, Into the Music.

<i>Van Morrison in Ireland</i> 1981 video by Van Morrison

Van Morrison in Ireland is the first official video by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1981 of a concert Morrison recorded in Northern Ireland in 1979. It was directed by Michael Radford who later became a noted filmmaker. The video includes footage of the band whilst touring in Ireland and images of Belfast, including Hyndford Street and Cyprus Avenue. Tony Stewart of the NME states, "The band display a range of textures reminiscent of The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, first with the dark resonance of Toni Marcus' violin, then Pat Kyle's bright sharp tenor sax and finally Bobby Tench's prickly electric guitar".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Full Force Gale</span> 1979 single by Van Morrison

"Full Force Gale" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was included on his 1979 album Into the Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Running</span> 1970 single by Van Morrison

"Come Running" is a song written by singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1970 album Moondance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Eternal Kansas City</span> 1977 single by Van Morrison

"The Eternal Kansas City" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was the key song on the 1977 album, A Period of Transition, and was his first single released since "Gloria", in 1974.

References

  1. DeWitt, Howard A.. The Mystic's Music. p.104
  2. Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 523
  3. Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p.211
  4. 1 2 Janovitz, Bill. "Wavelength". allmusic.com. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  5. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 2 September 1978. p. 19. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  6. "Dave Marsh the 1001 greatest Singles Ever". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2007.

Additional reading