| What's It Gonna Take? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 20 May 2022 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Contemporary R&B [1] | |||
| Length | 79:23 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Exile, Virgin | |||
| Producer | Van Morrison | |||
| Van Morrison chronology | ||||
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What's It Gonna Take? is the 43rd studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 20 May 2022. It reached the Top Ten in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but failed to chart in Ireland. It was also his first solo album in over fifty years not to chart in the US.
While the musicianship and sound of the album was generally well-received by critics, the lyrical subject matter of COVID-19 denialism was widely criticised. In The Arts Desk , Nick Hasted scored it two out of five stars, accused the artist of "monomania", and called the album "egocentric, pernicious, and already outdated". However, he noted that select tracks were of a high quality. [2] AllMusic Guide awarded it two and a half out of five stars, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine finding Morrison "doubling down on all of his gripes", and concluding that the resultant "blend of anodyne R&B and anger makes for one of the odder albums" in his catalogue. [1] In his Pop Medicine column on MedPage Today , Dr. Arthur Lazarus praised the "first-rate" music, but ultimately dismissed the album as a "self-absorbed descent into COVID lunacy". He condemned Morrison for ignoring scientific facts, seeing the pandemic in an egocentric manner, and speaking out against the media while benefiting from its attentions. [3]
In an article bearing the headline, "Van Morrison’s Songs of the Free", National Review said that the "cultural and philosophical breakthrough album asks the question of the age." [4] It finds that, "[singing] from a place of innate liberty", Morrison is "in a vigorous, inventive frame of mind", and concludes that he "describes the culture’s recent repression".
All tracks are written by Van Morrison
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dangerous" | 7:40 |
| 2. | "What's It Gonna Take?" | 3:23 |
| 3. | "Fighting Back Is the New Normal" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "Fodder for the Masses" | 4:45 |
| 5. | "Can't Go On This Way" | 6:42 |
| 6. | "Sometimes It's Just Blah Blah Blah" | 3:37 |
| 7. | "Money from America" | 7:36 |
| 8. | "Not Seeking Approval" | 6:31 |
| 9. | "Damage and Recovery" | 4:05 |
| 10. | "Nervous Breakdown" | 5:09 |
| 11. | "Absolutely Positively the Most" | 5:20 |
| 12. | "I Ain't No Celebrity" | 4:41 |
| 13. | "Stage Name" | 4:28 |
| 14. | "Fear and Self‐Loathing in Las Vegas" | 5:04 |
| 15. | "Pretending" | 6:47 |
"Dangerous"
"What's It Gonna Take?"
"Fighting Back Is the New Normal"
"Fodder from the Masses"
"Can't Go On This Way"
"Sometimes It's Just Blah Blah Blah"
"Money from America"
"Not Seeking Approval"
"Damage and Recovery"
"Nervous Breakdown"
"Absolutely Positively the Most"
"I Ain't No Celebrity"
"Stage Name"
"Fear and Self-Loathing in Las Vegas"
"Pretending"
Technical personnel
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [5] | 94 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [6] | 9 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [7] | 19 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [8] | 142 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [9] | 14 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [10] | 8 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) [11] | 93 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [12] | 25 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] | 7 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [14] | 62 |
Jubilation is the tenth and final studio album by Canadian/American rock group the Band. Recorded in the spring of 1998 in Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, New York, it was released on September 15, 1998. For the first time since the group reformed without guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson, there were more originals than covers. Songs include "Last Train to Memphis", featuring guest guitarist Eric Clapton, Garth Hudson's solo instrumental closer "French Girls", Rick Danko's "High Cotton" and the ode to Ronnie Hawkins, "White Cadillac".
Magic Time is the thirty-first studio album by Van Morrison, released in 2005 by Geffen Records. It debuted at No. 25 on the US Billboard charts and No. 3 in the UK - Morrison's best UK chart debut until Still on Top – The Greatest Hits opened at No. 2 in 2007. Rolling Stone ranked 'Magic Time' seventeenth on The Top 50 Records of 2005.
Down the Road is the twenty-ninth studio album by Northern Irish singer Van Morrison. The album has a nostalgic tone, lyrically and musically, and its arrangements mix R&B and blues with country and folk, and, with a few exceptions, like "Georgia on My Mind," the music is most often rooted in 1950s and early 1960s popular music.
Too Long in Exile is the twenty-second studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The album was produced by Morrison and draws on urban blues and soul jazz sounds, including collaborations with John Lee Hooker and Georgie Fame. Released in 1993 by Polydor Records, Too Long in Exile received positive reviews from most critics and reached #4 on the UK Albums Chart. It reached #29 in the US, Van Morrison's highest ranking since 1978's Wavelength (#28) and until 1999's Back on Top (#28).
What's Wrong with This Picture? is the thirtieth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 21 October 2003 by Blue Note Records.
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"Choppin' Wood" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 2002 album titled Down the Road. A re-recorded version with a different arrangement was released as a single on June 26, 2024.
"Sometimes We Cry" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1997 album, The Healing Game. This version features the backing vocals of Brian Kennedy and Georgie Fame.
"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.
Organic is the fifteenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released on 14 October 1996 in the UK.
When Love Finds You is the sixth studio album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1994 on MCA Nashville. It features the singles "Whenever You Come Around," "What the Cowgirls Do," "When Love Finds You," "Which Bridge to Cross ," "You Better Think Twice" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain."
No Ordinary World is the seventeenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released on 8 October 1999 in Europe and on 22 August 2000 in USA. The US edition of the album features two bonus tracks and has different cover artwork. Notable songs on the album include a cover of Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan" and "She Believes in Me" co-written by Bryan Adams, who had also provided backing vocals for the song.
"Hey Mr. DJ" is a song written by Van Morrison and recorded on his 2002 album, Down the Road. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom and charted at number fifty-eight. The single includes two Morrison compositions as the B-side; both have been included in the compilation album Still on Top - The Greatest Hits.
This One's Gonna Hurt You is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Marty Stuart, released on July 7, 1992, by MCA Nashville. It peaked at #12 on the Top Country Albums chart, and #6 on the Canadian albums chart. Four singles were released from it, "This One's Gonna Hurt You ", "Now That's Country", "High on a Mountain Top" and "Hey Baby". The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States, and was certified Platinum in Canada. "Honky Tonk Crowd" was later released as a single by Rick Trevino from his self-titled album.
Cities of the Heart is a Jack Bruce double CD release of sections of two live performances given on 2 and 3 November 1993 in Cologne, Germany, to celebrate Bruce's 50th birthday. They were recorded for the WDR "Rockpalast" TV show and a DVD of the shows, entitled Rockpalast: The 50th Birthday Concerts, was released by MIG Music in 2014.
Roll with the Punches is the 37th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 22 September 2017 by Caroline Records. It features Jeff Beck on guitar, and charted in the Top 10 in five countries, and the Top 40 in a further six, including the US.
Three Chords & the Truth is the 41st studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 25 October 2019 by Exile Productions and Caroline Records. His sixth record in four years, it reached the Top 20 in seven countries. Morrison's first album to feature all-new original songs since 2012’s Born to Sing: No Plan B, it includes "If We Wait for Mountains", a co-write with Don Black, and "Fame Will Eat the Soul", a duet with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers.
Latest Record Project, Volume 1 is the 42nd studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 7 May 2021 by Exile Productions and BMG. The 28-track album includes the songs "Why Are You on Facebook?", "They Own the Media" and "Western Man". Released as a 2-CD set and on triple vinyl, the album marked a return to the UK Top Ten for Morrison, making the 2020s the fourth consecutive decade in which he has reached those heights.
Songs of Bob Dylan is a 2017 studio album by American singer-songwriter Joan Osborne, recorded in tribute to American folk rock musician Bob Dylan. The album was met with positive reviews by critics.
Accentuate the Positive is the 45th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 3 November 2023 by Exile Productions and Virgin Records. It is a cover album of Morrison's favourite rock and roll, R&B and country songs. The album received positive reviews from critics.
