Wavelength (album)

Last updated

Wavelength
WavelengthAlbumCover.jpg
Studio album by
Van Morrison
ReleasedSeptember 1978
January 2008 (reissue) (remastered+2 tracks)
RecordedSpring 1978
Genre Pop rock, R&B
Length49:32
Label Warner Bros. (original release)
Polydor (1988 reissue + all subsequent reissues)
Producer Van Morrison
Van Morrison chronology
A Period of Transition
(1977)		Wavelength
(1978)		 Into the Music
(1979)
Singles from Wavelength
  1. "Wavelength" b/w "Checkin' it Out"
    Released: September 1978
  2. "Natalia" b/w "Lifetimes"
    Released: February 1979
  3. "Kingdom Hall" b/w "Checkin' it Out"
    Released: April 1979
Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Wavelength
Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978)
Kingdom Hall
Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978)
Natalia
Van Morrison, Wavelength (1978)
Problems playing these files? See media help.

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. [1] Mick Glossop, Bobby Tench and Peter Bardens were given credit for special assistance in production. [2]

Contents

A remastered version of the album was released on 29 January 2008. It contains two bonus tracks, "Wavelength" and "Kingdom Hall", taken from the promotional album Van Morrison Live at the Roxy (1979), recorded on 26 November 1978. [3]

Recording

Wavelength was recorded over several months at the Manor in Oxfordshire, England, and completed later at Shangri-la studios in the United States. Morrison had brought together musicians that represented almost all phases of his musical history to date: Herbie Armstrong from his showband days in Belfast, Peter Bardens from Them, Garth Hudson from the Band and Peter Van Hooke who had worked with Morrison a few years earlier. [2] He also added guitarist Bobby Tench who had been working with Streetwalkers at that time. [4]

Composition

The songs on this album recall various stages of Morrison's life. "Kingdom Hall" harked back to his childhood in Belfast when he attended services with his mother, who at one time was a practising Jehovah's Witness. [1] "Checking It Out" is about a relationship going wrong and being rescued by "guides and spirits along the way". [1] "Natalia", "Venice USA" and "Lifetimes" are love songs. "Wavelength" recalled fond memories of his adolescence listening to the Voice of America. [1] The next track incorporates two songs Morrison had written in the early 1970s: "Santa Fe" written with Jackie DeShannon in 1973, Morrison's first ever collaboration to appear on an album, and "Beautiful Obsession", which was first played during one of his concerts in 1971. [5] No studio version of the song is known to have been recorded during that period. [6] "Hungry For Your Love" appeared in the hit movie An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); on it, Morrison plays electric piano accompanied by Herbie Armstrong's acoustic guitar. [1] It has become, along with "Wavelength", one of the more enduringly popular songs on the album. Morrison included "Hungry For Your Love" on his compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies – Soundtrack Hits (2007).

"Take it Where You Find It" ends the album and, according to Scott Floman, is a "quietly epic love letter to America that gets better and better as it goes along (the song is nearly 9 minutes long). Simply put this song, which I'd rank among Van's all-time best, makes me want to lock arms with someone, anyone, and commence in a slowly swaying sing along..." [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Village Voice B+ [10]

In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone , Lester Bangs gave a lukewarm assessment and called Wavelength "a very nice record. I'm sure all the people at Warner Bros. are pleased with it. Ditto the DJs... Still, though, it do confound how such a monumental talent can mire himself in such twaddle, fine as some of it may be." [11] Melody Maker reviewed the album as evidence of Morrison's "drift into the American Dream." [12] In The Village Voice , Robert Christgau referred to it as a good but not great album and called attention to side two, which he felt was "an evocative reinterpretation of Van's America fixation, but side one is nothing more (and nothing less) than class programming." [10] Time magazine was more enthusiastic: "Morrison has made two, maybe three albums that rank high among the finest of all rock 'n' roll. Wavelength is good enough to stand close by Morrison's best work, a record of sinuous, sensuous magic. The man just can't be beat." [13]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine said "Wavelength essentially picks up where A Period of Transition left off, offering a focused, full-bodied alternative to that record's warmly fuzzy lack of direction." [8] Rob Sheffield wrote in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004) that the record was a "failed pop move" redeemed by its "worthy hit" title track, "which like many of his best songs expresses the profound spiritual yearning to listen to the radio". [9]

Record World said of the single "Natalia" that it "has a smooth beat, punctuated by...jazz/ pop vocal power." [14]

Aftermath

Morrison denied that the songs were anything but about personal experience, and were not about the United States. [12] It quickly became the fastest-selling album that Morrison had recorded at that time, and went gold within three months. [1] He relocated to Europe within a few years; his work during the 1980s would not be so "radio friendly" and easily accessible to the casual listener. With the success of Wavelength, Morrison assembled a band to promote it, similar in many ways to the abandoned Caledonia Soul Orchestra of It's Too Late to Stop Now fame. During the Wavelength tour, Morrison performed in his native Belfast for the first time since leaving for the US to record "Brown Eyed Girl" for Bang Records. Morrison's first video, Van Morrison in Ireland , released in 1981, resulted from these performances, and featured two songs from the album: "Wavelength" and "Checkin' It Out".

Artwork

The cover on the album was by photographer Norman Seeff (associated with Joni Mitchell's album sleeves), and shows Morrison almost smiling and dressed in tight white trousers smoking a cigarette down to the butt.

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison except where noted.

Side one
  1. "Kingdom Hall" – 5:59
  2. "Checkin' It Out" – 3:29
  3. "Natalia" – 4:04
  4. "Venice U.S.A." – 6:32
  5. "Lifetimes" – 4:15
Side two
  1. "Wavelength" – 5:44
  2. "Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession" (Jackie DeShannon/Morrison) – 7:04
  3. "Hungry for Your Love" – 3:45
  4. "Take It Where You Find It" – 8:40
Remastered CD reissue (2008)

Includes the same tracks as on the original, with two additional bonus tracks recorded live at the Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, on 26 November 1978:

  1. "Kingdom Hall"  – 6:05
  2. "Wavelength" – 6:07

Personnel

Musicians

Additional musicians on 2008 reissue (re-mastered)

Production

Design

Charts

Chart (1978/79)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [15] 16
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard)28
UK Albums Chart27

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hinton. Celtic Crossroads. pp. 210–212.
  2. 1 2 Rogan, No Surrender, p. 315
  3. ↑ "Van Morrison Live at the Roxy". discogs.com. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  4. ↑ Rogan, Johnny. No Surrender. p. 315,316, 325.
  5. ↑ "Concerts". van.vanomatic.de. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Heylin, Clinton. Can you feel the silence?: Van Morrison, a new biography. Chicago Review Press. p. 526.
  7. ↑ "Wavelength review". sfloman.com. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  8. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Allmusic review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  9. 1 2 Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Van Morrison". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. pp.  559–561. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  10. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . No. 30 October. New York. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Bangs, Lester (1 November 1978). "Rolling Stone review". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 10 January 2010.[ dead link ]
  12. 1 2 Rogan, No Surrender, p. 316
  13. ↑ Cocks, Jay, Swann, Annalyn (1 December 1978). "Music: The Pick of the Holiday Season". time.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 27 January 1979. p. 28. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  15. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 208. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Bardens</span> English keyboardist

Peter Bardens was an English keyboardist and a founding member of the British progressive rock group Camel. He played keyboards, sang, and wrote songs with Andrew Latimer. During his career, Bardens worked alongside Rod Stewart, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and Van Morrison. He recorded eleven solo albums.

<i>Magic Time</i> (Van Morrison album) 2005 studio album by Van Morrison

Magic Time is the thirty-first studio album by Van Morrison, released in 2005 by Geffen Records. The album debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard charts and number 3 on the UK charts—Morrison's best chart debut until Still on Top – The Greatest Hits debuted at number 2 on the UK charts in 2007. By the end of 2005, Magic Time had sold 252,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Rolling Stone listed it as #17 on their list of The Top 50 Records of 2005.

<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>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>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 comes from the 3
4 section of the song "Summertime in England", where Morrison sings the lyrics "Oh, my common one with the coat so old and the light in her head".

<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>Beautiful Vision</i> 1982 studio album by Van Morrison

Beautiful Vision is the thirteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in February 1982. It continued Morrison's departure from R&B at the time, instead favoring Celtic folk and American jazz in its music. As with many of Morrison's recordings, spirituality is a major theme and some of the songs are based on the teachings of Alice Bailey. Other songs show Morrison's Celtic heritage and reminiscence of his Belfast background.

<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>Days Like This</i> (Van Morrison album) 1995 studio album by Van Morrison

Days Like This is the twenty-third studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1995. It is a diverse group of songs offering a variety of moods and styles. It ranked No. 5 on the UK album charts and was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

<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.

<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.

"Listen to the Lion" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his sixth album, Saint Dominic's Preview (1972). Its poetic musings and "bass-led shuffle" lead back to Astral Weeks territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Real Gone</span> 1990 single by Van Morrison

"Real Real Gone" is a hit single written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1990 album Enlightenment. It has remained a popular live performance tune and Morrison has included it on the set lists at many of his concerts since releasing it.

<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".

"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.

<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".

"You Make Me Feel So Free" is a song written by Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1979 album, Into the Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redwood Tree (song)</span> 1972 single by Van Morrison

"Redwood Tree" is the sixth song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1972 album, Saint Dominic's Preview, released in July 1972 by Warner Bros. It was later released in October as the second of three singles from the album and charted at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Tench</span> English musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter

Robert Tench is a British vocalist, guitarist, sideman, songwriter and arranger.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.