Jackie Wilson Said/Gypsy/I Will Be There/Listen To The Lion/Saint Dominic's Preview/Redwood Tree/Almost Independence Day
Saint Dominic’s Preview was singer-songwriter Van Morrison’s most successful album in the USA, containing his most diverse range of songs. Jackie Wilson Said would be a top five hit in the UK ten years later when covered by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. (US:15)
“Saint Dominic's Preview is the album where Van's folk and R & B leanings converge in the most satisfactory manner. As far as the former goes he may not have laid down a more irresistible groove than Jackie Wilson Said. Its roll call introduction is a simple trick but a hugely effective one, and before long it's swinging in a tribute to the titular soul-man that goes beyond merely respectful.”
“A nice variety of styles here from the great uptempo start of Jackie Wilson Said to the epic mutterings of Listen To The Lion, one of Morrison's greatest songs. Yet there is still time for the energetic title track, and the atmospheric epic Almost Independence Day.”
“This album takes you on a journey. It is the most well-rounded LP of Van Morrison's career. Whereas most of his albums choose a specific genre to mine, this is one of the few that gives you a taste of his different favourite styles: Punchy AM-radio pop-soul, a fabulous, no holds barred soul-blues number, a gorgeous, sentimental hippie anthem, two rewarding and never boring stretch-out/space out explorations, and to top it all off, one of his most affecting major compositions, in the title track.”
“Unfortunately, Van wasn’t inclined to revisit the glorious Astral Weeks sound very often. But whenever he did, the results were always worthwhile. This isn’t quite a full-on return to that vibe, but it’s still very close to the mystical side of Van.”
“The album lacks cohesion somewhat, but it holds its own through the sheer exuberance of the songs. The title cut is my favourite Van song, bar none. It exemplifies the album perfectly, on the line between Van's accessible R & B and his extended form jazz sensibilities. The album is never over-produced or sappy.”
A brilliant record from one of the greatest recording artists on earth. The range shown in these songs is stunning, from romping, to short and very sweet, to alluring, to show-stopper blues to magnificent longer tracks, all a tour-de-force “
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