Music review: Nostalgia at heart of Van Morrison’s 鈥楰eep Me Singing鈥�
I鈥檝e been a Van Morrison fan ever since discovering his third studio album 鈥淢oondance鈥� with memorable tracks like 鈥淎nd It Stoned Me,鈥� 鈥淐aravan,鈥� 鈥淚nto the Mystic鈥� and 鈥淕lad Tidings.鈥�
Having written nearly 400 songs during his iconic career, the 71-year-old singer-songwriter delivers another engaging set that seamlessly blends elements of R&B, jazz, blues and Celtic folk.
鈥淜eep Me Singing鈥� is Morrison鈥檚 36th studio album and first collection of new arrangements since 2012鈥檚 鈥淏orn to Sing: No Plan B.鈥�
Produced by Morrison, the new album features 12 original songs written and performed by the 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee as well as a cover of the blues standard 鈥淪hare Your Love with Me鈥� that was originally recorded by Bobby Bland and Aretha Franklin.
The nostalgic mood of the new arrangements finds Morrison reminiscing about his prolific career and his life stories experienced along the way.
The title track and 鈥淭he Pen is Mightier Than the Sword鈥� demonstrate the six-time Grammy winner鈥檚 love for his art and the power it possesses to help change the world.
On 鈥淓very Time I See a River,鈥� Morrison collaborates with lyricist Don Black to pen a tender tune about the sentimental things that spark memories of a past love. 鈥淗aven鈥檛 heard your voice in quite a while,鈥� sings Morrison as he yearns to rediscover the feelings for an old flame.
鈥淚n Tiburon鈥� fondly recalls Morrison鈥檚 days perfecting his craft in the San Francisco area, and 鈥淢emory Lane鈥� finds him comfortably stuck in the past as he contemplates his future.
Morrison鈥檚 voice is still strong and charismatic, especially on the harmonica-driven blues number 鈥淕oing Down to Bangor鈥� and the spiritual 鈥淗oly Guardian Angel.鈥�
The album鈥檚 closing track, 鈥淐aledonia Swing,鈥� is a soothing instrumental that features Morrison on piano and saxophone.
鈥淜eep Me Singing鈥� is a powerful and entertaining testament to what Morrison was simply born to do. It鈥檚 a joy hearing that he still does it so well. Here鈥檚 hoping he keeps singing for many more years to come.