Overflowing Talent: Van Morrison Struggles with a Musical Abundance
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Excessive Music: Van Morrison struggles with an overflow of his own compositions - Excessive Music Takes its Toll on Van Morrison, Suffering from Being Overly Well-Endowed in the Music Realm.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a musician as productive in their golden years as Van Morrison. The 79-year-old powerhouse releases a new album every year, creating a cache of unheard music that's bursting at the seams. Morrison himself acknowledges this issue:
"There's new arrangements and projects just gathering dust," he confessed in an interview, "The distribution can only handle so much at once. Two albums a year would be difficult, one is manageable."
This year, we get a glimpse of his backlog with the release of "Remembering Now." The new Van Morrison album resurrects tunes he's held onto for years, one of which is "Down To Joy," a sprightly opener that's reminiscent of the 2021 film "Belfast" by Kenneth Branagh. It earned an Oscar nomination, and Morrison had this to say:
"This should have come out a long time ago." Like much of his work, timing played a significant role in keeping it under wraps. Nostalgic cover albums, such as "Moving On Skiffle" and "Accentuate The Positive," claimed priority instead.
"Remembering Now" offers a sampling of Morrison's timeless blend of pop, folk, soul, blues, jazz, and country. As always, his signature voice rings through powerfully and unwaveringly.
Studio sessions in the shadows of the pandemic
The new tracks were birthed during the depressing days of lockdown. Morrison stirred controversy during this time due to his frustration with some COVID measures and the restriction of live performances. Although he wasn’t forthcoming with details, he explained that the sessions with fellow musicians were more about fun than making a statement.
Gems that emerged from the studio's shadows include the melancholic "Haven't Lost My Sense Of Wonder" and the rhythmic soul number "Back To Writing Love Songs." The lyrics for "Every Time I See A River" come from legendary songwriter Don Black, who has gifted Morrison countless verses over the years.
An iconclastic career, unyielding to the passage of time
As of now, "Remembering Now" marks Morrison's 47th studio album, and his voice is as powerful and distinctive as it was decades ago. What prevents him from slowing down? Morrison offers this explanation:
"Basically, I come from jazz, not pop, not rock, nothing commercial," he says. "So I take a jazz approach - not trying to be popular at a certain time and not being manipulated. If you do your own thing from the start, you don't even get into that machine."
He doesn't fret about audience reception; his focus remains on creating music. And he plans to keep it up:
"There's still more music to come."
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Insights:
- Van Morrison's discography consists of around 45-46 studio albums as of 2022, a significant achievement for any musician.
- Morrison's high productivity often results in a backlog of unreleased material, which has been affectionately referred to as a "luxury problem."
- Throughout his career, Morrison has taken a spontaneous, instinctive approach to music production, often recording quickly and trusting his instincts.
- Morrison's commitment to artistic integrity has earned him a reputation for creating both classic albums and hidden gems from his backlog.
- Morrison has faced controversy for his opposition to some COVID measures and the restriction of live performances during the pandemic.
"Van Morrison's new album, 'Remembering Now,' is a treasure trove of previously unreleased songs, including the Oscar-nominated tune, 'Down To Joy,' which shares a similar feel with the 2021 film 'Belfast.'
In an interview, Morrison mentioned, 'There's still more music to come,' showcasing his unwavering commitment to his craft, making him one of the most productive musicians in entertainment today, especially in the realm of music."
