New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Van Morrison will release 'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' on May 7th on Exile/BMG. His 42nd record and his most dynamic and contemporary album in years, 'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' is a 28-track delve into his ongoing love of blues, R&B, jazz and soul. However much you may love his classic albums, this new project proves that he's living in the present, and remains an artist of integrity and distinction.
"I'm getting away from the perceived same songs, same albums all the time," says Morrison. "This guy's done 500 songs, maybe more, so hello? Why do you keep promoting the same ten? I'm trying to get out of the box."
'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' is the result of our enforced period of isolation. Unable to tour, Morrison remained busy with constant songwriting, starting ideas on piano, guitar or saxophone. What emerged is a wealth of new material, which shimmers with a directness and vibrancy that comes from working with a rhythm section with whom he shares an immediate, spontaneous connection.
Van Morrison today launches the project by releasing the title track. Listen HERE. The king of Celtic soul's one in a million, straight-to-the-heart baritone sits in the pocket of a warm organ hum, accompanied by sha-la-la doo wop backing vocal harmonies. Other highlights emerge at every juncture, from the saxophone-led R&B gem 'Jealousy' to the joyful, country-tinged 'A Few Bars Early' via the spirited Them-style garage rock of the self-explanatory 'Stop Bitching, Do Something'.
While the album touches upon the romantic sentiment and late-night warmth that people love him for, the overriding theme is a straight-talking commentary on contemporary life. It's a stance that informs 'Dead Beat Saturday Night' as it addresses lockdown life in matter-of-fact style: "No life, no gigs, no choice, no voice." It also surfaces in the barroom rock'n'roll of 'Where Have All The Rebels Gone', which bemoans the lack of real independent thought, so often replaced in the modern age by mere posturing. And as for Morrison's views on social media? They are summed up on 'Why Are You On Facebook?'.
Two songs, 'Love Should Come With A Warning' and 'Mistaken Identity', feature lyrics that were written with the great Don Black. Morrison approached
Black after hearing something in his 1969 pop ballad 'On Days Like These', as sung by
Matt Monro for the soundtrack to 'The Italian Job', which reminded him of his own style. It led to
Black writing 'Mistaken Identity', which, paradoxically, is the most autobiographical song on the album.
What 'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' most clearly demonstrates is this: if you want to really appreciate Van Morrison's art listen to what he's doing now, because he never stops.
'Latest Record Project: Volume 1' will be released on double-CD, deluxe-CD, triple-vinyl and digital formats. It's now available to pre-order here, with the song 'Latest Record Project' provided to fans as an instant download.
Visit www.vanmorrison.com for the latest updates and ticket details for live performances.
CD Tracklist:
CD1
Latest Record Project
Where Have All the Rebels Gone?
Psychoanalysts' Ball
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Tried to Do the Right Thing
The Long Con
Thank God for the Blues
Big Lie
A Few Bars Early
It
Hurts Me Too
Only a Song
Diabolic Pressure
Deadbeat Saturday Night
Blue Funk
CD 2
Double Agent
Double Bind
Love Should Come With A Warning
Breaking The Spell
Up County Down
Duper's Delight
My Time After a While
He's Not the Kingpin
Mistaken Identity
Stop Bitching, Do Something
Western Man
They Own the Media
Why Are You on Facebook?
Jealousy
VINYL Tracklist:
DISC 1
SIDE A
Latest Record Project
Where Have All the Rebels Gone?
Psychoanalysts' Ball
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Tried to Do the Right Thing
SIDE B
The Long Con
Thank God for the Blues
Big Lie
A Few Bars Early
DISC 2
SIDE C
It
Hurts Me Too
Only a Song
Diabolic Pressure
Deadbeat Saturday Night
Blue Funk
SIDE D
Double Agent
Double Bind
Love Should Come With A Warning
Breaking The Spell
Up County Down
DISC 3
SIDE E
Duper's Delight
My Time After a While
He's Not the Kingpin
Mistaken Identity
SIDE F
Stop Bitching, Do Something
Western Man
They Own the Media
Why Are You on Facebook?
Jealousy
ON TOUR:
18-Mar-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
19-Mar-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
20-Mar-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
21-Mar-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
14-Apr-2021 GB - London, London Palladium
15-Apr-2021 GB - London, London Palladium
17-Apr-2021 GB - London, London Palladium
18-Apr-2021 GB - London, London Palladium
25-Apr-2021 GB - Birmingham, Symphony Hall
09-May-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
10-May-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
11-May-2021 GB - Belfast, Europa Hotel
20-May-2021 GB - Sheffield, Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall
21-May-2021 GB - Manchester, O2 Apollo Manchester
25-May-2021 GB - York, York Barbican
26-May-2021 GB - York, York Barbican
25-Jun-2021 GB - Liverpool, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
26-Jun-2021 GB - Liverpool, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
07-Aug-2021 US - Lawrenceburg, Lawrenceburg Event Center.
