Back on Top
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Back on Top | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
||||
| Studio album by Van Morrison | ||||
| Released | March 9, 1999 Reissued January 2008 |
|||
| Recorded | Wool Hall Studios, Beckington, 1998[1] | |||
| Genre | Blues, R & B | |||
| Length | 52:08 | |||
| Label | Point Blank/Virgin | |||
| Producer | Van Morrison | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
|
||||
| Van Morrison chronology | ||||
|
||||
| Singles from Back on Top | ||||
|
||||
Back on Top is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison released in 1999 (see 1999 in music). This album marks a slight return to the forms of music he is most known for: blues and R&B. Rolling Stone Magazine reviews it as one Monet "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" (which it calls a masterpiece) and nine Norman Rockwell's.[2]
The January 29, 2008 reissued and remastered version of the album contains an alternative take of "Philosopher's Stone" and a new arrangement of Fats Domino's song, "Valley of Tears".[3]
Contents |
[edit] Recording
Recorded at The Wool Hall, Bath, England, except strings, which were recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland. The musicians on the album are understated with Ian Jennings playing double bass, Geraint Watkins playing classy Hammond organ and Pee Wee Ellis on saxophones.[4]
[edit] Songs
The opening song "Goin' Down Geneva", a very blues influenced tune, is set in European cities instead of the American South as typical for blues songs. The title track is an optimistic statement of the singer's outlook and may be a view of his personal relationships or professional standing. "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" is a ballad set in autumn and enhanced by a string section. The ballad of lost love and heartbreak, "Reminds Me of You" was written in 1996 after a break-up of his engagement to Michelle Rocca and was not recorded for three years during which time they had reunited.[5] "New Biography" was inspired by Brian Hinton's unauthorised biography about the singer-songwriter Celtic Crossroads, written in 1996. In the song Morrison complains about the book's lack of reliable sources.[6] "Precious Time" has since become an often performed concert tune for Morrison with very meaningful lyrics about the quick passing of time and the need to enjoy life while we can; 'It doesn’t matter to which God you pray/Precious time is slipping away." Another song with a fall setting, "Golden Autumn Day" is about being mugged in an unnamed city in Britain.[4]
[edit] Promotion
The video for the song "Back on Top", received significant airplay on the Canadian music station, "MuchMoreMusic", when it was released. Performances of "Back on Top" and "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" from Back on Top along with "Gloria" were televised as part of Later... with Jools Holland on April 16 1999.[7] The performance of "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" can be viewed on YouTube: Link.
[edit] Album photos
The photograph of Morrison on the inside of the album cover, was originally used for the front cover of Peter Handke's book My Year in the No-Man's-Bay, first published in 1994.[8]
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Van Morrison
- "Goin' Down Geneva" – 4:24
- "Philosophers Stone" – 6:05
- "In the Midnight" – 5:07
- "Back on Top" – 4:23
- "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" – 5:39
- "High Summer" – 5:12
- "Reminds Me of You" – 5:39
- "New Biography" – 5:23
- "Precious Time" – 3:45
- "Golden Autumn Day" – 6:31
[edit] Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)
- "Philosophers Stone" - 4:52 (alternative take)
- "Valley of Tears" - 5:02 (Fats Domino, arranged Morrison)
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Musicians
- Van Morrison - vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
- Mick Green - acoustic and electric guitars
- Pee Wee Ellis - soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones, background vocals
- Matt Holland - trumpet
- Geraint Watkins - piano, hammond organ
- Fiachra Trench - piano
- Ian Jennings - double bass
- Liam Bradley - drums, percussion, background vocals
- Bobby Irwin - drums
- Brian Kennedy - background vocals
- Irish Film Orchestra - strings
[edit] 2008 reissue
- Leo Green - tenor saxophone
- Jools Holland - piano
- Mike Sanchez - piano, guitar
[edit] Production
- Recording: Walter Samuel, Brian Masterson
- Mixing: Walter Samuel
- Assisting engineers: Sean Doherty, Sam Miller, Ciaran Cahill
- Mastering: Ian Cooper
- Photography: Brad Wilson, Paul Cox, John Mintoft, Matt Curtis
- Art direction and design: Matt Curtis
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart | 11[9] |
| Norway Albums | 1 |
| Swedish Albums | 5 |
| New Zealand | 5 |
| Australia | 13 |
| Netherlands | 21 |
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Billboard 200 | 28 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p.528
- ^ Hunter, James (1999-04-01). "Rolling Stone review: Back on Top". rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/209052/review/5941077. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
- ^ Van Morrison Official Website
- ^ a b Graham, George (1999-03-18). "[http://georgegraham.com/reviews/morrison.html Van Morrison: Back on Top by George Graham]". georgegraham.com. http://georgegraham.com/reviews/morrison.html. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
- ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p.460
- ^ "Dr. Brian Hinton". thewordtravels.com. http://www.thewordtravels.com/brianhinton.html. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
- ^ "concerts". van.vanomatic.de. http://ivan.vanomatic.de/. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ Handke, My Year in the No-Man's-Bay
- ^ Chart Stats: Van Morrison
- ^ Australian Charts
- ^ Dutch Charts
[edit] References
- Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7
- Van Morrison Back on Top by George Graham
- Handke, Peter (1994). My Year in the No-Man's-Bay, Farrar Straus and Giroux ISBN 0-374-21755-6
