"His Band And The Street Choir" by VAN MORRISON (2015 Warner Brothers 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review By Mark Barry...

"...Nice Feel..." 

When Van Morrison’s entire Back Catalogue was promised to us on shiny new Expanded CD Remasters in 2008 and 2009 - lovers of Van The Man’s music will know two things – the last two batches were cancelled – and even then there were exceptions not available as Remasters no matter what – "Astral Weeks", "Moondance" and this – "His Band And The Street Choir".

Fans have had to wait nearly a decade for the legal wrangles to be sorted out – and at last in late October 2015 – we get the first two physical fruitions – 1968's magisterial "Astral Weeks" and 1970's more approachable "His Band And The Street Choir" - both reissued by Warner Brothers in Gatefold Card Sleeves on 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters and both pitched at mid-price. Here are the Gypsy Queens...

UK and USA released Friday, 30 October 2015 – "His Band And The Street Choir" by VAN MORRISON on Warner Brothers 081227952303 (Barcode 081227952303) plays out as follows (61:42 minutes):

1. Domino

2. Crazy Face

3. Give Me A Kiss

4. I've Been Working

5. Call Me Up In Dreamland

6. I'll Be Your Lover, Too

7. Blue Money [Side 2]

8. Virgo Clowns

9. Gypsy Queen

10. Sweet Janine

11. If I Ever Needed Someone

12. Street Choir

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "His Band And The Street Choir” – released November 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1884 and December 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1844 (re-issued in the UK in August 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46066). All songs are written and produced by VAN MORRISON.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

13. Call Me Up In Dreamland (Take 10) – 4:14 minutes

14. Give Me A Kiss (Take 3) – 2:33 minutes

15. Gypsy Queen (Take 3) – 4:13 minutes

16. I've Been Working (Alternate Version) – 4:26 minutes

17. I'll Be Your Lover, Too (Alternate Version) - 4:14 minutes

Musicians:

VAN MORRISON – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica and Tenor Saxophone on "Crazy Face" and "Call Me Up In Dreamland"

JOHN PLATANIA – Lead and Rhythm Guitars and Mandolin

JACK SCHROER – Alto, Baritone, Soprano saxophone and Piano

KEITH JOHNSON – Trumpet and Organ

ALAN HAND – Piano and Organ

JOHN KLINGBERG - Bass

DAHAUD ELIAS SHAAR – Drums, Percussion, Bass Clarinet and Backing Vocals

THE STREET CHOIR – Ellen Schroer, Martha Velez, Janet Planet, David Shaw, Andy Robinson and Larry Goldsmith

EMILY HOUSTON, JUDY CLAY and JACKIE VERDELL – backing Vocals on "If I Ever Needed Someone"

This 2015 CD Reissue comes in a gatefold card sleeve (gold sticker on the outer shrinkwrap) - textured like the matt original American vinyl album cover with the word 'Stereo' centred at the top and the 'Seven Arts' Warner Brothers logo design on the rear cover. The rear artwork is as per the US original but has cleverly been altered to allow for the 'Bonus Tracks' to be placed in the same typeface alongside the text without looking odd (the new CD label also reflects the original issue in colour). The inner gatefold reproduces Janet Planet’s liner notes to the left and the collage of musicians involved in making the album to the right.

The 12-page booklet continues the theme of Master Tape Boxes that "Astral Weeks" has and shows the 'E.Q. Copy' of Side 1 as its cover. The texture of the pages is similar to the superb "Moondance: Deluxe Edition" of 2013 - recycled and woody - and contains new liner notes called "Street Choir, Sing Me The Song For The New Day" by CORY FRYE - an American Newspaper Editor and noted Musicologist. STEVE WOOLARD has produced the Reissue and CHRIS BELLMAN has carried out the Remaster at BERNIE GRUNDMAN MASTERING (the outer gold sticker declares it to be 'First Time Remastered' – has worked with Neil Young, Carole King and Alanis Morissette and been Grammy nominated). Including five bonus tracks (all outtakes) – the total playing time of 61:42 minutes is reasonably generous too. But all of that tasty aesthetics is as nothing to the glorious Audio...

Having had the occasional track remastered across the last 30 years or so (Japanese SHM-CDs and "Best Of" compilations) – it comes as something of a sonic shock to finally hear the 'whole album' sparkle. Like "Astral Weeks" - this thing sounds fabulous – really wonderful. All the instruments resonate and feel alive – the analogue warmth is very much intact and the happiness of Van’s headspace flows out of the playing and the short jaunty songs. This is a properly sweet sounding CD Remaster (well done to all involved).

Coming after the one-two sucker punch of "Astral Weeks" in 1968 and the crowd-pleasing chart-placing "Moondance" in early 1970 – November 1970's "His Band And The Street Choir" was bound to disappoint a tad and has therefore always had a 6 out of 10 rating amongst music historians. But for me this stunning new Audio Remaster and the genuinely useful/complimentary extras warrants a more appropriate 9 in the hindsight of 2015. Similar to the 2015 Expanded Remaster of "Astral Weeks" - there are hiss traces on "Crazy Face" and "I'll be Your Lover, Too" for sure - and I’m glad of that. None of the tracks sound compressed or dulled or tampered with for the sake of modern cleanliness - it's a careful transfer – yet alive - with the air circulating around the music.

The impact of this Remaster is absolutely immediate. The opening 15 seconds of "Domino" is just sensational – the band and the song cooking like never before. In December 1970 Warner Brothers USA and UK tried it as a 45 on WB 7434 with "Sweet Jannie" on the flipside and were rewarded with a No. 9 chart placing in the American charts (the album hit No. 32). "Crazy Face" has hiss at the outset but settles down and that warbling Van Morrison Saxophone solo sounds amazing. The jaunty pop of "Give Me A Kiss" is so pretty (the title for this review comes from the studio patter at the song's end) - but if I was to single out one song that shows just how good the transfer is - it would be the Soulful Acoustic Funk of "It's Been Working". Seems like I’ve been waiting 40 years (grinding so long) to hear this wicked little groover sound 'this good' - the clarity when he goes into that "...woman, woman, woman..." chant with the saxophones following is awesome. "Call Me Up In Dreamland" sounds just as good too and feels like a Moondance companion piece. But again the Audio on the Side 1 finisher "I'll Be Your Lover, Too" will knock fans sideways. As already mentioned it has hiss as the drummer soft-shoe-shuffles on the highhats – but those Acoustic flourishes and the sheer devotion of his Soulful vocal is why his singing sends chills up the spine. It's exquisite music as Frye quite rightly states in his excellent liner notes.

Side 2 opens with the fairly throwaway "Blue Money" – a poppy ditty that never really ignites for some reason. Far better is the beautifully produced "Virgo Clowns" – one of the album's true hidden nuggets where John Plantania's Mandolin playing compliments a simple and gorgeous acoustic guitar melody as Van sings "...let your laughter fill the room..." Just as pretty is "Gypsy Queen" while the B-side "Sweet Jannie" was another 'make everything alright' hit in the making. His spirituality and personal needs come pouring out of "If I Ever Needed Someone" where he implores (not for the first time) for 'someone to see me through'. He returns to Gospel for the album's lovely finisher "Street Choir" – the organ and ladies voices giving it a churchy feel (beautiful audio too).

The Bonus Material features five outtakes/alternate versions and for me makes this reissue a solid sender. A funky Bass run provides the lead in for Take 10 of "Call Me Up In Dreamland" offset against a faint girly chant in the background. Take 3 of "Give Me A Kiss" is beautifully recorded and has the joy quotient down pat – but Take 1, 2 and 3 of "Gypsy Queen" will thrill fans. It has witty 'spaceman' dialogue (in a Belfast accent) before Van finally gets all falsetto on the vocals and the band play a blinder –and although you can hear why the vocals got away from him - this is great stuff. But my crave is one of the final bonuses – "I've Been Working" – a track that turned up in long variants on the "Moondance" Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions and goes back to the "Astral Weeks" period. This 'Alternate Version' is just as Funky as the shorter 3:26 minute album cut - but with more prominence given to the Organ and Saxophone solo. I love this and I suspect Mods will be spreading the Talcum Powder on this 4:26 minute extended winner...

Like "Astral Weeks" - it has taken nearly fifty bleeding years to show this forgotten Van Morrison album some proper respect – and when fans clap ears on this remaster – they’ll let out a sigh of relief that WB finally got it right.

"...Rescue you from the pain...see you smile again..." – Van The Man sings on "Virgo Clowns". Amen to that...

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - CLASSIC 1970's ROCK - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...

"Astral Weeks" by VAN MORRISON (2015 Warner Brothers 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...To Be Born Again..." 

While Van Morrison fans may want to kiss the rotund hem of his slightly soiled garment – they've had to acquire the patience of Mother Theresa at an Adolf Hitler Appreciation Convention when it comes to his CD reissues.

Four sets of Remasters were to appear in 2008 and 2009 covering his entire back catalogue (I reviewed most of the first 2 batches at the time) – but the final two sets were unceremoniously cancelled by the great curmudgeonly one at the last minute. It’s now been the guts of a decade involving heated legal wrangling with record companies to finally arrive at 2015 - Sony/Legacy acquiring the rights to his entire catalogue and sating fans appetites with a 2CD pre-set "The Essential Van Morrison" in August 2015 (digital downloads of most of his catalogue are available on iTunes from October 2015 including titles by his first band THEM). Warner Brothers have also given us a fab "Moondance" Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Version in October 2013...

Now at last we get major CD Remaster holes in his formidable canon of work filled - the first two being 1968's magisterial "Astral Weeks" and 1970's more approachable "His Band And The Street Choir" - both reissued by Warner Brothers in Gatefold Card Sleeves on 'Expanded Edition' CD Remasters and both pitched at mid-price. Here are the Cyprus Avenues...

UK and USA released Friday, 30 October 2015 – "Astral Weeks" by VAN MORRISON on Warner Brothers 081227952310 (Barcode 081227952310) plays out as follows (74:15 minutes):

Part 1: In The Beginning [Side 1]

1. Astral Weeks

2. Beside You

3. Sweet Thing

4. Cyprus Avenue

Part 2: Afterwards [Side 2]

5. The Way Young Lovers Do

6. Madame George

7. Ballerina

8. Slim Slow Slider

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Astral Weeks" – released November 1968 in the USA on Warner Brothers WS 1768 and September 1969 in the UK on Warner Brothers WS 1768 (re-issued in the UK in August 1971 on Warner Brothers K 46024). All songs are written by VAN MORRISON - LEWIS MERENSTEIN Produced the album.

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

9. Beside You (Take 1) – 5:58 minutes

10. Madame George (Take 4) – 8:24 minutes

11. Ballerina (Long Version) – 8:02 minutes

12. Slim Slow Slider (Long Version) – 4:54 minutes

Tracks 9 and 10 recorded 25 September 1968 – no dates provided for 11 and 12

Musicians:

VAN MORRISON – Vocals, Guitars

JAY BERLINER – Lead Guitar

JOHN PAYNE – Flute and Soprano Saxophone

RICHARD DAVIS – Bass

CONNIE KAY – Drums

WARREN SMITH, Jr. – Percussion and Vibraphone

This 2015 CD Reissue comes in a gatefold card sleeve (gold sticker on the outer shrinkwrap) - textured like the matt original American vinyl album cover with the word 'Stereo' centred at the top and the 'Seven Arts' Warner Brothers logo design on the rear cover. The rear artwork is as per the US original but has cleverly been altered to allow for the 'Bonus Tracks' to be placed in the same typeface beneath the text without looking odd (UK issues were laminated and had Orange Warner Brothers labels – the new CD is Green). The inner gatefold has a period outtake photo of Van on the left flap (moments before the cover photo was taken) - while the right side has the Master Tape Box for 'Part 1: In The Beginning'. The 12-page booklet continues that theme with the cover page having the Master Tape Box for 'Part 2: Afterwards'. The texture of the pages is similar to the superb "Moondance: Deluxe Edition" of 2013 - recycled and woody - and contains new liner notes by CORY FRYE - an American Newspaper Editor and noted Musicologist. STEVE WOOLARD has produced the Reissue and CHRIS BELLMAN has carried out the Remaster at BERNIE GRUNDMAN MASTERING (the outer gold sticker declares it to be 'First Time Remastered' – has worked with Neil Young, Carole King and Alanis Morissette). As you can see from the track list above – the total playing time of 74:15 minutes is also generous.

Having had the occasional track remastered across the last 30 years or so (Japanese SHM-CDs and "Best Of" compilations) – it comes as something of a shock and frankly a thrill to finally hear just beautiful this 'whole album' really is. This thing sounds fabulous. All the instruments resonate and feel alive – the analogue warmth intact – the plucked strings and Horn flourishes – this is a properly sweet sounding CD Remaster (well done to all involved).

Producer Lewis Merenstein had worked as an apprentice to Tom Wilson the go-to Avant Garde and Rock Producer of the Sixties - Sun Ra, Eddie Harris, The Velvet Underground, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa to name but a few. Van's players for the sessions were all steeped in Jazz – Jay Berliner had played Guitar with Herbie Mann and Charles Mingus – the Bassist Ray Davis had done stints with Kenny Burrell and Eric Dolphy and so on. As a Producer - Lewis Merenstein had done the knob-twiddling deed with The Barry Goldberg Reunion and Charlie Musselwhite – so he knew his way around Blues and Jazz rhythms (he would return to do "Moondance" in 1970 and go on to work with The Mamas And The Papas, John Cale and The Spencer Davis Group). Recorded in only three sessions - the professionally played but inspired sloppiness comes out in Merenstein's sympathetic 'keep it loose and spontaneous' production. There are hiss traces on "Madame George" and "Slim Slow Slider" for sure - and I’m glad of that. None of the tracks sound compressed or dulled or tampered with for the sake of modern cleanliness - it's a careful transfer – yet alive - with the air circulating around the music.

The impact of the Remaster is immediate. The opening 15 seconds of "Astral Weeks" is likely to illicit tears amongst even the most jaded fan – and when those strings, vibes and flute kick in – the effect of the improved Remaster is magical. Across its beautiful 7:04 minutes – you feel transported as he sings...tripping out in another time...in another place. Wow is the only response. The acoustic guitar playing panned to the right speaker on "Beside You" is shockingly clear and suddenly in your face for all the right reasons. And I'm blubbing like a 2015 Chinese parent contemplating another beautiful child listening to the gorgeous "Sweet Thing" – that high-hat so clear – and the building strings too. But if was to single out just one song that shows the true beauty of this transfer – it would be the Side 1 finisher "Cyprus Avenue" – put mildly it's easily one of the most beautiful remasters I've ever heard - all that trippy music swirling around your speakers with life and passion and art - his love for Janet Planet shining through...

Side 2 opens with the mad brass and jazz shuffles of "The Way Young Lovers Do" and is followed by the glorious "Madame George" – a near 10-minute throw-over song from the Bang label sessions. It's hissy in the opening passage as I said earlier but again stunningly clear and full of presence. I've always thought of "Ballerina" as being one of the prettiest of his early songs – the Vibes, Double Bass plucks and Acoustic Guitar strums – all are enhanced. It ends on the almost Bluesy Jazz of "Slim Slow Slider" with Payne giving it some welly on the Flute – complete with its jarring abrupt ending.

The Bonus Tracks offer four fascinating full-length versions – "Beside You" has studio chatter at the start and is clearly a run-through. Even at this stage – the loveliness of the song is present – their complete "Astral Weeks" 'sound' already in place. Van's voice is in amazing form – laying into like he means it – so Soulful as he sings "...all the scrapbooks stuck with glue...and I stand beside you..." Now we reach something stunning – a full 8:24 minute take of "Madame George" – it’s sonically better than the first – the music and playing very loose. He raps different words as it fades out and the vibes ping "...dry your eyes for Madame George..." (I doubt there'll be many lifetime fans that will be able to maintain a dry eye). The album version of "Ballerina" runs to seven minutes – here the 'Long Version' gives us an extra minute and actually it feels better to me – the take just as lovely but somehow more free. In the tradition of keeping the best until last – fans may argue that's what’s been done here. The finished LP cut of "Slim Slow Slider" stops abruptly at 3:30 minutes (a deliberate decision at the time that I never liked). Here the 'Long Version' restores the track to a fade out – pushing the playing time to 4:54 minutes which gives us a more Jazzy flourish as Payne gives it some flute and Van goes into a 'glory be to him' vocal chant officially unheard until now. It's bizarre after all these years to hear the song like this – but so damn cool too..

The only whinge I might have is that even though the aesthetic feel of the gatefold card sleeve and textured booklet give it a better than bog-standard reissue feel – for such an iconic album and let's face it - one that is so utterly beloved – I’m still amazed that it hasn’t received the 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment that "Moondance" did (a gorgeous reissue in itself – see separate review). Something this good could have been given that bit extra. Having said that I love the way it looks feels and in particular - sounds.

In retrospect the fact that "Astral Weeks" didn’t chart on either side of the pond despite it’s 'top 50 albums of all time' status has been put down to lack of singles and a dazed disinterest by Warner Brothers who simply didn't know what to do with the LP – so by all accounts – they did nothing. Well it has taken nearly fifty bleeding years to show it some proper respect – and when fans clap ears on this remaster – they’ll finally let out a sigh of relief that WB finally got it right.

"...And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain..." – Van The Man sings on "Sweet Thing". Time has finally come to re-join the bard on his astral journey...

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - COOL 1960's MUSIC - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...