Van Morrison Days Like This
Released : 5 June 1995
Label : Polydor
Foremat : [email protected]
Days Like This continues in the vein of `90s-era Van Morrison albums: covers of slightly obscure nuggets that reflect Morrison's love of classic rhythm and blues, an appreciation for the human condition in the throes of love, and a voice that has ripened with age.
Many of the fine musicians who've worked with Van on his past releases reappear with exemplary results. Over half of the tracks are arranged by former James Brown cohort Pee Wee Ellis, whose charts punch up songs like "Perfect Fit" and the title tune. Brian Kennedy's pure falsetto is a gossamer veil that contrasts Morrison's gruff vocals--particularly on "In The Afternoon," Van's wistful ode to late-in-the-day love-making. Daughter Shana Morrison sings back-up on most tracks, and duets with her father on the two covers--Ray Charles' "You Don't Know Me," which gets a smoky reading with Shana playing Linda Ronstadt to Van's Brother Ray, and the countryish "I'll Never Be Free," originally done by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Kay Starr.
Days Like This also maintains Morrison's ability to delve into the mysticism of his heritage and turn out reams of lyrical intrigue. The complex imagery of "Ancient Highway" refutes Van's claim that he is a simple tunesmith--made on the self-descriptive "Songwriter." The interior conflict of past wrongs and a shot at redemption is what fuels the twists and turns that "Highway" takes. On it, the Belfast Cowboy invokes Hank Williams, a Biblical parable and a town that skips in and out of reality as part of the metaphysical journey; and follows it up by playing acoustic guitar, harmonica and a soulful Hammond organ throughout this eight minutes-plus opus.
Recorded at Windmill Lane Recording, Dublin, Ireland; The Wool Hall and Real World Studios, Bath, England
Tracklist :
1."Perfect Fit" – 4:33
2."Russian Roulette" – 3:56
3."Raincheck" – 5:53
4."You Don't Know Me" - – 4:32
5."No Religion" – 5:14
6."Underlying Depression" – 4:35
7."Songwriter" – 2:50
8."Days Like This" – 3:13
9."I'll Never Be Free" – 3:37
10."Melancholia" – 3:56
11."Ancient Highway" – 8:53
12."In the Afternoon" – 6:21
Personnel
Van Morrison - vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone, Hammond organ
Liam Bradley - drums on "Raincheck" and "You Don't Know Me"
Phil Coulter - piano on "Raincheck", "You Don't Know Me" and "I'll Never Be Free"
Geoff Dunn - drums, tambourine
Noel Eccles - drums on "I'll Never Be Free"
Pee Wee Ellis - tenor and alto saxophones
Leo Green - tenor saxophone
Matthew Holland - trumpet, flugelhorn
James Hunter - electric guitar, background vocals on "Meloncholia" and "In the Afternoon"
Ronnie Johnson - electric guitar
Brian Kennedy - background vocals
Teena Lyle - recorder, piano, vibraphone, congas, background vocals
Foggy Lyttle - electric guitar on "Raincheck", "You Don't Know Me" and "I'll Never Be Free"
Arty McGlynn - acoustic guitar on "Raincheck"
James McMillan - trumpet, flugelhorn on "Raincheck", "You Don't Know Me" and "Ancient Highway"
Shana Morrison - vocal, background vocals on "Raincheck", "You Don't Know Me", "I'll Never Be Free" and "Meloncholia"
Jonn Savannah - Hammond organ on "No Religion"
Nicky Scott - bass guitar
Kate St. John - alto saxophone, oboe
