Conference marvin::uk_music

    Into the music (one of my fave raves) is available in the UK on what
    the market euphamistically calls a "mid price" cd, in UK terms, 8
    pounds. 
    
    andy

    Re. .0 (Joe Blaquiere).
    
    Joe, both "Inarticulate Speech ..." (WB 23802) and "Into The Music"
    (WB 26248) are most definately available in the U.S.  Try Noteworthy
    Music in Nashua, N.H. - call 1-603-881-5729 for a free copy of their
    100-page catalog full of all sorts of CD goodies.  Well worth the
    effort!

    Just found out that I've got tickets to see Van the man at the T&C,
    (one of the last gigs before it is no longer) on 21st March.  Anyone
    else going?
    
    I can't wait, I've wanted to see him for so long!
    
    Debs.
    

    
    Debs,
    
    Well I'm jealous.... you wouldn't happen to have a list of where 
    exactly he is touring at the moment, that you would care to post
    in here?
    
    Cheers,
    Elaine.

    Sorry Elaine, 'fraid not.  A friend of mine just rang me up out of the
    blue and asked if I wanted a ticket (what a question!!).  It was
    through an agency and cost a fortune as it sold out ages ago... but
    sometimes you just have to treat yourself, don't you!?!  I don't think
    he's actually touring, it's a special "last week of the T&C" gig.
    
    Here's hoping he'll be in a good mood... I've heard that he's either
    brilliant or terrible...  :^)
    
    Debz

    I've heard rumors that he's going to be performing in Boston in April
    and I'm hoping that's true.  I saw him last April, in Boston, and he
    was wonderful.  But, people who had seen the previous night's show said
    he acted rude, tired, and disinterested, so I lucked out.  Actually,
    I've seen him 3 times and each time he put on an excellent show.
    
    I'm hoping he's back in Boston next month!!  I love his music.
    
    Lorna
    

    
    Thanks for replying, this information is hard to track down in France.
    I went to the U.K. during the first week of March, heard he was doing 
    special "one-offs", and when I returned to France found out that he had
    been over to Rotterdam on March 8th... now the trick is finding out 
    where he's going to be, not where he's been. I'd love to see him
    performing, but have also heard if he's in a good mood - he's very good, 
    if he's not.......  just remember he's an artist and make appropriate 
    allowances.
    
    Cheers,
    Elaine.   

    Well Van the man was in an EXTREMELY good mood last night - he even
    laughed a couple of times..!  He was on for about 2 hours, and it was
    really excellent, no doubt helped along by the atmosphere due to it
    being the last ever night of the T&C.  (Opens again renamed the Forum I
    believe, under new management).  His band were exceptional, especially
    the brass section.  Highlights were Gloria (final encore), and Brown
    Eyed Girl (whole audience singing "Shalalalalalalalalalal etc..)
    
    He's at the Hammersmith Apollo tonight and tomorrow, but there was no
    mention of any other European dates, sorry.
    
    Debs.
      

    
    I'm still scanning this note in the hope that someone will know of any 
    other European tour dates. 
    
    Debs,
    
    ....... I wish I'd been there.
    
    Jealous of Valbonne.
    
    

    he is/was appearing at Bournemouth (at the Pavillion I think). No idea
    if it's been and gone but I guess it's part of the current tour.
    
    Andy

    
    Still hoping someone might know where he's going to appear next...
    
    Elaine.

    
    He's playing at the Runrig concert on June 5th with Mary Black,
    Wolfstone and others still to be announced...
    
    Graham.

    Van the Man is playing at Glastonbury this year, on the afternoon of
    Sunday 27th June.
    
    Leonie.
    

    
    He's playing at The Fleadh on Glasgow Green .....about the begining of
    June.
    
    
    Andy.

    
    I heard Van's got a new one out, the title of which is supposed to "Too
    Long in Exile" (I think), anyone got it yet? If so care to post a 
    review?
    
    Cheers,
    Elaine.
    

    
    Ok - I'm going to answer my own note.
    
    Too Long in Exile - should be subtitled "Not Long Enough".
    
    The first couple of songs are okey dokey, but the last half, gulp,
    Van's gone into a jazz in a big way. I hate jazz and I think I 
    know who to blame. Anyone remember Georgie Fame? Well for sometime 
    he's been backing Van on keyboards, I blame him - he used to write 
    some dreadful stuff and I think his influence must be catching.
    
    Elaine.

    re: .16
    
    Elaine
    
    	I agree with your sentiments.  Van Morrison has held on to Georgie
    Fame too long.  There was a time when I wouldn't have passed up on a VM
    concert but I've let the last few pass because they are always the same
    since Fame came on board.  One of the great strengths of Morrison was
    his innovation and unpredictability, now alas it's been packaged into
    bland repitition.
    
    Haven't heard the new album, but I'm unlikely to rush out and buy it
    although I do want to hear the version of Gloria with John Lee (clear
    my throat) Hooker.  They did a great song on Hooker's Mr Lucky album a
    few years back.
    
    Dermot

    Van and John Lee's version of 'Gloria' was recently played to death by
    GLR. It's nothing to write home about.
    
    Bob

    At least here in the U.S., the last two tours have not featured Fame.
    It's a totally different line-up.  Fame is featured on some of the
    tracks on the new album and sounds great.  
    
    My feeling is that new album is the best thing he's done in ages -- 
    going back to "No Guru..." The song selection is stylistically much 
    looser -- blues, jazz, etc., the vocals are more
    free, and the playing avoids the pat arrangements found on the 
    more "listener friendly" sections of "Hymns to the Silence".  
    

    re .17, .19, yes, I was going to mention that the last two Van Morrison
    concerts I've seen in Boston (April 92 and April 93) didn't feature
    Georgie Fame.  Actually, I missed him, although I enjoyed the shows
    anyway.  I thought his more extroverted stage presence made a good
    contrast to Van's more introverted stage personality.
    
    I like some of the songs on Too Long In Exile a lot.  I like Ball and
    Chain, When The Healing Has Begun, Too Long In Exile, Wasted Years, and
    I'll Take Care of You.  I don't care for the four, or so, songs that
    come after Wasted Years and before I'll Take Care of You.
    
    While I do like Too Long In Exile, I don't like it near as well as I
    like Enlightenment, Avalon Sunset, or Hymns To The Silence.  So, I
    guess it's impossible to please everybody all the time.
    
    Lorna
     

    
    Yep, pleasing everyone is never going to be achieved, but the stuff 
    that Van has issued, (Veedon Fleece, No Guru - No Method - No Teacher, 
    Astral Weeks for starters), have got to be just about the best stuff 
    ever, ever put out by an artist. 
    
    It's difficult huh, if an artist doesn't change then he/she is 
    immediately accused of putting out the formula stuff, on the other 
    hand we don't always like it when they do experiment. 
    
    I'm thinking of Van's God Phase in particular, which lasted some 
    considerable time, this is something I would not have found myself
    initially being interested in, but the way he did it it felt like 
    an exploration of the subject and a particularly painful one at times.
     
    I hope I'm wrong, but to me the title of this latest offering appears 
    to be ironic in the extreme. Too Long in Exile - from what? The God 
    Phase? The reflective days of the earlier stuff? Home? It feels like a 
    bridging album, some bluesy stuff, some good songs and .... perhaps 
    an introduction to a new jazz phase. The jazz songs on this album, and I 
    hate to say this, but will, sound as if they could be ranked alongside 
    Sade's greatest wine bar hits. Really naff.
    
    But ever open to what might come out of this, if anyone can change my 
    mind on jazz, he's possibly the only one .... if he's going to stick 
    with this potential phase that is, and I sincerely hope he doesn't.
    
    Elaine.
    

    Does anyone know anything about Van Morrison's personal life?  Is he
    married?  How many children he has?  Where he lives, etc?  I'm just
    curious as I've never read anything personal at all.
    
    I do know that he'll be 48 this month (Aug. 31), and that he was
    married to a woman named Janet Planet, in the early '70's, in
    California, and that they had one child and then divorced.  Has anyone
    heard of anything since then?  
    
    He's my favorite singer, and I'm just being nosey.  There was an
    interview with him in Q magazine last month, but nothing personal was
    mentioned.
    
    Lorna
    

    As far as I know, he refuses to talk about his personal life. Quite
    right too.
    
    Bob

    re .23, well, I think he should divulge all his secrets to me, cause
    I'm nosey.  :-)
    
    Lorna