Van Morrison

The lovely title ballad spells it out for you. Van strips things down to a small working band and achieves a sound that recalls The Philosopher's Stone, his stellar demos collection. More comfortable than cranky, this is a winning, cohesive Morrison set. "Don't Go to Nightclubs Anymore" gives more than a passing nod to a certain Duke Ellington classic, while "Behind the Ritual" masterfully turns a simple repeated phrase into a complete song. This edition ends with a bonus concert cut of "Blue and Green," which shows how confidently Van can build drama and tension into a number.