Van Morrison remaster series

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

KLIZ has a story on their website today saying that Polydor U.K. has signed up Morrison and that part of the deal is that his entire back catalog is going to get a revamp which will include bonus tracks. I hope we are going to get these in the U.S. as well and not just as U.K.-only remasters.

Van Morrison remasters at Amazon USA

Van Morrison remasters at Amazon UK

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

Thanks for posting this great news. Looked up the story on http://www.theloon.com/

and noticed the following:

Quote:

2008 will also witness a brand new album release and the beginning of Van’s re-released 34 album back catalogue in batches of 6 with expanded audio content over the coming years.

Wonder if it will be chronological?

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:47 pm

http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/uncut/news/10721

VAN MORRISON TO REISSUE ENTIRE BACK CATALOGUE

Van Morrison - who recently notched up his highest ever UK album chart placing with his 'Best Of' collection 'Still On Top' - is to reissue his entire back catalogue, starting next year.

Morrison's 29 remastered albums, from 1971's Tupelo Honey to 2002's Down The Road, will be released in stages from January 28 2008.

All of the reissues will come with their original artwork and lyrics, as well previously unreleased tracks, the first time the singer has authorised such since 1998.

Alternate versions include Tupelo Honey's 'Wild Night' and Into The Music's 'Troubadours'.

A new arrangement of the Fats Domino Song 'Valley Of Tears' taken from '99's recording sessions for Back On Top also features.

The first seven albums- all to be released at mid-price - are:

Tupelo Honey
It’s Too Late To Stop Now
Wavelength
Into The Music
A Sense Of Wonder
Avalon Sunset
Back On Top

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

No Astral Weeks,Moondance or Saint Dominic :sigh:

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

No Astral Weeks,Moondance or Saint Dominic

While that is utterly ridiculous that those releases might not get remastered, let's hold out hope since these remasters are not in chronological order. I'm still very excited about this!

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

No Astral Weeks,Moondance or Saint Dominic

While that is utterly ridiculous that those releases might not get remastered, let's hold out hope since these remasters are not in chronological order. I'm still very excited about this!

"Morrison's 29 remastered albums, from 1971's Tupelo Honey to 2002's Down The Road..." would seem to preclude 1968's Astral Weeks and 1970's Moondance. Still might happen for Dominic, but I'm thinking the 3 Warner Bros titles account for the reduction in scope of this reissue program which from previous "announcements" had been 34 titles.

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

If All-Music is correct...

1 1971 Tupelo Honey Mercury
2 1972 Saint Dominic's Preview Mercury
3 1973 Hard Nose the Highway Mercury
4 1974 It's Too Late to Stop Now [live] Mercury
5 1974 Veedon Fleece Mercury
6 1977 A Period of Transition Mercury
7 1978 Wavelength Mercury
8 1979 Into the Music Warner Bros.
9 1980 Common One Warner Bros.
10 1982 Beautiful Vision Warner Bros.
11 1983 Inarticulate Speech of the Heart Warner Bros.
12 1985 A Sense of Wonder Mercury
13 1985 Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast Mercury
14 1986 No Guru, No Method, No Teacher Mercury
15 1987 Poetic Champions Compose Mercury
16 1988 Irish Heartbeat Mercury
17 1989 Avalon Sunset Mercury
18 1990 Enlightenment Mercury
19 1991 Hymns to the Silence Mercury
20 1993 Too Long in Exile Mercury
21 1994 A Night in San Francisco [live] Mercury
22 1995 Days Like This Mercury
23 1996 How Long Has This Been Going On Verve
24 1996 Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison Verve
25 1997 The Healing Game Mercury
26 1999 Back on Top Point Blank/Virgin
27 2000 The Skiffle Sessions: Live in Belfast 1998 Pointblank
28 2000 You Win Again Virgin
29 2002 Down the Road Universal

JoeP · **Joined:** 20 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 542

Quote:

No Astral Weeks,Moondance or Saint Dominic

Those ones are Warner who for annoyingly hasn't given those albums the treatment they deserve.

Quote:

1979 Into the Music Warner Bros.
9 1980 Common One Warner Bros.
10 1982 Beautiful Vision Warner Bros.
11 1983 Inarticulate Speech of the Heart Warner Bros.

These ones were Mercury/Universal releases in Europe and were remastered with the other Mercury titles in the late 90s. Here we got the to see the same early Warner editions out.

bigbus · 21 Sep 2007

Each album will include original artwork and full lyrics to Van Morrison compositions. The first series of 7 albums will be released on January 28th followed by a further 3 sets, all retailing at mid-price.

The first series features:

Tupelo Honey
It’s Too Late To Stop Now
Wavelength
Into The Music
A Sense Of Wonder
Avalon Sunset
Back On Top

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

Well, I'm in for Tupelo Honey.

Larbo · **Joined:** 11 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 38

Wait a minute, Moondance got stiffed on the last round of remasters, too!! And with Warner Bros being in their current state of disarray and cluelessness, it may never happen. Tiny Tim has had more remasters than Moondance!!

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

I don't have a definitive quote, but this comes close:

Quote:

JW: It's widely regarded as your finest work, even your masterpiece. Maybe it's the yardstick against which all your other albums are measured and judged. Has that ever made Astral Weeks feel like a millstone to you?

VM: Not really. I was very young when I made Astral Weeks. It's a lot of water under the bridge and I can't relate the same way. I'm 59 now. It's very difficult to relate to the 23-year-old version of me. The main problem I have with Astral Weeks is that I don't have any control over it. Warner Brothers owns it, and that's still a bone of contention.

from a July 2005 Uncut interview
by Jon Wilde

I've heard that Van refuses to allow WB to reissue these recordings, that's why I was so excited by the initial reports...I'll still pick up several of these titles, but I wish VM would get over it.

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

A few more tidbits from Van Morrison: The Official Website (couldn't get the link to display right) :

Quote:

This worldwide exclusive release covers 29 albums from 1971’s Tupelo Honey through to 2002’s Down The Road and includes the 1997 Two CD collection The Story of Them. The albums are being remastered and will include bonus material, none of which has been previously available.

& more details for the bonus material in the 1st wave:

Quote:

The bonus recordings are of particular interest, the first time Van Morrison has authorised any unreleased material since The Philosopher’s Stone in 1998. Each reissued album includes exclusive unreleased recordings from each respective time period, giving a unique insight into some of his most revered songs.

Tupelo Honey, 1971 – Wild Night (alternative take) and a reworking of the traditional Down By The Riverside

It’s Too Late To Stop Now, 1974 - a live take on Brown Eyed Girl

Wavelength, 1978 – Kingdom Hall and Wavelength (Live at the Roxy Theatre, LA, Nov 26, 1978)

Into The Music, 1979 – Steppin’ Out Queen and Troubadours (alternative takes)

A Sense Of Wonder, 1984 – Crazy Jane On God and A Sense Of Wonder (alternative takes)

Avalon Sunset, 1989 – Whenever God Shines His Light (alternative take) and When The Saints Go Marching In (with additional lyrics by Van Morrison)

Back On Top, 1999 – Philosopher’s Stone (alternative take) and Valley Of Tears (A completely new arrangement of the Fats Domino Song)

72stones · **Joined:** 12 Jul 2006 **Posts:** 2109

I would say something along these lines:
Dear Van,
Astral Weeks was a revelation to me when I first discovered it. It continues to be so. Would you please work something out and get that one as well as the other early ones released?
A Dissatisfied Customer
(a la Hawkeye Pierce when he sent a telegram to Harry Truman asking "Who's responsible?")

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:26 am

TJS_CD wrote:

A few more tidbits from Van Morrison: The Official Website (couldn't get the link to display right) :

Quote:

This worldwide exclusive release covers 29 albums from 1971’s Tupelo Honey through to 2002’s Down The Road and includes the 1997 Two CD collection The Story of Them. The albums are being remastered and will include bonus material, none of which has been previously available.

& more details for the bonus material in the 1st wave:

Quote:

The bonus recordings are of particular interest, the first time Van Morrison has authorised any unreleased material since The Philosopher’s Stone in 1998. Each reissued album includes exclusive unreleased recordings from each respective time period, giving a unique insight into some of his most revered songs.

Tupelo Honey, 1971 – Wild Night (alternative take) and a reworking of the traditional Down By The Riverside

It’s Too Late To Stop Now, 1974 - a live take on Brown Eyed Girl

Wavelength, 1978 – Kingdom Hall and Wavelength (Live at the Roxy Theatre, LA, Nov 26, 1978)

Into The Music, 1979 – Steppin’ Out Queen and Troubadours (alternative takes)

A Sense Of Wonder, 1984 – Crazy Jane On God and A Sense Of Wonder (alternative takes)

Avalon Sunset, 1989 – Whenever God Shines His Light (alternative take) and When The Saints Go Marching In (with additional lyrics by Van Morrison)

Back On Top, 1999 – Philosopher’s Stone (alternative take) and Valley Of Tears (A completely new arrangement of the Fats Domino Song)

The first round of expanded remasters are now available for pre-ordering:

Van Morrison expanded remasters at Amazon USA

Van Morrison expanded remasters at Amazon UK

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

I hope to crap these really aren't $20 a piece + S&H because there's no way in hell I'm paying that for something I already own!

stevef · 05 Aug 2006

This thread seems to have some misinformation and contradiction in it. It's left me confused...
I'm sure some of the long-time regulars here must have more information than me and can chime in, but here's what I seem to recollect...

WB owns the rights to Astral Weeks and Moondance. IMO, Astral Weeks needs to be remastered, the current version of Moondance doesn't (there was an RE-1 version secretly put out by WB that upgraded the sound quality - I think it sounds much improved over the previous release. Some of the Moondance tracks also appear on the remastered Best Of... compilation).
Whether Van can (or will) negotiate with WB to include these two albums is anyone's guess.
St. Dominic's Preview sounds really fine at it was remastered by Polygram (I believe), and was part of the previous Van Morrison Remasters Series. SDP should be included in this new series of expanded remasters.
And these I understand are *mid-level* priced, and will probably will be priced around $11, not $20.
I'm being very brief. Now, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I would like to learn whatever the truth is.

Aside from a few choice Morrison albums, I can't get too worked up over another round of remasters adding one or two tracks to each. But only because my personal taste for Van is limited - he's made some great albums that I love, but also a lot of boring ones in my opinion. To each his own.

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

I hope to crap these really aren't $20 a piece + S&H because there's no way in hell I'm paying that for something I already own!

20 dollars is the Import price; in case you haven't noticed before Import prices at Amazon are horrific. I don't know if under 8 pounds in the UK is considered "mid-level" or not. I guess the key is whether these get a US release and prices under 15 bucks...at this point, it doesn't look like it.

I don't know what other "misinformation" has been presented. The need for a moondance R/M would be a subjective judgement.

TJS_CD · **Joined:** 20 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 44

Apparently, 8.5 pounds is the high point of "mid price" titles.

Invisible Pedestrian · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 26163

Quote:

20 dollars is the Import price; in case you haven't noticed before Import prices at Amazon are horrific. I don't know if under 8 pounds in the UK is considered "mid-level" or not. I guess the key is whether these get a US release and prices under 15 bucks...at this point, it doesn't look like it.

So, it seems these will be expensive. If there's no US release for these, they'll be $20 if not slightly more with shipping. Very disappointing. I'm not sure where there was any misinformation either-it seems simple-these look like import only items and they're not cheap. I also think Astral Weeks and Moondance could be remastered especially Astral Weeks. I do agree with Steve that some of Van's numerous albums are forgettable, but I'd like to reinvest time on each of these and see if I missed something on each one. Sadly, it looks doubtful for me financially.
Of course, if anyone knows otherwise about the pricing please let us know!

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:23 pm

As a companion piece to the above, Camden/Sony is reissuing Van's Brown Eyed Girl compilation in the UK on December 11th. No word on whether or not the tracks have been remastered again:

2007 issue UK 16-track CD album - With a career now spanning over 5 decades, Van Morrison is widely acclaimed as one music's most influential and truly innovative artists, combining a popular blend of jazz, blues, R&B, and Celtic folk styles; 'Brown Eyed Girl' is a comprehensive look at his early career, collecting songs from his Bang debut album 'Blowin' Your Mind' [including the worldwide anthem 'Brown Eyed Girl']; 'Astral Works' the masterly and critically acclaimed follow up plus original b-sides such as 'Chick-A-Boom' & 'Joe Harper Saturday Morning'.

1. Brown Eyed Girl
2. Chick-A-Boom
3. Spanish Rose
4. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
5. The Smile You Smile
6. The Back Room
7. Who Drove The Red Sports Car
8. Send Your Mind
9. He Ain''t Give You None
10. Joe Harper Saturday Morning
11. Beside You
12. It's All Right
13. The Midnight Special
14. T.B. Sheets
15. Madame George
16. I Love You (The Smile You Smile)

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NPIH/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005NPIH/?tag=imwan-21

Van Morrison remaster series

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