Trying To Get To You

Friday, July 20, 2007

Bootleg Friday: Van Morrison, 1971

If there's someone who embodies the term "blue-eyed soul," it's Van Morrison. So it's fitting that today's edition of "Bootleg Friday" is from a very fine Van Morrison show from September 5, 1971 that was recorded at Pacific High Studios in San Francisco and broadcast on K-SAN.

I got this show about two years ago, and it rekindled my interest in Morrison, who frankly, I was sort of sick of, mainly from overdosing on Moondance in my teens. What really got me excited about the show is the tremendous cover of "Hound Dog," which is both swinging and hilarious, as if it's a combination of Big Mama Thornton's original crossed with Jerry Lee Lewis. Also of note is the version of "I've Been Working"; it's colossal. Once I really started listening to the whole thing, I really got how amazing he is - and I revisited most of his catalog.

Buy Van Morrison at Amazon.

Download: "Into The Mystic" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)
Download: "I've Been Working" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)
Download: "Hound Dog" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)
Download: "Tupelo Honey" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)
Download: "Just Like A Woman" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)
Download: "Domino" (9/5/71, San Francisco, CA)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Van, Ben. I know what you about burning out on some of the older guys. If you haven't heard "It's Too Late To Stop Now", do yourself a favor. Smokin' live album!

ajs said...

IMHO this is one of the great boots of all time. Where's the rest? The 2nd half of the set, with all the R&B chestnuts back to back, is stellar (call me up in dreamland, blue money, etc), and Caledonia Soul Music is a magical 10-minute acoustic soulful jam, truly unique.

-- ajs

Anonymous said...

thank you thank you thank you!
one of my all time faves - do you have any more Van by any chance?

Anonymous said...

Any links for these?
I have some other boots to share.
Email me freemorrison6789@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Van is so good. It's hard to say anyone is the best, but he would be my choice. Just discovered the Pacific boot on Youtube. It's a good day.