Bright Side of the Road

Infobox Single
Name = Bright Side of the Road


Caption =
Artist = Van Morrison
from Album = Into the Music
A-side = "Bright Side of the Road"
B-side = "Rolling Hills"
Released = September 1979
Format =
Recorded = Spring 1979
Genre = Pop rock
Length = 3:47
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Writer = Van Morrison
Producer = Van Morrison
Certification =
Last single = "Kingdom Hall" (1979)
This single = "Bright Side of the Road" (1979)
Next single = "Full Force Gale" (1979)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Into the Music
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Bright Side of the Road"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Full Force Gale"
next_no = 2"Bright Side of the Road" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1979 album "Into the Music".

Biographer Brian Hinton states that it is 'an answer in song to "The Dark End of the Street" and it is wonderfully light, in spirit and texture.' [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p.220]

It was featured in the soundtrack of the American fantasy motion picture, Michael released in 1996.In 2004, "Bright Side of the Road", was featured in the UNESCO advertisements for World Press Freedom Day.

In 2006 and 2007 concerts, Van Morrison often would enter onstage, playing his harmonica, as his band played the opening bars to this song.

Appearance on other albums

*"Bright Side of the Road" is also featured as the opening tune on the 1990 compilation album "The Best of Van Morrison".
*Another version of it was also on the collection of outtakes on the 1998 compilation album "The Philosopher's Stone".
*A live version as performed at the festival appeared on the 2006 limited edition CD "Live at Austin City Limits Festival".
*As it appeared in the movie Fever Pitch in 1997, it is one of the songs included in Van Morrison's 2007 compilation album "Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits".
*This song is one of the hits re-mastered in 2007 and included on the compilation album, "Still on Top - The Greatest Hits".

Personnel on original release

*Van Morrison: vocal, guitar, harmonica
*Herbie Armstrong: guitar
*Pee Wee Ellis: tenor saxophone
*David Hayes: bass guitar
*Zakir Hussain: tabla
*Mark Isham: trumpet
*Mark Jordan: piano
*Katie Kissoon: backing vocals
*Toni Marcus: violin
*Peter Van Hooke: drums

Personnel on "The Philosopher's Stone"

*Van Morrison - vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
*Herbie Armstrong - guitar
*David Hayes - bass
*Mark Jordan - piano
*Toni Marcus - violin
*Peter Van Hooke - drums

Covers

"Selective List of Recordings":*001 Ensemble:*Brendan Boyer:*Josh Graves:*Hothouse Flowers:*Antawn Jefferson:*Raul Malo:*David West:*Brent Woodall & the Natchez Trace Band

Notes

References

*Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e Lyrics and audio samples] Into the Music 1970s