His Band and the Street Choir

Infobox Album | Name = His Band and the Street Choir
Type = studio
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = November 15, 1970
Recorded = Spring - Summer 1970
Genre = Folk rock, R&B
Length = 41:40
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Producer = Van Morrison
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4t6qoa8abijx link]
*Robert Christgau (A) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Van+Morrison link]
*"Rolling Stone" (favorable) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/203927/rid/5941638/ link]
Last album = "Moondance"
(1970)
This album = "His Band and the Street Choir"
(1970)
Next album = "Tupelo Honey"
(1971)
Misc = Singles
Name =His Band and the Street Choir
Type =studio
Single 1 =Domino" b/w "Sweet Jannie
Single 1 date =November 1970
Single 2 =Blue Money" b/w "Call Me Up in Dreamland" (Europe)/"Sweet Thing" (North America)
Single 2 date =February 1971
Single 3 =Call Me Up in Dreamland" b/w "Street Choir
Single 3 date =June 1971
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"His Band and the Street Choir" is Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's fourth solo album, released in 1970. The album was originally to be called "Virgo's Fool". [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.119]

In America the album was as well received as "Moondance" upon its release, mainly through its sampler single "Domino", which topped "Brown Eyed Girl" as a Top Ten single. [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.120] Two other singles from the album were produced. Although they were less successful, they still charted in the Top 100.

"Domino" remains the only song on the album to have been included in any compilation album by Morrison." [ [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e Van Morrison Official Website] ]

Recording

The production of the album started in spring 1970.cite book |author=Heylin |title=Can You Feel the Silence? |pages=p.520 ] Morrison re-entered the studio in the summer to re-record portions and complete the album.cite book |author=Heylin |title=Can You Feel the Silence? |pages=p.520 ] Five songs from the second recording session featured "the Street Choir".cite book |author=Heylin |title=Can You Feel the Silence? |pages=p.520 ] He was unsatisfied with some of the recordings, most notably the song, "Street Choir", of which he did a last minute reworking. [Heylin. "Can You Feel the Silence?", p.242] Morrison has been quoted as saying: "It was originally a concept to do an a cappella album,...Street Choir was going to be an a capella group. I wanted these guys to form an a cappella group so that I could cut a lot of songs with just maybe one guitar. But it didn't turn out."cite book |author=Collis |title=Inarticulate Speech of the Heart |pages=p.122 ] Three musicians were brought back from the "Moondance" sessions: Jack Schroer; John Platania and John Klingberg. Drummer Dahaud Shaar was a survivor from the "Moondance" tour, but he did not play on the album itself. [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.111] Also returning from "Moondance" is the backing vocal trio of Emily Houston, Judy Clay and Jackie Verdell, who sing on "If I Ever Needed Someone". Morrison's then wife, Janet (Planet) Rigsbee, also sang on the album, but as part of "the Street Choir". (She designed the album and wrote sleeve notes as well.) Janet was not a professional singer, but a model and actress. The wives of two members of Morrison's band also sang as part of "the Street Choir" — Martha Velez (Keith Johnson) and Ellen Schroer (Jack Schroer). The rest of the choir were friends of Morrison's that were living around the Woodstock area.cite book |author=Rogan |title=No Surrender |pages=p.257 ]

ongs

"Domino" reached #9 in the American Pop Singles Chart. Brian Hinton believes that the song is a tribute to Fats Domino.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] A flute part was originally written for the song, but was dropped because it was considered too complex.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] "Crazy Face" namechecks Jesse James. Biographer John Collis believes the song is "an intriguing character sketch, as elusive as "Madame George", with some stunning work by Jack Schroer." [Collis. "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart", p.123] The tenor saxophone solo is in fact credited to Morrison himself, not Schroer. "Give Me a Kiss" has the "innocence of the early Beatles set to a rolling beat."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] It ends with Morrison asking: "Is that a take?". One of the band members must have made a mistake during the song because he then says, "don't worry about that" which was also picked up by the microphone. "I've Been Working" is an upbeat funk number, popular with Morrison in concert in the 1970s and is featured in two of his live albums. "Call Me Up in Dreamland" is about life on the road, "with 'radio' as a verb, and laughing sax."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] A live version of the song was later recorded and released as a B-side on Morrison's 1999 single "Precious Time". "I'll Be Your Lover, Too" is one of two songs on the album, ("Virgo Clowns" is the other) to have been cut with a four piece band: Morrison; Klingberg; Platania and Shaar. Brian Hinton describes the song as "a slow acoustic wallow with Van's voice drenched in emotion."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] The song was featured in two movies, "Proof of Life" (2000) and "Moonlight Mile" (2002). [web cite| url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607341/|title=Van Morrison filmography|publisher=imdb.com|accessdate=2008-09-02] "Blue Money" is perhaps about a "top shelf magazine model", according to Brian Hinton who also says: "The music sounds like Georgie Fame and the Blue Frames, boozy horns and a nonsensical chorus."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] In "Virgo Clowns": Morrison and John Platania duet on acoustic guitars. A bass clarinet plays the bass lines.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] (Laughter follows.) The song was originally called "(Sit Down) Funny Face" but for the album release the name was changed. [Heylin. "Can You Feel the Silence?", p.240] On "Gypsy Queen", Morrison sings falsetto and Dahaud Shaar's vibraphone imitates a music box at both the beginning and end of the song. "Sweet Jannie", after "Give Me a Kiss" is the second twelve bar blues on the album. The song is about young love and is perhaps referring to Morrison's then-wife Janet. [web cite| date=1971-02-04|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/203927/review/5941638|title=His Band and the Street Choir Music Review|publisher=Rolling Stone Magazine|accessdate=2008-09-02] Although with the lyrics: "I've been in love with you baby/Ever since you were in Sunday school" it is more likely that the song was written about memories from Morrison's childhood, attending Sunday school at the Brethren Gospel Hall in Belfast. [Heylin. "Can You Feel the Silence?", p.9] (Janet was brought up in America.) Hinton says..."'If I Ever Needed Someone' is sweet and mournful, with Van wringing real need out of the simple words."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ] In "Street Choir" Morrison repeats the questions, "Why did you leave America/Why did you let me down/And now that things are better off/Why do you come around". Brian Hinton describes the lyrics as "perversely bitter".cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.122-123 ]

ingles

"Domino" was the first of three singles released from the album, charting at #9 in November 1970. In February the following year "Blue Money" reached #23 in the Hot 100, and in June "Call Me Up in Dreamland" charted at #95. Biographer John Collis has said: "Suddenly, Morrison was now a consistent hit maker." He believed that this was because "All three songs are built around catchy riffs, the basic requirements of Top 40 radio."cite book |author=Collis |title=Inarticulate Speech of the Heart |pages=p.122 ]

Critical response

Rolling Stone reviewer Jon Landau has said:

ZigZag magazine reviewer John Tobler said this about the album "even if it's inferior to "Moondance", it is still better than eighty per cent of the records you've got in your collection." [Yorke. "Into The Music", p.88]

Biographer Brian Hinton believes that "His Band and the Street Choir" is "vaguely reminiscent of Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline". [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.122]

Album cover and sleeve photography

The gatefold shots of Morrison surrounded by the group of musicians with their wives and children were taken at a party for Planet's son Peter and were dismissed by the singer as "rubbish".cite book |author=Rogan |title=No Surrender |pages=p.257 ] Johnny Rogan: "Far worse was the visionary style front cover which included a hilarious image of Morrison in a full-length kaftan."cite book |author=Rogan |title=No Surrender |pages=p.257 ] Morrison had complained about the stereotypical front cover by saying:

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison.

ide one

#"Domino" – 3:06
#"Crazy Face" – 2:56
#"Give Me a Kiss (Just One Sweet Kiss)" – 2:30
#"I've Been Working" – 3:25
#"Call Me Up in Dreamland" – 3:52
#"I'll Be Your Lover, Too" – 3:57

ide two

#"Blue Money" – 3:40
#"Virgo Clowns" – 4:10
#"Gypsy Queen" – 3:16
#"Sweet Jannie" – 2:11
#"If I Ever Needed Someone" – 3:45
#"Street Choir" – 4:43

Personnel

*Van Morrison - guitar, harmonica, tenor saxophone, vocal
*Judy Clay - backing vocals on "If I Ever Needed Someone"
*Alan Hand - piano, organ
*Emily Houston - backing vocals on "If I Ever Needed Someone"
*Keith Johnson - trumpet, organ
*John Klingberg - bass
*John Platania - electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
*Jack Schroer - soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones, piano
*Dahaud Shaar - drums, percussion, bass clarinet, backing vocals
*Jackie Verdell - backing vocals on "If I Ever Needed Someone"

The Street Choir
*Larry Goldsmith
*Janet Planet
*Andrew Robinson
*Ellen Schroer
*Dahaud Shaar
*Martha Velez

Production

*Producer: Van Morrison
*Asst. Producer: Dahaud Shaar
*Production Coordinator: Elliot Schiener
*Engineer: Elliot Schiener
*Assisting Engineers: Dixon Van Winkle, Ed Anderson, Mark Harman, Richard Lubash
*CD Pre-Mastering: WCI Record Group
*Photography: David Gahr
*Album Design: Janet Planet
*Remastering: Tim Young, Walter Samuel
*Absolutely Instrumental: Bob Cato
*Special Thanks: Ed Anderson, Larry Goldsmith, Jim Jones, Mary Martin and the coffee at A&R

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Notes

References

*Hinton, Brian (1997). "Celtic Crossroads": The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
*Rogan, Johnny (2006). "Van Morrison:No Surrender", London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
*Heylin, Clinton (2003). "Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography", Chicago Review Press, ISBN 1-55652-542-7
*Collis, John (1996). "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart", Little Brown and Company, ISBN 0-306-80811-0
*Yorke, Ritchie (1975). "Into The Music", London:Charisma Books, ISBN 0-85947-013-X

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e Lyrics and audio samples] His Band and the Street Choir 1970s
* [http://www.rickmcgrath.com/morrison2.html Van Morrison interview on the "Street Choir" tour]