Wavelength (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Wavelength
Type = Album
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = September, 1978
Recorded = Spring 1978
Genre = Pop rock, R&B
Length = 49:32
Label = Mercury
Producer = Van Morrison
Reviews =
Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9nen97i7krkt link]

Rolling Stone (Not Rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/167109/rid/5945515/ link]

Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Van+Morrison link]
Last album = "A Period of Transition"
(1977)
This album = "Wavelength"
(1978)
Next album = "Into the Music"
(1979)
Misc = Singles
Name =Wavelength
Type =studio
Single 1 =Wavelength" b/w "Checkin' it Out
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =Natalia" b/w "Lifetimes
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =Kingdom Hall" b/w "Checkin' it Out
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"Wavelength" is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1978. The album had a different atmosphere from his previous albums, as it had a more pop oriented sound due to his heavy use of electric guitars and synthesizers. Bobby Tench and Peter Bardens were given special credit as "Special Assistance in Production." [Rogan, No Surrender, p. 315]

The January 29, 2008 re-issued and re-mastered version of the album contains live takes on the songs, "Wavelength" and "Kingdom Hall" that were performed at the Roxy Theatre on November 26, 1978. [ [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=9e7f77a8944fa52fb858a13add2752e0 Van Morrison Official Website] ]

Album's cover

The cover on the album was by photographer Norman Seeff (associated with Joni Mitchell's album sleeves) and shows Morrison for once almost smiling and looking James Dean like dressed in tight white trousers smoking a cigarette down to the butt.

Recording history

"Wavelength" was recorded at the Manor in Oxfordshire England over several months time and then completed at Shangri-la studios in America. Morrison had brought together musicians that represented almost all phases of his musical history: Herbie Armstrong from his showband days in Belfast, Peter Bardens from Them, Garth Hudson from The Band and Peter Van Hooke from the mid-70s. [Rogan, No Surrender, p.315]

ongs

The songs on this album also recall various stages of Morrison's life, starting with the album opener, "Kingdom Hall" which reflected back to his childhood in Belfast when he attended services with his mother, a practicing Jehovah's Witness at one time.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.210-212 ] "Checking It Out" is about a relationship going wrong and being rescued by "guides and spirits along the way".cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.210-212 ] "Natalia", "Venice USA" and "Lifetimes" are love songs. "Wavelength" was about fond memories of his adolescence, listening to the Voice of America.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.210-212 ] "Santa Fe" which he wrote with Jackie DeShannon in 1973, is Morrison's first ever collaboration to appear on an album. It segues into "Beautiful Obsession", which was first played in concert in 1971, [cite web|url=http://ivan.vanomatic.de/|title=concerts|publisher=van.vanomatic.de|accessdate=2008-08-31] although a studio version of the song is not known to have been recorded in that time period. [Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence? p.520] "Hungry For Your Love" appeared in the hit 1982 movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" and has become one of the more enduringly popular songs on the album along with the title song. Morrison plays electric piano on this song accompanied by Herbie Armstrong's acoustic guitar.cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=pp.210-212 ] Morrison also included "Hungry For Your Love" on his 2007 compilation album "Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits".

Aftermath

It quickly became the fastest selling album that Morrison had recorded at that time and went gold within three months. Melody Maker reviewed the album as evidence of Morrison's "drift into the American dream." Morrison denied that the songs were anything but about personal experience, and were not about the country. [Rogan, No Surrender, p. 316] (Relocating to Europe within a few years, his work during the 1980s would not be so "radio friendly" and so easily accessible to the casual listener.)With the success of the album, Morrison assembled a Wavelength band to promote it that was similar in many ways to the abandoned The Caledonia Soul Orchestra of "It's Too Late to Stop Now" fame.

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison except as noted.

ide one

#"Kingdom Hall" – 5:59
#"Checkin' It Out" – 3:29
#"Natalia" – 4:04
#"Venice U.S.A." – 6:32
#"Lifetimes" – 4:15

ide two

#"Wavelength" – 5:44
#"Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession" (Jackie De Shannon/Morrison) – 7:04
#"Hungry for Your Love" – 3:45
#"Take It Where You Find It" – 8:40

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

#"Wavelength" – 6:07 (Live at the Roxy Theatre, LA , Nov 26, 1978)
#"Kingdom Hall" – 6:05 (Live at the Roxy Theatre, LA, Nov 26, 1978)

Personnel

*Van Morrison: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric piano, alto saxophone, backing vocals
*Herbie Armstrong: rhythm guitars, backing vocals
*Peter Bardens: piano, organ, synthesizer
*Ginger Blake: backing vocals
*Laura Creamer: backing vocals
*Mitch Dalton: acoustic guitar
*Linda Dillard: backing vocals
*Mickey Feat: bass
*Garth Hudson: organ, synthesizer, accordion
*Bobby Tench: guitar, backing vocals
*Peter Van Hooke: drums
*Kuma: bass

2008 reissue

*Katie Kissoon: backing vocals
*Anna Peacock: backing vocals

Production

*Producer: Van Morrison
*Engineer: Mick Glossop

Charts

Album - Billboard

Album - UK Album Chart

amples

multi-listen item
filename=Van Morrison-Wavelength.ogg
title="Wavelength"
description=Van Morrison, "Wavelength" (1978)
format=Oggmulti-listen item
filename=Van Morrison-Kingdom Hall.ogg
title="Kingdom Hall"
description=Van Morrison, "Wavelength" (1978)
format=Oggmulti-listen item
filename=Van Morrison-Natalia-Wavelength-1978.ogg
title="Natalia"
description=Van Morrison, "Wavelength" (1978)
format=Ogg

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

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio Samples] 1970s, Wavelength