Enlightenment (album)

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


Released = October 1990
Recorded = February 1990
Genre = Celtic, Folk-rock
Length = 50:30
Label = Polydor
Producer = Van Morrison
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4bknu3t5an7k link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/169515/rid/5946901/ link]
*Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1647&name=Van+Morrison link]
Last album = "The Best of Van Morrison"
(1990)
This album = "Enlightenment"
(1990)
Next album = "Hymns to the Silence"
(1991)
Misc = Singles
Name =Enlightenment
Type =studio
Single 1 =Real Real Gone" b/w "Start All Over Again
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =In the Days Before Rock 'N' Roll" b/w "I'd Love to Write Another Song
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =Enlightenment b/w "Avalon of the Heart
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"Enlightenment" is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music). It reached No. 5 on the UK charts.

The July 01, 2008 re-issued and re-mastered version of the album contains an alternative takes of "Enlightenment" and "So Quiet in Here". [web cite |url=http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=9e7f77a8944fa52fb858a13add2752e0 |publisher=vanmorrison.co.uk |title=Catalogue reissues-second series |accessdate=2008-08-04]

Recording history

The album was recorded in London England and Real World in Box. The arrangements were by Fiachra Trench and Micheal O'Suilleabhain played piano with a brass section made up of British jazz musicians from the late sixties: Frank Ricotti, Henry Lowther and Malcolm Griffiths.One of the songs "So Quiet in Here" was recorded at the Kirk, Rode, Somerset, a setting which served as both church or studio. [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, pp 292-293]

ongs

Contrary to the meaning of the title, the theme of the album is actually full of doubt and the songs seem to be saying that everything is what you make of it — heaven or hell. The song "Enlightenment" contains the words: "I'm in the here and now and I'm meditating/ And still I'm suffering but that's my problem/ Enlightenment, don't know what it is/". "So Quiet in Here" opens with foghorns blowing and is a continuation of the song "Into the Mystic" from the "Moondance" album. The single released from the album, "Real Real Gone" was originally written and meant for the 1980 album "Common One". [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, pp 293,294]

Track listing

All songs by Morrison unless noted otherwise.

#"Real Real Gone" – 3:43
#"Enlightenment" – 4:04
#"So Quiet in Here" – 6:09
#"Avalon of the Heart" – 4:45
#"See Me Through" – 6:13
#"Youth of 1,000 Summers" – 3:45
#"In the Days Before Rock'N'Roll" (Durcan, Morrison) – 8:13
#"Start All over Again" – 4:10
#"She's My Baby" – 5:14
#"Memories" – 4:14

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

#"Enlightenment" - 3:29 (alternative take)
#"So Quiet in Here" - 4:03 (alternative take)

Personnel

*Van Morrison - vocal, guitar, harmonica
*The Ambrosian Singers - backing vocals
*Dave Bishop - soprano and baritone saxophones
*Paul Durcan - spoken vocals
*Dave Early - drums
*Georgie Fame - electric piano, hammond organ, backing vocals
*Alex Gifford - synthesizers, piano
*Steve Gregory - tenor saxophone, flute
*Malcolm Griffiths - trombone
*Bernie Holland - guitar
*Henry Lowther - trumpet
*Brian Odgers - bass
*Micheal O'Suilleabhain - piano
*Steve Pearce - bass
*Frank Ricotti - vibraphone
*Steve Sanger - drums
*Steve Waterman - flugelhorn

Production

*Producer: Van Morrison
*Engineers: Mick Glossop, Steve Williams
*Mixing: Mick Glossop, Steve Williams
*String and Choir arrangements: Fiachra Trench
*Keyboard and Synth arrangements: Neil Drinkwater

Charts

'Album - UK Album Chart

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] 1990s, Enlightenment