Wavelength (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Wavelength


Caption =
Artist = Van Morrison
from Album = Wavelength
A-side = "Wavelength"
B-side = "Checkin' It Out"
Released = October 1978
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =Pop rock
Length =5:44
Label = Mercury
Writer = Van Morrison
Producer = Van Morrison
Certification =
Chart position = 42 US
Last single = "Moondance"
(1977)
This single = "Wavelength"
(1978)
Next single = "Natalia"
(1979)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Wavelength
Type = studio
prev_track = "Lifetimes"
prev_no = 5
this_track = "Wavelength"
track_no = 6
next_track = "Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession"
next_no = 7multi-listen item
filename=Van Morrison-Wavelength.ogg
title="Wavelength"
description=Van Morrison, "Wavelength" (1978)
format=Ogg"Wavelength" is the title song from the 1978 album of Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Released as a single in 1978, it reached #42 in the US. [ [http://www.vanmorrison.net/discography/ixb-singles.html#below Van Morrison Unofficial website] single chart positions]

The most important contribution to the music was made by Peter Bardens who played the 1970s synthesizers. It was a very popular late 70s concert tune as performed by the "Wavelength" band that Morrison assembled to promote the album. Brian Hinton feels it is "a love song about the mysterious and unspoken communication between a couple" and also refers to the singer's adolescent years when he would listen to the Voice of America and the sounds of his favorite artists such as Ray Charles singing "Come back baby, come back". [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p.211]

It was rated at #253 on Dave Marsh's 1989 book, "The Heart of Rock and Soul, The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever [web cite |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/dmarsh_1001.htm |title= Dave Marsh the 1001 greatest Singles Ever |publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk |accessdate=2007-04-08] .

Appearances on other albums ,videos and DVDs

*"Wavelength" was the opening track on the 1980 disc of the 2006 DVD by Van Morrison entitled "Live At Montreux 1980/1974".
*It is one of the hits re-mastered in 2007 that has been included on the compilation album, "Still on Top - The Greatest Hits".
*"Wavelength" is also one of the songs performed in 1979, on Morrison's first video "Van Morrison in Ireland", released in 1981.

Personnel on original release

*Van Morrison: acoustic guitar, alto saxophone, vocals
*Peter Bardens: synthesizer, piano, organ
*Ginger Blake: backing vocals
*Laura Creamer: backing vocals
*Linda Dillard: backing vocals
*Mickey Feat: bass guitar
*Bobby Tench: guitar, backing vocals
*Peter Van Hooke: drums

Covers

A cover version of the song was recorded by The Mabels.

Notes

References

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

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio sample] 1970s, Wavelength
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:gpfrxzlaldfe Allmusic Review: Wavelength song]
* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=bcdf0ba5fecbc0ef8494bf0c7a15c7dc# Video: Wavelength, 2008]