Full Force Gale

Infobox Single
Name = Full Force Gale


Caption =
Artist = Van Morrison
from Album = Into the Music
A-side = "Full Force Gale"
B-side = "Bright Side of the Road"
Released = 1979
Format =
Recorded = Spring 1979
Genre =
Length = 3:14
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Writer = Van Morrison
Producer = Van Morrison
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Bright Side of the Road"
(1979)
This single = "Full Force Gale"
(1979)
Next single = "You Make Me Feel So Free"
(1980)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Into the Music
Type = studio
prev_track = "Bright Side of the Road"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Full Force Gale"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Steppin' Out Queen"
next_no = 3"Full Force Gale" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1979 album "Into the Music".As described by Brian Hinton, "'Full Force Gale' has the cheerful punch of the best gospel singing, and sees Van 'lifted up by the Lord'...as with Wordsworth, the divine is perceived not through religious teachings but through nature.." [Hinton, (1997). p.220] When biographer Steve Turner asked the singer about the theme of rebirth that occurs quite often in his songs, Morrison answered, "I wrote a song called 'Full Force Gale' in which I said 'No matter where I roam/I will find my way back home/I will always return to the Lord'. That answers it for me. No matter what I might say at the present, that's my feeling about that." [Turner, (1993) p.142]

Allmusic's review calls it: "Essentially a brisk pop tune, Morrison sings it with great fervour and commitment, delivering simple couplets such as 'In the gentle evening breeze/In the whispering shady trees/I will find my sanctuary in the Lord' with immense skill. The arrangement is also magnificent, with the fiddle part a particular joy...."

Appearance on other albums

*"Full Force Gale" is also featured on the 1990 compilation album "The Best of Van Morrison".
*A live version appeared on the 1984 CD "Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast".
*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
*Herbie Armstrong: guitar
*Ry Cooder: slide guitar
*Pee Wee Ellis: tenor saxophone
*David Hayes: bass
*Mark Isham: trumpet
*Mark Jordan: piano
*Toni Marcus: violin
*Katie Kissoon: backing vocals
*Peter Van Hooke: drums

Covers

*Elvis Costello - his version appears on the 1994 tribute album, "" and also on Costello's own 1995 album, "Kojak Variety".

Notes

References

*Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
*Turner, Steve (1993). Too Late to Stop Now, Viking Penguin, ISBN 0-670-85147-7
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:0jfoxq9dldhe Allmusic review: Full Force Gale]

External links

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