Van Morrison
Van Morrison releases his new video “Only A Song” from his upcoming album, ‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ out on May 7, 2021 on Exile/BMG. Van Morrison’s upcoming double-album is set to be his 42nd studio set, and its lead single ‘Only A Song’ demonstrates that his distinctive flair for timeless blues, R&B, jazz and soul remains as singular as ever.
Anticipation for the album continues to mount as Morrison releases the animated video for ‘Only A Song’. It deploys simple yet stylish abstract animations to represent various elements of the song. The resulting video reflects snippets of lyrics (“In the wintry snow, when the penguins march along and go home”), elements of the instrumentation, and the scenic imagery it evokes.
The 28-track ‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ album spans everything from the saxophone-led R&B gem ‘Jealousy’ to the joyful, country-tinged ‘A Few Bars Early’ via the spirited Them-style garage rock of the self-explanatory ‘Stop Bitching, Do Something’. While it touches upon the romantic sentiment and late-night warmth that people love Morrison for, the overriding theme is a straight-talking commentary on contemporary life.
Both ‘Only A Song’ and the recent track ‘Latest Record Project’ are provided as instant downloads to fans who pre-order the album here. ‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ will be released on double-CD, deluxe-CD, triple-vinyl and digital formats.
Listen to “Only A Song”
Please visit www.vanmorrison.com for the latest updates and ticket details for future live performances.
“I’m getting away from the perceived same songs, same albums all the time,” says Morrison. “This guy’s done 500 songs, maybe more, so hello? Why do you keep promoting the same ten? I’m trying to get out of the box.”
‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ is the result of our enforced period of isolation. Unable to tour, Morrison remained busy with constant songwriting, starting ideas on piano, guitar or saxophone. What emerged is a wealth of new material, which shimmers with a directness and vibrancy that comes from working with a rhythm section with whom he shares an immediate, spontaneous connection.
While the album touches upon the romantic sentiment and late-night warmth that people love him for, the overriding theme is a straight-talking commentary on contemporary life. It’s a stance that informs ‘Dead Beat Saturday Night’ as it addresses lockdown life in matter-of-fact style: “No life, no gigs, no choice, no voice.” It also surfaces in the barroom rock’n’roll of ‘Where Have All The Rebels Gone’, which bemoans the lack of real independent thought, so often replaced in the modern age by mere posturing. And as for Morrison’s views on social media? They are summed up on ‘Why Are You On Facebook?’.
Two songs, ‘Love Should Come With A Warning’ and ‘Mistaken Identity’, feature lyrics that were written with the great Don Black. Morrison approached Black after hearing something in his 1969 pop ballad ‘On Days Like These’, as sung by Matt Monro for the soundtrack to ‘The Italian Job’, which reminded him of his own style. It led to Black writing ‘Mistaken Identity’, which, paradoxically, is the most autobiographical song on the album.
What ‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ most clearly demonstrates is this: if you want to really appreciate Van Morrison’s art listen to what he’s doing now, because he never stops.
‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ will be released on double-CD, deluxe-CD, triple-vinyl and digital formats. It’s now available to pre-order here, with the song ‘Latest Record Project’ provided to fans as an instant download.
Van Morrison Online
Thanks for the article, Martine! Enjoyed the video, too. I’ve learned not to bring any expectations to a Van Morrison project, but Only a Song bodes well.
I got to say I was surprised by this one. Van seems to have ridden himself of the marbles that seem to be in his mouth the last few albums.