Musical Moment: The greatest version of one of Van Morrison's greatest songs.
"Angeliou" featuring a singer with an angelic voice.
There are days when I wonder if I would have made it as long as I have in my life without having Van Morrison to listen to when things get rough. I know I am not the only one.
I’ve only seen him in person twice. The first time was in Berkeley, at the old Keystone on University Avenue, now long gone. It was in the early 1970s and Morrison had recently released “St. Dominic’s Preview,” featuring “Jackie Wilson Said” and “Listen to the Lion.” We stood, there were no seats, we were young, it was not a problem.
The second time was maybe 15 years ago when Morrison played at L’Olympia in Paris. The vibe was different, he was in a bad mood, especially when audience members vocalized in any way (always a peeve of his), but there were many superb moments. At one point, I levitated out of my seat at least a half inch. I’ve never met a Van Morrison fan who did not believe me or did not understand what I experienced.
I have about 30 Van Morrison CDs in my collection, and I often change my mind about which is the best. But the song “Angeliou” is one of my favorites and listening to it gets the old levitation going. Above is what I think is the greatest version ever, from a live performance in New Jersey in 1979.
As a bonus, below is a terrific live performance of “Philosopher’s Stone.” My favorite line in the song:
“Even my best friends, even my best friends they don't know
That my job is turning lead into gold.”
Enjoy.
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