Description
Avalon Sunset is an album by the Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison, released on Polydor Records in 1989. The album was recorded and mixed by Mick Glossop with Van Morrison producing. The album reached No. 13 on the UK album chart and features a hit duet with Cliff Richard, “Whenever God Shines His Light”, and the ballad “Have I Told You Lately”.
“When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God” was covered by Phil Keaggy on his classic 1993-release Crimson and Blue.
After years of flirting with spiritual themes on albums like ‘Inarticulate Speech of the Heart’ and ‘No Guru, No Method, No Teacher’, Van Morrison, the voice that gave us late ’60s/early ’70s hits like «Brown Eyed Girl», «Gloria», «Blue Money» and «Tupelo Honey», has made an honest to goodness gospel album with ‘Avalon Sunset’. Which is not to say that every track waxes theological, but opening with a fine duet with Cliff Richard on «Whenever God Shines His Light», Morrison establishes a window through which we might then see the world, a view brightened by faith and mercy.
«Contacting My Angel», finds Morrison seeing the spiritual through the experience of human love, much as he did on «She Gives Me Religion», «When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God», asks the question all of us on the path of faith have had to ask ourselves. «I’m Tired Joey Boy» calls out for that which elevates us in Christ: “Love of the simple is all that I need/ I’ve no time for schism or lovers of greed/ Go up to the mountain, go up to the glen/ When silence will touch you/ And heartbreak will mend.”
«Orangefield», «These Are the Days», «Coney Island» and «Have I Told You Lately» all express the beauty and depth of human experience which is to be deeply experienced as a gift from God, as he writes in «Daring Night» – “As we look up in awe and wonder at the heavens/ Oh and we go with the Lord of the dance.”
It would be a mistake to think of this as a pop or rock album (although no one who has experienced the fine voice and artistry of Morrison will be disappointed), it has a traditional feel, like an album of contemporary standards. That Van Morrison speaks as poetically about his desire to share that “I know God shines his light on me,” makes this a valuable offering to the community of believers and beyond. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, August 1989]
The music of Van Morrison has always been a soulful and sensual combination of spirituality, rhythm and blues and Celtic mysticism that has been unique in rock until the more recent contribution of artists like U2, which clearly tip their hat to his influence. The last ten years have seen Morrison grow more reclusive, rarely touring of performing live (although he is reported to have climbed on stage with Dylan in Greece on this year’s European tour). Yet, unlike other artists with a tendency toward the introverted, Morrison’s output has remained both prodigious and impressive. His last two recordings found him wading in musical waters unfamiliar to many pop audiences: mellow jazz (and I don’t mean new age) on ‘Poetic Champions Compose‘, with Morrison playing alto sax; and traditional music of his mother land with the Chieftains on ‘Irish Heartbeat’.
Many Christian have embraced Morrison’s art, but some remain skeptical. Perhaps his use of metaphor is too obscure for an audience used to lyrics phrase in terms of black and white. Whatever the case, it would be hard to imagine anyone having trouble with the thoughts expressed on ‘Avalon Sunset’, an album that features both a partial return to his unique brand of “Caledonia Soul” and Morrison’s most forthright Christian lyrics to date.
The album opens with «Whenever God Shines His Light», a duet with Cliff Richard (!), sporting sentiments like “Reach out for Him, He’ll be there/ With Him your troubles you can share” and “He heals the sick and heals the lame/ Says you can do it too in Jesus’ name.” No mixed singles there, folks. Polygram has even shipped the song as a single to Christian radio. Or how about «When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God?» Nothing terribly obscure about that title either. To tell you the truth though, I think I like Morrison a little more poetic than this, but if these songs serve to make new fans for Van the Man, so be it.
It would still be wrong to label this a gospel album, however. Morrison’s paeans to human love are as important as those to the Divine, and often portray it as a nearly redemptive experience. «Contacting My Angel», «Have I Told You Lately» and «Daring Night» are good examples of that here. «Coney Island» is almost a holdover from the last project, a recitation over traditionally flavored music, read in Morrison’s warm Irish brogue. All in all though nothing to frighten the fundamentalists, as the poet sings, “These are the days by the sparkling river/ His timely grace and our treasured find/ This is the love of the one great magician/ Turned water into wine,” and sails off into the ‘Avalon Sunset’. [Thom Granger, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 3, 1989 (Volume 4)]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/avalon-sunset/1838779015)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Whenever God Shines His Light” – 4:54
A2. “Contacting My Angel” – 4:58
A3. “I’d Love To Write Another Song” – 2:53
A4. “Have I Told You Lately” – 4:19
A5. “Coney Island” – 2:02
A6. “I’m Tired Joey Boy” – 2:30
Side Two
B1. “When Will I Ever Learn To Live In God” – 5:38
B2. “Orangefield” – 3:51
B3. “Daring Night” – 6:11
B4. “These Are The Days” – 5:11
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Polydor Records.
“Have I Told You Lately” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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