Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece (LP)
- LP
- 1 piece(s)
- 1974
- 12 tracks
- 56 min
Veedon Fleece
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4.4
Average of 30 reviews
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Mind-blowing pressing, truly knocked my socks off. Phenomenal tracks, top-notch musicianship...a truly fantastic record.
Alright, let's tackle the not-so-great news first, or perhaps I should say, the intriguing news ... Van Morrison has never been renowned for his captivating album covers, in fact, his "Hard Nose The Highway" might just be one of the worst album covers of all time. I'm utterly baffled by what he's trying to express with this hand-colored image of himself and two Irish Wolfhounds, reminiscent of an old-fashioned portrait, rather than a young artist aiming to pioneer new musical territory. Despite this, according to Mr. Morrison, the cover is brimming with mysticism and hidden meanings, reflecting obscure facets of his life during that period. The Sutton House Hotel, visible in the background, is actually a converted mansion overlooking Dublin Bay, where Van stayed upon his arrival in Ireland for a holiday. There have been numerous interpretations regarding the Veedon Fleece, a cryptic and mysterious object that appears in the album title and in the lyrics of the song “You Don’t Pull No Punches, But You Don’t Push The River.” I believe that the Veedon Fleece, as perceived by Morrison, symbolizes wisdom, spiritual enlightenment, love, and an artistic vision ... one might even see it as a sort of Irish Holy Grail, a quest Morrison was on for various reasons. This is Van Morrison's eighth studio album, recorded shortly after his divorce from Janet Rigsbee. It appears that Morrison was plunging headfirst into everything during this time, as he returned to Ireland with his new fiancée Carol Guida quite swiftly, seeking inspiration and aiming to leave his past behind. His decision must have been a good one, because he wrote and recorded nearly all of the tracks in just under four weeks. Initially, the album was largely overlooked, even to the point of being ignored ... and to that end, Morrison has only performed five of the songs from the album in concert. Both Melody Maker and Rolling Stone published quite harsh and dismissive reviews, though Rolling Stone, in a biography of Morrison, praises the album as “The culmination of everything Van was doing up to that point, all Celtic mystic tumult in vocals and pastoral beauty in the music ... ranking among his most majestic music.” Which, I must admit, leaves me somewhat perplexed, as that quote doesn't seem to convey much more than the obvious; though the album was a significant departure from the R&B style he was known for. If you were to ask me, I’d say that for the most part Morrison was channeling these songs, as if they’d been residing in his mind, and he just needed the right atmosphere and time in his life, for them to take shape and see the light of day. I’m not going to say that Veedon Fleece is an easy album to listen to, in fact, there are only three songs that truly stand out for me ... but in the same breath, one must appreciate Veedon Fleece as an ambitious adventure, inexhaustible, inspiring, intellectually challenging, and eclectic ... ranking right up there with the musical statements that Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was trying to make. And like Brian, it would take years for people to be able to appreciate this genuine piece of original music. Van has dipped back into this musical style from time to time on individual songs, but never as the conceptual product found here. I think that even Mr. Morrison found this album demanding ... I know that when I finish playing it, I almost demand silence, as if there’s a palpable thickness to the air which must settle out before I can do just about anything else. Oh, and to a fan, when questioned about the album’s title, Morrison said, ”It doesn’t mean anything, I made it all up myself.”
Amazing music / album, that green vinyl and the gorgeous artwork, just enhance the whole experience. I reckon VMP puts out some really cool releases overall.
This here's a top-notch singer-songwriter record hailing from the '70s, firmly rooted in the folk genre. It's an absolute must-have for any desert island playlist, in my humble opinion.
Here's an absolutely fantastic singer-songwriter record from the 70's, falling right into the folk category. I'd call this one a true desert island pick without a doubt.
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