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Van Morrison looks back over his long career in a series of interviews with Leo Green.

Another chance to hear the great Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison looking back at his life and work in conversation with Leo Green, first broadcast in 2016.

This second episode of four takes in Van's early life as a solo musician, and in particular his debut solo album, the classic Astral Weeks.

Recorded over three days with legendary jazz musicians, Astral Weeks (1968) is a still singular album, combining street poetry, jazz improvisation, Celtic invocation and Afro Celtic Blues wailing. Morrison would weave these and myriad other influences into the albums that followed in quick succession.

Reflecting on new life in America on the joyous Sinatra soul of Moondance (1970) and the country inflected Tupelo Honey (1971), he summoned old spiritual and ancestral life in the epic St Dominic's Preview (1972) closer track Listen to the Lion.

Steering his own course throughout the 80s on albums such as No Guru, No Method, No Teacher, he claimed Celtic roots with The Chieftains on Irish Heartbeat. Teaming with Georgie Fame brought new impetus to his live show while Avalon Sunset saw him back in the album and single charts by the decade's end.

Van Morrison continued to advance on his status as a game-changing artist through the 90s and into the 21st century.

Awards and accolades - a Brit, an OBE, an Ivor Novello, 6 Grammys, honorary doctorates from Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster, entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the French Ordres des Artes et des Lettres - attest to the international reach of Van's musical art.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 16 May 2019 01:00

Music Played

  • Van Morrison

    BRIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD

    • BEST OF VAN MORRISON.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 841-970-1.
  • Van Morrison

    Moondance

    • MOONDANCE.
    • WB RECORDS.
    • 246-040.
  • Van Morrison

    Brown Eyed Girl

    • The Early Years 67-68.
    • Metro.
    • METRCD-017.
  • Van Morrison

    HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY

    • AVALON SONSET.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 839-262-2.
  • Van Morrison

    Astral Weeks

    • ASTRAL WEEKS.
    • WARNER.
    • 246-024.
  • Van Morrison

    GLAD TIDINGS

    • MOONDANCE.
    • WARNER.
    • 7599-273262.
  • Van Morrison

    Why Must I Always Explain

    • HYMNS TO THE SILENCE.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 8490264.
  • Van Morrison

    If I Ever Needed Somone

    • ASTRAL WEEKS.
    • WARNER BROS..
    • 246-024.
  • Van Morrison

    St Dominic's Preview

    • SULT: SPIRIT OF THE MUSIC.
    • HUMMINGBIRD RECORDS.
    • N/A-01.
  • Van Morrison

    BULBS

    • VEEDON FLEECE.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 839 164-2.
  • Van Morrison

    CLEANING WINDOWS

    • THE BEST OF VAN MORRISON.
    • POLYDOR.
    • 841 970-2.
  • John Lennon

    #9 Dream

    • Calderstone.
  • Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew

    The Show

    • COOLTEMPO.
  • Cassius

    Action (feat. Mike D & Cat Power)

    • Polydor/Interscope.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 29 Jan 2015 22:00
  • Wed 28 Sep 2016 01:00
  • Wed 23 May 2018 01:00
  • Thu 16 May 2019 01:00