Best Van Morrison Songs - The RnB Scorchers

Van Morrison's diversity is one of the many qualities that make his songs and his records legendary. One of the genres he's frequented - and mastered - over the years is classic soul and RnB music. Classic blues and the rock-n-roll of the 1950s were clearly the foundation under his band, Them, that formed in Belfast in the early 1960s (they were, to me, the grittiest and hardest-rocking of all the British Invasion bands, but we'll get to that in another article). And in his ensuing solo career he often worked in the RnB idiom, and by the 1990s he could probably be best described as an RnB artist, especially in light of his live shows. Here's where to start for the best Van Morrison songs in classic RnB mode.

"Jackie Wilson Said" - Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)

After a brief vocal intro, the horns come a-blazing and the rhythm section kicks in with a flawless groove. Van is usually heralded as a great singer and songwriter, but his arrangements are rarely given proper recognition. This one is a great example of the thought and detail put into the songs. All of the stops, breakdowns, horn hits, etc. - those things don't just happen in rehearsal; they're put together and teased out of musicians by a visionary director. While I can't say Van himself sat down and worked out each part on his own or with his band, it's certain he had final say over the way things turned out live and on record.

"Bright Side of the Road" - Into the Music (1979)

You've heard it on a movie soundtrack, without a doubt, and for good reason. This one swings so light-heartedly and feels so infectious in yet another exquisite arrangement. It's impossible not to sing along with the ladies in the background, to hum along to the horns, and whistle along to Van's perfect harmonica solo. Most of the credit for the horns, it must be said, probably goes to Pee Wee Ellis, the James Brown veteran who brought such class to Van's early '80s records.

"I've Been Working" - His Band and the Street Choir (1970)

I have to say this is not one of my favorite Van Morrison songs, or even one of my favorite of his RnB tracks, but it's such a classic jam I have to include it. The groove is so intense and hypnotic and has inspired scores of cover versions. And take a moment to find a contemporary live version of this; they were sweat-drenched and epic.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.