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BECOMING VAN MORRISON: IT’S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW, 1973-1974
The third volume of Howard A. DeWitt's in depth Van Morrison biography takes the reader into a nineteen month period from 1973 thru 1974 while Van was recovering from a divorce. He reorganized is career at every level. New management! New songwriting! New musicians! New experimental small club shows! A New sophisticated business structure! This began his increasingly literary songwriting. He carried his vision to Warner Bros. refusing to record pop hits. He demanded production control. Van fought the industry and a major record label. He won. He was only in his late twenties. Marin county was where he crafted his shows. It was in small Marin county clubs where he became the musical genius he is today. As Van talked with, auditioned with, played with, and hung out with more than a hundred Marin musicians, he molded these influences into a unique songwriting-performing package that is the present day Van Morrison. He intensified his writings into new philosophical, literary, religious and spiritual subjects. A new Van Morrison emerged. One who was business minded with the thoughts of a philosopher.
We meet a man who is determined to play the role of the contrarian while living up to expectations of a demanding fan base. This took his art into previously unknown directions. There was no creative downtime in this nineteen month period. A 24/7 approach to his career saw Van organize two talented instrumental backing groups; the Caledonia Soul Orchestra and the Caledonia Soul Express, which set the standard for his live performances. He often left his best songs off albums thereby beginning the process of storing his vast recording output.
In concert, Morrison is never predictable but always brilliant. He recreates his songs at every show much like the old time blues artists. In this 19 month period in Marin County at local clubs like the Inn of The Beginning or the Lion’s Share, he perfected a blues approach to his material. John Lee Hooker often was in the house.
The albums reveal the inner genius of a writer whose lyrics draw upon his Northern Irish heritage with a touch of American music interpreted through Marin County. No one had the lyrical imagery of Van Morrison. He was an artist who refused to be limited by his past. He brought together blues, soul, rhythm and blues, country, skiffle and jazz influences into his vast songwriting catalogue.
We meet a man who is determined to play the role of the contrarian while living up to expectations of a demanding fan base. This took his art into previously unknown directions. There was no creative downtime in this nineteen month period. A 24/7 approach to his career saw Van organize two talented instrumental backing groups; the Caledonia Soul Orchestra and the Caledonia Soul Express, which set the standard for his live performances. He often left his best songs off albums thereby beginning the process of storing his vast recording output.
In concert, Morrison is never predictable but always brilliant. He recreates his songs at every show much like the old time blues artists. In this 19 month period in Marin County at local clubs like the Inn of The Beginning or the Lion’s Share, he perfected a blues approach to his material. John Lee Hooker often was in the house.
The albums reveal the inner genius of a writer whose lyrics draw upon his Northern Irish heritage with a touch of American music interpreted through Marin County. No one had the lyrical imagery of Van Morrison. He was an artist who refused to be limited by his past. He brought together blues, soul, rhythm and blues, country, skiffle and jazz influences into his vast songwriting catalogue.
774 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2023
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