A Period of Transition

A Period of Transition

Infobox Album | Name = A Period of Transition
Type = Album
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = April 1977
Recorded = Autumn 1976/early winter 1977
Genre = Folk rock, R&B
Length = 34:12
Label = Warner Brothers
Producer = Van Morrison, Dr. John
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2w0qoawabijp link]
*"Rolling Stone" (Not Rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/201341/rid/5946301/ link]
*Robert Christgau (B) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Van+Morrison link]
Last album = "Veedon Fleece"
(1974)
This album = "A Period of Transition"
(1977)
Next album = "Wavelength"
(1978)
Misc = Singles
Name =A Period of Transition
Type =studio
Single 1 =The Eternal Kansas City" b/w "Joyous Sound
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =Joyous Sound" b/w "Mechanical Bliss
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"A Period of Transition" is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison. Released in 1977, it was his first album in two and a half years, largely forgotten or looked over by most casual fans. At the time of its release it was received with some disappointment by critics and fans — "Most were hoping for a work of primeval vocal aggression that would challenge the emerging élite of Morrison pretenders, whose ranks included Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Phil Lynott, Graham Parker and Elvis Costello." [Rogan. "No Surrender", p.309] (Johnny Rogan) — Although it's still notable for several major compositions, including "Heavy Connection," "It Fills You Up," "The Eternal Kansas City" and "Cold Wind in August."

Morrison had appeared in "The Last Waltz" with Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) who was a co-producer on this album as well as playing keyboards and guitar.

One of the songs, "Flamingos Fly" was later covered by Sammy Hagar on his first solo album "Nine on a Ten Scale". [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.385]

Album cover

Morrison has said that the title of the album referred to its front cover. Photographer Ken Mcgowan captured Morrison in various reflective, introspective moods until he realises with a half smile in the last shot that all such moods are transitory. [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.197]

ongs

"You Gotta Make It Through the World" is according to Morrison, "a survival song". Dr. John felt that it had "a real spiritual sound".cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=p.198 ] "It Fills You Up" is an attempt by the singer to explain the inspirational spirit that is often found in his music. "The Eternal Kansas City" is according to Dr. John "the song that Van got the whole album hooked up around. It was a real deep thing for him to focus on. It goes from a real ethereal voice sound to a jazz introduction and then into a kind of chunky R & B."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=p.198 ] The song, "Joyous Sound" is described by Brian Hinton as "more like the real Van as he starts to wail and the lyrics describe themselves."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=p.198 ] Morrison said of the track, "Flamingos Fly", "I've done three versions in the studio. I've done it slow, a ballad version. I've done a mid-tempo version and I've done this version. This is the version I like best for release."cite book |author=Hinton |title=Celtic Crossroads |pages=p.198 ] "Heavy Connection" is said to be "psychic stuff" with the lyrics vague and secret but speaking of a love connection "when you came into my dreams/like from a whisper to a scream." The last song on the album is "Cold Wind in August". Dr. John describes it as a "cross current from forties to seventies music. It's like where Ray Charles left off. It's a real tear-jerker that gets back to the basics of music." [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads", p.199]

ong history

Clinton Heylin remarks on "Flamingos Fly" and "Joyous Sound": "Just seven songs were recorded [for the album] and two of these had already been cut at the Record Plant back in 1975." [Heylin. "Can You Feel the Silence?", p.317] Both of these versions were included on the 1998 compilation album, "The Philosopher's Stone". "Flamingos Fly" was also recorded in 1973 with Jackie DeShannon and appeared on her album "Jackie... Plus" along with three other songs from that recording session. It didn't take Morrison long to play the song in concert. — A week after the recording session, the song featured in a concert in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. That remains the only known live performance of the song. [cite web|url=http://ivan.vanomatic.de/|title=concerts|publisher=van.vanomatic.de|accessdate=2008-08-08]

Critical analysis

The [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2w0qoawabijp AllMusic] reviewer, Stephen Erlewine says the album is "warm, welcoming, infused with spirituality and humor. Still like any period of transition, this is somewhat tentative and uneven, with its best moments, being at best, minor masterpieces."

Biographer Steve Turner calls the album, "lethargic and uninspired" but says that perhaps it was the album Morrison needed to make after being largely absent from the music business for almost three years. — His only public performance during this time period was a highly acclaimed appearance on "The Last Waltz" with The Band in 1976. [cite web | url=http://theband.hiof.no/articles/lwgm.html Rolling Stone Magazine | title=The Bands Last Waltz | publisher=Rolling Stone Magazine online | accessdate=2008-08-27] Expectations were high and Morrison has admitted to working at his best when not under the pressure of high expectations from the industry and fans. In June 1977, he explained his feelings about this:

Reissue and remastered album

In September 2008, Exile/Polydor will release this album as part of batch three of the four catalogue reissues of Morrison's albums dated from 1971 through 2002.

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison unless noted.

ide one

# "You Gotta Make It Through the World" – 5:10
# "It Fills You Up" – 4:34
# "The Eternal Kansas City" – 5:26

ide two

# "Joyous Sound" – 2:48
# "Flamingos Fly" – 4:41
# "Heavy Connection" – 5:23
# "Cold Wind in August" – 5:48

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

# "The Street Only Knew Your Name" (alternative take)
# "Didn't He Ramble" (???)

Personnel

* Van Morrison: acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, harmonica
* Ollie E. Brown: drums, percussion
* Marlo Henderson: guitar
* Jerry Jumonville: tenor and alto saxophones
* Reggie McBride: bass
* Joel Peskin: baritone saxophone
* Mac Rebennack (Dr. John): piano, electric piano and guitar on "It Fills You Up"
* Mark Underwood: trumpet
* Robbie Montgomery, Roger Kennerly-Saint, Gregory Wright, Carlena Williams, Paulette Parker, Candy Nash, Toni McVey, Gary Garrett and Joe Powell: backing vocals

Production

*Producers: Van Morrison, Dr. John
*Engineer: Gary Ladinsky
*Assistant Engineers: Mike Beiriger, Richard Kaplan, Bart Johnson, Mick Glossop
*Art Direction/Design: Mike Doud-AGI Hollywood
*Photography: Ken McGowan
*Management: Harvey Goldsmith
*Cover Concept: Van Morrison

Charts

Album - Billboard

Album - UK Album Chart

Notes

References

*Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
*Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
*Turner, Steve (1993). Too Late to Stop Now, Viking Penguin, ISBN 0-670-85147-7
*Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio Samples] 1970s, A Period of Transition


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