Poetic Champions Compose

Infobox Album | Name = Poetic Champions Compose
Type = Album
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = September 1987
Recorded = Summer 1987
Townhouse Studios, London and The Wool Hall, Beckington
Genre = Celtic, Folk-rock
Length = 47:45
Label = Mercury
Producer = Van Morrison
Reviews =
Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o6jwear04xs7 link]

Rolling Stone (Not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/174300/rid/5940409/ link]

Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Van+Morrison link]
Last album = "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher"
(1986)
This album = "Poetic Champions Compose"
(1987)
Next album = "Irish Heartbeat"
(1988)
Misc = Singles
Name =Poetic Champions Compose
Type =studio
Single 1 =Did Ye Get Healed?" b/w "Allow Me
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =Someone Like You" b/w "Celtic Excavation
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =Queen of the Slipstream" b/w "Spanish Steps
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"Poetic Champions Compose" is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1987.) As described by Brian Hinton: "It is an album which is more than the sum of its parts, exuding an overall sense of calm and optimism." [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p. 265]

ongs

It was originally intended to be an album of wholly jazz instrumental works but Morrison said that as lyrics began to come into his mind, he abandoned the idea. Nonetheless, each side of the album opened with an instrumental, "Spanish Steps" and "Celtic Excavation"; it closed with another, "Allow Me". Morrison's philosophy reading list was evident in "Alan Watts Blues" and Socrates and Plato were mentioned on "I Forgot That Love Existed". Rudolph Steiner's pronouncement about the importance of "thinking with the heart and feeling with the mind" was included in the lyrics also. Fiachra Trench played a string and woodwind arrangement on "The Mystery" which was spiritual in nature. Two love songs that have had a continuing popularity were "Queen of the Slipstream" and the popular movie soundtrack hit, "Someone Like You". [Rogan, No Surrender, p. 367] The only song that was not penned by Morrison was the traditional "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child", the subject of which is a man waiting for the Kingdom of God. Brian Hinton writes, "It is 'Mother Ireland' whom Van is missing and his world weary vocals are like sobs of pain." [Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p. 268] "Give Me My Rapture" and "Did Ye Get Healed?" were powerful and optimistic statements of the deep spiritual priorities in his music.

Van Morrison on recording mood

Morrison has said, "Psychologists will tell you that artists have to be in a state of despair before they produce great work, but I don't think that ....In my case I know it doesn't create better work. I produce better work if I'm content. I can't create that feeling if I'm in a state of conflict." [Rogan, No Surrender, p. 367-368]

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 by Van Morrison except as noted.

ide one

#"Spanish Steps" – 5:20
#"The Mystery" – 5:16
#"Queen of the Slipstream" – 4:55
#"I Forgot That Love Existed" – 4:17
#"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (traditional) – 4:27

ide two

#"Celtic Excavation" – 3:17
#"Someone Like You" – 4:06
#"Alan Watts Blues" – 4:24
#"Give Me My Rapture" – 3:44
#"Did Ye Get Healed?" – 4:06
#"Allow Me" – 3:53

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

#"Alan Watts Blues" (alternative take)
#"I Forgot That Love Existed" (alternative take)

Personnel

*Van Morrison - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone
*Neil Drinkwater - piano, synthesizer
*Martin Drover - trumpet, flugelhorn
*Royce Jones - drums, percussion
*Steve Pearce - bass
*Mick Cox - lead guitar on "I Forgot That Love Existed" & "Alan Watts Blues"
*June Boyce - back-up vocals
*Fiachra Trench - organ on "Give Me My Rapture"
*Richie Buckley - soprano saxophone, flute on "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"
*Kate St. John - oboe on "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child"

Production

*Producer: Van Morrison
*Engineer: Mick Glossop
*Photography: Steve Rapport Direct Art Green Ink.
*Co-ordination: Sian Williams
*String and Woodwind Arrangements: Fiachra Trench
*Synthesizer Programming: Paul Ridout

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Album - UK Album Chart

Notes

References

*Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
*Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio Samples] 1980s, Poetic Champions Compose