After previewing the November 3rd release of his 45th studio album ‘Accentuate The Positive’ with the single ‘Shakin’ All Over’, Van Morrison today provides another taste of the record with his take on The Everly Brothers’ classic ‘Problems’. The song received its first play last night courtesy of Cerys Matthews on Radio 2.
Van Morrison reshapes ‘Problems’ into his own inimitable style. He transforms the song into an exuberant R&B groove while his vintage blues and soul vocal provides a world-weary twist on the original’s lyrics of teenaged woe. It’s also a relatively deep cut from The Everly Brothers’ back catalogue, having reached #6 when it was released in 1959.
Listen to ‘Problems’ – BELOW:
Like this year’s acclaimed ‘Moving On Skiffle’, ‘Accentuate The Positive’ sees Van Morrison returning to one of his childhood passions: this time rock ‘n’ roll, growing up in Belfast shortly after World War II, he was immensely inspired by the heady sounds of 20th-century blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Listening to artists such as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Johnny Kidd, it wasn’t long until Van was intuitively reinterpreting these sounds with his own band in local hometown venues.
Several decades later, Van Morrison now revisits the genre by reimagining some of his personal favourites for ‘Accentuate The Positive’ and infusing those timeless songs with an energy that constantly challenges and expands upon its traditions. Van’s inimitable voice combined with superb arrangements and highly accomplished brings a fresh zeal to such great songs as The Johnny Burnette Trio’s ‘Lonesome Train’, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates’ ‘Shakin’ All Over’ and Big Joe Turner’spioneering rock ‘n’ roll hit, ‘Flip, Flop and Fly’.
Contributors to the album include electric guitar from the late Jeff Beck and vocals from Chris Farlowe on ‘Lonesome Train’, plus guitar from Taj Mahal on ‘Lucille’ and ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’.
Van Morrison says, “Rock ‘n’ roll is about simplicity, sincerity and expressive power and there’s no way you can get away from that. That’s why it’s good and that’s why it’s lasted. It’s spirit music.”
‘Accentuate The Positive’ tracklist:
1. ‘You Are My Sunshine’
2. ‘When Will I Be Loved’
3. ‘Two Hound Dogs’
4. ‘Flip, Flop and Fly’
5. ‘I Want a Roof Over My Head’
6. ‘Problems’
7. ‘Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes’
8. ‘The Shape I’m In’
9. ‘Accentuate The Positive’
10. ‘Lonesome Train’
11. ‘A Shot of Rhythm and Blues’
12. ‘Shakin’ All Over’
13. ‘Bye, Bye Johnny’
14. ‘Red Sails in the Sunset’
15. ‘Sea of Heartbreak’
16. ‘Blueberry Hill’
17. ‘Bonaparte’s Retreat’
18. ‘Lucille’
19. ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’
The Man has been at the magesterial summit of his vocal and arranging powers for some time now. Trouble is, the material hasn’t always been up to it. I tried so hard to like Last Record Project but, well, I just don’t get down with some of his views. But here it sounds like -I’ve listened to the few tracks he’s dropped so far – I’m going to love this album so much. The track-listing looks impeccable and at last a worthy chalice in which to turn lead into gold, which at his best he’s so good at. Van, your secret was always your Hermetic wisdom. Forget the preaching and let the wisdom of rock and roll and rhythm and blues and jazz speak for itself to those who can hear it.