{"title":"Exile","description":"\u003cp\u003eLabel\r\nAssociated with [a=Van Morrison].\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"accentuate-the-positive","title":"Accentuate The Positive","description":"\u003cp\u003eVan Morrison unveils his 45th studio album, \u003ci\u003eAccentuate the Positive - an \u003c\/i\u003eelectrifying homage to rock ‘n’ roll. Like this year’s acclaimed \u003ci\u003eMoving On Skiffle, Accentuate The Positive\u003c\/i\u003e 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 The Everly Brothers, it wasn’t long until Van was intuitively reinterpreting these sounds with his own band in local hometown venues. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  Several decades later, Van Morrison now revisits the genre by reimagining some of his personal favourites for \u003ci\u003eAccentuate The Positive\u003c\/i\u003e, 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 \u0026amp; The Pirates’ ‘Shakin’ All Over’ and Big Joe Turner’s pioneering 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’.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Exile","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50394435289419,"sku":"2054599","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50394435027275,"sku":"2054598","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50394435354955,"sku":"2054600","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/VM_AccentuateThePositive_Cover_15Aug23_178d4f46_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726439346"},{"product_id":"moving-on-skiffle-2","title":"Moving On Skiffle","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt should come as no surprise that Van Morrison has made an album inspired by skiffle. Van Morrison’s love of skiffle dates back to his childhood. He would hang out at the famed Belfast record store Atlantic Records, where he’d hear early 20th century folk, blues and jazz from the likes of Lead Belly and Jelly Roll Morton. So when he heard Lonnie Donegan’s take on ‘Rock Island Line’ he intuitively understood the music he was creating. Before long, Van Morrison was playing with a skiffle band in school. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMoving On Skiffle \u003c\/i\u003efinds him taking a homemade style that exploded across Britain in the mid-1950s and infusing it with a level of sophistication and soulfulness that it didn’t always possess the first time around.  The 23-track album goes to the heart of the music Van Morrison has inhabited ever since he was six years old, hanging out in the smoky confines of Belfast’s Atlantic Records. It also contains songs that underline, in their messages on the importance of freedom and living on your own terms, his lifetime philosophy.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the most part, Van Morrison plays these timeless songs straight. Several of them feature his own arrangements, while select others feature his own characteristic lyrical twists. The ever-rebellious Morrison has changed the title of ‘Mama Don’t Allow’, recorded by both the Memphis Jug Band and the Chicago blues man Tampa Red in the late 1920s, to ‘Gov Don’t Allow’, a nod to his fight against the rise of government interference in our daily lives. And the gospel standard ‘This Little Light of Mine’, a key anthem of the Civil Rights movement in ‘60s America, is transformed into the rollicking, upbeat ‘This Loving Light of Mine’.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpening track ‘Freight Train’ is an immediate highlight, a song which was originally written by Elizabeth Cotten and then recorded by both Peggy Seeger and Chas McDevitt. Van Morrison has given it as a sophisticated jazz arrangement complete with rollicking organ, close harmony vocals and some new words. Elsewhere, ‘Wish I Was An Apple On A True’ is given  wonderful warmth, completed by jaunty washboard and treacle-rich vocal harmonies. ‘Gypsy Davey’ remains timeless, while Van Morrison’s powerful vocal and impassioned sax complement the bluesy guitar on ‘Greenback Dollar’. The album closes with ‘Green Rocky Road’, a plaintive folk gem and an ode to the troubadour life that was made famous by Fred Neil and Dave Van Ronk, and featured in the film ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Key contributors on the album include Dave Keary (guitars), Pete Hurley (bass), Colin Griffin (drums) and Sticky Wicket (washboard). Current Brit folk favourite Seth Lakeman also contributes fiddle to five songs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Blue | LP | x2","offer_id":50466879799627,"sku":"2000660","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50466879570251,"sku":"2000658","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50466879766859,"sku":"2000659","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Van_Morrison_-_Moving_on_Skiffle_-_Artwork_b17a6d92_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727327960"},{"product_id":"whats-it-gonna-take","title":"Whats It Gonna Take?","description":"\u003cp\u003eVan the man is back!! What's It Gonna Take? is Van Morrison's 43rd studio album. The album features 14 new compositions that collectively reflect the artist's indefatigable drive to record and perform live in front of audiences. The album is preceded by Pretending - a gorgeous, restless soul track - and was produced by Van Morrison and was recorded between Real World Studios, Bath Spa Hotel, Richard Dunn’s Studio, Culloden Hotel Holywood Studio and Musicbox Studios.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Exile","offers":[{"title":"Grey | LP","offer_id":50506173120843,"sku":"1150879","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50506172465483,"sku":"1150877","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50506172727627,"sku":"1150878","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e5fe468e-e3cc-48ba-81ed-0e34114f9cd5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728922824"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_c0d12ff8_thumbnail_4096_311559a1-ef36-4eb8-a4f9-c9aa03b67a81.jpg?v=1726439309","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/exile-1.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}