Product Description

This two-disc set of previously unreleased material has been whispered about in the world of Van fans for ages, and it languished on the Polydor release schedule for so long that it became a running joke before it was finally released. It turned out to be worth the wait. These cuts, mostly from the'70s, are Van at his funkiest and most soulful, preaching the blues and digging deep into his heart to deliver the goods. Listening to these thirty tunes, one has difficulty wondering how Morrison could have decided against initially releasing them.
"Naked In the Jungle" is a funky, percolating workout on par with his classic "I've Been Workin'". "Not Supposed To Break Down" is a touching ballad that pulls unsentimentally at the heartstrings in the manner of MOONDANCE's "Crazy Love". On "Foggy Mountaintop" we find the usually-earnest bard in a playful mood, as he glides atop a 12-bar blues, professing his heartfelt desire for "a plain glass of water, vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top". Covering all phases of facets of Van's career, PHILOSOPHER'S STONE is a revelation that ranks among his finest albums.

Track Listing

1. Really Don't Know
2. Ordinary People
3. Wonderful Remark
4. Not Supposed To Break Down
5. Laughing In The Wind
6. Madame Joy
7. Bright Side Of The Road
8. Street Theory
9. Real Real Gone
10. Showbusiness
11. For Mr Thomas
12. Crazy Jane On God
13. Song Of A Being A Child
14. High Spirits
15. Contemplation Rose
16. Don't Worry About Tomorrow
17. Try For Sleep
18. Lover's Prayer
19. Drumshanbo Hustle
20. Twilight Zone
21. Foggy Mountain Top
22. Naked In The Jungle
23. There There Child
24. John Henry
25. I Have Finally Come To Realise
26. Flamingoes Fly
27. Stepping Out Queen
28. Street Only Knew Your Name
29. Out On The Western Plains
30. Joyous Sound

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59612 in Music
• Released on: 1999-09-06
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Double CD

Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits Volume Three
This collection of previously unreleased material confirms my long-held suspicion that Van Morrison has the obsessive traits so commonly found in geniuses. How could he have withheld these magnificent tracks for twenty-odd years? The collection has an Old Testament feel which contrasts with much of his newer offerings: the beautiful Gospel harmonies of The Street Only Knew Your Name segue into the grim, Clint Eastwood-style loner images conjured up by John Henry and Western Plain, and that's just the second CD. The jazz-funk of Naked In The Jungle is so catchy, it has to be heard to be believed, and the original versions of Morrison classics such as Wonderful Remark, Stepping Out Queen and Real Real Gone knock socks off the eventual album versions. Highlight of the set is the joyous Bright Side Of The Road - if you thought the version on Into The Music was cheerful, get a load of this: four-and-a-half minutes of unbroken harmonica (strangely uncredited) leave you begging for more. Absolutely essential, even more so than either of the official greatest hits collections.

A real gem among the archives
Van Morrison is commonly seen these days as a bloated, black-hat wearing mumbler. But he is a man of remarkable musical talent. From the late sixties to the mid seventies, there was no-one to touch him. The Philosopher's Stone is a collection of songs he deemed unsuitable for release throughout his career. That he chose this path for many of them shows the strength in depth of his music at the time. The first CD in particular is stunning. The second CD is excellent in parts though there are a fair number of less-than-perfect contributions throught the whole album, there is plenty for both dedicated Morrison fans, and newcomers to his music to enjoy. Had it been edited down to one CD this would be a classic.