Product Description

With as self-explanatory a title as this, it seems there's little need to elaborate. For what it's worth, this is Morrison at the height of his '80s spiritual phase, and he delvesdeeply and poignantly into the twin rivers of theology and mysticism. Ever the spiritual nomad, Morrison's worldview combines his Catholic upbringing with the Buddhism that was a key element of the Beat writers who were among his early inspirations. Thus, we have Morrison waxing reverential like some blues-driven preacher on the redemptive "Did Ye Get Healed?" and digging deeper into the mystic on "Alan Watts Blues", whose title refers to the Buddhism-based British author/philosopher. Typical of his recordings from this period, Morrison shies away from his R&B roots in favour of a kind of Celtic/New Age/Pop amalgam. And it's only a musical master as adept as Morrison that's capable of making such a confluence intriguing.

Track Listing

1. Spanish Steps
2. Mystery
3. Queen Of The Slipstream
4. I Forgot That Love Existed
5. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
6. Celtic Excavation
7. Someone Like You
8. Alan Watts Blues
9. Give Me My Rapture
10. Did Ye Get Healed
11. Allow Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24859 in Music
• Released on: 1998-04-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Amazon.co.uk Review
If his albums are anything to go by, Van Morrison seems to bounce between religions like a demented pinball. Amazingly, for a decade that saw the Belfast enigma get through Christianity and Scientology before returning, on Avalon Sunset, to Christianity again, Poetic Champions Compose serves as a reminder that Van managed to even cram in an agnostic phase along the way. With this in mind, a desperately bleak version of folk standard "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" somewhat lacerates the heartstrings. However, it shouldn't be assumed that this is by any means a depressing affair. Three saxophone instrumentals, including the Miles Davis influenced "Spanish Steps" lend a crisp Sunday morning feel to much of the proceedings, whilst "Queen Of The Slipstream" and live favourite "Did Ye Get Healed" suggest however bad the crisis of faith was--and the quite awesome preceding album No Guru No Method No Teacher suggests it was pretty bad--here is a man ultimately happy to find redemption in a love song. And who would blame him? --Peter Paphides

Customer Reviews

Chocolate & cigarettes
Van Morrison's 'Poetic Champions Compose' fits in with his 80's golden oueve. Magical albums which have stood the test of time and have to be played every so often to remind you what real music is about.
It's easy to forget when you are bombarded over the airwaves by the new wave of easy listening singer-songwriters who are mere jesters to King Van.
PCC flows like a winding river from the sexy..saxy 'Spanish Steps' through tracks like 'Someone like you' which found a new audience through it's inclusion in The Bridet Jones soundtrack to arrive at 'Allow me'...the farewell kiss on the cheek.

He's reet good that Irish feller !

stunning work by van the man
This album is a peice of musical history for van not as well known but probably one of his more jazzy albums more than anything. I am a big fan of Van Morrison so I am biased but this album is worth buying for anyone into jazz and into those romantic evenings in with your partner with a glass of wine or just to relax, this album is the soundtrack for such evenings. Buy now and put the feet up.

My favourite Van album
I listen to this about once a year - just so I don't take it for granted. This album means quite a lot to me - whether that's because it's truly great or gives me a nostalgic shiver I can't tell. All I know is it makes me look at the world differently - it's such a good album, Van's voice is amazing - worldly and grizzled - and yet somehow he can sing lyrics about his spiritual take on life without being a pain in the arse.
Van's a funny one - I know about two people who like him as much as I do - but if you get it it's pretty fabulous.