VANTHOLOGY
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Circulate A Petition! |
[06.25.2004] |
All of the 15 Southern soul or blues singers sought out by producer Jon Tiven for this salute to Van Morrison - undervalued veterans Bettye Lavette, Little Milton, William Bell, Henry Butler, Chuck Jackson, Syl Johnson, Sir Mack Rice, Son Seals, Frederick Knight, Bobby Patterson, Freddie Scott, Dan Penn, Eddie Floyd, Otis Clay and Ellis Hooks - have so much glorious life and personality concentrated in their phrases when making over the Gaelic soul man's songs that a petition should be circulated demanding Tiven record these vocalists again real soon. - Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
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Vanthology Stands Out |
[06.22.2004] |
With an overabundance of blues artists recording tributes to rock icons, Vanthology stands out. One reason that this tribute to Van Morrison works is that producer Jon Tiven has collected a number of blues and soul legends to perform songs associated with the legendary Irishman, setting this apart from many similar concept discs which seem to have an overabundance of blues-rock guitar pounders.
....Highlights among the exceptional performances here include Little Milton's rendering of "Tupelo Honey," William Bell's rendition of "Have I Told You Lately," Freddie Scott's "Brown-Eyed Girl," Bettye Lavette's pleading vocal on "Real Real Gone," and Eddie Floyd's "Crazy Love."
Morrison has been heavily influenced by blues and soul artists, a debt he has breely acknowledged in developing his own distinctive body of music, and the artists pay tribute in the very fine release - Ron Weinstock (Jazz & Blues Magazine)
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[01.09.2004] |
A great selection of his songs, performed by some of the best living blues and soul singers: Little Milton "Tupolo Honey," William Bell "Have I Told You Lately," Otis Clay "Warm Love," Sir Mack Rice, composer of "Mustang Sally," takes another girl to heart here with a grandiose "Gloria." And don't miss Dan Penn's "Bright Side of the Road," where he seems to channel David Hidalgo's voice. Altogether, the best argument for Van's songwriting ever.
- Rock & Rap Confidential
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First Tribute |
[12.05.2003] |
"...The first tribute to Van Morrison performed entirely by blues, R&B, and soul veterans provides a logical slant on the Irishman's catalog..."
- Hal Horowitz (All Music Guide)
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Transcendent |
[08.27.2003] |
The mercurial Morrison has consistently honored classic blues, soul, and R&B music in the material favored by The Them, which he co-founded, as well as his own inimitable compositions as a solo artist. Here he’s on the receiving end of the tributes from soul and blues legends performing Morrison’s compositions.
Guitarist/vocalist Little Milton begins with his soulful take on “Tupelo Honey” (sort of payback for Morrison’s cover of Milton’s “Grits Ain’t Groceries”). Other guitarists include Dan Penn, sounding like a youthful Eric Clapton on “Bright Side of the Road,” and Son Seals, who plows his rough guitar and vocal style through the “Queen of the Slipstream.”
Frederick Knight delivers a powerful, emotional “Into the Mystic” that truly demonstrates Morrison’s grasp of things both heavenly and “in the foul rag and bone shop of the heart.” Chuck Jackson is the perfect artist to bring Vanthology to a close: He’s worked with both the Del-Vikings and the Basie Band, and brings a bluesy shade to the set-ending “Moondance.”
That these songs glow with such a transcendent spiritual air honors Morrison the composer. It is a tribute to these performers that this glow shines so brightly here.
-Chris M. Slawecki (allaboutjazz.com)
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Proves That Van The Man's No Poseur |
[08.25.2003] |
Cleverly entitled "Vanthology," the recording gathers some of soul and blues' most revered singer/songwriters for a deserved tribute to the Celtic Soulman himself and many of his most memorable songs.
And when it comes to seasoned soul/blues singers, this project has 'em. Highlights are too numerous to mention but include Eddie "Knock on Wood" Floyd's "Crazy Love," Little Milton's "Tupelo Honey," Bettye Lavette's "Real Real Gone," Dan Penn's "Bright Side of the Road," Syl Johnson's "Jackie Wilson Said" and Sir Mack Rice's raspy, rascally take on "Gloria."
Each of the 15 singers nails his or her respective selection, proving that Morrison's soul legacy is real, that Van the Man is no poseur. This is a must-have for any blues/soul fanatic.
- Eric Feber (The Virginian Pilot)
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COOLEST TRIBUTE OF ALL |
[08.20.2003] |
The coolest tribute of all the recent issues has got to be "Vanthology," an album on the Evidence Music label celebrating the work of Van Morrison.
What's wonderful about this record is that it brings together some of the greatest soul and blues perfomers of the last 40 years in superb renditions of some of Morrison's greatest songs.
Eddie Floyd - remember "Knock on Wood"? - makes a soulfest of "Crazy Love." His erstwhile singing partner from the Falcons, Sir Mack Rice, romps through "Gloria." Freddie Scott turns in a tremendous performance of "Brown Eyed Girl," and West Alabama's Dan Penn sings "Bright Side of the Road" as if it were one of the many hits he wrote for the Muscle Shoals gang.
Little Milton does a shimmering rendition of "Tupelo Honey," while Syl Johnson struts away with "Jackie Wilson Said" and Bettye Lavette offers a hair-raising version of "Real Real Gone."
The icing on the cake? Chuck "Rainbow 65" Jackson's dazzling take on "Moondance."
- Ben Windham (The Tuscaloosa News)
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On The Money |
[08.10.2003] |
The songs of Van Morrison previously received the tribute treatment on the halfhearted and now-out-of-print "No Prima Donna" and an album of string quartet arrangements of some of his more pastoral ballads. But this compilation of Morrison compositions, sung and played by the kind of blues and R&B musicians that inspired the Irishman, is more on the money. It opens with a version of "Tupelo Honey" by Little Milton, who swears he had never heard the song before being asked to record it. If that's true, it says something for both spontaneity and the song, which Mr. Milton nails.
Soul balladeer William Bell ("You Don't Miss Your Water") had obviously heard "Have I Told You Lately" a time or two, and despite Bell's grasp of gospel, he takes the song to a more secular, sexy space. Detroit's Bettye LaVette, often cited as the greatest working female soul singer, puts the spirit into "Real Real Gone," while fellow Motowner Sir Mack Rice finds the funk instead of the punk in "Gloria." But it's the all-but-forgotten Frederick Knight interpretation of the timeless "Into the Mystic" that reminds us exactly what one singular talent can do with another.
- Terry Lawson (Knight Ridder)
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***1/2 Stars |
[08.03.2003] |
The Belfast Cowboy is a heck of a soul singer in his own right, so hiring 15 R&B belters to interpret his material will not produce the dramatic variations on the originals that you might get from, say, a Debby Boone tribute album. It's fairly easy for Van Morrison aficionados to predict which of his tunes will lend themselves best to this treatment. But for the record, let's start with "Jackie Wilson Said" by Chicago soul-blues singer Syl Johnson, "Crazy Love" by Eddie Floyd of "Knock on Wood" fame, "Tupelo Honey" by the electrifying Little Milton and "Moondance" by Charles Jackson.
The sum total is an album that reflects the mutual admiration between Morrison and his mentors. It's great music for a romantic evening, or even a more contemplative moment in time. ***1/2
- Jeff Johnson (Chicago Sun Times)
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Does The Man Proud |
[08.01.2003] |
Van Morrison has always had an element of undercover bluesman. From his 1960s band Them (who covered “Baby Please Don’t Go” and gave us “T.B. Sheets”), through his collaborative work with John Lee Hooker, his affection for the blues has been apparent. That a handful of blues artists would pay tribute to Van the Man on Vanthology - A Tribute to Van Morrison (Evidence) is, therefore, not surprising. The song selection, presumably chosen by the performers, is as eclectic and far-flung as the author’s varied musical interests, though for the most part this is familiar territory. Little Milton’s opener, “Tupelo Honey,” stays true to the song's beautiful melody and lyric as well as to the performer’s own southern blues roots. The result, like the majority of tunes collected here, is wonderful. Syl Johnon, according to the liner notes, once upon a time played guitar behind Jackie Wilson. He probably was in heaven playing “Jackie Wilson Said.” The very soulful Freddie Scott’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” Bettye Levett’s powerful “Real Real Gone” and Otis Clay’s “Warm Love” are among the highlights here. I’m particularly fond of Son Seals’ version of the obscure “Queen of the Slipstream,” primarily because it shines the spotlight on his voice. Son is one of a small handful of truly great blues guitarists and it’s a treat to just listen to the man sing. Sir Mack Rice, author of “Mustang Sally,” offers a rowdy and memorable version of “Gloria,” a classic that Morrison first recorded with Them. Eddie Floyd, who had a big hit with “Knock On Wood” back in the day, does an impressive version of “Crazy Love” and Dan Penn’s interpretation of “Bright Side of the Road” is stellar, with a vocal delivery frequently reminiscent of Eric Clapton’s. There are covers, too, from William Bell, Frederick Knight, Bobby Patterson, Henry Butler, Ellis Hooks and the great Chuck Jackson. Van Morrison fans will enjoy this. It does the man proud.
- Mark E. Gallo (Blues Bytes - www.bluennight.com/bluesbytes/)
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Many Hight Points |
[07.25.2003] |
What makes this tribute record worthy are its many dignitaries -- seasoned blues, soul and R&B singers like Little Milton, Son Seals, Henry Butler, Freddie Scott and Bettye Lavette, a Motowner who delivers a definitive, gut-boiling cover of "Real Real Gone."
Not everything works; a few of these are too safe and by-the-book. But producer Jon Tiven made lots of correct choices: He kept things simple and analog, and he let his singers do things their ways, which led to its many high points, like Sir Mack Rice's grimy, funky, garage-soul take on "Gloria."
– Timothy Finn (Kansas City Star)
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Bravo!!! |
[07.18.2003] |
Vanthology is a new CD tribute to the wonderful Van Morrison, a singer who's made his career fashioning American R&B into his Irish background. Now producer Jon Tiven has rounded up a bunch of R&B all-stars like Frederick Knight, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Sir Mack Rice, Chuck Jackson, Otis Clay, Dan Penn, Little Milton and Bettye Lavette. This amazing group of performers gives it right back to Morrison on a bunch of his hits. Lavette is an absolute marvel on "Real Real Gone" -- you simply have to hear it. Bravo!
- Roger Friedman (www.foxnews.com)
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AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL 1962-65 (5 CD BOX SET)
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Reverend's best picks |
[03.17.2005] |
This is one of the best collections ever. It is a joy to hear many of the artists at their best, just focusing on the music and trying to introduce a continent to the joy of the blues. It is especially exciting to hear the fun the artists had while performing as well as the vibrance and genuis of a young Matt "Guitar" Murphey. I have had this set for about 4 years, and continue to love it.
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AMERICAN FOLK BLUES FESTIVAL 1962-1965 HIGHLIGHTS
EVIDENCE BLUES SAMPLER FIVE
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