kenny weir Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 VAN MORRISON: Lead Vocal (all), Acoustic Guitar (1, 4, 5, 11, 12), Alto Sax (2, 8, 10, 11) Acker Bilk: Clarinet (5) Keith Donald: Bass Clarinet (1) Lee Goodall: Alto Sax (6), Flute (9, 11), Baritone Sax & Backing Vocals (10) Matt Holland: Trumpet (2, 6-10, 13), Flugelhorn (3, 5, 11), Backing Vocals (10) Martin Winning: Tenor Sax (2, 5, 7-9, 13), Clarinet (3, 6, 10, 11) Richard Dunn: Hammond Organ (2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13), Piano (7) Gavin Povey: Piano (4, 5) Fiachra Trench: Piano (9, 11, 12) Ned Edwards: Guitars (2, 3, 5-8, 10, 13), Backing Vocals (2, 6, 10) Mick Green: Electric Guitar (7, 13) Foggy Little: Electric Guitar (1, 4, 12), Backing Vocals (1) Johnny Scott: Electric Guitar (9, 11), Mandolin (11) David Hayes: Bass (1-5, 7-8, 12-13), Backing Vocals (1) Pete Hurley: Bass (6, 9) Nicky Scott: Bass (10, 11) Alan "Sticky" Wicket: Congas (3, 13), Washboard (7) Liam Bradley: Drums (1, 4, 9, 11, 12), Backing Vocals (1) Bobby Irwin: Drums (2, 3, 5-8, 10, 13) PRODUCED BY VAN MORRISON TRACK LISTING 1. What's Wrong With This Picture? 5:56 Van Morrison original 2. Whinin Boy Moan 4:15 Van Morrison original 3. Evening In June 3:57 Van Morrison original 4. Too Many Myths 4:30 Van Morrison original 5. Somerset 4:05 Written by Van Morrison with music by British jazz legend Mr. Acker Bilk & David Collett 6. Meaning Of Loneliness 7:21 Van Morrison original 7. Stop Drinking 3:42 Based on a tune by blues legend Lightin' Hopkins with add'l lyrics by Van 8. Goldfish Bowl 5:57 Van Morrison original 9. Once In A Blue Moon 3:26 Van Morrison original 10. Saint James Infirmary 5:29 Traditional New Orleans standard 11. Little Village 4:25 Van Morrison original 12. Fame 5:19 Van Morrison original 13. Get On With The Show 5:35 Van Morrison original Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 I'm liking the titles of those originals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 I didn't even know that Van Morrison plays alto sax. Does he play on any of his other recordings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alankin Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Sure are a lot of musicians on this album...I bet there was just a bit more studio time used than the average Alfred Lion session. I still want to hear it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Acker Bilk?!? Didn't know he was still alive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Acker Bilk?!? Didn't know he was still alive... My thought exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 Acker Bilk?!? Didn't know he was still alive... and on Blue Note no less.... Acker still does the occasional gig with his band here in the South-West of England. Bowler hat, striped shirt and waistcoat are his trademark garb. We live in interesting times ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 6, 2003 Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 I used to think that Mr. Acker Bilk & Bent Fabric (both then known to me only by Atlantic inner sleeves) were psychedelic rock bands. How else to explain those names? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Is Reid Miles still doing work for BN? B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 Wow, pretty nice cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted September 10, 2003 Report Share Posted September 10, 2003 I thought this was about cricket for a moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 I was going to post the album cover but I see Aggie beat me to it. Nice cover! There's some songs to sample on the BN site. I'm going back there to check 'em out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris olivarez Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 I didn't even know that Van Morrison plays alto sax. Does he play on any of his other recordings? One for sure that I know of "A Night in San Francisco" which is a mighty fine live 2 cd set.Also I think he plays on "Back on Top" and numerous other recordings.No threat to the legacies of Bird,Cannon,Hodges etc but servicable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 Well I checked out parts of a half dozen or so of the songs. Some nice tunes. Nothing earth-shattering. I liked St James Infirmary. The originals I checked out were either Bluesy/R&B sort of numbers or what I would consider to be standard Morrison fare. I have not bought a Van Morrison album since the 80s, I think. This one sort of puts him on my radar screen and as I've always liked him, I'll pick it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 'Back on Top' from about three years back was actually a very enjoyable record that I play alot. He's unlikely to produce anything world-shattering, but he may well still have the capacity to pull off enjoyable discs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 'Back on Top' from about three years back was actually a very enjoyable record that I play alot. He's unlikely to produce anything world-shattering, but he may well still have the capacity to pull off enjoyable discs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 Any release date yet? I love Van and nothing about this so far decreases my delight in seeing this come out on BN! As others have already said, I thought Aker Bilk dead years ago as well. Hey, good for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alankin Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 10/21. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 Acker Bilk played a beautiful bit of clarinet on a Sandy Denny track towards the end of her life. I'm not familiar with his music but always liked 'Stranger on the Shore'...evokes pre-Beatles Britain nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.D. Posted September 12, 2003 Report Share Posted September 12, 2003 Stranger on the Shore, which was the Theme to a TV series, became a hit and Bilk tended towards the Easy Listening side of the Music. He has in the last 10 years made some very nice record away from the Paramount Jazz Band, but in the company of Humphrey Lyttelton.. At Sundown from 1992.. a trumpet,clarinet, guitar, bass and drums set .. Humph also plays clarinet so you get some " Mezzrow/Bechet type duets. Three O'Clock in The Morning.. similar line up.. no piano, no drums and John Barnes on Baritone,alto and clarinet. Bruce Turner was to have been on the recording, but unfortunately he passed on. The cover depicts the musicians sitting around drinking ( at 3 AM?).. There's a bottle of milk on the table for Bruce. Then to top it off there's Azure from 2002 which features clarinet duets between Acker with another British Jazz legend.. Wally Fawkes. All or any of these three records will quickly dispense any misgivings about Ackers talent that the bowler, waistcoat and name might invoke.... I only wish he didn't feel he had to sing on the few tracks he does.. His singing seems to drive the music right back into the " TRAD" division. Worth checking out if you like solid mainstream type jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 12, 2003 Report Share Posted September 12, 2003 So, what kind of a name is "Acker"? And what kind of a name is "Bilk"? Serious inquiry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted September 12, 2003 Report Share Posted September 12, 2003 ...And here's the AMG review Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.D. Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 So, what kind of a name is "Acker"? And what kind of a name is "Bilk"? Serious inquiry. Well his Mom was serious when she christened him Bernard Stanley Bilk. He was from Somerset region of England, and in the days of his youth " Acker" was a slang term for friend, or mate... or as in the USA Buddy. I guess his friends called him that and it stuck.. ( maybe Lester was around, he had a way of naming people ) I don't know any ethnic background to the Bilk part, but it was a genuine surname. Bilks band came to prominence in the british " TRAD " days and to some extent outfits were part of the trip. Bilk has a sense of humour that probably got him to put on the Bowler and waistcoat ( sorry... vest).. and somehow that stuck too. Stranger on the Shore was a 6 ( i think) part series on BBC tv, I remember watching it, a bit of a thriller.. I'm sure other musicians were approached.. but his tune got selected. The show was a big hit, so the theme song followed , taking Bilk into stardom and making most of his record appearances in a string backed easy listening mode... obviously seeking a follow up hit... never came Morrison obviously knows his musical roots..he probably watched the show too, but I was surprised to see the Bilk title in the above track list. It'll be interesting to see what is involved in the Acker Bilk track Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenny weir Posted September 13, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 A collaboration with Acker Bilk is quite consistent with Morrison's long-term approach. He made an album a few years back with Lonnie donnegan, and has worked with John Lee Hooker, Mose Allison, Dr John and heaps more. And he's often dropped the names of his R&B/jazz/rock heroes into songs as a sort of mantra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Williams Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 And poets.... Rave On John Donne! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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