The Best of Van Morrison
Encyclopedia
The Best of Van Morrison is a compilation album
by Northern Irish
singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music
).
This was his first ever "Best of" album and was one of the best-selling albums of the 90s, spending a year and a half on the UK charts after charting at #4 and at #1 in Australia
on the ARIA Albums Chart
. With the combined success of this album and the previous album, Avalon Sunset
, Morrison was once again in the pop/rock mainstream after a decade. The songs on the album were pulled from twenty-five years of material.
One of the songs, "Wonderful Remark
" had previously only been available on the soundtrack of the film, The King of Comedy
.
except as indicated.
The 1998 Australian/New Zealand re-release of the album also includes "Days Like This
" (3:13) as the seventh track, for a total of 21 tracks.
Album - UK Album Chart
Album - Billboard (North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music
1990 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
).
This was his first ever "Best of" album and was one of the best-selling albums of the 90s, spending a year and a half on the UK charts after charting at #4 and at #1 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on the ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
. With the combined success of this album and the previous album, Avalon Sunset
Avalon Sunset
Avalon Sunset is the nineteenth album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1989 The album has been described as "a powerful statement that the often turbulent muse had stabilized and was now a sublime force flowing through Van Morrison".The 29 January 2008 reissued and...
, Morrison was once again in the pop/rock mainstream after a decade. The songs on the album were pulled from twenty-five years of material.
One of the songs, "Wonderful Remark
Wonderful Remark
"Wonderful Remark" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and first released on the soundtrack album for the 1983 film The King of Comedy...
" had previously only been available on the soundtrack of the film, The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy (1983 film)
The King of Comedy is a 1983 American dark comedy film starring Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis, and directed by Martin Scorsese. The subject of the movie is celebrity stalking...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Van MorrisonVan Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
except as indicated.
- "Bright Side of the RoadBright Side of the Road"Bright Side of the Road" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1979 album Into the Music. It was also one of the outtakes that made up the 1998 compilation album, The Philosopher's Stone...
" – 3:45 - "Gloria" – 2:37
- "MoondanceMoondance (Van Morrison song)"Moondance" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the title song on his 1970 album Moondance.Morrison did not release the song as a single until November 1977, seven and a half years after the album was released. It reached the Billboard Hot 100, charting...
" – 4:31 - "Baby, Please Don't GoBaby, Please Don't Go"Baby, Please Don't Go" is a blues song first recorded by Big Joe Williams in 1935. It is related to a group of early 20th century blues and work songs that include "I'm Alabama Bound", "Another Man Done Gone", and "Don't Leave Me Here", and "Turn Your Lamp Down Low".It has become a blues and rock...
" (Big Joe WilliamsBig Joe WilliamsJoseph Lee Williams , billed throughout his career as Big Joe Williams, was an American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, notable for the distinctive sound of his nine-string guitar...
) – 3:03 - "Have I Told You LatelyHave I Told You Lately"Have I Told You Lately" is a hit song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded for his 1989 album Avalon Sunset. It is a romantic ballad often played at weddings although it was originally written also as a prayer....
" – 4:18 - "Brown Eyed GirlBrown Eyed Girl"Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Written and recorded in 1967 by Van Morrison and produced by Bang Records chief Bert Berns, it was first released in May 1967 on the album Blowin' Your Mind!. When released as a single, it rose to number eight on the...
" – 3:03 - The mono single edit - "Sweet ThingSweet Thing (Van Morrison song)"Sweet Thing" is one of the songs included on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1968 acclaimed second album Astral Weeks. It was on the first side of the album, that was under the heading: In the Beginning...
" – 4:22 - "Warm LoveWarm Love"Warm Love" is a hit song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1973 album Hard Nose the Highway. It was a Top Forty single hit when released in April 1973. Jackie De Shannon sang back-up vocals...
" – 3:21 - "Wonderful RemarkWonderful Remark"Wonderful Remark" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and first released on the soundtrack album for the 1983 film The King of Comedy...
" – 3:58 - "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)"Jackie Wilson Said " is a song written and performed by Van Morrison and featured as the opening track on his sixth studio album, Saint Dominic's Preview. It was released by Warner Bros...
" – 2:57 - "Full Force GaleFull Force Gale"Full Force Gale" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was included on his 1979 album Into the Music.-Recording and composition:...
" – 3:12 - "And It Stoned MeAnd It Stoned Me"And It Stoned Me" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track on Morrison's third solo album, Moondance, which was released in 1970.-Composition and recording:...
" – 4:30 - "Here Comes the Night" (Bert BernsBert BernsBertrand Russell Berns , most commonly known as Bert Berns as well as Bert Russell and Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s...
) – 2:46 - "DominoDomino (Van Morrison song)"Domino" is a hit song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track of his fourth studio album, His Band and the Street Choir. This song is Morrison's personal musical tribute to New Orleans R&B singer and pianist Fats Domino.It was released by Warner Bros...
" – 3:08 - "Did Ye Get Healed?Did Ye Get Healed?"Did Ye Get Healed" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1987 album, Poetic Champions Compose...
" – 4:06 - "Wild NightWild Night"Wild Night" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the opening track on his fifth studio album Tupelo Honey. It was released as a single in 1971 and reached number twenty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
" – 3:31 - "Cleaning WindowsCleaning Windows"Cleaning Windows" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1982 album, Beautiful Vision.-Recording and Composition:...
" – 4:42 - "Whenever God Shines His LightWhenever God Shines His Light"Whenever God Shines His Light" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and released on his 1989 album Avalon Sunset as a duet with Cliff Richard. Although the album was released in June 1989, this song was released as a single in November 1989 for the Christmas...
" (duet with Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
) – 4:54 - "Queen of the SlipstreamQueen of the Slipstream"Queen of the Slipstream" is a romantic ballad written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1987 album, Poetic Champions Compose. It was also released as a single in the U.K...
" – 4:53 - "Dweller on the ThresholdDweller on the Threshold (song)"Dweller on the Threshold" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and first released on his 1982 album, Beautiful Vision. It was released as a single on the B-Side in 1982 with the instrumental "Scandinavia" as the "A" tune...
" (Morrison, Hugh Murphy) – 4:47
The 1998 Australian/New Zealand re-release of the album also includes "Days Like This
Days Like This (song)
"Days Like This" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and the title song of his 1995 album.Morrison has often performed this song in concert appearances including his 2006 appearance at the Austin City Limits Festival....
" (3:13) as the seventh track, for a total of 21 tracks.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Australian ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... Albums Chart |
1 |
Album - UK Album Chart
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK Album Chart | 4 |
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Billboard 200 | 41 |