Van Morrison has today released the album New Arrangements and Duets, the first in what he hopes will be an ongoing series of archive albums compiled from his vast collection of unheard recordings.
The album is launched alongside the new focus track The Master’s Eyes. Originally from the 1984 album A Sense of Wonder and rarely played live, The Master’s Eyes is a deep cut but one that represents the remarkable depth of his rich back catalogue. It’s particularly notable as an example of how Van Morrison applies elements of gospel into his core soul and R&B sound.
Like the recent tracks You’ve Got To Make It Through The World and Choppin’ Wood, The Master’s Eyes is an alternate big band arrangement which was recorded in 2014. The new arrangements on the album were all chosen by Van Morrison’s musical director / pianist Paul Moran and his former live band saxophonist Chris White.
The only duet to preview the album has been Someone Like You with Joss Stone. It highlights further collaborations with Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers and Willie Nelson, all of which were recorded in 2018 and 2019. The two Willie Nelson duets – ‘What’s Wrong With This Picture’ and ‘Steal My Heart Away’ – also feature guitar courtesy of Lukas Nelson of Promise of the Real.
Physical copies of ‘New Arrangements and Duets’ have been pressed on black double-vinyl, limited edition orange double-vinyl and CD.
Van Morrison plays the first of two shows at the Brighton Dome tonight before heading to North America for six headline performances next month plus the special concert event ‘Life In A Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson’ at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
