Touring Van The Man In A Van

The Morrisons let rip: Whiskey A Go Go 1966

he Celtic Soul frontman reveals the songs that rocked – and shaped – his world…

Which is handy, given that they’re back celebrating Van at The Whale on December 20th.

I have a hugely varied taste in music, although some would say none!

That means I’m as happy listening to Irish traditional stuff in a backroom bar, an orchestra belting out, a little bluegrass band, country, rock’n’roll, jazz and blues…

I suppose the only thing I really don’t listen to anymore is pop music on the radio.

Jim Reeves I Can’t Stop Loving You 
1974. The kickstarter. My brother gave me his old record player and along with it a floppy sample single that came free with the Sunday Times: Jim Reeves 20 Golden Greats – or, at least, 20 seconds of a few of his Golden Greats. As it was the only record in the house it was played to death until I had enough pocket money to buy something else. And those songs have been with me ever since. Even with Celtic Soul I’ve played I Cant Stop Loving You as performed by Van and his beautiful daughter, Shana. The disappointing thing for the audiences is they get me instead of Shana.

Eddie & The Hot Rods Do Anything You Wanna Do
The first song I ever played in a band in public. As a manifesto it was fair enough but as someone who has worn glasses most of my life I’ve pretty much depended on “opticians to tell me what I oughta see”…

Horslips Trouble With A Capital T 
Book of Invasions introduced me and my schoolmates to Irish traditional music and most importantly introduced me to their singer/bass player, Barry Devlin. Horslips were regulars in Belfast and Barry was a world away from my pre-conceived notion of how a rock star should behave. Intelligent, amusing, approachable, and a thoroughly decent guy. So I learned you didn’t have to be like Jimi Hendrix just to be in a band. One conversation was about his favourite band at the time, XTC.

XTC King For A Day
Hard to choose a particular favourite song but King For A Day arrived late in their development and captures them at their poppy best. Even today it’s great to listen to on headphones, to hear the beautiful production job on it – layered harmonies, quirky basslines, etc.

The Stranglers Peaches
Come 1976/77 and the punk revolution, it was the more musical Stranglers that initially appealed over the Pistols and Clash, but I grew into it all. But it was all a front – I was still listening to Thin Lizzy, Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

Thin Lizzy Cowboy Song/The Boys Are Back In Town/Don’t Believe A Word
On the magnificent Live and Dangerous this may as well be one song in three parts. Probably the hottest combination of songs committed to a live album. The classic line-up with Robbo and Scott on top form. Brian Downey remains one of my favourite drummers. He doesn’t just play along – the drums are part of the song.

The Beatles Julia 
The Beatles still remain my favourite band of all time. This outtake from the recording of Julia on Anthology captures so much about them. A great song at its moment of birth, John in great form but struggling to play his own song with helpful encouragement from Paul in the background. Other than that, Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane – yeah, almost everything. As someone who loves to dissect songs, the Anthology collection is my favourite Beatles CD. The construction of Strawberry Fields Forever shows what a genius George Martin is.

Van Morrison Queen of the Slipstream
Moondance – the song that stopped me getting into Van Morrison. But I stuck on my sister’s LP of Poetic Champions Compose, which made me sit up and listen especially when Slipstream started with the harp and strings. Cheers, Fiachra Trench. Champions is probably still my favourite Van CD that I can listen to the whole way through. But Van has given us a bottomless treasure chest of songs. It’s probably been one of the best things about Celtic Soul that I’ve discovered so many songs and versions and realised what a genius he is. Great, timeless music, and poetry.

Bruce Springsteen Brilliant Disguise
I had a similar musical blockage with Bruce. I just didn’t get the bombast (yet, I love bombast!) of Born in the USA. Thankfully, nor did Bruce and he toned it down for the follow-up album, Tunnel of Love. Brilliant Disguise is just one fine lyric among his many fine lyrics – and a good tune too. But he has so many of those it’s almost impossible to pick one.

Celtic Soul and Ards CCE Raglan Road
Not just a shameless self-promotion – we performed this version recently at a party for 250 hardcore Van fans in Belfast for his 70th Birthday concert in Cyprus Avenue. It’s one thing to listen to music and be moved by it. It’s even more thrilling when you are a part of it. We asked Colleen, Emma and David from Ards Comhaltas to help us perform some songs off Irish Heartbeat. From the first rehearsal they nailed it.

Playing The Whale on Saturday, December 20th, further info on the mighty Celtic Soul here, and on Van Morrison himself right here.