Van Morrison – Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue

Van Morrison gets more mileage out of retreads than most artists can wring out of a new set of wheels. To rub it in a bit deeper, on his latest release, Duets:Re-Working the Catlogue, he selected a passel of tunes to redo that weren’t big hits, but that doesn’t make them less remarkable than any of his more well-known work, as he and a bevy of eclectic musical guests from an array of genres prove over and over again on the 16 tracks.

Morrison started work on the project after performing at 2013’s Bluesfest at Albert Hall in London, scooping up Mavis Staples, Natalie Cole, and Bobby Womack, who were also in town for the event.

Womack leads off the release on what would be one of his last recordings on Morrison’s “Some Peace of Mind,” from ’91’s Hymns to the Silence. Womack’s leathery soul creaks as comfortably as a worn saddle, Morrison holding the reins loosely for a ride that’s smooth and laid-back but still crackles with barely restrained churchy soul.

Staples brings plenty of that worship house soul to her duet on “Lord, If I Ever Needed Someone” from 1970’s His Band and the Street Choir. Its a perfect example of crossover soul. Substitute a lover’s name for the Lord’s and you’ve got instant soul. As it is, even with Him as the subject, it drips with sultry soul. Mavis’ impassioned groans would work as well in the bedroom as they do in church.

George Benson’s vocals are churchier than usual as well on his contribution, “Higher Than the World.” Benson thought he was only doing vocals but was coerced by Morrison into contributing some typical trademark laid-back jazz guitar licks on the tune initially released on 1983’s Inarticulate Speech of the Heart.

Daughter Shana turns in some impressive bluesy soul harmony with dad, warning that God’s vengeance is on the way on “Rough God Goes Riding,” from 1977’s The Healing Game as Van predicts that people in glass houses throwing stones will be be moaning like a dog in a manger when that rough God comes riding in like Jesse James.

But there’s not much rough riding going on here till you get to the final cut. Leave it to Taj Mahal to break Van out of his mellowness on “How Can A Poor Boy,” from 2008’s Keep It Simple. When not busy tossing in a few harmonica tweets here and there, Taj amuses himself by whipping Van into a lather, goading him into a stuttering contest that ends with Taj and Van collapsing with laughter at the end of the cut.

Thanks for sharing, Van. Please do it again … and again.

Grant Britt