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If the greatest song penned by Van Morrison is "Caravan" and the man's best album is "It's Too Late To Stop Now," then the best version of "Caravan" is the one found in "It's Too Late To Stop Now."
Roughly, that's how Nick Hornby theorizes in "31 Songs," coming to designate that very "Caravan" as the accompaniment for his departure from this vale of tears.
It’s a matter of perspective...
Not only because I've made a different choice for my funeral but also because, in my very personal notebook, under Van Morrison, more than "It's Too Late To Stop Now," "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance" (and also "Tupelo Honey") stand out.
Then again, that "It's Too Late To Stop Now" is a great album is another story.
Celebratory live, in absolute terms, this double vinyl comes as a crowning and closing of Van Morrison's golden period, meaning the one after he left the Them and flew to the United States to delight us within the short span of five years with "Astral Weeks," "Moondance," "Tupelo Honey," and "Saint Dominic's Preview." Stuff that only the Bob Dylan from "The Freewheelin'" to "Blonde On Blonde" has achieved anything remotely comparable.
So, what does "It's Too Late To Stop Now" lack to ascend to the rank of Van The Man's best album?
It lacks what Our Man lavishly pours out in "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance," which I can't define, but I believe it's a matter of atmosphere, of deep contemplation and carefree gaiety, the kind that makes the studio version of "Caravan" better than the live version, whatever the good Nick says, and the same goes for "These Dreams Of You," for "Into The Mystic," for "Domino" and for almost the rest of the program, except for "Saint Dominic's Preview," because the version here is something sensational, overshadowing even the one on the eponymous studio album.
And if perhaps it's not a matter of atmosphere, maybe it's because "It's Too Late To Stop Now" is simply "too much" in every sense: maybe it's that Van is too excited and passionate, he is too showy and aware of his immense talent and, at any cost, he wants to share it all with the lucky audiences attending the tour in the summer of 1973 and with the whole world that buys the double vinyl first and the double CD later.
Look how he preens in "Bring It On Home To Me" (Sam Cooke, who?) or in "Listen To The Lion" (how great is this track) and especially in the concluding "Cyprus Avenue" (speaking of showmanship, here at its extreme, for ten minutes of pure ecstasy).
Wonderful, so wonderful as to make ordinary mortals like me uncomfortable, who only manage to partially comprehend the greatness of a Van Morrison.
Paradoxically, it turns out that the most enjoyable moments are those when he tackles his "lesser" repertoire, basically the entire first record, among beautiful originals rendered with vigor and freshness by the eleven members of the Caledonia Soul Orchestra and covers hovering between soul and blues, from Ray Charles to Willie Dixon, passing through Sonny Boy Williamson.
From the mighty pace of "Ain't Nothing You Can Do," "I've Been Working," and "Help Me" to the slow and sorrowful one of "I Believe To My Soul" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You"; from the strings accompanying a chilling "Into The Mystic" to the joyful frenzy that shakes "These Dreams Of You" and the dressing of previously unknown rhythms; and then "Warm Love," and again "Domino."
Above all, stronger than everything, Van's voice narrating joy and pain, smiles and tears, of sunny California and green Ireland, like no one else can do, neither then nor now. And here everything is wonderful, without causing discomfort but only wonder at how a voice and seven notes can create enchantment.
That same voice, in the splendid, transfigured finale of "Cyprus Avenue" screams that it's too late to stop, leaves with Van's body and leaves room for the indescribable triumph of the horns.
And personally, I can't fathom how Van Morrison managed to do better than "It's Too Late To Stop Now."
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Ain't Nothin' You Can Do (03:36)
Ain't Nothin' You Can Do (Track #1) 3:36 Disc 1
(Deadric Malone, Joe Scott)
Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra
Van Morrison - vocals, guitar, keyboads, sax & producer.
D. Hayes - bass, T. Adams - cello, B. Atwood - trumpet
N. Ellis - viola, T. Haplin - violin, T. Kovatch - violin
J. Labes - keyboards, J. Platania - guitar, N. Rubin - strings
J. Schroer - piano, sax, D. Shaw - clarinet, percus.
Album: It's Too Late To Stop Now 1974
Producer: Ted Templeman. Warner Bros. 2760-2
(Released February, 1974)
When you got a headache
An you try to soothe the pain
Go right back to sleep
And you'll feel all right again
When ya got a backache
Little rubbin' will see you through
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
A man can't break a stone
So he tried another lick
Iceman can't break his ice, Lord
So he tries another pick
An electric lights go out
Candle light will see you through
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Hey!
(Instrumental & guitar solo)
Man can't break a stone
So he tried another lick
Iceman can't break his ice, Lord
So he tried another pick
'Lectric lights go out
A candle light will see you through
When ya got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do, Lord
There ain't nothin' you can do, hey!
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Ev'ry time I think about it
Ev'ry time I think about it
When ya got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Ev'ry time I think about it
Ev'ry time I think about it
Ev'ry time I think about it.
~
03 Into The Mystic (04:28)
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when the fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
And I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And magnificently we will fold into the mystic
When that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
And I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will fold into the mystic
Come on girl...
Too late to stop now...
06 I've Been Working (03:50)
I've been workin'
I've been workin' so hard
I've been workin'
I've been workin' so hard
I come home, tell you when
I've been grindin�
I've been grindin' so long
I've been grindin'
I've been grindin' so long
Been up the freeway, down the freeway
Up, down, back up again
I said, woman-woman-woman-woman
Woman-woman-woman, woman
You're gonna be so good
Woman-woman-woman-woman
Make me feel alright
Way ya walk
Way ya talk
Way ya walk
Way ya talk
Da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da
(Instrumental & horn solo)
I said, woman-woman-woman-woman
Make me feel so good
Woman-woman-woman-woman
Make me feel alright
Way ya walk
Way ya talk
Baby, talk
Baby, talk
Baby, talk
Way ya walk
Way ya talk
Baby, talk
Got the feelin'
Got the feelin'
Got the feelin'
Holdin' back too much
Holdin' back too much, ha
Holdin' back too much
Holdin' back too much
Holdin' back too much
Holdin' back too much
Holdin' back
Holdin' back.
09 Domino (04:28)
Don't want to discuss it
I think it's time for a change
You may get disgusted
And start thinkin' that I'm actin' strange
In that case I'll go underground
Get some heavy rest
Never have to worry
About what is worst and what is best . . . hit it
Chorus:
Oh, oh, Domino
Roll me over, Romeo, there you go
Lord have mercy, I said
Oh, oh, Domino
Roll me over, Romeo, there you go
Say it again
I said oh, oh, Domino
I said oh, oh, Domino
There's no need for argument
There's no argument at all
And if you never hear from him
That just means he didn't call
Or vice-a-versa
That depends on where ever you're at
And if you never hear from me
That just means I would rather not . . . hit it
(Chorus)
Hey mister DJ
I just wanna hear some rhythm & blues right now
On the radio, on the radio, on, on the radio
On, on the radio, On, on the radio
On, on the radio . . . here's the band
12 Saint Dominic's Preview (06:13)
Chamois cleanin' all the windows
Singin' songs about Edith Piaf's soul
And I hear blue strings of no regrets
Cross the street from Cathedral Notre Dame
Meanwhile back in San Fancisco
I tried hard to make this whole thing blend
And we sit up on this jagged
Think it's about story block, with you my friend
And it's a long way, long way to Buffalo
It's a long way to Belfast, too
And I'm hoping that Joyce won't blow the hoist
'Cause this time that bit of more than they can chew
As we gaze out on it, as we gaze out on it
As we gaze out on it, Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
All the orange crates is scattered
I guess the Safeway Supermarket in the rain
Everybody feels so determined
Not to feel anyone else's pain
No one making no commitments
To anybody but themselves
Talkin' behind closed doorways
Tryin' to get outside at the empty shelves
And for ev'ry cross country corner
Ev'ry Hank Williams railroad train that cried
All the chains n' badges and flags and emblems
Ev'ry strain on ev'ry brain and ev'ry eye
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
As we gaze out on, Saint Dominic's Preview, hu!
Saint Dominic's Preview, hey-hey
Saint Dominic's Preview
Oh, the restaurants tables are completely covered
Covered, covered, covered
And the comp'ny's paid out for the wine
You got ev'rything in the world you wanted, don't ya?
Right about now your face should wear a smile
You know it
That's the way it all should happen
In the fairytale state you're in
Have you got your pen and notebook ready?
Sign right here, sign right here
Now when you get in
You're way over on to the 52nd street apartment
Socializing with the winos, too
Just to be and get wet with the jet set
But they was flyin' too high
To see my point of view
14 Listen To The Lion (08:25)
And all my love come down
All my love come tumblin' down
All my love come tumblin' down
All my love come tumblin' down
Oh, listen listen
To the lion
Oh, listen listen listen
To the lion...
Inside of me
Oh, oh, oh
And I shall search my soul
I shall search my very soul
And I shall search my very soul
I shall search my very so-o-oul
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion...
Inside of me
Oh, oh, yeah
And all my tears have flown
All my tears like water flown
And all my tears like water flown
All my tears like-a water flown
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion...
Inside of me
(growling, scatting, etc.)
Listen to the lion (repeated 14 times)
(more scatting)
And we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
... sailed to Caledonia
And we sailed, and we sailed,
And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
Away from Denmark
Way up to Caledonia
Away from Denmark
Way up to Caledonia
And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
All around the World
And we sailed..., and we sailed..., and we sailed...
Looking for a brand new start
And we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
All around the World
... a brand new start
Looking for a brand new start
Looking for a brand new start
Looking for a brand new start
And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed...
Away from the Golden Gate
Way up to the New York City
16 Gloria (03:53)
Like to tell you 'bout my baby.
You know she comes around.
She's about five feet four,
from her head to the ground.
You know she comes around here
Just about midnight.
She makes me feel so good, Lord.
She makes me feel alright.
And her name is G-L-O-R-I,I,I,I..
G-L-O-R-I-A (Gloria)
G-L-O-R-I-A (Gloria)
I'm gonna shout it all night (Gloria)
I'm gonna shout it every day (Gloria)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(Guitar Solo)
She comes around here,
Just about midnight.
She makes me feels so good, Lord.
She makes me feel alright.
She comes walking down my street,
And then she comes to my house
She knocks upon my door.
And then she comes to my room.
And then she makes me feel alright.
G-L-O-R-I-A (Gloria)
G-L-O-R-I-A (Gloria)
I'm gonna shout it all night (Gloria)
I'm gonna shout it every day (Gloria)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
17 Caravan (08:45)
And the caravan is on it's way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama mama look at Ammaro
She's a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la...
And the caravan has all my friends
It will stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la...
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la...
And the caravan is painted red and white
That means ev'rybody's staying overnight
Barefoot gypsy player round the campfire sing and play
And a woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la...
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher, radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hum
La, la, la, la...
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