Poetic Champions Compose [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If his albums are any indication, Van Morrison seems to have bounced between religions like a demented pinball. Amazingly, for a decade that saw the Belfast enigma explore Christianity and Scientology before returning, on Avalon Sunset, to Christianity, Poetic Champions Compose serves as a reminder that Van managed to even cram in an agnostic phase along the way. With this in mind, a desperately bleak version of the folk standard "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" lacerates the heartstrings. But the album shouldn't be assumed by any means to be a depressing affair. Three saxophone instrumentals, including the Miles Davis-influenced "Spanish Steps," lend a crisp Sunday morning feel to much of the proceedings, while "Queen of the Slipstream" and the live favorite "Did Ye Get Healed" suggest that, however bad the crisis of faith was (and the quite awesome preceding album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher suggests it was pretty bad), here is a man ultimately happy to find redemption in a love song. --Peter Paphides

Tracks:

Spanish Steps
The Mystery
Queen Of The Slipstream
I Forgot Love Existed
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Celtic Excavation
Someone Like You
Alan Watts Blues
Give Me My Rapture
Did Ye Get Healed?
Allow Me

Amazon.com

If his albums are any indication, Van Morrison seems to have bounced between religions like a demented pinball. Amazingly, for a decade that saw the Belfast enigma explore Christianity and Scientology before returning, on Avalon Sunset, to Christianity, Poetic Champions Compose serves as a reminder that Van managed to even cram in an agnostic phase along the way. With this in mind, a desperately bleak version of the folk standard "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" lacerates the heartstrings. But the album shouldn't be assumed by any means to be a depressing affair. Three saxophone instrumentals, including the Miles Davis-influenced "Spanish Steps," lend a crisp Sunday morning feel to much of the proceedings, while "Queen of the Slipstream" and the live favorite "Did Ye Get Healed" suggest that, however bad the crisis of faith was (and the quite awesome preceding album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher suggests it was pretty bad), here is a man ultimately happy to find redemption in a love song. --Peter Paphides

Customer Reviews:

Another mystical experience .......2007-03-12

Relating to this album as another Van Morrison release is missing the point. Each of his recordings give a glimpse as to where he is on a mystical, spiritual journey. Morrison likes to plumb the depths; this is no bubblegum artist. However, this fact doesn't negate a playful side. Morrison is versatile enough to touch all bases.

" Poetic Champions..." seems a great introduction to the "adult" Van Morrison. After rollicking good times on many old gems ( " Tupelo Honey", " St.Dominics...") Morrison got serious in the mid 80's. 1987 saw the release of this album, containing dreams and lullabies for the mature set.

" Spanish Steps" purrs. An instrumental, it actually sasheys and purrs. "The Mystery" is an open invitation to embrace the unknown while having faith, the challenge all spiritual seekers wrestle with.

" I Forgot That Love Existed" is a wake-up call. The heart still beats, even as the head tries to snuff it out. " Someone Like You" has been featured in quite a few romantic films, but it plays better among its family. " Allow Me", the closing, another instrumental, floats along like a flower, mid-air, on a spring day.

Always rich in imagry, Morrison begins a cycle that recalls seasons; "Poetic Champions..." is fitting for this time of year, awakening from a long winter, happily drifting toward a warm spring.

Poetic Champions Compose .......2007-01-17

I had not bought a Van Morrison album in many years but one night my wife was watching one of her chic flicks, "Bridget Jones Diary" and I heard an awesome, soulfull love song in the film and it sounded like Van Morrison. I checked it out. The song was "Someone Like You" and I finally found a vinyl copy of the album and I listened to it probably four hours that night. The album never grows old. I'm 54 years old and I have an enormouse record collection spanning 5 decades. This album would be in my top 5. All songs on the album are wonderful, but my favourite is "Queen of The Slipstream". Anyone not moved by this album is not human.

A workingman in his prime.......2006-06-07

The line above is from Cleaning Windows, a song from another CD, but it applies to Poetic Champions Compose as well -- Van Morrison is INTO this music, committed to it, and it is music that means something. Neil Drinkwater's keyboards are silk; Van's saxophone chops are up to the task; and his distinctive voice is as expressive as ever. True enough, this is a more romantic, spiritual side of Van, but artists worth the name always strike out for new territories. For 40 years, Van has led his listeners through combinations of rock, pop, soul, folk, country, jazz, celtic, r&b, and whatever else moved him. This is the record that got me hooked on Van, and years later, it is the record that still pierces my heart.

Poetry.......2005-10-26

The moment you start this journey, hearing Mr. Morrison blowing his alto sax, you KNOW this is no regular event. The mood is set - somber, deep and achingly beautiful. Be ready for the simple, honest lyrics set to true soul music from this small powerhouse of a man. He gets spiritual with THE MYSTERY, shares his longing on QUEEN OF THE SLIPSTREAM, bares his heart on I FORGOT THAT LOVE EXISTED, and on and on. But when he sings SOMEONE LIKE YOU, a tear should fall from anyone who's been in love's eye - man or woman. Van continues on a journey into the blues and then back to the spiritual. It doesn't have to end there if you hit repeat. Perfection!!

Sublime.......2005-10-11

This cd has been in my sound system for ten years, on and off. It simply refuses to grow old. I get withdrawal symptoms when I haven't heard it for a length of time. Beautiful, haunting, romantic, melodic...I do not command the vocabulary to describe the power of this cd.

I have nearly 900 cds in my collection. This is in the top three. This is a Desert Island Disc, for those of you who know what that is.

Beyond description. Beyond compare.

Average customer rating:

Jazzy and atmospheric
A must-have for Van Fans
A classic

Poetic Champions Compose
Van Morrison
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

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Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
A Sense of Wonder
Too Long in Exile
Beautiful Vision
Avalon Sunset

ASIN: B000001FMO
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Spanish Steps
The Mystery
Queen Of The Slipstream
I Forgot That Love Existed
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Celtic Excavation
Someone Like You
Alan Watts Blues
Give Me My Rapture
Did Ye Get Healed?
Allow Me

Customer Reviews:

Jazzy and atmospheric.......2006-03-17

The instrumental Spanish Steps is the languid jazzy introduction to this album of understated songs. The album takes it name from a line in Queen Of The Slipstream, a gentle ballad with a haunting melody. I Forgot That Love Existed is another jazzy number with gorgeous instrumental flourishes, whilst Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child has more of a soul or R&B feel in its yearning vocals and has something of the same effect as Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home.

Celtic Excavation is an ethereal and evocative instrumental with tinkling piano and a lovely lilting flow and Someone Like You is a slow and moving love song. My favourites include the bouncy Alan Watts Blues with its twanging guitar and the rhythmic uptempo Give Me My Rapture, a catchy inspirational song with great organ flourishes.

The piece Did Ye Get Healed? has swirling female backing vocals and the album concludes with another jazzy instrumental titled Allow Me. The album is quite cohesive in creating a mood of contented contemplation with Morrison's characteristic spiritual undertone. It is probably not considered to be amongst his greatest work, but still a classic in my opinion.

A must-have for Van Fans.......1999-10-12

This is one of my three favorite Van Morrison albums, the others being "No Guru" and "Moondance". This is one that even non-fans will love. Beautiful instrumentals, love songs, songs of spiritual longings. The best from the best.

A classic.......1998-05-29

This and "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" are my personal favorites out of Van Morrison's many albums. The instrumentals are among his best efforts in the jazz vein, the Black spiritual "Motherless Child" is done with great depth of feeling, and the other songs run the emotional gamut from the cheery "Give Me My Rapture" to the deeply touching "I Forgot That Love Existed." This album shows off Morrison at his best, and I still listen to it often.

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