Avalon Sunset

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
When R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe wrote "That's me in the spotlight / Losing my religion," he could have been singing about Van Morrison, the man who lost his three times within a decade. In the end, though, Van returned to Christ and found himself rewarded with his first British Top 20 hit. With its sparse piano hook and Cliff Richard's guest vocals, "Whenever God Shines His Light" is a misleading beginning for an album awash in the kind of sentimental orchestration that might hurt one's teeth were it not for its perpetrators' almost childlike wonder. Cynics, then, needn't concern themselves with love songs like "Have I Told You Lately" and "Orangefield"--both of which suggest that, despite his renewal of faith, Morrison's muse isn't purely metaphysical. Even better is the spoken-word reverie "Coney Island," in which a grown man can be heard extolling the virtues of potted herrings. Naturally, it's the best thing here. --Peter Paphides

Tracks:

Whenever God Shines His Light
Contacting My Angel
I'd Love To Write Another Song
Have I Told You Lately
Coney Island
I'm Tired Joey Boy
When Will I Ever Learn To Live In God
Orangefield
Daring Night
These Are The Days

Amazon.com

When R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe wrote "That's me in the spotlight / Losing my religion," he could have been singing about Van Morrison, the man who lost his three times within a decade. In the end, though, Van returned to Christ and found himself rewarded with his first British Top 20 hit. With its sparse piano hook and Cliff Richard's guest vocals, "Whenever God Shines His Light" is a misleading beginning for an album awash in the kind of sentimental orchestration that might hurt one's teeth were it not for its perpetrators' almost childlike wonder. Cynics, then, needn't concern themselves with love songs like "Have I Told You Lately" and "Orangefield"--both of which suggest that, despite his renewal of faith, Morrison's muse isn't purely metaphysical. Even better is the spoken-word reverie "Coney Island," in which a grown man can be heard extolling the virtues of potted herrings. Naturally, it's the best thing here. --Peter Paphides

Customer Reviews:

Probably his masterpiece.......2006-03-14

From a fan of the same age as Van, who's familiar with all his tunes from Moondance (and before) to the present, and a non-religious fan at that, nevertheless let me say that this is his best work -- pure Celtic soul at its most content and yet tormented. A poet through and through, and musician too, Van Morisson has caputured that moment just before innocence was lost and continues to tantalize us with what might have been, if only we believed enough.

When Will I Ever Learn to Live..........2005-06-29

Van has written many songs/albums which have a spiritual bent. However, "Avalon Sunset" and its bookend "Enlightenment" are 2 albums which are more overt finding him returning to the Christian faith.

I first bought Avalon Sunset for "Whenever God Shines His Light". It was a catchy tune. However, the song that grabbed me was "Have I Told You Lately". It is an unbelievably romantic song - either to a person you love or to God. And like many people have already said, it sucks that people only know Rod Stewart's version. The real, the best, and the original version is here!

Why only 4 stars? Some songs like "Orangefield" and "I'd Love to Write Another Song" annoy me. Maybe over some more time, these songs will grow on me.

One song that has become a favorite of mine is "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God". This song really irritated me at first listen, but as time has passed, I appreciate more and more the song's incredible soulfulness and melody. (The organ solo which comes after the bridge makes the song) Lyrically, this song speaks to the genuine appreciation of God in everything. However, Van is not so naive to think "Oh, just appreciate God and that's it".

To Van, it's more than that. He sees that despite the brilliance of God and for what God has provided, he has a hard time understanding what that really means to him. However, in the bridge, Van sings:

Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But you've got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new

Van knows that life is a process which breaks down what we used to be, and to build up what we are to be - that this is all in God's plan.

"When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God" embodies much of what makes Avalon Sunset go. Despite the difficulty in understanding and knowing God, Van continues to seek and to know - because based on what glimpses of God that he's experienced, he is humbled and in awe.

marvelous piece of art.......2005-05-25

I really enjoyed that album, which actually introduced me into Van Morrison's world. His music is truly redemptive, haunting and captures your heart and mind. `'I'm Tired Joey Boy'', `'When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God'', `'Orangefield'' and `'These Are the Days'' are my favorite, not to mention the all time classic `'Have I Told You Lately''. Great lyrics, bonded with awesome music, examples of a great craftsman's work, who's not done yet to the telling of his story. We shall keep following him in his spiritual quest. Enjoy!

Very Polished.......2004-06-14

This album is very polished. It includes "Whenever GOD Shines A Light on Me." and "Have I Told You Lately." The latter is one of the best love songs I have ever heard. My wife Debbie and I love to dance to that song. Van Morrison is more brilliant than he gets credit for.

Not nearly as good as earlier work.......2004-05-29

This album has received tremendous praise from many of the Amazon customers but I have to disagree. The lyrics are not nearly as deep and personal as those found on Moondance and Astral Weeks. His voice has obviously aged as well. When examined critically, Van Morrison's voice is not why we enjoy his music (at least for me anyway). It is the spirit and the feelings that his music engenders. His voice is just good enough to not take away from these things. He is in the same league as a Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin in that regard. These guys would probably not sell many acapella albums but would win poetry contests or instrumental competitions for days. When Van Morrison's aged voice is coupled with lyrics written to say "I am a Christian" and not "I am Van Morrison (who happens to be a Christian)" you get only 2 - 2.5 stars.

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

A good value
The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann
Good mix of film music
A mixed collection of movie music
Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores
In Session: Film Music Celebration
The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music
Music In Film (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)

ASIN: B00008WI90
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

The Man from Snowy River (Bruce Rowland)
The Winds of War (Bob Cobert)
Blue Velvet (Angelo Badalamenti)
Witness (Maurice Jarre)
Raising Arizona (Carter Burwell)
Pee Wees Big Adventure (Danny Elfman)
Halloween (John Carpenter)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (Charles Bernstein)
The Fly (Howard Shore)
RoboCop (Basil Poledouris)
The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)
The Right Stuff (Bill Conti)
The Final Conflict (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Abyss (Alan Silvestri)
Brainstorm (James Horner)
Peggy Sue Got Married (John Barry)
My Left Foot (Elmer Bernstein)
The Dead (Alex North)
Stanley & Iris (John Williams)
The Milagro Beanfield War (Dave Grusin)
Driving Miss Daisy (Hans Zimmer)

Tracks:

Steel Magnolias (Georges Delerue)
Unforgiven (Lennie Niehaus and Clint Eastwood)
Raggedy Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Grifters (Elmer Bernstein)
Green Card (Hans Zimmer)
City Slickers (Marc Shaiman)
Father Of The Bride (Alan Silvestri)
While You Were Sleeping (Randy Edelman)
Babe (Nigel Westlake)
The Adventures Of The Great Mouse Detective (Henry Mancini)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Laurence Rosenthal)
The Secret Garden (Zbigniew Preisner)
A Little Princess (Patrick Doyle)
Rudy (Jerry Goldsmith)
Iron Will (Joel McNeely)
Memphis Belle (George Fenton)
Eye Of The Needle (Mikl)
Total Recall (Jerry Goldsmith)
Back To The Future Part III (Alan Silvestri)

Tracks:

To Die For (Danny Elfman)
The Player (Thomas Newman)
Black Robe (Georges Delerue)
Medicine Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
2001 (Alex North)
Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (Joel McNeely)
The Crow (Graeme Revell)
Blade (Mark Isham)
The Omen (Jerry Goldsmith)
Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann)
Scream (Marco Beltrami)
The Sixth Sense (James Newton Howard)
Xena: Warrior Princess (Joseph LoDuca)
Air Force One (Jerry Goldsmith)
Starship Troopers (Basil Poledouris)
The Matrix (Don Davis)
The Iron Giant (Michael Kamen)
Youve Got Mail (George Fenton)
A Little Romance (Georges Delerue)
Pleasantville (Randy Newman)

Tracks:

Sunset Boulevard (Franz Waxman)
L.A. Confidential (Jerry Goldsmith)
Rounders (Christopher Young)
The Score (Howard Shore)
The Replacements (John Debney)
Gone In 60 Seconds (Trevor Rabin)
The Bourne Identity (John Powell)
Rush Hour 2 (Lalo Schifrin)
XXX (Randy Edelman)
Die Hard (Michael Kamen)
The Last of the Mohicans (Trevor Jones)
Moby Dick (Christopher Gordon)
The Mists Of Avalon (Lee Holdridge)
Cleopatra (Alex North)
Life As A House (Mark Isham)
Emma (Rachel Portman)
In The Bedroom (Thomas Newman)
Cast Away (Alan Silvestri)
One True Thing (Cliff Eidelman)
Unfaithful (Jan A.P. Kaczmarek)
Far From Heaven (Elmer Bernstein)
Ice Age (David Newman)
Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell)

Customer Reviews:

A good value.......2007-05-17

I wasn't expecting to have 4 discs for this price, and the music is a quality selection of film music, giving a good scope of the genre, and a very listenable transfer.

The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann.......2006-07-25

This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
Very good value.

Good mix of film music.......2006-07-02

Good mix of films!
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.

A mixed collection of movie music.......2006-02-23

For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.

Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens.......2006-01-06

I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up

Average customer rating:

Mediterranean Sunset
Luciani Ke Fili
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0009XVYBC
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Product Description

Celebrate the spirit of the Mediterranean with this alluring music of Luciani ke fili, featuring a blend of Spanish guitar and traditional Greek instruments. Track listing: 1. Athanata nisiotika (Island Songs That Live Forever) (7:14), 2. Galazia kimata (Beautiful Blue Waves) (5:56), 3. La Brisa del Egιo (Aegean Breeze) (5:21), 4. Espirνtu de aventura (Adventurous Spirit) (5:16), 5. Agapi tis Sofias (For the Love of Sofia) (7:12), 6. Mediterranean Sunset (5:59), 7. Syrto to fegari (Dance of the Moon) (5:33), 8. Panagiri sto horio (Party in the Village) (5:05), 9. Nuevas amistades (New Friendship) (4:14), 10. Ta asteria stin Santorini (The Stars of Santorini) (7:01)

Average customer rating:

Sunset & Vine
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Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0006GB03E
Release Date: 2004-12-27

Tracks:

High Time
Open Your Heart
Soul Searching
Where Is the Love
You Could Be Dreaming
Dont Jump the Gun
First Love
I'll Be Home Tonight
Walk Through Fire
Slowly

Album Description

Japanese pressing of the UK melodic rock act's 2004 album has earliest release (all other territories aren't scheduled until 2005) & includes one bonus track 'No Way Out'. Avalon.

Album Details

Japanese Release featuring a Bonus Track

Average customer rating:

Into The Sunset [Japenese Edition]
Norlander , and Erik
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000LX499O

Music Review:

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