Into the Music is the eleventh studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1979.

As was often the case with Morrison, the album draws on a variety of styles, from New Orleans R&B to Philly soul and Celtic folk, and the featured soloists are saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and violinist Toni Marcus. On first release this album was hailed as a "comeback" after two lacklustre releases. Its reputation has since grown and now it is often regarded as among Morrison's greatest albums.

The songs were mostly written while Morrison was staying with Herbie Armstrong in the Cotswold village of Epwell, England, and the sense of place is reflected in the spirit of the music. During this time, he would often walk through the fields with his guitar making up songs.^[1]

The healing power of music would be subtly introduced on "And the Healing Has Begun" and would be a continuing theme in his music. Most of the songs were a celebration of love and life especially "Troubadours", "Steppin' Out Queen" and "You Make Me Feel So Free".^[2]

Rolling Stone Magazine reviewer Jay Cocks concludes: "That's what this album is about, proudly and stunningly and with no apologies. Resurrection. Real Hope."

David Marsh described the album's nocturnal, balladic second side suite as "the greatest side of music Morrison has created since Astral Weeks". The suite is also notable for its interpolation of an elegiac version of the fifties pop hit "It's All in the Game", the only #1 single to ever be co-written by a Vice President of the United States.

The opening track, "Bright Side of the Road" was a successful single in the UK, where the album charted at #12.

The January 29, 2008 re-issued and re-mastered version of the album contains alternative takes of "Steppin' Out Queen" and "Troubadours".^[3]

Morrison on Into the Music

Morrison has been quoted as remarking on this album: "Into the Music was about the first album where I felt, I'm starting here....the Wavelength thing, I didn't really feel that was me." (1988)^[4] "That's when I got back into it. That's why I called it Into the Music." (1984)^[5]

Track listing

All songs by Morrison, unless noted

Side One

1. "Bright Side of the Road" ? 3:47
2. "Full Force Gale" ? 3:14
3. "Steppin' Out Queen" ? 5:28
4. "Troubadours" ? 4:41
5. "Rolling Hills" ? 2:53
6. "You Make Me Feel So Free" ? 4:09

Side Two

1. "Angelou" ? 6:48
2. "And the Healing Has Begun" ? 7:59
3. "It's All in the Game" (Charles Dawes, Carl Sigman) ? 4:39
4. "You Know What They're Writing About" ? 6:10

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

1. "Steppin' Out Queen" - 7:00 (alternative take)
2. "Troubadours" - 5:30 (alternative take)

Personnel

• Van Morrison: guitar, harmonica, vocal
• John Allair: organ
• Herbie Armstrong: guitar, backing vocals
• Ry Cooder: slide guitar
• Pee Wee Ellis: tenor saxophone
• David Hayes: bass
• Zakir Hussain: tabla
• Mark Isham: trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet
• Mark Jordan: piano
• Katie Kissoon: backing vocals
• Toni Marcus: mandolin, violin, viola, stroviola
• Peter Van Hooke: drums
• Robin Williamson: penny whistle
• Kurt Wortman: drums

Production

• Producer: Van Morrison
• Assistant Producer: Mick Glossop
• Recorded & Mixed by: Mick Glossop
• Assistant Engineers: Alex Cash (recording), Leslie Ann Jones (mixing)
• Horn Arrangement on "Troubadours": Mark Isham
• Horn Arrangement on tracks 1-3, 6-7 and 9-10: Pee Wee Ellis

Charts

Album - Billboard

Album - UK Album Chart

Notes

References

• Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
• Turner, Steve (1993). Too Late to Stop Now, Viking Penguin, ISBN 0-670-85147-7

External links

• Lyrics and audio samples Into the Music 1970s