Listening to Van Morrison on Radio Paradise

Van Morrison — Saint Dominic's Preview

Album: Saint Dominic's Preview
Avg rating:

7.3

Your rating:

Total ratings: 1793

Released: 1972
Length: 6:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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Shammy [chamois] cleaning all the windows,
Singing songs about Edith Piaf's soul.
And I hear blue strains of "no regredior"
Across the street from Cathedral Notre Dame.

Meanwhile back in San Francisco
We're trying hard to make this whole thing blend,
As we sit upon this jagged
Storey block, with you my friend.

And it's a long way to Buffalo.
It's a long way to Belfast city too.
And I'm hoping the joist won't blow the hoist
'cos this time, they bit off more than they can chew.

As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview

All the orange boxes are scattered.
Against the Safeway's supermarket in the rain.
And everybody feels so determined
Not to feel anyone else's pain.

(You know that) No one's making no commitments
To anybody but themselves,
Hidin' behind closed doorways,
Tryin' to get outside, outside of empty shells

And for every cross-cuttin' country corner,
For every Hank Williams railroad train that cried,
And all the chains, badges, flags and emblems
And every strain on every brain and every eye (?)

As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview.

And the restaurant tables are completely covered.
The record company has paid out for the wine.
You got everything in the world you ever wanted
Right about now your face should wear a smile.

That's the way it all should happen
When you're in, when you're in the state you're in;
You've got your pen and notebook ready,
I think it's about time, time for us to begin.

And we're over in a 52nd Street apartment,
Socializing with the white hope few,
Just to be hip and get wet with the jet set.
But they're flying too high to see my point of view.

As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview.

See them freedom marching,
Out on the street, freedom marching.
Saint Dominic's Preview.

Comments (155)add comment

I see a couple of comments saying he's not great recently in live performances. I've been lucky enough to see him twice in the last couple of years and his voice sounds great, he loves to wail on his sax and his band is always terrific. Don't let the naysayers sway you form seeing the legend, he's a BMF in my opinion and he still has a tremendous stage presence... Do yourself a favor and go see him if you get the chance... 10 out of 10

Posted 1 year ago by RicoDrumz [ Reply ]

RabbitEars wrote:

I adore this album. Listen to the Lion is one of my most beloved Van songs.

Rrrrr, raaarrrr! Me too.

Posted 1 year ago by nomnol [ Reply ]

I saw him about 3 years ago in Edinburgh, UK, and he was great!

Posted 1 year ago by ianshearer [ Reply ]

h8rhater wrote:

Nobody ever has a bad show. Nobody ever goes to the show with outsized expectations either.

Well, I used to perform and definitely had some bad nights.

Posted 1 year ago by itsme_bygolly [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

jktravl wrote:I saw him two years ago at the Austin City Limits music festival. Do yourself a favor, and don't ever see him live. Not now. I love Van, too, and I'm sure he was fantastic back in the day, but he just doesn't have it anymore. I was so disappointed while we were watching him... I was looking forward to his performance all summer. I know it's just that he's getting old and can't do the things he used to be able to do so easily, but if you love Van, then I recommend you pass on seeing him live, and just be happy with the memories and images you have of him now, and save them from being tainted by his current performances.

ok, i know i'm commenting on a 15 yr old post/comment, but i feel the same. i can't remember the year, but it was over 20 yrs ago when i saw him live in toronto one summer. drove up from pittsburgh. was really excited.
worst concert ever. the venue was an arena or something, no venthilation at all, so hot. that's ok. was excited to see van. well, he sang maybe 2 songs and the rest of his band and "back up" singers played the rest of the performance. i drove to a different country to see van morrison, in summer, spent a lot of money - tickets, gas, lodging, food - and he couldn't stay on stage for more than 2 songs?
very disappointing.

Posted 1 year ago by lily34 [ Reply ]

his first 6 albums are top of his game, up there with dylan, mitchell, beatles

Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind [ Reply ]

well...it's about time you all play the title song

lovely...just lovely

that pedal steel

and the horn section

Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

Nobody ever has a bad show. Nobody ever goes to the show with outsized expectations either.

Posted 1 year ago by h8rhater [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

I have seen Van live around 20 times between 1986 and 2010. I tend to agree with you that I do not have an urge to see him again, especially after all his Covid rhetoric.

Having said that, most of the shows I saw were absolutely magical and cannot be compared with other artists. Yes, he is an old grump and I truly believe he has some major anxiety issues on stage. But he has a real knack of putting extremely talented musicians on the stage. Once he gets into that zone musically it is a very unique experience that I would not want to miss. He take can you to places that touch you emotionally and I have not felt with other artists. I do cherish those moments I have seen him live.

Posted 1 year ago by boffyflow [ Reply ]

RabbitEars wrote:

I adore this album. Listen to the Lion is one of my most beloved Van songs.

Yes, that and Almost Independence Day from the same album are both epic.

Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

Saint Domino's Pizza.

Posted 1 year ago by Stefen [ Reply ]

Seen Van in concert quite a few times over the years and have never been disappointed, the most recent time being in Las Vegas(!) just before COVID hit. Maybe I’ve just been lucky!

Posted 2 years ago by carricknab [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

Agree. We saw him in San Francisco about 20 years ago. He brought along someone younger that was also a tenor. Van sung a couple of songs and pretty much let this lad do the rest of the show. Very disappointing.

Posted 2 years ago by pozar [ Reply ]

When I first saw this album cover it just didn't compute that my hero had a hole in his trousers, didn't he have a mum to take care of things like that?
(I was very young)

Posted 3 years ago by sirtezza [ Reply ]

Yes I don't get it either. The patron saint of astronomers?

Posted 3 years ago by igotitmade2k [ Reply ]

joelb wrote:

One thing's always bugged me - and I love this song - but what the heck is a Preview in this context? Part of a church or a landscape?

Did you ever find out? Perhaps looking up St. Dominic would help.

Posted 3 years ago by nomnol [ Reply ]

Years ago, hubs and I stumbled onto an Irish music program called Sult. All live performances and Van Morrison did this song. So great, and the woman perfoming harmony with him really made it. If you can find it, worth a view.

Posted 3 years ago by DeviceNotFound [ Reply ]

jennything wrote:

I have no idea what it's about, but this could be my favorite all-time song.

Try with "No one is making no commitments ..."

Posted 3 years ago by Pjesnik [ Reply ]

I initially gave this a 9. What was I thinking ... it's a 10, of course.

Posted 4 years ago by Edweirdo [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

jktravl wrote:

Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA.

I saw him two years ago at the Austin City Limits music festival. Do yourself a favor, and don't ever see him live. Not now. I love Van, too, and I'm sure he was fantastic back in the day, but he just doesn't have it anymore. I was so disappointed while we were watching him... I was looking forward to his performance all summer. I know it's just that he's getting old and can't do the things he used to be able to do so easily, but if you love Van, then I recommend you pass on seeing him live, and just be happy with the memories and images you have of him now, and save them from being tainted by his current performances.

This is one person's opinion, which is fine.

BUT... please don't let them tell you to miss seeing an artist that you have longed to see just because they presented his performance in a derogatory manner. They could be wrong. They could be ageist. Van could have just had a bad night. There's really no way of knowing.

Go see him if you can. Form your own opinion. I saw him in the late aughts and he was very good, fwiw.

Even if he hadn't been all that I had hoped (which was not the case), it still would have been great to see the real man performing the real songs. Songs that are his.

Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

jktravl wrote:

Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA.

The version done for the album Sult: Spirit of the music, includes strong backing by Mary Black back in the 90's. An incredible version, One of his best performances!1

Posted 4 years ago by mgfitz [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

jktravl wrote:

Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA.

I saw him Edinburgh a couple of decades ago. He came on stage with his daughter and announced she was very talented and would be singing every second song. And she did!?!

Posted 4 years ago by ScottishWillie [ Reply ]

I wish that this album would be re-issued.

Posted 4 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

I love Van's music, but I saw him at Red Rocks several years ago on a rare tour that hit Denver. He came out, never said a word, blew through his set in 45 minutes, and was done. I'd waited all my life to see him live, the music was good, but definitely felt short changed.

Posted 4 years ago by buddy [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

jktravl wrote:

Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA.

Agreed, saw him about the same in a small club in Hamilton Ontario. He had a female vocalist open for him, she just got up and screamed for 40 minutes. The only reason people stayed was to hear Van. When he got up the first thing he did was call out a couple guys that were smoking a joint, then sang songs that no one had heard before and when the audience starting requesting some of his older hits he refused and left.

Posted 5 years ago by ybconway [ Reply ]

Godlike? Absolutely!

Posted 5 years ago by fredphoesh [ Reply ]

I adore this album. Listen to the Lion is one of my most beloved Van songs.

Posted 6 years ago by RabbitEars [ Reply ]

And I'm hoping the joist won't blow the hoist.

I think I've just discovered my new tag line of irony and wtf...

Posted 8 years ago by kingart [ Reply ]

scraig wrote:

Wow, Amazon is going to charge me $60 for this album! What's the story here?

There are as many stories as there are masterings and pressings of the vinyl album or CD. If you'll look at all the Amazon options, you'll see that there a number of masters—from the original to a couple in the '90s. Then there's where the CD was manufactured. Japanese imports, with their allegedly more stringent manufacturing standards, generally command higher prices. Finally, there's whatever the seller perceives the market's straining point—"This is the most I'll get for this product" because demand is relatively high and supply is relatively (perhaps artificially) low.

If I think the price is too high, I wait. Most of the time my patience is rewarded with something that sounds good at a fraction of the price asked before. Most of the time. I see the prices for St. Dominic's Preview are still fairly steep, but there are options around $30. That would still be too rich for my blood, and I'd wait longer.

Posted 12 years ago by WonderLizard [ Reply ]

scraig wrote:

Wow, Amazon is going to charge me $60 for this album! What's the story here?

It's just that GOOD !

Posted 13 years ago by HazzeSwede [ Reply ]

I really like Van a lot. Not this one so much. It's pretty good but not up to his other works.

Posted 13 years ago by bachbeet [ Reply ]

scraig wrote:

Wow, Amazon is going to charge me $60 for this album! What's the story here?

Now it's $96, must be supply and demand.

Posted 13 years ago by jim1964 [ Reply ]

Wow, Amazon is going to charge me $60 for this album! What's the story here?

Posted 14 years ago by scraig [ Reply ]

Van Morrison

Posted 14 years ago by BowTieDad [ Reply ]

...and again with the follow to Counting Crows...

Posted 14 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

I'll give this song a 9 just because I love the name Dominic...

Posted 14 years ago by gratefulgator [ Reply ]

OmegaConcern wrote:

And I'd rather hear Green Eyed Lady (Sugarloaf) than Brown Eyed Girl any day!

Their one hit wonder. Agreed, BEG is overplayed, but then Van wouldn't play it for decades. It is a painful song for him I think because he didn't get any royalties or residuals. Is he moody? Sure, but his performances are always good to supreme. Unfortunately, he knows he only has a few years as entertainer left and his shows have become mostly unaffordable here in the us.

Posted 14 years ago by albatross [ Reply ]

goosebumps...stellar

Posted 14 years ago by Hedwig [ Reply ]

I hear a few licks of "Hate it Here" by Wilco in this old piece.

Posted 14 years ago by Geecheeboy [ Reply ]

Used to dig VM. Have, over the years, become sick of him. Just seriously over him. I guess I respect him, I just don't like him, FWIW.

And I'd rather hear Green Eyed Lady (Sugarloaf) than Brown Eyed Girl any day!

Posted 14 years ago by OmegaConcern [ Reply ]

siandbeth wrote:

Can someone, anyone, upload the Sons Of Champlin? I have a hankering.

Until someone does, you can find six live concerts (including one under the monicker Yogi Phlegm!) at Wolfgang's Vault:

https://www.wolfgangsvault.com/the-sons-of-champlin/

I grew up in San Rafael a stone's throw from the Champlin abode on C Street. He, Dave Shallock, and "Hags" Haggerty were local heroes with a ferocious band.

Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard [ Reply ]

I've seen him a few times. Sometimes he blows the roof off, sometimes his mood consumes him. I saw a series of shows with Van, Joni & Dylan and he was by far the best of the three every night (and I was on a Joni high at the time). He can certainly be aloof, no doubt.
StDP is a great album...

Posted 15 years ago by RabbitEars [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

I saw him two years ago at the Austin City Limits music festival. Do yourself a favor, and don't ever see him live. Not now.

I love Van, too, and I'm sure he was fantastic back in the day, but he just doesn't have it anymore. I was so disappointed while we were watching him... I was looking forward to his performance all summer. I know it's just that he's getting old and can't do the things he used to be able to do so easily, but if you love Van, then I recommend you pass on seeing him live, and just be happy with the memories and images you have of him now, and save them from being tainted by his current performances.

Don't be so sure he was fantastic back in the day. He was a prick then, too, and has always been willing to trade personal popularity for a vague reputation as a misunderstood artist, which I believe he wears as a badge to make up for a significant lack of vocal talent.

Posted 15 years ago by nate917 [ Reply ]

This is a very nice tune! I saw him 1 year ago on TV in the LATER Show and he was great.But there he had only 2 songs so i cant say anything about his live shows.

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany [ Reply ]

I have no idea what it's about, but this could be my favorite all-time song.

Posted 15 years ago by jennything [ Reply ]

joeychick wrote:

I saw him two years ago at the Austin City Limits music festival. Do yourself a favor, and don't ever see him live. Not now.
I love Van, too, and I'm sure he was fantastic back in the day, but he just doesn't have it anymore. I was so disappointed while we were watching him... I was looking forward to his performance all summer. I know it's just that he's getting old and can't do the things he used to be able to do so easily, but if you love Van, then I recommend you pass on seeing him live, and just be happy with the memories and images you have of him now, and save them from being tainted by his current performances.

Ditto. I saw him a few years ago and it was a major disappointment. He never looked at or addressed the audience; not so much as a thank you. After he mumbled his way through a listless 90-minute set he wandered off the stage never to return. Live and learn.
That said, there is some great music on this album!

Posted 15 years ago by On_The_Beach [ Reply ]

I know that Safeway!

Posted 15 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

MojoJojo wrote:

Nicely done.

Remember, keep your stick on the ice.

Bridieboo wrote:

In my wildest imaginings I never would have pictured Steve Smith (aka Red Green) showing up on this comment board in relation to any song whatsoever LOL

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

CamLwalk wrote:

Lovely song...but what exactly is Saint Dominic's Preview? And where is this Vanlose Stairway anyways?

I don't think either are in Belfast - the album cover shoot certainly wasn't:
https://www.michaelmagic.com/pageTogether14.html

Posted 15 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

CamLwalk wrote:

Lovely song...but what exactly is Saint Dominic's Preview? And where is this Vanlose Stairway anyways?

You'll have fun here (see comments esp.): https://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/35513/

Posted 15 years ago by macadavy [ Reply ]

And we're over in a 52nd Street apartment,
Socializing with the whino few,
Just to be hip and get wet with the jet set.
But they're flying too high to see my point of view.

Lyrics like these are what draw me to Van Morrison.

Posted 15 years ago by jbtidwell [ Reply ]

If I died today, I'd like to come back as a member of Van's horn section. I understand he's a slave driver, but that sure sounds like fun to be part of that.

Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc [ Reply ]

PeterRigg wrote:

Musicianship, voice, feeling, bluesy-ness, phrasing, voice, musicianship.
Good, good music.

All that, and Irish,too? Begorrah!

Posted 15 years ago by toterola [ Reply ]

Nicely done.

Remember, keep your stick on the ice.

Bridieboo wrote:

Posted 15 years ago by MojoJojo [ Reply ]

apd wrote:

The opening notes of that Counting Crows song is now permanently duct-taped to the ending of this, in my head.

Posted 15 years ago by Bridieboo [ Reply ]

Musicianship, voice, feeling, bluesy-ness, phrasing, voice, musicianship.
Good, good music.

Posted 15 years ago by PeterRigg [ Reply ]

Mary_Read wrote:

Arg! Counting Crows after this song again!!

..and again today...

Posted 15 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

apd wrote:

...and again....
The opening notes of that Counting Crows song is now permanently duct-taped to the ending of this, in my head. Thanks Bill.

Duct taped? On RP, the two songs are welded together.

Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior [ Reply ]

sharkey wrote:

jktravl wrote:
..... I have seen Van from 1964 in a coffee house Ottawa Ontario....
Le hibou? Le Hibou on "cactus". An experience never forgotten. In a good way.

I'll bet!

I caught up to "cactus" in Lynn Lake, northern Manitoba in the summer of 1976. "Cactus" was even better in alti-plano NW of Laz Paz.

All in a good way.

Posted 16 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

YAY!!!!!! Van Rocks!

Posted 16 years ago by laroue [ Reply ]

Pharlap wrote:

saw Van give a free concert at the University of Bridgeport, a couple of days after Kent State happened. He must've been bummed (as we all were) cause he kept his back to the audience virtually the whole concert.

Actually, that's how he performs in most of his shows. He's always bummed about something.

Posted 16 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

apd wrote:

...and again...

...and again....
The opening notes of that Counting Crows song is now permanently duct-taped to the ending of this, in my head. Thanks Bill.

Posted 16 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

CamLwalk wrote:

Lovely song... And where is this Vanlose Stairway anyways?

Undoubtedly Ulster. ...and discount those crows.

Posted 16 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

Lovely song...but what exactly is Saint Dominic's Preview? And where is this Vanlose Stairway anyways?

Posted 16 years ago by CamLwalk [ Reply ]

apd wrote:

Bill, I love you like a brother but do you have to follow this track with Counting Crows? Every. Single. Time.

...and again...

Posted 16 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

siandbeth wrote:

Can someone, anyone, upload the Sons Of Champlin? I have a hankering.

Wow, I haven't heard any Sons in decades. Used to really enjoy their albums in the early '70s.

Posted 16 years ago by justin_thyme [ Reply ]

Arg! Counting Crows after this song again!! I saw Van live only once - 1989 at an outdoor concert in Toronto. Van was excellent and all other concerts since have yet to match the magic of that day.

Posted 16 years ago by Mary_Read [ Reply ]

Feelin' It!

Posted 16 years ago by Egrey [ Reply ]

Can someone, anyone, upload the Sons Of Champlin? I have a hankering.

Posted 16 years ago by siandbeth [ Reply ]

Pharlap wrote:

I saw Public Image years ago and Johnny Lydon hid behind an amp the whole time. That was somewhat disappointing.

Posted 16 years ago by siandbeth [ Reply ]

How rude! Actually I'm not that surprised (or mad) to read a comment like that. I know his performances can be spotty. Van has commented on that himself. And it's not just a recent years phenomenon...he's always been that way. Personally, I'd roll the dice and go to a show if I had the chance. You never know, he could be in good form and it could make for a magical evening that you'll never forget. I did in fact see him a few years ago at the Olympia Theater in Dublin. He put on a great show. Van is a real person with all the good and bad traits that come with that. I don't think he has much desire to be fake, put on a happy face, suck it up, etc just to put on a "good" show for the people. I can hardly fault the guy for not being fake. I'd hate to see a truly disappointing performance, but in a way I would understand knowing what type of artist he is. joeychick wrote:

Posted 16 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

Bill, I love you like a brother but do you have to follow this track with Counting Crows? Every. Single. Time.

Posted 16 years ago by apd [ Reply ]

Posted 16 years ago by Pharlap [ Reply ]

Van the man!

Posted 16 years ago by LowPhreak [ Reply ]

I'm rockin horizontal

must stop must sleep m u s t

Posted 16 years ago by pacificbeth [ Reply ]

jktravl wrote: ..... I have seen Van from 1964 in a coffee house Ottawa Ontario.... Le hibou? Le Hibou on "cactus". An experience never forgotten. In a good way.

Posted 16 years ago by sharkey [ Reply ]

sharkey wrote:

jktravl wrote: ..... I have seen Van from 1964 in a coffee house Ottawa Ontario....

Le hibou?

Posted 16 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

jktravl wrote: Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA. Van is touring part of the States now. Check out his Website for schedule. I have seen Van from 1964 in a coffee house Ottawa Ontario (his only hit then was Brown Eye'd Girl) & have never missed him since when he came to Canada. Maybe a dozen concerts in all. Only two that I remember were dissapointing. The latest ones were all good.

Posted 16 years ago by sharkey [ Reply ]

joeychick, Am not surprised.

Demon alcohol.

Alcohol (and who knows what else) destroyed a bunch of big name and smaller name live concerts I attended in the early 1970s. I'm sure it has taken its toll on imbibing performers over the years.

I just lost an aunt who was relatively young and in great physical shape but had an alcohol problem. I believe that is why she choked to death on her food.

Posted 16 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

jktravl wrote:

Grew up on Van the Man. One of the things I want to do before I die is to see him perform. He is still on the road, and still has his voice. Hope he comes back to the USA.

Posted 16 years ago by joeychick [ Reply ]

Once upon a time almost wore the vinyl album out. My all time favourite Van Morrison. One soaring rush.

Posted 16 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

wish the record company would have paid out for a new pair of pants too!

Posted 16 years ago by thatslongformud [ Reply ]

You've got to listen to the double cd "A Night In San Francisco" Good stuff. Fantastic guest artists.

Posted 16 years ago by Wimpy [ Reply ]

Waf! Waf!

Posted 16 years ago by lixy [ Reply ]

eastcoast wrote:

As opposed to the people who feel that stealing from artist isn't really stealing because all music should be free... ...hopped the fence and the greek cops actually HELPED us over so we wouldn't hurt ourselves imagine that, cops who see their job as being the protection of actual people rather than of vested economic interests... ah, to dream...

Hmmm so a fence hop is stealing from the artist or stealing from the greedy promoter? I've hopped a fence here and there and once I got to see the concert, I bought many a recording and turned many a friend onto the music because of it. Think the Greatful Dead lost any money due to encoraging bootleg recordings, or did the profit from fans wanting to buy recordings? Good debate.

Posted 17 years ago by jktravl [ Reply ]

Posted 17 years ago by eastcoast [ Reply ]

i saw van in '83 in the most amazing context of any concert ive ever seen (except perhaps radiohead at a medieval leper house in Bergamo) - among the ancient ruins on the top of Mt. Lycabettus in Athens. hopped the fence and the greek cops actually HELPED us over so we wouldn't hurt ourselves imagine that, cops who see their job as being the protection of actual people rather than of vested economic interests... ah, to dream...

Posted 17 years ago by jedley [ Reply ]

I'd love to see him also, however if I do, I hope it's one of his "on" nights. I have a friend who's seen him many times and said that he can be amazing one night and horrible (usually drunk) the next night. Unforunately, I don't live very close to any large cities that he usually plays.

Posted 17 years ago by MickMan [ Reply ]

Tagish_girl wrote:

okay, since I don't have anything deep to say about most music... I like to look at the record covers...God... I LOVE THOSE DOORS! Fantastic colour, fantastic hardware. I want to live in a house that can fit those doors. I want to paint something in my garden that colour.....

You'll invite me when you get that place? Love those doors too. Who's that guy singing?

Posted 17 years ago by Brestois [ Reply ]

I completely agree... redstorm11 wrote:

have a scotch, then maybe a henieken, and listen to the steel guitars pulling at your soul, and tell me this ain't the shit and the shine'ola!

Posted 17 years ago by dharmanavy [ Reply ]

Posted 17 years ago by Tagish_girl [ Reply ]

He does it to promote a response, so the more people respond to him the more he is encouraged to say what he does. Basic psychology my friend. fcatalao wrote:

why r all your comments so negative?

lily34 wrote:

this one always reminds me of my husband. hey - anyone have that double cd put out about 10 yrs ago? i forget the name. i really like it. don't hear much of it on the radio.

Yep. The title is "Hymns To The Silence"

Posted 17 years ago by KSC [ Reply ]

Posted 18 years ago by lily34 [ Reply ]

tony99 wrote:

Van the Man, gazing wistfully into the distance, already piling on the pounds (note the ripped trousers), but at least back then he was making great music. St. Dominic's Preview is one of his best, IMHO.

Who cares how much he weighs, are you looking for a boyfriend or what? The list of great artists w/out Olympian physiques is rather long, wouldn't you say? And yes, Van was making great music back then. And he still is to this very day. Sorry for you if you're one of those "oh their older stuff was really good, but..." types. Blah blah.

Posted 18 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

OK, I googled it: https://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/glossary/dominic.html Turns out I was as close as anybody - could be the landscape around a church, as in purview, or a reference to a vision the saint had.

Posted 18 years ago by joelb [ Reply ]

Posted 18 years ago by tony99 [ Reply ]

dionysius wrote:

I'm wondering what you think the bum track on Astral Weeks might be, even! But you're completely right about St. Dominic's Preview; it's an amazing, complex, and strangely underrated work from Van. Ten times better than Tupelo Honey or Wavelength, and even rates alongside Into the Music as being possibly His Second Best Album (first is never at issue, of course). Yes, he is often opaque and difficult in his relations with other human beings, but so was William Blake and W.B. Yeats and others of Van's own idols. Being an asshole should not be excused by being a genius, but it helps in the explanantion of it. Still, I don't want to sign a lease with him or marry him, I just want to listen to that music.

The 'bum' track on Astral Weeks is "The Way Young Lovers Do"; unfortunately it doesn't work in the context of the rest. By the way, another brilliant record of his from the time is the live one - "It's Too Late to Stop Now". I think "Listen to the Lion" is even better on this than on "Saint Dominic's ..." Van tapered off after "Veedon Fleece" IMHO.

I had simply forgotten that the "cleaning windows" metaphor started early in VM's lyrics - you gotta love him 'cause he still struggles - maybe it's "chamois"??

Posted 18 years ago by bairdc [ Reply ]