I first really got into Van Morrison shortly after i started playing the saxophone, in 1999 when he released this album Back On Top.
I had heard Precious Time on the radio and i loved it and went a brought it straight away for £13.99.

After i had brought it i just couldnt stop playing it what had i been missing it was brilliant and there was a lot of saxophone in it aswell which was a real added bonus.

The CD cover is very basic just a black silloute of himself with autumn colours behind him, the album comes with all the words to the songs, very nicely done.

Back on Top songs:-

Ist up Is Goin' Down Geneva
The song starts out with a lovely piece of piano playing, it has quiet an upbeat beat to it, the sort to want to just click your fingers too, then comes the singing, great voice, then in the middle another great piece of piano playing, very Jazzy, more great singing then a solo on the electric guitar this is repeated again.

Philosophers Stone:-

This one is very relaxing starting of with the very subtle piano with soft guitar and organ in the background, which accompanies the singer and half way through there is a harmonica solo beautiful, very soft beat of the drums through out.

In The Midnight:-

Again another relaxing song, starting of with the electric guitar followed by singing and acoustic guitar, soft organ playing can be heard in the background.

Back On Top :-

A more upbeat tune this time, starting of with the harmonica and guitar followed by the singer, which is very catchy.
Piano playing though out, yes and a tenor saxophone solo which sounds beautiful.

When The Leaves Come Falling Down:-

This a really nice chilling song, very gentle, soft piano, guitar and a very simple drum beat played with a brush not a drum stick.
Soft singing followed with a piano solo played very softly. Violins play in the background which gives it extra volume, and then ending with the sax and trumpet.

High Summer:-

Slightly up tempo to the last one, starting of with the harmonica, followed by singing with a faster drum beat and a simple guitar cord playing and organ playing.

Reminds Me Of You:-

Slowing up again with gentle electric and acoustic guitar, this is quite a sad song going by the lyrics, organ solo in the middle played softly, Baritone and tenor saxophone playing in the background very low notes to go with the sad song.

New Biography:-

A much more upbeat tune with this song, starting of with electric and acoustic guitar and organ in the background along with drums.
Superb singing followed by a very upbeat saxophone solo which then continues though out the rest of the song. Great Song

Precious Time :-

My all time favourite, starting off with the baritone and tenor saxophone, leading into the singing with both saxophones still playing then just the baritone playing in the background, then followed by the tenor saxophone solo, singing then continues with up tempo drums and guitars in the background then to finish off another solo from the tenor saxophone. Absolutely Awesome.

Golden Autumn Day:-

Slow things down slightly with the last song with a mixture of all instruments, you can hear the drums a bit more in this song along with the stringed instruments, followed with a harmonica solo then followed straight after by a Tenor saxophone solo, but thought out an awesome singer.
Great song to end on.

Van morrison has written all of the above songs and plays acoustic guitar and the harmonica in most of them.

A very talented man.

History:-

Van Morrison was born in belfast in 1945 and as a child collected american blues and jazz albums, also as a child he learnt to play the saxophone, guitar and harmonica and played in local irish bands.

In 1967 he started his solo career in New York and recorded his album Blowin Your Mind.

In 1978 he moved back to england and releases Wave Length and Into The Music.

In 1993 he went back to blues and did a remake of Gloria with John Lee Hooker. ( which i am also a fan of).

How Long Has This Been Going On came in 1995 which has mainly jazz roots.

In 1997 he released The Healing Game and in 1998 came the Philosophers Stone, which contained 30 earlier tracks from 1971 to 1988 these included the absolute classic Bright Side Of The Road.

This album Back On Top was released in 1999 and was one of his most successful albums, and he had his first solo Top 40 hit with the single Precious Time.

I have really enjoyed writing this review and listening to the album again.

Thank you for reading it.