Van Morrison His Band & Street Choir CD

Live Recording

Personnel: Van Morrison (vocals, guitar, harmonica, tenor saxophone); John Platania (guitar, mandolin); Dahaud Elias Shaar (bass clarinet, drums, percussion, background vocals); Jack Schroer (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, piano); Keith Johnson (trumpet, organ); Alan Hand (piano, organ); John Klingberg (bass instrument); Janet Planet, Judy Clay (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Janet Planet.
After the brilliant one-two punch of Astral Weeks and Moondance, His Band and the Street Choir brings Van Morrison back down to earth, both literally and figuratively. While neither as innovative nor as edgy as its predecessors, His Band and the Street Choir also lacks their overt mysticism; at heart, the album is simply Morrison's valentine to the R&B that inspired him, resulting in the muscular and joyous tribute "Domino" as well as the bouncy "Blue Money" and "Call Me Up in Dreamland." ~ Jason Ankeny
The dark night of the soul that culminated in ASTRAL WEEKS found its counterpart in Morrison's next two albums, the seminal MOONDANCE and its subsequent sister, HIS BAND & THE STREET CHOIR. Both released in 1970, these latter two albums defined the folk/soul/blues amalgam that would prove to be the foundation of Morrison's music. The photos inside the sleeve reveal Van as country gentleman, looking at home and (dare we say it) happy. This image is furthered by his then-wife Janet Planet's liner notes, which paint a picture of Van as a man reborn.
The music more than bears this out. The tunes here are among the most soulful in Morrison's repertoire. The classic opener "Domino" finds him wailing over a punchy horn section and insistent, percolating rhythms, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Van rocks his way through the R&B-inflected "Blue Money," gets down on the funk workout "I've Been Working," and waxes lyrical on "If I Ever Needed Someone," which seems to be both a gospel song and love ballad simultaneously. HIS BAND & THE STREET CHOIR is perhaps Morrison's most open, exuberant recording.

Rolling Stone (2/4/71, p.54) - "...a freer, more relaxed sound....Van's singing is as smooth and powerful as it's ever been....another beautiful phase in the continuing development of one of the few originals left in rock..."
Q (7/93, p.110) - 3 Stars - Good - "...[a] predominantly confessional feel, entwined with a relaxed soul approach....The distinctly funky and brassy `Domino' was Morrison's only American Top 10 single, while `Blue Money' was tightly structured pop of the highest order..."