Van Morrison

Wavelength essentially picks up where A Period of Transition left off, offering a focused, full-bodied alternative to that record's warmly fuzzy lack of direction. Like that album, it's hardly a major entry in his catalog, but there are signs that Van Morrison is finding his footing for his latter-day voice. Again, the primary appeal of this record is its atmosphere, a charmingly relaxed outing, high on mildly swinging mid-tempo numbers and round, welcoming ballads. Surely, an album of subtle pleasures like this is primarily for the converted, but once you're there, it's hard to resist Wavelength. [2008 saw an ambitious re-release of most of Van Morrison's post- Them catalog. As part of the series, bonus tracks were included on virtually every newly remastered title. This one includes two live versions of album tracks, recorded during the Wavelength tour in 1978. For anyone who didn't see it, it was the last truly magnificent, high energy Morrison tour. The titles include the title track and the rollicking rhythm and blues gospel of "Kingdom Hall," taken form the sacred to the profane by Morrison, laying out some truly risqué ad lib lyrics, whoops and wails through a harmonica, and the female backing vocalists just tearing it up. The other hip thing about these two tracks is that Peter Van Hooke is the drummer and no less than Camel's Peter Bardens is the keyboard boss.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine and Thom Jurek, All Music Guide