COMMON ONE

Personnel: Van Morrison (vocals); Mick Cox, Herbie Armstrong (guitar); John Allair (keyboards); David Hayes (bass); Peter Van Hooke (drums); Pete Brewis (background vocals). Engineers: Henry Lewy, Dave Burgess, Chris Martin. Recorded at Super Bear Studios, France, on February 11-19, 1980. Personnel: Van Morrison (vocals, guitar, harmonica, saxophone, keyboards); Herbie Armstrong (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Peter Brewis (vocals, background vocals); Mick Cox (guitar); Pee Wee Ellis (flute, saxophone); Mark Isham (trumpet, flugelhorn, synthesizer); John Allair (keyboards); Eddie Lee Charlton, Peter Van Hooke (drums). Recording information: Super Bear Studios, France (02/11/1980-02/19/1980); The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA (02/11/1980-02/19/1980). Arranger: Pee Wee Ellis. Van's 1980 release COMMON ONE is more in the meditative and poetic tradition of his masterpiece ASTRAL WEEKS than the R&B-infused pop ditty mode of a MOONDANCE or the Irish-country flair of a TUPELO HONEY. It captures the visionary songwriter/performer at the tail end of his pastoral phase. The album's expansive, cerebral approach is highlighted by two fifteen-minute excursions that almost act as bookend pieces--"Summertime In England" and "When The Heart Is Open"--both worthy compositions in their own right. Although it's not prime Morrison, COMMON ONE's highly literate lyrical content and atmospheric moodiness make for good listening nevertheless.