Van Morrison - Versatile (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Following the massive success of his 37th studio album 'Roll With the Punches' (which charted at No 4 in the UK this September), Van Morrison prepares the release of his 38th, 'Versatile!'

'Versatile' is positive proof that Van Morrison is built differently to other artists. One of very few British recording artists to warrant the description 'living legend', Van is currently working at a rate to put musicians a third of his age to shame; an ethic that harks back to his early days as a recording artist who'd easily release multiple brilliant long players within the space of a year.

While 'Roll With The Punches' saw Van revisit many of the definitive rhythm and blues records that have stayed with him all his life, Van's latest album sees him delve further back into recorded music's archives to interpret some of the 20th century's greatest vocal jazz standards.

Across 'Versatile's sixteen tracks, Van Morrison interprets some of the very building blocks of modern music in his own utterly unique style. As well as songs originally made famous by the likes of Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, the Righteous Brothers, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole, Versatile features six stunning new Van compositions, including Broken Record – a timeless piece of late-night swing.

Van says of 'Versatile:' "Recording songs like these - especially the standards - gave me the chance to stretch out vocally and get back to the music that originally inspired me to sing - jazz!"

A joy from start to finish, Versatile is a completely different record to Roll With the Punches yet it's incontrovertibly Van and proof, if ever it were needed, that at 72 years of age, he's not going to slow down any time soon.



Tracklist:
01. Broken Record 03:15
02. A Foggy Day 03:33
03. Lets Get Lost 03:37
04. Bye Bye Blackbird 03:45
05. Skye Boat Song 04:01
06. Take It Easy Baby 04:07
07. Makin Whoopee 04:51
08. I Get A Kick Out Of You 04:09
09. I Forgot That Love Existed 03:37
10. Unchained Melody 04:32
11. Start All Over Again 04:40
12. Only A Dream 05:29
13. Affirmation 06:03
14. The Party's Over 03:09
15. I Left My Heart In San Francisco 06:01
16. They Can't Take That Away From Me 03:33

Produced by Van Morrison