release date: Jun. 8, 1993
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Van Morrison
label: Exile / Polydor - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Too Long in Exile" - 3. "Lonely Avenue" - 4. "Ball & Chain" - 6. "Till We Get the Healing Done" (4 / 5) - 7. "Gloria" - 9. "Wasted Years" - 11. "Moody's Mood for Love" - 14. "I'll Take Care of You"
22nd studio album by Van Morrison who has teamed up with several familiar names including Georgie Fame, Jonn Savannah, Nicky Scott, Kate St. John and Candy Dulfer, but there's also room for one Mr. John Hooker on two of the songs (#7 & #9).
The album doesn't reveal big changes since the great Hymns to the Silence (1991), which on the other hand appears as more introspective and stylistically varied with this being a more simple-construct of pure rhythm & blues, urban blues and soul jazz compositions without strong influences from celtic folk or traditional singer / songwriter. The album contains 15 tracks with several songs running more than 6 minutes and it's rather lengthy for a single cd release with a total running time exceeding 77 minutes, which also explains why the album was issued as a double vinyl album like the predecessor.
Too Long in Exile was generally met by positive reviews praising it's pure bluesy style and Morrison's free vocal performance.
For some years I found it one of his lesser releases, but you have to hand it to The Man - there's hardly anything as a non-quality album from his hands, so you just have to let it grow on you, and it will reveal itself as another fine collection of songs. And that's how it often is with Van Morrison: an album may sound much like a former release, but if you really pay attention, there's nearly always something new, and something quite extraordinary about a new album as he always puts his soul to his work - and that pays off.
It peaked at number#4 on the UK albums chart list, thus making it his best charting studio album to date. Recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 2/ 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Chicago Tribune 3,5 / 4 stars ]
