release date: Feb. 5, 1990
format: cassette / cd (1998 remaster)
[album rate: 5 / 5]
producer: Van Morrison; various
label: Exile / Polydor - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK
Compilation album and first 'real' best of album by Van Morrison. 'Real' because a number of earlier releases exist such as several issued by Bang Records, but also releases on Bellaphon, London, Nova, DGR, Castle Communications, and Deram mostly just featuring songs from his first recordings while being signed with Bert Berns' label Bang and all released without Morrison's consent except for those released on Decca while playing with Them.
Apparently, Morrison had been reluctant wanting nothing to do in releasing a best of album in the first place, and only long discussions with his record label paved way for a release comprising some 25 years - from his first releases with "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Gloria" with Them from 1964 to "Have I Told You Lately" and "Whenever God Shines His Light" from his most recent album, Avalon Sunset (1989). Nearly all 20 songs (from 13 albums) are written entirely by Van himself, which really is an amazing collection of songs.
The album became and immediate commercial as well as critical success relaunching his musical career and it has also become his best-selling album to date. It peaked at number #4 in the UK and as number #1 in Australia. Since then, he has released another two best of albums: Best of - Volume 2 (1993), and the double album Best of - Volume 3 (2007).
I purchased the album on cassette upon its release in 1990, and it's definitely my most played cassette. My only complaint about this, is the record label's decision not to enlist the songs in chronological order; however, thanks to Morrison's varied stylistic moves and influences over nearly three decades, it's quite remarkable how coherent an album it is. Quite usually, best of albums are just not as good as the individual quality of songs but here's really an album only featuring top material that despite different styles and arrangements make up the finest whole.
Highly recommendable.
