Wednesday, July 24, 2013

40 Year Itch: Van the Man Plays the Rainbow




For two nights in July of 1973 Van Morrison and his ultra tight 11 piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra played the Rainbow Theatre in London. This is the same band that would record the classic 1974 double live album It's Too Late to Start Now. The string and horn section --and Van's fiery delivery--give even Morrison's Them era tunes an epic quality. The 1973 tour was put together to promote Morrison's first disappointing album Hard Nose the Highway. (Only "Warm Love" can stand next to the high achievements of the man's early 70's work).

 A restless and irritable bandleader, Van broke up the Caledonia Soul Orchestra after the '73 tour but we have the live album and this show to mark the zenith of his concert career.





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