Versatile (Van Morrison album)


Versatile is the 38th studio album by Van Morrison, released on 1 December 2017 by Caroline. His second release of the year, it entered the Top 40 in six countries, including the UK. The album consists of some originals, both new and older, mixed with jazz standards.

Recording

The first track, "Broken Record", is an original composition whose opening riff traces back to "Heathrow Shuffle", an instrumental Morrison played from around 1974 in concerts, and is included on the Live at Montreux 1980/1974 DVD. Another original, "Affirmation", was based on a previously released "Sax Instrumental No. 1" from a 1999 CD single for "Back on Top".

Critical reception

The Guardian describes the album as a "lively trip through the swing songbook", "a curious little joy of a record", and "very much a mood album, gently swinging".

Track listing

  1. "Broken Record"
  2. "A Foggy Day"
  3. "Let's Get Lost"
  4. "Bye Bye Blackbird"
  5. "Skye Boat Song"
  6. "Take It Easy Baby"
  7. "Makin' Whoopee"
  8. "I Get a Kick Out of You"
  9. "I Forgot That Love Existed"
  10. "Unchained Melody"
  11. "Start All Over Again"
  12. "Only a Dream"
  13. "Affirmation"
  14. "The Party's Over"
  15. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
  16. "They Can't Take That Away from Me"

Musicians