The Man is 'someone I may know' at Linkedin. Should I invite him to join my network?

In the middle of a loud, hectic song, I love it when a band 'take it down, take it right down' (as Iggy once said) - the guitar's reduced to a tiny strum, the percussion to a tickle on the cymbal.

There's a tension because you don't know how quiet they can go or for how long. But at some point the band are going to come roaring back louder and faster than ever.

I love the live versions of Sister Ray for that reason - the quiet lead guitar, the 'Who is that knocking?' vocal, the drums coming in and the song picking up pace and intensity again.

Or Shout by Otis Day and the Knights in Animal House - 'a little but softer now, a little bit louder now'.

Here are Van Morrison - Cyprus Avenue and Glenn Miller - In the Mood

What about you?

It’s often said that recording Artists make their best music in the early part of their careers, say the first two albums. While that may be true for many (The Strokes – Is this It, Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, The Band – Music from big Pink, etc) it is not always the case.

I was listening to R.E.M the other day (Automatic for the People) and I cast my mind back to the first time I heard the album, and the fact that I'd thought to myself – they’ll never make a better album than this – they’ve peaked.

As far as I’m concerned I was right (I would say that I know!). Any one else care to share a similar experience and has time proved them right or not (no cheating please!)

I picked up this month’s mag on the strength of articles on Paul Simon and Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks. Enjoyed one, was disappointed by the other.

Below are some comments. And I warn you, be prepared to put your feet up and settle back with something bracing, because you’re in for a long ride!

When I ran into Van Morrison, on a street in Sheffield in 1989, he almost had steam coming out his ears. I knew not to approach. Glen Hansard recalls meeting him in 1995. Glen was 20; it's Van's 50th birthday...

From the 1973 Caledonia Soul Orchestra tour. Van in his pomp. This is why I love him (in a manly way, of course).

So, on the fab recent Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl, the version of Slim Slow Slider segues into "I Start Breaking Down" - which, to my ears, was just a product of the jam and not a separate, distinct Van tune.

And yet I could have sworn I heard a Moondance-sort-of-era recording of Van singing this very tune last night at a restaurant, although I may have been swayed by some Aussie temperanillo. I can't find a version of it anywhere, for the life of me, but it might be part of another tune...

Can anyone in the marvellous Massive confirm/deny? HUGELY appreciated.

...when I go to VanMorrison.com - "The only official and authorized website for van morrison information, films and music on the internet" - I can't get beyond the home (only?) page. Is it me or is this continuing fall out from the "I'm not the daddy" incident?

It says a lot about a group when the most charismatic being in your video is a donkey...

I have Moondance and really enjoy it. Where should I go next?

If Gordon Brown was in a band, would we forgive his character traits a bit more? Would we be more intrigued and more sympathetic about his shyness, awkwardness and grumpiness?

Isn't Gordon a bit Van Morrison, Lou Reed, Mark E Smith?

Aren't David Cameron and Nick Clegg a bit Snow Patrol and Athlete?

Isn't Gordon's handling of the banking crisis equivalent to Van Morrison's Cypress Avenue? A wonderful piece of work, despite his character? Or is my talking bollocks meter running dangerously into the red?!

...that thread precipitated by Danny Baker alerting you to a photograph of someone who bore a slight resemblance to Van Morrison? Did Van the Man's men get all heavy with you or something..?

Van the Man becomes Van the Dad.

Imagine, having that curmudegeonly 64 year old as your papa. And, it gets worse for the poor little blighter, for Van's site says:

It described the newest Morrison, born on Tuesday, as "the spitting image of his daddy".

Someone was posting a while ago about film of vintage period Van. Here he is at Ver Fillmore in 1970 from his wee nook on You Tube.

There's also a great clip of him singing Gloria while wearing a preposterous hat. Mystic!

Camus in his famous existentialist tract "The Myth of Sisyphus" asks us to imagine the hero - condemned forever to pushing a boulder to the top of a mountain only to have it roll straight back down and having to start over - as happy in his never ending, laborious and thankless task.

Well, frankly, it is much easier to imagine old Sisyphus - or even his mate Prometheus - having his liver torn at and eaten by eagles for all eternity - as happy go lucky, carefree souls compared to The Grump of Belfast.

And yet, on his 1978 album "Wavelength - Van sounds positively upbeat. The themes - the people and places of his past - are familiar but here are addressed with a joyousness in songs like "Kingdom Hall" and "Checking it Out". While "Natalia" is slickly soulful and "Hungry for Your Love" sinewy and lascivious. I'm not sure Van has sung any better than on this album - particularly on the wonderful "Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession"

Even the cover has him looking all airbrushed and handsome. Well - ish. Throughout, he sounds pretty cheerful. Content even. And actually on "Venice USA" downright playful.

Van happy? Imagine that

http://open.spotify.com/album/4RmKKDfOH7m5OWf2Kb66yW