The Best of Van Morrison Volume 2
Compiled by Morrison himself, this 1993 collection focuses mainly on his work from 1984-1991. Representing a period during which Morrison scored very few popular hits, the majority of the record's 15 tracks are probably fairly obscure to people other than diehard fans. Nevertheless, this is a vital introduction to Morrison's later, more idiosyncratic material. Many of the songs are marked by an intense, spiritual longing and deal on a very mature level with Morrison's quest for religious fulfillment. For instance, "Real Real Gone" (from 1990'sEnlightenment) and "In the Garden" (from 1986'sNo Guru, No Method, No Teacher) play like an inspired hybrid of gospel and Irish folk music. Somewhat inexplicably, Morrison also includes two songs from his mid-'60s group Them, a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Don't Look Back" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now Baby Blue."--Ian Landau