The Best of Van Morrison
Van Morrison reputedly wasn't crazy about the idea of a greatest-hits package, and this set's haphazard programming--which leaps from period to period, style to style, tossing in two key singles by his mid-'60s band Them-- speaks to his lack of involvement. Still, it rivalsMoondanceas Morrison's most popular album, and for a reason: like that classic, it offers one deeply soulful, spiritually and musically thoughtful track after another. Much of his more "difficult" work is ignored here; in fact,Best Of...gives us an intriguing picture of a Van almost eager to please.--Rickey Wright