The healing game

"When he isn't complaining, Morrison presents the same kind of material he has been giving us for decades now, midtempo tunes paced by warm, graceful horn charts in which he evokes passion and spirituality largely through the use of nature imagery and rhythmic repetition".

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"The notes on this somewhat surprising reissue and "deluxe" expansion of Morrison's 1997 release describe it as "Van's mid-career masterpiece." While that might be overstating things a bit, there is no doubt that this, his 23rd studio set which ran a conservative 10 tracks in its initial incarnation, was a comeback of sorts for the Irish icon ... In addition to the first disc's remastered tracks and a few alternate recordings, the 15 cuts of Sessions & Collaborations which comprise the second disc (11 previously unreleased) are especially delightful. Here, Morrison connects with not just Hooker but Carl Perkins on five corkers for some serious rockabilly and Lonnie Donegan on a vibrant skiffle version of the classic "Muleskinner Blues" ... Disc three is a previously unreleased hour-and-20-minute live show recorded in July 1997 at Montreux ... Why this show has stayed in the vault so long is unclear, but it alone is worth the price of this expanded edition of a magnificent if generally under-the-radar Morrison gem that deserves this sumptuous treatment it gets here".

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"Anyone, and that must include most of us, who loves this guy at his best need look no further than to this truly wonderful compilation of Morrison doing what he does, at his very best through the years and decades. This is truly vintage, veteran Van ripping it up, feverishly sensational, soulful and always commanding. The Healing Game comes in a deluxe package that is well worth snatching and savoring. This is great music that lives and breathes, defying the years".

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