Roll with the Punches (album) explained

Roll with the Punches
Type:studio
Artist:Van Morrison
Cover:Van Morrison Roll with the Punches.jpg
Released:22 September 2017
Recorded:2017
Genre:Rock, Americana
Label:Caroline
Producer:Van Morrison
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Roll with the Punches is the 37th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 22 September 2017 by Caroline Records.[1] It features Jeff Beck on guitar, and charted in the Top 10 in five countries, and the Top 40 in a further six, including the US.

Great guests on this album, Jeff Beck on electric guitar, Georgie Fame on Hammond organ and vocals, Paul Moran also on Hammond organ and trumpet, Paul Jones on harmonica and vocals and, last but not least, Chris Farlowe on vocals.

Background and launch

The album consists of five original songs and ten covers.[2] The cover originally featured former professional wrestler and Mohawk chief Billy Two Rivers, who sued the singer and the label, Universal Music Group, claiming that they did not seek permission to use his likeness. The parties agreed to settle out of court, and the cover was replaced, to feature Omagh boxer William Mitchell.[3] [4] [5]

On 25 September, Morrison spoke to Paul Jones - who is a guest musician on the album - on his BBC Radio 2 show to coincide with its release. [6] When Morrison received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from Emmylou Harris at the 2017 Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony, he performed "Transformation", from the album. He has said that the inspiration for the song came from encountering the Californian Christian community, Agape.[7]

Critical reception

Pitchfork says that Roll with the Punches is "a thorough exploration of the blues", the first time Morrison has dedicated an entire album to that genre. Hailing it as "crisp, precise", it "reveals [Morrison's] ability to inhabit classic songs while paying respect to their form."[8] Slate finds that it "plays like a party album", and in departing from "his trademark blend of jazz, folk, and Celtic soul" is Morrison's "most distinctive album since 2006’s country covers collection Pay the Devil".[9] Greil Marcus called it "a tremendous rebound from his last few albums," writing that Morrison "makes Sam Cooke’s 'Bring It on Home to Me' feel like it has a hundred years ahead of it."[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[11]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Van Morrison Released 'Bring It On Home to Me' Video ::Van Morrison News ::antiMusic.com. www.antimusic.com. 7 September 2017.
  2. News: Van sings Sam: Watch Van Morrison perform the Sam Cooke classic "Bring It on Home to Me" live. Full Service 100.1/Real Country Q. 7 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Fennario . Tom . 9 April 2019 . Mohawk Elder Billy Two Rivers talks wrestling, the Oka Crisis, and being a grandparent . 11 November 2022 . APTN News.
  4. Web site: Billy Two Rivers, former pro wrestler, to settle lawsuit against Van Morrison. CBC. August 4, 2017.
  5. Web site: A Brief History of Musicians Being Sued by Their Album Cover Subjects. Pitchfork. Hogan. Marc. August 26, 2021. December 8, 2021.
  6. Web site: Van Morrison Special, The Blues Show with Paul Jones - BBC Radio 2. BBC. 29 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Little . Ivan . 22 September 2017 . US spiritualists celebrate 'brother' Van Morrison's birthday . 11 November 2022 . The Belfast Telegraph.
  8. Web site: Nelson . Brad . 2017 . Albums: Roll With the Punches - Van Morrison . 11 November 2022 . Pitchfork.
  9. Web site: Hurst . Josh . 29 September 2017 . Review: Van Morrison, Roll with the Punches . 11 November 2022 . Slate.
  10. Web site: Marcus . Greil . 2017 . Greil Marcus's Real Life Rock Top 10: All Punches . 17 May 2024 . villagevoice.com.
  11. Web site: Roll with the Punches - Van Morrison - Credits. AllMusic. 26 September 2017.
  12. Web site: Top 100 Albumes — Semana 39: del 22.09.2017 al 28.09.2017. Productores de Música de España. es. 5 October 2017.
  13. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2017. Ultratop. 23 July 2020.

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