Magic Time (Van Morrison Album)

''Magic Time'' is the thirty-first studio album by Van Morrison, released in 2005 by Geffen Records. The album debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard charts and number 3 on the UK charts—Morrison's best chart debut until ''Still on Top – The Greatest Hits'' debuted at number 2 on the UK charts in 2007. By the end of 2005, ''Magic Time'' had sold 252,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. ''Rolling Stone'' listed it as #17 on their list of The Top 50 Records of 2005.

Recording

The album covers a variety of styles ranging from Celtic rock to R&B and the blues. "Just Like Greta" was recorded in 2000 and originally intended for 2002's '' Down the Road'' (when the album was tentatively titled ''Choppin' Wood''), but it was ultimately dropped and used for this album. The rest of the songs were recorded in 2003.

Composition

The title song is about a nostalgic searching of the past in order to capture a magic moment almost lost in memory. "The Lion This Time" is a continuation over thirty years later of " Listen to the Lion" that first appeared on his album ''Saint Dominic's Preview''. There is a nursery rhyme quality to it as with its predecessor and a delicate use of a classical string arrangement. Thom Jurek with Allmusic says: "The acoustic 'The Lion This Time' is one of the finest ballads Morrison has cut in decades. Period." "Gypsy in My Soul" is also reminiscent of a song "Gypsy" from ''Saint Dominic's Preview''. "Just Like Greta" and " Stranded" have similar themes of being lost in an alien world with only oneself to rely on. "Celtic New Year" is reminiscent of ''Irish Heartbeat'', an album with The Chieftains. An Allmusic review calls it "trademark Morrison; the long, loping, repetitive line that is his trademark fuels this one. It's carried by the interplay between Morrison's acoustic and Foggy Lyttle's electric guitar fills, and aided by Chieftain Paddy Moloney's whistle." "Carry On Regardless" is a singing list of "Carry On Films" that Morrison seemed to have a special fondness for.

Reception

A ''Paste'' reviewer on ''Magic Time'' says: "You expect to encounter a tired legend, a once-mighty king becalmed and tamed by the miles and years. You find instead an echo of a full-throated roar hanging in the air, the telltale signs of a bloody struggle, and an empty cage. The lion in winter is on the loose." (Andy Whitman)

''The Music Box'' rated ''Magic Time'' the number seven album of the year in May 2005.

Liner notes

On the first page of the liner notes is the notation:
"This album is dedicated to the memory of Foggy Lyttle who played on most of the tracks."

Track listing

All songs by Van Morrison; unless otherwise noted

# " Stranded" – 5:34
# "Celtic New Year" – 6:10
# "Keep Mediocrity at Bay" – 3:44
# "Evening Train" – 2:48
# "This Love of Mine" (Sol Parker, Henry W. Sanicola, Frank Sinatra) – 2:42
# "I'm Confessin'" (Doc Daughtery, Al Neiburg, Ellis Reynolds) – 4:29
# "Just Like Greta" – 6:25
# "Gypsy in My Soul" – 4:04
# "Lonely and Blue" ("Black and Blue" with altered lyrics) ( Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) – 3:41
# "The Lion This Time" – 4:56
# "Magic Time" – 5:06
# "They Sold Me Out" – 3:11
# "Carry On Regardless" – 5:54

Personnel

Musicians:
* Van Morrison – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone
* Mick Green – guitar
* Foggy Lyttle – guitar
* Michael Fields – Spanish guitar, lute
* Martin Winning – tenor and baritone saxophones
* Matt Holland – trumpet
* Paddy Moloney – whistle
* Myles Drennan – piano, Hammond organ
* Brian Connor – piano, keyboards
* Dave Lewis – piano
* John Allair – Hammond organ
* Jerome Rimson – bass, backing vocals
* David Hayes – bass
* Liam Bradley – drums, backing vocals
* Noel Bridgeman, Johnathan Mele née Jonathan Mele, Bobby Irwin – drums
* Johnny Scott, Siobhan Pettit, Olwin Bell, Crawford Bell, Aine Whelan, Karen Hamill – backing vocals
* Irish Film Orchestra – strings

Production:
* Richard Evans – Design and art direction, sleeve photographs
* Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London – Mastering
* Javier Pierini/Getty Images – Front cover photograph
* Solly Lipsitz – Sleeve notes

Charts

Album – UK Album Chart

Album – Billboard

Dutch charts
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References

Sources:
* Heylin, Clinton (2003). ''Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography'', Chicago Review Press,
* Rogan, Johnny (2006). '' Van Morrison: No Surrender'', London:Vintage Books

Paste Magazine Review: Magic Time

External links

Rolling Stone Review #17

Paste Magazine: Listening to Old Voices

CD covers

{{Authority control

Van Morrison albums
2005 albums
Geffen Records albums
Albums produced by Van Morrison