Van Morrison’s New Duets Album Focuses on Deep Cuts
Van Morrison is taking another pass at some of his favorite lesser-known songs, and he's bringing some friends along this time.
Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue will include guest turns by Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler and others. The album, due on March 24, features deep cuts handpicked by Morrison and his invited collaborators.
Winwood worked with Morrison on a new version of “Fire in the Belly,” originally from 1997's The Healing Game. Knopfler sat in for “Irish Heartbeat,” the title track from a 1988 Van Morrison project.
Duets: Re-Working the Catalogue, Morrison's 35th studio album, was recorded in his hometown of Belfast and in London over the past year, using updated arrangements on the old songs. Don Was and Bob Rock co-produced the record.
Other guests included Taj Mahal (“How Can a Poor Boy”), Mavis Staples (“Lord, If I Ever Needed Someone”), Georgie Fame (“Get On With the Show”) and Morrison's daughter Shana Morrison (“Rough God Goes Riding”).
Some of the songs are barely a few years old. Chris Farlow collaborates on the title track from 2012's 'Born to Sing: No Plan B,' Morrison's most recent studio effort. The album's first single, a new take on “Real Real Gone” from 1990's Enlightenment, features singer Michael Buble.
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