Customer Reviews
Not even a damp blade of grass in this garden - By: J. Smart, 20 Jul 2009 
Is this really a Van Morrison Album? I've played it numerous times but haven't heard any mention of ` Gardens wet with rain'.
Yet another Van Morrison album that most critics rate lower than it really merits. As an album containing more than its fair share of Morrison classics, including the brilliant (Straight To Your Heart) Like A Cannon Ball, it's hard to imagine why this album is generally overlookedin the classic album stakes.
Van had recently married, the oddly named, Janet Planet (was that her real name?) & his happiness & contentidness are very much on show, especially on the title track.
It's a combination of styles from his previous two albums. Opening track Wild Night, & also Moonshine Whiskey, would not be out of place on Moondance.
It's 100% top drawer Van Morrison but don't tell anybody because it's been kept a secret for the last 38 years.
No complaints about the cover on this one either. As Van Morrison sleeves go it's up their with the best. You really couldn't ask for more than that, except maybe 'a few gardens wet with rain'.
It sounds no different! - By: D. Wright, 06 Jul 2008 
It has long been my suspicion that when record companies re-sell us what we already have under the guise of 'remastered' or improved sound, there is actually very little difference, if any at all.
As I still had the older version of this cd I was able to test my theory. I'm no audiophile but to my ears at least there was no difference between the two. If I had to choose I'd say the earlier version is actually slightly better!
I must have now re-bought dozens of albums with 'updated' sound, & the only ones that I can tell have significantly improved are the King Crimson re-issues; the album Islands for example was originally badly recorded.
As far as this Van Morrison release is concerned however I can hear no difference. I have also purchased Veedon Fleece, but not having the earlier version can't compare. I also can't see how a much more recent album like Back On Top can have a significant improvementin the sound anyway. There is a similar recent album, Down The Road to come. This is ironic when Van's first three albums Astral Weeks, Moondance & His Band & the Street Choir aren't includedin the reissues.
As far as I'm concerned the only difference between this & the earlier release are the two bonus tracks, one just an alternative version of an already included track, & the lyrics are included. If you feel these additions are worthwhile then buy it - it's a fine album anyway - but if you already have the older version, there isn't really a compelling reason to upgrade, unless you're desperate for a couple of bonus tracks & the lyrics.
"Tupelo Honey" Gets A Superb Remaster - And It's As Cheap As Chips To!! - By: Mark Barry at Revival Records, West End, 01 Feb 2008 This is the 3rd or even 4th re-issue on CD of "Tupelo Honey" (released originally on Warner Brothersin November 1971) & it's probably the best version to date.
Tracks 1 to 9 make up the original album with Track 10 & 11 being previously unreleased - an Alternate Take of "Wild Night" & a cover version of an old Traditional, "Down By The Riverside". I must say that both bonus tracks are excellent & not at all throwaway crap designed to suckerin punters (as some had feared). The upgraded booklet contains all the lyrics, but disappointingly no history of where the album fits in. The photo of Van, Lady & Horse originally featured on the LP inner gatefold is faithfully reproduced as the booklet centrepiece - a nice touch. There's band & production credits - & even lyrics for the two bonus tracks.
But the best bit is the SOUND. The original analogue master tapes have been 96K/24 Bit digitally remastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Masteringin London for this 28 January 2008 release - & the sound is just beautiful - & that's for almost every track. I say this because, I've had the 1998 remasters for a while & always thought they were `too' loud & `hissy' for comfort. Don't get me wrong, there is unfortunately still audible hiss on the gorgeous "Tupelo Honey" & "You're My Woman" (two on the best on here) but not `too' much to detract. Those without hiss are just unbelievably good.
The punch out of them! From the album opener "Wild Night" to "When That Evening Sun Goes Down" - the band might as well bein your living room - it's that vibrant & alive! The session men putin a blinder too - fantastic brass work by Jack Schroer & Luis Gasca on "Wild Night" with equally superb piano touches from Mark Jordan on "When That Evening Sun Goes Down". Ronnie Montrose, who later formed "Montrose" & created one of the hardest & best rocking debuts everin "Montrose" (1973 on Warner Brothers, also produced by Ted Templeman) plays guitar, mandolin & even throwsin some backing vocals too. Not everything on here is genius of course, but there's just something about his Warner Brothers albums (all of them) that's magical. And it's mid-price too - I picked up my copy for £6in Central London.
Allin all, a great sounding re-issue & one I urge fans & the uninitiated to get stuck into pronto.
PS:
Like "Tupelo Honey", 28 other Van Morrison albums are to be re-issuedin remastered form throughout 2008 & into early 2009. Each will contain upgraded booklets, previously unreleased material & all will be at mid-price. They'll be releasedin 4 batches as follows (29in total):
January 2008 (7 titles)
Tupelo Honey (1971), It's Too Late To Stop Now (2 CD Live Set) (1974),
Wavelenght (1978), Into The Music (1979), A Sense Of Wonder (1985),
Avalon Sunset (1989) & Back On Top (1999)
June 2008 (8 titles)
Veedon Fleece (1974), Common One (1980), Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (1983), Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast (1984), No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), Enlightenment (1990), A Night In San Francisco (2CD Live Set) (1994) & The Healing Game (1997)
September 2008 (7 titles)
Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), A Period Of Transition (1977), Beautiful Vision (1982), Poetic Champions Compose (1987), Hymns To The Silence (2CD Studio Set) (1991), How Long Has This Been Going On (Live At Ronnie Scott's) (1995), Tell Me Something - The Songs Of Mose Allison (1996)
January 2009 (8 titles)
Hard Nose The Highway (1973), Irish Heartbeat (with The Chieftains) (1988),
Too Long In Exile (1993), Days Like This (1995), The Story Of Them (2CD Set) (1999), The Skiffle Sessions - Live In Belfast (with Lonnie Donegan & Chris Barber) (2000), Down The Road (2002) & What's Wrong With This Picture? (2003)
PPS:
Those hoping to see desperately needed sonic upgrades of his 1st & 2nd album masterpieces on Warner Bothers "Astral Weeks" (1968) & "Moondance" (1970) will be disappointed to hear that they're NOTin this re-issue campaign. Apparently there is still some dispute between the record label & Van that remains unresolved. A damn shame! They've both been on crappy-sounding non-remasters for over 20 years & they are glaring omissions here. Both of these recognised masterpieces deserve 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment & soon. (Some tracksin remastered form are available across the 3 volumes of "Best Of"). Let's hope they sort their differences & soon!
Also, Van's new studio album "Keep It Simple" is due 17 March 2008in the UK & 1 April 2008in the USA
(For those interestedin this re-issue series, I've also done reviews for "A Sense Of Wonder", "Into The Music", "Wavelength", "Back On Top" & the 2CD live set "It's Too Late To Stop Now")
Enhanced masterpiece - By: Pieter, 30 Jan 2008 These melodies sneak up on you & linger long after the music has stopped. That is why Tupelo Honey is one of Van Morrison's most accessible & commercially successful albums. This re-release has been enhanced by the addition of Down By The Riverside & an alternate take of Wild Night. The packaging includes the original artwork & the lyrics to all the songs.
Tupelo Honey is a work of genius: there's the gorgeous title track with its delightful imagery & the swirling I Wanna Roo You with its foot tapping rhythm. The catchy When That Evening Sun Goes Down has a propulsive rhythm whilst the structural complexity of Moonshine Whisky, with its tempo changes & delectable female backing vocals, makes for a magnificent composition, similar to some of those meandering gems on Astral Weeks.
Wild Night is a powerful R&B outing with an old time rock & roll feel & Straight To Your Heart is another melodic rocker. I also love Old Woodstock, a song filled with warmth & joy. And that is what this album celebrates - domestic bliss & the joy of life. In its own way, it is therefore as spiritual as most of his best work, although perhaps not so overtly mystical. Well whether you're into Van for his poetry or for his tunes, this album will please you. It's a masterpiece.
Van At His Lyrical Best - By: Angel Delta, 28 Jan 2008 It has been said, by some cynical & unkind critics, that Van Morrison has been releasing the same record for the past 35 years. What is certain is that between 1968 & 1974 Van released six of the most sublime recordsin popular music. Each album from this period deals with different aspects of his intensely felt emotions: death & sex, homesickness & depression, gentleness & playfulness and, with Tupelo Honey, a celebration of his marriage to Janet Planet.
All the songs were written by Van & it is evident that he wasin one of the most buoyant periods of his life; the joyin his heart & voice is manifest.
Typical of his mood are the infectious "I Wanna Roo You Tonight", "When That Evening Sun Goes Down", "Like A Cannonball" & "Moonshine Whisky"; swinging, rocking, rollicking good fun, yet tender & romantic.
Underpinning the album are two gorgeous love songs: "Tupelo Honey" & "You're My Woman". The title track is a masterpiece, almost hymnalin its reflective & emotional transparency - among the best songs that Van has written. "You're My Woman" is a public baring of his Celtic heart to the woman he loved & who bore his child.
This is simply a stunning album with Van at his lyrical best & backed by some fine musicians, including Mark Jordon, who provides some inspirational piano. Buy it, you won't be disappointed
