Sweet Thing (Van Morrison song)
Encyclopedia
"Sweet Thing" is one of the songs included on Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
's 1968 acclaimed second album Astral Weeks
. It was on the first side of the album, that was under the heading: In the Beginning. The song was later used in 1971 as the American B-side to Morrison's single "Blue Money".
with Lewis Merenstein
as producer.
It was written after Morrison had met his future wife Janet while on tour in the US
in 1966 and during the year of separation after he returned to Belfast
. It is the only song on the album that looks forward instead of backward:
Van Morrison described the song to Ritchie Yorke
: "Sweet Thing" is another romantic song. It contemplates gardens and things like that...wet with rain. It's a romantic love ballad not about anybody in particular but about a feeling.
from listener's votes.
. It was also featured on Morrison's album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
, released in 2009 to celebrate forty years since Astral Weeks was first released
's 2004 posthumously released live album Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition)
. The Waterboys
covered it on Fisherman's Blues
. Shana Morrison
included a cover of "Sweet Thing" on her debut album Caledonia (1999). Ezio
covered it on the album, Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire
. Joe Louis Walker
included a version on his album Pasa Tiempo (2002). The 4 of Us
covered it at the Astral Weeks Revisited concert in Belfast
, 5 January 2008 to mark the 40th anniversary of Astral Weeks.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
's 1968 acclaimed second album Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks is the second solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in November 1968 on Warner Bros. Records. It was Morrison's first album after Warner Bros. had been able to free him from his contract with Bang Records...
. It was on the first side of the album, that was under the heading: In the Beginning. The song was later used in 1971 as the American B-side to Morrison's single "Blue Money".
Recording and composition
"Sweet Thing" was recorded during the last Astral Weeks session on October 15, 1968 at Century Sound Studios in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein is most famous as the record producer for the Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks, and as executive producer for Moondance, Morrison's 1970 album.Astral Weeks is listed as #19 on the Rolling Stone Magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003...
as producer.
It was written after Morrison had met his future wife Janet while on tour in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1966 and during the year of separation after he returned to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. It is the only song on the album that looks forward instead of backward:
- You shall take me strongly in your arms again
- And I will not remember that I ever felt the pain
Van Morrison described the song to Ritchie Yorke
Ritchie Yorke
Ritchie Yorke is an Australian-born author, broadcaster, historian and music journalist. Born in Brisbane in 1944, while his father was serving with the Australian Army, Yorke developed a passion for rock ‘n’ roll in his early teens.-Biography:...
: "Sweet Thing" is another romantic song. It contemplates gardens and things like that...wet with rain. It's a romantic love ballad not about anybody in particular but about a feeling.
Acclaim
It was listed as No. 415 on the All Time 885 Greatest Songs compiled in 2004 by WXPNWXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
from listener's votes.
Other releases
Sweet Thing" is the only song from Astral Weeks included on the 1990 compilation album The Best of Van MorrisonThe Best of Van Morrison
The Best of Van Morrison is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1990 ....
. It was also featured on Morrison's album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl is the fifth live album recorded by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, and released in the US on February 24, 2009 and on February 9, 2009 in the UK...
, released in 2009 to celebrate forty years since Astral Weeks was first released
Personnel
- Van Morrison – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jay BerlinerJay BerlinerJay Berliner is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Starting with his first television experience at age 7 on NBC’s The Children’s Hour with sister Eve, his career has spanned the globe: from the Metropolitan Opera house , where he was house guitarist and mandolinist; to...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Richard Davis – double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Connie KayConnie KayConnie Kay was an American jazz drummer.Kay was a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet from 1955 until the group's dissolution in 1974...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - John Payne – fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Larry FallonLarry FallonLarry Fallon was an American composer, arranger and record producer.Arranger credits include Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, Nico's Chelsea Girl, Jimmy Cliff's Wonderful World, Beautiful People, the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and Gil Scott-Heron's Bridges. He played the distinctive harpsichord...
– string arrangements
Covers
A live extended version of Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing" is featured on Jeff BuckleyJeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
's 2004 posthumously released live album Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition)
Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition)
Live at Sin-é is a 2003 live double album by Jeff Buckley. It is the extended version of Buckley's 1993 EP Live at Sin-é, released by Columbia Records. Recorded over two afternoons at Sin-é, the Legacy Edition is a two-disc set , plus a ten-minute bonus DVD containing brief excerpts of Jeff...
. The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
covered it on Fisherman's Blues
Fisherman's Blues
Fisherman's Blues is the 1988 album by The Waterboys. The album marked a change in the sound of The Waterboys', abandoning their earlier grandiose rock sound for a mixture of traditional Scottish music, country music and rock and roll. Critics were divided on its release with some disappointed at...
. Shana Morrison
Shana Morrison
Shana Morrison, born Shana Caledonia Morrison, on April 7, 1970, in Kingston, New York, is an American singer-songwriter and the daughter of Northern Irish singer-songwriter, Van Morrison, and his ex-wife, Janet Rigsbee Minto.-Early life:...
included a cover of "Sweet Thing" on her debut album Caledonia (1999). Ezio
Ezio (band)
Ezio is a folk music band from Cambridge, England formed in 1990. Ezio have six studio albums, one compilation album, four live albums and three videos / DVDs, built up a large fanbase without breaking into the mainstream of the British music scene...
covered it on the album, Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire
Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire
For the DVD, see Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire Live at the Shepherds Bush Empire is the fourth album, and the first live album, by Ezio, recorded live at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London, England on 5 March 1999 and released later that year.-Track listing:All songs written by Ezio Lunedei...
. Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker, also known as JLW is an American musician, best known as a electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. A feature of his work is his recourse to older material or playing styles, which revealed his knowledge of blues history.-Career:Joe Louis Walker was born in San...
included a version on his album Pasa Tiempo (2002). The 4 of Us
The 4 of Us
The 4 Of Us are a rock band from Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, best known outside Ireland for their output in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
covered it at the Astral Weeks Revisited concert in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, 5 January 2008 to mark the 40th anniversary of Astral Weeks.