Van Morrison’s The Healing Game, originally released in 1997 album, has been reissued as a three-disc set. This Deluxe Edition features the original album, plus extra tracks, sessions, collaborations, and a live show from Montreux. The original album is loaded with classic Morrison, beginning with “Rough God Goes Riding,” driven by its rocking sax and sharp backing vocal. There’s the liltingly beautiful “Piper At The Gates Of Dawn,” with its lyric referencing the children’s book, “The Wind in the Willows.” Paddy Moloney’s uillean pipes easily bringing one to tears, and we are reminded how great this 26th Van Morrison album is. Often referred to as the man’s mid-career masterpiece, the range of instrumentation, styles and expert songwriting here is joy to behold.
Five additional bonus tracks appear on the first disc, including the jangly quiet “St. Dominic’s Preview.” The second disc includes early versions of “The Healing Game,” “Fire In the Belly,” and other previously unreleased material. A group of five feature Morrison and Carl Perkins. There’s the low sax bleat of poppin’ “Boppin’ the Blues,” the muted guitar chuck of “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” and the blues swing of “All By Myself,” show off how well Morrison duets with someone like Carl Perkins.
The Live At Montreux 17 July 1997 disc finds Morrison and his band roaring through a 14-song set. From a jazz take on Anthony Newley’s “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me”), to the slice-you-to-ribbons super soulful, “Sometimes We Cry,” an angry read of “This Weight,” and a rousing encore of “See Me Through,” “Soldier Of Fortune,” a nearly whispery bit of Sly Stone’s “Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Burning Ground.” This never-released-before live set features pristine state-of-the-art sound. As package, The Healing Game (Deluxe Edition) is indeed a Deluxe Edition, giving Van Morrison fans a solid collection of studio and live songs as refined and classic as the singer himself.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
