Accentuate the Positive is the 45th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 3 November 2023 by Exile Productions and Virgin Records. It is a cover album of Morrison's favourite rock and roll, R&B and country songs. The album received positive reviews from critics.
Accentuate the Positive | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 3 November 2023 | |||
Genre | Rock and roll | |||
Length | 61:41 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Van Morrison | |||
Van Morrison chronology | ||||
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Accentuate the Positive marks Morrison's second consecutive album of covers and second album of 2023, following on from his album of skiffle covers from March, Moving On Skiffle.[1]
Critical reception
editAggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 72/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
American Songwriter | [1] |
Classic Rock | [3] |
Mojo | [4] |
Record Collector | [5] |
Uncut | 7/10[6] |
Accentuate the Positive received a score of 72 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[2] Uncut stated that "this rock'n'roll album falls far short of Little Richard's atomic excitement in a genre here showing its age, but 78-year-old Van sounds youthly eager, even sensual in between the hushed female harmonies and honky-tonk piano of 'You Are My Sunshine'".[6] David Quantick of Classic Rock called it "something of a relief that Accentuate the Positive is, purely and simply, a covers album" that is "performed with the majestic casualness that only Van Morrison can bring to a song".[3]
Record Collector's Terry Staunton described the album as a "lively mix of swing, jump jive, R&B and classic rock'n'roll [that] constantly plays to the singer's strengths as a thoughtful, inventive interpreter".[5] Mojo felt that "the quieter moments work best, like the moody, organ-led reworking of 'Shakin' All Over', which lesser bands have thrashed into the ground over the years but really shines here".[4] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter found there to be "a charismatic exuberance in his voice few would expect from someone half his age and nearly six-decade history in music" and concluded that "Morrison and his always top-shelf musicians knock out these songs as if they're hanging around the studio, having a party playing music they love without knowing tapes are running".[1]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "You Are My Sunshine" | Jimmie Davis | 3:42 |
2. | "When Will I Be Loved?" | Phil Everly | 3:52 |
3. | "Two Hound Dogs" |
| 3:01 |
4. | "Flip, Flop and Fly" | 3:52 | |
5. | "I Want a Roof Over My Head" | Harvey Oliver Brooks | 2:39 |
6. | "Problems" | 4:37 | |
7. | "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes" | Chuck Willis | 2:42 |
8. | "The Shape I'm In" |
| 2:20 |
9. | "Accentuate the Positive" | 3:24 | |
10. | "Lonesome Train" | 2:58 | |
11. | "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" | Terry Thompson | 2:44 |
12. | "Shakin' All Over" |
| 3:00 |
13. | "Bye Bye Johnny" | Chuck Berry | 2:58 |
14. | "Red Sails in the Sunset" | 2:50 | |
15. | "Sea of Heartbreak" | 4:05 | |
16. | "Blueberry Hill" | 2:49 | |
17. | "Bonaparte's Retreat" | 2:14 | |
18. | "Lucille" |
| 2:54 |
19. | "Shake Rattle and Roll" | Calhoun | 5:00 |
Total length: | 61:41 |
Personnel
edit"You Are My Sunshine"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis
"When Will I Be Loved?"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Phil Everly
"Two Hound Dogs"
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Bill Haley, Frank Pingatore
"Flip, Flop And Fly"
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Charles Calhoun, Lou Willie Turner
"I Want A Roof Over My Head"
- Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Trumpet, Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Harvey O Brooks
"Problems"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant
"Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Music By – Chuck Willis
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
"The Shape I'm In"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Cathy Lynn, Otis Blackwell
"Accentuate The Positive"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
"Lonesome Train"
- Bass – Laurence Cottle
- Drums – Mez Clough
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary, Jeff Beck
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals – Chris Farlowe, Van Morrison
- Written-By – Dorsey Burnette, Glen Moore, Johnny Burnette, Milton Subotsky, Paul Burliso
"A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Paul Moore
- Drums – Jeff Lardner
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Piano – Paul Moran
- Tenor Saxophone – Chris White
- Trombone – Alistair White
- Vocals – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Terry Thompson
"Shakin' All Over"
- Bass – Paul Moore
- Drums – Jeff Lardner
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran
- Tenor Saxophone – Chris White
- Trombone – Alistair White
- Vocals – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Johnny Kidd
"Bye Bye Johnny"
- Backing Vocals – Chantelle Duncan, Crawford Bell, Teena Lyle
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar [Electric Lead Guitar], Lead Guitar [Electric Lead Guitar], Backing Vocals – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Percussion – Sticky Wicket
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals, Electric Guitar [Electric Rhythm Guitar], Rhythm Guitar [Electric Rhythm Guitar] – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Chuck Berry
"Red Sails In The Sunset"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Piano – John McCullough
- Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Hugh Williams, James Kennedy, Wilhelm Grosz
"Sea Of Heartbreak"
- Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan
- Bass – Nick Scott
- Drums – Eamon Ferris
- Piano – John McCullough
- Vocals – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Hal David, Paul Hampton
"Blueberry Hill"
- Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan
- Bass – Nick Scott
- Drums – Eamon Ferris
- Piano – John McCullough
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Al Lewis, Lawrence Stock, Vincent Rose
"Bonaparte's Retreat"
- Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara
- Bass – Pete Hurley
- Drums – Colin Griffin
- Electric Guitar – Dave Keary
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn
- Music By – Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart
- Piano – Stuart McIlroy
- Vocals – Van Morrison
"Lucille"
- Bass – David Hayes
- Drums – Larry Vann
- Electric Guitar – Anthony Paule
- Percussion – Bobby Ruggiero
- Piano – John Allair
- Vocals – Taj Mahal
- Vocals, Alto Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Tambourine – Van Morrison
- Written-By – Albert Collins, Richard Penniman
"Shake Rattle And Roll"
- Bass, Backing Vocals – David Hayes
- Drums, Backing Vocals – Larry Vann
- Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Anthony Paule
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – John Allair
- Percussion, Backing Vocals – Bobby Ruggiero
- Piano, Backing Vocals – Mitch Woods
- Vocals – Van Morrison
- Vocals, Banjo – Taj Mahal
- Written-By – Charles E. Calhoun
Charts
editChart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] | 11 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[8] | 21 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[9] | 179 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] | 42 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 21 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 12 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[13] | 44 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] | 22 |
UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 39 |
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[16] | 2 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[17] | 9 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Horowitz, Hal (2 November 2023). "Review: Van Morrison Accentuates the Positive on Yet Another New Release". American Songwriter. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Accentuate the Positive by Van Morrison Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ a b Quantick, David (2 November 2023). ""Morrison is like a guest on a musical chat show, turning these songs into musical anecdotes": Van Morrison's Accentuate the Positive | Van Morrison". Classic Rock. Retrieved 3 November 2023 – via Loudersound.
- ^ a b "Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Mojo. December 2023. p. 86.
- ^ a b Staunton, Terry (23 October 2023). "Accentuate the Positive | Van Morrison". Record Collector. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Uncut. December 2023. p. 34.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2024.