Keep Me Singing received generally positive reviews from music critics , with Metacritic giving the album an average score of 74 / 100 based on ten reviews.[ 4] Rolling Stone found that "through arrangements elegant to a fault, his mercurial tenor, more supple and restrained, remains a marvel", with his delivery at times being "full of chortles, snarls and gospel-tinged hollers."[ 10] Hot Press wrote that Morrison's "voice is as strong and expressive as ever, while the songs are a mix of familiar-sounding, soulful ballads and mid-tempo jazz-influenced tunes."[ 11] His "liquid-smooth voice" is "just as soulful as ever", wrote PopMatters , finding that Morrison "draws on a variety of vocal traditions from Celtic folk to contemporary jazz", and combines them "through the sheer force of his being."[ 12] Consequence concluded that "[there] are very few constants in life, but another warm record from Van the Man seems par for the course", but noted that it was "pierced with a severe, self-reflective melancholy".[ 13]
Publication
Accolade
Year
Rank
Mojo
The 50 Best Albums of 2016
2016
Keep Me Singing debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart , and at number nine on the US Billboard 200 .[ 3] It sold 25,000 units in the US in its first week, with almost all of that figure in traditional album sales.[ 3] It is his last US Top 10 to date.
Title 1. "Let It Rhyme" 3:53 2. "Every Time I See a River" 4:43 3. "Keep Me Singing" 3:39 4. "Out in the Cold Again" 7:06 5. "Memory Lane" 4:08 6. "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword" 3:51 7. "Holy Guardian Angel" 6:18 8. "Share Your Love with Me" 4:11 9. "In Tiburon" 5:18 10. "Look Beyond the Hill" 2:28 11. "Going Down to Bangor" 5:18 12. "Too Late" 2:48 13. "Caledonia Swing" 2:52
Van Morrison - vocals, guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 11, 12), drums (4, 5), piano (13), alto saxophone (8, 10, 13), blues harp (1, 3, 11).
Dave Keary - acoustic and electric guitar (1, 2, 6, 8–10).
Johnny Scott - electric guitar (3, 11).
Nigel Price - acoustic and electric guitar (4, 5, 12).
John Platania - acoustic guitar (7, 13).
Paul Moore - bass (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13).
Nicky Scott - bass (3, 11).
Jez Brown - bass (6, 9).
Laurence Cottle - bass (4, 5, 12), trombone (8, 10, 12).
Paul Moran - keyboards (1, 2, 4–10, 12, 13), trumpet (2, 8–10, 12).
Fiachra Trench - keyboards (1–5, 8, 10–12), strings arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 7).
Enda Walsh - keyboards (2, 3, 7), percussion (3).
Robbie Ruggiero - drums (1, 6, 9).
Liam Bradley - drums and percussion (2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11).
Paul Robinson - drums (4, 5, 12).
Neal Wilkinson - drums (13).
Kate St John - english horn (4, 5).
Anthony Kerr - vibraphone (8, 10).
Tony Fitzgibbon - fiddle (13).
Ange Grant, Dana Masters, Lance Ellington - backing vocals.
^ Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 October 2016 .
^ Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ a b c d Caulfield, Keith (9 October 2016). "Solange Scores Her First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'A Seat at the Table' " . Billboard . Retrieved 10 October 2016 .
^ a b "Reviews for Keep Me Singing by Van Morrison" . Metacritic . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Thom Jurek (30 September 2016). "Keep Me Singing - Van Morrison | Songs, Reviews, Credits" . AllMusic . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Bernstein, Jonathan (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison's Keep Me Singing: EW review" . EW.com . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Andy Gill (28 September 2016). "Album reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Van Morrison, Bon Iver, Pixies, Regina Spektor and more" . The Independent . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison, 'Keep Me Singing' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 6 October 2016 .
^ Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison Brings Vintage Chill to 'Keep Me Singing' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved 10 November 2022 .
^ O'Hare, Colm (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison, Keep Me Singing" . Hot Press . Retrieved 10 November 2022 .
^ Horowitz, Steve (4 November 2016). "Van Morrison: Keep Me Singing" . PopMatters . Retrieved 10 November 2022 .
^ Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Consequence . Retrieved 10 November 2022 .
^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2016" . Mojo . 22 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016 .
^ "Australiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Van Morrison Chart History (Canadian Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved 11 October 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Lescharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 40, 2016" . Chart-Track . IRMA . Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 40: del 30.09.2016 al 06.10.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 14 October 2016 .
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 October 2016.
^ "Van Morrison Chart History (Top Rock Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved 25 July 2020.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2016" . Ultratop. Retrieved 25 July 2020 .
^ "Top 100 Albums Annual 2016" . El portal de Música . Retrieved 28 January 2022 .
^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2016" . Billboard . Retrieved 25 July 2020 .