"Real Real Gone" is a hit single written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1990 album Enlightenment. It has remained a popular live performance tune and Morrison has included it on the set lists at many of his concerts since releasing it.
| "Real Real Gone" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Van Morrison | ||||
| from the album Enlightenment | ||||
| A-side | "Real Real Gone" | |||
| B-side | "Start All Over Again" | |||
| Released | September 1990 | |||
| Recorded | October 1989 | |||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 3:43 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
| Producer(s) | Van Morrison | |||
| Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Recording and composition
editIt was originally intended for the album Common One that was recorded in February 1980 at Super Bear Studios in France, but as the tempo became too lively with Herbie Armstrong's rhythm guitar, it didn't fit in with the other songs in the album.[1] The song that is a track on the album, Enlightenment was recorded during the sessions that took place in 1989 with Mick Glossop as producer.[2]
In a review for the album Enlightenment, Rolling Stone called the song "Real Real Gone" his most engaging R&B raveup since the days of 'Domino'"[3]
Other releases
editReal Real Gone was also included in the 1993 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two. It was included briefly during the "In the Garden" medley, before "You Send Me" on the live album A Night in San Francisco. In 1998 an outtake of it appeared on the compilation album The Philosopher's Stone. As it appeared in the movie Donovan Quick, it was included in the 2007 compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits. As a medley with "You Send Me", it was one of the songs performed when Morrison appeared at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2006 and was included on the limited edition album, Live at Austin City Limits Festival. A remastered version of this song is included in the 2007 compilation album, Still on Top - The Greatest Hits.
Real Real Gone was re-recorded with Michael Buble for the Duets: Re-working the Catalogue album, released in March 2015.
Personnel on the original release
edit- Van Morrison – vocals
- Bernie Holland – guitar
- Steve Gregory – tenor saxophone
- Dave Bishop – baritone saxophone
- Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
- Georgie Fame – organ
- Steve Pearce – bass guitar
- Dave Early – drums
Personnel on The Philosopher's Stone
edit- Van Morrison – vocals
- John Allair – organ
- Herbie Armstrong – rhythm guitar
- Mick Cox – guitar
- Pee Wee Ellis – tenor saxophone
- David Hayes – bass
- Mark Isham – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Peter Van Hooke – drums
Covers
editTom Fogerty covered "Real Real Gone" on his 1981 album Deal It Out.[4] Other covers of the song are by Bettye LaVette on Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison and it was released as a single by Herbie Armstrong in 1981.
Charts
edit| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA Charts)[5] | 117 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 18 |
Notes
edit- ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 362
- ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 526
- ^ "Rolling Stone reviews: Enlightenment". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Deal It Out". allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under". bubblingdownunder. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
References
edit- Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7