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For an artist
whose career has embraced Americana influences ranging from folk
to blues to rock, it is somewhat surprising that Van Morrison
has never recorded a true country album. Morrison completes the
Americana circle with his latest release Pay The Devil.
Morrison's first
county music album is an interesting collection of 3 originals
and 12 classic country covers. One might expect Morrison to
retreat to Nashville with studio musicians to record an album so
rooted in classic country. Instead, Van the Man used his
own players to record the album in his home country of
Ireland.
In addition to
classic covers like Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart,"
the release features a couple of R&B-country hybrids.
"Big Blue Diamonds" has been recorded by a
variety of R&B and country artists from Little Willie John
to Ernest Tubb. Similarly, "What Am I Living For"
is a song originally recorded by Chuck Willis and later covered
by Conway Twitty. For an artist who has embraced rhythm
and blues throughout his career, it is not surprising to see
such songs utilized here in a country music setting.
All in all, this
is a good - but not great - experiment for the Irish music icon.
An interesting diversion, but not really Morrison's natural
element.
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Big Blue Diamonds