On the Burning Ground cover
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On the Burning Ground
(bootleg CD)

CIB Archives - CIB01
(Released August 1997)

  1. Rough God Goes Riding (5:55)
  2. Domino / Shot of Rhythm & Blues (3:16)
  3. It Once Was My Life (4:35)
  4. Sometimes We Cry (5:40)
  5. Fire in the Belly (6:07)
  6. Vanlose Stairway / Trans-Euro Train (4:27)
  7. A Fool For You (Ray Charles) (3:17)
  8. A Change is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke) (4:47)
  9. Tupelo Honey (4:14)
  10. Snow in San Anselmo (4:10)
  11. Satisfied (5:01)
  12. The Healing Game (6:10)
  13. See Me Through / Soldier of Fortune / Thank U Falettinme be Mice Elf Agin (6:26)
  14. Burning Ground (7:59)
    Total time: (72:06)

Recorded live at the Guinness Fleadh, NYC '97, on Randall's Island, New York City, June 14, 1997. Professionally mastered from an audience DAT recording.

Musicians:
Van Morrison: vocals, rhythm guitar
Georgie Fame: Hammond organ, backing vocals
Ronnie Johnson: electric guitar
Nicky Scott: electric bass
Geoff Dunn: drums
Robin Aspland: piano
Leo Green: tenor sax
Pee Wee Ellis: baritone sax
Mat Holland: trumpet
Haji Ahkba: flugelhorn
Katie Kissoon & Brian Kennedy: backing vocals

From the publisher:
There is some crowd noise, particularly on the first two tracks, but for the most part the sound fidelity is very good.

The set list is timely as it includes live performances of six songs from Mr. Morrison's most recent studio album plus two of his oldies - "Domino" and "Snow in San Anselmo". In addition there are two covers not previously recorded - Ray Charles' "A Fool for You" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come".

Review by Michael Hayward:
The comment about crowd noise is certainly pertinant: I found myself remembering comments from Van-list members who'd been at the Fleadh, who found the noisy, beer-drinking crowd more than they could take. It has been tamed a bit, but not eliminated (clearly an impossibility), and I'm sure this disk provides an accurate document of the event (and in an odd way, I even liked the crowd noise on "Domino" - the enthusiasm was infectious, and you can hear your neighbors singing along to the familiar lyrics).

I particularly liked the Ray Charles cover "A Fool for You" - showing Van at his soulful best.

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