(click on cover image for larger version)

A vantrades CD-R Tree Production
Royal Albert Hall
(Royal Albert Hall
London, England
April 19-21, 2001)

No label
(Initially treed circa May, 2001)

CD 1

1. Cadillac Baby (NE)
2. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (instrumental)
3. Cleaning Windows
4. Days Like This
5. Raincheck
6. Jackie Wilson Said
7. That's Life
8. Back On Top
9. In the Afternoon / Ancient Highway / Joe Turner Sings
10. Celtic Swing
11. Goin' Down Geneva / Cadillac Car
12. Froggie / Outskirts of Town / Long Distance Call
13. Bright Side of the Road
14. Whenever Sir Cliff Shines His Light

CD 2

1. Madame George
2. Precious Time
3. Have I Told You Lately
4. Brown Eyed Girl
5. Star of County Down
6. It's All Over Now Baby Blue
7. Moondance
8. When the Leaves Come Falling Down *
9. Why Must I Always Explain *
10. One Irish Rover *
11. Sometimes We Cry *
12. Northern Muse (Solid Ground) / No Prima Donna **
13. Help Me **
14. Madame George *

CDR1 and CDR2 Tracks 1-7 recorded on April 21st, 2001
CDR2 Tracks 8-11,14 recorded on April 20th, 2001
CDR2 Tracks 12 and 13 recorded on April 19th, 2001

Van Morrison band:
Richard Dunn, Ned Edwards, Lee Goodall, Matt Holland, Pete Hurley, Bobby Irwin, Martin Winning. Special guest: Chris Farlowe.

Administration & Liners:
Tree administration for this tree was by Jeff Slater.

Notes from Jeff Slater:
Van's eagerly anticipated three night stay at the storied Royal Albert Hall in London, England was welcomed by most as the beginning of a new era for THE MAN after nearly a year of delving into the roots of rock and roll. While the years leading up to this "soul searching" saw some of the greatest performances of his career, and the reinvention of Van as a no-holds-barred soul singer, many hoped that the shows at RAH would signal the a return of The Healer.

Before coming to a verdict, we offer up Exhibit A for the defense: Twenty seven songs performed over three nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The meat of the offering is the complete show from Saturday April 21st, 2001, while space permitted the inclusion of some of the finer moments from the Thursday and Friday shows as well. Ticket holders for the weekend shows were treated to great versions of "Madame George," while Thursday's attendees feasted their ears on "Northern Muse (Solid Ground)," "Into the Mystic" and "Philosophers Stone." Due to the poor sound quality of most of the Thursday recording, only "Northern Muse" and "Help Me" are included with this collection. However, what you have here is The Man in fine voice, reshaping his songbook yet again.

The source for this tree is a DAT>CDR transfer. I consider the sound on this tree to be one step below the best sounding DAT>CDR audience recordings that circulate, but still very listenable and very enjoyable. The April 21st show was chosen as the base material for the tree, as that recording had the best sound of the three nights. The April 20th show was a close second. The April 19th show had inferior sound. The April 21st show is presented in its orginal form. My edits consist of mixing the filler tracks with base material on disc 2.

Part of the van-the-man.info unofficial website