Way Up On the Avenue cover
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Way Up On the Avenue
(bootleg CD)

CIB Archives CIB04/05 (Released March, 1998)

Disc 1

  1. Burning Ground (4:44)
  2. It Once Was My Life (4:19)
  3. Foreign Window (3:38)
  4. Raincheck (5:06)
  5. Who Can I Turn To? (Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley) (4:09)
  6. In The Afternoon (5:43)
  7. Vanlose Stairway / Trans-Euro Train (5:19)
  8. This Weight (4:08)
  9. Domino / Shot of Rhythm & Blues (2:53)
  10. Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins) Duet with Bob Dylan (3:31)
  11. Sometimes We Cry (4:55)
  12. Cleaning Windows (4:21)
  13. Northern Muse [Solid Ground] (3:43)
  14. See Me Through / Soldier of Fortune / Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin (Stewart) (8:21)
  15. It's a Man's, Man's World (James Brown) (9:00)
    Total time: (73:47)

Way Up On the Avenue alternate cover Disc 2
  1. A Fool For You (Ray Charles) (2:59)
  2. Moondance (5:08)
  3. Shenandoah (traditional) (2:57)
  4. A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke) (5:11)
  5. More and More (Merle Kilgore) Duet with Bob Dylan (3:09)
  6. Tupelo Honey / Why Must I Always Explain? (7:04)
  7. The Healing Game (5:19)
  8. Fire In The Belly (5:50)
  9. Satisfied (5:50)
  10. Summertime In England (8:30)
  11. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (5:21)
  12. Days Like This (3:36)
  13. How Long Has This Been Going On? (Ira & George Gershwin) (4:31)
  14. Cyprus Avenue (8:10)
    Total time: (73:35)

Recorded Live at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City January 16-21, 1998

Performance Dates:
Disc One (all tracks): January 21, 1998
Disc Two (track 1): January 16, 1998
Disc Two (tracks 2-3): January 20, 1998
Disc Two (tracks 4-8): January 18, 1998
Disc Two (tracks 9-14): January 17, 1998

Musicians:
Van Morrison - Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar
Brian Kennedy - Vocals
Georgie Fame - Hammond Organ, Vocals (January 16-18, 1998)
Justin Carroll - Hammond Organ (January 20-21, 1998)
Ronnie Johnson - Electric Guitar
Nicky Scott - Electric Bass
Geoff Dunn - Drums
Liam Bradley - Percussion
Pee Wee Ellis - Saxophone
Matt Holland - Trumpet

Review:
The source for this 2 CD bootleg CD is an audience recording, rather than a soundboard, and the sound quality should be judged accordingly. It's about average (although I've heard far worse bootleg material) with a definite "speakerish" quality to the vocals. So while it is not in the "top 5 Van boots" category, it does document an important series of concerts.

Review by Bob Schultz:
I would say this is a pretty good bootleg. The first CD is taped at one concert by a single taper who had quiet neighbors. The second CD is a mixed bag. A few good songs with noisy neighbors -- talkers and yellers, and a few that are good recordings.

If you are just looking for some live Van, buy A Night In San Francisco.

The horns always suffer on boots so I don't expect much from any booter. As for the vocals, it feels good to hear a little rough mix Van once in a while. It sounds like a really live show.

In the big picture, unless you have taken a vow of poverty, it is an ok way to spend $40.

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