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A vantrades CD-R Tree Production
Spring In My Heart
(Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
July 19, 1997)

No label

CDR 1

1. Rough God
2. Foreign Window
3. Tore Down A La Rimbaud
4. Vanlose Stairway / Trans Euro Train
5. Fool For You
6. Sometimes We Cry
7. It Once Was My Life
8. I'm Not Feelin' It Anymore

CDR 2

1. This Weight
2. Who Can I Turn To
3. Fire In The Belly
4. Tupelo Honey / Why Must I Always Explain
5. Satisfied
6. The Healing Game
7. Medley: See Me Through / Soldier Of Fortune / Thank you Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin / Burning Ground

Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, Auditorium Stravinski, July 19, 1997 ("The Gala Night").

Musicians:
Van Morrison: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Georgie Fame: vocals, organ
Ronnie Johnson: guitar
Geoff Dunn: drums
Nicky Scott: bass
Robin Aspland: piano
Pee Wee Ellis: soprano saxophone
Leo Green: saxophone
Matt Holland: trumpet
Brian Kennedy: vocals

Realization:
Archival Recording: Unknown
Mastering: tsc.
Additional Mastering: Manfred
Digital Remastering: WOLF
Artwork: Infinity Design
Tree Administration: Rolf

Inquiries, as always, to the vantrades mailing list.

Lineage: DSBD -> ? -> DAT -> Digital Remastering -> CDR

Liner Notes by André T.:
The evening of July 19, 1997, was a rather special occasion to visit Montreux: the jazz festival had announced not only Van Morrison, but also Ray Charles. We had opted for better seats and therefore for a cheaper hotel, and the very friendly landlady -- she was more 70 than 60 -- asked us who the artists were we were going to see at the festival. she didn't know this "Van Morrison", but when we mentioned Ray Charles, her eyes began to shine...

The air was light, the summer at its peak, it was hot, the lake was of a rare, quiet beauty. around the Auditorium Stravinski and the Miles Davis hall, all along the lake, hundreds of people were chatting, listening to music, taking a bath in the lake, just hanging around, eating exotic meals you could get there (or, like we did, visiting the near Castle de Chillon) -- and waiting for the concerts in the evening.

Well, I was disappointed that evening. And everyone I've met since who was at this concert was disappointed, too. We all had the impression Van's concert had been a dark one, possibly the one evening leading later to the song "Going Down Geneva". And, above all, Ray Charles had *not* performed with Van -- and this, actually, was one of the main reasons to be there at that particular time. (IMHO, Ray Charles was rather casual, but I never liked the Ray Charles shows when backed by a big band while I love the rare ones with his trio). but the night was young, so were we, the moon was hanging over the lake, shadowing the Freddie Mercury statue at the lake, inviting to go for a stroll -- and to pursue it, the next day, with a visit of the near mountains that, the other morning, were slightly wrapped up in tender mist. (I'm not paid by Montreux's tourist office, thanks for asking.) ;-)

When the first recordings of Montreux 1997 appeared, the ones having seen this concert had the impression of *knowing* (instead of the former suspecting) this concert not be one of the most enjoyable ones. Oh, how wrong we were! It seems we were fooled by the bad quality of these versions. now, that we can listen to this concert in a quality I would, despite the few minor flaws that cannot be altered (we've tried), qualify as breath taking, now, i said, we do know that *we* were wrong that night -- not Van, not the band (where you'll find a very relaxed Georgie Fame, a very present Ronnie Johnson, Robin Aspland's pearling piano, Pee Wee in very good form with Matt Holland and Leo Green, choirboy Brian Kennedy)...

When I joined vantrades, I initially was interested in five recordings -- in five only (my problem: not all were/are available in the quality I wished...). If I joined vantrades today, I'm sure I'd go for six. Montreux 1997 would, without any doubt, be among them.

Dedicated to Ben, Per, Juerg N. and, especially, to Lelia Catherina W.

Van Tree Policy:
Please respect the efforts and the wishes of the dedicated bands of volunteers who put countless hours of time and energy into producing and treeing these rare live performances: please do not offer any of these tree volumes for sale.

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