Keep Me Singing
Keep Me Singing is the 36th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 30 September 2016 by Caroline Records.[2] It is Morrison's highest-charting album in the US, and third US Top 10 album, following the success of Keep It Simple (2008) and Born to Sing: No Plan B (2012).[3]
Keep Me Singing | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 30 September 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2015–16 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 56:33 | |||
Label | Caroline | |||
Producer | Van Morrison[1] | |||
Van Morrison chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Consequence of Sound | B−[6] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[7] |
The Independent | [8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
Keep Me Singing received generally positive reviews from music critics, with Metacritic giving the album an average score of 74 / 100 based on ten reviews.[4] Rolling Stone found that "through arrangements elegant to a fault, his mercurial tenor, more supple and restrained, remains a marvel", with his delivery at times being "full of chortles, snarls and gospel-tinged hollers."[10] Hot Press wrote that Morrison's "voice is as strong and expressive as ever, while the songs are a mix of familiar-sounding, soulful ballads and mid-tempo jazz-influenced tunes."[11] His "liquid-smooth voice" is "just as soulful as ever", wrote PopMatters, finding that Morrison "draws on a variety of vocal traditions from Celtic folk to contemporary jazz", and combines them "through the sheer force of his being."[12] Consequence concluded that "[there] are very few constants in life, but another warm record from Van the Man seems par for the course", but noted that it was "pierced with a severe, self-reflective melancholy".[13]
Commercial performance
Keep Me Singing debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, and at number nine on the US Billboard 200.[3] It sold 25,000 units in the US in its first week, with almost all of that figure in traditional album sales.[3] It is his last US Top 10 to date.
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Let It Rhyme" | 3:53 |
2. | "Every Time I See a River" | 4:43 |
3. | "Keep Me Singing" | 3:39 |
4. | "Out in the Cold Again" | 7:06 |
5. | "Memory Lane" | 4:08 |
6. | "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword" | 3:51 |
7. | "Holy Guardian Angel" | 6:18 |
8. | "Share Your Love with Me" | 4:11 |
9. | "In Tiburon" | 5:18 |
10. | "Look Beyond the Hill" | 2:28 |
11. | "Going Down to Bangor" | 5:18 |
12. | "Too Late" | 2:48 |
13. | "Caledonia Swing" | 2:52 |
Personnel
- Van Morrison - vocals, guitar (1-3,6,7,11,12), drums (4,5), piano (13), alto saxophone (8,10,13), blues harp (1,3,11).
- Dave Keary - acoustic and electric guitar (1,2,6,8-10).
- Johnny Scott - electric guitar (3,11).
- Nigel Price - acoustic and electric guitar (4,5,12).
- John Platania - acoustic guitar (7,13).
- Paul Moore - bass (1,2,7,8,10,13).
- Nicky Scott - bass (3,11).
- Jez Brown - bass (6,9).
- Laurence Cottle - bass (4,5,12), trombone (8,10,12).
- Paul Moran - keyboards (1,2,4-10,12,13), trumpet (2,8-10,12).
- Fiachra Trench - keyboards (1-5,8,10-12), strings arrangements (1-2,4-5,7).
- Enda Walsh - keyboards (2,3,7), percussion (3).
- Robbie Ruggiero - drums (1,6,9).
- Liam Bradley - drums and percussion (2,3,7,8,10,11).
- Paul Robinson - drums (4,5,12).
- Neal Wilkinson - drums (13).
- Kate St John - english horn (4,5).
- Anthony Kerr - vibraphone (8,10).
- Tony Fitzgibbon - fiddle (13).
- Ange Grant, Dana Masters, Lance Ellington - backing vocals.
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Caulfield, Keith (9 October 2016). "Solange Scores Her First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'A Seat at the Table'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- "Reviews for Keep Me Singing by Van Morrison". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Thom Jurek (30 September 2016). "Keep Me Singing - Van Morrison | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Bernstein, Jonathan (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison's Keep Me Singing: EW review". EW.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Andy Gill (28 September 2016). "Album reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Van Morrison, Bon Iver, Pixies, Regina Spektor and more". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison, 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison Brings Vintage Chill to 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- O'Hare, Colm (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison, Keep Me Singing". Hot Press. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- Horowitz, Steve (4 November 2016). "Van Morrison: Keep Me Singing". PopMatters. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Consequence. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2016". Mojo. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- "Australiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Austriancharts.at – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Van Morrison Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Lescharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 40, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Italiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Charts.nz – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 40: del 30.09.2016 al 06.10.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- "Swisscharts.com – Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- "Van Morrison Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten 2016". Ultratop. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- "Top 100 Albums Annual 2016". El portal de Música. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2020.