VAN MORRISON : THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

 

Disc One (77:56)

  1. Really Don't Know
  2. Ordinary People
  3. Wonderful Remark
  4. Not Supposed to Break Down
  5. Laughing in the Wind
  6. Madame Joy
  7. Contemplation Rose
  8. Don't Worry About Tomorrow
  9. Try for Sleep
  10. Lover's Prayer
  11. Drumshanbo Hustle
  12. Twilight Zone
  13. Foggy Mountain Top
  14. Naked in the Jungle
  15. There There Child

Disc Two (75:28)

  1. The Street Only Knew Your Name
  2. John Henry
  3. Western Plain
  4. Joyous Sound
  5. I Have Finally Come to Realise
  6. Flamingos Fly
  7. Stepping Out Queen, Pt. 2
  8. Bright Side of the Road
  9. Street Theory
  10. Real Real Gone
  11. Showbusiness
  12. For Mr. Thomas
  13. Crazy Jane on God
  14. Song of Being a Child (with June Boyce)
  15. High Spirits

Label : Exile Productions

Release Year : 1998

Review (AllMusic) : Van Morrison has always been a prolific artist, releasing nearly an album a year for 30 years. All the while, he had a stockpile of unreleased material in the vaults, much of which became legendary among collectors. A selection of this material was planned for inclusion in a box set, but when he realized the sheer amount of worthy material, he decided to separate the unreleased cuts and release them as the double-disc set The Philosopher's Stone. Certainly, the collection is for fans, but not just hardcore fans - there are a number of great songs here, from "Madame Joy" and "Naked in the Jungle" to "Crazy Jane on God" and "The Street Only Knew Your Name." A full 25 of the 30 tracks on the album have never been released in any form, while the remaining five - "Wonderful Remark," "Real Real Gone," "Flamingoes Fly," "The Street Only Knew Your Name," and "Bright Side of the Road" - are present in alternate takes. In all, The Philosopher's Stone is a welcome addition to Van Morrison's official catalog - some of these songs are so good, it would have been a shame if they had stayed locked in the vaults.