Van Morrison – Pay The Devil

Van Morrison is one of rock music’s icons. His new album “Pay The Devil” is a confident take on many country standards and it’s an album that sounds better and better with each time that I listen to it. It’s an enjoyable album from start to finish.

In a Career that’s now into it’s fifth decade, Ireland’s Van Morrison, probably best known for his hit “Brown Eyed Girl,” has taken another turn in his varied career, this time into Country Music. And as much as some fans might consider an “outsider” interpreting some of country’s best songs “blasphemy,” all it takes is one listen to this fine album to be assured that Morrison did greats like Hank Sr. and Webb Pierce proud.

“There Stands The Glass” leads off the record and when closing my eyes I can picture van singing it on some vintage Opry footage. A pair of Hank Sr. tracks “Half As Much” and the ubiquitous “Your Cheatin’ Heart” come later and also give off a warm fuzzy vibe as does Van’s cover of the Rodney Crowell penned “’Til I Gain Control Again.” With a fine bluesy warble, Van ably covers George Jones’ “Things Have Gone To Pieces.”

This isn’t to say that Van’s own original tracks aren’t worthy of listening to; they most certainly are, particularly the interesting title track and the bluesy single “Playhouse.” Van Morrison is a musical icon who’s can sing a rock, blues, jazz or country song with equal aplomb. Give “Pay The Devil” a listen, it will be a contender for my Top albums of 2006. It’s that good.