Released 13 March 2015 Duets Re-working the Catalogue
(2015) Keep Me Singing
(2016) Release date 13 March 2015 | Length 76:13 Artist Van Morrison Genre Classic rock | |
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Recorded Belfast, Northern Ireland Label Exile Productions/RCA Records Producers Van Morrison, Don Was, Bob Rock Similar Van Morrison albums, Other albums | ||
Duets: Re-working the Catalogue is the 35th studio album recorded by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 13 March 2015 on RCA Records. Produced by Van Morrison along with Don Was and Bob Rock, it consists of songs previously recorded by Morrison this time recorded as duets. Performances include the artists Bobby Womack, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Gregory Porter, Clare Teal, P.J. Proby, Joss Stone, Georgie Fame, Mick Hucknall, Chris Farlowe, and Morrison’s daughter Shana Morrison.
Contents
This is Morrison's first album for Sony Music since Blowin' Your Mind (Sony owns BANG).
Reception
The album has been given a Metacritic score of 65 based on 10 critics, indicating generally favourable reviews. Mark Deming of AllMusic thought it an "honestly good album" in which Van Morrison "has chosen duet partners with intelligence". He judged that Van Morrison's "vocals lack the power and emotional force he so easily conjured in the '70s, but his sense of phrasing is as soulful and idiosyncratic as it has ever been", and although the album is "a long way from a triumph, it's a solid, heartfelt work from a veteran artist who isn't about to give up the ghost."
The album debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 23, and at No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart, selling 21,000 copies in its first week. The album has sold 77,000 copies in the United States as of August 2016.
Songs
1Some Peace Of Mind5:15
2If I Ever Needed Someone3:49
3Higher Than The World3:49