scraig wrote: 
There are as many stories as there are masterings and pressings of the vinyl album or CD. If you'll look at all the Amazon options, you'll see that there a number of masters—from the original to a couple in the '90s. Then there's where the CD was manufactured. Japanese imports, with their allegedly more stringent manufacturing standards, generally command higher prices. Finally, there's whatever the seller perceives the market's straining point—"This is the most I'll get for this product" because demand is relatively high and supply is relatively (perhaps artificially) low.

If I think the price is too high, I wait. Most of the time my patience is rewarded with something that sounds good at a fraction of the price asked before. Most of the time. I see the prices for St. Dominic's Preview are still fairly steep, but there are options around $30. That would still be too rich for my blood, and I'd wait longer.

 scraig wrote: 
It's just that GOOD !

I really like Van a lot.  Not this one so much.  It's pretty good but not up to his other works.

 scraig wrote: 
Now it's $96, must be supply and demand.

Wow, Amazon is going to charge me $60 for this album! What's the story here?

 Van Morrison

...and again with the follow to Counting Crows...

I'll give this song a 9 just because I love the name Dominic...

 OmegaConcern wrote: 
Their one hit wonder.   Agreed, BEG is overplayed, but then Van wouldn't play it for decades.  It is a painful song for him I think because he didn't get any royalties or residuals.  Is he moody?  Sure, but his performances are always good to supreme.  Unfortunately, he knows he only has a few years as entertainer left and his shows have become mostly unaffordable here in the us.

goosebumps...stellar

I hear a few licks of "Hate it Here" by Wilco in this old piece.

Used to dig VM.  Have, over the years, become sick of him.  Just seriously over him.  I guess I respect him, I just don't like him, FWIW.

And I'd rather hear Green Eyed Lady (Sugarloaf) than Brown Eyed Girl any day!

 siandbeth wrote: 
Until someone does, you can find six live concerts (including one under the monicker Yogi Phlegm!) at Wolfgang's Vault:

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/the-sons-of-champlin/

I grew up in San Rafael a stone's throw from the Champlin abode on C Street. He, Dave Shallock, and "Hags" Haggerty were local heroes with a ferocious band.

I've seen him a few times.  Sometimes he blows the roof off, sometimes his mood consumes him.  I saw a series of shows with Van, Joni & Dylan and he was by far the best of the three every night (and I was on a Joni high at the time).  He can certainly be aloof, no doubt.
StDP is a great album...

 joeychick wrote: 
Don't be so sure he was fantastic back in the day.  He was a prick then, too, and has always been willing to trade personal popularity for a vague reputation as a misunderstood artist, which I believe he wears as a badge to make up for a significant lack of vocal talent.

This is a very nice tune! I saw him 1 year ago on TV in the LATER Show and he was great.But there he had only 2 songs so i cant say anything about his live shows.

I have no idea what it's about, but this could be my favorite all-time song.

 joeychick wrote: 
Ditto. I saw him a few years ago and it was a major disappointment. He never looked at or addressed the audience; not so much as a thank you. After he mumbled his way through a listless 90-minute set he wandered off the stage never to return. Live and learn.
That said, there is some great music on this album!

I know that Safeway!

 MojoJojo wrote: 
In my wildest imaginings I never would have pictured Steve Smith (aka Red Green) showing up on this comment board in relation to any song whatsoever LOL

 CamLwalk wrote: 
I don't think either are in Belfast - the album cover shoot certainly wasn't:
http://www.michaelmagic.com/pageTogether14.html

This song is good for the ears...

 CamLwalk wrote: 
You'll have fun here (see comments esp.):  http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/35513/ 

And we're over in a 52nd Street apartment,
Socializing with the whino few,
Just to be hip and get wet with the jet set.
But they're flying too high to see my point of view.

Lyrics like these are what draw me to Van Morrison.

If I died today, I'd like to come back as a member of Van's horn section. I understand he's a slave driver, but that sure sounds like fun to be part of that.

 PeterRigg wrote: 

All that, and Irish,too? Begorrah!

Nicely done.

Remember, keep your stick on the ice.
 
 
 
 Bridieboo wrote: 

 apd wrote: 

Musicianship, voice, feeling, bluesy-ness, phrasing, voice, musicianship.
Good, good music.

 Mary_Read wrote: 
..and again today...