Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now
LC Class | ML420.M63 T87 1993 |
Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now is a biography of musician Van Morrison, written by Steve Turner. It was first published in 1993 in the United States by Penguin Group, and in Great Britain by Bloomsbury Publishing. Turner first met Van Morrison in 1985; he interviewed approximately 40 people that knew the subject in his research for the biography. Van Morrison did not think positively of the biography, and multiple newspapers reported he attempted to purchase all of the book's 25,000 copies.[1][2][3] He sent a letter to the author asserting the 40 individuals interviewed for the book were not his friends, and accused Turner of "peddling distortions and inaccuracies about me personally".[1][2]
The biography takes a pictorial format, and includes many photographs of Van Morrison and scenes relating to his life, including close-up shots and contact prints. Turner discusses Van Morrison's youth in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and how early experiences shaped his perceptions. Flautist John Payne was interviewed for the book, and comments on his work with Van Morrison on the album Astral Weeks. Turner discusses Van Morrison's reluctance to be interviewed or engage with the public, and includes quotes from the musician about this desire for privacy. The author discusses Van Morrison's efforts to seek out creativity, and his exploration of spirituality. The book concludes with an assessment of Van Morrison's experiences with religion.
The book was selected as "Editor's Choice" in the
Research and publication
Prior to his work on the biography, Steve Turner had previously written a book about the music group U2, titled U2: Rattle & Hum, and Eric Clapton, titled Conversations With Eric Clapton.[7] Turner first met Van Morrison in 1985, while writing a book on religion's place in rock music.[6] Turner characterised himself as someone who is "drawn to artists bothered by spiritual issues".[10] In his research for the book, the author interviewed approximately 40 people that knew Van Morrison.[6] Turner spoke with Van Morrison, and they discussed the musician's views on philosophy.[7] Some of the photographs included in the book were obtained by Turner from a guitarist with Van Morrison's band Them.[6]
According to
Steve Turner appeared on a panel of experts in the 2008 documentary Van Morrison: Under Review 1964–1974.[12] Along with Turner was Johnny Rogan, author of the biographies Van Morrison: A Portrait of the Artist (1984) and Van Morrison: No Surrender (2005).[12]
Contents
The introduction to the book includes an analysis by the author of Van Morrison's skill to use "the stuff of his life".[4] Turner compares Van Morrison with other musicians of the time period, including Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young.[4] The book's 10 chapters contain a pictorial overview of the musician's professional work.[5][6] The book's chapters are structured according to record releases of the musician.[7] Pictures include images from locations where Van Morrison grew up in Belfast, contact prints from a photo shoot for a cover album with his wife at the time Janet Planet, and archived marketing photographs of a younger Van Morrison.[5] The beginning of the book includes 10 close-up shots of the musician.[6] The book also contains a complete discography of Van Morrison's work.[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/VanMorrison2.jpg/220px-VanMorrison2.jpg)
Turner describes Van Morrison's early life as George Ivan Morrison on Hyndford Street in Belfast.[7] "I'm definitely Irish", Van Morrison is quoted as stating in the book.[7] He asserts that Van Morrison was affected by his mother's religious conversion to the Jehovah's Witnesses when he was a child.[13] Turner states that this experience contributed to his position as an outcast: "Who else in Belfast had a father who played Jelly Roll Morton records, and a mother who indulged in doorstep evangelism?"[13] Turner discusses Van Morrison's musical colleagues, his successes, the break-ups of his various bands, and his efforts to seek out creative expression.[7] The author includes commentary and images from Van Morrison's first release with the band Them in 1964, through to his latest album at the time of the book's publication.[4]
Turner interviewed flautist John Payne for the book, who had sat in on sessions with Van Morrison and later collaborated with him.
The book notes the artist's reluctance to be interviewed or engage with the public, and quotes him as saying: "It's very hard for me to relate to people asking questions that are not only boring but don't have anything to do with my life ... It's a waste of time on my part because it drains me from doing what I really want to do, which is just to play music."[7] Van Morrison describes his perceived musical role: "I just feel I'm doing the job. My job is to play music and deliver the show ... It's more emotional for the audience ... what they sort of think you are."[7] He states that one of his motivations is "ideally to induce states of meditation and ecstasy, as well as to make people think".[7]
The author notes Van Morrison's dislike of conformity, and quotes him as saying: "I hate organizations."[7] Of his period in his life of experimentation, Van Morrison comments: "I'm not searching for anything in particular. I'm just groping in the dark ... for a bit more light. That's it really."[7] Turner notes how musical styles including rhythm and blues and Motown influenced the musician.[5] Van Morrison's exploration of spirituality is discussed in the book, including his experiences with mysticism, Christianity, and Dianetics.[5] In the last chapter of the book, Turner comments on Van Morrison's experiences in religion, writing: "His development of religion as a normal topic of discourse in popular song may turn out to be his most lasting contribution."[6]
Reception
"A complete discography makes this book a necessity for fans of the Irish Rover."
The book was selected as "Editor's Choice" in the
Bernard Perusse of The Gazette described the book as "more superficial but more positive" than the 2006 biography Van Morrison: No Surrender by Johnny Rogan.[15] In a review of the book for The Palm Beach Post, Lisa McDonough wrote "Steve Turner's Van Morrison: Too Late To Stop Now is not the final answer on Morrison – only Morrison could give that – but he does provide insights and updates as well as a solid background on Morrison's early life."[7] Writing for The Irish Times, John Boland was critical of the book's text but wrote positively of its images: "Steve Turner's Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now, has a trite, fanzine style text and isn't very informative about the great man, but it has some splendid pictures and in its coffee table format is well worth the asking price".[9] A review in the Herald Sun was critical: "Too Late To Stop Now is more suited to the coffee table than a library shelf. It is browsing material, fleshed with snapshots, album covers, PR shots, posters and prints. The words are mere stitches, there to hold the pictures in place."[16] The Herald Sun noted that the author left out critical quotes from individuals that knew Van Morrison, and questioned Turner's objectivity.[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e The Sunday Times staff (10 July 1994). "Diary – Books". The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Limited. pp. 7–8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wroe, Martin (25 September 1993). "Rock star tries to bring his unofficial biographer to book". The Independent. Newspaper Publishing PLC. p. 1.
- ^ The Evening Times.
- ^ Sunday Age. p. 8, Section: Top shelf.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Publishers Weekly staff (1 November 1993). "Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now". Publishers Weekly. 240 (44). Cahners Business Information: 61.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Palmer Jr., Thomas C. (10 December 1993). "A poet's appreciation of Van Morrison, man and music". The Boston Globe. Globe Newspaper Company. p. 62.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McDonough, Lisa (1 May 1994). "Into the mystic soul of Van Morrison". The Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach Newspapers, Inc. p. 6J.
- ^ a b c Sandall, Robert (28 November 1993). "Stone poses – Books". The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Limited. pp. 6–7.
- ^ a b Boland, John (27 April 1996). "Getting to grips with the culture". The Irish Times. p. 8, Section: Supplement.
- ^ Henderson, Richard (2 September 2000). "In Print: Trouble Man". Billboard. BPI Communications, Inc.
- ^ O'Hanlon, Eamonn (7 April 2002). "My dad's not a grumpy old Van". The Sunday People.
- ^ a b Testi, T. Michael (5 April 2008). "DVD Review: Van Morrison – Under Review 1964–1974". Blogcritics. Technorati. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b Lister, David (20 February 1994). "Profile: Still that sense of wonder; David Lister on the reclusive singer-songwriter whose non-stop touring is a spiritual quest". The Independent. Newspaper Publishing PLC. p. 19.
- ^ a b N, Mengel (7 October 1995). "Van". The Courier-Mail. p. 1, Section: Weekend.
- ^ a b Perusse, Bernard (30 June 2007). "Van Morrison: The Irascible Mystic". The Gazette. CanWest MediaWorks Publication Inc. p. E1, Section: Culture.
- ^ a b S, Acott (18 December 1993). "Van makes a stand". Herald Sun. p. 32, Section: Weekend Supplement.
Further reading
- Book reviews
- Mount, William (8 January 1994). "Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now". Spectator. 272 (8635): 27.
- Other books on Van Morrison
- Brooks, Ken (1999). In Search of Van Morrison, Agenda, ISBN 1-899882-95-2
- Buzacott, Martin; ISBN 0-7333-1297-7
- Collis, John (1996). Inarticulate Speech of the Heart, Little Brown and Company, ISBN 0-306-80811-0
- DeWitt, Howard A. (1983). Van Morrison: The Mystic's Music, Horizon, ISBN 0-938840-02-9
- ISBN 978-0-313-35862-3
- ISBN 1-55652-542-7
- ISBN 1-86074-169-X
- ISBN 978-1-58648-821-5
- Mills, Peter (2010). ISBN 978-0-8264-2976-6
- ISBN 978-0-09-943183-1
- ISBN 0-85947-013-X
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now, at Books by ISBN