How Long Has This Been Going On

Infobox Album | Name = How Long Has This Been Going On
Type = Album
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = January, 1996
Recorded = Ronnie Scott's, London
May 3, 1995
Genre = Jazz, Be-bop
Length = 50:49
Label = Verve
Producer = Van Morrison & Georgie Fame
Reviews =
Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ct5m968ofepo link]

Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/67/albums/album/216578/rid/5943370/ link]
Last album = "Days Like This"
(1995)
This album = "How Long Has This Been Going On"
(1996)
Next album = ""
(1996)
Misc = Singles
Name =How Long Has This Been Going On
Type =studio
Single 1 =That's Life" b/w "Moondance"/"That's Life
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"How Long Has This Been Going On" is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, "with Georgie Fame and Friends", released in 1996. It charted at #1 on Top Jazz Albums. [cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fzftxqlhldhe~T3 |title=Billboard album How Long Has This Been Going On|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-08-08]

Recording history

The album was recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, England on 3 May 1995, and features a number of jazz standards and a be-bop influenced rendition of Morrison's classic "Moondance." According to Van Morrison, "the album took four or five hours to record and Ronnie Scott's was chosen for the vibe." [Hinton. "Celtic Crossroads". p326] Georgie Fame remembers the album came about after the two musicians had discussed it for several years when, "I got the band together, and we ran through some ideas one quiet afternoon...that went very well, so Van said, "Let's do it."' [Heylin, "Can you Feel the Silence", p464]

ongs

Pee Wee Ellis played saxophone and also served as arranger, along with Fame, Morrison and saxophonist Leo Green. There were more cover songs on this album than usual with Morrison's albums. Annie Ross appeared on "Blues Backstage" and also on the song, "Centerpiece". This song is also featured on the 2007 compilation album, "The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3". "Heathrow Shuffle" is an instrumental composition from the 70's that was brought back on this album. Morrison had performed this song when he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974 and therefore it is included on his 2006 DVD, "Live at Montreux 1980/1974."

Reviews

The reviews for the album were mixed with the American critics more favourable. The Daily Telegraph said "Van huffs and puffs where he should whisper," while Rolling Stone stated: "It's an old blues trick – laughing in the face of trouble – but Morrison does it with such contagious enthusiasm, it sounds fresh again."

Reissue and remastered album

In September 2008, Exile/Polydor will release this album as part of batch three of the four catalogue reissues of Morrison's albums dated from 1971 through 2002.

Track listing

#"I Will Be There" (Van Morrison) – 2:30
#"The New Symphony Sid" (King Pleasure, Lester Young, add'l lyrics Georgie Fame) – 3:53
#"Early in the Morning" (Dallas Bartley, Leo Hickman, Louis Jordan) – 2:44
#"Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) – 4:02
#"Sack O' Woe" (Cannonball Adderley, Jon Hendricks) – 4:06
#" Moondance" (Morrison)– 7:18
#"Centerpiece" (Harry Edison, Hendricks), including section from "Blues Backstage" (Frank Foster) – 4:08
#"How Long Has This Been Going On?" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 3:49
#"Your Mind Is on Vacation" (Mose Allison) – 3:06
#"All Saint's Day" (Morrison) – 2:19
#"Blues in the Night" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) – 3:22
#"Don't Worry About a Thing" (Allison) – 2:22
#"That's Life" (Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon) – 3:52
#"Heathrow Shuffle" (Morrison) – 3:18

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

#"Muleskinner Blues" (Jimmie Rodgers, Georgie Vaughn)
#"The Healing Game" (Morrison)

*Tracks 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 12 arranged by Georgie Fame.
*Tracks 3, 4, 9 & 13 arranged by Pee Wee Ellis.
*Tracks 6 & 14 arranged by Van Morrison.
*Track 1 arranged by Leo Green.
*Track 11 arranged by Georgie Fame and Pee Wee Ellis.

Personnel

*Van Morrison - vocal, alto saxophone
*Georgie Fame - vocal, hammond organ
*Annie Ross - vocal
*Pee Wee Ellis - alto saxophone
*Alan Skidmore - alto saxophone
*Leo Green - tenor saxophone
*Guy Barker - trumpet
*Robin Aspland - piano
*Alec Dankworth - double bass
*Ralph Salmins - drums

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Notes

References

*Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7
*Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio Samples] 1990s, How Long Has This Been Going On