Pay the Devil

Infobox Album | Name = Pay the Devil
Type = Album
Artist = Van Morrison


Released = March 6 2006
Recorded =
Genre = Country
Length = 45:44
Label = Lost Highway Records
Producer = Van Morrison
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fyxq8dldfe link]
*"The Music Box" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/reviews-2006/vandevil.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/9391412/review/9544347/pay_the_devil link]
*livedaily.com (unrated) [http://www.livedaily.com/news/9701.html link]
*msnbc.com (unrated) [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11703501/ link]
*earvolution.com (unrated) [http://www.earvolution.com/2006/03/van-morrisons-pay-devil-belfast-cowboy.asp link]
Last album = "Magic Time"
(2005)
This album = "Pay the Devil"
(2006)
Next album = "Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits
(2007)
Misc = Singles
Name =Pay the Devil
Type =studio
Single 1 =Playhouse
Single 1 date =
Single 2 =
Single 2 date =
Single 3 =
Single 3 date =
Single 4 =
Single 4 date =

"Pay the Devil" is an album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison featuring twelve cover versions of American country and western tunes and three original compositions. It debuted at #26 on The Billboard 200 and peaked at #7 on Top Country Albums; [web cite|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002198079 |title=Chart Beat:Pay per Van|publisher=billboard.com|date=2006-03-16|accessdate=2008-08-06] [web cite |url=http://countrymusic.about.com/od/charts/a/blcharts032506.htm |title=On the charts-Billboard country singles and albums|publisher=countrymusic.com|date=2006-03-25|accessdate=2008-08-06] it was listed at #10 on Amazon Best of 2006 Editor's Picks in Country in December 2006. [cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_3959302_5?ie=UTF8&docId=1000033231&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-1&pf_rd_r=16JEAH2474YE7MXWVR3M&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=262210201&pf_rd_i=293117011|title=Best of 2006: Editors' Pick in Country|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=2008-08-07]

Morrison previewed some of the "Pay the Devil" material at his live shows in the previous year. On March 7, 2006, the day of its release in the US, Van Morrison Day was declared in Nashville by the mayor, and Morrison appeared at the historic Ryman Auditorium that evening for the first time. [web cite|url=http://www.nodepression.net/issues/nd63/vanmorrison.html|title=Van Morrison by Barry Mazor|publisher=nodepression.net|date=2006-03-07] [web cite|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1525667/03082006/morrison_van.jhtml|title=Van Morrison offers country songs|publisher=cmt.com|date=2006-03-08|author=Calvin Gilbert|accessdate=2008-08-06] He continued to promote the album throughout 2006 and appeared at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 15, 2006 where his performance was listed as one of the top ten of the festival by Rolling Stone. [cite web | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11717282/the_10_best_shows_at_austin_city_limits_| title= 10 Best Shows at Austin City Limits | publisher= rollingstone.com | accessdate=2007-03-31]

A deluxe edition of "Pay the Devil" featuring a video of five of the tracks taped during the performance at the Ryman was released on June 27, 2006. [web cite|url=http://www.losthighwayrecords.com/artist/releases/release.aspx?pid=1684&aid=248 |title=Van Morrison-Pay the Devil |publisher=losthighwayrecords.com |accessdate=2008-08-06]

Track listing

#"There Stands the Glass" (Alize Gresham, Russ Hull, Mary Jane Shurtz) – 2:16
#"Half as Much" (Curly Williams) – 2:36
#"Things Have Gone to Pieces" (Leon Payne) – 3:11
#"Big Blue Diamonds" (Earl J. Carson) – 2:56
#"Playhouse" (Morrison) – 4:14
#"Your Cheatin' Heart" (Hank Williams) – 2:32
#"Don't You Make Me High" (Daniel Barker, Ken Harris) – 2:47
#"My Bucket's Got a Hole In It" (Clarence Williams) – 2:22
#"Back Street Affair" (Billy Wallace) – 2:49
#"Pay the Devil" (Morrison) – 3:03
#"What Am I Living For?" (Art Harris, Fred Jay) – 3:57
#"This Has Got to Stop" (Morrison) – 4:44
#"Once a Day" (Bill Anderson) – 2:52
#"More and More" (Merle Kilgore, Webb Pierce) – 2:46
#"Till I Gain Control Again" (Rodney Crowell) – 5:59

Dvd track listing (Deluxe Edition)

Filmed at the Ryman Auditorium on March 7, 2006
#"Playhouse" (Morrison)
#"'Till I Gain Control Again" (Rodney Crowell)
#"Big Blue Diamonds" (Earl J. Carson)
#"This Has Got to Stop" (Morrison)
#"There Stands the Glass" (Alize Gresham, Russ Hull, Mary Jane Shurtz)

Personnel

*Van Morrison - acoustic guitar, vocals
*Crawford Bell - vocals
*Olwin Bell - vocals
*Paul Godden - guitar, steel guitar
*Mick Green - guitar
*Karen Hamill - vocals
*Bobby Irwin - drums
*Ian Jennings - double bass
*Bob Loveday - violin
*Leon McCrum - vocals
*Paul Riley - acoustic bass
*Johnny Scott - guitar, vocals
*Nicky Scott - electric bass
*Fiachra Trench - vocals, string arrangements
*Geraint Watkins - piano
*Aine Whelan - vocals
*Gavyn Wright - string section leader

Production

*Van Morrison - Producer
*Declan Gaffney - Mixing assistant
*Jerome King - Assistant engineer
*Alastair McMillan - Mixing
*Walter Samuel - Engineer, mixing

Notes

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio Sample] 2000s, Pay the Devil
* [http://www.losthighwayrecords.com/artist/releases/release.aspx?pid=1684&aid=248 Lost Highway Records-audio samples] Pay the Devil