Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey Album

I don’t do many album reviews because frankly…I think other people do them better but sometimes I cannot resist…and this is one of them.

When I was 18 or so, I ordered exports from Tower Records because you could not just go to many record stores in America and buy a Them album in the eighties.

I bought the “Backtracking” album which was a compilation of Them. His voice blew me away. That is when I looked in the Van Morrison section for the albums I could buy there. The first album I bought…just by chance…was Tupelo Honey.  Compared to the raw intense Them songs…this was a totally different ballgame. The songs’ production values and sophistication were in a new league.

Van Morrison - Tuepelo Honey 2

Personally, I really like this album. I thought it was a great introduction to his catalog.  Is it his best? No, it’s not, but for a beginner Van fan, it was a great introduction album. The songs on Tupelo Honey are very radio-friendly. After this album I bought Moondance, His Band and Street Choir, Veendon Fleece, etc…the 8 albums up to Wavelength. After that, I started on the 80’s catalog.

He made this album in 1971 when he moved to Northern California with his wife Janet Planet who was from that area. He originally wanted to make a country album. Soon that idea was dropped and he worked with Ted Templeton as producer. He used a lot of unused songs that he had.

The opening track Wild Night has an irresistible hook and is one of Van’s best-known songs. The title track may be my favorite Van Morrison song period. The only song that I would skip when I got the album, and still do, is I Wanna Roo You. In Moonshine Whiskey and some other songs, you can hear some of the country album he was going to make.

Another favorite on the album is Old Old Woodstock and he puts you there with his lyrics and the feel of the song. You’re My Woman was a song for Janet Planet and I’ve always liked that one.

The album peaked at #27 on the Billboard Album Charts and #32 in Canada in  1971.

Again, this is not Van’s best album but it got me into his solo career. It’s a great-sounding album and one of Van’s most commercial. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to explore Van the Man’s catalog.

Tracklist

Wild Night
(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball
Old Old Woodstock
Starting a New Life
You’re My Woman
Tupelo Honey
I Wanna Roo You (Scottish Derivative)
When That Evening Sun Goes Down
Moonshine Whiskey

I could not find the complete album on Spotify so I found it all grouped together on YouTube with this link…

Tupelo Honey

You can take all the tea in China
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail right around the seven oceans
Drop it straight into the deep blue sea
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You can’t stop us on the road to freedom
You can’t keep us ’cause our eyes can see
Men with insight, men in granite
Knights in armor bent on chivalry
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You can’t stop us on the road to freedom
You can’t stop us ’cause our eyes can see
Men with insight, men in granite
Knights in armor intent on chivalry
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You know she’s alright
You know she’s alright with me
She’s alright, she’s alright (she’s an angel)

You can take all the tea in China
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail it right around the seven oceans
Drop it smack dab in the middle of the deep blue sea
Because she’s as sweet as tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
She’s an angel of the first degree
She’s as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like the honey, baby, from the bee
She’s my baby, you know she’s alright…..

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

28 thoughts on “Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey Album”

  2. To me, a casual Van fan, I think ‘Moondance’ was the one I’d go to if you’re only going to have one. But this one has some very good ones on it too and is a strong album. I’d forgotten about ‘Cannonball’, that’s one of his I like a lot and never hear.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I would have never guessed Cannonball. The first song I attached to was Old Old Woodstock…most of the songs are inviting. I liked Moondance as well…Caravan is what I liked off of that album.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Picking the “best” is a game I leave for others. This album stands on it’s own for the simple fact that it hit the spot at the time and still does. It found a place in your music journey (mine also) so it is special. The title track is fantastic. When they sing “She’s an angel” I’m on the moon. Before Bruce there was Van for me. ‘Wild Night’ is forged in my head. Eclectic mix by one of my favorites.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I wouldn’t dare pick a best…but this was my intro to Van’s solo career…and a good one. It depends on my mood with the one I listen to. That title track blew me away…and still does.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. It was a great intro into him…to me anyway. Astral Weeks would not have been…I love it but it’s out there for a first timer.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. From this album I only really know “Wild Night”, which I first heard and came to love by John Mellencamp. That said, I think Morrison’s original is at least as good. Based on the other tracks you highlighted, “Tupelo Honey” sounds like a great album. When it comes to Van Morrison, except for the “Moondance” album, which I absolutely love, I only know certain songs, as opposed to entire albums.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I’m late tonight!
      When I heard Wild Night in the 80s…I learned it on guitar right away and we played it…the bass is a lot of fun as well.
      The title cut is probably my favorite song by him.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a reply to msjadeli Cancel reply