Enlightenment | 
 enlarge | Artist: Van Morrison
Label: Polydor / Umgd
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $0.98
You Save: $13.00 (93%)
New (12) Used (48) from $0.98
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 128990
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 042284710022
EAN: 0042284710022
ASIN: B000001FZ8
Release Date: October 19, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
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| Tracks:
| • | Real Real Gone | | • | Enlightenment | | • | So Quiet in Here | | • | Avalon of the Heart | | • | See Me Through | | • | Youth of 1,000 Summers | | • | In the Days Before Rock 'n' Roll - Van Morrison, Durcan, Paul | | • | Start All Over Again | | • | She's My Baby | | • | Memories |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Its title seems squarely in the pilgrim's camp, where much of Van Morrison's '80s music dwells, but 1990's Enlightenment offsets new glimpses of Morrison's oft-sought Avalon ("Avalon of the Heart") with darker confessions of human frailty and challenged faith. The opening "Real Real Gone" belies its hard-charging R&B verve (a welcome return to high-octane soul after his relatively becalmed, then-recent work) with admissions of weakness, and even the lyrical title song reveals confusion more than salvation. A few years later, such defeats might have prompted one of his crankier outbursts, but this set is brightened by the joyful reminiscences of "Youth of 1,000 Summers" and the epic "In the Days Before Rock 'n' Roll," in which Morrison's declamatory fervor is matched by poet Paul Durcan. The latter song is a gloriously apt Morrison moment, exulting in Little Richard as though he walked the same astral plane as William Blake--which, in Morrison's world, is exactly the point. --Sam Sutherland
Album Description
Japanese only remastered SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing packaged in a paper sleeve and includes two bonus tracks. Universal. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews:
 If you're Van Morrison, 1990 could just as well be 1970 October 25, 2007
Glen Zimmerman (West Bumblefuch, USA)
Like his legendary UK counterpart Elton John, Van Morrison has sustained an extremely lengthy career during which he's made few, if any, bad songs. This release from 1990 is aptly titled, since some people consider Van Morrison's 80s work to be more spiritually depressed. His voice is as strong as it was in his "Brown-Eyed Girl" days, and his minimal use of modernized recording styles make this album sound like it could have been made at any time during his career. Perhaps the best track is the intensely melodic and hummable "Start All Over Again" which is also aptly titled since his spirit seems newly revitalized throughout this album.
Avalon of the Heart May 30, 2007
D. Kim (New York, NY)
This is an album that I've come to appreciate more over the years.
"Real Real Gone" really captured my attention when I first heard it. Beside being a Van Morrison album, "Real Real Gone" was the song that got me to buy this album. It was rave-up like Van's "Jackie Wilson Said". Songs like "Englightenment", "So Quiet in Here" and "See Me Through" are great for their quiet intensity. That is, the lyrics are deep and serious despite the understated tempo/melody to these songs.
My favorite, though, is "Avalon of the Heart". There is a grandeur to what Van envisages in this song. Van combines the imagery and romance of Camelot (e.g. Avalon) and faith (e.g. Upper Room). When his lyrics are combined with his music/instrumentation, it adds up to something magestic. The song builds from basically a simple piano accompanying Van to the sweeping sounds of the strings and backing vocals/choir. It's the sweeping strings that provide that emphasis to the song. Van, with his lyrics and music, takes you to his Avalon. And it is startling.
By analogy, "Avalon of the Heart" builds similarly to "Tupelo Honey". There's a quiet beginning but the song continues to build until Van is surrounded by the sheer wall of sound engulfing the song.
To paraphrase an earlier reviewer, if Heaven has a waiting room, then "Avalon of the Heart" must be in constant rotation because there is no other place this song could have come from. It is that good.
Critics d'ont like it ...I Do January 22, 2007
J. English (Boston USA)
There is more to this album then real real gone. Its a Tao album written in Van's Buddhist period. Van is the best music writer in the world bar none. Memories is my favourite track here. It reminds me of a old lost love. This is a meditative album. One of my faves and i have pretty much everything van has ever produced.
 There's so much Van it's easy to get lost January 6, 2006
Kid A (Boulder, CO)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
To anybody not familiar with Van's non-radio repertoire, his immense catalog of material would easily overwhelm you. To the casual fan, releases like Moondance and Astral Weeks are certainly a no-brainer. Unfortunately, two or three Van albums still hardly captures the tip of the iceberg. So let's say you have a best-of or two or maybe you own a few of the better known classics and want to expose yourself to more. Is Enlightenment a good choice? Let me answer that question with a more appropriate question. When exposing yourself to Van, is there ever a bad choice? I can't think of any, personally.
Enlightenment is simply more of what Van is famous for. Introspective lyrics, brilliant musicianship and Van's incredible voice. Don't bother yourself with the fact that you've possibly never heard of it. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this album.
Perfect Title December 23, 2005
Sara Dolan (Upstate NY)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This album is a masterpeice. Morrison's music is a spiritually enlightening experience. Honestly, I cannot imagine a person who would not be affected by his music. This album is paramount to understanding him as an artist and is also very touching on a personal level. I reccommend this album to anyone who wants to have a true musical experience. It's simply fantastic!
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