Comments on: Like, I want some bread up front.

Like, I want some bread up front.

dzkalman — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:58:04 -0800

Once upon a time, Van Morrison had a record contract with Bing Records which he wanted to escape. Since the contract required him to produce thirty-six original songs, Van Morrison sat in the studio for a single session and recorded a series of nonsensical non-tunes that are still in his distinctive style. Three of them are available here.

By: (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates

(Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:05:32 -0800

You say friends, and I'll whistle. I'll whistle, you say friends. No, you say friends and I'll whistle. No, no, you whistle and I'll say friends. This is great!

By: DU

DU — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:06:50 -0800

"France". You have to say "france" for him to whistle.

By: dng

dng — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:09:08 -0800

I got a really cheap Van Morrison collection album once which had that Ring Worm song on it, and always wondered where the hell it came from, and why it was so abysmal. Nice post.

By: Mid

Mid — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:09:34 -0800

Swear I saw 20 or more of these linked on MeFi once. But can't find.

By: (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates

(Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:09:47 -0800

No wonder he wouldn't whistle! I was saying friends! I kept saying friends!

By: gcbv

gcbv — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:10:45 -0800

The "ooooooooooooo's" in "Ringworm," I've always thought, are the best. Van having a sense of humor about his own musical staples. Most of the "album" is floating around. I've found it a couple of times. It's also a great album to have around when you're being social. You can offhandedly ask "anybody want to listen to some Van Morrison?" and when they expect Astral Weeks or Moondance, they get Ringworm.

By: zarq

zarq — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:13:47 -0800

dzkalman: "Van Morrison sat in the studio for a single session and recorded a series of nonsensical non-tunes that are still in his distinctive style." How did anyone tell the difference?

By: Maaik

Maaik — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:14:06 -0800

I believe I have this in its entirety on some drive somewhere. I think I got it from WFMU's write-up on it before all the mp3s got taken down. It's still not difficult to find online. But yeah, these make for great filler on mixtapes

By: JHarris

JHarris — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:16:53 -0800

It's another post from the 365days project, where otisfodder linked to a weird, or just unusual, mp3 a day for a year. Twice! My favorite from the series was the incredibly energetic, aptly named Ree Baba Ree Baba, which sounds a bit like the Cookie Monster on a trip through the desert with Hunter S. Thompson.

By: benzenedream

benzenedream — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:18:39 -0800

"anybody want to listen to some Van Morrison?" Do you want the danish, or do you want ringworm?

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:19:08 -0800

This is the very first time I've ever wanted to do this -- METAFILTER: like the Cookie Monster on a trip through the desert with Hunter S. Thompson. *throws confetti*

By: roll truck roll

roll truck roll — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:22:11 -0800

The 365 Days Project is one of those things that I get excited whenever I hear about it, but never make it through anywhere near all of it before forgetting about it again. There just aren't enough hours in the year.

By: Ian A.T.

Ian A.T. — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:22:16 -0800

It's interesting that, despite its seemingly nonsensical title and its ire towards the recording industry, 1972's "Drumshanbo Hustle" isn't one of these songs...

By: docgonzo

docgonzo — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:23:13 -0800

If we're on the topic of overrated semi-genius, it's time to post a track from Brian Wilson's lost rap album.

By: annekenstein

annekenstein — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:24:41 -0800

"anybody want to listen to some Van Morrison?" In my circle of friends, this question would never be asked. And, if asked, the answer would be "No."

By: erniepan

erniepan — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:25:39 -0800

I downloaded this album years ago from WFMU, but alas, the tracks have been removed. You can actually buy it from Amazon. Freaky, freaky If you got this far You came a long way But you're freaky And we can do something with you If you got this far You should be freaky You should be freaky If you got this far We'll put you in a jar And sell you As a freak We think you're freaky, too, 2, 3.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:26:33 -0800

Maaik: I believe I have this in its entirety on some drive somewhere. I think I got it from WFMU's write-up on it before all the mp3s got taken down. It's still not difficult to find online. To quote item: BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE WAYBACK MACHINE! (which is blocked at work, but comments on that 2009 thread say the archived links work)

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:28:13 -0800

If you're looking for them elsewhere, search for "van morrison bang records contractual obligation sessions," as they have been called.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:29:11 -0800

docgonzo: If we're on the topic of overrated semi-genius, it's time to post a track yt from Brian Wilson's lost rap album. ... and WFMU covered that one, too. Damn, those cats are good.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:31:18 -0800

This is actually my favorite Van Morrison album. I gave always wanted to go up to a stranger and say "Looking at your face, I can see you've got ringworm. YOOUUU'VE GOOOOT RINNNG WUUUUURRRRRRMM!"

By: dhens

dhens — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:36:06 -0800

Other great examples of middle fingers to contractual obligations: Phil Spector / The Crystals, "(Let's Dance) The Screw" (Part I) (Part II) The Rolling Stones, "Cocksucker Blues"

By: chavenet

chavenet — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:54:55 -0800

This is underrated, neglected and accessible. Is it pop? It is great.

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:02:58 -0800

This is awesome. *has a Danish, then a sandwich*

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:03:14 -0800

*contracts ringworm*

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:12:00 -0800

Saw Van the Man last year at this time at the Woodlands. Sad to say, he's mailing it in. Band was great, though.

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:17:06 -0800

Great find. He sung about his problems with the Big Time Operators on the Too long in Exile album.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:38:52 -0800

Quite enjoyed "You Say France and I'll Whistle" - the whole thing really reminds me of early dEUS.

By: swift

swift — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:45:03 -0800

This is my go-to album for freaking out houseguests.

By: DU

DU — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:54:56 -0800

These remind me of TMBG's Fingertips, which I assume were at least partly based on their Song-A-Day line (free when you call from work). I wonder if they were inspired by these.

By: hot soup girl

hot soup girl — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:58:31 -0800

I can't stand the songs of Van Morrison, but I love this.

By: Seamus

Seamus — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:59:50 -0800

I love this Van Morrison album and hate the rest. My wife loves the rest and hates this album. It almost destroyed our marriage. We never listen to Van Morrison together. This is a good thing.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:03:59 -0800

Must also mention Neal Young, and his fuck-you-Geffen albums, Trans and Everybody's Rockin'.

By: Rev. Syung Myung Me

Rev. Syung Myung Me — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:32:42 -0800

To be fair, Trans has a rather sad story behind it. Less a fuck you to Geffen, but more an attempt to communicate with his son.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:38:23 -0800

True about trans, but everybody's rockin' was 100% FU. Not only is it mostly covers in a rockabiliy style, but it's 20 minutes long. Zero minutes of classic Neil and 20 minutes of filler. AND THEN HE TOURED IT

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:57:52 -0800

The Big Royalty Check

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:31:20 -0800

....Well, that was a dose of perspective. I just learned that this session came in the middle of a whole back-and-forth with Bang Records; and among the other things he was working on at the same time was a project which would eventually become his album Astral Weeks, one of the most achingly transcendant albums I've ever heard. Maybe everyone needs to sing about ringworm now and then if it'll yield stuff like "Madame George".

By: item

item — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:35:24 -0800

You know, it doesn't take much digging to find the entire album. I believe I've said it before, but BEHOLD THE POWER OF THE WAYBACK MACHINE!

By: item

item — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:36:39 -0800

Or as filthy light thief said above. Thunder stolen.

By: LSK

LSK — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:21:36 -0800

"Freaky if You Got This Far" is possibly one of my favorite songs ever.

By: meadowlark lime

meadowlark lime — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:38:12 -0800

Listening to these straight after "Astral Weeks" is either the best way to discredit the idea of artistic genius, or the most mysterious deepening of that idea.

By: lumpenprole

lumpenprole — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:38:25 -0800

Man, I had this whole album on my hard drive that died years ago. I'm not sure I want to pay 20 bucks for them again, but I miss having them around....

By: misozaki

misozaki — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:45:11 -0800

Never heard these before. Thanks!

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:08:26 -0800

This is awesome. BTW -- anybody remember, there was a post on MeFi a few years ago about a company where you'd send them your lyrics and they'd turn it into a song? I think they had like a few basic templates for songs. Sometimes people would send in obscene or ridiculous shit, and they'd have to record it. I've been trying to find it, but my google-fu is failing me.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:14:24 -0800

Wow, Brian Wilson's rapping talent is equaled only by the late, great Dee Dee ~~Ramone~~ King.

By: roll truck roll

roll truck roll — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:22:24 -0800

Afroblanco, the keyword you're looking for is "song poem." Lots of hilarity and confusion here.

By: saul wright

saul wright — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:49:26 -0800

Man, I love Van Morrison!

By: AJaffe

AJaffe — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:01:14 -0800

Actually, it's good that you've got ringworm. Cos' you could've had something else.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:39:00 -0800

Yaaay, thanks RTR!

By: joannemullen

joannemullen — Mon, 09 May 2011 21:31:24 -0800

Why would any record company sign him up for a new record contract, knowing he'd so easily pissed all over his last one?

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:30:32 -0800

Bert Berns owned Bang records and apparently issued a collection of early recordings and released it as "The Best Of Van Morrison" without the singers permission. Then Berns had a heart attack and died. His widow blamed van Morrison for his death. Part of the get out negotiated by Warner bros was 3 songs a month for a year.

By: flesti

flesti — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:17:34 -0800

As a Van the Man fan, I am embarrassed I didn't know this. This is great! I've read he could be difficult and had a great sense of humor. I guess this van morrison bang records contractual obligation sessions is a prime example of both.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:35:25 -0800

Why would any record company sign him up for a new record contract, knowing he'd so easily pissed all over his last one? Simple.

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:15:54 -0800

Indeed