Accentuate the Positive
A drawing of a man and woman dancing in front of a crowd
Studio album by
Van Morrison
Released3 November 2023 (2023-11-03)
GenreRock and roll
Length61:41
Label
ProducerVan Morrison
Van Morrison chronology
Moving On Skiffle
(2023)		 Accentuate the Positive
(2023)

Accentuate the Positive is the 45th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 3 November 2023 by Exile Productions and Virgin Records. It is a cover album of Morrison's favourite rock and roll, R&B and country songs. The album received positive reviews from critics.

Background

Accentuate the Positive marks Morrison's second consecutive album of covers and second album of 2023, following on from his album of skiffle covers from March, Moving On Skiffle.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
American Songwriter[1]
Classic Rock[3]
Mojo[4]
Record Collector[5]
Uncut7/10[6]

Accentuate the Positive received a score of 72 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[2] Uncut stated that "this rock'n'roll album falls far short of Little Richard's atomic excitement in a genre here showing its age, but 78-year-old Van sounds youthly eager, even sensual in between the hushed female harmonies and honky-tonk piano of 'You Are My Sunshine'".[6] David Quantick of Classic Rock called it "something of a relief that Accentuate the Positive is, purely and simply, a covers album" that is "performed with the majestic casualness that only Van Morrison can bring to a song".[3]

Record Collector's Terry Staunton described the album as a "lively mix of swing, jump jive, R&B and classic rock'n'roll [that] constantly plays to the singer's strengths as a thoughtful, inventive interpreter".[5] Mojo felt that "the quieter moments work best, like the moody, organ-led reworking of 'Shakin' All Over', which lesser bands have thrashed into the ground over the years but really shines here".[4] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter found there to be "a charismatic exuberance in his voice few would expect from someone half his age and nearly six-decade history in music" and concluded that "Morrison and his always top-shelf musicians knock out these songs as if they're hanging around the studio, having a party playing music they love without knowing tapes are running".[1]

Track listing

Accentuate the Positive track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Are My Sunshine"Jimmie Davis3:42
2."When Will I Be Loved?"Phil Everly3:52
3."Two Hound Dogs"
3:01
4."Flip, Flop and Fly"
3:52
5."I Want a Roof Over My Head"Harvey Oliver Brooks2:39
6."Problems"
4:37
7."Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes"Chuck Willis2:42
8."The Shape I'm In"
2:20
9."Accentuate the Positive"
3:24
10."Lonesome Train"
2:58
11."A Shot of Rhythm and Blues"Terry Thompson2:44
12."Shakin' All Over"
3:00
13."Bye Bye Johnny"Chuck Berry2:58
14."Red Sails in the Sunset"
2:50
15."Sea of Heartbreak"
4:05
16."Blueberry Hill"
2:49
17."Bonaparte's Retreat"
2:14
18."Lucille"
2:54
19."Shake Rattle and Roll"Calhoun5:00
Total length:61:41

Personnel

  • A1 You Are My Sunshine

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Charles Mitchell (3), Jimmie Davis

  • A2 When Will I Be Loved?

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Phil Everly

  • A3 Two Hound Dogs

Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Bill Haley, Frank Pingatore

  • A4 Flip, Flop And Fly

Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Charles Calhoun, Lou Willie Turner

  • A5 I Want A Roof Over My Head

Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Trumpet, Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Harvey O Brooks*

  • B6 Problems

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant*

  • B7 Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Music By – Chuck Willis Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison

  • B8 The Shape I'm In

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Cathy Lynn, Otis Blackwell

  • B9 Accentuate The Positive

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer*

  • B10 Lonesome Train

Bass – Laurence Cottle Drums – Mez Clough Electric Guitar – Dave Keary, Jeff Beck Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran (5) Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Chris Farlowe, Van Morrison Written-By – Dorsey Burnette, Glen Moore (2), Johnny Burnette, Milton Subotsky, Paul Burliso*

  • C11 A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Paul Moore Drums – Jeff Lardner Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Piano – Paul Moran (5) Tenor Saxophone – Chris White* Trombone – Alistair White Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Terry Thompson

  • C12 Shakin' All Over

Bass – Paul Moore Drums – Jeff Lardner Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran (5) Tenor Saxophone – Chris White* Trombone – Alistair White Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Johnny Kidd

  • C13 Bye Bye Johnny

Backing Vocals – Chantelle Duncan, Crawford Bell, Teena Lyle Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar [Electric Lead Guitar], Lead Guitar [Electric Lead Guitar], Backing Vocals – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Percussion – Sticky Wicket* Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Electric Guitar [Electric Rhythm Guitar], Rhythm Guitar [Electric Rhythm Guitar] – Van Morrison Written-By – Chuck Berry

  • C14 Red Sails In The Sunset

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – John McCullough (3) Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Hugh Williams (2), James Kennedy*, Wilhelm Grosz

  • C15 Sea Of Heartbreak

Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan Bass – Nick Scott* Drums – Eamon Ferris Piano – John McCullough (3) Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Hal David, Paul Hampton

  • D16 Blueberry Hill

Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan Bass – Nick Scott* Drums – Eamon Ferris Piano – John McCullough (3) Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Al Lewis, Lawrence Stock*, Vincent Rose

  • D17 Bonaparte's Retreat

Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara Bass – Pete Hurley (3) Drums – Colin Griffin (2) Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Music By – Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Van Morrison

  • D18 Lucille

Bass – David Hayes Drums – Larry Vann Electric Guitar – Anthony Paule Percussion – Bobby Ruggiero* Piano – John Allair Vocals – Taj Mahal Vocals, Alto Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Tambourine – Van Morrison Written-By – Albert Collins (2), Richard Penniman

  • D19 Shake Rattle And Roll

Bass, Backing Vocals – David Hayes Drums, Backing Vocals – Larry Vann Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Anthony Paule Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Backing Vocals – John Allair Percussion, Backing Vocals – Bobby Ruggiero* Piano, Backing Vocals – Mitch Woods Vocals – Van Morrison Vocals, Banjo – Taj Mahal Written-By – Charles E. Calhoun*

Charts

Chart performance for Accentuate the Positive
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 21
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[9] 179
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] 42
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 21
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 12
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[13] 44
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 22
UK Albums (OCC)[15] 39

References

  1. 1 2 3 Horowitz, Hal (2 November 2023). "Review: Van Morrison Accentuates the Positive on Yet Another New Release". American Songwriter. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Accentuate the Positive by Van Morrison Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Quantick, David (2 November 2023). ""Morrison is like a guest on a musical chat show, turning these songs into musical anecdotes": Van Morrison's Accentuate the Positive | Van Morrison". Classic Rock. Retrieved 3 November 2023 – via Loudersound.
  4. 1 2 "Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Mojo. December 2023. p. 86.
  5. 1 2 Staunton, Terry (23 October 2023). "Accentuate the Positive | Van Morrison". Record Collector. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Uncut. December 2023. p. 34.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Van Morrison – Accentuate the Positive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
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