Van Morrison Releases His 43rd Album – ‘What’s It Gonna Take?’ – Listen Here

Lately Van Morrison has been in the news more for his outspoken political and cultural views than for his music.  For those who have followed his career closely, this opinionated nature of his is no new surprise; it’s only the volatile temper of the times that has brought a brighter spotlight to his often-controversial public stances.

Morrison’s 2021 release – the 28-track double album Latest Record Project, Vol. 1 was  chock-full of subjects to enlighten, annoy, or at very least contemplate, and his latest recording follows in the exact same vein – perhaps even from the same sessions.  Entitled What’s It Gonna Take (released 5/20/22) – the album’s cover graphic features a couple running through a 1950s suspense/horror movie shadowy-authoritarian landscape with an attacking puppeteer, and the words “WAKE UP” scattered over and over at their feet.

Kinda obvious what’s gonna be inside this one.

What’s It Gonna Take features 15 songs, and Van’s voice and the musicians and instrumentation are, as always, superb – a flavorful gumbo of R&B, jazz and blues-rock. We’ll leave it to you whether the songs themselves and the lyrics are a thought-provoking examination of our culture, or heavy-handed, self-righteous preaching.

Photo: vanmorrison.com

Click here to pick up What’s It Gonna Take? on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up What’s It Gonna Take? on vinyl from our Rock Cellar Store

“Nervous Breakdown” – off of What’s It Gonna Take?

Listen/Stream What’s It Gonna Take? here:

What’s It Gonna Take? tracklist

1. Dangerous
2. What’s It Gonna Take?
3. Fighting Back Is The New Normal
4. Fodder For The Masses
5. Can’t Go On This Way
6. Sometimes It’s Just Blah Blah Blah
7. Money From America
8. Not Seeking Approval
9. Damage And Recovery
10. Nervous Breakdown
11. Absolutely Positively The Most
12. I Ain’t No Celebrity
13. Stage Name
14. Fear And Self-Loathing In Las Vegas
15. Pretending

Van Morrison is currently on tour in Europe in support of his new album, with planned U.S. dates starting September 1st 2022:

May 24th – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall; Liverpool, England
June 8th – Skansen; Stockholm, Sweden
June 10th – Mölleplatsen – Malmo, Sweden
June 19th – Black Deer Festival; Eridge Park, Kent
June 27th – Cork Opera House; Cork, Ireland
June 28th – Cork Opera House Cork, Ireland
June 29th – King John’s Castle; Limerick, Ireland
July 5th – Kew The Music; Kew Gardens, UK
July 9th – Royal Park Live; Baarn, Holland
July 10th – Gent Jazz Festival; Ghent, Belgium
July 13th – Jazz à Juan; Antibes, France
July 15th – Montreux Jazz Festival; Montreux, Switzerland
July 16th – Stuttgart Jazz Open; Stuttgart, Germany
July 19th – Roman Quarry; St. Margarethen Quarry, Austria
July 29th – Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Inverness, Scotland
August 2 – Summer Nights, Glasgow; Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow, UK
August 19th – Custom House Square; Belfast, Northern Ireland
September 1st – Harbor Yard Amphitheatre; Bridgeport, CT
September 3rd – Leader Bank Pavilion; Boston, MA
September 4th – Tanglewood; Lenox, MA
September 7th – Wolf Trap; Vienna, VA
September 8th – Mann Center for the Performing Arts; Philadelphia, PA
September 10th – Forest Hills Stadium; Forest Hills, NY
October 7th – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace; Las Vegas, NV (RESCHEDULED)

Latest tour information at: https://www.vanmorrison.com/live