Versatile is the 38th studio album by Van Morrison, released on 1 December 2017 by Caroline.[1] His second release of the year, it entered the Top 40 in six countries, including the UK. The album consists of some originals, both new and older, mixed with jazz standards.
Versatile | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 December 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2013, 2017 | |||
Length | 68:00 | |||
Label | Legacy (US) Caroline (rest of the world) | |||
Producer | Van Morrison | |||
Van Morrison chronology | ||||
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The first track, "Broken Record", is an original composition whose opening riff traces back to "Heathrow Shuffle", an instrumental Morrison played from around 1974 in concerts, and is included on the Live at Montreux 1980/1974 DVD. Another original, "Affirmation", was based on a previously-released "Sax Instrumental No. 1" from a 1999 CD single for "Back on Top".[2]
The Guardian describes the album as a "lively trip through the swing songbook", "a curious little joy of a record", and "very much a mood album, gently swinging".[3]
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[4] | 31 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5] | 26 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6] | 36 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] | 28 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[8] | 35 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[9] | 28 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[10] | 88 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] | 37 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 30 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[13] | 10 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] | 50 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] | 80 |
UK Albums (OCC)[16] | 38 |
US Billboard 200[17] | 119 |