In 1974, Van Morrison released a live album titled It’s Too Late to Stop Now, and the 79-year-old music legend apparently still feels that way.
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The prolific singer/songwriter is set to release his fifth new album in the last three years or so, Remembering Now. The 14-track collection, which is due out on June 13, features songs steeped in Morrison’s signature influences—blues, R&B, jazz, folk, and soul.
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Remembering Now is Van’s first album of mostly new, original material since 2022.
Coinciding with the album announcement, lead track “Down to Joy” has been released as an advance digital single. The gospel/R&B-flavored tune first appeared on the soundtrack of the 2021 Kenneth Branagh film Belfast, and was nominated for an Oscar in the best original song category. A companion music video for “Down to Joy” also has premiered at Morrison’s official YouTube channel.
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In addition to singing lead vocals throughout the album, Morrison also played guitar and saxophone on Remembering Now. Also contributing to the record are members of Van’s backing band—Richard Dunn on Hammond organ, Stuart McIlroy on piano, Pete Hurley on bass, and Colin Griffin on drums and percussion. All of the musicians have worked with Morrison’s since his 2019 studio effort Three Chords and the Truth.
Strings on Remembering Now were arranged by Fiachra Trench, who first collaborated with Morrison on his 1989 album Avalon Sunset. Trench also has worked with Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, The Pogues, The Boomtown Rats, and many others.
Other contributors in Van’s album include Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black and acclaimed British folk musician Seth Lakeman.
Remembering Now can be pre-ordered now. It’s available on CD, digitally, and as a two-LP set pressed on either standard black vinyl or limited-edition orange vinyl.
About Morrison’s Recent Album Releases
Morrison’s most recent album of new originals was What’s It Gonna Take?, which came out in 2022. Since then, Van has released four other albums. Moving on Skiffle, Beyond Words: Instrumental, and Accentuate the Positive all arrived in 2023, while New Arrangements and Duets was issued in 2024.
Moving on Skiffle featured a mix of original and covers celebrating Morrison’s love of the skiffle genre. Beyond Words: Instrumental offered up 17 previously unheard instrumental compositions by Morrison. Accentuate the Positive was a covers collection of Van’s favorite rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and country tunes.
New Arrangements and Duets featured a variety of unreleased songs from Morrison’s archives. These included a selection of tunes from his back catalog that were given big-band arrangements by Paul Moran and Chris White, and duets he recorded in 2018 and 2019 with Willie Nelson, Joss Stone, Curtis Stigers, and Kurt Elling.
Morrison’s 2025 Tour Plans
Morrison launched his 2025 performance schedule with a February 21-23 stand at Whitla Hall in his hometown, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Next up for Van is a six-date U.K. tour kicking off March 18 with a show in Nottingham, England. The outing winds down on March 31 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Morrison also has concerts scheduled in late April in Belgium and Amsterdam, and a June 4-5 engagement in Madrid, Spain.
Remembering Now Track List:
- “Down to Joy”
- “If It Wasn’t for Ray”
- “Haven’t Lost My Sense of Wonder”
- “Love, Lover and Beloved”
- “Cutting Corners”
- “Back to Writing Love Songs”
- “The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours”
- “Once in a Lifetime Feelings”
- “Stomping Ground”
- “Memories and Visions”
- “When the Rains Came”
- “Colourblind”
- “Remembering Now”
- “Stretching Out”
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