Van

One of the core values I’m committed to sustaining here on PorchLight is diversity. I trust its presence to enrich any form of human expression. With music, there are usually baked-in limitations imposed by personal experience – preferring to hear this instead of that. But for me, one outcome of the enormous and easy access to music in the digital age is a heightened sense of humility.

I’m constantly reminded of the ever-growing avalanche of content I haven’t heard yet even from genres and artists I’m deeply devoted to. No excuses for not hearing it. All the music is right there, even when I’m not. And so, the frustration in claiming there’s never enough time gets mixed with guilt when I’m playing something I love again for the nth time. And the whole purpose of listening to music is to make you feel better, right?

Here is yet another contradiction with regard to inclusion and diversity, at least within the narrow realm of music. For this particular episode, we’ll be exploring the creative output of Van Morrison. 45 albums to consider. It turns out that many of my favorite cuts are over five minutes long, or bunched into three consecutive albums, or might clash with the previous selection in the set. Certainly helps to have over hundreds of originals to choose from though, or does it?

That’s why they say be careful what you wish for especially when you can’t imagine a future where it doesn’t come true. Real diversity means exposure to what is stark, even uncomfortable. And saying there’s simply not enough time or far too much material to let it stray outside the lines just puts the blame on Mame. So once again with the humility: By trying here I will fail, by failing I will learn, which leads me to the arrogance of believing there will always be a next time when I can fail better.

Almost sounds spiritual. I bet Van would approve.

Song, Artist, Album

Gloria, Them, Essential Van Morrison

Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison, Blows Your Mind

Moonshine Whiskey, Van Morrison, Tupelo Honey

Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison, Tupelo Honey

Warm Love, Van Morrison, It’s Too Late to Stop Now

Caravan, Van Morrison, The Last Waltz

Jackie Wilson Says, Van Morrison, St. Dominic’s Preview

The Dark End Of the Street, Van Morrison, Into The Music

Into The Mystic, Van Morrison, Moondance

Cleaning Windows, Van Morrison, Beautiful Vision

If I Should Fall From The Grace Of God, Pogues, Essential