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.
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. Guest musicians on the album include Taj Mahal (vocals on "Lucille" and "Shake Rattle and Roll"), Jeff Beck (guitar on "Lonesome Train"), and Chris Farlowe (vocals on "Lonesome Train").
Critical reception
Accentuate the Positive received a score of 72 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. 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'". 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".
Record Collectors 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". 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". 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".
Track listing
Personnel
"You Are My Sunshine" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis "When Will I Be Loved?" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Phil Everly "Two Hound Dogs" Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin 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 "Flip, Flop And Fly" Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin 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 "I Want A Roof Over My Head" Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin 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 "Problems" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant "Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Music By – Chuck Willis Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison "The Shape I'm In" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Cathy Lynn, Otis Blackwell "Accentuate The Positive" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Percussion – Colin Griffin 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 "Lonesome Train" Bass – Laurence Cottle Drums – Mez Clough Electric Guitar – Dave Keary, Jeff Beck Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Chris Farlowe, Van Morrison Written-By – Dorsey Burnette, Glen Moore, Johnny Burnette, Milton Subotsky, Paul Burliso "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 Tenor Saxophone – Chris White Trombone – Alistair White Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Terry Thompson "Shakin' All Over" Bass – Paul Moore Drums – Jeff Lardner Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Paul Moran Tenor Saxophone – Chris White Trombone – Alistair White Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Johnny Kidd "Bye Bye Johnny" Backing Vocals – Chantelle Duncan, Crawford Bell, Teena Lyle Bass – Pete Hurley Drums, Backing Vocals – Colin Griffin 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 "Red Sails In The Sunset" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Kelly Smiley Bass – Pete Hurley Drums – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Piano – John McCullough Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Hugh Williams, James Kennedy, Wilhelm Grosz "Sea Of Heartbreak" Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan Bass – Nick Scott Drums – Eamon Ferris Piano – John McCullough Vocals – Van Morrison Written-By – Hal David, Paul Hampton "Blueberry Hill" Backing Vocals – Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara, Nathan O'Regan Bass – Nick Scott Drums – Eamon Ferris Piano – John McCullough Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Van Morrison Written-By – Al Lewis, Lawrence Stock, Vincent Rose "Bonaparte's Retreat" Backing Vocals – Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, Jolene O'Hara Bass – Pete Hurley Drums – Colin Griffin Electric Guitar – Dave Keary Electric Organ [Hammond Organ] – Richard Dunn Music By – Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart Piano – Stuart McIlroy Vocals – Van Morrison "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, Richard Penniman "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) Peakposition
References