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2003 hardcover in dust jacket. Jacket in protective transparent wrapper. Former public library copy with a few of the usual stamps and stickers. Otherwise in excellent condition. Text clean and unmarked. 2003 hardcover in dust jacket. Jacket in protective transparent wrapper. Former public library copy with a few of the usual stamps and stickers. Otherwise in excellent condition. Text clean and unmarked. See less
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Can You Feel the Silence?: Van Morrison: A New Biography Hardcover – September 1, 2003

by Clinton Heylin (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 104 ratings
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This groundbreaking biography of a brilliant but disturbed performer explores the paradox of the man and the artist. Based on more than 100 interviews, this intelligent profile explores Morrison’s roots; the hard times he went through in London, New York, and Boston; the making of his seminal albums such as Moondance and Astral Weeks; and the disastrous business arrangements that left Morrison hungry and penniless while his songs were topping the charts. Detailed are the breakdown of Morrison’s marriage, the creative drought that followed, and his triumphant reemergence. In addition, this biography attempts to explain the forbidding aspects of Morrison's persona, such as paranoia, hard drinking, misanthropy, as well as why, in the words of his onetime singing partner Linda Gail Lewis, Morrison’s music “brings happiness to other people, not him.” Also included is a Van Morrision sessionography that spans 1964 to 2001.
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  1. Print length
    576 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Chicago Review Press
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.41 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1556525176
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1556525179
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Heylin's weighty new biography of enigmatic music man Van Morrison is an ambitious and prodigiously researched work. It is most gripping in the early chapters describing Morrison's rise from his working-class roots in East Belfast, Northern Ireland, to the top of the U.K. music charts with the hard-rocking R&B outfit Them, best known for their three-chord romp "Gloria." Heylin (Behind the Shades) paints a captivating portrait of the ambitious and driven young blues and soul enthusiast who would go on to play a historical role in the early 1960s British Invasion, alongside the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Who. But before Them could enjoy the success of its British musical peers, the rough-throated singer moved on, both musically and personally. Here the book gets bogged down, as Heylin chronicles Morrison's misbegotten business deals that leave him near destitute and endlessly bitter. Morrison flies through a succession of managers as fast as he shifts musical styles on such landmark albums as Astral Weeks and Moondance. To the reader, Morrison's reputation as a curmudgeon (seemingly well-earned from the anecdotal evidence presented here) doesn't compare to the transcendent experience of listening to his music.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Van Morrison first hit the charts in 1965 with the Irish rock band Them, but his 1968 solo album Astral Weeks, still one of rock's few universally acknowledged masterpieces, made him a critics' darling, and Moondance (1970) made him an FM-radio staple. Since then, he has been a prolific recording artist and a sometimes-incendiary live performer. Fusing R & B, jazz, blues, and Celtic folk, Morrison's music has grown increasingly to reflect the songwriter's spiritual quest. Legendarily cantankerous, Morrison is notoriously uncooperative with biographers and, for that matter, with most other humans, for which Heylin has compensated by talking with Morrison's many musical collaborators and perusing the three decades of previously published Morrison interviews. Fans whose interest flagged sometime during his lengthy career may find the last third of the book--largely a repetitive traversal of less-inspired, relatively nondescript later albums--rough going, but that's Morrison's fault, not his biographer's. Any popular musician who boasts highs as high as Morrison's best--not to mention his longevity--deserves a thoroughgoing biography like Heylin's. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chicago Review Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2003
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1556525176
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1556525179
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.41 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 104 ratings

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Clinton Heylin

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4.4 out of 5 stars
104 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography detailed and well-written, with one review noting it contains 500 pages of quotes. The book is informative and philosophical, with one customer highlighting its thorough coverage of the artist's formation. Customers appreciate Van Morrison's musical genius, with one describing him as a wonderful singer/songwriter.

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DetailEnjoymentInformation qualityMusic influence
10 customers mention "Detail"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the detailed biography, with one customer noting it includes 500 pages of quotes, and another highlighting how the writer provides excellent context.

"...Morrison's musical and personal associates and comes up with a penetrating biography of one of popular music's most important artists...." Read more

"...I’m pleased to have found this book. It’s well-written and enjoyable...." Read more

"...But it also provides great detail of the stages of his career, the meaning behind a good deal of his music and his relations with the press, the..." Read more

"...certainly demonstrates his prowess as a researcher, with 500 pages of detailed quotes and anecdotes concerning Van Morrison...." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read.

"...I’m pleased to have found this book. It’s well-written and enjoyable...." Read more

"...Great book!" Read more

"Interesting, thorough biography. Sadly, quite a bit distanced from its subject... but that's the nature of Morrison." Read more

"This is a great read. Gives you a lot of insight on a wonderful singer/songwriter. Will be getting this for my dad for his birthday." Read more

8 customers mention "Information quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and philosophical, with one customer noting its thorough coverage of the artist's formation and another highlighting its great insight into Van Morrison.

"This is the most thorough and interesting of the books I’ve read about Van Morrison...." Read more

"...or dwelling on his personal life while there is a ton of information abt the formation of the early bands he played with and the music scene in..." Read more

"Despite the mystical, religious, philosophical, creative genius of Van, there's meds for behavior as described: sorry for the undiagnosed..." Read more

"Clinton Heylin gives great insight into Van Morrison without being maudlin. He tells it like it is, warts and all...." Read more

5 customers mention "Music influence"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate Van Morrison's musical influence, describing him as a music genius and talented singer/songwriter.

"...I am deeply grateful of his incredible devotion to music and for sharing his talents when he could well afford to become a recluse...." Read more

"...But he's also a music genius. That's the side of Heylin's subject I - and I daresay most fans and readers of this book - care about...." Read more

"...Perhaps a combination of both. He is obviously very talented, able to write many songs in a short period of time, some amazing and some rubbish......" Read more

"This is a great read. Gives you a lot of insight on a wonderful singer/songwriter. Will be getting this for my dad for his birthday." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • jimmie purvis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clinton Heylin Delves Deeply into the Career of Van Morrison
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A very skilled writer about the rock'n'roll scene, Heylin takes an astonishing number of interviews with Morrison's musical and personal associates and comes up with a penetrating biography of one of popular music's most important artists. Morrison is revealed in all his artistic glory and accompanying petty jealousies. Emphasis is placed on Morrison's insecurity as a live performer. He simply couldn't get along with anybody in his many bands for any period of time. This shortcoming can be traced back to the beginning of a career replete with poor business decisions. A major strength of the work is the considerable amount of time devoted to Morrison's work in the group Them in the 1960s. Heylin's biography is rightly viewed as a groundbreaking study of Morrison. A great place for anyone to initiate an investigation in detail of one of the leading figures of the contemporary music scene.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Panhandle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get to Know What Van Morrison is About
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is the most thorough and interesting of the books I’ve read about Van Morrison. Other books, like the one by Greil Markus, are mostly their opinions about Van’s songs and personality. This author has hundreds of interviews by people who knew Van and worked directly with him. I’m pleased to have found this book. It’s well-written and enjoyable. I know a lot more about Van Morrison - and the timing is good - since he’s touring America this summer.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Janice S
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed history on the beginnings of Van the Man
    Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Author has done a lot of research regarding the development of Van Morrison's career and early musical groups. Not too gossipy or dwelling on his personal life while there is a ton of information abt the formation of the early bands he played with and the music scene in Belfast in the 60's. Very informative.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Michael J. Seltzer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Van Fans May Object
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2003
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This new biography will provide support for the already notorious reputation of Van Morrison - of little comfort to Van fans. Morrison has a renowned reputation as disinterested in fans, commercialization, the record industry and rock.
    But it also provides great detail of the stages of his career, the meaning behind a good deal of his music and his relations with the press, the music industry, his family and friends. I for one, continue to be an ardent fan, having seen Morrison numbers of times over the years and have collected all of his music. I am deeply grateful of his incredible devotion to music and for sharing his talents when he could well afford to become a recluse.
    Heylin does a good job of capturing Van Morrison without having the chance to meet him directly.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • jfvoros
    3.0 out of 5 stars Van the Man - but not the music
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Clinton Heylin is obviously a formidable rock historian, probably the preeminent authority on Bob Dylan. And his Morrison biography certainly demonstrates his prowess as a researcher, with 500 pages of detailed quotes and anecdotes concerning Van Morrison.

    That said, the focus of this book is not on Morrison's music. Very little attention is given to the songs themselves, either musically or lyrically. Rather, Heylin's chief interest seems to be the music industry, recording minutiae, personal grievances, and Morrison's career.

    His treatment of "Tupelo Honey," for example, mentions that Connie Kay played drums, that Gary Malabar played vibraphone and percussion, that Ted Templeman couldn't tune in what he wanted for that song, and that Van "would maybe get mad and walk out of the studio." [p. 249] As for the song itself, here is Heylin's complete analysis: ""'Tupulo Honey' dripped with sugared sincerity." [p. 251] Funny, sure, but that's it? Why do the verses seem unrelated to the chorus? What about the "men of granite"? Is is really the same tune as "Crazy Love"?

    Similarly, here's his total analysis of "Whenever God Shines His Light," perhaps Morrison's most conspicuous and explicit statement of his Christian faith: The album Avalon Sunset "reappeared at Christmas, when the belated single release of Morrison's duet with Cliff Richard, 'Whenever God Shines His Light,' went Top Twenty." That's it - a dependent phrase that mentions only that it was a duet with Cliff Richard.

    Disappointingly, most of what we learn about the music itself we see through the eyes of music critics ("Astral Weeks" showed that Van was an Artist, but Moondance showed he was a sellout).

    It would do this carefully researched book an injustice to say that is a mass of evidence demonstrating what a prickly misanthrope Van Morrison is, but sometimes it does feel a bit that way. I get it. He's a difficult person, like most rock stars.

    But he's also a music genius. That's the side of Heylin's subject I - and I daresay most fans and readers of this book - care about. I'm not asking for sugarcoating, just for a look at the musician as well as the curmudgeon.

    Like, what's with "Crazy Jane On God"? Yeats and a key change mid-verse? How much did Van actually contribute to the music? Heylin doesn't get into what must be a fascinating story there. But Heylin is content to reveal that it "contains indubitably Irish elements." With lyrics by W.B. Yeats, I should think so. He also tells us that "the actual music and arrangement were not his own." Interesting. Tell me more. But he doesn't.

    I gave the book four stars because it is an exhaustively researched history. But it fails to deliver what we - Morrison fans - care most about.
    27 people found this helpful
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  • constance K. Pippin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed reading the book. It was very detailed and unbiased. I think that the author was very careful to make the book factual
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    But of course, I have no way of knowing how true the facts were. Only Van himself would know that. He may have seen all the carefully detailed descriptions of what happened in the book as "not true", or had a different take on what was written. What would really be great, though, is if Van Morrison would write an Autobiography of his life, and his awesome successes and legacy in the music industry. AND about how it feels to be a talented, awesome, musical genius. who was BORN TO SING!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • xplnyrslf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Despite the mystical, religious, philosophical, creative genius ...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Despite the mystical, religious, philosophical, creative genius of Van, there's meds for behavior as described: sorry for the undiagnosed bipolarism.
    I have all of Van Morrison's music, and consider myself to be one of the disdained fans who contributed to his success.

    Never the less, I have Van on my ipod, when I run 5 miles, his music comes up, I hit "skip". The pain and misery everyone went through for this nutcase makes all that soulfulness meaningless. HONESTLY! selfish lowlife to say the least.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • MrC
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, does it's best to demystify the enigma ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A good read , does it's best to demystify the enigma that is Van the Man. Lots of anecdotes that are decidedly unflattering but no doubt true. Recommended.
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  • FresnoPete
    2.0 out of 5 stars The world still waits for a half-decent Van book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Heylin may have set out with good intentions, but soon enough his mounting disapproval of Morrison swamps any joy or illumination to be found. If he dislikes the man, it’s not even clear he likes the music. All sorts of strident (and to me peculiar) views are ventured about it. Lots about Them and pre-Them but by the late 70s six months or a year will seemingly pass in a paragraph. Twee phrases such as ‘Bonny Scotland’ and ‘The Emerald Isle’ abound. Some genuinely useful info about recording sessions - Heylin’s strength - but after a while I wanted to throw it across the room.
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