Cleaning Windows
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Cleaning Windows” | |||||
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| Single by Van Morrison from the album Beautiful Vision |
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| A-side | "Cleaning Windows" | ||||
| B-side | "It's All In The Game" | ||||
| Released | March 1982 | ||||
| Genre | Celtic, Jazz | ||||
| Length | 4:43 | ||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||
| Writer(s) | Van Morrison | ||||
| Producer | Van Morrison | ||||
| Van Morrison singles chronology | |||||
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| Beautiful Vision track listing | |||||
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"Cleaning Windows" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and recorded on his 1982 album, Beautiful Vision.
The song is structured around the panel game "What's My Line" and is based on real life experiences of the young Morrison at his first chosen job after leaving Orangefield School for Boys. He names his favorite musical artists of the time such as Muddy Waters, Jimmie Rodgers,[1] Lead Belly and author Jack Kerouac with his books, The Dharma Bums and On the Road.[2]
The song chronicles a cheerful and nostalgic look back at a carefree time in Morrison's life when he was still a part-time musician and playing saxophone on the weekend. He was soon to leave his boyhood behind and after joining the Monarchs, spend several months in Scotland, Germany and England touring with them as the International Monarchs.[3]
As for Van Morrison's musicianship on this song, critic Scott Thomas remarks that "the rhythms, propelled by guest guitarist Mark Knopfler, are buoyant, while the horns are brought to the fore in a conventional soul/R&B pose".
"Cleaning Windows" was rated at #616 on Dave Marsh's 1989 book, The Heart of Rock and Soul, The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever [4]
Contents |
[edit] Appearance on other albums and videos
- "Cleaning Windows" was included on the 1990 album, The Best of Van Morrison.
- A live version was performed on the 1984 album, Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast.
- As performed at the Austin City Limits Festival on September 15, 2006 it is included on the limited edition album, Live at Austin City Limits Festival.
- It has been re-mastered in 2007 and included on the compilation album, Still on Top - The Greatest Hits.
- "Cleaning Windows" is also one of the songs performed in 1989, on Morrison's second video Van Morrison The Concert, released in 1990.
- A previously unreleased version of this song features on the 2008 reissue of the 1994 live doudle album A Night in San Francisco.
[edit] Personnel on original release
- Van Morrison - vocals
- John Allair - organ
- Pee Wee Ellis - tenor, baritone saxophones
- Mark Isham - trumpet
- Mark Knopfler - guitar
- Gary Mallaber - drums
- Chris Michie - guitar
- Michele Segan - percussion
- Rob Wasserman - bass
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Hinton, Brian (2000). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
- Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison:No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 9780099431831
[edit] External links
- Lyrics and Audio sample 1980s, Beautiful Vision
