Inarticulate Speech of the Heart

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart is the fourteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1983. Morrison said he arrived at the title from a Shavian saying: "that idea of communicating with as little articulation as possible, at the same time being emotionally articulate". As his last album for Warner Bros. Records, he decided to do an album which had more than the usual complement of instrumental tracks. As he explained in 1984, "Sometimes when I'm playing something, I'm just sort of humming along with it, and that's got a different vibration than an actual song. So the instrumentals just come from trying to get that form of expression, which is not the same as writing a song."[1] Although not expanded upon, of note is that a special thanks is given to L. Ron Hubbard in the liner notes. The reissued and remastered version of the album contains alternative takes of "Cry for Home" and "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 2".[2]

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
Studio album by
Van Morrison
ReleasedMarch 1983
Recorded
GenreCeltic, jazz
Length47:10
LabelMercury (All countries except US & Canada [Original release])
Warner Bros. (USA & Canada)
Polydor (All European & Asian reissues since 1989)
ProducerVan Morrison
Van Morrison chronology
Beautiful Vision
(1982)		 Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
(1983)		 Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
(1984)
Singles from Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
  1. "Cry for Home" b/w "Summertime in England"
    Released: February 1983
  2. "Celtic Swing" b/w "Mr. Thomas"
    Released: May 1983

Recording

The recording sessions took place in California, Dublin, and a series of marathon sessions at the Town House in London. Morrison played piano, guitar and saxophone on these sessions.[3] Two Irish musicians played on the album (Arty McGlynn and Davy Spillane) and overall the music had a strong Celtic colouring. Four of the songs were instrumentals.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Robert ChristgauB−[6]
Rolling Stone[7]

The Chicago Sun Times gave the album an honourable mention in their list of the top ten albums of 1983.[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Van Morrison.

No.TitleLength
1."Higher than the World"3:42
2."Connswater"4:09
3."River of Time"3:02
4."Celtic Swing"5:03
5."Rave On, John Donne"5:12
6."Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 1"4:53
7."Irish Heartbeat"4:40
8."The Street Only Knew Your Name"3:36
9."Cry for Home"3:44
10."Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 2"3:53
11."September Night"5:16
12."Cry for Home" (CD bonus song, alternate take)3:49
13."Inarticulate Speech of the Heart No. 2" (CD bonus song, alternate take)4:48

Personnel
  • Van Morrison – guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes, alto saxophone, vocals
  • David Hayes – bass guitar
  • Mark Isham – synthesizer, trumpet
  • John Allair – Hammond organ, piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Pee Wee Ellis – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
  • Tom Donlinger – percussion, drums
  • Mihr Un Nisa Douglass – backing vocals
  • Stephanie Douglass – backing vocals
  • Pauline Lozana – backing vocals
  • Arty McGlynn – acoustic guitar
  • Davy Spillane – Uilleann pipes, alto flute
  • Chris Michie – guitar
  • Annie Stocking – backing vocals
  • Bianca Thornton – backing vocals
  • Peter Van Hooke – drums, tambourine

Charts
Chart (1983/84) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 21
UK Albums Chart[10] 24
US Billboard 200 116

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11] Platinum 15,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

Citations
  1. Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 376-377
  2. Eyekiller (8 December 2018). "Van Morrison Official Website – Tours, Music, Songs". Vanmorrison.com. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  3. Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence. p.377
  4. Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p. 239
  5. "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart – Van Morrison – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  6. "Robert Christgau: CG: Van Morrison". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  7. "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  8. McLeese, Don (5 January 1984). "Top Ten: Critics picks 83's best pop discs". newspapers.com. Chicago Sun Times. p. 61.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 208. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Official Charts Company – Van Morrison". Archive.is. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  11. "New Zealand album certifications – Van Morrison – Inarticulate Speech of the Heart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 28 November 2019.

Sources
  • Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-55652-542-1.
  • Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86074-505-8.
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