Into the MysticThis transcendently lovely song was written (as you hip folks are surely already aware) by the brilliant Van Morrison, whose uniquely personal style can't (and shouldn't) be imitated. It has been recorded by a number of artists over the years; I personally favor Johnny Rivers' exquisitely soulful version. When I was asked to record "The Snake," I immediately asked if I could also record "Into the Mystic" just because I enjoy playing and singing it so very much. Out of this grew all the recordings in what I've been calling "The Dirt Hovel Project," all recorded in just two sessions at the Long Island basement studio of that name, under the guidance of the gifted musician/producer/engineer, Cliff Ferdon, who allowed me to simply do what I like most to do, and made it all sound as professional as possible, given the raw nature of what he had to work with. Eternal gratitude. |
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All of the tunes from these sessions simply feature me singing to the accompaniment of my own guitar work - no other instrumentation, back-up, additions or extras, save for this one song, of which we later made a second version featuring some extra-fine bass and drum work from Cliff, and a haunting, achingly beautiful back-up vocal from my daughter (and Cliff's wife), Rene. I feel the solo version stands on it's own, but I can't hear it now without also hearing (and missing) the richer textures of version two.
For those of you who notice or care: yes, I did sing the second verse first, and no, it is not a mistake. I just prefer to sing it that way; somehow, within myself, it makes more sense. "Hark now, hear the sailor's cry" seems to me to be a call to listen attentively to what is being sung; "Taste the sea and touch the sky" (yes, yes, dammit, I know I changed the words, once again intentionally) seems to be a call to live each day fully, to squeeze the juice out of our experience. That's pretty much the way I try to live - pay attention and squeeze the juice out of life.
All of the songs I sing, I sing because they mean something to me, because I've carried the weight of them in my heart through the years and, also, through the years, they have carried me, supported me in invisible ways, given me shelter. They express something directly, both to and for me. People often talk about "covering" songs as though it were some kind of artistic theft or fraud, without knowing the true origin or meaning of the word (and more about that elsewhere, later). I don't cover songs, the songs I sing cover me; they clothe and nurture me, soothe and feed me, have been doing so for decades. They keep me alive. I suspect I'm not the only one who feels this way, but if I am, well, fuck-all.
The mystical experience is at the center of my being. It has made me what I am (whatever-the-hell that is.) This song is as perfect an expression of that feeling as I know. Hope you enjoy both versions.
For those of you who notice or care: yes, I did sing the second verse first, and no, it is not a mistake. I just prefer to sing it that way; somehow, within myself, it makes more sense. "Hark now, hear the sailor's cry" seems to me to be a call to listen attentively to what is being sung; "Taste the sea and touch the sky" (yes, yes, dammit, I know I changed the words, once again intentionally) seems to be a call to live each day fully, to squeeze the juice out of our experience. That's pretty much the way I try to live - pay attention and squeeze the juice out of life.
All of the songs I sing, I sing because they mean something to me, because I've carried the weight of them in my heart through the years and, also, through the years, they have carried me, supported me in invisible ways, given me shelter. They express something directly, both to and for me. People often talk about "covering" songs as though it were some kind of artistic theft or fraud, without knowing the true origin or meaning of the word (and more about that elsewhere, later). I don't cover songs, the songs I sing cover me; they clothe and nurture me, soothe and feed me, have been doing so for decades. They keep me alive. I suspect I'm not the only one who feels this way, but if I am, well, fuck-all.
The mystical experience is at the center of my being. It has made me what I am (whatever-the-hell that is.) This song is as perfect an expression of that feeling as I know. Hope you enjoy both versions.