Saint Dominic's Preview is an album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1972. The diversity of the material on the album highlighted the skill with which Morrison could fuse Celtic folk, R&B, blues, jazz and the singer-songwriter genre. "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" and the title track, top quality blends of Stax soul and folk, became staples of his live set, while lesser known tracks such as "Gypsy" and "Redwood Tree" continued to display a lyrical celebration of nature's beauty.

Also on the album were two lengthy, hypnotic tracks, "Listen to the Lion" and the closing "Almost Independence Day" which were given primal, cathartic and intense vocal performances from Morrison. These tracks were more similar to the songs on his critically lauded 1968 song cycle Astral Weeks.

Rolling Stone Magazine declared it "the best-produced, most ambitious Van Morrison record yet released. It ranks at #36 at Rate Your Music's Top Albums of 1972.

Reissue and remastered album

In September 2008, Exile/Polydor will release this album as part of batch three of the four catalogue reissues of Morrison's albums dated from 1971 through 2002.

Album cover

It was his first album not to have love as its central theme and significantly (as his marriage was deteriorating) the cover shows Morrison looking like a gypsy troubadour out on the street.

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison unless noted.

Side one

1. "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" – 2:57
2. "Gypsy" – 4:36
3. "I Will Be There" – 3:01
4. "Listen to the Lion" – 11:07

Side two

1. "Saint Dominic's Preview" – 6:23
2. "Redwood Tree" – 3:03
3. "Almost Independence Day" – 10:05

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

1. "Redwood Tree" (alternative take)
2. "Brandy" (???)

Personnel

• Van Morrison: acoustic, rhythm and twelve string guitars, vocal
• Jules Broussard: tenor saxophone, flute
• Lee Charlton: drums on "Almost Independence Day"
• Bill Church: bass
• Ron Elliot: acoustic guitar on "Almost Independence Day"
• Rolf "Boots" Houston: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Mark Jordan: piano on "Listen to the Lion"
• Connie Kay: drums on "Listen to the Lion"
• Bernie Krause: moog synthesizer on "Almost Independence Day"
• Gary Mallaber: drums, percussion, vibraphone
• John McFee: steel guitar on "Saint Dominic's Preview"
• Doug Messenger: electric and acoustic guitars
• Ronnie Montrose: acoustic guitar, backing vocals on "Listen to the Lion"
• Mark Naftalin: piano, moog synthesizer
• Pat O'Hara: trombone on "Saint Dominic's Preview" and "Gypsy"
• Janet Planet: backing vocals
• Tom Salisbury: piano, organ
• Rick Schlosser: drums
• Ellen Schroer: backing vocals
• Jack Schroer: alto and baritone saxophones
• Mark Springer: backing vocals on "Saint Dominic's Preview" and "Redwood Tree"
• Leroy Vinnegar: bass on "Almost Independence Day"

Production

• Producers: Van Morrison, Ted Templeman
• Engineers: Donn Landee, Bob Schumaker, Jim Gains, Dave Brown, Steve Brandon
• Mixing: Donn Landee, Bob Schumaker on "Jackie Wilson Said"
• Photography: Michael Maggid
• Arrangements: Van Morrison, Tom Salisbury on "I Will Be There", "Redwood Tree" and "Saint Dominic's Preview"
• Remastering: Tim Young, Walter Samuel

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1972	The Billboard 200	15

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1972	"Jackie Wilson Said"	Pop Singles	61
1972	"Redwood Tree"	Pop Singles	98
1973	"Gypsy"	Pop Singles	-

Notes

References

• Turner, Steve (1993). Too Late to Stop Now, Viking Penguin, ISBN 0-670-85147-7
• Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X

External links

• geocities reviews-Saint Dominic's Preview
• Photos St. Dominic's Preview Album Cover Session by Michael Maggid
• Lyrics and Audio Sample 1970s, Saint Dominic's Preview