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Wonderful Remark

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Wikipedia article




"'Wonderful Remark'" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and first released on the soundtrack album for the 1983 film 'The King of Comedy'.[http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-King-Of-Comedy/release/2101666 Discogs.com]: 'The King of Comedy' OST[ Allmusic]: 'The King of Comedy' Original Soundtrack This recording later appeared on the benefit compilation 'Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal' and on several compilations of Morrison's works. At least two earlier recordings exist, one of which appeared on Morrison's 1998 album 'The Philosopher's Stone', a collection of previously-unreleased tracks.

The melody is based on an earlier Morrison composition, "Joe Harper Saturday Morning" (recorded for the Bang label in 1967).

Recording and composition



Morrison stated in an interview that "Wonderful Remark" was about a difficult period financially that he had spent living in New York: "It was about people who were supposed to be helping you and they weren't there. It was about the business I'm in and the world in general. A lot of the times you can't count on anybody."

The song was originally recorded in August 1969 at one of the 'Moondance' studio sessions at Century Sound Studios in New York City, but this version of the song remains unreleased.

The original release (running 3:58) first appeared on the soundtrack to the film 'The King of Comedy', and in 1990 was featured on 'The Best of Van Morrison' and the benefit album 'Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal'. In 2007 it appeared on two compilation albums: 'Still on Top - The Greatest Hits' and 'Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits'.

The eight-minute version that was released on the 1998 compilation album, 'The Philosopher's Stone', was derived from one of the 'Saint Dominic's Preview' recording sessions around early 1972 that took place at Wally Heider Studios and Pacific High Studios in San Francisco and at the Church in San Anselmo.'Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?', pp. 519, 520

Legacy



On 14 February 1994 when Van Morrison was awarded the BRIT Award for his outstanding contribution to British music, Beirut hostage John McCarthy testified to the importance of "Wonderful Remark" which he called "a song written more than 20 years ago that was very important to us."Rogan, 'No Surrender', p. 419

McCarthy and Jill Morrell had written a book together in 1993, after McCarthy's release, using the lyric "some other rainbow" from "Wonderful Remark" for the book's title.

:'Clinging to some other rainbow'

:'While we're standing, waiting in the cold

:'Telling us the same old story'

:'Knowing time is growing old.'

Personnel on original release



*Van Morrison vocals, acoustic guitar

*Robbie Robertson electric guitar

*David Hayes bass

*Richard Tee piano

*Jim Keltner drums

*Nicky Hopkins organ, synthesizer

Personnel on The Philosopher's Stone



*Van Morrison vocals, acoustic guitar

*Lee Charlton drums

*Bill Church bass

*"Boots" Rolf Houston flute

*Ronnie Montrose acoustic guitar, backing vocals

Notes



References



*Heylin, Clinton (2003). 'Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography', Chicago Review Press

*Rogan, Johnny (2006). 'Van Morrison: No Surrender', London: Vintage Books

Category:1990 songs

Category:Van Morrison songs

Category:Songs written by Van Morrison

Category:Song recordings produced by Robbie Robertson

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