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Goin' Down Geneva
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Wikipedia article
"'Goin' Down Geneva'" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the opening track on his 1999 album, 'Back on Top'.
Recording and composition
The song was recorded in 1998 at the Wool Hall Studios, Beckington.Heylin. 'Can You Feel the Silence?, p.528
The song is blues influenced and is set in European cities (Geneva, Salzburg and Montreux) instead of the American South as typical for blues songs. The line "Last night I played a gig in Salzburg outside in the pouring rain/Flew from there to Montreux and my heart was filled with pain" refers to Morrison's European tour in 1998. He had recently played at Wiesen, Austria, near Salzburg on 4 July, and two days later he performed "Goin' Down Geneva" live for the first time at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The performances, 1998
The lyrics of the song allude to British singer Vince Taylor, prominent in the 1960s, who lived and died in Geneva: "Vince Taylor used to live here/No one's even heard of him/Just who he was/Just where he fits in." Contrary to the lyrics biographer Brian Hinton argues that Taylor was, in fact, widely known. He comments that "David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' was based on him, The Clash covered his near-hit 'Brand New Cadillac', and he recently appeared (2000) as one of 'Mojo's 100 essential cult heroes."Hinton. 'Celtic Crossroads', p.356 Morrison's concert performances of the song usually include a section of Taylor's "Brand New Cadillac", starting off as a slow twelve-bar blues for the "Goin' Down Geneva" section and the pace immediately quickens for "Brand New Cadillac". In late 1999 and 2000 the medley also included Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35".
Critical response
James Chrispell's allmusic review of 'Back on Top' praises the song, calling it "a great blues cut".
Sean Elder believes Morrison sings the song "as a straight blues in the style of one of Morrison's heroes, Bobby 'Blue' Bland."
Personnel
*Van Morrison vocals, acoustic guitar
*Mick Green acoustic and electric guitars
*Geraint Watkins piano
*Ian Jennings double bass
*Bobby Irwin drums
Notes
References
*Hinton, Brian (2000). 'Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison', Sanctuary,
*Heylin, Clinton (2003), 'Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography', London: Viking,
Category:1999 songs
Category:Van Morrison songs
Category:Songs written by Van Morrison
Category:Song recordings produced by Van Morrison
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