Van Morrison – The Best of Van Morrison (2xLP)

Van Morrison's The Best of Van Morrison gathers the run that made him such an unusual singles artist: a 1990 compilation spanning recordings from 1964 to 1989, from his days with Them through the reflective and soulful solo work that followed. That reach matters here. Instead of flattening Morrison into one era, it puts Belfast R&B, radio staples and later spiritual-soul songwriting in the same frame, with songs from Them including “Gloria,” “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “Here Comes the Night” alongside “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Moondance” and “Have I Told You Lately.”

What makes this set especially useful is how clearly it maps Morrison’s range. There are the immediate, widely known songs, but also space for deeper selections such as “Wonderful Remark,” first heard in The King of Comedy, and later-period material that shows how his writing broadened beyond straightforward hits. The source material also notes that the original compilation has sold more than five million copies worldwide, which helps explain why it has remained a durable introduction to his catalogue.

This 2xLP edition expands the original vinyl configuration with four songs that appeared on the original CD but not the first LP version: “Wonderful Remark,” “Full Force Gale,” “Queen of the Slipstream” and “Dweller on the Threshold.” For anyone who wants a concise survey rather than a deep catalogue dive, it does the job well: generous, era-spanning and strong on the songs people return to.