Van Morrison's early transitional recordings (between leaving Them in 1967 and signing with Warner Bros. in 1968) have been packaged and repackaged many times, four of them through Sony Music alone (this disc, "T.B. Sheets" in 1990, "Blowin' Your Mind!"--which was the original--in '95 and again in '98, and the "Super Hits" budget compilation). Of these now-redundant rehashes, "Bang Masters" is by far the most complete, and therefore the definitive collection, let no one tell you differently. The liner notes say that, at the time of the CD's release (in early '91), this was the fourth repackaging of the Bang Records sessions. One dares not consider all the imports from small European and Asian labels.

One of the reasons I chose this one was because it had the complete "Brown-Eyed Girl" (unlike the inexplicable single edit on "T.B. Sheets," wherein "Making love in the green grass" was replaced by "Laughin' and a-runnin', hey hey"). As I have a copy of "Astral Weeks" (also highly recommended), I thought it would be fun to hear the original versions of "Madame George" and "Beside You," as well. The version of "Madame George" presented here sounds like a Johnny Rivers track (and Rivers would cover Van's "Into the Mystic" in 1970), but has an extra verse left out of the "Astral Weeks" version of the song. (In trying to learn this song on guitar, I actually went to the trouble of learning the extra verse from the first version while playing like the second, jazzier version.) "T.B. Sheets" is an absolutely riveting track--Van nervously edging towards the door while Julie, his terminally ill girlfriend, begs him to stay and keep her company. It's been rumored that, at the end of the final take, Van broke down in tears and further sessions were postponed (since this song is based on a real-life experience, that would have been understandable), but there is no evidence here of emotional upheaval, impending or otherwise.

Ignore all the imitations. "Bang Masters" is the '67 sessions disc to get.

Since so many others have written quite well of the origins of these sessions, I won't rehash that. I simply wanted to say that these are excellent songs and the liner notes in this collection are concise in explaining the fact that Van did not intend for these songs to end up as an album by any title.

As it turned out, producer Bert Burns died and Van left Bang records through an escape "key man" clause. So that is why there have been endless repackagings of the 21 or 22 tracks that exist. "T.B. Sheets" is the most fascinating song in the Van Morrison collection as far as I'm concerned. It's almost like something Edgar Allan Poe or William Blake might have written had their art been music. The rest of the collection is a snapshot of the mindset of a 21 year old legend-in-the-making.

My only complaint with this album is the inclusion of an alternate version of "He Ain't Give You None". The better version appeared on the "T.B.Sheets" vinyl version. Presumably, that is also the version that Sony put on the CD, but I do not know. The other version is a more sinister reading, and the lyrics are altered slightly.

This collection of Bang Records digitally remixed and remastered (a relatively unusual ADD disc... and no, that doesn't mean "attention deficit disordered") studio recordings from 1967 represents George Ivan Morrison's fledgling foray into a solo career. Morrison had his initial success with Ireland's Them in 1965 and 1966, scoring hits with 'Mystic Eyes' (number 33 on the national charts in December, 1965), and 'Baby Please Don't Go', which featured Jimmy Page playing a lead solo, and an even more famous 'b' side, 'Gloria', which the Shadows of Knight parlayed into a Top Ten hit. For Morrison and Bang Records, the more critical Them accomplishment was the Bert Berns penned hit 'Here Comes the Night' (#24 in June of 1965). Berns became a producer for Bang Records in the United States, and when Morrison broke with Them, Berns was able to pair him with a group of studio session men for a collection of hopeful singles.

The results of the sessions was an eclectic mix of standard 1960's pop (songs such as 'Spanish Rose' and 'Chick-A-Boom'), favored by Berns, and cutting edge rhythm and blues favored by an evolving Morrison (songs such as 'T.B. Sheets' and two songs that would grace his first major album, 'Astral Weeks', early versions of 'Beside You' and 'Madame George'). The most notable song emerging from the sessions was Morrison's all-time best selling single, 'Brown Eyed Girl'. This disc offers the uncensored (incorporating the lyric "making love in the green grass", which was too risque for 1967's airwaves) version of 'Brown Eyed Girl', and an altogether wonderful alternate take of the track, which runs a half-minute longer than the standard version, and has a noticably altered melody. It is the presence of this alternate take that propels 'Bang Masters' from a three star curiosity to a four star keeper.

While Morrison was still clearly searching for the style that would elevate him to legendary status in the late 1960's and early 1970's, the germination of that style is aurally present in the Bang recordings. While none of the songs on this collection approach the quality of 'Brown-Eyed Girl', there are plenty of tantalizing performances. My personal favorites include 'Ro Ro Rosey', 'The Smile You Smile' (a mono Morrison demo of this track is tacked on the end of the sessions), and the familiar 'Midnight Special', complete with Motown influenced back-up vocals. While the session musicians backing Morrison consistently demonstrate their skill, some of the between-track banter reveals philosophical discord between the singer and his supporting cast. The subject matter of songs such as 'T.B. Sheets', describing a strained sickbed visitation, apparently strained the sensibilities of some of the session pros. While Berns was fishing for singles, Morrison was casting for substance.

The Bang Masters have been repackaged and remarketed several times dating back to the 1967 Morrison LP 'Blowin' Your Mind', so there isn't much that is new here, and the songs are, for the most part, of mediocre quality. The appeal to the disc, therefore, lies in the appreciation of Morrison's unique vocal talent, and the historic transition of the artist's focus from Them to his solo career. While Morrison probably never envisioned these takes constituting an album, the collection gives a rare peak of an artist on the brink of stardom.

'Bang Masters' is well recorded, and the liner booklet contains copious notes on Morrison's early years, and the 1967 Bang sessions, by 'Musician' magazine writer Bill Flanagan. A brand spanking new copy of the CD can be had for just four dollars, so there's really no excuse for Van fans to be sans a copy.

Anyone interested in the work of Van Morrison is aware that Van recorded this material without planning for a studio album. Ironically, this work has been rereleased over and over again on one rip-off album after another. This is the only release that deserves merit. Historically, these recordings provide interesting insight into the way Van developed from the soulful pop/rock of Them into the stream-of-consciousness jazz/folk of "Astral Weeks". "T.B. Sheets" and the seminal "Brown Eyed Girl" stand out, but such lesser-known songs as "Spanish Rose" and "Joe Harper Saturday Morning" are what make this collection really enjoyable. Add the rarely heard "Chick-a-Boom",the original versions of "Beside You" and "Madame George", and an alternate take of "Brown Eyed Girl" and you get an important piece of music history. Avoid all other repackaging of this material!!!!

The spontaneous raw intensity of this album gives it an almost live feel (but without the fumbles and poor sound quality of most bootlegs). It's dark, soulful, bluesy, and atmospheric, and contains some of Van's best vocal work--each word conveys soooo much emotion. I listened to nothing else for almost a week after buying this album. This album is what music should be; a definate must-have for any Van fan.