It's no secret that as prolific as Van Morrison has been throughout his career, occasionally, he's created music that just isn't up to his best work. The 1980s saw him on a spiritual journey that often lead to music that was the definition of pretentious. 1989's AVALON SUNSET saw him easing up on the religion & returning to earth, even though the most famous song "Have I Told You Lately" (no matter what the sales say, Rod's version is not better than Van's) had a slight religious bent. But the 1990s had Van continuing to operate on autopilot for the most part with some albums it seemed were recorded just for the sake of getting another one out. However, there were times when it looked like Van was getting back to greatness again. One of them was 1997's THE HEALING GAME.

The blues & jazz that Van grew up with had made a resurgence in his '90s music, his 1993 album TOO LONG IN EXILE being the most obvious example. But where as that album was rather misguided & overlong, THE HEALING GAME remains close to that album's style, only shorter & less complex. Also, contrary to what most people have said, the use of background singers on the album actually enhances it, not hinders it. Van after all is one of the more soulful White singers in the business, so he can easily get up & sing next to the greats.

The opening "Rough God Goes Riding" would seem like another experiment into religious territory, but from what I read about it at the time, Van was commenting on the war in Bosnia & I can certainly see where he was going with this song. Right from the beginning, it's plain to see surrounding himself with crack R&B-jazz musicians has given Van a little shot in the arm. Proving that Van does have enough soul to stand next to the legends, "Fire In The Belly" contains one of his most electrifying & heartwrenching vocals in years, indicating maybe he was indeed feeling renewed artistically with this album. "This Weight" is another entry in Van's "why am I such a big star" category of songs. Granted, Van Morrison has always been rather modest about his career, thinking of music as more of a job & not a hobby. But whereas most artists writing about their objection to the fast life would seem hypocritcal, "This Weight" really does sound like it's coming from someone who'd just as soon give up doing the thing he loves if need be. "Waiting Game" seems a little underdeveloped from my ears, with a chorus that's not one of the strongest Van has ever created. But it's still listenable (hence the four-star rating of this album, which contains a few of these good-not-great songs). "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is a break from the blues & jazz sound with more of a folk experiment & could easily have found its way onto ASTRAL WEEKS (definitely a compliment).

"Burning Ground" is another one of the most soulful songs Van has done in a while (not up to the level of "Fire In The Belly", to be sure) & while the "rap" may seem a little odd, it's still a guaranteed smile on your face. "It Once Was My Life" & "Sometimes We Cry" sound almost identical with not a lot to distinguish them, but I guess that's more of a sequencing problem. "If You Love Me" is Van's take on a love song that's actually sincere & upbeat, not critical like most of his songs of this type are. It all closes out with the rousing title track, which once again shows negative reviews about the background singers are highly exaggerated. Brian Kennedy is one backing vocalist who deserves to be performing out front & one only wonders why no record labels are giving him a call. Van certainly knows talent when he sees it.

THE HEALING GAME may not rank high on Van Morrison's overall output, but of his 1990s work (rather patchy to begin with, but still an improvement over his 1980s music), it's certainly near the top. Of course, it's not without its snags, but the follow-up would definitely make up for it with its very appropriate title (BACK ON TOP). For a man at the start of his 50s, Van showed no signs of running out of steam (though he showed signs of coasting from time to time) & THE HEALING GAME helped indicate he was about to get back on the track again.

This is my favorite Van Morrison CD. The first time I heard the title cut, on San Francisco's KFOG in 1997, my stomach was jumping. The second time, under the headphones at Virgin Records, I started to cry. I defy you to find a better song, by anyone. By turns breezy, joyful, heart wrenching and soulful, it completely overshadows the rest of this very fine album, until you take time to listen to it carefully. Rough God Goes Riding, Burning Ground, Fire in the Belly, Sometimes We Cry, The Healing Game. Great, great songs. Sing it out loud.

I have almost every Van Morrison CD....but this is the clearest recording of them all. Add to that pleasant surprise was of the 10 songs on this CD..all ten were fantastic and easy to listen to over and over....
A highly enjoyable listening experience....the best song in my opinion was "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn"...
WOW! If you like "Van the Man"...this is a must have for your collection!

Van runs the musical gamut from A to Z (also, his output can run the gamut from A+ to F). The 90s for him have been like the 80s for Joni Mitchell--creatively uneven but still always worth a try. Morrison comes out ahead in this comparison by virtue of his eye-popping prolificness - with him, more sticks to the wall because he throws so much of it.

The Healing Game is a pivotal album in this cycle--it's tight, concise, with a crisp, understated sound. The songwriting is lean also--less visionary and more intimate. Most importantly, the album works as a whole, something that most of Van's more recent works have failed to do. This one's a keeper.

This is Van Morrison's best album in my opinion, which is saying a lot, considering the extent of his career. If one were to have only one of his albums, this would be the one to have. There is a thematic unity that seems to hold all the songs together, all written by Van Morrison. "Rough God Goes Riding" and "Sometimes We Cry" are truly superb, but every song is a pleasure in its own right. I have listened many, many times, and never tire.