Van, like Dylan as of late, can give mixed reviews when performing live. You don't know what you're going to get at a given show by the two of them... but on a great night, few are better or their equal.

I wouldn't recommend this album for the newcomer to Van: get his first two albums first. Then, indulge yourself on this album, & be prepared for a fantastic live set, as he was arguably at the peak of his powers.

He changes some of the arrangements & tempos on a few numbers, which makes for an interesting listen. This isn't a Eagles concert, where you know everything is "played to perfection." Van seems to really "wing it" at his live shows, which is part of his charm.

Plus, his backing band at the time, The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, was probably his best & they are in FINE form.... especially Jack Platania & Jack Schroer (guitar & sax). I can't stress enough on how great this band was for Van during the 70's.

He does some fantastic covers by Sonny Boy, Sam Cooke, & etc. along with his well known compositions. There is an amazing version of St. Dominic's Preview & Caravan.....

People are lucky, as this album has been out of print for a LOOONG time prior to its re-release. Anyhoo, great live set, & highly recommended!!

I'm not sure this is the best live album ever recorded; that honor may have to go to The Band's "The Last Waltz." But this is definitely up there. Van doesn't give great concerts any more, which is hard to believe when you listen to the groundbreaking verions of "Listen to the Lion," "Caravan," and "Cypress Avenue" on this compilation. Even songs that you wouldn't think could be pulled off live, like "Into the Mystic," are brilliantly done on this album. Van has two things which make him one of the towering figures in music: he has songwriting genius, and he has soul. The former can be experienced on any of his studio recordings, but to get the all the attitude behind this stout, ugly man, you must listen to him live. It's great, just great. I can't recommend it enough.

Let me get it out now, I consider this the GREATEST LIVE ALBUM OF ALL TIME. Over the past 32 years I have worn out two vinyl versions and am on my third year in CD.This collection of Van's best music(it is the best of three nights in three different venues)captures one of the original geniuses of modern music at his absolute peak.Totally original yet completely accessible,Van brings blues,rock,folk,gospel,pop and soul together to the delight of a frenzied audience.Having seen him three times I know how rare this is.
The band he is with at this time could not be tighter or more accomplished. Give it a listen and the word "production " takes on a new weight.This is one of those very rare albums that grows in stature as the years pass by.

Live albums are so many times a way for a popular performer to get product on the shelves without the pressure of having to write new material and the cost of a big-time prodution budget, so it's easy for me to be cynical of them.

However, there are a handful of live albums over the years that prove to be definitive in an artist's catalog, and this is surely one of them. I picked up the original vinyl release in a used record store many years ago, and expected a good show with a tight band, but I was not prepared for what I heard. The expanded band playing an excellent mix of perfectly chosen covers and early Morrison classics, all with great, unusual arrangements, astounded and totally captivated me. I felt like I had just had an out of body experience.

Anyway, along ABB Live at the Fillmore and the Who Live at Leeds, this is a live album that, while maybe not transcending the studio versions, stands on its own as a testament of this man's unique genius.

I would consider this album the best live album ever recorded. Van Morrison is an artist who has the ability to put on a great live performance. This is him at his best. There are classic performances of Caravan, Cypress Avenue, Domino, St. Dominic's Preview, and Into The Mystic as well as some classic blues covers. I challenge anyone come up with a better live album. If you could only own one Van Morrison album, this should be it.