Van Morrison favors originals and covers over his own oldies at Forest Hills concert

He performed none of his better-known songs until “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Gloria” at the very end of the set. During “Gloria,” he silently exited the stage, leaving his musicians to jam for about five minutes before they, too, left the stage and the show was over. None of this enigma was necessarily a surprise, as Morrison has a reputation that preceded him.

Tom Jones, on the other hand, serving as support act, was personable and chatty. Even when he later joined Morrison on stage, Jones shared a lengthy anecdote about how he as a Welshman and Morrison as an Irishman bonded as contemporaries when they launched their music careers in the early 1960s club circuit in London. Together they sang two songs.

Morrison first came to international prominence in 1964 with “Gloria,” a song he wrote and recorded while he was still a member of the band Them; the song was a surprise hit, in that it was originally the B side of Them’s single “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Going solo, Morrison hit in 1967 with “Brown Eyed Girl.” By the early 1970s, his distinctive vocals became an FM radio fixture, with songs including “Domino,” “Wild Night,” “Tupelo Honey” and “Moondance.”

Subsequent albums were well received, but none have received the consistent attention that Morrison achieved in the 1970s. In total, he has recorded 43 solo albums, including his most recent, “What’s It Gonna Take?” released this past May.

At Forest Hills Stadium, Morrison opened with “Dangerous,” a new song that alluded to the Northern Ireland health minister, who said Morrison’s questioning of evidence and repudiation of COVID-era restrictions were dangerous. The set continued with numerous little-known originals and vintage cover songs. A stylized rendition of Lead Belly’s “Good Night, Irene” with Jones, and a Muddy Waters staple, “Got My Mojo Working,” were perhaps the better-known blues covers. The set included none of Morrison’s signature songs from the 1970s.

Morrison was in very strong voice throughout his performance. Fortunately, his soulful vocals were turned up loud and clear, and not buried in the mix. Every song spotlighted instrumental interludes by his band members, and Morrison contributed saxophone and harmonica sporadically. The arrangements were fresh and lively. This show was not designed for nostalgia.

Granted, Morrison has an extensive catalog, and the evening’s program introduced the audience to deep cuts from several of his albums. More than likely, however, many among his aging fan base purchased tickets with the expectation of hearing Morrison sing the more familiar songs they bought in the 1970s. Ultimately, Morrison performed a fine set, but the audience reluctantly had to accept that Morrison preferred to perform covers than revisit his own hits.

Set list:

1. Dangerous

2. Thank God for the Blues

3. Keep Mediocrity at Bay

4. Can’t Go On This Way

5. Days Like This

6. Born to Sing

7. Did Ye Get Healed?

8. Raincheck

9. What Am I Living For (Chuck Willis cover, with Tom Jones)

10. Goodnight, Irene (Lead Belly cover, with Tom Jones)

11. Baby, Please Don’t Go (traditional) / Got My Mojo Working (Ann Cole cover)

12. Think Twice Before You Go (John Lee Hooker cover)

13. The New Symphony Sid (Lester Young cover)

14. My Time After a While

15. Broken Record

16. I’ve Been Working

17. Precious Time

18. Early in the Mornin’ (Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five cover)

19. Down to Joy

20. Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson cover)

21. Brown Eyed Girl

22. Gloria (Them song)