The early Seventies favored bands resembling traveling circuses. The Joe Cocker/Leon Russell-led Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends with Eric Clapton, and George Harrison backed by members of Derek & the Dominos uphold prime examples. In 1973, Van Morrison followed with the 11-piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra, which while not star-laden, produced one of his most beloved albums, double live LP It’s Too Late to Stop Now. That album, reissued with remastered sound, led to an even bigger treasure trove. This 3-CD/1-DVD collection features individual discs from shows recorded at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Civic Center, and a combination of two shows at the Rainbow in London. The DVD contains a small sample of songs taken from the Rainbow, professionally shot and originally aired on the BBC. This is Morrison at the height of his power, although less than visually dynamic onstage. The relative lack of overlap material between discs, lots of hits, and informed covers of Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and the Muppets (“Bein’ Green”) make it arguably his most moving work, with the Orchestra landing a heavyweight punch.
This article appears in December 16 • 2016.