Van Morrison: Bright Side of the Road

Tonight, I was watching the 1996 movie “Michael” starring John Travolta, which is a rather unorthodox presentation of Michael the Archangel making his final trip to the earth. I wasn’t familiar with the movie, but it had an interesting premise. It is well worth watching and it has some of Hollywood’s best including Andie MacDowell, William Hurt, Jean Stapleton, Bob Hoskins, and Teri Garr.

During the end of the movie and over the credits, the producers chose a Van Morrison tune from 1979. “Bright Side of the Road” was the lead cut from Morrison’s album “Into the Music.” Although released as a single, the song failed to make it into the Hot 100 – rather peaking at 110.

“Bright Side of the Road” features Van Morrison on guitar, vocals, and harmonica. It also features piano, a rhythm section, horns, backup vocals, tabla, and violin. Toni Marcus initially plays the violin pizzicato and it almost sounds like a banjo. She later bows it as a lead instrument. The backup vocals were provided by Katie Kissoon – half of the duo of Mac and Katie Kissoon. You can’t be sad when you listen to the “Bright Side of the Road.”