Van Morrison Bootlegs //top\\ Jun 2026
A spectacular soundboard recording, this show features Van playing on his home turf. The setlist is a mix of blues, soul, and spiritual Irish folk. It is often cited as a perfect encapsulation of his late-80s live sound, complete with a stellar backing band featuring Arty McGlynn and Richie Buckley. 5. Copycats Ripped Off My Soul (1986)
: A collection of unreleased studio material and demos from 1968–1971, providing a raw look at his songwriting process during his most influential era.
"Montreux Jazz Festival, 2010" Why it matters: He plays almost no hits. Instead, he does a deep dive into skiffle and R&B. The sound quality is professional (many Montreux shows circulate as FM broadcasts). His cover of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” is playful and swinging. It proves that even in his "grumpy" phase, he is having a ball. van morrison bootlegs
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Van Morrison rarely plays a song the same way twice. In a live setting, a three-minute studio track can transform into a fifteen-minute sprawling epic. He frequently weaves snippets of old blues standards, traditional Irish folk tunes, and spontaneous poetry into his own compositions. A spectacular soundboard recording, this show features Van
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Then there is the set. Officially, bits appeared on reissues. Unofficially, the full tape includes a 22-minute “Listen to the Lion” that moves through three distinct movements: whisper, storm, and benediction. No studio edit could contain it. Instead, he does a deep dive into skiffle and R&B
The Peak of the Band
Documenting the legendary tour with the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, this recording captures the band at their absolute peak. It features blistering, horn-heavy arrangements that rival the tracks selected for his official 1974 live album.
Collectors often point to these specific performances as the "holy grails" of the Van Morrison bootleg circuit: