This album is very polished. It includes "Whenever GOD Shines A Light on Me." and "Have I Told You Lately." The latter is one of the best love songs I have ever heard. My wife Debbie and I love to dance to that song. Van Morrison is more brilliant than he gets credit for.

This album has received tremendous praise from many of the Amazon customers but I have to disagree. The lyrics are not nearly as deep and personal as those found on Moondance and Astral Weeks. His voice has obviously aged as well. When examined critically, Van Morrison's voice is not why we enjoy his music (at least for me anyway). It is the spirit and the feelings that his music engenders. His voice is just good enough to not take away from these things. He is in the same league as a Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin in that regard. These guys would probably not sell many acapella albums but would win poetry contests or instrumental competitions for days. When Van Morrison's aged voice is coupled with lyrics written to say "I am a Christian" and not "I am Van Morrison (who happens to be a Christian)" you get only 2 - 2.5 stars.

van gets better with age it's too bad people know rod stewart's version of have i told you van wrote the damn song people give him his due these are the days when people wake up and listen to the most soulful man there ever was

His second of three straight masterpieces (Poetic Champions Compose" before and "Enlightenment" after), "Avalon Sunset" brought Van back into many people's lives with the success of "Have I Told You Lately." The Rod Stewart cover debacle aside, this song has stood the test of time very nicely. Of course, the thing for me that puts this song over the top is the piano solo by Neil Drinkwater. The warmth of this solo could melt icebergs, and he's a big reason why Van's three albums from this period are so masterful. Neil also shines on the other two releases, giving them a level of feeling that would make Bill Evans proud. Like many Van fans, I also love the wonderfully eccentric tracks "Coney Island" and "I'm Tired Joey Boy." Add these songs to other gems like "Whenever God Shines His Light" (love that piano), "Contacting My Angel" and Orangefield" and you have a masterpiece in the making.

Van Morrison makes you sigh on this album, from classics such as Have I Told You Lately to These Are The Days. Truly Inspired work.