Van Morrison

In this episode, Louis speaks to pop megastar Ed Sheeran. Joining Louis in the studio, Ed describes squeezing Stormzy into his Mini, a surprising breakfast with Van Morrison, and how to be normal when you’re one of the most famous people in the world. Warning: Strong language, as well as some adult themes. Links/Attachments: Album: ‘Play’, Ed Sheeran (2025) https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/096l4VGKXhhUHyjD8gh1tf Album: ‘Autumn Variations’, Ed Sheeran (2023) https://open.spotify.com/album/5LXOgcszGvUkYzYL4v6wYg Album: ‘Subtract’, Ed Sheeran (2023) https://open.spotify.com/album/2WFFcvzM0CgLaSq4MSkyZk SBTV – Online Platform https://sbtv.co.uk/home/ Album: ‘Astral Weeks’, Van Morrison (1968) https://open.spotify.com/album/4pG3bKkbmReDt5QTDn3JDz Album: ‘Moondance’, Van Morrison (1970) https://open.spotify.com/album/5PfnCqRbdfIDMb1x3MPQam Album: ‘Irish Heartbeat’, Van Morrison & The Chieftains (1988) https://open.spotify.com/album/0qTjwpf7Oqh8MGtK3aflgO Album: ‘Van Morrison at the Movies’, Van Morrison (2007) https://www.vanmorrison.com/music/van-morrison-at-the-movies-soundtrack-hits Album: ‘Veedon Fleece’, Van Morrison (1974) https://open.spotify.com/album/1zvI5Kkxus94lhz0RvZWBf Album: ‘Saint Dominic’s Preview’, Van Morrison (1972) https://open.spotify.com/album/0i3c1sR3poI6S2VIH2VP7Q Song: ‘All Along the Watchtower’, Bob Dylan (1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/0Fnb2pfBfu0ka33d6Yki17 A Complete Unknown (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdV-Cs5o8mc Song: ‘F64’, Ed Sheeran (2023) https://open.spotify.com/track/5DFi6D7SrYHRIgZbY5MqqE Song: ‘Jiggle Jiggle ’ , Louis Theroux and Duke & Jones (2022) https://open.spotify.com/artist/016Rz5DsXUPPxosNTZLYcv Song: ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’, Ed Sheeran (2011) https://open.spotify.com/track/5KL4iZkCTZyXl7KnHgfVDj Song: 'They Won't Go When I Go', Stevie Wonder (1974) https://open.spotify.com/track/1lIOMibFPfFYlJnjQaZluo Song: ‘Bootylicious’, Destiny’s Child (2001) https://open.spotify.com/track/09mkdGhqb5ySKVsnkx9hy2 Song: ‘Superstition’, Stevie Wonder (1972) https://open.spotify.com/track/4N0TP4Rmj6QQezWV88ARNJ Album: ‘

Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88’s have been playing their unique brand of “rock a boogie” for some 40 years now. Back in 2017, Woods issued a career-defining album, Friends Along the Way, featuring a stellar lineup of guests, including Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ruthie Foster, Maria Muldaur, Elvin Bishop and many others. Problem was, his record label at the time had just decided to focus only on videos, leaving this great album without an audience. Now, he’s regained the master recordings and has reissued the album and added five bonus tracks. He and his Rocket 88’s are out on the road promoting the reissue. We chat with Woods about how the project got rolling with a "yes" from Van Morrison, plus how he took up residency at the piano bar during the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

On this episode, we welcome guest Kyle Hilliard (MinnMax and the Gaming Ride Home podcast) and one of his favorite albums, Blink-182’s breakout Enema of the State, to go head-to-head with Van Morrison’s cult hit Astral Weeks. Kyle’s love for Blink-182’s immature, do-what-we-want 1999 pop-punk smash contrasts sharply with the freeform folk-jazz storytelling that brought Matt to Van Morrison – and yet, somewhere in the mix, they find common ground in their tastes for a well-realized sound. Then in the community portion, we discuss the most important music videos, covers versus live versions, what musicals we listen to outside of the stage show, and more before heading to an old-fashioned bluegrass hoedown with a song suggested by the MinnTrax community! To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below... 3:20 - Kyle’s history with Blink-182 6:40 - Enema of the State 7:10 - How Blink-182 influenced Kyle as a drummer 11:35 - Travis Barker’s drumming 21:10 - Why What’s My Age Again? is better than All the Small Things 29:30 - Bands that take themselves too seriously 37:20 - Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks 41:40 - Astral Weeks’ jazz roots 59:20 - Two dads talking about music 1:05:00 - Community questions 1:19:30 - Community song (‘Big Country’ by Béla Fleck and the Flecktones) Links Listen to Gaming Ride Home wherever you get podcasts and follow the show on Twitter @GamingRideHome Follow Kyle on Twitter at @kylemhilliard Support MinnMax on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/minnmax/ MinnTrax Episode Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2vgqfvK MinnTrax Community Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3aRRgox Dire Straits - Money for Nothing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAD6Obi7Cag Karate - Sever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOKhm98kjKQ