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Keep Me Singing
Studio album by Van Morrison
Released	30 September 2016
Recorded	2015–16
Genre	Rock
Length	56:33
Label	Caroline
Producer	Van Morrison
Van Morrison chronology
The Essential Van Morrison (2015) Keep Me Singing (2016) Roll with the Punches (2017)

Keep Me Singing is the 36th studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on 30 September 2016 by Caroline Records. It is Morrison's highest-charting album in the US, and third US Top 10 album, following the success of Keep It Simple (2008) and Born to Sing: No Plan B (2012).

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Consequence of Sound	B−
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Independent
Rolling Stone

Keep Me Singing received generally positive reviews from music critics, with Metacritic giving the album an average score of 74 / 100 based on ten reviews. Rolling Stone found that "through arrangements elegant to a fault, his mercurial tenor, more supple and restrained, remains a marvel", with his delivery at times being "full of chortles, snarls and gospel-tinged hollers." Hot Press wrote that Morrison's "voice is as strong and expressive as ever, while the songs are a mix of familiar-sounding, soulful ballads and mid-tempo jazz-influenced tunes." His "liquid-smooth voice" is "just as soulful as ever", wrote PopMatters, finding that Morrison "draws on a variety of vocal traditions from Celtic folk to contemporary jazz", and combines them "through the sheer force of his being." Consequence concluded that " are very few constants in life, but another warm record from Van the Man seems par for the course", but noted that it was "pierced with a severe, self-reflective melancholy".

Accolades

Commercial performance

Keep Me Singing debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, and at number nine on the US Billboard 200. It sold 25,000 units in the US in its first week, with almost all of that figure in traditional album sales. It is his last US Top 10 to date.

Track listing

Personnel

• Van Morrison - vocals, guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 11, 12), drums (4, 5), piano (13), alto saxophone (8, 10, 13), blues harp (1, 3, 11).
• Dave Keary - acoustic and electric guitar (1, 2, 6, 8–10).
• Johnny Scott - electric guitar (3, 11).
• Nigel Price - acoustic and electric guitar (4, 5, 12).
• John Platania - acoustic guitar (7, 13).
• Paul Moore - bass (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 13).
• Nicky Scott - bass (3, 11).
• Jez Brown - bass (6, 9).
• Laurence Cottle - bass (4, 5, 12), trombone (8, 10, 12).
• Paul Moran - keyboards (1, 2, 4–10, 12, 13), trumpet (2, 8–10, 12).
• Fiachra Trench - keyboards (1–5, 8, 10–12), strings arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 7).
• Enda Walsh - keyboards (2, 3, 7), percussion (3).
• Robbie Ruggiero - drums (1, 6, 9).
• Liam Bradley - drums and percussion (2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11).
• Paul Robinson - drums (4, 5, 12).
• Neal Wilkinson - drums (13).
• Kate St John - english horn (4, 5).
• Anthony Kerr - vibraphone (8, 10).
• Tony Fitzgibbon - fiddle (13).
• Ange Grant, Dana Masters, Lance Ellington - backing vocals.

Charts

References

1. Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
2. Kreps, Daniel (29 June 2016). "Van Morrison Announces New LP 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
3. ^ Caulfield, Keith (9 October 2016). "Solange Scores Her First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'A Seat at the Table'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
4. ^ "Reviews for Keep Me Singing by Van Morrison". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
5. Thom Jurek (30 September 2016). "Keep Me Singing - Van Morrison | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
6. Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
7. Bernstein, Jonathan (28 September 2016). "Van Morrison's Keep Me Singing: EW review". EW.com. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
8. Andy Gill (28 September 2016). "Album reviews: Drive-By Truckers, Van Morrison, Bon Iver, Pixies, Regina Spektor and more". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
9. Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison, 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
10. Hermes, Will (29 September 2016). "Review: Van Morrison Brings Vintage Chill to 'Keep Me Singing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
11. O'Hare, Colm (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison, Keep Me Singing". Hot Press. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
12. Horowitz, Steve (4 November 2016). "Van Morrison: Keep Me Singing". PopMatters. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
13. Reiff, Corbin (28 September 2016). "Album Review: Van Morrison – Keep Me Singing". Consequence. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
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• 2016 albums
• Van Morrison albums
• Albums produced by Van Morrison