THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE is a collection of rare and previously-unreleased songs spanning Van Morrison's career from 1971-88. The package includes a booklet with track-by-track annotations.

Personnel includes: Van Morrison (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar,

harmonica, saxophone); June Boyce (vocals); John Platania (acoustic & electric guitars); Ronnie Montrose (guitar, background vocals); John Blakey, Herbie Armstrong (guitar); Toni Marcus (violin); Jules Broussard (flute, horns); Boots Houston (flute); Jack Schroer (alto saxophone, horns); Colin Titon (tenor saxophone); Pee Wee Ellis (saxophone); Mark Isham (trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards); John Allair (piano, keyboards); Jeff Labes (piano); Bernie Kraus (Moog synthesizer); John Klingberg, Bill Church, David Hayes (bass); Gary Mallaber, Connie Kay (drums); Jackie DeShannon, Judy Clay (background vocals).

Recorded between 1971 & 1988.

This two-disc set of previously unreleased material has been whispered about in the world of Van fans for ages, and it languished on the Polydor release schedule for so long that it became a running joke before it was finally released. It turned out to be worth the wait. These cuts, mostly from the '70s, are Van at his funkiest and most soulful, preaching the blues and digging deep into his heart to deliver the goods. Listening to these thirty tunes, one has difficulty wondering how Morrison could have decided against initially releasing them.

"Naked In the Jungle" is a funky, percolating workout on par with his classic "I've Been Workin'." "Not Supposed To Break Down" is a touching ballad that pulls unsentimentally at the heartstrings in the manner of MOONDANCE's "Crazy Love." On "Foggy Mountaintop" we find the usually-earnest bard in a playful mood, as he glides atop a 12-bar blues, professing his heartfelt desire for "a plain glass of water, vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top." Covering all phases of facets of Van's career, PHILOSOPHER'S STONE is a revelation that ranks among his finest albums.

Rolling Stone (6/11/98, pp.118-120) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a generally stellar collection....There's an unforced, earthy funkiness to much of the stuff here....Morrison's leftovers make for a pretty substantial and soulful musical meal..."

Entertainment Weekly (6/19/98, p.73) - "...STONE shows us how hard Morrison worked in his heyday, kneading a song until he had it the way he wanted it. These two CDs offer a sort of parallel universe: the unreleased flip side of the great Warner Bros. and Mercury albums that--until now--constituted Morrison's legacy..." - Rating: A-