Irish Heartbeat (song)

"Irish Heartbeat" is a popular song that was first recorded on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1983 album Inarticulate Speech of the Heart. A remake with the Chieftains was also included on Morrison's 1988 album, Irish Heartbeat, and was released as a single with "Star of the County Down" as the B-side.[1]

"Irish Heartbeat"
Song by Van Morrison
from the album Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
ReleasedMarch 1983 (1983-03)
Recorded1982
StudioTownhouse in London
GenreCeltic, folk rock
Length4:40
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Van Morrison
Producer(s)Van Morrison

Recording

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The first version of the song, "Irish Heartbeat" that appeared on the album Inarticulate Speech of the Heart was recorded in 1982 at Townhouse in London with Mick Glossop acting as engineer.[2] The version that was recorded with the Chieftains that was included on the album Irish Heartbeat was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin in sessions from December 1987 to January 1988 with Brian Masterson as engineer.[3]

Composition

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The song evokes images of returning to Ireland and includes the words: "I'm going back / Going back / To my own ones / Back to talk / Talk awhile / With my own ones". Van Morrison was quoted by his biographer, Steven Turner as remarking: "But there's a big part of me that's just strictly involved with the island of Ireland.[4]

Other releases

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Irish Heartbeat as a remake with The Chieftains was included on the 1988 album Irish Heartbeat. This recording with The Chieftains was included on the 2007 compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits as it appeared on the soundtrack of the movie The Matchmaker. The original recording has been remastered in 2007 and included on the compilation album, Still on Top - The Greatest Hits.

Another version was recorded with Mark Knopfler for the 2015 release Duets: Re-working the Catalogue.

Covers

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Irish Heartbeat / Star of the County Down by van Morrison & the Chieftains - RYM/Sonemic".
  2. ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p. 524
  3. ^ Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p.525
  4. ^ Turner, Too Late to Stop Now, p. 153
  5. ^ "allmusic: Irish Heartbeat: Billy Connolly". allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  6. ^ "The Burns Sisters Band – Close to Home – Tracklist". burnssisters.com. Retrieved 8 December 2009.

References

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