While
Van Morrison
is, to be kind, an erratic and temperamental live performer, he's in stellar form throughout the double album
It's Too Late to Stop Now
, a superb concert set that neatly summarizes his career from his days with
Them
(represented by scorching renditions of
"Gloria"
and
"Here Comes the Night"
) through 1973's
Hard Nose the Highway
(
"Warm Love,"
"Wild Children"
). In addition to the hits, including
"Caravan,"
"Domino,"
"Into the Mystic"
(the final line of which gives the album its title),
Morrison
even pulls out a handful of
R&B
chestnuts (
"Bring It on Home to Me,"
"Ain't Nothin' You Can Do"
) before capping off the collection with a show-stopping rendition of
Astral Weeks
'
"Cyprus Avenue."
An engaging, warm portrait of the man at the peak of his powers. ~ Jason Ankeny