The 80-year-old Northern Irish singer and songwriter kicks off the year with "Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge", an extensive 20-track work—over an hour and a half long—in which he once again immerses himself in the blues, the genre that marked his beginnings and has, in one way or another, run through his entire career.
The album functions as a statement of principles. Although in recent decades Morrison has moved with ease through jazz, folk, R&B, country, and pop, the blues has always remained a common thread since his early days with Them. In this new production, the musician not only revisits those roots but also summons historical figures of the genre like Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, and Buddy Guy, who contribute guitars, harmonicas, and vocals throughout the repertoire.
The album alternates between original compositions and versions of classics and lesser-known pieces. The opener offers two tracks by Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, "Kidney Stew Blues" and "King for a Day Blues," with a big band imprint. "King," which features an incendiary solo from Buddy Guy.
One of the most surprising moments arrives with "Ain’t That a Shame" by Fats Domino, transformed into a slow-tempo ballad with female gospel choirs and one of the album's most emotive vocal performances.
The influence of John Lee Hooker is also present in a revamped "Deep Blue Sea," which accelerates the original pulse and incorporates a harmonica and a boogie-woogie approach. He also rescues songs associated with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, as well as a vibrant "Rock Me Baby" popularized by B.B. King.
