Van Morrison

Once, it would've been hard to imagine that Morrison would ever kick off an album with a Cliff Richard duet. But the duo's "Whenever God Shines His Light" works, as does most of this 1989 release. The clear highlight is "Have I Told You Lately," a ballad that earned Morrison his first major radio play in years. The spoken-word "Coney Island" is another treat, proving that Morrison's harsh Belfast accent can't hide his sentimental soul. Avalon Sunset never dominated the charts, but it sold throughout the 1990s and introduced Morrison to new fans. The remastered edition adds two bonus cuts.