A Sense of Wonder

A Sense of Wonder is the fifteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison released in 1985. On first release, original pressings had to be recalled when the W. B. Yeats estate refused to allow Morrison's musical version of the poem "Crazy Jane on God" to be included, as they believed his poems should only be set to classical music. Morrison substituted "If You Only Knew" for the Yeats' recording. (Later, perhaps due to Morrison's efforts, Yeats poems would be put to rock settings on a whole album).

The 29 January 2008 reissued and remastered version of the album contains an alternative take of "Crazy Jane on God" and "A Sense of Wonder".

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	C+ link
Rolling Stone	(not rated) link

Track listing

All songs written by Van Morrison unless stated otherwise.

Side one

1. "Tore Down a la Rimbaud" – 4:09
2. "Ancient of Days" – 3:37
3. "Evening Meditation" – 4:13
4. "The Master's Eyes" – 4:01
5. "What Would I Do Without You" (Ray Charles) – 5:10

Side two

1. "A Sense of Wonder" – 7:09
2. "Boffyflow and Spike"  – 3:06
3. "If You Only Knew" (Mose Allison) – 2:56
4. "Let the Slave (Incorporating the Price of Experience)" (William Blake, Adrian Mitchell, Kate Westbrook) – 5:26
5. "A New Kind of Man" – 3:21

Bonus tracks (2008 CD reissue)

1. "Crazy Jane on God" – 3:50 (Alternative take) (William Mathieu, Morrison, William Butler Yeats)
2. "A Sense of Wonder" – 6:06 (Alternative take)

Personnel

Musicians

• Van Morrison – guitar, piano, vocals
• John Allair – Hammond organ
• Bob Doll – trumpet
• Tom Donlinger – drums
• Pee Wee Ellis – tenor saxophone
• David Hayes – bass
• Pauline Lazano – backing vocals
• Chris Michie – guitar
• Bianca Thornton – backing vocals
• Moving Hearts – group, performer on "A Sense of Wonder" and "Boffyflow and Spike"

Production

• Producer and director: Van Morrison
• Mixing: Jim Stern and Mick Glossop
• Project coordination: John Walter
• Sleeve design and art direction: Andrew Plewett
• Cover art: Torchlight, London
• Photography: Paul Cox
• Horn arrangements: Pee Wee Ellis

Charts

Album

UK Album Chart (United Kingdom)

Year	Chart	Position
1985	UK Album Chart	25

Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1985	The Billboard 200	61

Singles

Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	"Tore Down A La Rimbaud"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	19

References

• Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074-169-X