Born in Belfast, Van Morrison's father was an avid collector of American blues and jazz records. Morrison grew up listening to AMERICAN music like Leadbelly, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, John Lee Hooker, Mahalia Jackson, and Lightnin' Hopkins. He grew up surrounded by every kind of American musical influence. From the age of 13, he was adept at playing guitar, sax and harmonica and played with a series of local showbands along with Skiffle and Rock 'n' Roll groups, and Brian Rossi at the Plaza Ballroom.

His early love of music, for the music, has certainly paid off. Morrison's music continues to have that authentic American Blues, Jazz and melodic Folk sound that he loved and listened to in his childhood, long before those early showbands and well before his initial 1964/5 hit records with his band called THEM.

There is a definite theme that recurs throughout the album, especially in the title track. This record does not boast the big horns of some of Morrison's previous work. But, don't let the title fool you. Keep it SIMPLE is EVERYTHING but SIMPLE - it is a Multi-faceted record filled with mystical layers of sound -start to finish -with Songs from the Soul and gorgeous melodies, rich with emotion, depth and beauty. -truly a record that has something for everyone.

Released in 1978, "Wavelength," though not amoung Van Morrison's all time best, is still one of his more engaging albums. It takes the basic formula of his classic "Moondance" and updates it with longer songs (though admittedly they are one the whole not as strong as "Moondance"). The album kicks off with the spirited "Kingdom Hall" and then moves on to such other excellent tracks as "Sante Fe/Beautiful Obsession," "Hungry for Your Love," "Venice U.S.A." and the wonderfully perky title track. Morrison has never sounded better as a vocalist and in retrospect he was just warming up for his late 70s masterpiece "Into the Music" that would follow a year later.