The Last Waltz

The Essential Van Morrison is a two-disc compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released on August 28, 2015. It is part of Sony BMG's Essential series of compilation albums and includes tracks from Morrison's solo output, as well as tracks from his days with Them. The tracks consist of some of Morrison's biggest hits and popular album tracks from 1964 as leader of the Northern Irish band Them through his 2009 release Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl. The liner notes were contributed by David Fricke.

After the disastrous "Gottle O' Geer" album from the previous year (which had been intended as a Dave Swarbrick solo album), stalwart Simon Nicol returned to the group and provided the group with the crucial ingredient it had been missing since he departed in 1972 with his perfectly sympathetic guitar. Here we have them sounding like Fairport Convention again, tackling traditional fare with great enthusiasm and aplomb. Their joy in playing as a reconstituted group shines through on tracks like "The Eynsham Poacher", with its lovely harmonies, and as a formidable instrumental group it's tracks like bassist Dave Pegg's "Jams O'Donnell's Jigs" that satisfy most. The title track is one they attempted clear back in 1970 and is a sure-fire jaw-dropping classic. A fine return to form.

Islands is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American rock group the Band. Released in 1977 to mixed reviews, it is the final studio album from the group's original lineup. Primarily composed of previously unreleased songs from the Band's career (including their 1976 cover of "Georgia on My Mind", which was recorded to aid Jimmy Carter in his presidential bid), Islands was released to fulfill the group's contract with Capitol Records, so that the soundtrack to their film The Last Waltz could be released on Warner Bros. Records. In the CD liner notes, Robbie Robertson compares the album to the Who's Odds & Sods.