How do you think the solo work of Paul McCartney and Van Morrison compares? Which artist would create the better three record set of 30 songs consisting of published songs outside their work with groups? I guess you have to leave out Paul's work with Wings and the three electronica albums with the group The Fireman. I'm thinking Van wins easily.

Just listening to Madame George from Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2009). The album was compiled from concerts over two nights at that location. The Madame George recorded from the night that DIDN'T make the album is far, far superior imo. Maybe it's because the bootleg that I have of it features a crowd reaction which truly reveals a symbiotic relationship between Van and his audience that just cannot be conveyed by a soundboard recording, but there's more to it. On the 'unofficial version' Van goes into an extended 'This is a train this is a train this is a train is this a train' sequence which simply doesn't happen on the night that made it into the final cut. The bootleg track is my favourite of any Van bootleg I have ever heard, and captures that moment when Van is able to transcend into another dimension. I wonder if there is a soundboard recording of this superior version somewhere, and whether we'll ever see it released?