The Caledonia Soul Orchestra was the band created by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 1973. The band is often considered one of the tightest performing backup groups of the 1970s. The band was named after an eighteen minute instrumental outtake on the His Band and the Street Choir album.

In 1973 Van Morrison and the Caledonia Soul Orchestra went on a three-month tour of the United States, and Europe with the result of which was the seminal live double album It’s Too Late to Stop Now. The title is taken from the last line in the lyrics in one of Morrison’s songs: “Into the Mystic” from the 1970 Moondance album. In live performances with The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, he would close the concert with a dynamic, stretched out version of the Astral Weeks song, “Cyprus Avenue” and then shout out “IT’S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW!” as he quickly exited stage.

Van Morrison live at The London’s Rainbow Theatre on 24th July 1973. (Voted by Q Magazine readers as one of the top live performances of all time.)

Set list:
01 – Warm Love (3:22)
02 – Take your Hands Out Of My Pocket (4:03)
03 – Here Comes The Night (3:17)
04 – I Just Want To Make Love To You (5:36)
05 – Brown Eyed Girl (3:12)
06 – Moonshine Whiskey (7:14)
07 – Moondance (5:19)
08 – Help Me (2:41)
09 – Domino (4:37)
10 – Caravan (8:45)
11 – Cyprus Avenue (9:34)
12 – Wild Night (4:21)

Bonus not in the TV Broadcast:
13 – I Paid The Price (6:43)
14 – Saint Dominic’s Preview (6:18)
15 – Gloria (3:16)

01 Warm Love – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:


02 Take your Hand Out of My Pocket – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

03 Here Comes – The Night Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

04 I Just Want To Make Love To You – Van Morrison & Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

05 Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison & the Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

06 Moonshine Whiskey – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

• Van Morrison: vocals, acoustic guitar, alto saxophone
• John Platania: guitar, backing vocals
• Jeff Labes: organ, piano (8 May 1973 onwards)
• James Trumbo: piano (15 February 1973 to 19 April 1973)
• David Hayes: bass, backing vocals
• Jack Schroer: alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, tambourine,
• Dahaud Shaar: drums, backing vocals
• Bill Atwood: trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals
• Nathan Rubin: first violin
• Terry Adams: cello
• Nancy Ellis: viola
• Tom Halpin: violin (replaced by Tim Kovatch, uncertain date)
• Tim Kovatch: violin

07 Moondance – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

The Rainbow Theatre show was first broadcasted by the BBC2 as part of the Old Grey Whistle Test on the 27 may 1974. It was aired simultaneously on stereo FM radio and on mono TV. This was one of the earliest stereo radio broadcasts, and the first simultaneous TV/radio broadcast of a “rock” concert.
It was repeated on the 9 Oct 1980 on BBC2 as well. ALL the previous copies that are in circulation (known as “Over The Rainbow” and “Under The Rainbow”) are from the 1980 rebroadcast.

08 Help Me – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

10 Caravan – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra:

11 Cyprus Avenue – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra
12 Wild Night – Van Morrison & The Caledonia Soul Orchestra

– Hallgeir & Egil