July 17, 2026 —– Chart #359

Hello music friends,

Welcome back to another edition of Chart of the Week. This week we are returning to Van Morrison, and that is never a bad place to go.

Today’s feature is “Bright Side of the Road,” a terrific Van Morrison song from his 1979 album Into the Music. It is upbeat, soulful, joyful, and just plain fun to hear. Some Van songs make you stare out the window and ponder the mysteries of life. This one makes you want to roll the window down and keep driving.

That is a pretty good trick.

Van at his best

Van Morrison has one of the great voices in popular music, but not because it is smooth or technically perfect. It is great because it is unmistakably his. He can growl, shout, whisper, stretch a phrase, bend a note, and turn one little line into a whole sermon if he feels like it.

On “Bright Side of the Road,” Van sounds loose, happy, and fully alive. The performance just jumps out of the speakers. There is a brightness to it that matches the title perfectly. He is not overthinking it. He is not trying to impress you with vocal gymnastics. He is just singing with that wonderful mix of soul, swing, and Celtic mystery that only Van Morrison seems to have in the cabinet.

The song feels like sunshine, but not the cheap kind. It has depth. It is cheerful without being silly, optimistic without being corny, and spiritual without making you sit still in uncomfortable shoes.

The song

“Bright Side of the Road” was released as a single in 1979 and became one of Van’s most familiar and likable songs. It did not become a giant hit in America, but like many Van Morrison songs, it has lasted much longer than a lot of records that charted higher.

The arrangement is part of the charm. The groove is light and rolling, the melody is immediately friendly, and the whole thing has a little bit of folk, a little bit of soul, and a little bit of that old-time road-song feeling. It sounds simple, but it is beautifully put together.

That is often where Van shines. He can make something feel spontaneous even when the songcraft underneath it is strong. You hear the joy first, and only later do you realize how well built the thing is.

A quick note for the guitar crowd

This is a good one to play because it does not need to be treated too seriously. Keep it moving. Let it bounce. The feel matters more than showing off the chords.

It is also a good reminder that a song does not have to be complicated to be brilliant. Sometimes the right groove, the right melody, and the right voice are plenty.

And on this one, Van’s voice is more than plenty.

So this week, let’s take a short trip with Van Morrison over to the bright side of the road. Not a bad place to spend a few minutes.

Keep Rockin,

Stan