any of Morrison's albums since 1972's Saint Dominic's Preview. John Metzger of The Music Box wrote, "every few years, Morrison manages to tap into some magical space that sums up both his career and his influence in one fell swoop ... not that they're all that groundbreaking, they're just penultimate pieces of perfection. Such is the case with his latest near-masterpiece Down the Road, which finds him fondly recalling the folk, blues, and jazz to which he grew up listening." Pop Matters critic John Kriecbergs stated in his review: "Bolstered by yet another outstanding collection of backing musicians, ... Down the Road rivals some of Morrison's strongest work." Cover The album cover depicts the front of a record store with a window full of LP covers by blues, R&B, jazz, and old rock & roll artists, a deliberate blueprint of the album's influences. The shop pictured was a real record store, Nashers Music Store in Walcot Street, Bath, UK, specially dressed for the photo-shoot. Track listing All songs by Van Morrison except as indicated. "Down the Road" – 4:15 "Meet Me in the Indian Summer" – 3:57 "Steal My Heart Away" – 4:20 "Hey Mr. DJ" – 3:45 "Talk Is Cheap" – 4:19 "Choppin' Wood" – 3:26 "What Makes the Irish Heart Beat" – 3:47 "All Work and No Play" – 4:51 "Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby?" – 3:13 "The Beauty of the Days Gone By" – 5:45 "Georgia on My Mind" (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) – 5:35 "Only a Dream" – 4:57 "Man Has to Struggle" – 5:07 "Evening Shadows" (Acker Bilk, Morrison) – 4:01 "Fast Train" – 5:01 Personnel Musicians Van Morrison – acoustic guitar, harmonica, alto saxophone, vocals John Allair – Hammond organ Crawford Bell – background vocals Olwin Bell – background vocals Acker Bilk – clarinet Richard Dunn – piano, Hammond organ Lee Goodall – tenor, alto and baritone saxophones, flute, background vocals Mick Green – acoustic and electric guitars Colin Griffin – drums Karen Hamill – background vocals David Hayes – bass guitar, double bass Matt Holland – trumpet, flugelhorn, background vocals Pete Hurley – bass guitar Bobby Irwin – drums Bob Loveday – violin Siobhan Pettit – background vocals Johnny Scott – electric guitar, background vocals Fiachra Trench – piano Jake Walker – viola Geraint Watkins – piano, Hammond organ Rosie Wetters – cello, string section leader Aine Whelan – background vocals Martin Winning