Common One is a curious entry into Van Morrison’s catalog – after several attempts at reinventing himself post-Veedon Fleece, there is the sense that perhaps he has arrived at some kind peace by 1980, having made a full turn into Christianity and a full return to the sprawling and more experimental form of earlier works like Astral Weeks. The record emphatically ain’t Astral Weeks, but it is an interesting, often exquisite listen. Departing from the quick and dirty R&B workouts of recent vintage, Van stretches out in a bed of haunting and gauzy string arrangements punctuated by lone horns and synths. The two tracks that clock in at over 15 minutes (“Summertime In England” and “When Heart Is Open”) are so lively and lovely, respectively, that they just narrowly escape the possibility of overstaying their welcome. Van seems to have figured out quite a bit about himself at this point and appears to be poised for evermore greatness.