While
Van Morrison is, to be kind, an erratic and temperamental live performer, he's in stellar form throughout the double album
It's Too Late to Stop Now, a superb concert set that neatly summarizes his career from his days with
Them (represented by scorching renditions of
"Gloria" and
"Here Comes the Night") through 1973's
Hard Nose the Highway (
"Warm Love," "Wild Children"). In addition to the hits, including
"Caravan," "Domino," and
"Into the Mystic" (the final line of which gives the album its title),
Morrison even pulls out a handful of
R&B chestnuts (
"Bring It on Home to Me," "Ain't Nothin' You Can Do") before capping off the collection with a show-stopping rendition of
Astral Weeks'
"Cyprus Avenue." An engaging, warm portrait of the man at the peak of his powers. ~ Jason Ankeny