In 1965 Berns went into partnership with Jerry Wexler and the Erteguns to form the Bang (B - Bert, A - Ahmet, N - Neshui, G - Gerald) and Shout labels. The Strangeloves, The McCoys, Neil Diamond, and Van Morrison all were big winners on Bang. Berns had worked with Them (with Morrison on lead vocals) in London in 1964 (and had discovered a session guitarist named "Little" Jimmy Page). When Them broke up, Berns signed Morrison to Bang.
On "Brown-Eyed Girl," Berns removes the perpetual cloud from over Van Morrison's head and the result is transcendent. You can literally hear Morrison smile as he breezes through sweet memories of a summer love gone by. After a great bass and guitar intro, Morrison's wistful reflection has real meat - we can see and feel the scenes of verdant hollows, misty mornings, waterfalls, and the greenest of grass behind the stadium. Berns' little touches are everything: a comforting organ enters for the second verse, hand claps bolster the third, and the bridge turns the bass and guitar intro inside out to neatly convey the passage of time. Most important, Van has never again sounded so at home in his skin.
Then there was some trouble at Bang. Berns wanted more control of the publishing. Wexler alleges that Berns' affinity with an unsavory element was increasing. Berns sued the partners for breach of contract and went his separate way. Shortly after that Bert Berns died, taking his talent and his secrets with him.
Article comments
1 - Ed Driscoll
Eric,
What exactly is a "paddy motherfucker"? That's one epithet I've never heard before!
Ed
2 - James Russell
An Irishman with a passion for incest?
3 - Eric Olsen
I'm not exactly sure, but my guess is that it isn't good. The Dictionary of Slang says it's a derogatory term meaning white person, as used by a black person.
4 - Jon Cohen
I dare you to name a record contemporaneous with "I Don't Want to Go On Without You" that sounds remotely like it. To me, it sound like a Gamble & Huff record or a Spinners record of 10 years later.
It's one of the most astonishing records I have heard, because it entirely separates the string track from the vocal track, making two distinct themes.
5 - Dan
Why isn't Bert Berns in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
There should be a box set of his collection.
A movie of his life would be very interesting.
6 - Eric Olsen
Dan, couldn't agree more on all counts.