Veedon Fleece
	Artist: Van Morrison

In 1974, a newly divorced Van Morrison returned to his home of Northern Ireland to seek inspiration for his next album. Morrison recorded 'Veedon Fleece' thereafter, and it remains a fan favorite. Here's a tale about "an Irish American livivng in San Francisco". Happy Thursday!

(Guest blogged by Howie Klein)

The first time I thought I heard Feargal Sharkey's unique, quavering vocals was in Istanbul, swimming in a pool on a rooftop in 1985. The song, "A Good Heart" really struck me and I couldn't wait to get a copy. What I didn't know at the time was that I had already been playing the guy's music on my radio show. He was leader of a Northern Ireland punk band called The Undertones. "Teenage Kicks" came out in 1978 and it was a staple of my radio show. And before the solo record I enjoyed hearing in Turkey, Sharkey hooked up with ex-Depeche Mode founder Vince Clarke for a one-shot project called The Assembly.

Here's "A Good Heart"*

*Corrected

(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

R.E.M. just got back to the U.S. after recording in Dublin. They also did some live shows there. Here's a song they dedicated to Aung San Su Kyi of Myanmar from one of their gigs. My pals Roland and Irwing and I are getting ready to go visit Aung San Su Kyi in Yangon. R.E.M. put together an Ireland blog to cover their experiences over there.