(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball

(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball (Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball single cover.jpg Netherlands single cover single Van Morrison Tupelo Honey Old Old Woodstock 1972 Country rock 3:43 Warner Bros. Van Morrison Van Morrison, Ted Templeman Tupelo Honey 1971 Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) 1972 "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" is a song written by Van Morrison that was first released on his 1971 album Tupelo Honey. It was also released as the third single from the album, but did not chart. Lyrics and music The lyrics of "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" propose taking advantage of nature to solve one's problems.(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball Maginnis, Tom Allmusic 2020-08-03 https://www.allmusic.com/song/straight-to-your-heart-like-a-cannonball-mt0007365500 An example is the opening verse "Well you know sometimes it gets so hard/And everything does not seem to rhyme/I take a walk out in my backyard and go/Do do loo do do, do do loo, do do." The lyrics show country music influences with references to love, weather, and being outdoors.Hymns to the Silence: Inside the Words and Music of Van Morrison Mills, Peter 24 2010 Continuum 978-0826429766Goldmine 2020-08-03 https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/van-morrisons-greatest-albums-a-bakers-dozen-recommended-recordings Van Morrison's greatest albums - a baker's dozen recommended recordings 23 April 2008 In reviewing Tupelo Honey, Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau suggested that "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" transmutes the expression of generalized need for excitement and fulfillment on the previous song and hit single "Wild, Wild Night" into an expression of desire for a single person." The music is lively with a triple metre time signature. The feel of the music shows jazz and R&B influences.Tupelo Honey http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/249336/review/5941754 Landau, Jon November 25, 1971 2020-08-03 Rolling Stone dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081004093748/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanmorrison/albums/album/249336/review/5941754 2008-10-04The Words and Music of Van Morrison Hage, Erik 57 2009 Praeger 9780313358623 Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn suggested that it was an "uptempo spirit."newspapers.com 2020-08-03 Los Angeles Times Hilburn, Robert November 7, 1971 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56647860/the-los-angeles-times/ The Yes or No of Album Rating Producer Ted Templeman felt that Ronnie Montrose's electric guitar playing was particularly effective on this song, stating that his "infectious strumming and catchy fills made 'Cannonball' worthy of release as a single." Templeman also praised the 2-note hook Montrose played after the "Do do loo do do, do do loo, do do" line that ends most of the verses. Templeman felt that "it was a simple lick that any guitarist could have played but, the way he played it was special. It brightened the tune right up and gave it this pop sheen."Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music Renoff, Gregg 2020 ECW Press 9781773054797 Morrison played acoustic guitar on the song. Copley News Service critic Judy Hugg praised "Boots" Houston's flute playing on the song.Morrison Recalls Early Days Hugg, Judy 2020-08-03 newspapers.com November 22, 1971 58 Austin American-Statesman https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56648228/austin-american-statesman/ Recording "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California, during the first set of recording sessions for Tupelo Honey.Can You Feel the Silence?: Van Morrison: A New Biography Heylin, Clinton 248 2004 Chicago Review Press 978-1556525421 Reception Billboard chose "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" as a recommended pop single when the single was released.Billboard 2020-08-03 New Radio Action and Billboard Pick Singles https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-18.pdf March 18, 1972 58 Nonetheless, "(Straight to Your Heart) Like a Cannonball" failed to make the Billboard Hot 100, topping out on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at #119.Billboard 2020-08-03 April 8, 1972 Bubbling Under the Hot 100 45 https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-04-08.pdf Record World called it a "superb cut" and said that this "smooth, rolling song highlighted by some great 'la-las' is a natural for just about every kind of music lover."Single Picks Record World March 18, 1972 12 https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-03-18.pdf 2023-04-02 Windsor Star critic John Laycock praised the "cheerful banality" of the song.Windsor Star newspapers.com 2020-08-03 Laycock, John November 6, 1971 44 Morrison walks in the sun https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56648480/the-windsor-star/ The Dispatch critic Dink Lorance described it as a "bouncy little number with nice guitar and vocals."The Dispatch newspapers.com 2020-08-03 Lorance, Dink February 12, 1972 A-10 Nitty Gritty Up with Another Hit LP https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56649057/the-dispatch/ Patrick Humphries praised the song's "verve and panache."The Complete Guide to the Music of Van Morrison Humphries, Patrick 18 1997 Omnibus Press 0711956006 Music journalist Erik Hage described the song as "focused medicine-show Americana." References Category:Van Morrison songs Category:Songs written by Van Morrison Category:1971 songs Category:1972 singles Category:Warner Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Ted Templeman Category:Song recordings produced by Van Morrison