A Whole Lot of Them (of Course, With Him)

Even Van Morrison enthusiasts can get caught up in the misconception that the Irish singer-songwriter’s greatness didn’t begin showing itself until his landmark 1968 solo album, “Astral Weeks.”

Yes, the thinking goes, he may have had a few earlier hits with the rock band Them, including the spellbinding “Gloria,” but that music was just a warmup for what was to come.

True enough, George Ivan Morrison was only 19 when he and the rest of the Belfast group recorded “Gloria,” and he was still piecing together his musical vision, which drew liberally from the sensual lure of R&B;, the defiance of rock and, eventually, his own bold poetic imagination. Yet even on those fledgling terms, Them was something special.

The group had only three Top 100 singles in the U.S., so few rock fans here took the time to check Them out. And, unlike the similar sounding Rolling Stones, time wasn’t on this band’s side. Before anyone caught on to the sparks of Them’s music, Morrison had embarked on a solo career and was turning out such hits as 1967’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Because of Them’s low profile, the best of the 50 tracks in this package (which features great sound, but skimpy liner notes) will come as a revelation to even those who proclaim Morrison one of the most commanding figures ever in rock.

It’s not all wonderful. Morrison made some bad choices in outside material, and even a few of his own tunes--notably the wryly titled “You Just Can’t Win”--suggest a singer-songwriter tired of the pop-rock grind and eager to manufacture a quick radio hit.

Still, there is much to marvel at in the album. Despite its many lineup changes, Them never seemed a one-man show. Some of the guitar playing, especially, is striking. Mostly, however, Morrison’s vocals set the pace.

In 1965’s “One More Time,” he expresses longing with a desperation that rivals anything laid down in the ‘60s by the great American soul singers that he so admired. And, yes, there are a few places where he flashes some of the mystical wonder that would later enrich his music. A feast.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).

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* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: http://161.35.110.226/soundclips