VAN MORRISON / DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS - JACKIE WILSON SAID (I’M IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU SMILE)

Van Morrison version Released: July 14, 1972

Charted: US: #61 

Dexys Midnight Runners version Released: August 1982

Charted:  UK: #5 

"Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" is a song written and sung by Van Morrison, serving as the opening track on his sixth studio album, “Saint Dominic's Preview”. Warner Bros. released it in July 1972 as the album's lead single. The track, drawing inspiration from rhythm and blues artist Jackie Wilson. Although it peaked at number sixty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, it remains a beloved piece among Morrison's repertoire. The song was covered by Dexys Midnight Runners for their album "Too-Rye-Ay" in 1982. Morrison's original version reached #1 on the Ireland radio airplay chart in 2021.

Van Morrison cited a specific line from Jackie Wilson's track "Reet Petite" as a significant inspiration for "Jackie Wilson Said". Additionally, Morrison acknowledged the influence of Wilson's vocal style on his own singing, particularly during his early career. He recognized Wilson's string of hits as instrumental in shaping his own vocal approach and style.

Dexys Midnight Runners first performed "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" live at the Old Vic Theatre, London in November 1981. They recorded it for their album Too-Rye-Ay, released in August 1982. Frontman Kevin Rowland admitted he "had a soft spot for the song," which influenced the band's decision to cover it. The song was released as the follow-up single to their number-one hit "Come On Eileen" and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. The band's record label, Mercury Records, originally wanted "Jackie Wilson Said" to be the first single from Too-Rye-Ay, but "Come On Eileen" was considered a better choice. Initially, Van Morrison was intended to contribute to the track, but instead, he provided comments for fans in a monologue as an album coda, which was eventually cut.

“Too-Rye-Ay” marked the band's second album, and initially, lead singer Kevin Rowland declined interviews to promote it due to his disillusionment with the music press. After the first single from the album failed to meet expectations, he resumed granting interviews. The single, "Come On Eileen," subsequently became the #1 UK hit of 1982.

Regarding "Jackie Wilson Said," Rowland expressed frustration with comparisons to Van Morrison and clarified his influences in soul music. He stated to The Face, "I'm really pissed off with all these Van Morrison comparisons. I am part Irish but it isn't real Celtic music and it's definitely not folk... we still use a brass section you know! We've just mixed a lot of different influences, including jazz and blues, to create an original sound. It was a very gradual process, I didn't suddenly start listening to Irish records like I did the soul ones before... and there's nothing Irish about our dungarees."