| "Whenever God Shines His Light" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byVan Morrison andCliff Richard | ||||
| from the albumAvalon Sunset | ||||
| B-side | "I'd Love to Write Another Song" | |||
| Released | 27 November 1989 (1989-11-27) | |||
| Recorded | 20 February 1989 | |||
| Studio | The Townhouse, England | |||
| Genre | Gospel[1] | |||
| Length | 4:58 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter | Van Morrison | |||
| Producer | Van Morrison | |||
| Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
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| Cliff Richard singles chronology | ||||
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| Avalon Sunset track listing | ||||
10 tracks
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| Music video | ||||
| "Whenever God Shines His Light" onYouTube | ||||
"Whenever God Shines His Light" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriterVan Morrison and released on his 1989 albumAvalon Sunset as aduet withCliff Richard. Although the album was released in June 1989, this song was released as a single in November 1989 for the Christmas sales market. Morrison and Richard performed the duet on the Britishmusic chart television show,Top of the Pops. The single charted at No. 20 on theUK Singles Chart and No. 3 on theIrish Singles Chart.[2][3][4]AllMusic critic Jason Ankeny describes it as a "standout opener" toAvalon Sunset.[5] Critic Patrick Humphries describes it as "the most manifest example of Morrison's Christian commitment," claiming that although it "is not one of Morrison's most outstanding songs" it works as "a testament of faith".[6]Cash Box said that "ifGeorge Harrison can have a hit single while invoking his sweet Lord, Van could do it with the totally engaging 'Whenever God Shines His Light.'"[7]
