So I have never really gotten into Van Morisson (other than learning Brown Eyed Girl on the guitar when I was like 14). Just listened to Astral Weeks all the way through. Unfuckingbelievably good. I am sure I am not telling anyone anything they did not already know but, DAMN. Moondance officially on order.


IN AN UNRELATED NEWSFLASH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS POPULATED BY JEAN SHORT WEARING NORTH FLORIDA TRASH!!!!!

Also highly recommend Saint Dominic's Preview.

astral weeks >>>>> moondance

astral weeks>>>>>>>99% of anything else out there.

top 5 album of all time for me. (forget where exactly it placed on my listmania)

Set Astral Weeks on a shelf by itself. Then, prior to the mid-90's, the only one I think is unable to stand on its own merit is A Period Of Transition.

Astral Weeks is pretty damned amazing. I was blown away the first time I heard it. I think I remember reading that he laid down the album over the weekend all by himself.

Moondance is also excellent. I'd recommend Tupelo Honey as well.

I had this same discovery only about 2 years ago. I became instantly obsessed. Such a remarkably beautiful album.

I loves me some Van, probably my favorite vocals of any musician.

I prefer him fronting Them, never had much use for his solo stuff.

Astral Weeks transcends much of popular music... it's like Kind of Blue or A Love Supreme. It is perfect.

Van, to me, is our greatest singer alive... but people who like him oftern diverge on the root of him they favor. You have the woozy celtic ethereal dreamer, meditative, trance-like in his power. Then you also have the rhythm and blues, swing-out, rocking roller with a syncopation and swagger second to none.

AW is the ethereal side and Moondance is the R&B jazzman hipster side. Through the 70's there were songs of both kinds on a lot of albums: St. Dominic's Preview is an example: Jackie Wilson swings, and Independence Day takes far, far into your sacred consciousness. I mean, do you like to get drunk or take mind-altering substances?

I love the Van for all that he is. I also really am transported by the celtic yearning of the trance singing... many hate some of his 80's work... but nothing is better (for my ear that loves Astral Weeks) than Articulate Speech of the Heart, No Guru...., A Sense of Wonder, Avalon Sunset...

I have seen him perform live 20plus times. I am a huge fan. His last CD totally bored me. It sucked. He needs to get over his victimhood at the hands of "Them" in the industry.

Also... check out the "Carrickfergus" he recorded with the Irish Chieftains... if it doesn't moisten yer eye drunk or sober I'll have nothin to do wid yu.

Agreed- A couple of years ago, while putting together a comp for some folks on another board, I was surprised that I pulled more songs from Into The Music than any other other Van record.



You are indeed fortunate- I seem to have always lived in the hinterlands, and have never seen him perform. And yr right about the last release- it's more of the same- coasting on some R&B licks that he could deliver in his sleep. And some decades-old paranoia.



My ex always hated that disk, as did some of my friends who always claimed to be Van Fans- I never understood it.....it's all at the heart of what he has always done so well.

Into the Music is my Favorite Van album...it made my listmania in fact.

np: International Harvester

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/09/van_morrisons_c.html

'Ringworm' is awesome

This was just an angry young man realizing he was being screwed, and lashing out accordingly. The most unfortunate thing about the whole episode is he never figured out how to let it go.

"You Say France And I Whistle" deserves to be whipped up into an elaborate production number with dancing girls and whatnot.

Veedon Fleece and His Band and Street Choir are also worth checking out eventually.

Absolutely. Veedon Fleece is one of those under-the-radar items.