Moondance - Van Morrison

Advantages: Perfect
Disadvantages: NOne

Astral Weeks was described by one reviewer as one of the top ten rock albums of all time. He then wrote that this was better. It was and still is a fair comment. Moondance's songs are more defined and less related than the albums predessor, "Astral Weeks". Unfortunately the title track has been hijacked by every MOR singer who thinks that they can sing Jazz. Still all the songs are perfect, from the opening "And it Stoned Me" to "Glad Tidings" ... Read review

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...Astral Weeks' yin, the brilliant Moondance is every bit as much a classic as its predecessor; Morrison's first commercially successful solo effort, it retains the previous album's deeply spiritual thrust but transcends its bleak, cathartic intensity to instead explore themes of renewal and redemption. Light, soulful and jazzy, Moondance opens with the sweetly nostalgic "And It Stoned Me," athe song's pastoral imagery establishing the dominant lyrical ...
...in natural wonder, whether it's the nocturnal magic celebrated by the title cut or the unlimited promise offered in "Brand New Day." At the heart of the record is "Caravan," an incantatory ode to the power of radio; equally stirring is the majestic "Into the Mystic," a song of such elemental beauty and grace as to stand as arguably the quintessential Morrison moment. ... Read review

Advantages: Van Morrison at his peak
Disadvantages: none

Van Morrisson's 3rd solo album showing a complete change of direction from the pastorial Astral Weeks with the romaticism welded to a hard soul edge and jazzy interludes. Everyone should know the title track but all tracks are equally good with "crazy love" and "into the mystic" my personnel favourites all of which are equally suitable for dancing or listening to. Everyone should own at least one Van Morrison album and barring greatest hits compilations ... Read review

Advantages: Great Singing
Disadvantages: Rubbish cover

This is a unmistakenbly legend of an album and it goes without saying by a legendery figurehead of music. The obvious song which first snaches your eyes is the remarkable "Moondance". It needs no influences and it needs no introdction. This is Van Morrisson at his very best. The album itself if you are deprived enough not to have listened to it consists of 10 astounding songs. Light, soulful and lively it begins with a great song in "And It Stoned ...
...and again in "Moondance" he has furthered this point. It is soft rock, folk, pop, soul and jazz all bundelled into one brilliant unmissable album. I can't imagine it costs particulary much and it should be available at any music shop(at least any with much sense)! A must. Just ignore the cover. ... Read review

Advantages: Some cracking tracks by big names.
Disadvantages: Couple of tracks that do not belong.

.... ~~~The Tracks~~~ With the first three tracks by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong you just know it is going to be good. Then we have Diana Kraal, quite the modern day jazz queen. Then, bizzarely on CD one we see Moondance by Van Morrison, which to me does not sit right on this album at all, let alone sandwiched between Nina Simone and Etta James! I'm also not sure that Georgie Fame (yeh, yeh) should sit in this company. The first CD has a few nice surprises however and Shirley Horn singing 'Hit the Road Jack' and playing piano with some class is a bit of a new one to me, it has an almost 'Fever' beat to it, love it. Not to mention a piece of Alto sax playing that is quite astounding. Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt team up for 'On the Sunny Side of the Street', I never new that, wow, and it is good, I... Read review

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Advantages: lovely voice... gorgeous...
Disadvantages: covers of old songs...

...When you've heard Michael Bubles singing voice you'll be astounded in more ways then one. Firstly, at how many people do not recognise his name. Secondly, at how much of unique, relaxing and beautiful voice this man has. I first heard of Michael Buble as I am a fan of the film Down With Love, and so knew that Michael Buble and Holly Palmer sung the main tune. I was instantly besotted with him and his lovely voice. I bought this album whilst on holiday last year to listen to on the beach. (I'd totally recommed listening to him whilst sunbathing... very relaxing!) I paid around £13 for the album, which i thought was a reasonable price to pay. He does magnificent covers of songs by Sinatra, Queen and Van Morrison. Moondance (number 2 on the track list) is definantly one of my personal favourites. I'm a fan of the old classics so... Read review

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Advantages: Modern 'Big Band' Sound
Disadvantages: No new material

..., Harry Connick Jnr etc. However I have always believed this to be a futile exercise given that 'swing' rests on the interpretation of a lyric and the arrangement of the song. This is apparent in the initial track, 'Fever' which owes much of it's success to the novel and exciting arrangement rather than Michaels undoubted vocal talent. This talent is much more apparent in the excellent redition of Van Morrisons 'Moondance' If Fever doesn't make your ears prick up this will. This boy can sing and.....swing. Perhaps the greatest revelation is the wonderful treatment given to the tracks 'Kissin a Fool', 'That's All' & 'Put your Head On My Shoulder'. Songs that sit very easily on this compilation of covers that reminds me very much of the softer sound of Sinatra as heard in the classic album 'In The Wee Small Hours'. Soft Light, Girl in... Read review

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