Moondance - Van Morrison (1970)
Every now and then, I get the need to dig out a long lost CD and listen to something that, despite it's greatness, has been collecting dust for years.
Ironically, this Van Morrison offering predates the CD by nearly two decades, but has stood the test ... Read review
Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two ... more
classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two ... more
classic albums: the brooding, introspectiveAstral Weeksand the expansive, swingingMoondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a mu...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two ... more
classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You". The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favourite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grown-up in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two ... more
classic albums: the brooding, introspectiveAstral Weeksand the expansive, swingingMoondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader.Moondanceis that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You". The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favourite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grown-up in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: It's bloody good Disadvantages: It's not trendy
Moondance - Van Morrison (1970)
Every now and then, I get the need to dig out a long lost CD and listen to something that, despite it's greatness, has been collecting dust for years.
Ironically, this Van Morrison offering predates the CD by nearly two decades, but has stood the test of time and greatness.
Instrumentally, the album relies on just about every type of saxophone there is, flutes, ... ...this isn't the highlight of Moondance by any stretch of the imagination!
If you ever feel low, "Brand New Day" can capture your mood and lift you to a plateau from which to rebuild. It is a truly inspiring lyric drawing on the inner strength we all have when things are against us and the gospel backing really makes this a cracker.
The almost medieval start to "Everyone" gives way to a more typical, ... more
Moondance - Van Morrison (1970)
Every now and then, I get the need to dig out a long lost CD and listen to something that, despite it's greatness, has been collecting dust for years.
Ironically, this Van Morrison offering predates the CD by nearly two decades, but has stood the test of time and greatness.
Instrumentally, the album relies on just about every type of saxophone there is, flutes, keyboards, guitars, drums to produce a mellow but strangely catchy feel. Lyrically, every track is credited to the man himself.
One of my favourite tracks opens, "And It Stoned Me", followed by the title track itself. "Moondance" the track is a beautifully seductive track, telling a tale of love and seduction.
"Crazy Love" and its delightful chorus moves from seduction to worship in love and the lyric "she gives me some sweet lovin' brightens up my day". Ah, I could sing it to you now if only this medium would allow!
"Caravan" is a livelier offering, full of gypsy references, which appear again in my favourite track, the unmistakeable and memorable "Into The Mystic". As well as featuring prominently in a Glenn Close film (the name of which escapes my memory) it is arguably Van Morisson's finest moment. "I just want to rock your gypsy soul, just like way back in the days of old, then magnificently we will float into the mystic".
The all too short "Come Running" is a cracker, the style of which was reproduced more recently on the "Enlightenment" album, while "These Dreams Of You" fall back on the bluesy influences of the Irish band "Them" where Morrison was lead singer, although it is fair to say this isn't the highlight of Moondance by any stretch of the imagination!
If you ever feel low, "Brand New Day" can capture your mood and lift you to a plateau from which to rebuild. It is a truly inspiring lyric drawing on the inner strength we all have when things are against us and the gospel backing really makes this a cracker.
The almost medieval start to "Everyone" gives way to a more typical, if forgettable sound before the more arousing finale "Glad Tidings" with its message from New York.
If you've heard and liked "Brown Eyed Girl" (that's the one that turns up on every compilation album ever made), then "Moondance" is a fine album to introduce you to the real van Morrison. For those who've bought the commercially successful material of the late eighties and early nineties, go retro and invest in this. And if you've never really given him any thought, this is worth £8 for "Into The Mystic" alone.
Still available in all record shops of any repute and at www.cdwow.com (via Mypoints or Ipoints).
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" ...
mikeydred 21.01.2001 (23.03.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Moondance - Van Morrison
...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. ...
jamiegiles 02.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Moondance - Van Morrison
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 ...
brownp1 22.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Moondance - Van Morrison
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. ...
andrew156 19.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Moondance - Van Morrison
Originality
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Quality and consistency...
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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 VanMorrison, 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 ...
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 VanMorrison. Moondance (number 2 on the track list) is definantly one of my personal favourites.
I'm a fan of the old classics so ...
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 VanMorrisons '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 ...
Product Information for "Moondance - Van Morrison" »
Product details
Title
Moondance
Performer
Van Morrison
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Singer/Songwriter
Release Date
01/1986
Recomended Retail Price
7.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1970
Label / Distributor
Warner Bros. / Cinram Logistics
Engineer
Shelly Yakus; Tony May
Producer
Van Morrison; Lewis Merenstein
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
75992732628
Catalogue Number
7599273262
SPAR code
AAD
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Van Morrison (vocals, acoustic guitar); John Platania (guitar); Jack Shrorer (saxophone); Jeff Labes (keyboards); Garry Malabar (drums). Where on previous recordings Van Morrison had implied soul and R&B roots, on Moondance he set them free. He had rarely sounded so relaxed, whether on the bubbling joy of "And It Stoned Me," the finger-popping ease of the title track or the celebratory bliss of "Caravan." Morrison revelled in the music's tight arrangements, clearly enjoying the punchy horn section ("Glad Tidings") and empathizing with quieter, acoustic settings ("Crazy Love"). Where ASTRAL WEEKS was a cathartic stream-of-consciousness, MOONDANCE shows an artist enraptured by a new-found musical freedom, from this moment on everything he sang had soul.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (3/19/70, p.47) - "...MOONDANCE is an album of musical invention and lyrical confidence....this one will be immensely popular..." NME (9/18/93, p.19) - Ranked #17 in NME's list of The Greatest Albums Of The '70s. Vibe (12/99, p.160) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century
Titles on disc 1
1.
Stoned Me
2.
Moondance
3.
Crazy Love
4.
Caravan
5.
Into The Mystic
6.
Come Running
7.
These Dreams Of You
8.
Brand New Day
9.
Everyone
10.
Glad Tidings
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02/07/2000
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