We had heard that Van Morrison had a new duets album featuring Michael Buble doing 'Real real gone' and all that did, was to remind us to play something else by Van.
(Apart from anything else, he lives up the road from Streamabout's offices and some of us have met him in local schools and in the park. Honest.)
So we stuck on 'Moondance', the all-time classic that it is. Wonderful record. Just get it.
People talk about 'Astral Weeks' which although features the eternal magical line, "sitting in a corner playing dominoes in drag", it doesn't touch 'Moondance'.
In 1970 it was his 3rd album after Astral weeks (1968) and his ridiculous debut 'Blowin your mind' (which we all believe is almost a bootleg and released without Van's say-so). The Moondance cover is to show that the music comes out of his head - almost jazz improv and something else you didn't know....his real name is Ivan, hence Van for short.
The album featured stars of the time like Jef Labes, Jack Shroer on sax and notably, long standing band member John Platania. It followed too, a long stint with Van and The Band so you can hear those influences.
"Into the Mystic", "Caravan", "Cyprus Avenue" (where he lived) is here, "Moondance" itself but the winner is "Crazy Love". You can hear it below live from The Filmore 1970. It's the great Office Album and will start you on a road of Van worship.
(And if you like that, just get "It's too late to stop now". THE classic live album.)
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