Van Morrison: Moondance - 1970
"Every time we'd drive past Dylan's house ... Van would just stare wistfully out the window at the gravel road leading to Dylan's place. He thought Dylan was the only contemporary worthy of his attention" - Janet Planet
After the phenomenal, unique album that was 1968’s Astral Weeks Van Morrison was back two years later in early 1970 with this seminal album of Celtic soul and jazzy laid-back rock. Later that year, in November, came the introduction to horn-driven Celtic soul that was His Band And The Street Choir, an album that I have always thought came before Moondance, It didn’t, but somehow sounds as if it should have, such is the rawness of that album in comparison to Moondance’s slick professional ambience.
This is a marvellous album. Not a duff track on it. Seriously. It is packed full of energy, soul, atmosphere, vitality and excellent musicianship from beginning to end. This 2013 remaster is truly outstanding. As good a reproduction as I have ever heard it - balanced, warm, crystal clear and punchy.
Time to head off to the county fair....
It begins with the so very Irish And It Stoned Me, a mid-paced, folky but soulful slice of Celtic majesty that sees Van musing about the county fair, the rain coming down and fishing poles. Just entrancing stuff. - Van's voice, the sumptuous horns, the piano. All of it. Simply marvellous. Then comes Moondance, known by many these days. Very jazzy and open to many different jazz interpretations. It has an infectious feel to it. Irresistibly rhythmic. The bass is beautiful on this remaster, the acoustic guitar so clear. Just such a joy to listen to.
Now there is Crazy Love - what a beautiful piece of pure soul. Once again, fantastic instrumentation. Big, full bass again and Van's voice is lovely. It was the first track I ever heard from this album, back in the late seventies. It was in a record shop in London’s Leicester Square. I asked them who it was (I knew only Brown Eyed Girl at the time. I was still a teenager). I was hooked on Van from that moment on. It is short, but beautifully created song with Morrison’s voice on top form. Since Astral Weeks he has developed some deeper tones to it. There were just a few times on that album when it grated just a tiny bit. Not on here.
Caravan is a copper-bottomed Morrison classic. Full of gypsy imagery about a bucolic travelling life on the road and delivered in that unique Celtic soul style that Morrison was making his own. It is impeccable from beginning to end. That bit around 2.32 when Van says "the caravan is painted red and white" and then a bit later when he tells us to "turn up your radio". And then the horns kick in. If that is not musical perfection I don't know what is.
Into The Mystic is possibly even better. An understated, beautiful bass intro. Then into a “stream of consciousness” gentle and captivating Celtic soul song, complete with an ethereal mystical (as the title would suggest) atmosphere and foghorn sound effects - "when that foghorn blows". Van singing how he wants to "rock your gypsy soul". Just perfection. Van Morrison has had a long career, but there have been fewer better songs, in many ways, than some of those on this album. Particularly the two just mentioned. It certainly was too late to stop now.
The “Celtic soul swing” thing kicks in for the next two jauntily upbeat numbers - Come Running and These Dreams Of You. While not emotional, evocative soul anthems, they are both incredibly catchy, strident and punchy numbers. The former is lively and joyous. Celebratory. These Dreams Of You is one of Morrison's best soul numbers. Great horns. Van really had the knack for a vibrant tune on this album. No extended reflective workouts as on many other albums. It is his most accessible, dare I say commercial album. Just listening to it again is such a pleasure.
As for Brand New Day - oh my. One of my favourite Van Morrison songs. A wonderful gospel soul sound. Great verses building up to that killer chorus with its energising, uplifting effect whenever you hear it. To say it is life affirming is actually a bit of an understatement. Lovely piano underpinning it, as indeed on a lot of the album. I am running out of superlatives for this album and just seem to be repeating myself.
Everyone has some melodic, almost Elizabethan-style swirling keyboards to introduce what is an energetic and exhilarating song. Glad Tidings ends things hopefully and soulfully and, once again, in an upbeat manner. What a bass line to begin with. Another of my favourites.
This has been a very positive, refreshing album. Even the more soulful songs are certainly not mournful. There is a lot of joie de vivre on the album. It never fails to lift the spirits.
Non-album music from the sessions of the time are the rarity I Shall Sing - an upbeat, enthusiastic slightly Caribbean-sounding number that was impressively covered by reggae artists Toots & The Maytals on their 1976 album Reggae Got Soul and an outtake cover of Jimmy Cox's 1923 blues Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out. It is a good outtake, however, with a fine vocal from Morrison and a jazz/blues piano backing.
