Music review: Van Morrison, Moondance

Van Morrison, Moondance (re-issue)

POP/ROCK

Van Morrison, Moondance (re-issue)

The music by Van Morrison and his hugely talented musicians sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded in 1970. Moondance is one of the truly classic pop-rock albums, showing Morrison at his peak.

Tracks one to eight are all brilliant, from It Stoned Me and the title track, through the beauty of Crazy Love, the uplifting Caravan, the soulful Into the Mystic, followed by Come Running and These Dreams of You.

This re-issue delivers not just the original amazing album. In three CDs, it delves into the sessions in detail, with intriguing alternative takes which all probe the empathy between Morrison and his jazz-influenced band: Jack Schrorer on alto and soprano sax, Colin Tillton on tenor sax and flute, Jeff Labes on keyboards, John Platania on lead and rhythm guitars, and the celestial voices of Emily Houston, Judy Clay and Jackie Verdell.

Over the 42 years since it was recorded, Moondance has stood the test of time like few other albums of the early 1970s. To hear the additional versions is a rare treat. It's amazing that Morrison had spent preparation time at his new home in Woodstock before the sessions, but only had the basic framework when he entered the studio.

The magic that followed is as much testament to the musicians as it is to Morrison's creative streak that followed Astral Weeks, which came out only a year earlier. Tony Nielsen