78/100 — Van Morrison — Moondance (1970)
Van Morrison’s follow up to the transcendent Astral Weeks is a much more accessible and down to earth affair, and it’s stronger for it. On Moondance jazz, swing, blues, and rock all fuse together into a joyous summer of the soul.
Morrison’s band is phenomenal. From one track to the next the rhythm section rambles, then swings, then holds it down really tight. Then add in the horn section and it’s almost like you’ve got Blonde on Blonde dancing with Exile on Main Street. Every track showcases a different style and facet of Van Morrison’s songwriting, and his bands ability. “And It Stoned Me” feels like a lazy summer afternoon fishing and bouncing around in the back of a pick up truck. Immediately following this is the tight seductive swing of “Moondance” complete with a showy piano solo and a friggin flute solo — that ends with a trill like the opening of Mission Impossible. “Crazy Love” is sweetly reminiscent with it’s gentle organ, finger picked guitar, and soul singer background vocals. Also, any song that inspires Paul Simon to write a song is welcome (see “Crazy Love Pt. 2").
“Caravan” begins with a piano flourish and and amazing bass/drums fill before chugging along from one verse to the next outburst of “La La La’s.” Just listen to the arrangement build on the third verse. It’s stunning.
A word about the flute and the piano flourish: Van can be unabashedly flowery and utilizes tropes that would feel cheesy or cliché if used by another artist. But the sincerity of his voice, the poetry of his words, and the absolute commitment to the intended atmosphere somehow doesn’t merely rescue the song, but actually makes it better than if these potentially cheesy moments had been avoided or left out. It’s almost magical.
“Come Running” nails its americana shuffle, bouncing bass, and lively piano playing. Those horns crashing in with a massive snare hit on the 2 beat just gets me groovin every time! “Brand New Day” with it’s “Let It Be” style guitar solo and gospel backing vocals turns the album in yet another new direction before the wonderfully baroque “Everyone” tumbles through with it’s driving beat, rolling Bach-ian harpsichord, and medieval sounding flute. It’s charming to the extreme.
But just when you didn’t think this musical summer could get any warmer, “Glad Tidings” cuts in with it’s dancing soul beat, and it’s playful guitar (the same kind which Morrison would become most famous for on “Brown Eyed Girl”). I think this verse sums the album’s attitude quite well:
And we’ll send you glad tidings from New York
Open up your eyes so you may see
Ask you not to read between the lines
Hope that you will come in right on time
Everything on Moondance is up front and honest. There’s no need to read between the lines. Life is good. Celebrate!
Favourite Tracks: “Come Running”, “Everyone”, “Glad Tidings”
Least Favourite Track: “Brand New Day”
