This whole ‘Astral Weeks’ album is beautiful and perfect like that. I love this. He uses his voice like a horn. It doesn’t matter so much what words he uses but how they fit into the sound. The next song on this album, “Beside You”, has no beat at all. It could’ve almost come off ‘Kind Of Blue’, with his voice being Miles Davis’ horn. You can’t go wrong with any track on this album. And he was 22 years old, and this was basically his first album! It’s unbelievable really.
"TB Sheets" was the first solo album with several early versions of great tracks. Before that two albums from Them which gave a glimpse if hit versatility and power.
I’ve spent decades listening to this song and I still take away something new every time. My favorite Van song. It’s majestic, mystical, mesmerizing and magical. ❤️
He was in a booth by himself, And when the other musicians asked what he wanted them to play, he said, "Play what you want." The other players were veterans (the bass played had worked with Sarah Vaughn, and a symphony).
Van the Man is one of the few singers that has the ability to be absolutely HYPNOTIC. Some of my faves by him are the ones where he just closes his eyes and goes off on stream of consciousness ad lib vocals in that celtic style of his. Independence Day, In the Garden, Listen to ther Lion, Vanlose Stairway etc...
This is another great performer who's music I grew up with. His recording career spans nearly seven decades. Van Morrison is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist. He can play guitar, harmonica, keyboards & saxophone. In the mid 60's he was in the band "THEM" & they had a big hit with the song "Gloria". He later went solo & has had tons of hits such as "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Tupeleo Honey", "Into The Mystic" & "It Stoned Me" etc.
I first heard this song at the age of twelve. I had been a classic rock (at that time ... rock) lover ... Led Zeppelin, the Stones, etc. This song introduced me to jazz, and I fell in love. Still my number one favorite album of all time. I've had it on vinyl, cassette, CD. You name it. Wore them all out.
Oh wow! So great for the younger generation to vibe off of this song. You are all over it with your comments. This style is not for everyone, but given the time and context of this album, it really stands out from the norm. MADAME GEORGE is a stellar cut as well as SLIM SLOW SLIDER. Another Van album that really showcases his roots is the criminally underrated VEEDON FLEECE, my personal favorite. Thanks for doing this song by a truly iconic artist! Bravo! 👏
Sir Ivan Morrison, A brilliant and understated musician. This album and 'Moondance' are very mystical and complex. They just shine with the quality of musicianship you don't find in today's popular songs....there's no auto-tuning or overdubbing, just fantastic playing. Hope you explore more of his repertoire.
This song is a masterpiece in my opinion and that is not only because it is a great song but because of the way they produced it this was their 1st take they never recorded this song after that and also the flute player had never heard the song before didn't know the arrangements knew nothing of the song but was asked last minute to join and add to the piece The nervousness and unsure nature of the flute is on display and knowing that this was his 1st time it makes the performance masterful
Those shimmering violins give me chills every time I hear this piece. That's Richard Davis on double bass. "The Way Young Lovers Do" might be the jazziest cut from that album, burning vocals backed by furious horns, with a head swirling triple meter passage for the ages.
The thing that really shakes me up is the flute because the flute player had no idea what the song was everyone else had a rough idea of what the song was going into this 1st session but they just added that flute player randomly and he had to improve everything and you can tell that he is so nervous but he just finds himself and goes with it
One of the most iconic singer songwriters of the late 60s and the 70s who's voice is one of the most recognizable voices of a generation as soon as you hear it you know exactly who it is
This whole album is unreal, and this song in particular sets the stage for the whole thing. It’s definitely a go to record for me when I need to chill. The record and composition and initial release are stories on their own that are worth reading about as well.
November 1968 - 23 year old Van Morrison releases his 2nd solo album, arguably one of the greatest albums of all time. His lyrics and voice hold a thousand years of wisdom and soul. But he's 23!!! The band are mostly jazz players; session men, and there was a beautiful collision of time, space, sound and words that can still give me the chills, and I only heard it 35 years ago, for the first time. A good friend gave it to me, and he said to listen to it. And then listen again, and again...I've never stopped. Van is a quirky character but this album, followed by Moondance, two years later, then his Street Choir, and Tupelo Honey, are just an unbelievable chain of his massive catalogue, and my favourite period of his. There are still many, many great albums and songs of his but these albums are just mind-boggling in musical density and beauty. Many ardent fans dismiss Astral Weeks as his best (including Van!) but I think that's because they want to be more obscure in choice. As long as it isn't his anti-vax song (Van - you're losing it) that he released during Covid, I'm usually well on board before the ship sails. Sweet Thing from Astral Weeks is another standout, on an album already full to the brim with mystique and awe.
This is an album out of time. Van just created something unique , unlike any of the music around it. I have never tired of listening to this album , and I don’t think Van ever equaled its wholeness again.
yeah....this whole album is "out of the box"...;;nothing like it in rock, or music, history.....an f'n masterpiece from the beginning note to the last note....even van couldnt do it like this again....and, like the f'n mafia was after him when he recorded it in NYC,,or some such ridiculous nonsense, lol, tne story of it is nuts....the album is a miracle, and this song sometimes makes me tear up, so powerful...the whole album
Wilburn, you killed it! AWESOME analysis.....I'm beyond impressed. Big time Van Morrison fan here, Astral Weeks album my all time rock era favorite. Once again, really impressed,
Van Morrison followed this album "Astral Weeks" with (for me) his other tour-de-force, "Veedon Fleece". Nothing I can say that has not already been said, except that these 2 albums have been constant companions for me in my life's journey. Spiritual and transcendent.
This is THE song. From THE man. Pure joy. You have a great ear. There’s tons written about the recording of this albums (over THREE days. That’s it). But basically: Van laid down the vocal and rhythm guitar, then the best studio musicians in NYC came in and improved over it. Most of it’s from one take. Whole album is like this. “Madame George” is another must.
Great song...Great album...like finding a long lost love you lost but never forgot you loved and need her like air...perhaps only the hope but you hoe it's a 2 way street...finding your other half...beautiful
I got big love and respect for you for digging deeper into this rabbit hole. Don't even get me started on the stereo and how well it was produced. i have always been saddened by the fact that only a few songs actually became popular in the US. He was and still is wildly popular in his homeland and surrounding areas. He just released a new album in 2019 called Three Chords and the Truth which is brilliant. On of my favs is a live version of Wavelength (from years many moons ago).
Richard Davis gives one of the great bass performances ever on this amazing album. Is "Madame George" the best song of the 20th century? I'm not going to say that it isn't.
Hi chod I know you haven't done many album reactions , but this album is an all star classic , astral weeks has a great flow and is all killer / no filler , one of the best albums of all time .👍
It's ironic that most fans and critics consider this the pinnacle of Van's early period. He hated the strings being added. He hated that the producer kicked his back up band out of the studio and hired jazz players like Connie Kay (drums), Jay Berliner (guitar) and Richard Davis (acoustic bass) instead. He was reportedly rather stand-offish during the sessions. Given all that, the album is brilliant.
Chod - you should check out Van’s “Avalon of the Heart”. It’s a really spiritual song with a gospel structure and mystical/mythical imagery. The studio version is a must though - the choir backing vocals take it over the top !
Since you loved this one, I'd say check out some more from the same album. My 2 favorite songs on the Astral Weeks album are "Young Lovers Do" and "Madame George".
This whole ‘Astral Weeks’ album is beautiful and perfect like that. I love this. He uses his voice like a horn. It doesn’t matter so much what words he uses but how they fit into the sound. The next song on this album, “Beside You”, has no beat at all. It could’ve almost come off ‘Kind Of Blue’, with his voice being Miles Davis’ horn. You can’t go wrong with any track on this album. And he was 22 years old, and this was basically his first album! It’s unbelievable really.
"TB Sheets" was the first solo album with several early versions of great tracks. Before that two albums from Them which gave a glimpse if hit versatility and power.
The song that I think he most uses his voice as a horn is Listen to the Lion from Saint. Dominic's Preview.
@@spidersfrommarsmaybe2742 The first LP was based around the hit "Brown Eyed Girl".
I’ve spent decades listening to this song and I still take away something new every time. My favorite Van song. It’s majestic, mystical, mesmerizing and magical. ❤️
One of my stranded on a deserted island albums. A perfect album, start to finish.
Highly recommend Madame George and Ballerina from same album. Kudos to the studio musicians cutting this in 3 days along with Van Morrison’s genius.
Profoundly beautiful tune. Whole album is incredible.
He was in a booth by himself, And when the other musicians asked what he wanted them to play, he said, "Play what you want."
The other players were veterans (the bass played had worked with Sarah Vaughn, and a symphony).
Van the Man is one of the few singers that has the ability to be absolutely HYPNOTIC. Some of my faves by him are the ones where he just closes his eyes and goes off on stream of consciousness ad lib vocals in that celtic style of his. Independence Day, In the Garden, Listen to ther Lion, Vanlose Stairway etc...
Pure magic!!
Summertime in England, Rave On John Donne, and several tracks off of Hymns to The Silence and Avalon Sunset.
This is another great performer who's music I grew up with. His recording career spans nearly seven decades. Van Morrison is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist. He can play guitar, harmonica, keyboards & saxophone. In the mid 60's he was in the band "THEM" & they had a big hit with the song "Gloria". He later went solo & has had tons of hits such as "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Tupeleo Honey", "Into The Mystic" & "It Stoned Me" etc.
I recommend reading about how this album was made. It's a one of a kind record with a one of a kind history.
I first heard this song at the age of twelve. I had been a classic rock (at that time ... rock) lover ... Led Zeppelin, the Stones, etc. This song introduced me to jazz, and I fell in love. Still my number one favorite album of all time. I've had it on vinyl, cassette, CD. You name it. Wore them all out.
Greatest Album Ever. Songs of innocence lost, beautiful magical playing, and mesmerizing vocals.
Oh wow! So great for the younger generation to vibe off of this song. You are all over it with your comments. This style is not for everyone, but given the time and context of this album, it really stands out from the norm. MADAME GEORGE is a stellar cut as well as SLIM SLOW SLIDER. Another Van album that really showcases his roots is the criminally underrated VEEDON FLEECE, my personal favorite. Thanks for doing this song by a truly iconic artist! Bravo! 👏
Veedon Fleece is my favorite also. I've always considered Culdesac one of the greatest soul songs ever.
@@jasonbriggs1853 OH, I traveled far, the nearest star And Mount Palomar, Palomar, Palomar.... 😉
Astral Weeks is the Greatest Album of it's kind ever produced.
Listening to it start to finish is an experience.
Sir Ivan Morrison, A brilliant and understated musician. This album and 'Moondance' are very mystical and complex. They just shine with the quality of musicianship you don't find in today's popular songs....there's no auto-tuning or overdubbing, just fantastic playing. Hope you explore more of his repertoire.
Got to say,one of my alltime favorite artists. His stories will take you away.you picked a great song here.
This song is a masterpiece in my opinion and that is not only because it is a great song but because of the way they produced it this was their 1st take they never recorded this song after that and also the flute player had never heard the song before didn't know the arrangements knew nothing of the song but was asked last minute to join and add to the piece The nervousness and unsure nature of the flute is on display and knowing that this was his 1st time it makes the performance masterful
You can listen to this song or album a thousand times and still hear new things. Its a masterpiece.
22 years old. Masterpiece album.
Can’t say strongly enough how much I love this song and this whole album actually.
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing and/or Slip Slow Slidin' ;)
My favorite song of this album is sweet thing. Such a great song. But the whole album is like this.
This album is a work outside of all works. Stands alone in VM’s catalogue, in the music of its era, and still.
Top 10 desert island disc. Still charting for me 54 consecutive years later,
Those shimmering violins give me chills every time I hear this piece. That's Richard Davis on double bass. "The Way Young Lovers Do" might be the jazziest cut from that album, burning vocals backed by furious horns, with a head swirling triple meter passage for the ages.
The thing that really shakes me up is the flute because the flute player had no idea what the song was everyone else had a rough idea of what the song was going into this 1st session but they just added that flute player randomly and he had to improve everything and you can tell that he is so nervous but he just finds himself and goes with it
Love Van Morrison!
One of the most iconic singer songwriters of the late 60s and the 70s who's voice is one of the most recognizable voices of a generation as soon as you hear it you know exactly who it is
Astral Weeks. Top ten album of all time right there.
Van Morrison is great.Listen to Tupelo Honey and Caravan by him.Great music.
I love his voice very distinctive, love you Van Morrison and your music 🎵🎶😘✌️👏😎
This whole album is unreal, and this song in particular sets the stage for the whole thing. It’s definitely a go to record for me when I need to chill. The record and composition and initial release are stories on their own that are worth reading about as well.
Wow! Thanks for doing a reaction to this, Chod. The whole album is beautiful.
This whole record is fantastic Van never ceases to take me to church.
"Astral Weeks" was Van's jazz album. "...talkin' to Huddie Ledbetter..."
the album of the same name is one of the great albums. The song "like young lovers do" and many others . Listen for the bass
You need to hear the ENTIRE LP as it is of a piece.
November 1968 - 23 year old Van Morrison releases his 2nd solo album, arguably one of the greatest albums of all time.
His lyrics and voice hold a thousand years of wisdom and soul. But he's 23!!!
The band are mostly jazz players; session men, and there was a beautiful collision of time, space, sound and words that can still give me the chills, and I only heard it 35 years ago, for the first time.
A good friend gave it to me, and he said to listen to it. And then listen again, and again...I've never stopped.
Van is a quirky character but this album, followed by Moondance, two years later, then his Street Choir, and Tupelo Honey, are just an unbelievable chain of his massive catalogue, and my favourite period of his.
There are still many, many great albums and songs of his but these albums are just mind-boggling in musical density and beauty.
Many ardent fans dismiss Astral Weeks as his best (including Van!) but I think that's because they want to be more obscure in choice.
As long as it isn't his anti-vax song (Van - you're losing it) that he released during Covid, I'm usually well on board before the ship sails.
Sweet Thing from Astral Weeks is another standout, on an album already full to the brim with mystique and awe.
One of Van's best, loved this one!
Wow! just wow. Van Morrison is unbelievable.
Thank you for that.
His best music imo.
Not even Van made another album like this. And nobody ever will.
Doesn't the finale of "Astral Weeks" have the slickest, classiest vibe? It's hard to think of a song that concludes as tastefully as this gem.
Jazz Blues Funk
This is an album out of time. Van just created something unique , unlike any of the music around it. I have never tired of listening to this album , and I don’t think Van ever equaled its wholeness again.
An album I wouldn't want to be without. Hypnotic from start to finish. As someone has already said, the story of its creation is well worth reading.
Check out Van Morrison with the group Them. Baby Please Dont Go. And Gloria. Two good songs by Them.
67 or 68 I think , studio musicians .
One of my favorite 1960s era albums. Never gets old.
yeah....this whole album is "out of the box"...;;nothing like it in rock, or music, history.....an f'n masterpiece from the beginning note to the last note....even van couldnt do it like this again....and, like the f'n mafia was after him when he recorded it in NYC,,or some such ridiculous nonsense, lol, tne story of it is nuts....the album is a miracle, and this song sometimes makes me tear up, so powerful...the whole album
Wilburn, you killed it! AWESOME analysis.....I'm beyond impressed. Big time Van Morrison fan here, Astral Weeks album my all time rock era favorite. Once again, really impressed,
More Van. Please. Full Force Gale. Days Like This.
You need to listen to the whole album. Seriously. You will love every track
Van Morrison followed this album "Astral Weeks" with (for me) his other tour-de-force, "Veedon Fleece". Nothing I can say that has not already been said, except that these 2 albums have been constant companions for me in my life's journey. Spiritual and transcendent.
Stick with this album for a bit! Cyprus Avenue, Ballerina, and Madame George are all amazing!!!
This is THE song. From THE man. Pure joy.
You have a great ear. There’s tons written about the recording of this albums (over THREE days. That’s it). But basically: Van laid down the vocal and rhythm guitar, then the best studio musicians in NYC came in and improved over it. Most of it’s from one take. Whole album is like this. “Madame George” is another must.
LOVE Van so much! Please experience him and the awesome band playing Into the Mystic live 1977. You will dig it 🎶🎵
Yes finally a reaction to astral weeks. Try ballerina from this album.
Great song...Great album...like finding a long lost love you lost but never forgot you loved and need her like air...perhaps only the hope but you hoe it's a 2 way street...finding your other half...beautiful
Went looking back and saw that you've done most of his big songs except Wild Night.... hmmm// next?
nice choice. i love aphex twin
I got big love and respect for you for digging deeper into this rabbit hole. Don't even get me started on the stereo and how well it was produced. i have always been saddened by the fact that only a few songs actually became popular in the US. He was and still is wildly popular in his homeland and surrounding areas. He just released a new album in 2019 called Three Chords and the Truth which is brilliant. On of my favs is a live version of Wavelength (from years many moons ago).
Van Morrison “Autumn Song” is perfect for this time of year…Do it, It is a great vibe!
Some great songs on the Astral Weeks album in addition to this one. Sweet Thing, Madam George, Ballerina,.....the whole record really.
Richard Davis gives one of the great bass performances ever on this amazing album. Is "Madame George" the best song of the 20th century? I'm not going to say that it isn't.
Try Blue money
This album used to top the best album polls for years and you really can see why.
Every song on this album was a jam. Most of them were edited down to fit on the vinyl LP.
Hi chod I know you haven't done many album reactions , but this album is an all star classic , astral weeks has a great flow and is all killer / no filler , one of the best albums of all time .👍
I would recommend Van morrions ’sweet thing’ also a beautiful song
Have you done "Moondance"? One of his early ones & finest. Rock/jazz fusion. Morrison is like no other
His 1st solo , not well received, Album is now considered one of the greatest album of all time
Lovely. Please try "Have I Told You Lately'. Beautiful song.
Time for Streetwalker by Elf featuring Ronnie James Dio, studio version. You're welcome.
It's ironic that most fans and critics consider this the pinnacle of Van's early period. He hated the strings being added. He hated that the producer kicked his back up band out of the studio and hired jazz players like Connie Kay (drums), Jay Berliner (guitar) and Richard Davis (acoustic bass) instead. He was reportedly rather stand-offish during the sessions. Given all that, the album is brilliant.
Book end the album with Veedon Fleece.
Sweet Thing and Cyprus Avenue are also masterpieces from the Astral Weeks album, along with Madame George and Ballerina.
Lol almost named the whole album
@@jordancrosno9711 Beside You and Slim Slow Rider are alright. I do enjoy The Way Young Lovers Do.
Chod - you should check out Van’s “Avalon of the Heart”. It’s a really spiritual song with a gospel structure and mystical/mythical imagery. The studio version is a must though - the choir backing vocals take it over the top !
Since you loved this one, I'd say check out some more from the same album. My 2 favorite songs on the Astral Weeks album are "Young Lovers Do" and "Madame George".
Ancient Highways
You need to check out the rest of the album. Widely considered the best of all time. It's an absolute masterpiece.
If you want to hear a fabulous duet then react to John Lee hooker and Van Morrison doing Baby Please don't Go
Young Lovers Do
When you get to my Pay Pal request Ancient Highways will take you down the road