Customer Reviews

Moondance

5 star:		(118)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's not as complex, beautiful and enigmatic as "Astral Weeks" and it's not as much of a soulful, one-two-punch workout as "Blowin' Your Mind," but for sheer, consistent, horn-driven happiness, you can't do much better than "Moondance."

But because of my affection for those other two disks, I admit, I generally tend to underrate this album. But "Moondance" keeps coming back to me in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times: I'll hear "Caravan" in "The Last Waltz," or "Everyone" at the end of "The Royal Tenenbaums" or "Glad Tidings" three times in the "Sopranos" Season 5 finale, or notice "Into the Mystic" on the PA at the grocery store and be reminded that I need to let it out to play more often. That's the sign of a truly great musical work.

This is by far the best Van Morrison Cd of all time. His writing was at its highest level and each song is a pleasure to listen to. Later CD's had 2 or 3 good songs and the rest was just filler, but this album flows from one great song to another.
Other artists admire Van Morrison's work and strive to equal it. but he is in a class of his own on this album.

Moondance is a classic, must-have album with great songs from start to finish. The songs and musicianship are first rate. Unfortunately, the sound quality has always been stuck in 1970. Without putting too fine a point on it, the album - vinyl or CD - has always sounded a bit AM radio.

The original mix suffers from a too much midrange and very little at the low and high extremely. This has lead to a poorly differentiate sound and caused many instruments to lose definition. This Japanese remastered CD fixes those problems. Switching back and forth between this CD and one purchased in the early 1990s is like listening with and without cotton wadded in your ears. It truly is that good.

Right from the first cut, "And It Stoned Me", you get to hear details that are absent on previous pressings. On that song, the acoustic rhythm guitar on the right side rings out clearly and all the instruments get to enjoy their own space in the mix. Listen to a song on the Japanese pressing and go back to an older version of the same song and your ears will feel plugged.

The only complaint I can make is that Van's vocal can sometimes recede a bit since there is so much more sound at the ends of the spectrum and the mid-range hump - which favors the vocals - is largely gone. Still, the overall effect is very satisfying.

This is the best $26 I have spent in a long time.

I was only familiar with the Brown Eyed Girl and Gloria Van Morrison but bought this because of the strong 5 star rating with nearly 130 reviews. They are right. This is a great CD filled with easily listened to (not easy listening) music. The lyrics are absolutely heartfelt. The speed of the music fluctuates from not to fast to slow and cool. This would be great entertaining music for a small group of people or just for that one person.

Whether his music was recorded in the late 60s or early 70s, it is never dated. Yet he always seemed ahead of his time. The man is a vocal genius emanating sounds awarded to the most talented vocalists. And there is only ONE way to listen to Morrison, and that is with quality equipment and loud!

I can't get over how much I LOVE "And it Stoned Me" about a playful fishing trip romp with a friend, the voice, the lyrics, and the beat!

Another favorite, "Moondance", a sultry jazzy number that many other performers have covered. "Into the Mystic" is a bluesy, jazzy ballad.

But I can't reiterate enough, the BEST CD ever is Morrison's '68 "Astral Weeks" It's uncomprehensive that at the young age he was, this phenomenal masterpiece evolved, .....way back in the 60's ...unbelievable. That one is my stranded-on-an-island cd. ......MzRizz

This Van Morrison album is an absolute classic!!! A treat from start to finish!!! 2 thumbs up!!! A+

You know, I don't like the song moondance, and track one, whatever. This CD, from track 3 on, is the best mellow CD ever. It's not for all the time, but when your kicking back and it's all mellow, it's really good. The CD has soul. I was happy to hear a track when I was watch American Wedding, for me, that was like having a friend in the movie.

Right, it's friday night, time for d'n'b.

All of Van Morrison's songs are great...but this album will always be my favorite. It has been for more than 30 years. Into the Mystic is the best. This album is as fresh today as it was when it first appeared. I would give this 50 stars if possible.

According to Pop Music Orthodoxy, rock 'n' roll is white, soul is black. Such arbitrary segregation, of course, doesn't explain why Jimi Hendrix remains the greatest rock guitarist of all time, and why Moondance, made by a white Irishman, is the greatest soul record ever made.
From the Smokey Robinson crooning of "Crazy Love" to the restless spiritual romance of "Into The Mystic," Van Morrison merges the concerns of mind and heart, heaven and earth as seamlessly as any artist in the history of recorded music. The title track riffs on jazz without sliding into pretention, while "Glad Tidings" harks back to "Brown Eyed Girl" with its pure giddy good feeling and punchy horns.
Even more than Astral Weeks, this is the record where Van Morrison proved himself a legendary writer, singer, and band leader with an uncommon power to entrance and move his listeners.
Whether you're making out or making your peace with the Great Beyond, Moondance is a must. And next time you play the CD or hear a cut on the radio, follow Van's command at the end of "Caravan."
TURN IT UP!

This CD was my first introduction to Van. This is absolutely his BEST! There is not a bad song on the record.