Product Description

Quoted, recommended, and worshipped by the critics for decades, this underground masterpiece has now become part of theestablishment. It cries to be listened to without interruption, which may explain why it failed to reach either the UK or US charts. It wanders and weaves, repeating themes and lyrics as if one song, yet we never tire of "gardens wet with rain", "champagne eyes", or the wonder of how Morrison can make a place like Ladbroke Grove seem so hauntingly evocative. This all-acoustic but fully arranged record is also a great educator in opening your eyes beyond pop, to folk, soul, and jazz, and although (or perhaps because) Morrison continues to return to its themes again and again, this is his core.

Track Listing

1. Astral Weeks
2. Beside You
3. Sweet Thing
4. Cyprus Avenue
5. Young Lovers Do
6. Madame George
7. Ballerina
8. Slim Slow Rider

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1576 in Music
• Released on: 1987-05-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Never mind that Van Morrison is one of the most indelible songwriters of the 20th century--take each album on its own terms. On 1968's seminal Astral Weeks, a twentysomething Van Morrison can be found belting his gospelly, bluesy vocals in just as fine a form as he would be 20 years hence. In the sociopolitical context of the times, the album cried out about such ubiquitous 1960s themes as cultural oppression and social upheaval. But it is Morrison's vocal dexterity and passion that maintains such timeless appeal. Take tracks like "Madame George" or "Cyprus Avenue" and you'll find such beautiful mourning, it'll be clear why Sinéad O'Connor once publicly exclaimed: "Van Morrison should be friggin' canonized". --Nick Heil

Customer Reviews

In theory I should love this
But I don't. It sounds like this music was made in the back of a van (no pun intended) by a bunch of drunks. It rambles all over the place and never gets anywhere for me.

I love this!!!
I truly love this record. It is one of the few cd's that truly moved me. The passion, the eloquence it truly is poetry brought to life through music.

I think its one of those things that some people just get where as others don't fully understand it. I appreciate that not everyone may love this albumn as much as me but i really feel sorry for those who don't get it, you really are missing out.

Legendary first solo album, but alas, it has not stood the unforgiving test of time
As an experimental album it still deserves its place in the album hall of fame, and as an album introducing a new solo artist it is a very fine thing. But as a piece to listen to, I rarely touch it these days, maybe Young Lovers Do still holds up well, but the album as a whole is too much for me now, too rich a cake. Also as a production, I don't think this was at all perfect. Just two tracks in and I am begging for those strings to go away. This album was heavily swamped by some string players with no instructions to keep it down at all, and I think they swamp the poetry of the album. I read that Van thought this as well not long after making it. In an effort to put this right, the young maestro chose a very different sound for his 2nd album. That one has some meat on it, and it's one I can still listen to anytime at all.