St. Dominic's Preview, Van Morrison

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1972. 

St. Dominic's Preview, Van Morrison, 1972, :41

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A sort of Astral Weeks light, meditative and somewhat abstruse, a personal journey in song. From the immediately catchy opener that pays homage to soul to the freewheeling jazz of the closer, these songs tell where Van is musically.   Strongly influenced by jazz and soul and blues, leaning into the mystical power of music. The songs rise and fall like waves, and at times Van seems to be possessed by them rather than recording them. "Listen to the Lion" would be an all-time classic, meditative and defiant, but for me is marred a bit in the middle by the somewhat goofy sound of Van growling and roaring. Favorite tracks: "Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)," "Redwood Tree."

Astral Weeks, Van Morrison

It's Finally-Got-Around-to-It-Friday!  Wherein I discover a classic that everyone else already knows about.

Astral Weeks, Van Morrison, 1968, :47

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I've listened to this album before, all the way through, once, and I didn't get into it.  I've heard a few of the songs separately since then, and still nothing  But this time, this album finally got through to me.  Maybe all the jazz I've been listening to helped me hear it.  It's hard to say anything about this album.  That upright bass, leading the band, and Van's voice somehow magically blended together in a way that is very rare.  I read that Van hated the strings which were added later, but I think they lend an unearthly quality to the songs, as if they aren't jazz or folk or rock, but some heretofore unheard-of blend. This album takes you into the mystic and you're real real gone.  Like a sort of enlightenment, and it stones you.  Or the healing has begun, and ye get healed.  Favorite tracks: "The Way Young Lovers Do," "Sweet Thing."