Astral Weeks: Classic or dud?

But that's OK. Overwrought is O.K., though I think its overwroughtness undercuts the claims of metaphysical signifigance that folks like Lester Bangs have given the LP. I mean, how moved can I be by such a spectacularly bizarre artifact? Intimations of deviance set to arrangements as fruity and free as wild blackberries, and as sad and lovely as a sigh. But when listening to it, I spend my time more awestruck by its peculiarity than thinking of its loveliness. And Van's voice...oh baby. Listening to it now, I'm amazed how, when I was a kid, I didn't notice Van's library of embarrassing vocalisms. Think of the human voice at its most artless -- constipation, gargling sugar-free chocolate milk, getting your hand caught in the car door, PeeWee Herman imitations, especially good orgasms, you name it -- and chances are you'll find its vocal analog on *Astral Weeks.* It's his voice and the way some songs meander when they stray away from the bedrock structural certainties of the blues that makes some of this sui generis weirdness stumble into the land of godawful doily-edged beatnik poetry. (Could Leadbelly or Otis Redding have sung it all better, then?)

So in sum, classic, but its canonical status might prevent you from seeing just how intriguingly "unclassic" it is.

The very first time I heard it I was rather taken aback by the singing. I was big on Leonard Cohen at the time (still am), and was expecting 'Astral Weeks' to have the same kind of gentle tone to it. It took me quite a while to get used to all his yelping and screeching. I grew to completely love it, but still wonder if it might have sounded better had someone else sang it. Wouldn't be quite the same though, would it?

Mr Daddino's essay is the first thing I *ever* read that's induced to consider relistening to Mr Morrison. Saturday is Knock All Morrisons Day, kids...

Sorry. Feeling a little surly today.

It's perhaps this slightly-metaphysical listening of the record (VM's flourishing and floundering vocals swirling high above and over the hidden orchestra of Kay etc.) that impinges upon my reading of AW as a highly metaphysical record (esp. Astral Weeks, Beside You). The only sore thumb is The Way Young Lovers Do (but I'll get back to that). Lester lamped the essence straight on the chin with his juxtaposition of VM and Lorca.

One of a select cast of three records that have been elevated to my own personal pantheon.

Classic.

Personally I used to hate it but got used to it and the mannerisms of Van Morrison's singing don't bother me as much as they used to. I still didn't really get what is so special about this record which seems rather dull and going nowhere. But one thing is true I guess. The album didn't age at all. It didn't fit into the musical landscape of 1970 and it doesn't fit into today's. There is something timeless about this album.

Mr Daddino is right - this music is challenging ,earthy, experimental and WORKS. Thta is a rare, rare thing: a Qawwali-like inspiration.

I find I can listen to each instrumental line and follow it as a source of satisfaction in its own right.

I always assumed it was like Beefheart - random sounding but actually incredibly carefully crafted, so was astonished to learn from the Bangs piece that it is almost improvised, and done in a couple of takes.

It's also incredibly un-Van Morrison. What came before was half decent blues boogie; what came after was dull and worthy spiritual folk-rock. Occasionally he has tried similar things - Summertime in England, anyone? - and got something, but nothing like the level of inspiration in Astral Weeks. The most obvious example of this is the lyrics: the lyrics to Astral Weeks are poetry - real poetry - not just rock-ryhmes that sound ok - I can't believe the lyrics to his other records are written by the same man!

It's a source of never-ending inspiration and satisfaction, and I ther isn't much music of any time you can say that of.

if anyone wants a painting analogy, I say: Samuel Palmer!

OTOH on subsequent albums like "Moondance" and "St Dominic's Preview" the cleaner, then-state-of-the-art production now sounds weedy and punchless. I think AW would have lost more than it gained from a more expensive and considered production, but that doesn't completely console me for its sonic faults.

(Incidentally I once played in a band that supported Van at a couple of outdoor gigs. The bands were all given caravans as changing rooms. Typically Van insisted on separate caravans for himself and his band so he was in splendid isolation with his girlfriend and a minder.

Given our lowly position in the pecking order we were pleasantly surprised on the first gig when a cold buffet big enough to feed about 30 people was delivered to our caravan, along with four crates of premium lager and a few bottles of wine. The band and assorted chums who'd managed to cadge backstage passes appreciatively got stuck into the food and booze. An hour or so later one of the gig organisers sheepishly knocked on our door and told us Van's rider had been delivered to our caravan by mistake. They uplifted what was left (prob still enough to feed and water 15 people) and delivered it to Van's caravan, half-eaten sandwiches and all. Unfortunately I have no idea how the world's grumpiest man reacted to being presented with our leftovers).

like moondance less.

haven't heard any other van except 'gloria' and 'brown-eyed girl'.

don't want to.

Astral Weeks is a great album.

It's pretty good.

How do those reissues sound? I still have the vinyl.

:(

i fell for this so hard over a few years, mid to late 2000s.

i've been caning 'sweet thing' lately and it just sounds even more amazing than ever. puts me on cloud 9 every time. perfect music. i think this spring i'm going to have to put the whole album on repeat in my car for 4 months.