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ASTRAL WEEKS (1968)
Drawing on blues, jazz, classical and soul, Van takes a visionary journey through his Belfast childhood. Universally acclaimed as one of the greatest albums ever made (if not one of the most conventional), its joys are subtle and many. |
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MOONDANCE (1970)
Van hits commercial gold with the first flowering of his Celtic Soul sound. His sax playing uncoils like a cat across the finger snapping title track, while Into the Mystic sets sail into more spiritual territory. It Stoned Me, meanwhile, is another fine evocation of a childhood fishing trip. |
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TUPELO HONEY (1971)
Apart from the driving R'n'B of Wild Night, the title track is one of Van's greatest songs - a warm evocation of love inspired by newfound domestic contentment. Tt may not equal Moondance, but has much to commend it. |
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IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW (1974)
On one of the greatest live albums ever made, Van fronts the self styled Celtic Soul Orchestra and running through a storming selection drawn from his career thus far, including early Them classics Gloria and Here Comes the Night. |
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INTO THE MUSIC (1979)
After a few patchy albums, Van returned to form with one of his most accessible albums. Bright Side of the Road skips along happily, while Full Force Gale found Van praising the Lord in fine upbeat style. |
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IRISH HEARTBEAT (1988)
Following a string of increasingly cultish album in the 80s, Van teamed up with the Chieftains for a return to his folk roots. Spirited versions of I'll Tell Me Ma and Marie's Wedding sit alongside poignant renditions of Carrickfergus and My Lagan Love, as well as a stunningly atmospheric take on She Moved Through the Fair.
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AVALON SUNSET (1989)
Van delivered the goods again with one of his best loved songs, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, and scored a rare hit single with his Cliff Richard duet, Wherever God Shines His Light.
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THE BEST OF VAN MORRISON (1990)
For novices, the best place to start. A near faultless collection of Van's most accessible songs, from Them to the 90s. Jackie Wilson Said, Moondance, Wild Night - music rarely gets better than this, and its an excellent jumping off point for a deeper exploration of Morrison's daunting back catalogue.
Mick Fitzsimmons
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Van Morrison
