July 24, 2023

1970 - May: Van Morrison ”Moondance”

36 minutes

Moondance is the album that established Van Morrison as a solo artist. However, he was an accomplished musician before this, first as a multi-instrumentalist in Irish show bands of the late 50's, then as the lead singer of the band Them. Moondance is either Morrison's second or third solo album…depending upon how you count it. The first album entitled “Blowin' Your Mind!” was put out without Morrison's permission — or even knowledge, and he does not consider it to be a proper album. However, he had signed a contract with Bang! Records without paying much attention to the details, and gave up much of his rights. Nevertheless, this first album did contain Morrison's first solo pop single, “Brown-Eyed Girl,” which is one of this most popular today.

After considerable wrangling and the death of producer Bert Berns, Morrison was able to put out an album on his own terms for Warner Brothers entitled “Astral Weeks.” While this album would be praised in the future, it was considered a failure at the time, producing no singles and not receiving much promotion.

Moondance is where it all comes together for Morrison. It was more deliberately designed to have more accessible songs than the previous album, and it benefitted from the rising popularity of FM radio. Morrison's growing confidence in his own abilities and his sense of independence from the producers also were beneficial on this album. The result is an iconic album with a number of standards of 70's music.

Bruce brings us this inspired album for this week's podcast.

And It Stoned Me

This track leads off the album. The song reminisces about days being a kid, going fishing, drinking stream water from a jar, and just being high on life. The lyric about Jelly Roll may refer to jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton, an artist whom Morrison listened to with his father as a child. Van Morrison's dad had one of the biggest record collections in the area.

Into the Mystic

This track is about a spiritual quest. According to Wikipedia, Morrison says the song “is just about being part of the universe.” While it was not released as a single when the album was released it has become one of Morrison's most popular song, the second most streamed song on Spotify behind “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Glad Tidings

A deeper cut, this track is the final song on the album and the final song recorded for the album. The inspiration for the title was a letter Morrison received from a friend in London who had written on the envelope, “Glad Tidings from London.” When Morrison wrote back he also included “Glad Tidings from New York” on the envelope. The lyrics appear to address some of the issues Morrison had with Bert Berns and Bang! Records.

Moondance

As iconic as this song has become, it was not released as a single until September of 1977, seven-and-a-half years after the album. Morrison developed it while living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He considers it a sophisticated song, one that Frank Sinatra could be seen singing.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The Love Theme (from the motion picture "Airport" )

This film was one of the first disaster movies that would form its own genre in the 1970's.

STAFF PICKS:

Friends by Feather

Wayne gets the staff picks started with a pop group from Los Angeles. Feather had a commercially oriented prog rock sound, with close harmonies and a bit of a country flavor. “Friends” was on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks, with its highest position at number 79. However, they did get a chance to showcase their song on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

Reflections of My Life by Marmalade

Rob brings us a Scottish band that started in 1961 as the Gaylords. This is their biggest hit making it to number 10 in the U.S. The epic feel employs acoustic guitars and horns, and a guitar solo which employs studio effects that play the solo guitar riff backwards.

Kentucky Rain by Elvis Presley

Lynch's staff pick was recorded during Presley's landmark two-week sessions at American Sound Studio in Memphis. These sessions produced two hit albums in 1969, but this song didn't make the cut for either album. The single was on the charts during this month, rising as high as number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and features Ronnie Milsap on piano.

Mississippi Queen by Mountain

Bruce brings us a rocker to wrap up the staff picks. This hard rock group was active primarily from 1969 through 1972, and this single went to number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The opening cowbell originated when drummer Corky Laing got tired of the numerous retakes and just started using the cowbell to count off the song. Bassist Felix Pappalardi liked the sound and kept it in the completed track.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Viva Tirado (part 1) by El Chicano

This Latin-jazz instrumental number was based on an original song about a bullfighter by Gerald Wilson.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings