# So, which Van Morrison Album is the Greatest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2002, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722 "2002-03-29T07:46:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/21 "2002-03-29T23:19:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by auntie em \* > \*\*I say buy one, **xanadu** , and make someone (someone here, maybe?) burn you another… \*\* I’ll burn you an 80 minute Van Morrison compilation audio CD (not .mp3’s) off of my music library if you like. This is what I came up with; VAN MORRISON 1967 Brown Eyed Girl VAN MORRISON 1968 The Way Young Lovers Do VAN MORRISON 1970 Blue Money VAN MORRISON 1970 Domino VAN MORRISON 1970 Caravan VAN MORRISON 1970 Moondance VAN MORRISON 1970 And It Stoned Me VAN MORRISON 1970 Call Me Up In Dreamland VAN MORRISON 1970 Crazy Love VAN MORRISON 1970 Into The Mystic VAN MORRISON 1971 Wild Night VAN MORRISON 1971 Tupelo Honey VAN MORRISON 1972 Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) VAN MORRISON 1972 Saint Dominic’s Preview VAN MORRISON 1978 Wavelength VAN MORRISON 1983 Gloria VAN MORRISON 1983 Big Time Operators VAN MORRISON 1983 Wasted Years VAN MORRISON 1990 Real Real Gone ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/22 "2002-03-30T00:37:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuperNelson \* > B. B. King was the opening act, though, and he more than made up for the rest of the show. 😃 If you’ve got B.B.King as the opening act, what more of a show do you need? ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/23 "2002-03-30T05:44:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wisest Novel \* > \*\* Well skeeee-yoooze me for suggesting an album containing the two songs you said you wanted. You won’t find either on _Astral Weeks_ or _Moondance_. 🙂 \*\* Hey, there, I didn’t mean anything against you 🙂 Actually, I was going to buy the greatest hits CD for that reason, but i wanted the chance to hear some Van Morrison songs that I wouldn’t have otherwise heard. (Although I have to say that you mentioned Bob Seger in an earlier post, and his GH compilation is fantastic!) ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/24 "2002-03-30T07:26:30Z")
I’ve only got Astral Weeks, Moondance and a greatest hits collection (with the censored version of Brown Eyed Girl). Of these Moondance is it. All time best VM song is Into the Mystic. ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/25 "2002-04-01T05:45:03Z")
Hey, I just wanted to let you guys know that I went home for Easter and managed to buy a copy of _Moondance_ .(Why Moondance, you ask? It was the only VM Cd there.) I didn’t really like it the first time I listened to it, although that’s probably because I was trying to do about five other things at the same time. But I listened to it again, and I absolutely loved it. Every song on it was just as great as I thought it would be. Next time, I think I’ll either get _Astral Weeks_ or _Tupelo Honey_ . Just wanted to say thanks for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/26 "2002-04-01T05:51:38Z")
Hey, I just wanted to let you guys know that I went home for Easter and managed to buy a copy of _Moondance_ .(Why Moondance, you ask? It was the only VM Cd there.) I didn’t really like it the first time I listened to it, although that’s probably because I was trying to do about five other things at the same time. But I listened to it again, and I absolutely loved it. Every song on it was just as great as I thought it would be. Next time, I think I’ll either get _Astral Weeks_ or _Tupelo Honey_ . Just wanted to say thanks for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/27 "2002-04-01T11:08:48Z")
Just to be contrary, I’ll throw out _His Band and Street Choir_, which I consider superior to _Moondance_ by a hair ( they’re both fine albums ) and just as accessible for a “newbie”. And just for the record, I’m the pro-_Astral Weeks_ camp. Not at all overrated IMHO 🙂 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Amidar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Amidar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amidar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/28 "2002-04-01T18:15:28Z")
I think you might begin to see a general pattern from this thread, but I’ll add my opinion to it anyway… **Astral Weeks** is just a stunning album. Van Morrison is an artist of true greatness, but even he only rose to this height once in his career. All the stories about **AW** (the fitful fever of recording, the interaction {or lack thereof} between Van and band) just add to the allure. It’s a record that simmers all the way through, until the end of “Slim Slow Slider” where it boils over. **Moondance** is a somewhat close second. FWIW, if you like **Astral Weeks** , the you might want to check out Tim Buckley. Mike T. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/29 "2002-04-01T18:49:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wisest Novel \* > \*\* Holy cats, it’s a pile-on! And my idol **auntie em** ’s joining in! What, did I run over a cat and not know it? Whence cometh all this bad karma in such a mundane thread? \*\* I’m your idol? Well, it is about damn time someone around here saw the light!😃 (So far I’ve only managed to achieve Super Groovy Food Disburser status, and that’s only with my pets and a wayward adolescent boy.) Consider your bad karma whisked away henceforth! 😃 But come on… no _Into the Mystic_??? Tsk. Tsk. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/30 "2002-04-01T18:56:17Z")
Xanadu! LOOK LOOK LOOK!!! (Posted by JohnBckWLD) \*\* > [@](#): > > I’ll burn you an 80 minute Van Morrison compilation audio CD (not .mp3’s) off of my music library if you like. This is what I came up with; > VAN MORRISON 1967 Brown Eyed Girl > VAN MORRISON 1968 The Way Young Lovers Do > VAN MORRISON 1970 Blue Money > VAN MORRISON 1970 Domino > VAN MORRISON 1970 Caravan > VAN MORRISON 1970 Moondance > VAN MORRISON 1970 And It Stoned Me > VAN MORRISON 1970 Call Me Up In Dreamland > VAN MORRISON 1970 Crazy Love > VAN MORRISON 1970 Into The Mystic > VAN MORRISON 1971 Wild Night > VAN MORRISON 1971 Tupelo Honey > VAN MORRISON 1972 Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) > VAN MORRISON 1972 Saint Dominic’s Preview > VAN MORRISON 1978 Wavelength > VAN MORRISON 1983 Gloria > VAN MORRISON 1983 Big Time Operators > VAN MORRISON 1983 Wasted Years > VAN MORRISON 1990 Real Real Gone\*\* I’d sure as hell take him (her??) up on it! You can’t lose, even if it costs you a few bucks!!! ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/31 "2002-04-01T19:30:42Z")
That’s hilarious, Auntie Em! Yeah, sure, I’d like a Cd, JohnBckWLD, if the offer is still there! ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/32 "2002-04-01T20:19:52Z")
I like Moondance and Tupelo myself. I also LOVE the album he did with Georgie Fame, but I can’t remember the name of it right now. It’s a lot different than what your gonna get on normal Van records though ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/33 "2002-04-02T00:20:35Z")
As much as I love _Astral Weeks_, _Moodance_ and _Tupelo Honey_ I’m going to buck the trend here and recommend _Irish Heartbeat_, a CD of traditional Irish folk songs he did with **The Chieftains**. It’s a great change of pace from his other 80’s albums and, surprisingly, I still find myself listening to it more than many of his other albums. The lead track, _Star of the County Down_ kicks serious butt. If you like Van Morrison _or_ Irish music it’s definitely worth picking up. ---
**Author:** ![sim0n](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@sim0n](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sim0n)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/34 "2002-04-02T03:01:53Z")
I don’t know about the greatest, I’m not fully familiar… but I’m definately down with Bang Masters. great album. “Spanish Rose” is a great song, plus you get two versions of “Brown Eyed Girl”, among others. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/35 "2002-04-02T04:43:17Z")
I forgot to mention a few other Van classics: _Beautiful Vision_, which is another lovely late-night “listen with a lover” album. I adore this one. A good “early morning on vacation” album is _Enlightenment_. This contains a slightly strange but lovely and moving (if you like old-time jazz/soul) song called “In the Days Before Rock and Roll.” It’s about eight minutes long, and I wish it were twice that. His double CD _Hymns to the Silence_ is uneven, but does contain some of his finer songs, like the title track, “Be Thou My Vision” (a spiritual song), “Carrying a Torch,” a beautiful love song, and “Why Must I Always Explain,” a bitter song you might hear late one night in a grocery store. I’m not a big fan of _His Band and Street Choir_, which does contain some great songs (notably “Domino” and “Crazy Face”). It’s not my favorite. But if you like _Tupelo Honey_, you’ll probably like _HB & SC_. Avoid _Days Like This_ and _Hard Nose the Highway_. Unless you become a Vanatic, like me. And I must mention that even I, Van freak that I am, don’t like _Bang Master_. But, who knows? You may enjoy that one. It’s full of pop songs that were intended to be as good as “Brown Eyed Girl,” and didn’t succeed. Van isn’t very comfortable on/with the songs. Sinead O’Connor likes _No Guru, No Method, No Teacher_. If any artist deserves a boxed edition, it is Van Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/36 "2002-04-29T19:08:30Z")
I like Tupelo the best…but I also love Moondance, The Philopher’s Stone, The Healing Game and St. Domanic’s Preview. I fond that of all the Van CDs I have, these are them ones that I always go back to (although I like Back on Top as well, but I don’t know what kind of staying power it will have). And while I like Astral Weeks, I can’t remember the last time I listed to it. It is a bit to slow for my tastes. I also saw Van in Boston about a year or so ago and it was great. Might be the best concert I ever saw. He was energetitc and played for a while for such a plump old man. It might have helped that I had front row seats. The only time he seemed to just go through the motions was for Moondance, and who could blame him for that. The set was heavy on stuff from The Healing Game (Rough God Goes Riding is BETTER live, if that is possible) and Back on Top though, so I could understand how the casual fan might be a bit dissappointed. Did get to hear Jackie Wilson and Cleaning Windows…which was nice. ---
**Author:** ![Fibonacci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722/37 "2002-04-29T19:30:13Z")
I saw him a couple years ago when he toured with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. What a bill! They all were in fine form and it was a hell of a show. (I’d heard a lot about Van’s sometimes less than stellar performances, but he was definitely up for this one. He really rocked, as did Dylan.) I really like “A Night In San Francisco” as it shows what an incredible live performer he can be when he wants. Also a great representation of his work and others’ songs which influenced him. Plus it has “I’ve Been Workin’” one of the all time great rockers. (I even loved Eggs Over Easy’s cover of this this song, but that may be getting too obscure.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-van-morrison-album-is-the-greatest/100722.md?page=1)