Van Morrison Forum

Van Morrison

Forum

How can Van ever be thanked for the countless hours of beauty
that he has inspired with his music?

>>By brenna e (Thursday, 10 Apr 2003 10:18)

Moon Dance is cool as fuck it has a sweet beat and Is juss killa well IM me at DCOWBOYFANNFL on AOL IIGHT LATA

>>By AJ (Wednesday, 16 Apr 2003 01:47)

does anyone know whre I can get van morrison tabs?

>>By Pat the Whack (Tuesday, 13 May 2003 05:17)

Freddie Scott did a great job on Vanthology-"Brown Eyed Girl".

>>By steevo (Thursday, 11 Sep 2003 03:32)

I am 26 years old, and Van is 58. I want to marry him! I love him so much. This music has changed my life. What a poet! I mean, ... there is no comparison
I want to move to Belfast, buy a house on Cyprus Avenue and walk down the railroad with my cherry wine.
I Love you George Ivan Morrison!

>>By littlegirl (Saturday, 18 Oct 2003 04:42)

Did I mention, my name is Shannon?

>>By littlegirl (Saturday, 18 Oct 2003 04:42)

i have him on video & this man is a special kind of legend

>>By star (Sunday, 19 Oct 2003 18:38)

Legend. Poet. Composer. GOD!

>>By littlegirl (Sunday, 19 Oct 2003 22:50)

i dont want to marry him...but what fine music he makes...if we got married that would only mess up his music. believe me. look what happened to jimi hendrix when we started going out...and mama cass...and, oh, countless others...so rave on don juan, that;s what i say...

>>By woodentopz (Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003 03:51)

My favourite song is Listen To The Lion. Anybody else?

>>By procrastinator (Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003 20:19)

In 1987, Rolling Stone magazine was 20 years old. They put out a special anniversary edition with a list of the top 100 albums of the past 20 years. It was made up of votes by various editors/critics/ musicians, etc. I got the copy and vowed to collect all 100, except for a Michael Jackson record because I detested him even then. Among the top ten was Van's "Astral Weeks". I was familiar with his work even then (18 years old), but this record was completely unknown to me. I knew noone who had it or had heard it. So, I went into the city and bought it. I went to my room, put it on the turntable, and was COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY MESMERIZED AND HELD IN THE DIVINE SOUNDS AND WORDS of this landmark record. When I read the conditions under which it was recorded, it made the record all that more amazing for me. I am with Sharon (little girl) on this. It makes me want to disappear into Belfast, into the side roads and backrooms of the Ireland that inspired so much of this record. I later used 'Madame George' in a Jazz class, much to the happy surprise of my instructor. I was not disappointed by the albums on that list. Most of all I have never tired or lost the stunning amazement I hear each time I play this album, from 'Astral Weeks' to 'Slim Slow Slider'.

>>By exile103 (Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003 20:50)

Van's records are the creations of an artist who makes music his own way, without concession, and is commercially successful at it as well. For those who haven't heard it "Veedon Fleece" is as amzaing and gorgeous as any of his records, aside from the untouchable "Astral Weeks". It combines elements from the latter record with those of the longer pieces of "St. Dominic's Preview", another brilliant work. I don't usually gush so, as it can put some people off like I've lost touch with "what is truly important and valuable" in life. Well, to me, art is about as important and valuable as anything, together with family and love. 'Linden Arden stole the highlights' and 'You don't pull no punches, but you don't push the river" are similar to 'Independence Day' and 'Listen to the Lion'. A very meditational record. Procrastinator asked about favorite songs before, and I'd have to throw in a few: 'Madame George', 'Beside You', 'Into the Mystic', 'Tupelo Honey', and 'Almost Independece Day'. 'Listen To the Lion' is up there for me as well.

>>By exile103 (Tuesday, 25 Nov 2003 21:03)

" music is the highest form of art and to those who understand it, the highest worship"

That's a quote I have at home from this Indian Classical musician. I believe he's right.Now, take me back, take me waaaayyy back....

>>By procrastinator (Wednesday, 26 Nov 2003 20:18)

i grew up with van... my parents were fans. then as i started to select albums to play myself, astral weeks, hardnose the highway, moondance and wavelength were among my first choices. tupelo honey was the first dance at my (failed) marriage.
songs for the ages.

>>By finnegan (Wednesday, 26 Nov 2003 22:45)

Anyone know where I can find the printed music or songbook for ASTRAL WEEKS?

>>By Kimtone (Friday, 12 Dec 2003 08:45)

I really doubt you will find such a thing, either the printed music or songbook, unless a fan or fans have made them. The thing about "Astral Weeks" is that Morrison was adamant that the songs be done differently than they had been before. Most of the tracks had been recorded before with a basic rock/r & b style session band. They ended up on what became "T.B. Sheets" and "Bang Masters". Morrison went back into the studio with straight jazz musicians, including the amazing Richard Davis from the Modern Jazz Quartet on bass. As legend goes, he didn't give the band sheet music or arrangements to play. He isolated himself in a separate booth, and the band simply jammed over top of what he was doing. It's the kind of thing that happens only very rarely; everything comes together to create a thing of rarefied beauty. So this is why I would think it would be very hard to make a songbook or printed music for the album. I just typed in "Astral Weeks sheet music" and got this link for one: www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0034935/details.html
Try it out!

>>By exile103 (Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003 01:38)

VAN!

>>By exile103 (Tuesday, 23 Dec 2003 20:21)

Van carries the rhythm and blues tradition on his back with room to spare for forays into the mystic and points west. I do not enjoy him being described as difficult. Many writers have wanted to sidle up to him and smack him around for not being more indulgent. He started as a union musician and has a certain forthrightness about his job. Some writers have nothing to inquire as to the music and wish to fill out their peice with musings on the supposedly gruff nature of the man. He isn't so gruff or intemperate that it wouldn't be revealed in the music and it is not there. He is still an r&b journeyman at heart and needs not to suffer the star trip to put his act over, so he doesn't much. I still have a hard time reconciling why Warner Bros. dumped him. He is reliable.

>>By obelus (Wednesday, 24 Dec 2003 18:48)

The lyrics are so enigmatic & illusory. Veedon Fleece is my fave album.

>>By nonyeb (Tuesday, 22 May 2007 12:10)

Van Morrison has inpired me with his spiritual music since Astral Weeks. My favorite album is "Hard Nose The Highway". I have seen him in concert twice. Wish he will come to Norway and play and sing soon!

>>By chilloutfriend (Sunday, 16 Mar 2008 20:51)

tupelo honey is and always will be my most treasured van song...fuckin awesome!!

eh up jiff-mon!! =0>

>>By Narcotic_Prayer (Saturday, 22 Mar 2008 22:32)

The dude ROCKS... my favorite is MOONDANCE....he can stretch this one out for as long as he wants to probably his best...but TUPELO HONEY really gets some SOUL into it....just classic stuff...and of couse BROWN EYED GIRL.. and all time favorite...I mean the thing is ... Van Morrison can both play AND sing really well...

>>By crazyhorse (Saturday, 26 Apr 2008 09:58)

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