Moondance and Astral Weeks

[AmirBagachelles]

Does anybody know why these two gems have never gotten top notch remastering from the label? Do they not own the tapes? All of the other great Van the man records have gotten a nice upgrade since the late 80s. I'm not sure Moondance could sound any better, maybe a little less reverb, but Astral Weeks has some lush strings that really sound bad in 1st gen digital. Amazing records these are. Does anybody know how Van came to use Richard Davis and Connie Kay on Astral Weeks? Van-heads - show yourselves please.

[jpmosu]

I can't answer your question, but I've always been puzzled why *Astral Weeks* has never been upgraded. It's a crime, really, for this disk not to sound better than it does.

An amazing record--that's all I can say.

john

[BruceH]

My thought is it's because big record labels suck. Just a hunch.

[WD45]

Many of the gems on Elektra got only one chance on CD. Bummer.

MC5

Stooges

etc.

[HWright]

About the question of how jazzers Richard Davis and Connie Kay (and Jay Berliner) happened to play on "Astral Weeks," based on what I've read I would suppose they were called in by producer Lewis Merenstein. Although we know those musicians as jazz improvisers, I think they were also doing a lot of quite remunerative session work at the time and were playing on everything from tv commercials to pop sessions. To them "Astral Weeks" was probably just another gig (I believe Richard Davis has been quoted as saying so, in fact.)

At the time of the "Astral Weeks" sessions, Van was living in Cambridge, Mass, and gigging with mostly local musicians there. However, the only one who made it on to the record was the flute player John Payne and apparently the original plan was to replace him as well. I think it was probably Merenstein's idea to bring in the session musicians. Although almost everyone now considers the results classic, I'm not so sure how happy Van was with the decision at the time.

While on the subject of Van reissues, I'll bet that a lot of people didn't even notice that some of Van's '70's albums were remastered and released on CD a second time. Outside of the fact that there was no publicity, I would attribute this to the fact that the packaging was not significantly different.

I'm not a big fan of creative packaging and I don't think the album cover should be changed, but it seems to me that if you make an upgrade of a prexisting product you should do SOMETHING to distinguish it somehow. This can be done through the CD spine, the part of the case next to the cover (whatever you call that), the back card, etc.

Instead all Warner Brothers' did with the Van remasters was put a measly little sticker on the new versions of the new Van CDs. They did the same thing when the remastered Joni Mitchell's catalogue as well. This is not the way to sell music!

In contrast, Elvis Costello's catalogue has been done three times ( first originals on Columbia and Warner, then reissues on Ryko Disc, now reissues on Rhino) and each set is distinct and easy to identify. Less dramatic positive examples are the Dylan and Rolling Stones remasters issued in recent years.

Edited October 21, 2004 by HWright

[SEK]

I could not understand the attraction of "Astral Weeks" when it first came out, and I still am not moved by it, despite Richard Davis's sonorous presence. Van seemed like a cryptic poseur. I recall that Davis considered "Astral Weeks" to simply be a relatively well-paying studio gig.

For a similar feel and sound, I've preferred Van Morrison's "Veedon Fleece", since its release 5 or 6 years later (not as cryptic, more mature, and earthier than "Astral Weeks").

[Free For All]

With all due respect to you who are fans, if I never hear the tune "Moondance" again in my lifetime I'll die a happy man.

[kenny weir]

I agree about Moondance, the song and (to a lesser extent) the album. But I reckon Glad Tidings is just about the best of Van's pop songs a la Brown Eyed Girl.

[AmirBagachelles]

wow the last 3 posts taking the Van hyperbole down a notch, but still: side 2 of Moondance, Astral Weeks... mmmm inspiring music first rate '68 for absolute sure, and yes so much of the Warner years is excellent. (I'll be giving it up for Van on the discman and at home for the next few days, can't you tell?)

[JSngry]

ASTRAL WEEKS has always lived up to the hype for me. MOONDANCE, other than a few songs, hasn't.

And afaic, VEEDON FLEECE is a freakin' masterpiece.

[JSngry]

Oh yeah, didn't John Payne have an album (or two?) on Arista-Freedom in the 70s?

[Tony Pusey]

To Veedon Fleece.

I used to like Van a lot but then I went off most of it and dumped it.most, but not all, I kept what I consider to be his masterpiece, St Dominics Preview.

I was there at the Rainbow when Too Late to Now was recorded, a memorable evening or two..

[DMP]

I've never made it all the way through "Astral Weeks," despite the high regard for the album. It may be one of those albums that, once heard a few times, really grows on you and becomes indispensable.

In a conversation with Richard Davis many years ago I asked him about the album and his response was pretty much what has been noted above. He did talk about efforts to bring the group together for a sequel, but that never did come off, and, of course, would be impossible now.

[HWright]

Follow up to my previous post:

Last night I read the sections dealing with "Astral Weeks" in Clinton Heylin's new book on Van Morrison. Heylin says that Producer Merenstein made the call to Richard Davis, selecting him as the studio boss of the session (he was considered very reliable, talented and well organized in this respect) and Davis then recommended the other jazz session players to Merenstein, who then approved their participation.