Astral Weeks [LP]

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks [LP]

Released November 29, 1968, ASTRAL WEEKS remains a cosmic masterstroke for the ages—a fluid, introspective exploration of youth, memory, and time. To record it, Morrison completely bypasses standard pop formulas, opting instead for an open, jazz-influenced framework. Over these intuitive acoustic arrangements, his raw, incantatory vocal performance drives tracks like “Cyprus Avenue,” “Slim Slow Slider,” and the spellbinding title track. That magic was apparent from the first audition, producer Lewis Merenstein recalls in the new liner notes: “It went right through me, and I got the poetry of it. It was just stunning, and I knew I wanted to work with him at that moment.”