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Astral Weeks Live At the Hollywood Bowl | 
| Artist: Van Morrison
Label: Listen To The Lion Records
Category: Music
Rating:  reviews
Sales Rank: 10206
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.8 x 0.2
MPN: 5099969342325
EAN: 5099969342325
ASIN: B001O0EHXG
Release Date: February 24, 2009
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| Tracks:
| • | Astral Weeks - I Believe I've Transcended (6:32-3:24) | | • | Beside You (5:59) | | • | Slim Slow Slider - I Start Breaking Down (4:08-3:37) | | • | Sweet Thing (5:38) | | • | The Way Young Lovers Do (3:18) | | • | Cyprus Avenue - You Came Walking Down (4:40-1:19) | | • | Ballerina - Move On Up (6:36-3:09) | | • | Madame George (8:43) | | • | Listen To The Lion - The Lion Speaks (5:15-2:29) | | • | Common One (6:39) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Recorded in 1968 when the Belfast-bred, blues-rock music legend Van Morrison was just 22 years old, Astral Weeks immediately received critical acclaim and continues to be cited as one of the greatest albums of the rock era. Subsequently the album has been ranked on numerous Best Albums of All Time lists, including #19 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and the 40th Greatest Album Ever on VH-1's list in 2003. Both Astral Weeks and Moondance (Morrison's next album) were inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame. Astral Weeks became a cult favorite and was seen almost as a religion to many artists. On November 7 and 8, 2008, four decades later, at the age 63, Van Morrison revisited Astral Weeks live in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl, and delivered a jawdropping, awe-inspiring performance. The first half of the show featured Morrison playing timeless classics that have made him a legend, while the second half was the breathtaking performance of the Astral Weeks album.Van Morrison did not simply re-create what he did 40 years ago in a NY studio, but instead took the songs to a dramatically higher contemporary level. The jazz-rooted compositions of Astral Weeks are poetic stories of young love and the quest to find one's place in life. They were, and remain, ideal source material for musical improvisation that gives way to the sense of wonder for which Morrison has always striven. ". . . transcendence is what Morrison has been after with his music from the beginning, and it's what he achieved frequently on Friday, when he played his watershed 1968 album Astral Weeks live in its entirety for the first time. The wondrous, youthful timbre of his voice then has evolved over the years into a richer, fuller instrument, with every bit of its remarkable elasticity very much intact." (L. A. Times)
Album Description
On November 7 and 8, 2008, four decades after the release of the classic Astral Weeks, Van Morrison revisited the album live in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl, and delivered a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring performance. Van did not simply re-create what he did 40 years ago in a NY studio, but instead took the songs to a dramatically higher contemporary level. The Jazz-rooted compositions of Astral Weeks are poetic stories of young love and the quest to find one's place in life. They were, and remain, ideal source material for musical improvisation that gives way to the sense of wonder for which Morrison has always striven. 10 tracks.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Brilliant August 21, 2010
MythMaker (PA)
After mumbling his way through the first half of "Astral Weeks" (song) Morrison clears his throat and sings beautifully for the remainder of this performance. I do wish he'd overdubbed the opening portion of "Astral Weeks", but there ya go, a real live "live" album!
I revere the original "Astral Weeks" album, but it does have its limitations. One drawback is the fact that the backing band are spazzing out on every track, regardless of what Van is singing about. It's a magical album, yes, but the arrangements are sophomoric and band lacked any nuance or restraint whatsoever.
This new version features Van Morrison the seasoned bandleader & musician. There's no question that these arrangements are infinitely superior to those found on the original album. And for the most part, Van is a better vocalist now. He's not freaking out on almost every line as he did on the original. Van knows when to lay back now, when to articulate, when to whisper.
The original "Astral Weeks" is one of my top five favorite albums, I've listened to it well over a hundred times. But that doesn't mean that it is perfect. These new arrangements and performances have nuances and maturity missing from the original, regardless of how exciting those recordings were/are.
I say: own both versions. They're both brilliant.
Van Morrison Astral Weeks December 31, 2009
William E. Sparko
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was purchased as a gift and the giftee was very pleased. Live recordings are always somehow better.
Be joyous and then cry November 15, 2009
L. Maciejewski
What could be better than music that will make you joyous in one song and cry in the next? It doesn't get any better than this. Van is at the top of his game. Be sure to buy the DVD, too. It is one of the best birthday gifts I ever received. Absolutely mesmerizing!
A True Musical Gift November 14, 2009
M. Brust (Denton, TX United States)
Van Morrison has never made a bad album. Sure, we're all sick of hearing the Bert Berns stuff---but even that was way ahead of its time---at the time. What's become obvious to me since I first heard "Here Comes the Night", Mystic Eyes" or " Brown Eyed Girl" is the trick is to try to keep up with Van--cause he makes traveling at the speed of light sound effortless. Amen--Van
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