Son of JayJamJah

Here's a quick look back at the albums we've covered so far from the 1960's, 70's and 80's.





Blowin’ Your Mind (1967) – Solo debut complete with all-time fan favorite “Brown Eyed Girl” and the silky smooth “TB Sheets”; not the best place to start if you’re a new fan, but one you’ll really appreciate after you get through most of the 1970’s stuff. Total Score: 10.5\15

Astral Weeks (1968) – The precipitous powerhouse and mystical classic, the album Van had been making in his mind since he started to perform. Nine near perfect songs that transcend any album like it ever moving seamlessly together in poignant poetic motion. A must for all music fans and you won’t hear that from me much. If you’re familiar with his radio singles and greatest hits albums this is the next step. You’ll love it. Total Score: 15\15

Moondance (1970) – Popular rock music perfection; every song on the album is capable of being a hit single. Songs like “Moondance”, “Into the Mystic” and “Crazy Love” that are Morrison classics and lesser known but equally exceptional numbers like “Glad Tiding” and “These Dreams of You”. The most accessible and relatable album he’s made and one of the very best. Total Score: 14.5\15

His Band and the Street Choir (1970) – A sort of B-sides follow-up to Moondance and another very listener friendly album. First album to display the common Morrison bookends pattern with the first single as the opening track (“Domino” on here) and a stirring epic as its finale (“Street Choir”).I recommend this to anyone who liked Moondance. Total Score: 12.5\15

Tupelo Honey (1971) – Commercial success with a slower softer country side to it. Known casually for its popular singles “Warm Love” and the title track but I’ll take the bookends again “Wild, Wild Night” and “Moonshine Whiskey”. Mass appeal is a strength of this album, worth picking up for sure. Total Score: 12\15

St. Dominic’s Preview (1972) – A hidden gem in the Morrison catalogue, diverse assortment of songs all featuring a banner effort from Van the Man. Each side ends with an epic free lance improvisational arrangement and the first time he hinted at another song cycle album similar to Astral Weeks. If you like any Morrison you’ll really like this album. Total Score: 14.5\15

Hard Nose the Highway (1973) – The first Morrison album to really fall short, at least commercially and critically. I still love it and think it has a number of very good tracks. “Snow in San Anselmo”, “Hard Nose the Highway” and “Purple Heather”. An album of agony in many ways for a recently divorced Van. Make your own opinion, I think it’s one of his better albums overall. Total Score: 11.5\15



Veedon Fleece (1974) – A return to the song cycle album and though it draws mixed reviews it’s unquestionably a unique album in the Morrison catalogue. Some vehemently emotional songs again moving together seamlessly if it has a flaw it’s that it sort of peters out rather then finding a grandiose finale. The final album of the first era of Morrison’s music; a little off kilter but very enjoyable. Total Score: 13.5\15

A Period of Transition (1977) – Apropos titled album after a three year hiatus Morrison starts to trend towards Jazz more then ever. There are still elements of the R&B\Soul roots of course particularly in “Heavy Connection” a standout on the seven song revival. Probably not many people’s favorite Morrison albums, but a necessary one. Total Score: 11\15

Wavelength (1978) – A more electric and electronic album showing Van changing with the times rather then going it alone down the old familiar road. A collection of retrospective pop songs highlighted by loaded second side including the fantastic finale “Take it Where You Find it” one of the best Morrison closers there’s been. Total Score: 11.25\15

Into the Music (1979) – A steady start and finish sandwich a wonderful eclectic mix of songs in the middle of one of Morrison’s most critically acclaimed post-Veedon Fleece albums. Playful songs like “Rolling Hills” and dynamo’s like “And the Healing has Begun” demonstrate the variance of styles on the record. This is the album where Morrison started to have fun again, a worthwhile album for the casual fan and a gem for the ardent follower. Total Score: 12\15



Common One (1980) – The third and final album to closely follow the Astral Weeks song cycle pattern was by far the most critically disdained and a crucial point in Morrison’s career. It would take Van years to get over the scorn that hurt him so much in response to this very personal, much underrated album. Poetic and literally influences abound throughout a favorite of mine amongst Van’s 1980’s works including great songs like “Summertime in England” and “Spirit”. Total Score: 12.5\15

Beautiful Vision (1982) – A much safer and simpler album more in line with the three prior to Common One. Following the trends of the times and mixing it with some vintage Morrison soul, it’s a hit and miss compilation that’s mostly enjoyable throughout and wholly listenable even at its worst. Total Score: 11.5\15

Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (1983) – The first real stinker of an album in my opinion, there are a few good tracks but mostly stuff that I never need to hear again. Soulless covers is what it feels like, not very Van at all. Total Score: 9.5\15

A Sense of Wonder (1984) – An inconsistent album but one that again showed a lsightly more daring Morrison willing to try the new and varied styles he familiarized himself with. Some great R&B tracks and improvisational Jazz and some really boring overly ethereal garbage on this lot. Total Score: 11\15




No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986) – This one was so close to being a masterpiece, but there was a part of Morrison that was just a little too grizzled to pull it off. Still a real memorable album and vital peace of the puzzle, it’s like “Into the Music” but far enough removed that it doesn’t have to be compared to Moondance and St. Dominic’s Preview. A really great album. Total Score: 13\15

Poetic Champions Compose (1987) – The critics say it’s just a little better then it’s predecessor, I say it’s a little bit too scripted, to refined to stand up as strong. There are some fantastic songs that give you chills, but then moments that make you cringe with how predictable, polished and superfluous they can be. “Mystery” however is a near perfect track and along with a few solid counterparts the album does hold up very well. Total Score: 12\15

Irish Heartbeat (1988) – Marked the first time Morrison brought in an established outside band to record with. And while the album sold very well and was very accessible it’s an overall bland mix of traditional and Morrison originals done stereotypically Irish style, the way the Chieftains prefer it. I barely consider it a Van album. Total Score: 9.5\15

Avalon Sunset (1989) – He lays the God stuff on pretty thick here and though he’s still non-committal it seems like he’s found religion and this album is the most direct with the topic to this point. Shades of Wavelength after a nearly disastrous start turns into a strong side two finish including the fan favorite and album’s best “Orangefield” Total Score: 11.5\15

More to come...

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My Van Morrison Discography Thread