Van Morrison – Now Playing (Rhino)

Rhino Records is ushering in the Sounds of the Summer, 24 classic titles back on vinyl in limited edition sea-blue color.  They’re also continuing the Now Playing series, mining the vast Warner Music catalog for new compilations.  These titles are available exclusively at brick and mortar stores, in limited quantities.  We’re spotlighting a different LP every day.

While there have been several Van Morrison “best of’s,” this new Now Playing collection concentrates on the Irishman’s best three LP’s: Astral Weeks (3 tracks), Moondance (4), and His Band and the Street Choir (3), picking the highlights of each album.  

Opening with the hypnotic “Sweet Thing,”  moving to the baroque “Cypress Avenue,” then the tense waltz of “The Way Young Lovers Do” (love the horns here), the LP grabs many of the high points of Morrison’s breakout, Astral Weeks.  Side one ends with two fantastic numbers from Moondance, the gliding, timeless “Into the Mystic,” and the sultry “Crazy Love.”  

Side two continues mining Moondance, with the ode to radio, “Caravan,” and his signature, “Moondance,” which still sounds superb, over 50 years later.  Side two is rounded out by three tracks from His Band and Street Choir, including “Domino,” one of Morrison’s best rockers, the gospel-tinged “Call Me Up in Dreamland,” and the bluesy “Blue Money.”

Van Morrison has always loved using natural instruments: acoustic guitars, piano, and horns, which all sound fabulous in the vinyl format.

While there are better, all-encompassing anthologies of his work, Now Playing spotlights the peak of Van Morrison’s powers.  —Tony Peters