Van Morrison’s ‘Moondance ‘ Began in the Hudson Valley

This Sunday on the WPDH Album of the Week, we'll feature an album that began right here in the Hudson Valley, Van Morrison's Moondance.

Moondance is the third studio album from Van Morrison and was released on January 27, 1970, by Warner Brothers Records. The album was recorded between August and September of 1969 at A&R Studio in New York City. Van Morrison is credit as producing the album.

Following the failure of his first Warner Bros. record, Astral Weeks, Morrison moved to upstate New York. That's right, he ended up right here in the Hudson Valley in Woodstock. He moved there with his wife. It was while he was in Woodstock, that he started writing songs for Moondance. The musicians that went on to record Moondance with Morrison were recruited from Woodstock and went on to work with Morrison for years. The musicians include John Platania, saxophonist Jack Schroer, and keyboardist Jef Labes.

The tracklisting for Moondance:

Side One:

1. And It Stoned Me
2. Moondance
3. Crazy Love
4. Caravan
5. Into the Mystic

Side Two:

1. Come Running
2. These Dreams of You
3. Brand New Day
4. Everyone
5. Glad Tidings

The album received immediate acclaim from critics upon its release. The album made Morrison a radio mainstay. While the record never topped the charts, it did continuously sell for the next 40 years of its release. In 1996, Moondance was certified triple platinum by RIAA in the United States.

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