"…Let Your Soul And Spirit Fly…Into The Mystic…"
First
things first – the reissued album "Moondance" is presented in ‘two’
versions. The other is a DELUXE EDITION 4CD/1BLU RAY set in a book that has
received derision for its packaging faults. This review is for the October 2013
'EXPANDED EDITION' 2CD version in a three-way foldout card digipak on Warner
Brothers R2 536561 (Barcode 081227963842).
I love the way this reissue looks, feels and sounds. Here are the
fantabulous details…
1.
And It Stoned Me
2.
Moondance
3.
Crazy Love
4.
Caravan
5.
Into The Mystic
6.
Come Running [Side 2]
7.
These Dreams Of You
8.
Brand New Day
9.
Everyone
10.
Glad Tidings
Disc
1 has the 10-track album in 2013 remastered form (38:56 minutes). The original
self-produced vinyl LP "Moondance" was released March 1970 on Warner
Brothers WS 1835 in the USA and UK.
1.
Caravan (Take 4)
2.
Nobody Knows You When You’re Done And Out (Outtake)
3.
Into The Mystic (Take 11)
4.
Brand New Day (Take 3)
5.
Glad Tidings (Alternate Version)
6.
Come Running (Take 2)
7.
Crazy Love (Mono Mix)
8.
These Dreams Of You (Alternate Version)
9.
Moondance (Take 22)
10.
I Shall Sing (Take 7)
11.
I’ve Been Working (Early Version, Take 5)
Disc
2 (52:12 minutes) is an 11-track Bonus CD with Sessions, Alternates &
Outtakes. The three-way card digipak houses CD1 in the left flap with pictures
of the master tape boxes beneath – the 24-page sepia-effect booklet sits in a
centred lip pouch with a photo of Van out walking amongst Autumn trees and Disc
2 is on the right – again with tapes boxes beneath the see-through tray. The
booklet also features Janet Planet’s original notes, a new essay by Alan Light,
photo outtakes from the cover session and notes on the recording and master
tapes. But then you get to the real meat
and potatoes – the huge overhaul in sound...
The
original tape engineer ELLIOT SCHEINER has been recalled for the remaster and
he gives 3 pages of warm and detailed explanation. The album was recorded in
Mono in two gulps - September and November 1969 - and then mastered into Stereo
on the latest equipment of the day - an 8-track. There is faintly detectable
hiss on some of the songs inherent to the original tapes - but the clarity on
his vocals and the individual instruments is now truly fantastic – warm, sweet
and allowed to breath. I don’t detect any compression here - nor is it over
trebled for effect – it’s just beautifully handled and allowed to simply be.
While
"And It Stoned Me" is a good sonic opener – the remaster really kicks
in with "Moondance" and "Crazy Love" where John Kleinberg’s
bass and Jeff Labes’ Piano are suddenly alive - while the fabulous threesome of
backing singers Emily Houston, Judy Clay and Jackie Verdell add so much Soul to
these renditions. Then you're hit with "Caravan" and everyone's Soul
igniter – "Into The Mystic". And wow is the only appropriate
response. Like so many fans I've waited too long to hear these joyous songs
sound this good. And when he launches into that abandoned vocal during
"Into The Mystic" ("…I Wanna Rock Your Gypsy Soul…Just Like Way
Back In The Days Of Old…") – I'm blubbing like a teenager confronted by
Ryan Gosling….
I
hadn't expected the bonus to be so brilliant. It hits you on many fronts - the
intimacy - sound engineers talking in the takes - classics in beautiful
full-studio sound quality. Take 3 of "Brand New Day" is shockingly
gorgeous and he may have lost something in the final translation. As if to
reinforce that Take 2 of "Come Running" is even better – the band and
song fresh – a truly lovely outtake (I'll re-play this cut more than the album
version). Even the finger-clicked in "Crazy Love" which is Mono is
lovely (possibly the mix used for the 7" single B-side to "Come
Running"). The only one that sounds slightly off is the out-of-whack piano
and vocal to Take 22 of "Moondance" – a jazz-based rock track he
seemed to struggle with feel-wise.
Listening
to Take 11 of "Into The Mystic" is as spine-tingling as the finished
track and while the Jimmie Cox cover version "Nobody Knows You When You’re
Down And Out" is a bit of a let down – the new song "I Shall
Sing" is properly fabulous stuff and only hammers home the huge
contribution the horn section of Jack Schroer (Alto and Tenor Sax) and Collin
Tilton (Trombone and Flute) made to the album. In fact it sounds like The
Mavericks only 30 years before their time. The last entry is a genuinely
unexpected high - the band fully rocking it out on Take 5 of "I've Been
Working" which goes a little Beefheart in its quirky guitar parts. Its
ten-plus minutes is cooking ("I've been working for Jesse James…") and
ends Disc 2 with a feeling that you’ve been treated to something very special
indeed. In fact in some respects I prefer the single disc of alternate versions
and outtakes rather than the overload of the 5-disc version that for me
actually spoils the magic of the original album.
In
truth Van Morrison fans have been waiting more than 40 years to hear one of
their favourite albums sound this good and finally be presented with a degree
of packaging dignity its always deserved at least in the 2-disc version). The
only real mystery is why it wasn’t combined with a series of releases – one of
which would be the masterpiece that preceded it – "Astral Weeks"? But
that's another man's licensing headache.
"Switch
on your electric light" Van sings on "Caravan". Well after all
this time - "Moondance" is burning brighter than ever. Don't hesitate
- buy this beautiful reissue...
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