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Astral Weeks


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Van Morrison
Astral Weeks

Warner Bros.
1768-2

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In The Beginning


1. Astral Weeks (7:06)

2. Beside You (5:10)

3. Sweet Thing (4:10)

4. Cyprus Avenue (6:50)

Afterwards

5. The Way Young Lovers Do (3:10)

6. Madame George (9:25)

7. Ballerina (7:04)

8. Slim Slow Slider (3:20)
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Produced by Lewis Merenstein
for Inherit Productions
Division of Schwaid-Merenstein

All selections written by Van Morrison
All selections published by Van-Jan Music (BMI), except “Beside You” and “Madame George” published by Web IV Music (BMI)

Arranged and Conducted by Larry Fallon
CDD Pre-Mastering by WCI Record Group

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Musicians include:

Van Morrison: Vocals, Guitar
Jay Berliner: Guitar
Richard Davis: Bass
Connie Kay: Drums
John Payne: Flute, Soprano Saxophone
Warren Smith, Jr.: Percussion and Vibraphone

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Notes:

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Van Morrison was steeped in the sounds of American blues and R&B from his youth. By age 11 he had mastered guitar, saxophone and harmonica and was performing with skiffle bands in local dance halls.

In 1960 he joined the Monarchs and toured U.S. air bases in Germany. Returning to Belfast, he formed Them, one of the great British rock bands of the period. The group scored with such early hits as “Don’t Start Crying Now,” “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “Here Comes The Night,” a Morrison original and the group’s first Transatlantic hit. “Gloria,” also penned by Morrison, has gone on to become a rock & roll classic.

After Them disbanded, Morrison embarked on a solo career. He hit the Top 10 in 1967 with “Brown Eyed Girl.” He signed to Warner Bros. Records the following year and release Astral Weeks in November of 1968.

Cut in New York City in less than two day, Astral Weeks is one of the innovative and influential albums of the era. Without any obvious hit singles, Astral Weeks nevertheless features some of Morrison’s most enduring work, including “Cyprus Avenue,” “The Way Young Lovers Do” and the poignant story-in-song “Madame George.”

Cover Photo: Joel Brodsky
Art Director: Ed Thrasher

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I saw you coming from the Cape, way from Hyannis Port all the way,
When I got back it was like a dream come true
I saw you coming from Cambridgeport with my poetry and jazz,
Knew you had the blues, saw you coming from across the river,
Told you on the banks of the river, carried you across,
Loved you there and then, and now like a sheep,
I close my eyes and sleep for love comes flowing streams of consciousness
Soft like snow, to and fro,
Let us go there together, darlin’, way from the river to here and now
And carry it with a smile, bumper to bumper
Stepping lightly, just like a ballerina.

Van Morrison

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