September 1977 (single){{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/wbs8450|title = Van Morrison - Moondance}}"},"recorded":{"wt":"August 1969"},"studio":{"wt":"[[A & R Studios]]"},"genre":{"wt":"* [[Soft rock]]\n* [[jazz rock]]"},"length":{"wt":"4:35"},"label":{"wt":"[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]"},"writer":{"wt":"[[Van Morrison]]"},"producer":{"wt":"Van Morrison and [[Lewis Merenstein]]"},"prev_title":{"wt":"Joyous Sound"},"prev_year":{"wt":"1977"},"next_title":{"wt":"[[Wavelength (song)|Wavelength]]"},"next_year":{"wt":"1978"},"tracks":{"wt":"{{Moondance tracks}}"},"misc":{"wt":"{{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|7kfYOGndVfU|\"Moondance\" (2013 Remaster)}}}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBw">1970 single by Van Morrison
"Moondance" | |
---|---|
Single by Van Morrison | |
from the album Moondance | |
B-side | "Cold Wind in August" |
Released | January 1970 (album) September 1977 (single) [1] |
Recorded | August 1969 |
Studio | A & R Studios |
Genre | |
Length | 4:35 |
Label | Warner Bros. |
Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison |
Producer(s) | Van Morrison and Lewis Merenstein |
Moondance track listing | |
10 tracks
| |
Official audio | |
"Moondance" (2013 Remaster) on YouTube |
"Moondance" is a song recorded by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison and is the title song on his third studio album Moondance (1970). It was written by Morrison, and produced by Morrison and Lewis Merenstein.
Morrison did not release the song as a single until September 1977, seven and a half years after the album was released. It debuted two months later where it reached #92, on the US Billboard Hot 100 [2] and #91 on the US Cash Box Top 100 [3] The single's B-side, "Cold Wind in August", had been released in the same year, on his latest album at the time, A Period of Transition .
"Moondance" is the song that Van Morrison plays most frequently in concert. [4]
"Moondance" was recorded at the Mastertone Studio in New York City in August 1969, with Lewis Merenstein as producer. [5]
The song is played mostly acoustic, anchored by a walking bass line (played on electric bass by John Klingberg), with accompaniment by piano, guitar, saxophones, and flute with the instruments played with a soft jazz swing. It's a song about autumn, the composer's favourite season. Towards the end of the song, Morrison imitates a saxophone. The song also features a piano solo, played by Jef Labes, which is immediately followed by an alto saxophone solo by Jack Schroer. The song ends with a trill on the flute during the cadenza that fades out. Schroer's solo is often noted as one of the most influential saxophone solos in popular music. The scale used in Schroer's "Moondance" solo is A Aeolian (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) or could simply be considered as a C major scale and is played primarily over a D minor to A minor vamp that resolves via a lowered VI (♭6 = F7) to natural V (5 = E7♯9) dominant chord.
Music journalist Erik Hage wrote that the significance of the song "lies in its direct jazz approach", expanding that observation with "Astral Weeks had suggestions of jazz, but this song would take the genre head on. It would become Van Morrison's most successful and definitive jazz composition." [6] Music critic Johnny Rogan described "Moondance" as a "celebration of nature," "expressed through a lovers' union in the night air." [7]
"Moondance" was written and developed while Morrison was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has commented, "With 'Moondance' I wrote the melody first. I played the melody on a soprano sax and I knew I had a song so I wrote lyrics to go with the melody. That's the way I wrote that one. I don't really have any words to particularly describe the song, sophisticated is probably the word I'm looking for. For me, 'Moondance' is a sophisticated song. Frank Sinatra wouldn't be out of place singing that." [8]
The guitar player in his band at that time, John Sheldon, remembers that during the summer of 1968, at a rehearsal, the band was fooling around with a Broadway tune called “Lazy Afternoon” released in 1967 in a jazz version by Grant Green. Morrison requested some changes and began singing a melody that would eventually become "Moondance." [9]
"Moondance" as originally recorded on the album Moondance is one of the songs on the compilation album, The Best of Van Morrison , released in 1990 and also on the compilation album Still on Top – The Greatest Hits , released in 2007. Several live performances have been released by Morrison on albums over the years.
A medley with "My Funny Valentine" appears on the 1994 live double album A Night in San Francisco , a live be-bop influenced version of the song is on the 1996 album How Long Has This Been Going On , and is performed with Georgie Fame at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. An edit of said version is also included on the 2007 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 . Another live version appears on the 2006 limited edition CD Live at Austin City Limits Festival . A previously unreleased live recording of "Moondance", recorded at the Greek Theatre in 1986, with a recreation of The Caledonia Soul Orchestra is included on the 2007 compilation album, Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits .
"Moondance" was one of the songs performed on Morrison's first video Van Morrison in Ireland , released in 1981, and it also was performed as a medley with "Fever" for Morrison's second video Van Morrison The Concert , released in 1990. Morrison also released a live version of "Moondance" as the 10th song performed on the 1980 disc of Morrison's DVD released in 2006, Live At Montreux 1980/1974 .
The subject of whether the melody of UB40's song Burden of Shame (from the 1980 album Signing Off ) is based on Moondance has been debated. [10] Morrison's name was, at one point, added to the list of the "many authors" of the song, but by 2010 it had vanished. [10]
The Allmusic reviewer describes "Moondance" as "one of those rare songs that manages to implant itself on the collective consciousness of popular music, passing into the hallowed territory of a standard, a classic." [11]
Biographer John Collis praised the song for being more commercially accessible for most radio stations than a lot of his earlier work. He calls "Moondance" "an important song in the development of Morrison's career, since it indicated to radio station programmers a previously unsuspected versatility. Stations that would never have considered playing, say 'Slim Slow Slider' found that the smooth, jazzy sophistication of 'Moondance' was more to their taste." [12]
"Moondance" was listed as #226 in Rolling Stone magazine's December 2004 feature "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". [13] It is also one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. [14]
In 1999 the 1970 album release of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [15]
"Moondance" is one of the moon-themed songs used in An American Werewolf in London , a comedy-horror film released in 1981. [16] It is heard during the sex scene between David Naughton (as David, the young man bitten by a werewolf) and Jenny Agutter (as Alex, his nurse and eventual girlfriend).
Source: [17]
There have been many recorded versions of the song and it is also a very popularly performed instrumental band song. "Moondance" is the opening tune on I Feel You, the 2011 album released by Herb Alpert and Lani Hall. [18] Covers by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Chris Botti were featured on the 2007 movie August Rush . [19] Michael Bublé released a cover on his self-titled album in 2003. [20] Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson covered "Moondance" on the 2002 album Meant to Be. [21] Other covers by notable musicians and entertainers include: Greg Brown, [22] Georgie Fame, [23] Kathie Lee Gifford, [24] Ute Lemper [25] and Will Martin. [26]
Moondance is the third studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 27 January 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. After the commercial failure of his first Warner Bros. album Astral Weeks (1968), Morrison moved to upstate New York with his wife and began writing songs for Moondance. There, he met the musicians that would record the album with him at New York City's A & R Studios in August and September 1969.
Astral Weeks is the second studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was recorded at Century Sound Studios in New York during September and October 1968, and released in November of the same year by Warner Bros. Records.
Tupelo Honey is the fifth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in October 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. Morrison had written all of the songs in Woodstock, New York, before his move to Marin County, California, except for "You're My Woman", which he wrote during the recording sessions. Recording began at the beginning of the second quarter of 1971 at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Morrison moved to the Columbia Studios in May 1971 to complete the album.
It's Too Late to Stop Now is a 1974 live double album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It features performances that were recorded in concerts at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, and the Rainbow in London, during Morrison's three-month tour with his eleven-piece band, the Caledonia Soul Orchestra, from May to July 1973. Frequently named as one of the best live albums ever, It's Too Late to Stop Now was recorded during what has often been said to be the singer's greatest phase as a live performer.
Too Long in Exile is the twenty-second studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The album was produced by Morrison and draws on urban blues and soul jazz sounds, including collaborations with John Lee Hooker and Georgie Fame. Released in 1993 by Polydor Records, Too Long in Exile received positive reviews from most critics and reached #4 on the UK Albums Chart. It reached #29 in the US, Van Morrison's highest ranking since 1978's Wavelength (#28) and until 1999's Back on Top (#28).
How Long Has This Been Going On is the twenty-fourth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, "with Georgie Fame and Friends", released in December 1995 in the UK. It charted at No. 1 on Top Jazz Albums.
"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, It's Too Late to Stop Now.
"Caravan" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1970 album, Moondance. It was a concert highlight for several years and was included as one of the songs on Morrison's 1974 acclaimed live album, It's Too Late to Stop Now.
"Domino" is a hit song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track of his fourth studio album, His Band and the Street Choir. This song is Morrison's personal musical tribute to New Orleans R&B singer and pianist Fats Domino.
"Tupelo Honey" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and the title song from his 1971 album, Tupelo Honey. The title derives from an expensive, mild-tasting tupelo honey produced in the southeastern United States. Released as a single in 1971, it reached number 47 on the U.S. pop chart.
"And It Stoned Me" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It is the opening track on his 1970 solo album, Moondance.
"Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" is a song written and performed by Van Morrison and featured as the opening track on his sixth studio album, Saint Dominic's Preview. It was released by Warner Bros. in July 1972 as the first of three singles from the album and charted at number sixty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Both the music and lyrics are inspired by rhythm and blues singer Jackie Wilson and his song "Reet Petite", which is directly quoted in the song.
Live at Montreux 1980/1974 is the first official DVD by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released on 16 October 2006. The films consist of two separate performances by Van Morrison at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. It was certified gold in May 2007 and platinum in June 2009.
"Sometimes We Cry" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1997 album, The Healing Game. This version features the backing vocals of Brian Kennedy and Georgie Fame.
"Brand New Day" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance.
"Come Running" is a song written by singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1970 album Moondance.
"I Will Be There" is a song featured on Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison's sixth album Saint Dominic's Preview (1972). The song is also the B-side to Morrison's single "Warm Love", released in 1973.
"I've Been Working" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison appearing on the album His Band and the Street Choir, released in 1970. The song was first an outtake from Morrison's well received album Astral Weeks of 1968. Other versions of "I've Been Working" were recorded for Morrison's next album Moondance, of which, three were released on the 2013 deluxe edition.
"Redwood Tree" is the sixth song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1972 album, Saint Dominic's Preview, released in July 1972 by Warner Bros. It was later released in October as the second of three singles from the album and charted at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Everyone" is the penultimate track on Van Morrison's 1970 album Moondance.