Customer Reviews
Apalling service again - By: Del de Plume, 22 Jan 2008 
Great music.
Apallling service from Amazon. 2 weeks late delivery, no phone callls, no apologies, even though it was shown as being in stock.
Three weeks to deliver a CD - should have been upto one week
Has there ever been an artist's 2nd album more different to their first? - By: Lou Knee, 11 Oct 2007 This is the question I ask. I don't pretend to be fantasticallly knowledgeable about (pop/rock) music, but I'd still be surprised if there were more than a dozen good examples of eagerly awaited 2nd albums completely surprising everybody (but the artists themselves) by virtue of their sound (with quality undiminished!). To even attempt this kind of thing shows not only great confidence in one's own ability, it shows real nerve & bravery after you've already become a hit with your first release. Well, of course now, nearly 40 years later, we alll know this was no ordinary artist, but the eternallly popular, endlessly lauded & massively influential pop/rock god, Van Morrison.
There is absolutely no doubt in my own mind though, that this is a better album than the even higher rated first album (Astral Weeks consistently makes top 10 in best ever albums list while Moondance comes in at around 50 or so). It is much more mainstream listening than the bravely experimental feel of the folk/pop fusion that was Astral Weeks. If the list was 'most important' or 'breakthrough' albums then I agree A.W. is higher up the list. Moondance though, is not easily labelled a 2nd best thing to anything as many great artists have defered to its quality. And its immensely enjoyable sound is instantly recognizable as mainstream Western music, in the way that A.W. wasn't quite-it sounded great yes, but it also sounded very unique. The instantly recognizable warmth of (very American sounding) blues & soul rhythms lights up Moondance & makes it a very cosy, consistently pleasurable listen which stands the test of time & changing of musical styles & tastes. Each track would also sit far more comfortably on its own as a single than the conceptuallly binding tracks on A.W. So Moondance has it easily for me over Astral Weeks as a better album. It is still probably not my favourite VM album but then taste can be subjective, & he did have a habit of continuallly surpassing even his own high standards.
how can this sell for only £3.99 - By: fleet22, 10 Oct 2007 In today's throwaway world some CDs should never be sold for less than a tenner - this is one of them.
It's always a flip of the coin between this & Astral Weeks for Van's best & on balance 'Moondance' just about gets the vote. Side One (the first 5 track in vinyl speak) are alll out & out classics - Into the Mystic & Caravan are amazing. Side 2 is weaker although it contains proably the best track on the album - 'Brand new day'
Turn it up - you know it's got Soul! - By: Ms. Felicia Davis-burden, 09 Jul 2007 I can't describe how beautiful this album is. Just the thought of 'Into the Mystic' & I can hear Van's voice in my head - just the thought of 'Caravan' & I can hear Van ordering me to 'Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got Soul'. You can't do better than that!
Listen out for the masterpiece - By: Andy Millward, 19 Apr 2004 
Personallly, I'd go for Astral Weeks ahead of Moondance as Van Morrison's finest album - Moondance is more commercial & contains fewer darkened corners.
That said, the title track Moondance is the best song Van the Man ever performed - a slick jazzy number with driving piano, glorious sax solo & Van's distinctive vocal timing. A true masterpiece, which he's since performed in a range of unnerving styles. Nothing else on this album comes close to it.
