Van Morrison Alternative Moondance

I noticed a few posts along with mine that appear in the RSD 2018 thread in which the record is praised.

I have found this pressing so good I think it deserves a thread of its own.
Would be interested in how others hear this album.

For me a lot of praise for Chris Bellman is due, thank you so much Chris [if your reading this of course, maybe I should drop a line to the mastering studio?]

It is records like this that make me so pleased I bothered to stick with vinyl as my main playback set up and bothered to invest in the set up.

It is a joy to listen to, I don't hear my system, I don't have questions in my head like "maybe I could swap this or that out", or " I wonder what the chain is".
Simply a record, music playback as it should be.

Couldn't want for more

 

What do you mean by alternative Moondance?

 

This is a RSD LP, released yesterday, that features alternative takes of the track list and includes a take of 'I Shall Sing' in place of 'Everyone' on side 2.

 

It's mostly alternate takes from the 2013 deluxe edition on CD. The exceptions are "And It Stoned Me" and "Crazy Love" which are previously unreleased version. Haven't had a chance to listen to mine. Listening to the Sundays right now. I got too much stuff to listen to. I wasn't going to get the Alternate Moondance, then I read the Hype sticker with Bellman's name on it and changed my mind.

 

Ok I'm listening to right now. A Brand New Day is amazing. The entire LP sounds spectacular, I really like the A Brand New Day. Bellman did a great job cutting the lacquer. I Shall Sing of caught me off guard, it's a ska song with full horn section. It's good, but, Everyone fits the mood of the album better, but, I guess an alternate version of an album needs something different, I'm cool with it.

 

Crazy Love without backing vocals is an interesting listen. Allows you to hear more of the nice instrumental intricacies.

Overall, I think it's an album I'm going to listen to a lot. For artists who have quality outtakes like this in the can, I'd be happy to see more of these types of albums released.

 

I declined to pick this up as I have the box set. Hearing there are two unreleased mixes is kind of sore though, but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

 

I have to agree with that but I'll add that the album is presented so well that it is must have imo regardless of having the box set or not.

 

Art Garfunkel had a minor hit with the song a few years later.

 

It's freaking fantastic!

 

Thanks for clarifying / I was wondering if we already had these alternates or not.

 

I didn't go looking for this because I have that Moondance deluxe set he put out and thought I had all the takes already. Will have to get a copy now.

 

I just wasn't expecting as many horns. It sounds like something that would have fit in better with His Band and Street Choir.

 

I’ve listened to this album twice now and have reaffirmed my initial impression. I feel side one is interesting to hear as a kind of experiment, comparing what you know so well while listening to it from a different angle. For me, Caravan was jarring, glad Van didn’t settle with this version. Crazy Love with no backup singers was odd too, good choice to add them in.

Side 2 has more going on, I enjoyed each song on side 2 and can see myself listening to it each time I play my regular copy.

All the comments about the sound quality for this version are warranted as it does sound nice, but you owe it to yourself to seek out a Kevin Gray copy of the regular Moondance. It is on another level sonically, no need to try and describe it, just go get it!

 

I got hosed on the price for this title @34.99 but it had been a long morning and week and I wanted it so I paid for it. There was a 10 for a dollar sidewalk sale that I got a few good things to even it out. Some of the takes were not my favorite alt takes, but I can't hardly wait to listen to this album. I thought SQ would be all over the place between some tracks, but I am reading so many + things about the vinyl I am so excited to give it a listen. Very pleased to read the Crazy Love remix includes no backing vocals apparently, as does the take they used of Brand New Day.

 

I second the comment about the Kevin Gray / Steve Hoffman Moondance. I consider it to be one of the best sounding albums I own...and I own a few.

 

Very glad to have this.

A real nice companion disc to the official LP.

 

Thank you I did not know this. Was a real gem in the box set. Will be looking for Arts version

 

I have the Gray / Hoffman album. This is not about some sort of comparison though, as this is an alt take of the album.

Its not a case of analogue / digital either. When albums sound this good that becomes an irrelevent point, for me anyway.

Its refreshing to hear alt takes and the album works so well because of Bellman's work.

Anyone know the pressing plant?

 

That's the best reissue I own

 

I think the choice is whether you want these selections on vinyl or CD.

 

It's on the 'Angel Clare' album. A very good album. There was a reasonably priced SACD of this album released recently.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=garfunkel+angel+clare

 

I found a copy last Saturday, but in the end decided to pick up Fleetwood Mac's Alternate Tango In The Night (as well as the Kinks and Neil Young titles) instead. Maybe I should have picked this one up anyway.

 

Yup.

 

Though completely different albums and the Gray / Hoffman re-master of Moondance has numerous threads /comments elsewhere on the forum ..................

I did spin it again today on the now settled new set up and it is good, very good. But that's enough of that, back to the Alternative album