Van Morrison’s 2nd solo studio album was released on 1 November 1968.
The album was recorded over 3 dates in late September and early October 1968, with bassist Richard Davis leading the group of musicians, which also included guitarist Jay Berliner, drummer Connie Kay, flute/sax player John Payne, and percussionist Warren Smith Jr. Most of the musicians had strong backgrounds in jazz, playing with Eric Dolphy, Charles Mingus, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. Morrison was reportedly not a jazz fan at the time and allowed the musicians to play whatever they wanted.
Morrison’s label, Warner Bros. did not promote the album when it was released and it sold poorly. It also received negative reviews (”plagued by nonsensical lyrics and incoherent singing“ one reviewer wrote) at the time.
Astral Weeks is now considered one of the best albums of all time (ranking #4 in a 1978 poll of critics).
