Astral Weeks Live
At The Hollywood Bowl
Van Morrison
Hardly a hit when it was released in 1968, Van Morrison’s Astral
Weeks is considered a classic in the world of popular music and a shining
light in a rather shining career of the Irish singer. Forty years after its
release, Morrison decided to play the album in its entirety in a series of concerts,
two performances of which were at the Hollywood Bowl. These shows were recorded
and have been released as Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl.
With no tweaking or overdubs, you get to hear these performances pretty much
as they happened. Opening with a heavy acoustic guitar flourishes from original
Astral Weeks guitarist Jay Berliner; we’re into a bubbling
“I Believe I’ve Transcended” with Morrison’s voice sounding
as good as it did 40 years ago. “Besides You” is next, with the
singer really showing off his pipes and again Berliner playing off the vocals
with his quick flourishes. Richie Buckley’s flute work is smooth and subtle,
floating behind Morrison and Berliner perfectly. By the time we arrive at “Slim
Slow Slide/I Start Breaking Down,” the band is in full stride, stretching
the arrangement for all it’s worth.
“Sweet Thing” is basically a showcase for Van’s unique mumble
and harmonica playing, which gives him the perfect opportunity to do more mumbling
and moaning. “The Way Young Lovers Do” grooves along nicely, with
some lilting strings ably supported by Bobby Ruggiero’s drumming and Paul
Moran’s trumpet. Things get masterfully rich on “Cyprus Avenue/You
Came Walking Down,” where Morrison and the band mesh, finding that space
in sound where they become one.
“Ballerina,” at over nine minutes, is about as good as gets. This
is where Morrison seems to be having a good time, growling the lyrics and pushing
the band. The singer was recently asked about these performances and he replied:
“The Hollywood Bowl concerts gave me a welcome opportunity to perform
these songs the way I originally intended them to be…I had always wanted
to play the record live and fully orchestrated — that is what this is
all about.” On “Ballerina,” he invites the opportunity, taking
all the best elements of the original recording and expanding them fully. If
you ever had any doubt as to why Van Morrison is The Man, listen to this track.
“Madame George” is basically supported by Morrison’s odd
rhythm guitar playing and scatting, winding down the Astral Weeks
portion of the show. “Listen To The Lion/The Lion Speaks,” most
of which is from 1972’s Saint Dominic's Preview, has
the singer out in front of a full orchestra, while “Common One”
is pure fun and a great ending. It’s can be dangerous to revisit one’s
past, so much more so if that past features something as phenomenal as Astral
Weeks. But Van Morrison has pulled off what might be the most amazing
live recording of his career — Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood
Bowl is definitely one for the books.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
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