Astral Weekend

 

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks [K 46024 UK 1987 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

Originally released in 1968, it took many years for Warners to reissue Morrison's acclaimed second album Astral Weeks in the UK. Possibly, their A&R team needed to wait for Van's new found popularity on Mercury Records, with some help from The Chieftains and Cliff Richard. The new European pressings were mastered by Bernd Steinwedel and nicely pressed at Record Service in Alsdorf.

I don't have Kevin Gray's more recent remaster for comparison purposes and many say that his newer version is the go-to-release, however this mid-eighties copy sounds great and German pressings from the eighties are better than those from Optimal, imho. In all essence, this is a psychedelic celtic folk album and this copy has all the rawness you would expect on a sixties original. I can hear the areas which Gray could improve with his magical all-analogue retouches, however perhaps those are all part of the charm of Astral Weeks.

Part One: In The Beginning

A1 Astral Weeks

A2 Beside You

A3 Sweet Thing

A4 Cyprus Avenue

Part Two: Afterwards

B1 Young Lovers Do

B2 Madame George

B3 Ballerina

B4 Slim Slow Slider