Moondance (Van Morrison song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Moondance” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Van Morrison from the album Moondance |
|||||
| A-side | "Moondance" | ||||
| B-side | "Cold Wind in August" | ||||
| Released | 1970 Album, 1977 single | ||||
| Recorded | A & R Studios, 1969 | ||||
| Genre | Jazz-Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:35 | ||||
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Van Morrison | ||||
| Producer | Van Morrison and Lewis Merenstein | ||||
| Van Morrison singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
| Moondance track listing | |||||
|
|||||
"Moondance" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the title song on his 1970 album Moondance. It was not released as a single until 1977.
The song is played mostly acoustic, anchored by electric bass, with accompaniment by piano, guitar, saxophone, and flute with the instruments played with a soft jazz swing. It's a song about autumn, the composer's favorite season. Towards the end of the song, Morrison imitates a saxophone and in the lyrics makes up a new word — fantabulous.
"Moondance" was listed as #226 on the Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 feature, The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1]and is also one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was listed as No. 19 on the All Time 885 Greatest Songs compiled in 2004 by WXPN from listener's votes.[2]
"Moondance" is the most frequently played song by Morrison in concert, as it is the only song known to have been played over 1,000 times.[3]
[edit] Morrison on the writing of the song
With "Moondance" I wrote the melody first. I played the melody on a soprano sax and I knew I had a song so I wrote lyrics to go with the melody. That's the way I wrote that one. I don't really have any words to particularly describe the song, sophisticated is probably the word I'm looking for. For me, "Moondance" is a sophisticated song. Frank Sinatra wouldn't be out of place singing that.[4]
[edit] In the media
"Moondance" is one of the moon-themed songs used in An American Werewolf in London, a comedy-horror film released in 1981.
This song is featured in the 2007 movie, August Rush as performed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers with Robin Williams playing harmonica and also features an instrumental version by Chris Botti.[5]
[edit] Appearance on other albums, videos and DVDs
- "Moondance" is one of the songs performed in 1979, on Morrison's first video Van Morrison in Ireland, released in 1981.
- "Moondance" was performed in a medley with Fever in 1989, for Morrison's second video Van Morrison The Concert, released in 1990.
- As originally recorded on the album Moondance, it is one of the songs on the 1990 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison.
- A medley with My Funny Valentine appears on the 1994 live album A Night in San Francisco.
- A be-bop influenced version is on the 1996 album How Long Has This Been Going On.
- It appears on the 2006 limited edition cd Live at Austin City Limits Festival.
- "Moondance" is the 10th song performed on the 1980 disc of Morrison's DVD released in 2006, Live At Montreux 1980/1974.
- A previously unreleased version of it, recorded at the Greek Theater in 1986, appears on the 2007 compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits.
- A live version performed at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with Georgie Fame is also included on the 2007 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3.
- A 1986 live recording of "Moondance", with a recreation of The Caledonia Soul Orchestra is included on the 2007 compilation album, Still on Top - The Greatest Hits.
[edit] Personnel on original release
- Van Morrison - vocals, guitar
- John Klingberg - bass guitar
- Jeff Labes - piano
- Gary Mallaber - drums
- John Platania - guitar
- Jack Schroer - alto saxophone
- Collin Tilton - tenor saxophone, flute
[edit] Covers
There have been many recorded versions of the song and it is also a very popularly performed instrumental band song. The most recent and also best known cover of the song was from Michael Bublé's self-titled album in 2003.
Van Morrison on cover versions of the song:[6]
Quite a number of people have recorded "Moondance". There are some great versions including Bobby McFerrin's. I also like a version of "Moondance" that was done by Grady Tate years ago.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Rolling Stone Magazine online.
- ^ All-Time 885 Greatest Songs
- ^ "concerts". van.vanomatic.de. Retrieved on 2008-09-01.
- ^ Hinton, Celtic Crossroads,106-107
- ^ Robin Williams-Fascinating Fact 4357
- ^ Jazziz April 2004
[edit] References
- Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074169X
[edit] External links
- Allmusic Moondance Review
- Lyrics and audio samplesMoondance 1970s
- Video: Moondance, 1979 Film, Van Morrison in Ireland
