Van Morrison “Moondance” 1970. Today, August 31st is Van Morrison’s 75th birthday (b. George Ivan Morrison, 1945) so I’m spinning his third solo studio LP, a huge critical and commercial success (#29 US, #32 UK). Still jazzy like his previous album Astral Weeks, Moondance is much more accessible with some pop sensibilities, r&b and folk influences (the 1968 Astral Weeks was considered a failure until relatively recently; it’s now viewed as one of the best albums ever released). Though not the typical kind of music I listen to, I really really love Moondance. “Stoned Me” is innocently folky, “Caravan” is a great groover and the singles are amazing, too. The r&b infused “Come Running” was the first single going to #39 in the US and the sweet bluesy “Crazy Love” went to #122 in the UK (it was originally the b-side to “Come Running”). The jazzy title track “Moondance” was the final single but it wasn’t released until 1977 (#92 US). My favorite track, however, by far is the smoothly beautiful “Into the Mystic” which still gives me goosebumps. Critics agree, rating “Into the Mystic” Morrison’s best song ever.