Van Morrison is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter born George Ivan Morrison in Belfast in 1945, who fronted Them (of Gloria fame) before a legendary solo career. Astral Weeks (1968) and Moondance (1970) are the pillars — one impressionistic and mystical, the other warm and effortless. Shop Van Morrison vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Van Morrison (George Ivan Morrison) was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1945. He first found fame as the leader of the R&B band Them in the mid-1960s before embarking on a hugely influential solo career. Across more than five decades, he has been one of the most prolific and respected figures in popular music, blending an eclectic mix of styles into a singular, soulful body of work.
Morrison's music draws on soul, R&B, jazz, blues, folk, gospel, and Celtic traditions, anchored by his distinctive, improvisatory vocal style and stream-of-consciousness lyricism. Astral Weeks, an impressionistic song cycle, and the warmer, more accessible Moondance are frequently cited among the most influential albums in popular music.
Astral Weeks and Moondance have been reissued in expanded and audiophile editions, and Morrison's vast catalog spans numerous labels and pressings. Original Warner Bros. pressings of his classic-era albums are highly collected.
Listeners new to Van Morrison often start with Moondance (1970) or Astral Weeks (1968). For related listening, see and .
