Van Morrison

Moondance

First released1970

Moondance was recorded at Warner Bros. Records studios in Burbank, California between 1969 and 1970, following Van Morrison's previous album Astral Weeks. The album was produced by Van Morrison himself along with engineer Ted Templeman, who would become known for his work with The Doobie Brothers and other major acts. Morrison worked with a skilled session musician ensemble including guitarist Bert Jansch and saxophonist Jack Schroer, creating lush orchestral arrangements that contrasted with the more sparse instrumentation of Astral Weeks. The recording process emphasized live musicianship and ensemble playing rather than heavy overdubbing, contributing to the album's warm, organic sound. Released in February 1970, Moondance marked a commercial breakthrough for Morrison and became one of his most enduring and critically acclaimed works.