Van MorrisonBest Van Morrison Albums Ranked

Astral Weeks

pitchfork

10

“Two of Van Morrison's essential early albums have been given deluxe reissues, with unreleased takes and alternate versions. Astral Weeks remains a singular item in his catalog, and indeed in pop music as a whole. His Band and the Street Choir stands as something of a counter, a record all about the rough and tumble joy of living.”

Moondance (Deluxe Edition)

rollingstone

9.0

“Drawn from a fabled string of shows, Van Morrison's 1974 …It's Too Late To Stop Now… (named for the shout that caps the outrageously teased-out ending of "Cypress Avenue," his usual set closer) is rightly considered among the best live LPs ever. This companion culls from three of the 1973 shows that informed that album, with no overlap. The setlist is broader; repeat selections come from different”

Moondance

pitchfork

8.4

“Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit Van Morrison’s 1970 classic.”

Born to Sing: No Plan B

rollingstone

8.0

“"Sartre said hell is other people/I believe that most of them are," Van Morrison sings in "Goin’ Down to Monte Carlo," one of the 10 tracks on this vividly irritated, vocally compelling record. Later in the song, he rails against "phony pseudo-jazz" and frets that "After everything I’ve worked for/They’re going to throw everything away." […]”

Veedon Fleece (Bonus Track Version)

rollingstone

8.0

“By 1974, Van Morrison was probably exhausted. During the past ten years, the Irish troubadour had morphed from a garage rock king (as the leader of Them) to a pop hit machine to the craftsman of such landmark albums as Astral Weeks and Tupelo Honey. His eighth album, Veedon Fleece, hit stores in late 1974, […]”

Down the Road

rollingstone

8.0

“Van Morrison poses the question in song, midway through this fine new album: "Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby?" The answer: Proby has a Web site. A U.S.-born singer who enjoyed a flash of British fame in the mid-Sixties, Proby now tells his tale and sells his wares on the Net, holding tight to his precious […]”