| January 7th, 2006 10:53 PM |
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| RollingstonesUSA |
What studio album should I buy first.... |
| January 7th, 2006 10:59 PM |
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| Gazza |
The first two you should buy are two of his earliest ones :
Moondance
Astral Weeks
(not least because many of the place names mentioned are in my neighbourhood)
Veedon Fleece and St Dominics Preview are also worth getting
Of the later ones (ie, 1980's onwards), I like
Beautiful Vision
The Healing Game
A Sense of Wonder
Enlightenment
Its a hard call. Van doesnt tend to make many shit albums. Most are solid enough.
Some of the live records are great too. Every music fan should own "Its Too Late To Stop Now" which was recorded in 1973.
[Edited by Gazza] |
| January 8th, 2006 03:07 AM |
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| Prodigal Son |
Yeah, I'd say Astral Weeks and Moondance are essential. If you only want great music from that point on, I suggest with my personal grade attached:
His Band and Street Choir-A
Any collection of his 60s group Them
Tupelo Honey-A-
St. Dominic's Preview-A
It's Too Late to Stop Now (Live)-A
Veedon Fleece-A-
Into the Music-A
Avalon Sunset-A-
Too Long in Exile-A-, my personal wild card fave which no one mentions. Awesome blues, some jazzier pop, two great duets with John Lee Hooker and the odd spiritual soul Van specializes in.
From there, if you're really digging Van, then most everything is quite good to own:
Blowin' Your Mind-B
Wavelength-B+
Beautiful Vision-B+
Poetic Champions Compose-A-
Enlightenment-B+
Hymns to the Silence-B+
A Night in San Fransisco (Live)-B+
The Healing Game-B+
Back on Top-B+
Down the Road-B+
What's Wrong with This Picture?-B
Magic Time-B
Some others from his 90s, 00s period I don't have but have heard enough from to judge. I know that approach these with caution as they range from average to mediocre or are experimental compared to Van's other work. Though some can be enjoyed if it fits your acquired taste and I also give my own grade:
Hard Nose the Highway-B-
A Period of Transition-B
Common One-B
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (good mood music except 3 out of its 4 instrumentals are new age junk)-B-
A Sense of Wonder-B-
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher-B+
Irish Heartbeat (w/the Chieftains, it's basically traditional Celtic folk music stuff)-B-
Days Like This-B-
How Long Has This Been Going on (good if you can tolerate jazz)-
A-
The Philosopher's Stone-B
You Win Again (w/Linda Gail Lewis)-B
The Skiffle Sessions (w/Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber)-B
The best of Van, Vol. 1 and 2 are ok, but you need the essential discs to know the true greatness of Van, the Celtic/British version of dylan, IMO.
[Edited by Prodigal Son] |
| January 8th, 2006 04:01 PM |
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| texile |
tupelo honey
his band and street choir
moodance
those are my personal favorites but van can do no wrong -
caravan is one of the most beautiful songs ever.....
i also loved wavelength.
i used to think loving van was something unique - and than i realized how popular he was with alot of mainstream new agers, yuppies etc...
he still immaculate though... |
| January 8th, 2006 07:53 PM |
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| RollingstonesUSA |
quote:
Gazza wrote:
The first two you should buy are two of his earliest ones :
Moondance
Astral Weeks
(not least because many of the place names mentioned are in my neighbourhood)
Veedon Fleece and St Dominics Preview are also worth getting
Of the later ones (ie, 1980's onwards), I like
Beautiful Vision
The Healing Game
A Sense of Wonder
Enlightenment
Its a hard call. Van doesnt tend to make many shit albums. Most are solid enough.
Some of the live records are great too. Every music fan should own "Its Too Late To Stop Now" which was recorded in 1973.
[Edited by Gazza]
I got Moondance yesterday, all I can say is WOW, everyone thanks for all the advice, keep rockin' |
| January 8th, 2006 09:48 PM |
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| The Wick |
I was just listening to Into the Music today. It is a truly beautiful album and opens up with two of his greatest songs: Bright Side of the Street and Full Force Gale. The rest is great but let it grow on you. Just a stunning album. |
| January 9th, 2006 02:16 AM |
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| Prodigal Son |
Yeah, Into the Music is the most passionate, spiritual album he ever made and therefore is one of the best of its type. That's what born-again Christian music should sound like, but outside of "I Believe in You," "Precious Angel," "What Can I Do for You?" "Every Grain of Sand," "Ye Shall Be Changed" and "Lord Protect My Child," Dylan had it all wrong. Van is great. The segueing last 2 tracks "It's All in the Game/You Know What They're Writing About" is possibly one of the greatest meditative rock songs ever! Gorgeous music. |
| January 9th, 2006 04:52 AM |
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| Gazza |
"Into The Music" is a very good album indeed. I overlooked that one
Van's had more religions that most people have had hot dinners. He was raised as a Jehovah's Witness but around the time that album came out he was into Scientology for a while
[Edited by Gazza] |
| January 9th, 2006 10:12 AM |
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| glencar |
Which one has Tore Down A La Rimbaud? I love that song but I don't think the rest of the album is all that good. |
| January 9th, 2006 10:13 AM |
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| glencar |
Levermind - it's right here! A Sense of Wonder. |
| January 9th, 2006 10:44 AM |
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| blackandblue |
Just buy Common One. Don't buy one of the last seven or eight albums because they are all slices of the same saucage. In fact all his eighties albums are excellent. |
