Loading ...Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl is the controversial reworking of the classic album Astral Weeks in concert in November 2008 by Van Morrison.
Morrison took a big risk.
How do you improve perfection?
Astral Weeks is a magical record that lives up to Van’s promise…
“We are goin’ to heaven. In another time. In another place.” He sings and he delivers.
So why mess with it?
He told Rolling Stone contributing editor, David Wild…
“It received no promotion, from Warner Bros.—that’s why I never got to play the songs live. I had always wanted to play the record live and fully orchestrated—that is what this is all about. I always like live recording and I like listening to live records too. I’m not too fond of being in a studio—it’s too contrived and too confining. I like the freedom of live, in-the-moment sound.”
OK. I can see his point and I totally agree with his point about live albums versus those recorded in the studio.
But what do you want from Astral Weeks played live?
A note for note impersonation of the studio album… even though Van Morrison is forty years older and more experienced?
Or do you want him to play with the Astral Weeks songs so that you can hear different sounds, interpretations and inflexions?
You need to answer that question before buying Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
If you want the studio album… stick to the studio album. You won’t like Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
Van Morrison Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl – Overall Rating 28/30
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