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Legendary Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison produced two of pop music's most famous albums, “Astral Weeks” and “Moondance”. But this gem is often overlooked due to its proximity to the other two heavyweights. “His Band And The Street Choir” was recorded primarily in the first half of 1970 at A&R Recording Studios in New York City, with the recordings being completed in July and August. Produced by Morrison himself, the album was originally conceived in Woodstock, New York, where he recorded some demos in a small church. However, recording for the album began in NYC in March. Some of the songs had actually been recorded first for the two aforementioned albums, but Morrison decided to rewrite and rearrange them for the new LP, as the musical sensibility on His Band and the Street Choir was significantly different from the previous albums. The album reached number 32 on the Billboard 200 and number 18 on the UK Album Charts. Its success was largely due to the US top ten single “Domino,” which was released before the album and surpassed Morrison's 1967 hit “Brown Eyed Girl.” As of 2019, “Domino” is the most successful single from Morrison's solo career. Two other singles were released from the album – “Blue Money” and “Call Me Up In Dreamland” – which made it into the Billboard Hot 100.
As Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote on Pitchfork, "The album conveys an illusion of breezy immediacy, thanks in no small part to its strong R&B influence. While Moondance was devoted to jazz – even its liveliest moment was named after a Duke Ellington song – “His Band And The Street Choir” drew on soul and gospel, using folk almost exclusively as an accent. “ ”His Band And The Street Choir“ shows Van Morrison at his most cheerful and spontaneous – a bright counterpoint to the introspection of ”Moondance." This is the sound of a great artist being spontaneous, getting carried away by the groove of the moment, and whose energy practically bursts from the grooves of the album.
As part of its “Acoustic Sounds 40 Series,” Analogue Productions is now celebrating this classic album with a collectible double LP: pressed on 180-gram vinyl by industry leader Quality Record Pressings (QRP), cut at 45 RPM and housed in a luxurious tip-on gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing. The elaborate and loving remastering from the original tapes ensures that this new edition offers sound quality that has never been heard before!
LP 1Side A 1. Domino 2. Crazy Face 3. Give Me A Kiss
Side B 1. I've Been Working 2. Call Me Up In Dreamland 3. I'll Be Your Lover, Too
LP 2Side C 1. Blue Money 2. Virgo Clowns 3. Gypsy Queen
Side D 1. Sweet Jannie 2. If I Ever Needed Someone 3. Street Choir