Van Morrison remasters coming soon....

Looks like the June releases will be waiting for then? I should probably just get my old Denon turntable fixed and cleanup some vinyl since I have most of the early works on LP. Veedon and Hard Nose are 2 of my favorites along with Moondance. Love the artwork on Hard Nose too! Van Has long been one of our favorites!

The night I listened to Van on my old reel to reel was like going back in time for me. My wife asked me if I still had the deck and I went snooping in the storage area....lots of music that I had not listened to in years! Anybody remember the early works of Lindisfarne? I had forgotten about them until that night.

Van does not control the masters for Moondance or Astral Weeks and maybe a couple of others. They were tied up in a long time feud with WB but they did just recently reissue Moondance on a remastered LP so maybe there is hope yet we can see one on CD but not on this almost career spanning series.

I have received two Japan Mini LP CD versions with SHM-CD (Super High Material). I can't read the explanation (in Japanese) but it is not a mastering process but a material and manufacturing process.

However, to my ears, Tupelo Honey and Into The Music, sound great and I love the Mini LP versions especially the gatefold on Tupelo Honey.

what about moondance

This is great news. I've been a fan since 1974 and have most of his CD's. But yes the earlier albums are terribly recorded such as Hard Nose the Highway, His Band and the Street Choir, St. Dominick's Preview, Moondance, A Period of Transition, Live in Belfast, Astral Weeks, etc. The At the Movies CD I believe contains some early cuts that have either been remastered already or re-recorded in the studio. Brown Eyed Girl for example sounds great with super bass, etc. Also Wild Night.

Now about Veedon Fleece. Yes, I completely agree with Musicslug. Totally unappreciated and under rated. But Van hits some of his highest notes in those songs, especially in Linden Arden Stole the Highlights. Last year I went on a serious search for this CD but to no avail. I finally downloaded it in MP3 from Yahoo Music reluctantly. But at least I have it. Then not a month later, there it was in a CD store here in NJ. Brand new copy. Never fails.

His later CD's from the 90's sound fairly good today so I would say those would be lower priority to purchase. The Healing Game sounds great for example. Thanks to Tomcy6 for the schedule. I read a book about Van's life recently and it helps me appreciate his music and poetry even more.

Last year at a local outdoor concert, I went to see and met John Platania who was performing with another group. He was Van's lead guitarist early on. I believe he also recroded with him on a recent album. You can see him in the DVD, Van Morrison Live at Montreux. Super guy. johnplatania.com.

Veedon Fleece has always struck me as one of the most underappreciated records ever - perhaps because it's fairly morose. at any rate, I own an older remaster of it: polydor 31453 7456-2 that's actually quite good. it says 'remastered by Ian Cooper and Walter Samuel at Metropolis Mastering Ltd., London' in the booklet. if the new remasters disappoint, look for this one.

The 1974 live set is fantastic in its remastered form. On heavy rotation at our house.

No Astral Weeks, or is that already released?

Hi Tomcy6. Thanks for the info. I can't believe that "Moondance and "His Band and Street Choir" aren't listed.

Remasters that were released this past January are waaaaaaaaay better than the originals. Regardless of the quality of my source (and I have had many great ones) his closely miked vocals have made the original discs almost unlistenable. The remasters correct this and make them a joy to listen to. June is only two months away, can't wait.

why the remasters? way for the record company to get more money? I'll wait to here if any members say the remaster is "better" than the origial...I have a big cd collection of Van's stuff.
Larry

How Long Has This Been Going On (Live At Ronnie Scott's) (1995)

I particularly like this one but I use the same speakers as Ronnie Scott's club so that might be the icing on the cake that does it..."I will be there"

Here is a schedule of release dates that I found. Looks like Veedon Fleece is scheduled for June.

January 2008 (7 titles)
Tupelo Honey (1971), It's Too Late To Stop Now (2 CD Live Set) (1974), Wavelenght (1978), Into The Music (1979), A Sense Of Wonder (1985), Avalon Sunset (1989) and Back On Top (1999)

June 2008 (8 titles)
Veedon Fleece (1974), Common One (1980), Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (1983), Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast (1984), No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), Enlightenment (1990), A Night In San Francisco (2CD Live Set) (1994) and The Healing Game (1997)

September 2008 (7 titles)
Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), A Period Of Transition (1977), Beautiful Vision (1982), Poetic Champions Compose (1987), Hymns To The Silence (2CD Studio Set) (1991), How Long Has This Been Going On (Live At Ronnie Scott's) (1995), Tell Me Something - The Songs Of Mose Allison (1996)

January 2009 (8 titles)
Hard Nose The Highway (1973), Irish Heartbeat (with The Chieftains) (1988), Too Long In Exile (1993), Days Like This (1995), The Story Of Them (2CD Set) (1999), The Skiffle Sessions - Live In Belfast (with Lonnie Donegan & Chris Barber) (2000), Down The Road (2002) and What's Wrong With This Picture? (2003)

CDJAPAN is releasing a few of his titles on the SHM series in June. Link is below:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=422025

many are out now....veedon fleece is a remastered uk import