Album of the Day

Van Morrison first found fame as the frontman of British Invasion group Them, and solo hit “Brown Eyed Girl” promised even better things to come. But contract disputes sent the Irish vocalist back to square one; while performing in Boston-area clubs, he came up with the acoustic-based approach that would lead to ASTRAL WEEKS. The 1968 collection, Morrison's debut for Warner Bros., was a gorgeous song-cycle framing the singer's bluesy incantations with sympathetic accompaniment from top jazz and classical players. Though it took a while to catch on, ASTRAL WEEKS was eventually certified Gold, and its ever-growing reputation among critics and fellow musicians ensures that the one-of-a-kind set remains near the top of innumerable lists of all-time great albums.