Moondance

Van’s follow up to Astral Weeks, released in March 1970, couldn’t have provided greater contrast in terms of tone and sound. In was a loose, freewheeling, joyful, soul-inspired noise. The songs brimming with melody, the spread of sounds mesmerising – from the Band-like Hiberno-American folk of ‘And It Stoned Me’ and the dizzying ‘Into the Mystic’ to the jazz romance of the title tune, the soft blue-eyed soul of ‘Crazy Love’ and the vaulting vocal on ‘Caravan’ (which would damn near steal the show from Dylan at The Last Waltz). Here Morrison managed to mate pop savvy with substance and depth, and scored his first Top 30 album.

No 11 in 2009, as voted for by over 200 Irish musicians. Up from No 13 in 2004.