On December 1, 2018, the Cambridge Arts Council and Cambridge Public Library sponsored the Astral Weeks 50th Anniversary Celebration. Walsh revealed his amazing story in his 2015 article in Boston Magazine and expanded on it in his acclaimed 2018 book, Astral Weeks – A Secret History of 1968. The album was recorded in September and October 1968 and released on November 29, 1968. With Janet and his bandmates, Van also refined and finalized the songs of Astral Weeks. Living in a cramped, rundown apartment on Green Street, Van assembled and began performing with a small band in the most improbable way. In early 1968, Van Morrison and his wife Janet fled from New York City to Cambridge, Massachusetts to escape threats by new management at his inaugural record label. Its unique blend of jazz and folk has been captivating fellow musicians (Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello, among others) and fans ever since its release. Glen Hansard, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and even Martin Scorsese have all been greatly influenced by ‘Astral Weeks.’ It’s a record you might not get on the first spin, but give it time and close attention and its brilliance will be revealed.Van Morrison’s 1968 record album, Astral Weeks, is regarded as one of the greatest musical creations of its time. Over time it has come to be revered as a classic one of the greats. ‘Sweet Thing’ is probably the close you’ll get to a single from these selection of songs, alas there were no singles received, in fact Warner Brothers didn’t give it any promotion and was not a success on release. The showcased his true mark as a songwriter. The record only features 8 songs but each is special and unique to what he had released before. He also references Lead Belly, whom he carried a poster of wherever he went and hung it up on the wall. Opening with the title track, he sings "If I ventured in the slipstream, between the viaducts of your dream/ Where immobile steel rims crack, and the ditch in the back roads stop." Just sublime wordsmith. Morrison set to work on recording a Folk Rock masterpiece, a stream of consciousness record with music a mix between Folk, Blues, Jazz and even Classical music. Warner Brothers, who subsequently signed Morrison helped him out of that deal (that’s a story on its own). Following the death, Morrison was blocked from recording. Bert Berns wanted Morrison to head to a more pop orientated sound, but Morrison wanted to explore new terrain. His widow blamed Morrison as the two had been arguing over the direction of his new music. The found of Bang Records, the label he was signed to had unexpectedly died. For a start, there’s nothing on it like ‘Brown Eyed Girl,’ and that’s what the world was expecting. Van Morrison’s second album is quote unlike his first.
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