Van Morrison Albums Match-Up Trivia Quiz

Answer: Moondance

Van Morrison's third studio album, "Moondance" was released in January of 1970 in the U.K. and in February in the United States. Lester Bangs of "Rolling Stone" magazine said it demonstrated "musical invention and lyrical confidence," and Jon Landau of the same magazine wrote that the singer's vocals were so perfect that he "wished there was more room to breathe." The album remains one of Van Morrison's most popular and features one of his most beloved songs, the title track "Moondance," which hit Number 92 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

"Into the Mystic" is an ethereal-feeling spiritual song that "Rolling Stone" magazine described as "the heart of 'Moondance'" with "a classic sense of timing" and "gorgeous" delivery. The song was ranked at number 474 on the "Rolling Stone" 2010 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." In contrast to the heavier "Into the Mystic," the track "Crazy Love" is a traditional, jazzy, soft love song.

Answer: Astral Weeks

"Astral Weeks" made a poor showing when it was released in 1968 as Van Morrison's second studio album, and critics were largely unfavorable, until "Rolling Stone" named it album of the year in 1969. One of the magazine's reviewers, Greil Marcus, wrote that "Astral Weeks" was rich in "myths and metaphors" and compared it to Bob Dylan's "John Wesley Harding."

A longer version of "Cyprus Avenue," stretching to ten minutes, was included on his 1974 live album "It's Too Late to Stop Now." The song "Sweet Thing" is a tender love song that was later included on "The Best of Van Morrison" in 1990.

Answer: Blowin' Your Mind!

"Blowin' Your Mind!" was Van' Morrison's debut solo album in 1967. "Brown Eyed Girl" peaked at Number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of Van Morrison's biggest hits and the song most associated with him. The Sweet Inspirations sang back-up vocals on the light, upbeat song.

"T.B. Sheets," in contrast, is a heavy, blues-influenced song about a man uncomfortably visiting a sick woman who is dying of tuberculosis. The song was so heavy, that, according to Michael Ochs in the linear notes of the later 1973 retrospective album "T.B. Sheets," Van Morrison broke down in tears after recording the song. It's not known whether the story is true, but the song has a powerful effect, and the music captures the extreme discomfort that people often experience when attending sick loved ones.

Answer: His Band and the Street Choir

Van Morrison's fourth studio album, "His Band and the Street Choir" (released in 1970), opens with "Domino." The hit song reached Number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, outperforming even "Brown Eyed Girl." The song "Blue Money" reached number 23 on the U.S. charts. "Blue Money" was released as a single with "Sweet Thing" from "Astral Weeks" on the B-side.

Answer: Tupelo Honey

Van Morrison released "Tupelo Honey," his fifth studio album, in 1971. The concluding song on the album, "Moonshine Whiskey," was, Van Morrison said, written "for Janis Joplin or something" (according to Brian Hinton in "Celtic Crossroads"). "I Wanna Roo You" is accented by John McFee's steel guitar and employs the word "roo" as a Scottish slang term for "woo."

Answer: St. Dominick's Preview

After being released in July of 1972 on the Warner Bros. label, Van Morrison's sixth studio album, "St. Dominick's Preview," peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Along with "Jackie Wilson Said," "Redwood Tree" and "Gypsy" were the other two singles released from the album. "Listen to the Lion" is an intense, eleven-minute song. Van Morrison wrote a sequel to it, "The Lion This Time," which was included on his 2005 album "Magic Time."

Answer: Wavelength

Van Morrison's first ten albums are rounded out with "Wavelength," which was released in 1978. Van Morrison's mother, who was a freethinker who would check out different religions, was briefly a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, and a Kingdom Hall is a place of worship for members of the sect. Van Morrison was taken to a couple of meetings. This experience may have been his inspiration for the song "Kingdom Hall."

Van Morrison wrote "Santa Fe" with American singer and songwriter Jackie DeShannon. It was his first collaboration to be recorded on an album. The track also incorporates the song "Beautiful Obsession."

Answer: A Period of Transition

Van Morrison recorded three versions of "Flamingos Fly" in the studio before settling on one for "A Period of Transition," his ninth studio album, which was released in 1977. Another version of the song is included on the 1998 outtake compilation "The Philosopher's Stone." The song "It Fills You Up" is about inspiration.

Answer: Veedon Fleece

1974 saw Van's eighth studio album, "Veedon Fleece." The song "Cul de Sac" was released as a B-side to the lead single "Bulbs." The song "Streets of Arklow" pays tribute to the Irish town of Arklow, which Van Morrison visited during a trip home to Ireland after being in the U.S. for several years.

Answer: Hardnose the Highway

"Hardnose the Highway," which was released in 1973, was Van Morrison's seventh studio album. The song "Warm Love" hit the Top 40 charts when it was released. It was included on Van's live album "Too Late to Stop Now" and in the 1990 compilation "The Best of Van Morrison." The song "Purple Heather" is a traditional Irish/Scottish folk song also known as "Wild Mountain Thyme."