Blowin' Your Mind!

Van Morrison's debut LP was put together without his knowledge by Bang! Records and started the downward spiral in his relationship with producer and record company owner Bert Berns. Morrison had recorded a number of tracks on March 28th and 29th 1967 to put out, so he thought, four singles, but eight of those tracks were compiled into Blowin' Your Mind. With a cover that virtually defines bad taste, Morrison immediately disowned the album. However despite Morrison's protestations this is a really strong work. Kicking off with big hit single Brown Eyed Girl what follows doesn't for a moment let up on the quality control button. Centerpiece of the album is the quite extraordinary T.B. Sheets, later revealed as written from Morrison's personal perspective with superb blues harmonica driving the track along. Spanish Rose features intricate Spanish guitar backing, with the album ending with Leadbelly's superb Midnight Special. For an album put together without the artist's knowledge this shows a rawer, extremely soulful version of the man close to the top of his game. This version of the album includes five alternative takes, highlighting how Morrison phrased songs differently on each take. The remastering is excellent, without tape hiss and no trace of the over compression that blights many modern remasters. Do not discount this album if you think it all starts with Astral Weeks - you would be missing out on something of almost as high quality albeit in a different style.

Where it all began. I have these tracks in many compilations, but this is the actual LP which was released without Van's knowledge and launched "Brown-Eyed Girl" on the road to lasting success. Van said that if he'd known Bang Records were going to release these songs, he'd have finished them off. They are good songs.

Unfortunately this suffered in transit - no issue with the packaging ,that was robust enough , but the record and inner sleeve were sent inside the outer cover and therefore there was movement within the package resulting in the curvature of the vinyl bursting through the spine of the sleeve shame, because the record is fine.

This is an outstanding album, powerful songs that gain even more strength through the decision made to record the master tapes from sessions where the whole band played together. This adds a certain live character to the already very good sound.Definetely a must have.

Some real classics on here

Really Mind Blowing as it says on the cover this version of the CD is the 24K Gold print and sounds unreal...

Snabb leverans med bra kvalitet på produkten!

Still the MAN

Although I had most of the songs from this collection on other CDs its great to have this due to the fact that this was Van Morrison's very first record as a solo artist!

Van Morrison, desde sus inicios, es un músico superlativo. Entre los mejores.

Articolo arrivato in 24 ore. Amazon sempre precisissimo.Imballo perfetto. Unica cosa, non c'e la versione mp3 in omaggio, che di solito con gli lp in vinile arriva in automatico.

Awesome

Es justo lo que estaba esperando.

el más original de los originales de muchos piratas ....

great

Sounds good, mastered nicely.

van man always great !!!

Leider nur 3 gute Songs auf der CD hätte mir mehr rockige Songs gewünscht etwas langweilig und sehr Balladen belastet

One of my favorite artists. He is always soulful, and a tremendous writer. I prefer his music pre 2000 though it is all quite listenable. His attention to accompanying instruments is always first rate and hits his story and so it is with this CD/album.

I do not know why bad reviews. This is a fantastic album. And the vinyl sounds totally great. Some people wouldn't know great music if it slapped them in the face. That is a shame.

the best

Van Morrison, whats not to like?

Van Morrison was actually an excellent vocalist, and a few cuts on this album prove his abilities. Unfortunately, he makes an early attempt at rap, which adds nothing to the program. Brown-Eyed Girl is a classic, and there are a few other cuts nearly as good. If you collect classic rock, this album is a must, even though it is mediocre. However, Van Morrison is NOT a mediocre performer or songwriter. The CD is worth buying.