Rhino High Fidelity 180-Gram Vinyl LP, Numbered Edition Of 5,000

This is Astral Weeks in Rhino's High Fidelity series, catalog number RHF1 1768. Kevin Gray cut the lacquers at Cohearent Audio, all-analog from the original stereo master tapes, and Optimal Media pressed the record on 180-gram vinyl. It is housed in a glossy tip-on gatefold jacket with an obi strip, and both the obi and Rhino's notes give it as a limited numbered edition of 5,000. An insert carries new liner notes by Cory Frye, illustrated with photographs by Joel Brodsky, who also took the original cover portrait.

In Frye's notes, producer Lewis Merenstein recalls the first time he heard Morrison play the songs: "It went right through me, and I got the poetry of it. It was just stunning, and I knew I wanted to work with him at that moment." Merenstein, who came from jazz, produced the album through Inherit Productions and recruited bassist Richard Davis, who brought in the rest of the musicians. Larry Fallon wrote and conducted the string arrangements and plays harpsichord on "Cyprus Avenue." Morrison later objected to the overdubs: "They ruined it. They added strings. I didn't want the strings."

The album was released on November 29, 1968, after Morrison's manager, Bob Schwaid, negotiated his way out of his Bang Records contract following the death of label founder Bert Berns; the settlement required two songs controlled by Bang's publishing arm, "Madame George" and "Beside You," to appear on his next album. It sold poorly at first, and the RIAA certified it Gold only in 2001. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 19 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003 and No. 60 in the 2020 edition. Lester Bangs called it "the rock record with the most significance in my life so far," and Elvis Costello described it as "still the most adventurous record made in the rock medium."

Tracklist

Side A — Part One: In The Beginning

1. Astral Weeks
2. Beside You
3. Sweet Thing
4. Cyprus Avenue

Side B — Part Two: Afterwards

5. Young Lovers Do
6. Madame George
7. Ballerina
8. Slim Slow Slider

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Last updated: 2/6/26

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Last updated: 2/6/26