Watch A Prime Van Morrison Bring The House Down In Fillmore

In the long span of his career in the industry, we watch Van Morrison develop his diverse talents with different genres to think of. While we can always associate him with his hit “Brown Eyed Girl,” there are still moments in his profession whom we can appreciate him at his greatest. One of those is his ravishing set at the Fillmore West, in 1970. The video can be viewed below.

Morrison’s third solo album, Moondance, was released two years after the commercial disaster of 1968’s Astral Weeks. Though he had a large repertoire by the time he was 24, Morrison sought a more mature, reflective sound than the rawer recordings on his earlier work. Moondance gave him an outlet to show his maturity, and in Apr. 26, 1970, he showcased this when he performed at the San Francisco’s Fillmore West to support his latest LP.

It was an interesting night for Alan Bershaw, a Wolfgang’s Vault contributor, who wrote:

“Rock ’n’ roll comes in many different shapes and sizes, and on the night of April 26, 1970, it came to the Fillmore West in the form of a barrel-chested Irishman in a silk shirt and flares. The release of Moondance in February of 1970 saw Van taking his rhythm and folk in a sweeter, jazzier direction. His band clearly relishes the opportunity to showcase the album’s material before a sedated Fillmore crowd.”

You can watch Van Morrison’s performance at the Fillmore West here.