Van Morrison Moondance Vinyl Record Album LP 1st Press 1970 VG+ Tambourine Mix

$

150

Item Description

Van Morrison – Moondance (Warner Bros. Records – WS 1835)

Pressing features: 1st Original U.S. Press, 1970, Stereo, Gatefold, Tambourine Mix

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout etched, variant 1): S 39621 WS1835A RE-1-1A (RE1 -1A; -1B; & -1C have the tambourine mix)

Pressing Note: Early 1970 pressings of Moondance—including this W7 copy (and all first pressings, whether W7 or WB logo)—feature the original 10 Dec 1969 mix of “Into the Mystic,” with clearly audible tambourine (reportedly Van Morrison’s preferred version). Due to a clerical error, most later vinyl pressings and pre-2008 CD releases use a 5 Jan 1970 alternate mix without tambourine and with a softer foghorn. Exceptions include the 1979 half-speed master and select later audiophile reissues (e.g., 2026 45RPM), as well as 2008 and 2013 remasters that restore the tambourine mix.

Listen to the video, and turn the volume up - at about 7 seconds into it you can hear Van the Man jamming with the tambourine! Also note the very loud fog horn. 

Notes: A smooth, luminous blend of soul, jazz, and folk, Moondance finds Van Morrison stepping out of the hazy mysticism of his earlier work into something warmer, more rhythmic, and joyfully grounded. Released in 1970 as his third solo album, it followed the ethereal, introspective Astral Weeks and came before the more rootsy, country-tinged His Band and the Street Choir. Packed with enduring tracks like “Into the Mystic,” “Crazy Love,” and the title song. Despite its now-iconic status, Moondance was initially seen as a more accessible counterpart to Astral Weeks, yet over time many listeners have come to see it as equally profound. Consistently ranked among the greatest albums ever made, Moondance has appeared on multiple editions of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time, rising over the years and landing at #65 in the 2020 revision.

Vinyl Record grade: VG+ (conservative graders may give strong VG, depending on standards)

Record has a strong glossy shine and has been audio tested, playing through with no skips. Disc shows a few very faint surface hairlines here and there (very hard to spot) but nothing deep or severe. Audio has light crackle at soft parts or between songs but nothing that overpowers the music. 

Visually, the marks keep them from grading higher (VG++), yet they remain clearly better than a standard VG. Playback remains very enjoyable, despite the faint crackle at soft parts. 

A very solid VG+ —well-preserved, glossy record that falls comfortably between VG and VG++, offering very respectable condition and playability.

Cover/Jacket grade: VG-, jacket has noticeable edge wear and moderate shelf wear. Inner gatefold has major stain on inside (see photo). Back jacket artwork has a hard to see scar. Surface shows clear signs of handling but remains structurally sound. Seams are intact with no splits. Fully functional jacket, very far from Mint but still serviceable and presentable. Front artwork is clear and vibrant. 

Other contents: includes original inner sleeve 

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The record has been ultrasonically cleaned and will ship with a premium MoFi inner sleeve and a protective outer sleeve. For added protection, the record will be placed outside of the album jacket within a plastic outer sleeve to prevent seam splits. It will be securely packaged in a reinforced media mailer and clearly labeled as fragile.

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Record Grading Scale (Based on visual inspection)

Sealed / Mint

Used only for factory-sealed items. 

The record remains unopened in its original shrink. Because the record has never been removed from the sleeve, the vinyl itself cannot be visually inspected. Minor corner dings or shrink wrap tears may be present but will be noted in the listing if significant.

Near Mint (NM)

A nearly perfect record.

The vinyl appears unplayed or played very few times and will show no visible scratches, scuffs, or marks. The surface retains full original gloss. This grade is reserved for exceptional copies from well-maintained collections that have been carefully handled and properly stored.

Very Good ++ (VG++) / Excellent 

An excellent copy with only the most minimal signs of handling. 

The record may show one or two extremely faint surface marks or light hairlines visible only under strong light. These marks are purely superficial and should not affect play. The vinyl still presents beautifully with strong gloss.

Very Good + (VG+)

A well-cared-for record that shows light signs of use.

The vinyl may display several light surface marks, hairlines, or superficial scuffs from handling or sleeve contact. These are generally light and difficult to see without careful inspection. Records in this grade typically play very well with minimal background noise.

Very Good (VG) 

A record that has been played and shows clear signs of use.

The vinyl will show noticeable surface marks, scratches, and general play wear. These marks are easily visible and result in some surface noise, but the record should still play through without skipping.

Good + (G+)

A heavily used but still playable record.

The vinyl will show numerous marks, scratches, and visible wear, including scratches that may be deep enough to feel with a fingernail. Surface noise, pops, and crackle should be expected. Despite cosmetic wear, the record should play through without repeating or skipping unless otherwise noted.

Cover/Jacket Grading Scale

Sealed / Mint

Used only for factory-sealed albums in original shrink wrap.

Minor shrink tears, corner dings, or storage wear may be present and will be noted if significant.

Near Mint (NM)

An exceptional cover with virtually no visible wear.

The jacket appears almost new, with sharp corners, clean surfaces, and no ring wear, writing, stickers, or seam splits. This grade is used sparingly for outstanding examples.

Very Good ++ (VG++) / Excellent 

A very attractive cover with only minor cosmetic flaws.

The jacket may show very light ring wear, slightly softened corners, or minimal edge wear. A small sticker or faint writing may be present but does not detract from the overall presentation.

Very Good + (VG+)

A clean, solid cover with moderate signs of handling.

Possible flaws include light ring wear, minor edge wear, small creases, sleeve scuffs, or small stickers/writing. The cover remains structurally sound and displays well.

Very Good (VG)

A cover with clear wear but still fully intact.

The jacket may include more noticeable ring wear, edge wear, or creasing. It may also have a drill hole, cut corner, moderate sticker residue, or a small seam split (approximately 1-3 inches). Corners may be rounded from use.

Good + (G+)

A heavily worn cover with significant cosmetic issues.

Common flaws may include major ring wear, large seam splits, heavy edge wear, major sticker damage, writing or doodles, soft or worn spine, or full split seams. The cover remains complete but shows obvious age and wear.