A “relaxed” take on a Moondance classic between Bob Dylan and Van Morrison has been praised by fans.
Morrison’s third studio album is one of his best, and over a decade on from its release, he joined forces with his musical inspiration for an impromptu rendition. The performance from the pair, on a rooftop in Athens in 1989, comes as the pair found themselves at two very different points in their career. Dylan was preparing to release Oh Mercy and would find himself back in the good graces of the listening public. Morrison would release Avalon Sunset, a commercially and critically successful album which continued his ’80s successes. But the pair’s performance of Crazy Love during a get-together in Athens is one of many brilliant moments from the pair.
The performance would be broadcast by the BBC as part of the One Irish Rover: Van Morrison in Performances series. He and Dylan were seen on top of the Hill of the Muses just after Dylan had wrapped his European tour earlier in the week. The performance has been hailed by viewers, with many commenting with praise under a YouTube upload of their work together.
One person wrote: “This is one of the finest pieces of anything on the entire internet. Aren’t you glad we’re able to share it with each other right now, somehow and someway? That’s beautiful. That’s the good part of this thing. So – love to you and yours – wherever you are.”
Another added: “This is one of the most beautiful things I have heard.” A third wrote: “Excellent, relaxed rendition of this fantastic tune! Bob and Van are two of the greats!” Others have shared why they keep returning to the blisteringly wonderful performance of the Moondance classic.
One wrote: “Love love love this video. I play this when I’m feeling down, when I’m feeling up, when I’m not sure how to feel. There is something about the harmony in their voices together that rattles my soul. From the warpy sound at the beginning to the rough road this track takes, all the way to the heartache of wonderfulness it leaves you with.”
Another added: “I come back to this over and over since it first touched me. Youth… they had it, didn’t they! I did too, once upon a time…” A third shared: “Two of the greatest singing together.”
Some were left praising Dylan’s ability to adapt the work of others to his own style, something the veteran performer does often. They wrote: “Bob Dylan was and is one of the greatest lyricists to walk the Earth.
“Not only has he written for others, but allowed them to claim the credit and honour for their existence. I believe the creative ideas were so abundantly coming to and through him, that he couldn’t possibly produce them all.” You can watch Morrison and Dylan’s performance of Crazy Love below.
