On this day in 1970, Van Morrison is awarded a Gold record with his album, Moondance

Van Morrison released his third studio album on the 27th of January 1970. After the perceived commercial failure of Astral Weeks, Morrison moved to New York to write and find musicians for Moondance.

The album saw Morrison abandoning the abstract folk-jazz style of his previous album in order to create more formally composed songs in a rhythm and blues/ rock style. The music also incorporated elements of soul, jazz, pop and Irish folk with lyrical content about finding spiritual redemption in nature, music, love and self-affirmation.

Moondance was released to immediate success, both critically and commercially with several songs becoming radio staples in the early 1970’s. The album made a slow climb to Gold in November of 1970 and eventually 3x Platinum. It is now considered one of Morrisons best albums and one of the best albums of all time, making numerous lists and being entered into the Hall of Fame in 1999.