Mr Hepworth's reference elsewhere to the 40th anniversary of Astral Weeks got me thinking: any other artists out there who arguably had their finest ever hour with their first ever album? Despite some brilliant work in the ensuing four decades, I'd argue that Van never again quite scaled the heights he reached on his very first solo outing. Other contenders off the t of me h: Roxy Music, Sex Pistols, Bruce Springsteen. Thoughts from le massif?

Check out Van doing a fantastic version of The Philosopher's Stone from the Jools Holland Show a few years back. It's on YouTube, and I know this is not very web 4.6 or whatever it's called, but frankly I can't do the link thing, so just google youtube, then key in something like Van Morrison and Jools Holland, and Robert is your dad's younger brother. Great piano from Jools (one more time!), great sax, great guitar solo, great mouth harp from the man himself. What, in the name of sweet baby Jesus, is not to love?
BARNEY