Editing Moondance (section)

== Recording and production ==

Morrison began recording sessions for ''Moondance'' at Century Sound in New York, accompanied by most of the musicians from ''Astral Weeks'' and its engineer Brooks Arthur.{{sfn|Walsh|2018b}} [[Lewis Merenstein]]—''Moondance''{{'}}s executive producer—had brought in ''Astral Weeks'' session musicians [[Richard Davis (double bassist)|Richard Davis]], [[Jay Berliner]], and [[Warren Smith (jazz musician)|Warren Smith, Jr.]] for the first session, but Morrison—according to Platania—"sort of manipulated the situation" and "got rid of them all. For some reason he didn't want those musicians."{{sfn|Heylin|2004|p=215}} In place of these jazz-influenced musicians were a horn section and chorus enlisted by Morrison, who Merenstein recalled had grown more confident, outspoken, and independent of the producer.{{sfn|Walsh|2018b}} Around this time, the singer made it known to Warner Bros. that he would lead production duties for all his future recordings, which forced producers recruited by the label into assisting roles. It also led to frequent enlisting and dismissal of musicians to meet Morrison's creative vision.{{sfn|Hage|2009|p=63}}

Morrison went on to record ''Moondance'' at the Studio A penthouse of [[A & R Studios]] in New York from August to September 1969.{{sfn|Buskin|2009}} He entered A & R Studios with only the basic song structures written down and the songs' [[arrangements]] in his memory, developing the compositions throughout the album's recording. Without any [[chord chart|musical charts]], he received help with developing the music from Labes, Schroer, and flautist/saxophonist Collin Tilton.{{sfn|Yorke|1975|pp=70–83}} "That was the type of band I dig", the singer recalled. "Two horns and a rhythm section – they're the type of bands that I like best."{{sfn|Anon.|2003|p=113}} According to biographer [[Ritchie Yorke]], all of the "tasteful frills" were generated spontaneously and developed at the studio.{{sfn|Yorke|1975|pp=70–83}} Most of Morrison's vocals were recorded live, and he later said that he would have preferred to record the entire album live.{{sfn|Yorke|1975|pp=70–83}} [[Shelly Yakus]]—one of the audio engineers who recorded the singer—remembered him being "very quiet and really introverted" in the studio, "yet when he sang it was a 'Holy Shit!' moment."{{sfn|Buskin|2009}}

''Moondance'' was the first album for which Morrison was credited as the producer; he later said "no one knew what I was looking for except me, so I just did it."{{sfn|Yorke|1975|pp=70–83}} While not an overbearing presence among the record's personnel, the singer later conceded to creating an atmosphere of artistic autonomy during the sessions: "When I go into the studio, I'm a magician. I make things happen. Whatever is working in that particular space at that particular time, I use, I take advantage of."{{sfn|Hage|2009|p=63}}
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