Trivia / Astral Weeks

• Creator Backlash/Magnum Opus Dissonance: For a long time Van Morrison wasn't too fond of this album despite it frequently being cited as his best. He eventually warmed to it, though, to the point that he finally played it live in its entirety for its fortieth anniversary. It's possible that issues he had with royalty payments contributed to his earlier distaste for the album, as well as the fact that it has often overshadowed his later work, which is frequently fascinating in its own right.
• Creator's Favorite Episode: That said, Morrison has called "Madame George" his personal favorite of all his songs.
• Shrug of God: Morrison has said several times that he composed this album's lyrics in a stream-of-consciousness style and even he finds them cryptic.
  (talking about "Madame George"): "It's like a movie, a sketch, or a short story. In fact, most of the songs on Astral Weeks are like short stories. In terms of what they mean, they're as baffling to me as to anyone else. I haven't got a clue what that song is about or who Madame George might have been."