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Beautiful Vision by  Released16 February 1982RecordedMay–summer 1981Studio
Sausalito, , , , Length45:31 (All countries except US & Canada [Original release])
 (US & Canada)
 (1989 & 1998 European reissues)Van Morrison chronology
(1980)Beautiful Vision
(1982)
(1983) from Beautiful Vision "" b/w ""
Released: March 1982 "" b/w ""
Released: June 1982

Beautiful Vision is the thirteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter , released in February 1982. It continued Morrison's departure from  at the time, instead favoring  and American  in its music. As with many of Morrison's recordings, spirituality is a major theme and some of the songs are based on the teachings of . Other songs show Morrison's Celtic heritage and reminiscence of his  background.

Beautiful Vision received critical acclaim but garnered only modest chart success, peaking at number 31 on the  and number 44 on the US .

Release and reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingA−A

Beautiful Vision was released in February 1982 by  in the United Kingdom and  in the United States. Its packaging featured a front cover conceptualized by Rudy Legname (later known as Rudi). It consists of a hand reaching up to a circle of cloud, containing a crescent shape, stars and a prismatic rainbow. The album was not released with a lyric sheet, and many of the first vinyl pressings were cut off-center, all because of production issues that resulted in a lack of quality control and "shoddy packaging", according to Morrison biographer .

Beautiful Vision received acclaim from contemporary critics. In a review for ,  deemed it a musically cohesive album whose songs nonetheless all sound distinct, especially "Cleaning Windows", which he said ranks among Morrison's greatest songs: "This music is purely gorgeous (or at times lovely), its pleasure all formal grace and aptness of invention." Chip Stern from  believed even the inferior songs are a pleasure to listen to because of Morrison's maturation into a more relaxed and disciplined singer, while his band is eclectic yet subtle enough to incorporate a number of styles without sounding ostentatious: "On tunes like 'Dweller on the Threshold', an r&b groove will suddenly support Celtic, Oriental, or Northern European folk references."  magazine's John Milward was less enthusiastic and lamented four of the songs because of what he felt were unimaginative lyrics, instances "when he lets his brain trivialize his heart" on an album that is otherwise superior to the temporal, superficial nature of most popular music, "a cogent statement of belief that finds Morrison touching his dangerously dogmatic themes with the grace of God".

At the end of 1982, Beautiful Vision was voted the 28th best album of the year in the , an annual poll of prominent critics published by The Village Voice.  magazine's Sam Sutherland named it 1982's ninth best record in his own year-end list and said "Morrison's fusion of Celtic folk, American jazz and universal mysticism remains unique." "Scandinavia" was nominated in the  category for the .

According to Morrison biographer Johnny Rogan, Beautiful Vision was "well-structured and arranged ... which offered depth and listenability. It also underlined the extent to which Morrison had moved away from the R&B stylings which had made him such a hit on American FM radio." In  (1983),  called it proof of his enduring strength as a recording artist, a more consistent set of songs than  (1980), and the most he has used jazz rhythms since  (1968).  was more critical in a retrospective review for , writing that because of the music's indistinct melodies and measured pace that threatens to dull, many of the songs are unessential for most listeners. 's Laura Barton, on the other hand, said it "never struck me as dull; on the contrary, its particular strangeness has always proved appealing – an exploration of Celtic heritage, distance, reminiscence, spirituality and the writings of Alice Bailey."  magazine named it the 45th greatest album of the 1980s, while Rolling Stone ranked it fourth in a poll of both critics and readers on the "15 Worst Albums by Great Bands".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Van Morrison, except as indicated.

Side oneNo.TitleLyricsMusicLength1."Celtic Ray"  4:112."Northern Muse (Solid Ground)"  4:053.""Van Morrison/Hugh MurphyVan Morrison4:494."Beautiful Vision"  4:085."She Gives Me Religion"  4:33Total length:21:46 Side twoNo.TitleLyricsMusicLength1.""  4:432.""  4:103."Aryan Mist"Van Morrison/Hugh MurphyVan Morrison4:004."Across the Bridge Where Angels Dwell"Van Morrison/Hugh MurphyVan Morrison4:315.""  6:41Total length:24:05