The Viking of Sixth Avenue is a compilation album by Moondog, released by Honest Jon's on July 10, 2005.[1] It was the first compilation of Moondog's music that spanned his entire music career over several music labels. The compilation was praised by various publications including The Guardian, AllMusic and All About Jazz who all proclaimed it as the perfect introductory release for new listeners.
| The Viking of Sixth Avenue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by | |
| Released | July 10, 2005 |
| Label | Honest Jon's |
| Compiler | Edwin Pouncey, Howard Williams, Mark Ainley |
Music edit
The music of The Viking of Sixth Avenue has been described as varied, with Sean Westergaard noting that the music ranged from "full orchestras to solo performances and from brief rhythmic percussion exercises to vocal rounds to swinging horns or dulcimers."[2] David Peschek of The Guardian described the music as "almost jazz" and that it contained "his pieces for percussion, brass and the odd howling canine, and occasional, madrigal-like songs".[3]
The recordings on the album span from Moondog's recordings from 1949 to 1995.[4]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |  [4] |
| AllMusic |  [2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
David Pescheck of The Guardian gave the album a five star rating, praising the compilation as being the first compilation that spanned his recording period (from 1945 to 1995) and that the album was that "rare thing in music: unique."[3] Sean Westergaard of AllMusic gave the album a four and a half star rating out of five, describing it as "probably the best introduction to Moondog's music that's out there".[2] Chris May of All About Jazz awarded the album a five star rating, proclaiming that "The world is a better place for his music, and if you haven't heard any of it yet, this rich and beautiful collection is the perfect place to start."[4]
References edit
- ^ "The Viking of Sixth Avenue". Honest Jons. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c Westergaard.
- ^ a b c Peschek 2005.
- ^ a b c May 2005.
Sources edit
- May, Chris (October 18, 2005). "Moondog: The Viking Of Sixth Avenue". All About Jazz.
- Peschek, David (October 20, 2005). "Moondog, The Viking of Sixth Avenue". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- Westergaard, Sean. "The Viking of Sixth Avenue". AllMusic. Retrieved April 24, 2021.