It debuted two months later where it reached #92, on the US Billboard Hot 100[2] and #91 on the US Cash Box Top 100[3] The single's B-side, "Cold Wind in August", had been released in the same year, on his latest album at the time, A Period of Transition.

[4] "Moondance" was recorded at the Mastertone Studio in New York City in August 1969, with Lewis Merenstein as producer.

"[6] Music critic Johnny Rogan described "Moondance" as a "celebration of nature," "expressed through a lovers' union in the night air.

The subject of whether the melody of UB40's song Burden of Shame (from the 1980 album Signing Off) is based on Moondance has been debated.

[10] The Allmusic reviewer describes "Moondance" as "one of those rare songs that manages to implant itself on the collective consciousness of popular music, passing into the hallowed territory of a standard, a classic.

"[11] Biographer John Collis praised the song for being more commercially accessible for most radio stations than a lot of his earlier work.

He calls "Moondance" "an important song in the development of Morrison's career, since it indicated to radio station programmers a previously unsuspected versatility.

Stations that would never have considered playing, say 'Slim Slow Slider' found that the smooth, jazzy sophistication of 'Moondance' was more to their taste.

"[12] "Moondance" was listed as #226 in Rolling Stone magazine's December 2004 feature "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

[22] Other covers by notable musicians and entertainers include: Greg Brown,[23] Georgie Fame,[24] Kathie Lee Gifford,[25] Ute Lemper[26] and Will Martin.