This was a bit of a revelation, and it occurred to me just yesterday.
Music has been a part of my life since the summer of 1971 when I discovered AM radio. I’ve had many favorites over the years, with the Beatles and Dylan usually alternating between number 1 and number 2. Neil always hovered nearby, as did several others (Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Richard Thompson, John Prine).
The Beatles were more innovative. Dylan’s poetry is unequaled. The others, and many more, obviously have their strengths and appeal. But there is something organic to Young’s music that, to me, resonates. There is an authenticity that fits into my musical soul like a key in a lock. Even Neil’s vocals, which are often criticized, are so perfect for his music.
I listened to “Cinnamon Girl” for the millionth time yesterday, and it felt as fresh as it did 50 years ago. It got me good.
It is Neil Young’s music that has given me the most pleasure.
After the Gold Rush was one of two albums I first got.
Been to a lot of concerts including Rust Never Sleeps.
Got Mrs. FtG (a.k.a. my Cinnamon Girl) into him right away. He’s comes up a lot when she’s exercising. Winterlong was on the other day. One of my all time favorites and not as well known as it should be.
Not a huge fan but I’ve seen him three times, all quite memorable shows: 1978 at the Cow Palace (where scenes from Live Rust were filmed), the first Bridge School Concert in 1986(with CSNY, Robin Williams, Tom Petty, Nils Lofgren and Bruce Springsteen) and at The Saddle Rack in San Jose in 1984 (had a table right in front of the stage and got some fairly decent pics)
My brothers had “Harvest”, “After the Gold Rush” and the triple-album “Decade”
I had CSN&Y “Deja vu” and the 12 year old me rode my bike and was one of the first to buy “Rust Never Sleeps” (The opening chords to “Hey hey. my my” would knock my mom’s waterford crystal off the shelf two floors above) - and who the hell is Johnny Rotten?
I’m in the habit of using miserably dark winter late afternoon/early evening to catch up with all those albums I really should have listened to but never did. And so, in the last week or so, I (coincidentally) listened to a Neil Young album for the first time - two, in fact, Harvest and After The Goldrush; and yes, I enjoyed both and am very pleased that I listened to them.
Now, here’s a curiosity: over the years, the music Roxy Music has given me much pleasure. One of their songs that I particularly love is A Song For Europe. Here it is.
Which predates A Song For Europe by a year or so., I had one of those moments when I heard the Neil Young song - I know that - What? What? Fer Chrissakes, what is it…
We saw him live at the Barclays Center auditorium in Brooklyn a couple years ago and were blown away by “Walk Like a Giant”. Went home and immediately purchased the album. He’s totally still got it, not just playing his greatest hits from yesteryear.
I’d not heard the Roxy Music song, and that’s a bit of a “deep cut” from Harvest, yet that’s a strong resemblance.
Donald Fagen did admit he and Walter had been listening to Keith Jarrett who now has some cash and a credit for the song “Gaucho” which sounds a lot like his “Long As You Know You’re Living Yours”.
I read something about how Paul McCartney wasn’t sure if he was ripping someone else’s melody for “Yesterday” and was like, after a month nobody claimed it…
If you haven’t seen it, check out this version “Old Man” from the Jimmy Fallon show. It’s an awesome, sublime performance that links old and young together:
I first listened to AM radio in 1963 and got hooked pre-Beatles. By 1967 I was ready for Buffalo Springfield. They were special. I played Stills’ “For What It’s Worth” a million times but also Young’s “On the Way Home” a million times. Loved it.
Hated when they broke up, but Crosby, Stills, and Nash put out what even arch curmudgeon/asshole Robert Christgau called a perfect record. Then Young joined and for I while I liked “Deja Vu” even better. And those first few solo albums of his were wonders.
Over the years, my tastes changed and so did his. I realized Young had destroyed the magic of CSN and that “Crosby, Stills, and Nash” was infinitely the better album. While I like many of Young’s later songs, his determination to be an outsider meant that my Venn diagram and his no longer overlapped as completely as the early days. Probably my loss. He’s still an all time great.
Talk about a fun coincidence: I was watching a video from Skylabs Audio about vintage turntables and started to skip thru it when what did my eyes espy but a pic of AtGR being put on a turntable.
Have never been a huge fan, but have only listened to a few of his songs.
A few month’s ago, someone in another thread mentioned how much he liked the albums Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and After the Gold Rush. It piqued my interest, so I purchased them. Have been playing them quite a bit while I’m working in the barn. Many of them are what I would classify as “Sing-Alongs.” The music is… O.K., but I don’t find it all that interesting. I’d rather listen to other stuff, TBH.
I like Neil Young, but he sure doesn’t seem to like his fans. or maybe, with success. I’m not sure.
Take his comments on the success of Harvest. " They put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch." The next studio album was Tonight’s The Night, so take that for what it’s worth.
I heard a comment that Rust Never Sleeps was deliberately conceived in two sides. One with the “good songs” and one with trash, as an insult to his audience. I can see it, but the trouble is, I can’t remember which side was supposed to be which!
