“Freedom” was the last album of the eighties and it became Neil’s true come-back album. It was also the start of a string of fantastic albums. The whole nineties was very good actually, almost a challenger to his seventies. A second golden era, one could say.
After “This note’s for you” Neil changed style again. In the autumn of 1989 his true come back album “Freedom” was released, but already in the spring of that year he released a mini-album in Japan and Australia. What kind of nonsense is that? Only in the Pacific? Eat a peach.
So, this is the first album I bought new at the release. 1988 is the year! Since then I have as a die hard fan of Neil and bought every single album he released as soon as I have been able. Unfortunately I sold off most of my vinyl records in the early nineties and only bought cds. What a bad decision! Imagine the cost nowadays to buy all those 90s and 00s albums second hand via record stores or online. Luckily Neil has his “Official Releases Series” project where he releases remastered reissues.
“Lucky thirteen” is a compilation 2-LP album covering the Geffen years. The five albums are represented by two or three songs easch, and added to the end we get two songs from the Bluenotes era (to be highlighted on the following album back on Reprise).
Finally, in 1987 the experiment was over. Five albums on Geffen Records came to an end. The five albums were “Trans”, “Everybody’s rockin'”, “Old ways”, “Landing on water” and “Life”. En eclectic collection of styles. Only one of those albums is really good in my ears. What made the period with Geffen so strange, as some would say – bad?
With such a horrible album cover, could this really be good? It turns out – no. This might very well be Neil’s weakest album ever. “Everybody’s rockin'” is at least good within its genre. “Landing on water” is made of everything that was rotten musically in the late eighties. The album is over-produced and it is shock-full of synthezisers. Neil is backed up by Danny Kortchmar and Steve Jordan plus a boys chorus. All three guys in “the band” are playing synthezisers together with drums or guitars.
First of all I must say I adore the old style rustic porch of Daryl’s ranch in Colordao. The latest “Fireside sessions” take us to that very porch.
Daryl behind the camera, fiddling with the settings, Neil playing his heart out. This session focus on the ongoing unrest of the nation, people on the streets bleeding.
Continue reading “Neil Young – Fireside Sessions Porch Edition (2020)”
He had a ’84 International
In 1984 Neil didn’t release any new studio album. He and Crazy Horse had a recording sessions that didn’t result in any release (yet). Geffen Records sued Neil for not sounding like Neil Young, a lawsuit that ended with Neil winning and Geffen apologising. Later in the autumn of ’84 Neil embarked on a tour with the International Harvesters where he debuted a number of country songs. Now the table was set for “Old ways”, the album Neil wanted to do already in 1983.
It is very entertaining to be a Neil Young fan. He change his mind as often as he makes plans. It’s a roller-coaster with a lot of waiting for albums that may or may not come out on time. It will be released in July is always the answer.
Recorded finished albums gets shelved and new stuff is done in days and released in a rush. He has an archive of unreleased stuff, both highly sought after studio material as well as a mother load of live stuff. One of the most famous unreleased albums is “Homegrown” from 1975. It was finished and almost out the door… The story is that when he was to play the record for the Band, he instead played songs from another album, “Tonight’s the night” that was recorded in 1973. So instead of releasing “Homegrown” in 1975 “Tonight’s the night” was let loose on the world. Neil said in an interview that he felt the “Homegrown” album was to personal…
“Everybody’s rockin’” was the second album on Geffen Records and now it got even more crazy. This is a true rockabilly album. Think 50’s rock. Amazing that Neil did this to his friend David Geffen. I for one am not a fan of this genre. Hate is a strong word and not to be used for reviews of music, but I really don’t like that type of music. How is it then when my musical hero Neil does it? Something must give…
