Heart of Gold --Neil Young At His Best
579743
This movie is absolutely incredible.  I have seen Neil Young in concert more times than I can count--from "those bad boys of rock n'roll"--Crazy Horse to the Blue Notes to Unplugged and loved them all but this is really the cream of the crop. It is a heartfelt look back on his life featuring new songs about his family (especially his father and daughter) to the old songs such as "Comes a Time" and the song he listened to repeatedly on a juke box in a small Canadian restaurant ("Think I'll go down to Alberta, Weather's good there in the fall ...") when he first set off on his own as a teen.  Pegi and his good friends surround him in this performance and the warmth and joy they share performing together is apparent. Old friends having a good time making some great music.  Neil converses with the audience, as always, but shares many more personal items and smiles a lot more.  I loved the longer face shots of Neil, Emmy Lou Harris, Pegi and others.  A definite all encompassing summary of Neil's career as he performs new music as well as classics and talks about his roots.  You've gotta see this one.
4462040
i am not a neil young fanatic..i am a fan of rock and roll jams. this cd has 2,, down by the river and cowgirl in the sand, which are awesome.. the whole release is excellent !!!  crazy horse is a great band and all these guys were special music talents ... this cd is a perfect summary of what was going down in the early 70's.. i believe the proper word is historic !!
1789143
There are so many great tunes on this album, that it's difficult to pick out a favorite! If you're planning a long vacation drive in your car, bring along any and all of your Neil Young CD's and enjoy the ride. Great cruising music!
2045708
Of course it's Neil Young after all.  Great music to just sit back and enjoy.  I would recommend "Prairie Wind" to friends & family.
91018
As I write this, I'm puzzled so see that there are only three other reviews for this album posted on Amazon's page. For a singer-songwriter as acclaimed and outstanding as Neil Diamond that's very surprising. Granted, his fans have heard many of these songs before, but I think that this is still a CD worth owning regardless. As the title of this album says, these songs were recorded on the Bang label from 1966 to 1968, and for this CD reissue they have remastered in "the original mono in which there were intended to be heard." That sound, and these songs, are first-rate.

As the liner notes by Steve Baltin say, "In these remastered recordings ... you can hear the earliest glimpses of the talent, but just as importantly, the dedication and craftsmanship that would make Diamond the superstar he would go on to become." Indeed, this CD makes for both a fascinating and exhilarating listening experience. The joy and comfort of hearing so many of his old classics (and there are TOO many to list; you KNOW these gems) is augmented by surprise cover tunes such as "Red Rubber Ball", "Monday Monday" "La Bamba", and "Hanky Panky." Bonus points for ending the album with "Shilo," one of my very favorite Neil Diamond songs. Sheer joy!

The CD comes with a 24-page booklet that includes the short essay by Baltin, as well as a longer look at Diamond's early Bang years, written by none other than Neil himself. I love his synopsis of this collection: "At its heart, it's all about a hungry kid from Brooklyn, New York who had an emptiness so deep inside that it has yet be filled." Lucky for us, however, that Neil's song have become such an important part of our own lives, filling us with love and happiness. These songs are among the greatest pop creations of the 1960s. Listen and savor this musical magic!
4510132
I like his guitar playing.  Who wrote the songs and lyrics?  Just kiddin' this is a very moving performance.  I'd suggest anyone who enjoys Neil Young's music should give this a listen.  The understated explantion of The Needle and the Damage Done is worth the price alone.
148945
I love Neil, and I like this album. If you don't truly "love" Neil Young - get "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" or "Re*Ac*Tor*" or "Harvest" or "Zuma"or ..... before you get this - then you will love Neil Young
829286
As I recall, the critics were harsh to 2 Neil Young albums...the "Shocking Pinks" album and "Trans".  They missed the boat on those two.  Its Neil's experimentation as its best.  "Trans" is such a neat CD.  Get it!
726057
Released in 1975, not that long after the classic Harvest, this album  shares the same downbeat mood though this time, the backing band were Crazy  Horse and not the Stray 'Gators. Thus, the musical style is more rock than  country.
This is a great album with no weak tracks at all. Dangerbird is  my favourite here. What a terrific song. It is one of Neil Young's best  ever efforts. More than that, it is one of the best rock ballads ever with  some superb guitar and bass licks.
Barstool Blues is another great song,  Neil's singing at its best and the classic Crazy Horse guitar sound is here  at its finest.
Cortez the Killer is perhaps the best known track on this  album and it too is a knockout song. Where Dangerbird was surreal and  Barstool Blues dealt with modern day angst, this song refers back to the  brutality of the Conquistadors.
Along with Harverst, this CD stands out  as the top of Neil Young's early years and it is essential part of any  collection of his work. If you particularly like this album then you will  surely be interested in some of his later work with Crazy Horse such as  Ragged Glory.
2948616
I must admit that I'm not very familiar with the extensive Neil Young catalouge. I have been presented to his music many times, and liked a lot of what I heard; but I somehow never really got "into" it. I liked his contributions to Buffalo Springfield very much; his songs were generally by far the strongest there.

I decided to take a chance on one of his earliest solo album, and coincidentially I chose "After the Gold Rush" which could be achieved very cheap at that time.

I recognized tracks like "Southern Man" and "Don't Let it Bring You Down" but the rest of the album I had never really noticed.

"Tell Me Why", which opens the album, is song in the same vein as his world-wide hit record "Heart of Gold" - a good song, but not as good as the hit record.

Excitment begins with the title track, great tune and a highlight. The waltzy "Only Love Can Break" is also great. "Southern Man" is probably best known from the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Fout Way Street"; I think I prefer their version to this one.

His cover version of Don Gibson`s "Oh Lonesome Me" is very personal, and musically far from the orginal.

 "Don`t Let it Bring You Down" is simply great! "Birds" is also a great track - very moving!

I find the rest of the album is a little lame; "When You Dance You Can Really Love" has a good guitar-riff; but otherwise it does not do much for me. "I Believe in You" and "Cripple Creek Ferry" are just okay.

All in all this is a very good album; maybe not as outstanding as some reviewers seem to think. Unfortunately it has a rather short playing time, but that`s typical of albums from that period.
3840382
Everything that I like about Rush is brought to perfection on this 1978 release. Lengthy compositions, Geddy's trebly Rickenbacker bass and fantastic technique, Neil's excellent drumming and thoughtful lyrics and Alex Lifesons's fantastic electric/acoustic guitar work. I think it is worth noting that Geddy and Alex turn in some of their finest recorded performances on Hemispheres and the band as a whole is really in top form, with some unbelievably tight and intricate ensemble work (they use a lot of shifting and asymmetrical meters), along with the wonderful use of dynamic contrasts.

With regard to their use of dynamic contrast, I feel compelled to point out that the guys in Rush were unusually sophisticated in their approach to composition/arrangement and borrowed fairly heavily from the classic British prog bands of the early-mid 1970s. That means that on Hemispheres, along with the harder, heavy-metal aspects of the music, you will also hear quieter, delicate passages of acoustic guitar and spacey sections dominated by synthesizers - in short, some of the hallmarks of British progressive rock. Of course, Rush made it all their own by mixing in the thunderous bottom end of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, screaming electric guitars, and a high pitched heavy-metal vocal style.

In addition to excellent performances all around, I think thematically and compositionally they were right on the mark. Cygnus X-1 Book 2 (Hemispheres), which was intended to be a continuation of Cygnus X-1 from Farewell to Kings (1977), is the centerpiece of the album. This 18'04" epic ranges from thunderous and intricate ensemble work through a very spacey section that features the mini-moog and Oberheim polyphonic synthesizers, to a concluding section comprised of just acoustic guitar, the mini-moog synthesizer, and Geddy's vocals. The other tracks on the album include the heavy (yet sophisticated) track Circumstances and my personal favorite - the completely over-the-top 9'34" instrumental La Villa Strangiato. This is, in my opinion, the finest instrumental they ever wrote and Alex Lifeson's lightning fast scalar runs on the classical guitar that usher this piece in are breathtaking, not to mention Geddy's excellent bass solo. Neil of course, is a true virtuoso and I find his drumming to be inspirational - even though I am a bassist.

The Trees is another well-arranged piece that presents a fun look at successional dynamics in a forest - well for this Biologist at any rate.  I should note that this rather literal interpretation is more in keeping with Peart's original premise (as quoted in Modern Drummer magazine, April/May 1980); namely that the song is not about anything particularly deep - indeed, Neil was quoted as saying that he wanted the lyrics to impart a "cartoonish" look at trees acting like people.  As presented in the lyrics, the "oppressed" sub-canopy maples wish to form a union so that they can fight the "lofty" oaks and have more access to light.  Ultimately, the reality is that timber harvesting renders both the oaks and maples as equals in the end "by hatchet, axe and saw" so all of their bickering is in vain.  As a Biologist, I actually found this all very amusing, which is likely to have been Peart's intent.

The remastering of the CD is pretty good and features restored cover art and lyrics along with a little Rush "mini-poster", although I will always prefer my old (and dearly departed) vinyl version of Hemispheres.

This is excellent stuff that is recommended to those prog fans that do not mind elements of heavy metal mixed in with their prog along with Farewell to Kings (1977) and Permanent Waves (1980). In addition to these other albums, I would also recommend Utopia's debut album (1974).
3278985
Been a loooong time Stryper fan and have done all I can to support the work of this great musician. That said I was a little reluctant at first to get this album thinking it would be very "ballad heavy" but happily I'm here to say it's a really solid effort from him with some real meat for those who like their rock hard like me!
Really kicks off strong and doesn't ever feel like the middle of the road music I typically run from. The thing I think most prompted me to get the album was his duet with Dave Mustaine's daughter on their rendition of "Heart of Gold", I could never stand Neil Young's voice and this version is SO much better, yes he does offer a version with just himself on vocals but altogether a really strong album BUY IT!
661577
No crime on this beauty, on the contrary this double live cd hits the mark. Neil failed to tour the Bluenotes in the UK in the late 80s which was our loss. This release fills in many gaps in the 80s output from Mr Young. Highlights include an incredible Ordinary People, Crime in the City and an epic Tonights the night. NY fits quite easily into the Blues genre, with great support from some of the usual suspects, Crazy Horse stalwarts Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot, Frank Sampedro the much missed, Ben Keith and Rick Rosas. Produced by Niko Bolas and NY it forms part of the NY Archives series. The series is fast becoming must have live albums by NY at his very best. Mr Young is incredibly talkative mood and the band kicks like a mule. Don't worry about a thing this Notes for You folks.
3809572
If you're a Neil Diamond fan, get this album. If you aren't a Neil Diamond fan, come out from under your rock and get this album!

On "If I Don't See You Again" Neil sings with so much feeling, that if you aren't moved by this song, you must be dead inside. His voice and the music flow flawlessly together, and the lyrics alone are a work of art.

"Pretty Amazing Grace" is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. Its melody is infectious and I guarantee you will be humming this song to yourself after one listen!

"Don't Go There", another upbeat song, shows the "gritty" side of Neil. It has a wonderful groove to it and is definitely a toe tapper/finger snapper sort of song. And of course, there's the little laugh Neil does in the middle of the song.

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is a wonderful addition to "Another Day (That Time Forgot)". Their voices complement each other nicely, and their sincerity shows. It's a very melodic song, and like "Pretty Amazing Grace" it will crawl into your memory and stay there after just one listen.

While "One More Bite Of The Apple" is basically Neil, a guitar, and a piano, it is still a rocker. The lyrics seem to be about one more big tour, but it is definently a motivator song, and it makes you want to do something spectacular.

"Forgotten" is more of a folk/country rocker with a nice little groove. You'll definitely want to sing along to this one, you may even find yourself spelling out the title...

With "Act Like A Man", the music is soft and Neil's rough, yet smooth, voice is enough to lull you into a daydream. Don't expect to get anything done while listening to this song!

"Who's Hands Are These" is another toe tapper. Full of catchy lines and imagery, it's a sweet little song to sing to the love of your life. Or with your little one in the car.

"No Words" is so upbeat and happy that it's hard to not sing and dance. Crank it up and have fun!

"The Power Of Two" has some of the best lyrics Neil has ever written. The way he sings is wonderful, and the song has a great message. So listen up, Neil's gonna explain the mathematics of love.

On "Slow It Down", Neil does just that. It's a good warm-summer-day-on-the-front-porch-just-relaxing type of song. And he's trying to tell you something, so listen to the words and take them to heart, okay?

On "Home Before Dark", the way Neil sings could melt the frozen heart of anyone that doesn't believe in love. It's a lovely song about realizing that you love someone more than you ever thought you could. If you think that Neil wrote this song after he read your mind, and every word describes the one you love, tell that person you love them. It was meant to be.

This version of the album has two bonus cover tracks, Harry Nilsson's "Without Her" and Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love". Neil puts his own spin on these songs, but stays true to how the songs make you feel.

This version also comes with a DVD with four songs. The first two are "Pretty Amazing Grace" and "If I Don't See You Again" done in an intimate setting. The other two songs are "Forgotten" and Simon and Garfunkle's "The Boxer". These are videos of Neil recording those songs in the studio.
2136858
This CD is highly recommended for the diehard Neil Diamond fan, or even the casual fan.  23 tracks are featured here, including all the hits that made Neil famous.  Also found here are songs that have never made a CD before.  From hits such as "Solitary Man", "Kentucky Woman", and "Cherry Cherry" to album tracks like "The Long Way Home", "Someday Baby", and "I'll Come Running", this CD is a fan's dream come true.  Unfortunately, "Crooked Street" and "Shot Down" did not make this disc, so if you have the LP "Double Gold", it would be good to hang on to it.  Otherwise, a great CD that you will enjoy for years to come.  If you have not bought this CD yet, then as Mr. Diamond would say: "Do It!"
1530108
Along with the Allman Bros at Fillmore East, "Everybody Knows this is Nowhere" were the two LP's that I played over and over when I was 12 years old. I "borrowed" them from my big brother's LP collection when he was out doing the drugs & that VietNam revolution thing while I had to stay home. I later received my brothers whole collection when he passed away in a car accident when he was 23 and I was 14. Man I used to crank these songs up to 9 and a half on an old Kenwood stereo that my stepdad always played Willie and Johnny Cash on. "I proceeded to buy every Neil Young solo album and this is a great compilation if you want a Neil Young primer without hearing all the regular songs he wrote, I was suprised "Tonight's the Night" wasn't on here but every other great song Neil ever did is here in a clean sounding CD. " Like a Hurricane" makes me think of my 1st wife because it describes my relationship with her perfectly. In the Katrina and Rita aftermath it could have been written in Sept.of 2005. I would recommend this set to everyone like me that has all their Neil songs on LP and just want to hear him at his very best on every song. "Southern Man","After the Gold Rush", and "Ohio"(I read it was done in 2 takes) still hit me in the chest like they did the first time I heard them in the early seventies. I even learned to play "Needle and the Damage Done" on guitar and I'm a drummer. That's the song he wrote about Danny Whiten's heroin addiction and subsequent deathe which scared Neil straight. Just to hear that song evokes emotions that'll trounce your emotional buttons every time you hear it. Especially if you've lived it. "Rockin in the Free World" is near the end and a fitting send off of a great Neil Young set. Even if you're just a casual Neil Young listener this is the CD to have.
4533111
I first heard this song, the orchestral version, on KFOG, a San Francisco alt-rock station and I was enraptured by the lyrical beauty of the music and the timely message. I was deeply moved and started looking for it on-line.  I have always loved Neil Young and admire his commitment to so many humanitarian causes.  If you care about the environment,  or just love Neil Young, this is a must have song by an iconic legend!