- Out on the Weekend
- Harvest
- A Man Needs a Maid
- Heart of Gold
- Are You Ready for the Country?
- Old Man
- Theres a World
- Alabama
- The Needle and the Damage Done
- Words (Between the Lines Of Age)
amazon
Proclaiming his intentions with "Are You Ready for the Country?" Young detoured briefly to the Nashville mainstream. On this No. 1 1972 album, even the singer's acquired-taste voice comes across smooth and beautiful--the smash "Heart of Gold," with steel guitars and Linda Ronstadt's backup vocals, is by far Young's most commercial-sounding song. His usual dissonant touches, like the otherworldly guitar in "Out on the Weekend," are less spooky in this new context. The last two tracks, the deceptively gentle "The Needle and the Damage Done" and the hypnotic rocker "Words (Between the Lines of Age)," predict "Tonight's the Night," Young's haunted 1975 classic.
all music guide
Neil Young's most popular album, Harvest employs a number of jarringly different styles. Much of it is country-tinged, although there is also an acoustic track, a couple of electric guitar-drenched rock performances, and two songs on which Young is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra. But the album does have an overall mood and an overall lyric content, and they conflict with each other: The mood is melancholic, but the songs mostly describe the longing for and fulfillment of new love. Young's concerns are perhaps most explicit on the controversial "A Man Needs a Maid," which contrasts the fears of committing to a relationship with simply living alone and hiring help. Over and over, he sings of the need for love in such songs as "Out on the Weekend," "Heart of Gold," and "Old Man," and the songs are unusually melodic and accessible; the rock numbers "Are You Ready for the Country" and "Alabama" are in Young's familiar style and unremarkable, and "There's a World" and "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" are ponderous and overdone. But the love songs and the harrowing portrait of a friend's descent into heroin addiction, "The Needle and the Damage Done," remain among Young's most affecting and memorable songs.
Internet Ed
On Harvest, Neil Young took his music in a deliberately country influenced direction, relying on simple acoustic chord progressions rather than grungy hook riffs. Even the production reflects Young's change in direction, as the dry vocals and rough guitars from previous albums were hocked for reverberant vocals and clean acoustics. Regardless, Young's loose compositional style is still intact and numerous improvisations are evident from both the man himself and his backing group, the Stray Gators. Though many people might be turned off from the record due to the country stereotype, those who give it a shot are often pleasantly surprised. This music, like all of Young's before it, works on a subconscious level, putting you at ease and allowing you to enjoy the majestic simplicity and directness of it.
Harvest begins with the sublime "Out On The Weekend" with its steel slide guitars and addictive rhythm, and the title track sees Young's voice in top shape over a quiet, acoustic musical background. The whispery "A Man Needs A Maid" incorporates beautiful symphonic melodies in moderation over the piano and vocals, while the ever-popular "Heart Of Gold" is driven by great chord progressions and accentuated by thick bass, steel guitar, and piercing harmonica. Another Young classic, the softly sung "Old Man" is a great song rich in thought-provoking lyrics and classic country-rock melody lines, while "There's A World" once again uses symphonic instruments to provide the musical canvas for Young's poetic lyrics. Like one of Young's previous songs, "Southern Man," "Alabama" criticizes racism, though the music of this song is lighter and less grungy than former of the two, while the emotional "The Needle And The Damage Done" follows up with cautionary anti-drug lyrics sung over a single acoustic guitar. Lastly, "Words (Between The Lines Of Age)" is a lengthy country-rock tune complete with steel guitar and moderately played piano over a poignant solo guitar. Harvest is an essential: a true classic even among Neil Young's multitudes of great records. Summary: Classic country/folk record accompanied by Young's heartfelt lyrics
super 70's
Well, Neil Young has finally graced us with a new album and, as was expected, it's a gem. It's been a year and a half since After The Gold Rush, and while Neil's compatriots, CS&N, have been turning out their own solo ventures, Neil Young, again, firmly established his unique musical genius. His haunting tenor, vividly coherent lyrics, seemingly simple music and superb instrumental and vocal support coalesce into a flowing pastiche of musical brilliance.
Young continues to write original and memorable tunes, many of which have an air of familiarity to them; that's due to his atypical distinctive style. As seen on "The Needle And The Damage Done," Young's lyrics are terse and full of lucid observations. The latter song is a strong anti-hard drug message, wrapped up in a lilting, melodic musical package. The production work, shared by Neil Young, Elliot Mazer, Jack Nitzsche and Henry Lewy, is impeccable. Some of the recording was done in Nashville, with backing provided by the Stray Gators (and top Nashville session men Ben Keith, Kenny Buttrey and Tim Drummond along with Mr. Nitzsche). Two of the tunes, "A Man Needs A Maid" and "There's A World," were recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, and to the credit of Nitzsche, the orchestra is tastefully employed. As an added bonus, there is background and vocal harmonies from James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and David Crosby.
Billboard
Harvest has been the most anxiously awaited album of the year and it is indeed an admirable showcase for the genius of Mr. Neil Young. His melodies are hypnotically insistent, framed in lyrics that have a strange drifting quality. He is joined by CS&N, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and backed by the Stray Gators. "Old Man," "Alabama," and "Out on the Weekend" seem instant successes. "Heart of Gold" is, of course, included.
keno
In my opinion, this is Neil Young's best work. Every song is good, and some of the songs are perfectly done. Whenever I am down, I put this on, and I seem to feel a lot better. I usually put on 'Old Man', 'Heart Of Gold', 'A Man Needs A Maid', 'The Needle And The Damage Done', or 'Words'. I think that Neil Young is one of the greatest song writers of all time. This album displays his awesome lyrics, beautiful guitar work, chilling piano, and heartful harmonica. Crazy Horse is a great band, and it shows on this album. 'Old Man's' lyrics are great, the banjo is cool, and the guitar is very full. 'Heart Of Gold' is a great all around song, with a great harmonica part, along with great guitars. 'A Man Needs A Maid' is perfect, the lyrics are great along with all the string instruments. 'The Needle And The Damage Done' is a song that was made for just Neil, and his guitar(This song was recorded live at Royce Hall). Words follows the applause that ends 'Needle And The Damage Done', this song is just awesome.
Well, here is my song by song rating. 'Out On The Weekend'(9.5), 'Harvest'(9), 'A Man Needs A Maid'(10), 'Heart Of Gold' (10), 'Are You Ready For The Country?'(9.5), 'Old Man'(10), 'There's A World'(9.5), 'Alabama'(9.5), 'The Needle And The Damage Done'(10), 'Words'(10). So, all around, Harvest is a great album, with great songs, and some under-appreciated songs. The reason I gave this album a 10, instead of a 9.5 (this album got a 9.7), is because this sounds like nothing else before it. I think that this is my 2nd favorite album of all time, following Dark Side Of The Moon. 10/10
Adrian’s Album Reviews
"I saw the needle and the damage done". Danny Whitten the Crazy Horse guitar player, ended up tragically dying and his use of drugs played the major part in that. Neil had actually fired Crazy Horse as his backing band, 'Harvest' came to be recorded in Nashville with a team of top session players dubbed 'The Stray Gators'. Of course, Neil being Neil, he was difficult. The drummer had an especially hard time and ended up playing very simply, no fancy fills or nothing - Neil didn't want that. He gets these bunch of guys in and ends up trying to get them to play like Crazy Horse! Well, not quite, but all simple stuff. There's a sense of space in all of the songs here. Simple arrangements, simple songs. Two songs are more elaborate, featuring full orchestral arrangements, 'A Man Needs A Maid' and 'There's A World'. The dark and very honest plea of the haunting 'Needle And The Damage Done' was recorded live and the closing 'Words' sounds like Neil Young and Crazy Horse - a little distorted guitar along the way, the only such moment on the entire album, it sounds like it belongs to a different album, yet it still fits. Following the stark 'Needle And The Damage Done', jumping to this thing - it works in the context of the album, emotionally, it sends a listener all over the place. 'Harvest', an album with the very radio friendly and huge hit 'Heart Of Gold', an album with a first two thirds that were pretty mellow and nice and an album that sold by the truckload, ending with these two blasts of darkness.
The title song is the best thing here, Neil sounds yearning and the lyrics are very evocative. The steel guitar, the piano - the backing track is perfectly done, beautifully felt - a real classic song, no question. Much of the album was written whilst Neil was in love, a new blooming love affair. Which explains the overall softer tone of the record, perhaps. I'm not quite sure it explains 'A Man Needs A Maid' with its lyrical plea that Neil wants "Just someone to keep my house clean - fix my meals and go away." Still, the orchestral arrangement is beautiful, rising briefly into a wall of strings through the middle of the song. 'Heart Of Gold' is a nice tune, well played, well sung. A number one hit song! As was the album. Bob Dylan was pissed off, feeling that 'Heart Of Gold' may as well have been him, that it sounded like him. Bob wasn't doing so well in 1972 - for awhile at least, Neil was top of the game. Still, Neil Young being Neil Young? You think he gave the ( now very pleased at having a best selling artist ) record company what they wanted or expected??
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