Words: Between The Line of Ages

Words: Between The Line of Ages
Art by THE PLIGHT OF THE CARTOON UTOPIAN

We have a bit of a propensity here to deal with a lot of words.

So Neil Young's song "Words" holds a special place for us as a blogger. But not just us though.

Artist Ron Regé, Jr. at his blog THE PLIGHT OF THE CARTOON UTOPIAN has a recent commission Words: Between The Line of Ages which is pretty cool. If you follow the link you can see a blowup and lots more words.

And our friend Greg M (A Friend Of Yours) has these words on "Words":

Well, you went and did it, forced me to own up to the fact that of all Neil’s LPs and CDs the one I don't own is Red Rocks. If I'm not mistaken, I had it for about two weeks before it got stuck in a CD player and I never replaced it. Also if I'm not mistaken, I saw the Neil With Friends tour stop outside Detroit. I remember being blown away by the set list which included at least two or three songs I had never heard before in 30+ concerts ( “I Believe In You”, for one), and several songs that were real set list rarities, as well, although I do not recall if he played Words that night.

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely go out and get the CD as funds permit, and as Borders 50% off offers come available. The JTTP version is not stellar by any stretch, just a fondly recalled funky album side cut from a funky album. The Harvest version is pretty low key due to Neil’s back problems at the time, I think, but still so well executed. Now I am anxious to hear the Red Rocks version. If the guitar breaks are anything like “On The Beach” as Junkman Shining Shoes seems to intimate, then I'm really intrigued, because I agree that that is some of his best recorded guitar work- crisp, melodic and bluesy, and unadorned by any wall of sound treatment- a lot like his guitar playing from a Shocking Pinks concert I saw.

By the way, while we’re on the subject of best versions, in my list of gem moments from JTTP, I neglected to single out what for me is Neil’s best Mr. Soul version. One time I played back all the versions I had with a friend- the Buffalo Springfield album release, Trans, and JTTP, and we both thought the JTTP version was the most vibrant and “in the pocket” version. The live concert sound of the guitar lead is incredible. The version from Canterbury House does nothing to change this for me. I believe Thrasher has posted this version in one of the Buffalo Springfield focus pieces (Stills opening up with “For What It’s Worth”, I think, with a seated Neil getting up and breaking into Mr. Soul, although the JTTP cut has a much better sound quality than the video clip) . Check it out sometime, you might agree.

Thanks again- Greg M

Thanks Greg & CARTOON UTOPIAN!



"Words" by Neil Young @ Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada concert on April 7, 2009.

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