Neil Young and David Crosby
Some news on upcoming recording of Neil Young's new album from RollingStone.com by Andy Greene.
Neil Young is reportedly in the studio with Producer Daniel Lanois. Lanois has worked with countless artists, including Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan and U2, among others. Album's working title is "Twisted Road".
David Crosby said:
"Neil told me last week that he was having a great time talking music with him and just relating to him [Lanois].From 2004 interview with Daniel Lanois:
"I think that Neil's been a little lonely for someone to interact that way because his best buddy [Filmmaker/ProducerL.A. Johnson] died and that just really left a hole there. The guy's paid an awful lot of dues, man. I suspect this will be a very heartfelt record. I expect it will be a very special record.
"He does that [solo acoustic] thing probably better than anybody.
"One of my most favorite concerts of his was him at the Wiltern in Los Angeles. He had a circle of his guitars around him and a chair, and he walked out there and sang. It was mesmerizing. He's a fantastic musician, but also a great storyteller. I was standing there in the wings with Bob Dylan. He and I are huge Neil fans, and we didn't move. We stood there the entire concert and just watched. We were as mesmerized as much as the audience was."
Kenley: You have stated you would be interested in producing Neil Young. Is that true?
Daniel: Yes, I have always been fascinated with Neil Young. He's a great storyteller, there is such imagination in his music.
Kenley: How do you imagine a Lanois produced Neil Young recording?
Daniel: I don't know what it would be. I wouldn't know until we had it done. It's almost better not to imagine. Preconception can get you into trouble.
Kenley: Where do you call home?
Daniel: Well, I usually say to people, I like wherever I am. I still maintain that. I can sort of set up shop, make friends, and be a contributor to a community pretty quick. I enjoy that part of my character. Obviously, I am a Canadian, and that is probably where I feel my roots are most connected. But, I like moving around and being inspired by other cultures.
As long as I can keep making a contribution to those places where I visit, I hope to keep doing that for the rest of my life. There are responsibilities that come with [moving around]. I see myself as an ambassador of sorts trying to spread as much good will as possible and leave anyplace in a better state than I found it in.
Thanks Jacques-Eric!
He said, "What we have got here is a perfect track"
- Crime in the City
The latest news seems to be resonating well across the internets and social networks in Twitterville.
Neil Young's "Twisted Road" lies ahead.
I'm sure the Neil purists will squeal but this is the most exciting news I've heard since the long awaited release of the archives. Lanois is a great producer. The two albums he did with Dylan are his best works in the last 25 years. I'm looking forward to a moody, swampy, version of Neil!
ReplyDeleteNO WAY! THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Neil definitely needed a different producer, a different perspective...Briggs is missed. Looking forward to a GREAT Neil record. We all could use one. Can't Wait!
ReplyDeleteROCK ON NEIL!
Silver and Gold solo acoustic is some of my favorite, most heartfelt stuff. If Neil's got the change of surrounding and pace to really let what's inside come out again, we're all in for a real treat.
ReplyDeleteFirst time NY is produced by a Canadian, right?
ReplyDeleteHIP, perhaps you might want to add, since he left Canada. (Let's not forget those great tracks from the Squires and Neil before he followed the snowbirds across the border)
ReplyDeleteLanding on Water
I saw an interview with Daniel Lanoise a while back, he said that he never calls people to work with, they call him.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked who he has wanted to work with, but, has never called, he said Neil Young has never called me. He clearly has now !
This is unbelievable news, Danny is a superbly talented producer and musician.
Thrasher you beat me - didn't see this until this morning on that awful new Rolling Stone website.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but I think this is outstanding news. Lanois has a long list of artistic achievements - the U2 sound with Brian Eno perhaps among his best.
And who could disagree with Crosby's comments? We're all anticipating a special tour to understate it a bit. I recently put on the Silver and Gold DVD from Neil's last solo tour in 2000. Wow. I sure hope he brings his piano(s).
Long awaited dream comes true.
ReplyDeleteI've been listening to alot of Lanois' solo work lately and although some of it is great, other songs don't work so well. His production work, however, has always been top-notch. Although I believe Rolling Stone called the Unforgettable Fire one of the worst albums ever, I love it primarily because of Lanois' production.
ReplyDeleteI've been hoping Neil performs one of Peter Gabriel's songs ("Here Comes the Flood" would be my choice) on this tour as part of the "Scratch my Back/I'll Scratch Yours" collaboration. Of course Lanois is another link between the two artists, having produced "So."
Isn't it wonderful how Neil, at almost 65, is pushing himself with new collaborations, new music, and new tours? Another of Lanois' trademarks is the commercial nature of his work. I wouldn't begrudge Neil one bit if "Twisted Road" turned out to be a huge commercial success.
Oh, and the song I want to hear most next month? "New Mama"
We can almost say "this month".
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect setlistthief, it would be just fine with me if Neil performs zero songs by Peter Gabriel and he scratches his back on another occasion.
ReplyDeleteJust not a fan at all.
Of course Neil could make anything great so what do I know?
After becoming "experienced" by the solo Harvest Moon tour a while back, and of course all of the insights this 'Wheatfield" has taught me, I now anticipate many new tunes on the Twisted Road which Neil will bestow on the serfs of fandomhood before committing to recording in the studio. Life is good. Buffalo/Shea's here I come.
ReplyDeleteJonathan-
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm one of those "Neil could sing the Yellow Pages" kind of fans, so I'm not exactly objective either.
I did like Gabriel's take on "Philadelphia," but there is nothing like the original. And though I'm a huge PG fan, I do think Neil would do a fantastic interpretation of just about any of PG's work (just not "Sledgehammer").
So will Twisted Road be released before or after Toast, or will we ever see Toast!
ReplyDeleteSetlistthief - I think it was the video for 'Sledgehammer' that sent me over the edge into really despising PG. But I do respect his work with Genesis - again it's just not for me. I didn't know he'd covered 'Philadephia'.
ReplyDeleteIf Neil breaks out 'Philadelphia' on the upcoming tour, I can die happy. I'm working on dying happy anyways. Peace.
Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteRegarding Philadelphia cover, see Peter Gabriel's "Scratch My Back".
Life is good. No complaints here.
ReplyDeleteI'd always thought that I (the audience, I mean) would have to be the one to adapt to the artist, not the other way around.
Have to agree this is interesting, good (?) news. I only discovered Dan Lanois on youtube by accident a while ago and had no idea he was a producer of U" etc. I was bowled over by his solo stuff that had me immediately liking his guitar style, so similar to Neil's, has a 'Dead Man' feel.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he won't be tempted to do the U2 pop thing in this instance and perhaps we might get yet another electric direction!
Check out this sound check:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewaS2RrxQiA
Nick
I met Daniel Lanois backstage at a DMB concert. I respected him for his work with Dylan and Rinks Ramblings is on with his comment. Meeting Mr. Lanois was a treat, a we conversed I felt as though the man was not only a musical gift from heaven, but also a gift to mankind. I think they (Neil and Daniel) will jell well.
ReplyDeleteNeil, wait till you're 95 before working with Rick Rubin!
ReplyDeleteCan not wait for the solo tour! THREE WEEKS!! Last time (1999), Neil did play Philadelphia! It was awesome.
Heard a rumor the other day that the new record will all be sung in French.
ReplyDeleteParle vouz France, Wheaties?
Wonder if touring with Bert Jansch will inspire Neil to play some Ambulance Blues style guitar on Twisted Road.That would be GREAT!!Ambulance Blues is one of my favorite songs.
ReplyDeleteRancho Relaxo