Neil Young's Handwritten Setlist: 1983 “Solo Trans” Tour, 1st Show
Neil Young's handwritten setlist for the 1st Show on the 1983 “Solo Trans” Tour (see 1983-01-05, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz) reveals some interesting, last minute song changes.
The handwritten by Neil Young setlist of songs includes “Comes a Time”, “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”, “Cowgirl in the Sand” and “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”, while scratching out "My Boy", "Ready for the Country" and others.
From the letter of authenticity from longtime Neil Young associate and archivist Joel Bernstein via Record Mecca:
“This letter is to authenticate Neil Young’s handwritten preliminary setlist for his January 5, 1983 show at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This was the first show of his 1983 Solo Trans Tour.More on Neil Young's 1983 “Solo Trans” Tour.
I photographed Neil Young for the first time at his first East Coast show with Crazy Horse, at the Bitter End in New York City, in February 1969. I went on to work with Neil extensively, as both his and CSNY’s tour photographer, and shooting him for eighteen of his album covers (including After The Gold Rush, Harvest, Time Fades Away, Tonight’s The Night, Decade and Rust Never Sleeps) plus numerous other official projects including publicity, advertising, songbooks, posters, et al. On various tours from 1973-1993, I also worked with Neil as his guitar technician; and served as his archivist for 20 years, researching and presenting him with every source for audio, artwork and text used in his massive box set Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972.
During the course of working for Neil, he gave me various acetates, test pressings, set lists and other memorabilia. Neil knew I was a collector and he wasn’t, so once he was done with things like this, instead of throwing it away, he often gave it to me. This is from my personal collection.
Sincerely,
Joel Bernstein
Also, more on Joel Bernstein and Neil Young's Archives.
Labels: joel bernstein, neil young, setlist, trans
6 Comments:
WOW! Thanks fer the burn down memory lane......
My first Neil show. Feb 23, 1983 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
I can NO longer say I remember it like yesterday, but still, there are memories....
"Scalping" (for $30 ea) a pair of $8 EIGHTH ROW Floor seats, moments before the show was to go on. Don't even know if he had an opener? It was SOOO cold outside, we didn't haggle. went there w/o tickets, weren't planning on spending that much (No $ left fer merch.)
I had the Trans album, Decade album & a copy of "Hawks & Doves" in the cassette deck, along for the ride. Turns out that's all I needed. Very eclectic performer. moved seamlessly from instrument to instrument, singing thru his harmonica rig. until he wasn't. The rig was swapped for what I've come to know as a "Vocoder". On came the New wave Black shades & out came Ol' Black. An "evening with Neil Young, Solo, Acoustic" had morphed into so much more. But only for one or two songs. That persona would later re-appear performing some familiar classics. What a great show. I was hooked, for Life! Have Not missed him since, often on multiple outings, in the Tri-State region. I also began wearing a Beige Corduroy jacket with Dark brown elbow patches b/c of Neil. I was a college student. In Heaven.
Looks like "My Boy" was added, not scratched out - it was played that night, for the first time ever (though "Are You Ready For the Country" was not): http://www.sugarmtn.org/show.php?show=198301050
Does anyone have a recording of Neil playing California Sun to share? Alan in Seattle
Joel Bernstein doesn't get enough credit for his immense contribution to Neil's legacy. He kind of reminds me of the William Miller character from Almost Famous. I admire him alot.
Hmmmm......long time Thrasher's Wheat contributor Jeff Michael P. seemed to have a slightly different appreciation when he closed down his invaluable Sidestreet Records website. Of course I'm not privy to the disagreement he had with Joël B. but it appears that there's more to the picture than meets the eye....
Neil Young SOLO was to be my first concert by Neil. It was scheduled for the Portland Colosseum but was cancelled due to Neil getting sick. I still have the poster hanging on the wall, but I wish I would have kept the tickets but I returned them for a refund.
Peace
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