Neil Young as "Westy": Trailer for Film '68 (1988)
So you think things are a little bit wild and crazy today?
50 years ago in 1968, the United States was in some serious upheaval. Vietnam, the assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King followed by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, inner cities in flames.
Here is the Trailer for the film '68, released 20 years after the tumultuous events of 1968. Neil Young played a small role as a biker "Westy" in the 1988 film '68. Neil's single spoken line in the film is included in the trailer below.
The film '68 includes as a backdrop, stock footage scenes of Vietnam, the assassination of Martin Luther King, the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and the "police riot" at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Labels: film, neil young
by thrasher@PermaLink: 11/06/2018 04:40:00 PM
12 comments
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"It's rock and roll all the way."
Amen
Amen, Muddy, hey hey my my.
Happy 75th birthday Joni Mitchell!
Looking forward to Neil's song Sweet Joni finally being released in Archives vol. 2 next year.
1968 was arguably one of the most difficult times in US history. But it was also a year that is where some of the greatest music ever was created. The list is extremely long but just a few classics: The Beatles White Album, Jimi Hendrix Electric Lady Land, The Doors: Waiting for the Sun: Jefferson Airplane: Crown of Creation, Jethro Tull: This Was, Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun, Mothers of Invention: We’ Only in it for the Money, The Velvet Underground 3rd, The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet, Miles Davis: In a Silent Way, and Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Everybody Knows this is Nowhere just to name a few.
Otis Redding: Dock of the Bay, Joni Mitchell: A Song for a Seagull, The Zombies: Odessy and Oracle, Moody Blues: In Search of the Lost Cord, Pink Floyd: Saucer Full of Secrets, County Joe & the Fish: I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die, Simon & Garfunkel, Bookends, John Mayall, Bare Wiers, Small Faces: Ogden’s Special Nut Gone, Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison, Herbie Hancock: Speak Like a Child, Fleetwood Mac: 1st, Canned Heat: 1st, Muddy Waters: Electric Mud, Ravi Shankar: Live at Monterey Pop Festival, Richie Havens: 1st, not to forget the amazing artists from Mowtown & Stax. A year of exquisite music from everywhere and every genre.
Thanks Dan. Good point and glad you mentioned.
We've seen this thought a few times that as bad as the 1960's were, at least they had great music.
So where are the soundtracks for today?
Well, as we've opined before -- and will again, undoubtedly...
The state of protest music today -- as we've known for sometime -- is in a pretty abysmal state, as has been well documented. (See The TRUTH Why Modern Music Is Awful — It’s More Mind Control Than Music | SITS, How Most Popular Music Keeps You In An Unconscious Egoic State | SITS.)
I feel that our challenge rests in a abundance of apathy and entitlement here in the USA. I work with the public on a daily basis and it has become obvious that many people have become self absorbed and in a way, are sleep walking through life. Technology is partly responsible by creating a need for instant access and instant gratification. I’m not making a judgment here, just my observations from my work day. I work in tourism and I meet people from all over the world and this is a global problem, yet it does seem to be more prolific here in the US.
As for protest music, I seem to think of Rap and Hip Hop artists, perhaps because most of them are coming from a place of discrimination to begin with, so those artists have felt the reality for decades. Many of the young people (teens) I meet are really only listening to pop music which is not going to deal with serious global issues. With the college kids, many of them seem more interested in the world around them and therefore more likely to get involved. As far as adults I feel like most have given up. I hope I’m wrong but it’s what I see everyday.
Neil’s music has been extremely political for most of his career, but I feel like he’s only able to sing to the choir. There are exceptions as evident in the younger fans who post on this site, but are they enough to make changes?
The sleepwalkers are holding us back and some of them hold powerful positions in government, so we have our work cut out to create REAL change.
We must each take responsibility to help, but we can only change ourselves. Be the change you want to see and the world will change. It is our only chance because if we keep going on as we have now for generations we are doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes. REAL Change is only attainable when we reconcile our differences and realize that it’s one world and one human race.
Many thanks for thoughts here Dan.
We can't disagree with much of anything you've observed. At the same time, our sense is that many folks are actually "waking up" and making the "shift", which we've refer to constantly.
It is pretty amazing that Neil had a song "Tired Eyes" from 1973 that involves this same exact subject. Our experience has been that folks always claim that they're "awake" and that they can "see". But once you dig a bit, it's evident that they're asleep. The zombie state you mention.
We're still hopeful that as more folks awaken to the true reality, that they can join us in the struggle.
you can never force someone to wake up. they have to want to be able to "see". although, it's true that most can't handle the truth all at once. it's a lifelong process.
in the meantime, light a candle, and carry on. that's all we can do.
peace
Well said. I agree wholeheartedly with you on this. We shall overcome someday, as the old spiritual has said. We are not alone. Everything in time.
Peace.
Sorry to go all prosaic on you, but "Tired Eyes" is the story of a Topanga drug deal gone bad, as detailed in "Shakey."
@ Dan - definitely not alone
@ Babbo - no problem. prosaic's ok. :)
yes, right, sure, on the surface, the song is about a drug deal gone bad.
but... underneath, the deeper meaning is to overcome the state of denial (addiction). to awaken to the reality of said addiction. To open the tired eyes is to see and be aware of one's true situation.
that said, here's a little something we just posted on Neil Young's Roadie Bruce Berry:
http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2018/11/rare-neil-youngs-roadie-bruce-berry-was.html
not to get all prosaic... :)
@Thrasher....
As someone who is closing in on 20 years sober and drug free, I understood your deeper meaning.
One of Neil’s gifts is his ability to create songs that contain infinite interpretations. It’s what separates good songwriting and great songwriting.
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