Comment of the Moment by Lone Red Rider: Neil Young ARCHIVES VOL. II - 1972-1976

Zak Claxton and Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 Review in June 2009
 

Excitement continues in Rustdale over the major announcement on Neil Young Archives this past weekend of ARCHIVES VOL. II: 1972-1976, scheduled to be released on November 20.   

And while much rejoicing after a 11 year gap between NYA Vol #1 & #2, there  is  also chatter about the dreaded "Greedy Hand" with the inclusion of 3 relatively recent official releases (Roxy, Tuscaloosa,  & Homegrown).  Similarly back in 2009, there was some fan disappointment with NYA Vol #1 that there were only a few dozen or so unreleased tracks or songs.

Overall, though, -- while not to the degree of joy and dismay of ARCHIVES VOL. I in 2009, which was akin to nearly the "2nd Coming" for some -- similar reactions prevail today. 

The Comment of the Moment on ARCHIVES VOL. II: 1972-1976 Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set Out November 20 | NYA @ 9/22/2020 05:14:00 PM,  Lone Red Rider said...

I've been a student of Neil's Archives for over 30 years.

That's probably putting it mildly. There is a single quote from Neil which I believe summarizes his approach to the Archives Box Set. You'll laugh when you see how old it is. But I believe it is still relevant today:

"I'd rather be making new music. But I want to set the record straight as much as I can. Through outtakes and chosen cuts I'm going to try to bring out more of the feeling that's hidden in those records. I think I can enhance the experience by putting them all in a long line, shortening them, and changing them."

– 1989 – The Village Voice.

What Neil is talking about is his Archives Box Set series. Volume One accomplished this, plus also tried to take on the role of an actual Archive, with film, photos, articles etc. This is a major part of why it took so long to release. Now there is the NYA Website to take on the role of the "Physical Archive", but Neil still wants to "set the record straight". And so this brings us to the Vol2 Box, which has reverted from Blu-Ray back to CD.

The Vol1 and Vol2 CDs, when viewed together, are the view that Neil wants to put forth of his career. It is the story he wants to tell in his music. Viewing it like this, you can see the weight he has placed on Homegrown. It had gone from a legendary omission to a standalone disk, not watered down by other outtakes. It's the only disk in discography that he has treated with this much importance. He even broke the strict and maniacal chronology employed on VOL1 to hilight it as a whole piece. Interesting, huh? Just one of the many artistic choices he has made.

In this light, I find it very ODD that Tuscaloosa is a standalone disk in this set, but that is a topic for a later discussion....

LRR - Absolutely. You're definitely "a student of your history" and all of your insights over the years have been appreciated by us and so many neil fans around the EARTH.

Back in 2009, figuring out all the Bluray stuff was quite complicated for so many. Hopefully this time around, things go smoother.

We'll never forget those Archives Guy open thread Q&As. The info was really flowing and that was when neil seemed to get the shift that collaborating w/ his fans wasn't so bad afterall.

And here we are in the years. For many of us, the avalanche of Neil news is literally bewildering after decades in the dark.

Some one just had a LTE commenting on how lucky we are to be neil fans. So right.

You had a good comment on the previous thread by saying "It wouldn't be Neil if we had it all figured out. "

"He's a perfect stranger
Like a cross of himself and a fox
He's a feeling arranger
And a changer of the ways he talks
He's the unforeseen danger
The keeper of the key to the locks"

funny. he had himself pegged from Day #1 and never really changed.

thanks again for sharing so much, with so many, for so long.

peace

More on  ARCHIVES VOL. II: 1972-1976 Limited Edition Deluxe Box - ANNOUNCEMENT.

ARCHIVES VOL. II: 1972-1976 | NYA

 

Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About The Neil Young Archives Volume #1 But Were Afraid To Ask

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