A Message From Neil Young: A PANDEMIC AND A RARE GIFT

A Message From Neil Young:  A PANDEMIC AND A RARE GIFT | NYA

 

A major update from  Neil Young on the upcoming Archives Volume #3.

From A Message From Neil Young:  A PANDEMIC AND A RARE GIFT | NYA:

JOHNNY’S ISLAND, OCEANSIDE-COUNTRYSIDE ( the origin of ‘Comes a Time’), GIVE TO THE WIND ORCHESTRA live at Nashville Musician’s Union Hall with the whole orchestra and the wonderful Nicolette Larson. What a giant recording - 10 or eleven songs with the orchestra, Nicolette and I singin’ live. Truly a great find! The Archives is deep! Then ‘THE BOARDING HOUSE’ record and film - a moment of captured time we had never even reviewed! We went though it all in that cabin on the lake as the pandemic raged on. We put together the record based on Joel Bernstein’s original performance notes. Joel is brilliant here. Then I found the ‘BOARDING HOUSE’ movie - a continuous document of one show beginning to end. Magical to have this!

As the winter howled outside, and the lake was covered with ice, we went back and rebuilt the original OLD WAYS record, better than the released one by a lifetime. With the time to listen to all the takes from everywhere during the period, we made a great and soulful record which hardly resembled the released one. I’m so glad we did that. Many unreleased songs and tracks were found and included. So beautiful! At the same time, Micah Nelson and I were finishing the TRANS ANIMATED MOVIE, finally telling the whole story behind TRANS as it was originally envisioned, enhanced with Micah’s masterful ideas and animation. That was followed by ‘LIVE FREEDOM’ - an acoustic live recording with just me, Ben Keith and Poncho Sampedro in Europe. I love this record. That brought us to the end of Volume 3. 1990.

Now I started looking at the films.

‘CRAZY HORSE WORLD TOUR 1976’ Tokyo Budokan and London Odeon Hammersmith,
BOARDING HOUSE by Bernard Shakey, 1978
RUST NEVER SLEEPS by Bernard Shakey, 1979
HUMAN HIGHWAY by Bernard Shakey and Dean Stockwell, 1982
TRANS ANIMATED MOVIE by Micah Nelson and Neil Young, current
BERLIN by Michael Lindsay Hogg, 1982
SOLO TRANS by Hal Ashby, 1984
IN A RUSTED OUT GARAGE by LA JOHNSON and B SHAKEY, 1986

We started compiling the pieces and put together a CD set (12) and a Blu-Ray set (9) for NYA Volume lll. The Blu-Ray has every song on the CD set. Some Blu-Rays feature movies and records.

Full statement on A Message From Neil Young:  A PANDEMIC AND A RARE GIFT | NYA.

Also, see more on future plans on Neil Young Archives Patron Tier Pay Off Comes Quick.

Neil Young Zooms Into Patrons

(See  Neil Young Archives Patron Tier Pay Off Comes Quick.)

image via Rusted Moon

More on upcoming releases -- or an "avalanche of an embarrassment of riches" --  on Expecting to Calculate Neil Young 2021: Numbers Add Up To Nothin' ... or "A Rusties Holy Grail".

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Notes on Neil Young Album "Young Shakespeare" - A Telegram from the Scotsman

Young Shakespeare by Neil Young   

FROM: The "Inextinguishable Scotsman"

TO: Thrasher — my notes on "Young Shakespeare" are below. Thanks, and see you at TW!

Scotsman

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NEWSFLASH!

Neil was right.

Young Shakespeare *is* markedly different to the more famous Massey Hall album from the same tour in 1971.

At least part of this is down to production differences. Massey Hall is a more punchy and polished-sounding recording. It's very upfront...a classic David Briggs mix. Whereas Young Shakespeare sounds more like a well-worn bootleg — soft and hazy and dream-like.

Massey Hall has a cutting edge where Young Shakespeare floats on the breeze. And where Massey Hall is intense, Young Shakespeare is often more relaxed; aloof and distant, at times.

Now, I've been listening to Young Shakespeare via streaming on NYA. But I think this is the sort of album that should really be played on a proper record player on a snowy winter's evening.

There's a warmth to the inviting, crackly analog sound (and the performance) that really feels like a "journey through the past". This music isn't coming to you, in 2021: you're going back to it.

As for me, I wasn't even around in 1971. But I feel like I was, listening to this record.

We're travelling back before social media, back before the internet. Before mobile phones and blogs and instant messaging. Back when Neil hadn't written Like A Hurricane, and the World Trade Center's twin towers were still being built.

It's overwhelming, thinking of all the things still to come. Some good, some horrific.

Here's a question for you, out of curiosity:

Does 1971 feel like it was a very long time ago? Or the opposite: does it feel like it was yesterday?

For me, it feels like a different world entirely.

Is it possible to have nostalgia for a time you never knew? This record proves the answer is "yes".

Young Shakespeare isn't all warmth and cosiness. Certainly, Neil's spoken song-intro about heroin addicts (before The Needle And The Damage Done) should send a shiver down your spine:

"The ones I know, aren't dead yet."

Of course, at the same time this music was innocently dancing between the walls of the Shakespeare Theatre (a venue that, in my imagination, has velvet seats and friendly, uniformed staff), Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten was still living his life.

Tuscaloosa, meanwhile (a half-dead and borderline-depressing concert album from 1973), was recorded only about 10 weeks or so after Danny died from an overdose. And you don't have to listen to more than 30 seconds of the first track of Tuscaloosa to hear the difference in Neil's mental health.

The highlights of Young Shakespeare? For me, two tracks stand out.

A Man Needs A Maid is the first. It feels like the hard-hitting centerpiece, and the multi-layered piano arrangement shifts the record into a 3D experience. I love Neil's spoken song intro, too, where he sounds totally relaxed whilst enthusing to the audience.

The other stand-out track is Down By The River.

In its greatest electric performances (e.g. Bronco Bowl 1989), this song often attacks the listener like a cleaver-wielding maniac. Here, it seduces you down to the river before hiding your body inside a hollowed-out tree stump.

You'll listen to this version and find yourself haunted by it, days later.

Yes, it's true: there is a lot of violence in the world. There's horrific violence even in that non-vegan hamburger you just ate — for God's sake.

And there's even violence in the innocent world of 1971. Even within the safe space of the Shakespeare Theatre that we've temporarily found ourselves huddled together in.

We can't stay here forever. Sooner or later, we need to get back to 2021. I feel a bit sad as I write these words. And I sense you are feeling it, too.

I think Down By The River is a fitting end to this record. A powerful place to stop — on a (chilling) high.

But there's one more song, Sugar Mountain, which attempts to restore some cheer via a crowd sing-along. Neil is both relaxed and funny, here. But he's also just too "inward" to make this sort of thing work.

Of course, that's unfair: it probably *did* work well, live in the venue.

But I'm not in the venue! I'm here in 2021.

Or am I?

Listening to this record, it's hard to be sure. That's what I keep coming back to as I write this column. Time doesn't seem to matter too much. I've been writing now for a half-hour. Or is it an hour? Am I in 1971 or 2021? I've lost track.

Young Shakespeare has that sort of hypnotic effect. Hypnotic and magical.

Can a record be melancholy, cheerful, nostalgic, intense, tragic and relaxed — all at the same time? Give Young Shakespeare a few listens before sharing with me your answer.

Scotsman.

__________

FROM: Thrasher

TO: The "Inextinguishable Scotsman" 

Most excellent, sir.  Thanks for sharing your "notes"! 

We have given YS a spin or 2 and have watched the video films.  It still really stuns us all these years later how one man w/ an acoustic guitar could quell a large rowdy audience back in those turbulent times with new, unheard songs.  

It always struck as sheer bravery.  No band. No props. No effects.

So melancholy, cheerful, nostalgic, intense, tragic and relaxed?  All of the above, like water-washed diamonds on that rusted beach.

What is that they say about critics and sitting alone? Well, you're definitely much better than us for what you've shown.

Glad you're here Scotsman. As Meta Rocker would say:  om shanti

More on "Young Shakespeare" Album by Neil Young - Preview Track + Video: "Tell Me Why".

Young Shakespeare Deluxe (CD, LP & DVD) 

Neil Young's new release  "Young Shakespeare" is now available.

Order here

(Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link . Thank you!!!)

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Neil Young Archives Patron Tier Pay Off Comes Quick

Neil Young Zooms Into Patrons

via Rusted Moon

The pay off came quickly for the members of the Neil Young Archives Patron tier.

With the recent announcement of Neil Young Archives Membership Tiers: Rust & Patron, more details have been forthcoming on  the  features and perks of membership.  Yesterday, NYA Patron tier members were invited to an exclusive Zoom meeting with the NYA Team and Neil Young himself.  Neil spent about a half hour personally answering questions from over 200+ NYA Patrons. 

 

Neil Young Archives: Don't Cry No "Tiers" Around Us 

 

From a comment posted on   "I watched the needle take another man": Neil Young Takes The Jab by Greyrider:

The patron call was a lovely surprise and very homespun. 

Neil answered questions submitted in the chat that were then asked to him by moderator Bonnie and a few other of the NYA team. Takeaways to share the love with you all:

- Neil looks great.
- The NYA team all seem like a wonderful group of people.
- NYA III will span the period from late 1976 to the early 90s(!).
- NYA III will come available in CD or Blu-Ray(!). All music on the CDs will be on the Blu-Rays as well.
- Noise + Flowers at the end of this year. It sounds like a tribute to Elliott.
- Boarding House may be package, with a movie (!), entire show and a collection that Neil is working on with Niko and Joel. He is listening to it now and looks like a 2022 release.
- Neil is releasing so much, so quickly, because he wants to control it and do it his way.
- Neil is not sure if 60-0 should go on Road of Plenty or be released separately. He doesn't feel it fits Road of Plenty but because we are all nagging him to release it (letters to the editor work!) he is seriously considering it anyway.
- If not there, he talked about this cool idea of a 33 single made to look like a 45 with 60-0 on one side and Ordinary People on the other. Sweet.
- Neil wants to get back in the studio in June with Nils(!).

Stay safe everyone. Get vaccinated. Spring is here and we can start dreaming about going back to gigs and doing normal stuff like hugging. 

Thanks so much for the report GreyRider!  Definitely all T-Bone and little mashed potatoes, if you catch our drift.  

UPDATE: More details in comments below.

So thrilled for all the members of the Neil Young Archives Patron tier!  It certainly is a new day for Neil fans after earlier decades of a virtual info drought.

Also, see recent announcement of Neil Young Archives Membership Tiers: Rust & Patron.

More on upcoming releases -- or an "avalanche of an embarrassment of riches" --  on Expecting to Calculate Neil Young 2021: Numbers Add Up To Nothin' ... or "A Rusties Holy Grail".

"A Rusties Holy Grail" 

WHERE AM I ? | NYA

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MASTER CLASS: Neil Young Speaks On Failure, Songwriting and Doubt

Jonathan Demme and Neil Young in Park City, Utah - 2012

 

In 2012, Neil Young and filmmaker Jonathan Demme held a "Master Class" at the Slamdance Film Festival.

In their dialogue about their life and art, Young and Demme shared thoughts on making the documentary film Neil Young Journeys,  as well as, Neil discussing failure, songwriting and doubt. 

 

“First of all, you have to trust yourself, there’s nobody else that matters.

It’s over if you start looking at other people, that’s what I think. The other thing that you have to be willing to do, and you have to be ready to embrace it and accept it and really open it into your life with open arms with wide-vision is failure.

Be sure to welcome failure, say, ‘You’re okay with me failure, come on in.’ Because then you have no fear, if you have no fear and you believe in yourself and only listen to yourself then you are number one. Everything else is behind you. Your name is on it, it’s your life, it’s your film. 

Everybody else be damned.

If you doubt what you’re doing, then fuck it, don’t do it and live with that. Why do something if you doubt it’s what you should be doing? What do you want to do? What is the way that you want to do it? Is somebody telling you to do something a certain way that you don’t want to and doubt if this is the right way, or do you doubt if this is something worth making a film about? 

Those two things, that’s taboo. Doubt, no.”

 

 

Also see, Coffee with Neil Young and Jonathan Demme (#1 of 4 parts).

Segment #2 of Coffee with Neil Young and Jonathan Demme at Slamdance Festival

Also, see Neil Young Journeys Film Premiere.

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"I watched the needle take another man": Neil Young Takes The Jab

Neil Young | Instagram

Neil Young has taken the needle, per his Instagram. (Thanks Rusted Moon!)

Along with his six justifications, is a photo of his wife Darryl Hannah in the film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" as Nurse Elle Driver (see #1 justification above).

 

Darryl Hannah as Elle Driver, "Kill Bill Vol. 1"

via  Neil Young | Instagram

 

 

Darryl Hannah in the film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" as Nurse Elle Driver

 

“Dying in her sleep is a luxury that our kind is rarely afforded.” 

Nurse Elle Driver 

member: DEADLY VIPER ASSASSINATION SQUAD

codename: CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN SNAKE

 

We do find this film quite disturbing and creepy. But it's MIRAMAX, so what else would one expect from Producer Harvey Weinstein & Director Quentin Tarantino?

And why on EARTH would Neil post this image of his actress wife Daryl to go with his image of taking the jab?

Well, very, very hopefully,  no damage done ...

"I sing the song because I love the man

 I know that some of you don't understand"

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"RUST BUCKET" DVD Audio Issues: Neil Young Owns It and Steps Up - UPDATED

RUST BUCKET DVD AUDIO? | T-C | NYA

Neil Young is stepping up on the issue regarding the DVD audio on ‘Way Down in the Rust Bucket’. (Thanks Harm & Road Dawg!)

As background, a TW reader commented back in February on the audio concerns on the DVD versus the CD, LP or hi-res files. The TW commenter -- Mr. Harm -- then followed up directly with NYA with a Letter to Editor to which Neil Young personally responds.

Neil Young's response is noteworthy in its transparency, honesty, accountability, and integrity.  

From RUST BUCKET DVD AUDIO? | T-C | NYA:

3-20-21

Hi Neil,
First of all, my compliments on the sound of Way Down in the Rust Bucket, the Hi-Res sounds awesome and of course it's a killer show, ragged but right!
However, the sound differs greatly from the video that's in the Hearse Theatre and the DVD, which seems to have a much narrower stereo image and more low end compared to the CD and Hi-Res. When the videos were previewed weekly last year they did have the wider stereo image. What happened?
Best regards,
Harm (from the Netherlands).

Dear Harm
I know what happened.

I thought you were listening on NYA to the live production sound of the RUST BUCKET at Catalyst - ie camera mics and PA leakage - a very exciting and rough sound. Then we (J Hanlon) mixed the master multi-track for the record that many folks love. When we tried the record mix for the DVD, I thought it was too smooth and not live enough like the NYA presentation was. At that point we did some customized mastering to the record mix to make it sound more like the live camera audio I thought you were hearing on NYA. That was my BIG mistake. On NYA, you were actually hearing the real J Hanlon master mixes we did for the album, except at a lower resolution.

This whole thing was my error. I own it. I was working alone at the time and did not have a full audio team to advise me. One of them would have pointed out to me that the mixes people loved on NYA were the record masters at a lower resolution (because we needed lower res to stream easily). - NOT the camera audio I thought you were hearing on NYA. My bad.

So, I agree with you! The sound on the DVD is not as good as it should be or could have been.

If you write us back and give us an address and a pic of your DVD we will send you a new free version with the NYA sound you love on it. We are making a special edition of Rust Bucket with that great audio track for folks like you who heard it here and loved it. It will be ready well within a month.

The original DVDs we had made for NYA are here now, but they have the problem. Crunch. That’s NYA eating them!!!! DANG

It actually makes me quite happy that you have that love for the original sound of J Hanlon’s mix!. It gives us faith! Thanks for caring! Write us back and give us an address and a pic. We will send you the quality you deserve.

We are now investigating the Return to Greendale DVDs.

love
be well
Neil

Thanks Harm & Neil!

As we mentioned above, Neil's ownership here is inspiring.  

 

  Neil  Steps Up and Owns It

 

To step up -- man up -- own the problem and the solution is the definition of leadership. Not to veer too far here, but why are we finding leadership in a musician?!

While we're not looking for a Leader (b/c #WT1sWBW4), we can only wish that others in positions of leadership and authority would also fully own their mistakes and take personal steps to address. The lack of full, personal accountability in our societies is what is really, truly deplorable.

UPDATE: via comment by tomatron: 

"Just got a reply from NYA about Rust Bucket DVD audio quality replacements. Send an email to: NYDVDReplacements@wmgcustomerservice.com with your name and address, a photo of the DVD or of your receipt, and the name of the store where you bought it."

More on ‘Way Down in the Rust Bucket’ by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse.

 

‘Way Down in the Rust Bucket’  - Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse "Let me go on record as saying that I think this 'Way Down in the Rust Bucket" is the best Crazy Horse record we ever recorded. I love it! "~ Frank “Poncho” Sampedro, Rolling Stone -  March 2, 2021

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