From Neil Young 64: Toast | Everybody’s Dummy:
A distinct improvement is “Gateway Of Love”, which was teased on the back cover of Passionate and played live with the Horse throughout that summer.
It’s the only track we hear that has the “Latin influence” Poncho Sampedro mentioned in interviews about the shelved album; most of that is in the drums, while the bass could go either way. “How Ya Doin’?” is an odd title for what became “Mr. Disappointment”, since that question only surfaced in the later recording. This earlier version is sung in Neil’s natural voice, rather than the low rasp he adopted for the album. “Boom Boom Boom” is the same song as “She’s A Healer”, except that it’s longer and taken just a tad slower. Once again the eventual title features prominently in the lyrics, while the initial title does not. At thirteen minutes it does drag, but the jazzy bridge stands out more, and Tom Bray adds a trumpet, just as he would on the later album.
Neil overdubbed a few stabs at a piano, and somebody’s playing the vibes and tapping bongos.
Thanks Wardo! So, Neil Young review #64??! Quite a run of reviews. Onto the next 64 reviews.
Also, see:
- Neil Young Achieves 46th Career Top 40 Album with TOAST
- Comment of the Moment #2: First Impressions - Toast by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse
- Comment of the Moment: First Impressions - Toast by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse
- REVIEW: "TOAST" - Unreleased 2001 Album by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse | Davy's Cinema Flicks & Music Picks
- First Impressions: Toast by Neil Young with Crazy Horse | The Old Grey Cat
- Comment of the Moment: Neil Young's Unreleased 2001 Album "Toast" w/ Crazy Horse
- "TOAST" Finally Pops: Unreleased 2001 album by Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse
- Comment of the Moment: PREMEIRE: "Timberline" from Neil Young's unreleased 2001 album "Toast" w/ Crazy Hors
- PREMIERE: "Timberline" from Neil Young's unreleased 2001 album "Toast" w/ Crazy Horse
- Comment of the Moment: "TOAST": Neil Young's Unreleased 2001 Album w/ Crazy Horse Set for 8th July, 2022
- Comment of the Moment on "Toast" - A Roadstory: Neil Young Shares Thoughts on Unreleased 2001 Album by Tony "Hambone" Hammond in the UK. (See "Toast" - A Roadstory: Neil Young Shares Thoughts on Unreleased 2001 Album.)
- More on interview with Frank “Poncho” Sampedro, Neil Young, Crazy Horse Guitarist [discusses TOAST] | The Aquarium Drunkard.
- Also, see ‘Are You Passionate?’ Turns 10 Years Old and Neil Young's Album of the Week: 'Are You Passionate?' + Defending AYP?
Induct Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
#CrazyHorse4HOF
Thanks thrasher, again and again!
ReplyDeleteNice review!
ReplyDeleteFor best track, personally I'd give 'Gateway of Love' the nod. The Latin sound of 'Gateway' is an aspect that hasn't been widely mentioned yet, including by me, but I immediately thought of Pancho's comments when I heard the song. The other influence I hear on 'Gateway' is early '60s surf music. Check out Aurora, Sultan, and Mustang on NYA1--Neil's first band, The Squires, were all over this sound.
This, in turn, got me thinking about Latin influences on surf music. Maybe folks who are a bit older than me find this obvious, but preliminary research suggests my ears are not deceiving me. Among others, Dick Dale, the guitarist often regarded as the pioneer of Southern California surf rock, reportedly incorporated both Latin and Middle Eastern elements into rock 'n' roll instrumentals. Historically, the connections between Hispanic and Arabic/Middle Eastern cultures go *way* back. I'm sure an ethno-musicologist (which I'm not) could have a field day with this.
As far as Toast goes, I hear traces of surf in both 'Gateway' and 'Boom Boom Boom'. Regarding the latter, I think the influence is more evident on the Booker T. and the M.G.'s take. The AYP? album, which evolved from Toast, is so "retro" in its embrace of the Stax soul sound, I always suspected Neil was reaching way back to his musical roots.
@ wardo - anytime. always feel free to drop links on TW. We're all about freedom of expression.
ReplyDelete@ Meta Rocker - really appreciate all the pertinent obs lately on TOAST & AYP?
Definitely rich fodder for decades to come for neil scholars.
One thing which we found particularly d]fascinating that we haven't really mentioned before is the linkage between TOAST & AYP? on NYA.
Anyone notice that? If you click the yellow postit note on Goin Home, it toggles between the TOAST & AYP? versions. Which is supper cool for the A-B comps.
recall the old days of trying to A-B tracks? Seemed like it took forever to get that setup correctly. Now ... magic.
the wonders of NYA never cease to amaze ...
My pleasure, thrasher. It’s wild to think about an alternate universe where Toast followed Silver & Gold as originally planned. Def fills in some timeline gaps and questions about what happened to Horse after the spate of albums from SWA to YOH. Seems like it was taking NY longer to get albums out around this time. S&G took several years—no studio albums for three years in the late ‘90s. I’m sure there’s more to the picture than meets the eye.
ReplyDeleteGoing off topic here, but Crosby's rather big mouth got him into trouble again. I don't have link, but google Crosby/fan art to find out what I mean. Might make an interesting future thread.
ReplyDelete@ Richie C - thanks for heads up -- sort of. ;)
ReplyDeleteGeez. Guess this never gets old for some. Oh well, here we go again, deja vu, etc
Here's our take ... with a twist for rusties:
http://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2022/07/david-crosby-and-damage-done-or-not.html