(Click photo to enlarge)
The album On The Beach by Neil Young has long been considered to be essential and core to the "Ditch Trilogy/Quadrilogy/Quintology/Sextology".
In honor of the album's 50th anniversary we bring you "On The Beach: A 50 Year Old Masterpiece" by Mike "Expecting To Fly". (via RUST Group)
On The Beach: A 50 Year Old Masterpiece
On The Beach was released on
July 19, 1974. I remember listening to it over and over.
I didn't
really know what to make of it at first because it was so different than
anything else I had ever heard from Neil or from anyone for that
matter. But the album kind of crawled into my mind and shaped itself
into one of the best listening experiences I have ever had.
The songs
are so incredibly intense.
I just loved the answer to critics expecting
another Harvest in the form of the songs Walk On (and later on Ambulance
Blues.) The beauty of the song written 5 years earlier See The Sky
About To Rain, the best (I think) version of the song ever. "I'm a black
bat baby, hangin' on your window pane" and other lyrics foretell Neil's
later relationship with oil and the companies who produce it on Vampire
Blues.
And then there is side 2, possibly the best album side of all time
by anyone.
"I need a crowd of people, but I can't face them day to day";
oh, the consequences of becoming famous for your work. The title song
of the album has some of Neil's best bluesy jazzy guitar work and some
really moving lyrics. The atmosphere it creates is hauntingly
exhilarating and beautiful.
"Well all those people, they think they've
got it made, but I wouldn't buy sell borrow or trade anything I have to
be like one of them. I'd rather start all over again."
These are some of
the hard-hitting lyrics in Motion Pictures and are deeply important to
me. The wonderful Ambulance Blues closes out the album. The entire song
is compelling and I can listen to it in my head anytime I want but I
love to play the record to listen. "I never knew a man could tell so
many lies, he had a different story for every set of eyes, how could he
remember who he's talking to, 'cause I know it ain't me and I hope it
isn't you" is a verse that resonates through generations.
I love the On The Beach album. It's an important part of my life,
then and now. If anyone asks about an album that has aged well, think of
this one.
Mike
Expecting To Fly
Thanks so much for the memories here E2F & RUST Group! And it is definitely that time of year to not only be on the beach but in the water. Stay cool and keep reaching for those seagulls.
More on Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy": "Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night", "On the Beach" & "ZUMA".
+ "Ditch Trilogy/Quadrilogy/Quintology/Sextology"
"Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night", "On the Beach" & "ZUMA"
One can make the case that After The Goldrush, Tonight's The Night, Rust Never Sleeps are better all around albums. Heck, I might even vote for Ragged Glory or Sleeps With Angels.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake, though, the 2nd side of On The Beach, those 3 dreary tunes, are as good as Neil ever got. That's as deep in the ditch that Neil ever traveled. How many times did I sit question in my room listening to that side of the album? Countless times. Still to this day.
Speaking of memorable designs… the cover photo must be one of the most deliberate and coordinated in NY’s catalogue. Presumably someone buried all those “artifacts” and dug them up again after. A lot of prep time and energy for something many may not even think about.
ReplyDelete“I need a crowd of people but I can’t stand them day to day…though my problems are meaningless, that don’t make them go away.” Every now and again, that verse floats right to the top of my mind. It’s the cleanest and most balanced of the Ditch Trilogy. Whether it’s the best I wouldn’t care to judge.
Side 2 flows like a dream, a trance state. More than anything, it reminds me of the first half of Hawks & Doves, aka fragments of Homegrown. “Deep sea blues” is the mood.
I always thought that if you put side 1 of Hawks And Doves with side 2 of On The Beach, you might have Neil's greatest album, at least on the acoustic side of things.
ReplyDeleteI could listen to "See the sky.." 40 times in a row then come back the next day and do it again.
ReplyDeleteRichie, musically we seem to be thinking along similar lines. Just goes to show the universal language of good songs. Knowing me, I’d mix it up a little with other cuts from the period. Maybe an ambitious double album: all of Homegrown, side 2 of Beach, and one side of Lost in Space, Old Homestead, Revolution Blues, etc.
ReplyDeleteWell, if we're talking double album, I need the solo acoustic Hitchhiker, at least Seperate Ways and Vacancy from Homegrown, and of course Will To Love. Pure acoustic Neil, maybe the solo Powderfinger as well. I'm getting hungry now.
ReplyDeleteCool write up on this 50th anniversary from Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/neil-young-on-the-beach-anniversary-1235055965/
ReplyDeleteIt seems the famous magazine didn't even review back when released, at least my searches cannot find one. How times change.
I have commented on my love of this album in other posts here at Thrasher Wheat over the years so will not repeat here but for those folks who may be new to it - do yourselves a favor and give it a spin. You won't be disappointment.
Kevin D. in Morro Bay
Hi Kevin D. Rolling Stone gave "On the Beach" a great review a few weeks after it was released in 1974. The name of the review is: Neil Young, The Sands of Time.
ReplyDeleteTry that on a google search.
Thanks Abner. Actually archived on TW @
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thrasherswheat.org/tnfy/on_the_beach_rolling_stone_092674.htm
@Abner and @Thrasher - Thanks folks I should have known better and searched TW first.
ReplyDeleteKevin D. in Morro Bay