(Click photo to enlarge)
"I regret to inform you that Neil Young has discovered an audio glitch on the cd and has therefore requested that we put an immediate halt to all shipments, and also issue an immediate recall on any stock that remains at retail."The latest episode comes after various past struggles with quality, such as the Rust Bucket DVD issue or BBC 1971 DVD reissue, But as The Flying Scotzman points out, is this really production and mastering issues or simply poor quality control allowing bad product to go to production?
Other fans have in turn pointed out that’s unfair, as not all these issues are equal. Why? Because while most were errors in quality control, others were deliberate creative decisions.
The Rust Bucket dvd re-think, for example, was a separate issue to some of the recent QC issues. The mix was not a mistake, as such, but an intended effect by Neil — and one with good thinking behind it.
(To clarify, the first Rust Bucket dvd featured an remastered version of John Hanlon’s flagship master mix for the CD version. The fairly aggressive remaster for the dvd involved John’s mix being made narrower, louder, and given a treble and bass boost. This was an attempt, perhaps only partially successful, to more thrillingly simulate the excitement of the authentic live sound. The second edition dvd restored John’s unedited mix.)
But despite being an intentional production choice, the first Rust Bucket does in hindsight feel like a pivotal project — a turning point of sorts:
It was around this time Niko Bolas took over from John Hanlon. (This is perhaps relevant, or perhaps merely coincidence. Niko has certainly done great work with Neil before, even if his preference for drums over guitars is perhaps less suited to Neil’s electric work than Briggs’ and Hanlon’s guitar-centric approach.)
As Scotsman concludes: "And is it asking too much to expect Neil’s record company to play a role in actually checking the product works as intended (and meets even a minimal-viable standard of quality) before putting it on sale?". No, not at all.
Quality issues aside, the concert film COASTAL was a joy to experience in theaters with friends and new acquaintances. So one can only hope this all resolves swiftly so that the wonderful soundtrack can be properly experienced and enjoyed.
Lastly, we can only add that Neil Young's product quantity has been staggering over the recent years. Definitely not an excuse, but it's not surprising when one declares "open the vaults" that there are faults.
To quote Neil himself: "Quality: Whether You Want It or Not".
Slamdance Festival 2012, Park City, Utah
The quantity of music shared over the past 20 years from the vaults has indeed been staggering. But I maintain that these little glitches in quality control only illustrate how sorely missed Elliot Roberts is, and will be.
ReplyDeleteConsider me grateful for the somewhat fast and loose manner of these releases occurring, since the recalled vinyl has some delightful moments that were lost in replacement. Can anyone shed light on these references from Scotz’s blog? “From the mislabelled audio track on the Before and After blu-ray, to the bodged edits on Archives Vol III.” I’m not familiar with these issues but would love to dig into them too.
ReplyDeleteComes A Time (original vinyl LP) had all sorts of issues, too. "Motorcycle Mama" (and other tracks on Side 2) was overmodulated to the point of being unlistenable.
ReplyDeleteQuestion. Why is the released soundtrack to the movie different in order to the actual movie ? By the way I really liked the moive more the next day as I reflected on it .
ReplyDeleteYeah the movie was a good slow burner for sure, and very poignant and the melancholy was pretty great. I reflected real life to see Daryl off tour then on tour again. First 10 minutes did make me think it was gonna be all bus driver 😊
DeleteYesterday I ordered "Coastal Glitch". If it's true that this version is containing tracks with different ambiance, (audience reactions?) thus creating something more like a verité soundtrack to a verité movie it's alright with me. As Robert Broadfoot pointed out on Rust, in a couple of years this version might achieve minor grail status for warts and all completists.
ReplyDeleteThe only difference is certain elements of the first edition are removed for the current one. So in the recalled version you will hear additional vocals, harmonica, and/or drums on a few songs.
DeleteI must admit, the first thing that came into my head when I read the email was "Blimey, another issue, there's been a few now.." With regard to how involved the record company actually are obviously I don't know, but Neil has always appeared to me to be someone who wants control, and I imagine that the final say would be by him and his management, which makes me agree with Wardo. The good ship Neil doesn't seem as tight an operation as it once was, and appears to be letting in a little water these days, and Elliot is no longer there to bale it out.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm disappointed having to purchase both CD and Vinyl a second time, I don't feel the need to complain all that much about it. When looking at the shear volume of releases we have been blessed with over the past twenty five years, I feel it would be wrong to look at this as a problem.
ReplyDeleteIn today's technologic world, it seems that so many use it as a place to vent dissatisfaction. I guess misery loves company, but in this particular case, it feels like a typical Neil Young event. Let's face it; he's a perfectionist. If it doesn't feel right, then it isn't right. We should all be fairly familiar with this by now.
Whatever subtle differences there may be, I'm convinced it will still be an amazing release. I found the so called glitch version stunning.
Peace to All🙏
Is the glitch version still available? I’d love to hear it!
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion is I wouldn't bother getting the new copy. It has three instrumental versions of songs where I prefer to hear Neil sing those songs.
ReplyDeleteIt safely can be assumed that copies delivered to record stores in Europe already will be glitch versions. With tight vinyl production schedules it appears to be unlikely that they already have new ones, yet.
ReplyDeleteToday I received the Coastal Glitch, listening to it now. In a way the erroneously published versions of Expecting to Fly, Song X, and I Am a Child remind me of Dylan's crooning, almost spoken word tracks of recent years presented by a voice totally shot. And while both Bob Dylan and Neil Young in younger days got famous with their very distinctive voices, it's very interesting to hear them take on these songs in later years, at an advanced age. With a much younger voice echoing in my mind, these three tracks (and their imperfect studio treatment) are a special listening experience. Neil Young decided this version of "Coastal" to be non-canonical. The record store (JPC.de) sent me an E-mail today that they had been instructed by Warner Brothers to offer a replacement at a later, albeit unspecified date. But with all the archival releases, bootleg and performance series I slowly arrived at the conclusion that with Neil Young there is not a definite recording or song version, a definite record or a canonizeable body of work. In the words of romantic philosopher Friedrich Schlegel Neil Young's body of work fulfills the idea of progressive universal poiesis or, as Neil Young put it: "It's all one song!"
ReplyDelete