Audio Issues on BBC DVD w/ Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Boxset Edition

PROBLEMS WITH BBC CONCERT DVD
Neil Young Archives | Times-Contrarian  (Click photo to enlarge) 

As some of you are aware, the Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition appears to have major audio issues with the BBC DVD in the package.

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge)

 

On Neil Young Archives | Times-Contrarian, Neil addresses the quality issue:

 

12-13-22

PROBLEMS WITH BBC CONCERT DVD

We have an issue with the quality of one of the discs in HARVEST 50th. We are talking to Reprise about how to handle this so you get what you paid for. I am very sorry if you have a DVD that is not perfect. We are working on a plan with Reprise for those of you who feel the BBC DVD has a problem and we will let you know when we have something to offer you and a good method.
apologies
ny

 

Sorry, folks, really a bummer on such a otherwise fine anniversary package.

Neil Young (Himself!!) Unboxing Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition 

Also, see:

• REVIEW: Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (CD/DVD) | All About Jazz
  
• Details on the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest 
• HARVEST Outtakes by Neil Young: "Journey Through The Past"
  
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young
  
• ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 by Harvey Kubernik 
• "Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik
• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO 
• Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview 
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young 
• INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP  

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 +

"Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik)

 

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Neil Young Speaks On Amazon Music HD

Neil Young

Neil Young speaks about the new streaming audio service Amazon Music HD in a promo.

It's been a long, lonely battle on quality sound over the decades, but redemption for Young's quest is near at hand with HD streaming.



Earlier this year, a book on the subject titled "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker was released on Neil’s quixotically quirky quest to deliver high-quality audio.

"To Feel the Music"
by Neil Young and Phil Baker
Release Date: September 9, 2019 (Pre-order it here. Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link. Thank you!!!)

More on book "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker.

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Tell Me Why: A Conversation with Neil Young (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 8, 2012 - UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 & 10/21/2019

Neil Young
Slamdance 2012
(Click photo to enlarge)
Editor: We are updating this post upon learning of the publication of the book "I NEED TO KNOW: The Lost Music Interviews" by Bill DeYoung. The book contains two vintage Neil Young interviews included in the new anthology. The first one (Sept. 16, 1985) was only recently fully transcribed from the original cassette. Neil talks passionately about Farm Aid (the first concert was six days away), and why he was so into country music ("Old Ways" had just come out), why it resonated with him as a family man, and why rock 'n' roll just wasn't doing it for him any more. He then reads the entire "Open Letter to President Reagan" he'd just finished writing, and would send to USA Today the next morning.

The second interview is from H.O.R.D.E. in '97, explaining (among other things) why he skipped Buffalo Springfield's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that year, which is partially excerpted below. (More book details below)

"I NEED TO KNOW: The Lost Music Interviews" by Bill DeYoung

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ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION PUBLISHED JULY 8, 2012
A little blast from the past, an interview with Neil Young before the 1997 H.O.R.D.E. tour, TELL ME WHY: A conversation with Neil Young by Bill DeYoung.

Funny how some things never really change...

Goldmine: Six of your catalog albums remain unavailable on compact disc [For the record, the missing titles are Journey Through the Past, Time Fades Away, On the Beach, American Stars 'n' Bars, Hawks & Doves and Re*Ac*Tor.] Recently, you told an interviewer you would burn the tapes before you let them come out on CD. Why?

Neil Young: Until we get the technology. I'm pushing for better technology. And CDs don't cut it, to me. HDCD is a real great improvement on digital sound, no matter what the format of the sound is. That's a process you can make CDs through, and it makes them sound more detailed. If you have an HDCD playback system, it sounds incredibly more detailed.

Goldmine:Is that one of those technologies that we'll 'see by the year 2000'?

Neil Young: It's out there now. There's about 40 different companies, small audiophile companies that make stereo equipment that carries the HDCD chip.

Goldmine:There are something like 15 of your albums out on CD on Reprise. How come they're out, and these six aren't?

Neil Young: Those were made during the beginning of CDs. When it hadn't really dawned on everybody how inferior the CD was. But during the mastering of all of those, and listening to what we ended up with compared to what we started with, everyone became aware of the problems. And that was maybe more than 15 years ago. And there's been no improvement, in 15 years, from a bad standard.

Meanwhile, we got 64-bit video games, and 32-bit this, and 16-bit sound. Running at a slow speed. So we really need to get a standard together for recorded sound that doesn't destroy it.

Goldmine:But Reprise is still making those discs.

Neil Young: Oh yeah, that's right, you can't stop that. But I'm not gonna do any new ones until there's a standard.

Goldmine:Let me play devil's advocate. Since you're committed to this, can't you just put a stop to those that are still in print? Can't you tell the label 'They sound like shit; let's take 'em out'?

Neil Young: You can do that with the new ones. When you put out a master, you put it out , OK, it's out. Until then, you have it.

Goldmine:You know, those six albums aren't available on vinyl or cassettes, either. They've all been deleted.

Neil Young: I 'm trying to use that leverage to get some tonal quality on the recordings.

Goldmine:Well, what can I do? I'll make a call. As a fan, it bugs me that I can't put, say, American Stars 'n' Bars on the CD player.

Neil Young: It's tough for me, too, but I'm not gonna put out 'Hurricane' sounding like a piece of shit. That's the way it is. There's the ability to have it better, and I can make a statement. I'm not gonna let it keep happening.

Goldmine:Hawks and Doves, a great record. Can't hear it. That makes me a little sad.

Neil Young: Right, me too! I feel the same way. When it comes out, it'll sound great.

Goldmine:What about your long-rumored multi-disc Archives project?

Neil Young: It's the same thing there. We're close enough to the new standard. There's all kinds of people throwing ideas for the new standard around. The latest new standard that came out for sound is worse than the CD. That's the DVD. That is totally a piece of crap. A thousand times more distortion, and I'm not exaggerating. That is a clinical number.

It's a terrible thing, and they say that you can play CDs on it. You can play 'em, but they have to be interpolated and translated and everything before your ear hears 'em; by then, they're so distorted, they're just not there any more.

So what they've done is, they're killing an art form through greed, and not being able to focus on using a decent standard. They're more interested, it seems, in putting out more product, and more real time information on a disc, than they are in putting out more quality on a disc. And one plays against the other.

So a lot of things have to be worked out before the new standard is set, but the wheels are turning right now, it's happening.

Goldmine:Do you have a time frame, i.e. 'They'll be out in four years' or something?

Neil Young: They may never be out on the market if the standard's not right.

...
Goldmine: You're 51 now. What does life look like to you?

Neil Young: Well, I love playing. I love playing music, and I love being around lots of other people who play music. That's why the H.O.R.D.E. tour is so much fun.

It absolutely feels just as good.

More on TELL ME WHY: A conversation with Neil Young and the book "I NEED TO KNOW: The Lost Music Interviews" by Bill DeYoung. (Thanks Howell!)

"I NEED TO KNOW: The Lost Music Interviews" by Bill DeYoung

I Need to Know includes 23 revealing conversations with seminal music artists including Tom Petty (four lengthy interviews conducted between 1985 and 1993), Beatles producer Sir George Martin, Neil Young, Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bo Diddley and others.

The majority of the in-depth interviews have never been published in their entirety. They were conducted for various newspaper stories – which utilized a few quotes here and there – or for the international music magazine Goldmine.

“These lost-and-found interviews don’t just form an important historical document; they’re also a trove of musical and personal insights into important artists of our time,” said John Capouya, author of the acclaimed Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band. “DeYoung’s subjects – partners, really – clearly know and trust him, so they offer deeper and less guarded responses then we’re used to seeing in music journalism. Highly recommended.’’

In I Need to Know, Petty talks in detail about the formation of the Traveling Wilburys, what he learned from Bob Dylan and the creation of the albums Southern Accents, Let Me Up I’ve Had Enough and Full Moon Fever; Martin reveals which songs he would have preferred the Beatles left off the White Album; Young explains his passion for Farm Aid, and his reasons for skipping Buffalo Springfield’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Haggard explains what led him to pen the controversial “Okie from Muskogee.”

Ronstadt confesses her disdain for many of her biggest hits. “Sometimes,” she says, “they just flat out bored me until I was cross-eyed.”

As a bonus, the book includes never-before-published conversations with acting legends Gregory Peck and Robert Duvall.

A native of St. Petersburg, Bill DeYoung was Arts and Entertainment Editor of the Gainesville Sun for 20 years, before moving on to publications in South Florida and Savannah, Georgia. The author of the Florida-centric books Skyway: The True Story of Tampa Bay’s Signature Bridge and the Man Who Brought it Down and Phil Gernhard Record Man, he currently writes and edits the Culture section of the St. Pete Catalyst. DeYoung is one of the interview subjects in the forthcoming documentary film The Skyway Bridge Disaster.

I Need to Know includes conversations with:

Tom Petty, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Seals & Crofts, George Martin, Mary Hopkin, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Dave Mason, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Linda Ronstadt, the Bangles, Guy & Susanna Clark, Bo Diddley, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson and Martin Barre, Robert Duvall, Gregory Peck.

Also, express your feelings on Release "Time Fades Away" Petition!

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META ANALYSIS: NYA on NYT on "Neil Young’s Lonely Quest to Save Music" on TW

Neil Young’s Lonely Quest to Save Music | NYT

A rather major article "Neil Young’s Lonely Quest to Save Music" by David Samuels in New York Times has been republished with commentary by Neil Young himself on his website Times-Contrarian | NYA. (NYA on NYT on TW ... it's all just so meta.)

As we just published earlier today on his upcoming book To Feel the Music: A Songwriter's Mission to Save High-Quality Audio by Neil Young and Phil Baker, he's been on this audio movement since practically Day #1, so for many there's not too really to say here that hasn't said many, many times already.

But what makes this interview unique is how Neil provides comments directly in the article to make corrections, clarifications and praise where justified. For example, after being quoted on a mini rant against Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Neil doubles down by declaring that Facebook "is not that great for humanity."

Facebook "is not that great for humanity."
via Times-Contrarian | NYA

As regular readers know, we too here at TW have had our issues with Facebook. Or, as we've asked before: Mark Zuckerberg - Liar? Idiot? Or Both?

The interview with Samuels seems to have taken place over a considerable period of time before eventual publication, so Neil provides context here and there. Eventually, the reporter and artist meet in the middle over the subject of children with learning disabilities and the power of music. This is where many will find most interest so we encourage you to check Neil's version with commentary.

And then there are careful observations in Samuels' interview -- such as the following passage -- which Neil lets go un-commented.

Incidentally, the NYT article on NYA runs alongside a Neil Young editorial: A MESSAGE FROM NEIL: What this Newspaper Does for Me. In the editorial, Neil expounds about how the Times-Contrarian Letters to the Editor allows him to answer fan questions directly. "That works for me much better than a blog or chat area. I am not comfortable there with the bots and supposed friends, enemies.

via A MESSAGE FROM NEIL: What this Newspaper Does for Me

And -- of course, naturally -- we're thrilled that Neil has found that comfort zone here on the wild west internet.

As for us? Our plan is to continue forward and to "keep on bloggin' until the power goes out and our battery's dead". Thanks to all of you who support what we do here at Thrasher's Wheat. We couldn't do it without you.

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BOOK SIGNING: To Feel the Music by Neil Young and Phil Baker - Chicago, Sept 22

"To Feel the Music"
by Neil Young and Phil Baker
Release Date: September 9, 2019 (Pre-order it here. Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link. Thank you!!!)

As noted earlier in April, an upcoming book titled "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker is set for release on September 9, 2019.

A book signing event will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at City Lit Books, 2523 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647. Further details here.

Phil Baker coauthored with Neil Young the story of Neil’s quixoticly quirky quest to deliver high-quality audio. From an early announcement to the industry from the publisher, BenBella Books (thanks rustie Robert S. & HtH!):

Neil’s efforts to bring quality audio to his fans garnered media attention when his Kickstarter campaign for his Pono player—a revolutionary music player that would combine the highest quality possible with the portability, simplicity and affordability modern listeners crave—became the third-most successful Kickstarter campaign in the website’s history. It had raised more than $6M in pledges in 40 days. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, Neil still had a long road ahead, and his Pono music player would not have the commercial success he’d imagined. But he remained committed to his mission, and faced with the rise of streaming services that used even lower quality audio, he was determined to rise to the challenge.

But this is also a business story of what’s involved in starting a company from scratch as well as developing, manufacturing and marketing the product. It takes the reader through the ups and downs and difficulties in turning an idea into a reality. Reminiscent of the classic “Soul of a New Machine,” the book explains the formation and workings of a small team of engineers trying to build a product to literally save music.

An eye-opening read for all fans of Neil Young, fans of great music, as well as readers interesting in going behind the scenes of a startup company and the product development process, To Feel the Music has an inspiring story at its heart: One determined artist with a groundbreaking vision and the absolute refusal to give up, despite setbacks, naysayers, and skeptics.

More details on "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker (Release Date: September 9, 2019) and to pre-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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NEW BOOK: To Feel the Music by Neil Young and Phil Baker

"To Feel the Music"
by Neil Young and Phil Baker
Release Date: September 9, 2019 (Pre-order it here. Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link. Thank you!!!)

An upcoming book titled "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker is set for release on September 9, 2019.

Phil Baker coauthored with Neil Young the story of Neil’s quixoticly quirky quest to deliver high-quality audio. From an early announcement to the industry from the publisher, BenBella Books (thanks rustie Robert S. & HtH!):

Neil’s efforts to bring quality audio to his fans garnered media attention when his Kickstarter campaign for his Pono player—a revolutionary music player that would combine the highest quality possible with the portability, simplicity and affordability modern listeners crave—became the third-most successful Kickstarter campaign in the website’s history. It had raised more than $6M in pledges in 40 days. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, Neil still had a long road ahead, and his Pono music player would not have the commercial success he’d imagined. But he remained committed to his mission, and faced with the rise of streaming services that used even lower quality audio, he was determined to rise to the challenge.

But this is also a business story of what’s involved in starting a company from scratch as well as developing, manufacturing and marketing the product. It takes the reader through the ups and downs and difficulties in turning an idea into a reality. Reminiscent of the classic “Soul of a New Machine,” the book explains the formation and workings of a small team of engineers trying to build a product to literally save music.

An eye-opening read for all fans of Neil Young, fans of great music, as well as readers interesting in going behind the scenes of a startup company and the product development process, To Feel the Music has an inspiring story at its heart: One determined artist with a groundbreaking vision and the absolute refusal to give up, despite setbacks, naysayers, and skeptics.

More details on "To Feel the Music" by Neil Young and Phil Baker (Release Date: September 9, 2019) and to pre-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 Just Says "No" To Streaming Services

Neil Young
Keynote at DreamForce '14

Neil Young is not happy with the quality of music streaming services and will no longer allow his music to be streamed.

According to a post on his official Facebook page he writes:

“I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution.

I don’t feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It’s bad for my music.

This is not because of the money, although my share (like all other artists) was dramatically reduced by bad deals made without my consent.

When the quality is back, I’ll give it another look. Never say never.”

More on Neil Young's quest for the perfect echo.

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Neil Young’s Studio Prowess Is More Than Meets the Ear | Variety

The Green Board
Wally Heider’s mobile Universal Audio 610 console
(Click photo to enlarge)
We all know that Neil Young is a bit passionate about sound quality.

An audiophile pioneer -- if you will -- who takes no prisoners when it comes to getting the right sound laid down. And if you're into that sort of attitude, here's a fascinating article on Neil Young’s Studio Prowess Is More Than Meets the Ear | Variety by Andrew M. Barker:

“The media worship of Neil Young doesn’t really give enough kudos to the technical facilities and engineers that have aided him,” says longtime L.A rock journalist Harvey Kubernik, whose book “Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and Music of Laurel Canyon” explored the scene that informed Young’s early career. “Reprise Records let him make the kind of records he wanted to make. He had management that enforced that. And he got to use the best studios in town. It’s a huge component of his durability.”

Check out Variety article.

Also, see Interview with Elliot Mazer - Neil Young's Producer & Engineer and Producer John Hanlon On Recording Neil Young's two latest albums, Americana and Psychedelic Pill.

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