I always hated David Crosby ... until I heard this record. At the height of CSNY's popularity, Crosby gathered a list of guest musicians that reads like a who's who of the early 70s California scene (Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead) and, not surprisingly, recorded an LP sounds like a loose jam session of friends that have played together for ages. The real treat is that despite the hedonistic nature of the musicians, not a single note feels out of place and everything is incredibly tight from end to end. Truly astounding, when you consider how bloated and sloppy this album could have sounded. Jim O'Rourke once likened this album to Wilco's A Ghost Is Born, in the way there's not an unnecessary note on either one. Go on, give it a listen.
Showing posts with label Crosby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crosby. Show all posts
Wednesday
David Crosby
If I Could Only Remember My Name...- 1971
I always hated David Crosby ... until I heard this record. At the height of CSNY's popularity, Crosby gathered a list of guest musicians that reads like a who's who of the early 70s California scene (Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead) and, not surprisingly, recorded an LP sounds like a loose jam session of friends that have played together for ages. The real treat is that despite the hedonistic nature of the musicians, not a single note feels out of place and everything is incredibly tight from end to end. Truly astounding, when you consider how bloated and sloppy this album could have sounded. Jim O'Rourke once likened this album to Wilco's A Ghost Is Born, in the way there's not an unnecessary note on either one. Go on, give it a listen.
I always hated David Crosby ... until I heard this record. At the height of CSNY's popularity, Crosby gathered a list of guest musicians that reads like a who's who of the early 70s California scene (Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, the Grateful Dead) and, not surprisingly, recorded an LP sounds like a loose jam session of friends that have played together for ages. The real treat is that despite the hedonistic nature of the musicians, not a single note feels out of place and everything is incredibly tight from end to end. Truly astounding, when you consider how bloated and sloppy this album could have sounded. Jim O'Rourke once likened this album to Wilco's A Ghost Is Born, in the way there's not an unnecessary note on either one. Go on, give it a listen.
Thursday
Neil Young
Time Fades Away - 1973
One of the two Neil Young albums that to this day, remain unreleased on CD, Time Fades Away is the first entry in what is considered Young's "In the Ditch" trilogy. In the liner notes for his 3-LP compilation Decade, Young writes:
"'Heart of Gold' put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch."
While rehearsing for a grueling 90 city tour in support of Harvest, Young's guitarist Danny Whitten was in the midst of trying to kick heroin. In no shape for the road, Whitten was fired from the band and given fifty dollars and a plane ticket home. The next day, Whitten was dead, having used his severance pay to buy the drugs that killed him. The Time Fades Away album is a live recording of the handful of new songs Young and his band played on the subsequent tour, and despite the addition of David Crosby and Graham Nash on several tracks, the mood is expectedly dire. Hands down the most emotionally charged and erratic album in Young's vast catalog, and essential listening for fans of the two released albums in the trilogy, Tonight's the Night and On the Beach. Thrasher's Wheat has a great site dedicated to the "ditch trilogy", including quotes, reviews, history and cover art.
One of the two Neil Young albums that to this day, remain unreleased on CD, Time Fades Away is the first entry in what is considered Young's "In the Ditch" trilogy. In the liner notes for his 3-LP compilation Decade, Young writes:"'Heart of Gold' put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch."
While rehearsing for a grueling 90 city tour in support of Harvest, Young's guitarist Danny Whitten was in the midst of trying to kick heroin. In no shape for the road, Whitten was fired from the band and given fifty dollars and a plane ticket home. The next day, Whitten was dead, having used his severance pay to buy the drugs that killed him. The Time Fades Away album is a live recording of the handful of new songs Young and his band played on the subsequent tour, and despite the addition of David Crosby and Graham Nash on several tracks, the mood is expectedly dire. Hands down the most emotionally charged and erratic album in Young's vast catalog, and essential listening for fans of the two released albums in the trilogy, Tonight's the Night and On the Beach. Thrasher's Wheat has a great site dedicated to the "ditch trilogy", including quotes, reviews, history and cover art.
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