Harvest

Okay, so CDs have been with us getting on for thirty years now. We were told back then that they represented the pinnacle of recorded sound. So, when me and a few million other mugs bought CDs of albums we'd loved to death on vinyl, why was the listening experience so underwhelming? The record labels then realised that they had to be properly remastered using original tapes with a cutting engineer who knew their stuff. Neil Young has constantly frustrated his long standing fanbase by simulataneously whipping the horses and stamping on the brakes - threatening to release stuff then stepping back when some other format (5.1, Blu-Ray) came into view. Anyway, having finally got his finger out, the first batch of Neil Young reissues eventually came out, and, casting cynicism aside, I can honestly state that they are fantastic. I always felt ambivalent about 'Harvest'; on the one hand, it was a massive commercial success internationally, but its success seemed to cause moments of self-doubt, and Young then set about, if not actually sabotaging his career, embarked upon a series of recordings culminating in 'Tonight's the Night' and 'On The Beach' (and when is 'Time Fades Away' gonna make it (Legitimately) to the digital format?), two of the darkest records in the rock genre.Anyway, I digress. 'Harvest' sounds wonderful in this new, remastered incarnation. The guitars on 'Alabama' are brittle and sharp around the edges, and you can actually hear the room in the recording - and the bits where the instruments leak over into one another. The hit single, 'Heart of Gold' sounds so full and dynamic - you can hear the individual beats on the hi-hat, and the rhythm section - especially the loping bass line - have real depth. Also, the orchestrations - especially on 'A Man Needs A Maid', are amazingly rich and vivid. 'The Needle and The Damage Done' is totally in your face - you have to check that Young's not in the room with you! It's like hearing the record all over again, and in my mind (it's such a fine line), 'Harvest now resides as a total classic - one of Neil Young's (and anyone else's) finest.

Despite clear delivery instructions, the package was left outside the entrance door to the block of Flats.It was visible to passers-by who would have been able to take advantage of the sloppy and unprofessional delivery and acquire a lovely CD for their collectionI'm not at all impressed.

There are more pages and I only caught up with Neil Young after The Band The Last Waltz so am a novice but Heart of Gold and Helpless are well known as Dylan and Crosby Stills Nash and Young nearly always referred as Crosby Stills and Nash to the 1960s 1970s listeners. However Neil Young has made a greater impact in recent years and his Canadian, Farm and progressive activities brought him to a Presence even the suit politicians could not avoid this time and his works tend to be descriptive along with Bachman Turner Overdrive, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nickelback, Celine and Cash. Hiding in a White House has little effect but one can say this compilation will have a result as long as people read, listen and think. Sweet Home Alabama, current at this date as politicians lash out at free people and independent nations. Freedom might be Neil's observed work, but quality music and composition and dedication to real life are his forte.

This guy is such a brilliant singer I've been after this for a long time

A superb album on vinyl and a good quality 180gram pressing.The only problem is for some reason Amazon has started sending vinyl without any packaging, the first one arrived with just a postal label on the shrink wrap, nothing else and was damaged, the second arrived in a plastic post bag but not the standard cardboard sleeve, it was a bit bent on the corners but not badly.Get the album for sure, but be wary of Amazon packaging. If they continue posting items like this I will probably shop vinyl elswhere.

Another favourite blast from my past

First heard this album in the 70’s still love it today

This came out when I was 9 and I’ve finally got around to listening to it!I was hooked from the second listen - totally enjoyable. Even the quirky tracks like A Man Needs a Maid are enjoyable.100% recommended.