Harvest is a classic from a man almost as well known for his political beliefs as for his folky rock music. Neil Young is a great singer-songwriter. I respect his music as much as I respect the music of other great rockers of the era he released this album—the 1970’s.
Neil Young is an artist who combines musical elements from all around the rock genre. Harvest in addition to all of his other albums combines rock music namely with folk and country. The resulting sound is smooth and wonderful (despite the fact that Young is anything but a vocalist). Throughout his illustrious career, Young has found a niche. Some may think that his music has aged poorly, while others think that the messages contained in the lyrics are timeless and can be appreciated even by the fickle youth of today. We can only hope.
That aside, Harvest is recognized as one of the best from Young by many people and publications. I would have to agree. On this album, the substance and sound of high quality and equally matched. Young is a native of Canada who first found fame as a member of Buffalo Springfield. He struggled in his young years to make a name for himself. It was with Harvest that he finally accomplished this goal. This album provided him with his first number one album and his only number one single, ”Heart of Gold”.
More recently, Young was characterized as a grunge pioneer. He actually recorded an album with Pearl Jam entitled Mirrorball. Young also released a few albums in the 1990’s to warm critical receptions and lukewarm chart success. Sleeps With Angels and Harvest Gold were among these more recent successes. So, I digress. We must return to Young’s roots to understand where he comes from and what helped this simple (and somewhat strange) man to become a superhero of sorts, a musical icon, and a legend. Harvest seems an appropriate place in which to begin that mission.
At not even forty minutes and containing just 10 songs, ”Harvest” is a near masterpiece. Here’s the track listing:
Out On The Weekend
Harvest
Man Needs A Maid, A
Heart Of Gold
Are You Ready For The Country
Old Man
There's A World
Alabama
Needle And The Damage Done, The - (live)
Words (Between The Lines Of Age)
Of course, as I’ve already mentioned, ”Heart of Gold” is Young’s biggest hit of all time. It’s also the song that led me to choose this album over his others. With a simple acoustic guitar, drum, and harmonica Young leads the song to being a classic. I love the folky classic rock beginning followed by the addition of Young’s quirky voice. As I said, he’s not a vocalist. He’s a singer-songwriter like legendary Bob Dylan or even the more recent Tom Petty. They can’t sing worth a damn, but they sound like angels nonetheless. This song is a classic example. It’s sparse, slow, and sounds as much like a country or folk song as it does a rock track. To be quite honest, this track is beautiful, wonderful, and perfect. The aforementioned harmonica completes the tune. Buy this album, even if this is the only track who’s name you recognize. ”Keep me searching for a heart of gold. I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold.”
”Out on the Weekend” is also a superb song (you won’t hear much bad about this album as a whole…believe me). A slow, methodical drum line and harmonica begin the track and for that matter this album strongly. It’s a wonderful track with a definite sad feel. Young’s voice is typical of his music. That aside, the light acoustic guitar and drum line make this song more than just a little special. With a relaxing and slow tempo, ”Out on the Weekend” is a classic. Here’s a sample of Young’s lyrics:
See the lonely boy, out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay.
Can't relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can't begin to say.
The title track, ”Harvest” is another great track. It begins with a roots-rock, down home guitar and Young’s voice. There is a bit of a honky-tonk beat to the track…it is only rock and roll thanks to Young’s signature sound. Of course, one thing that needs to be said is that this isn’t loud rock and roll in any way. It’s soft, melodic music meant to be beautiful and lovely not loud and abrasive. Therefore, at times I find myself lulled to sleep just waiting for an electric guitar solo at any moment. That digression aside, this is a beautiful classic track.
A classical piano begins ”A Man Needs A Maid”. In fact, for most of the song only Young and the piano are apparent. In fact, I believe this is the most beautiful song of all the tracks on this album. There are even additions of an entire orchestra as the song progresses. Please, I beg of you, don’t miss out on this one. Only Neil Young could get away with such an arrangement.
I adore the groove of the next track, ”Are You Ready for the Country”. The piano actually sounds very much like the earliest rock music ala Little Richard and his compatriots. There are also slide guitars and various country elements apparent throughout this brief track. It’s not my favorite song, but the technical elements are absolutely amazing, even on this album chock-full of superb tracks.
”Old Man” is known as one of Young’s classic tracks. The soft guitar music is perfectly paired with a snare drum and Young’s vocals. This is one of my favorite tracks on this album. How could you possibly go wrong with such lovely vocals and lyrics in conjunction with a banjo, guitar, and rock drum. This is another song that you really can’t go wrong with (unless you can’t stand the slowish tempo and complete lack of anger and rage apparent in most rock songs today). One word…wow. Here’s a verse I adore:
”Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you
I need someone to love me the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true.
”There’s a World” actually begins sounding like an intense movie score of late. The instruments include a bass drum, string instruments, harp, triangle, and so much more. These are definitely odd instruments even for a folk-rock song. I actually find this track to be more tedious than the rest on the album. But, it’s also very obvious that this is amazing music regardless of the pigeonhole that Young supposedly is representative. Good track, just not my favorite.
Anger and politics. These two words best represent the most emotional track on this album, ”Alabama”. The song expresses the sentiment of a man looking in on a state slow to adjust to change. The track is disguised as a slow rock tune. It’s only at the chorus that it’s apparent that Young has something very important to say. The piano and guitar intensify (despite Young’s inability to get really intense with his odd voice). ”Alabama” is wonderful, intense, and melodic. Here’s some of the words that make the song’s true meaning apparent:
Oh Alabama
Banjos playing through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama.
See the old folks tied in white ropes
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home?
As the only live track on this album full of gems, ”The Needle and the Damage Done” still seems like a diamond. Young’s acoustic guitar and vocals are glorious (yes, I realize I just used the ‘g’ word). This remains one of my favorite Young tracks of all. It’s beautiful, classic, lovely, wonderful, and perfect. The song is the best of the folk-rock master. With just a voice and a guitar, there are no ‘special’ elements to dress up the track. It’s perfect unto itself. Again, you could buy this album and relish in its perfection just on the basis of this song. Thank you, Neil Young, for giving the world this song. It resonates within every soul that hears even a chord or two. My heart sings its message:
I've seen the needle and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's like a settin' sun.
The final track of the album is ” Words (Between The Lines Of Age)”. As a follow up to the last song, it’s impossible to be any better. Absolutely, utterly impossible. The last track is a country-folk-rock typically Young track. It’s not bad, just not as good as the others. Of course, it’s good…just not as good. That aside, listen to it.
So, what is left to say? It’s obvious that three of these songs are 1970’s classics…”Heart of Gold”, ”Old Man”, and my favorite ”Needle and the Damage Done” are lovely. The rest of the tracks are also wonderful, they just don’t touch me as deeply as those three. So far as albums go, this one is perfectly complete. It’s strong and emotional and beautiful. Every person from every walk of life should appreciate it’s brilliance at some point in time in their short lives.
It’s obvious what this album deserves. How could I possibly deny Harvest it’s rightful 5/5 stars. This album deserves a place in the rock and roll aficionado’s collection. It deserves a place is every collection for that matter.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.