Crazy Horse played plenty loud back when Live At The Fillmore East 1970 was recorded too. But on this live album, they sound much more like an actual band, than merely backup for Neil's guitar-shredding with Old Black. You can actually hear the sort of genuine musical interplay here — particularly between Young and Whitten — that is closer in spirit to the loose jamming heard on the electric side of Crosby Stills Nash & Young's live Four Way Street album, which, perhaps not coincidentally, was also recorded in 1970.
Apparently touring behind the 1969 release Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, the songs of that album account for fully one half of the setlist here, making up three of the six songs on this album. Danny Whitten takes center stage on vocals and guitar for "Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown," showing the real promise he once had on a song he also wrote. Neil turns in a fine pre-release version of the always gorgeous sounding "Winterlong" which takes on a more electric feel here.
But as on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere itself, it is those two blockbuster jams — you know the songs I'm talking about here — that overshadow everything else on this CD. You may have heard "Down By The River" and "Cowgirl In The Sand" done live with Crazy Horse before, but never quite like this.
In scorching versions running well over twelve minutes apiece, the guitar interplay between Young and Whitten heard on the original studio versions is taken to epic lengths here. It's easy to forget just how much those "ooh, la, la" backing vocals added to "Down By The River" on the original. Or how Young's choppy, staccato leads we're made all the more effective when slicing through Whitten's own guitars punctuating the rhythm.
For its own part, "Cowgirl" goes nearly fifteen minutes, building the tension steadily throughout before climaxing in crescendo upon crescendo of cacophonous sound. Towards the end there is so much going on, Neil's screaming guitar occasionally gets lost in the mix. As Whitten and Jack Nitzsche admirably try to keep pace throughout on guitar and electric piano respectively, Neil goes off into one of those trance places near the end. The end result is just nothing short of magnificent noise.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
if anybody can tell me the name of the song played over the PA as this set finally goes to fade, I've got your first round next time you're in Seattle.
Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
i like either extremely hoppy ipa's or a good single malt like laphroag or the balvenie.
2 - Pico
"The review reveals that the show was opened by the Steve Miller Band and a Bitches Brew era Miles Davis (who I didn't think opened for anybody). "
This was around the time Miles was first targeting rock audiences instead of jazz ones in his live performances and so to that crowd, it was their first experience with his music. He was essentially just starting out in the rock world and was not yet the established headline performer that Neil Young was at that time.
Incidentally, Miles' opening set of that night was also documented in the 2001 release Live at the Fillmore East, March 7, 1970: It's About That Time . It's one his better recorded live performances, too. That crowd definitely got their money's worth that day.
3 - Mark Saleski
also shows you how different things were back then. i mean, can you imagine a rock crowd today putting up with a modern jazz opener?
4 - Glen Boyd
Mark: Next time your in Seattle you've got a home brew (or three) of your choice from the Pike Street Pub. They brew a mean malt there FYI...
Pico: I'm familiar with the live Miles album you mention (and it's a great one if it's the one I'm thinking of), I just never made the collection. They sure did get their money's worth that night didn't they?
Thanx for the comments guys.
-Glen
5 - Glen Boyd
I could see Miles playing with a lot of current performers actually Mark. I think of the audiences that people like Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, or even some of the headier hip hop artists draw, and Bitches Brew era Miles fits right in.
But I do know what you mean. Bill Graham used to specialize in those awesomely diverse concert bills where you might see a John Lee Hooker paired with someone like the Dead or the Airplane.
Sadly, those days are long gone.
-Glen
6 - DJRadiohead
Hooker used to let Dylan open for him in New York, if memory serves.
Glen, haven't you learned your lesson about writing about Neil Young? =)
7 - Glen Boyd
I probably should have learned it DJR.
But what can I say? When it comes to Dylan, Bruce, and Neil I just cant stop myself in spite of all the potential Necks out there, Red, Rubber, or otherwise...
-Glen
8 - Martin Lav
Good review Glen!
Hope you didn't jinx this thread....
9 - Vern Halen
well, it certainly sounds good on paper. It'll keep happy all those who say the best Neil is old Neil.
10 - Glen Boyd
I hope I didn't jinx it either Marty. One nice thing about this new format on BC though is the fact that every time some nut decides to flood your article with posts, it doesn't get moved to a big splashy "Hot Topic" area dead center of the page. So the lack of a spotlighted forum should discourage most (well, sane people anyway) from seeking up shop if ya know what I mean...
Vern, I like both old and new Neil and this is as good as it sounds on paper. Crazy Horse have never sounded this much like an actual band on a live album as they do here for one thing. Buy it now--you won't be sorry!
-Glen
11 - Vern Halen
I was really into Neil for many years, but I dunno.... I got lost somewhere around Greendale.
Yeah, I'll buy it to go along with Arc/Weld, Live Rust Friends & Neighbors (or whatever it was called), Year of the Horse..........
12 - Glen Boyd
Neil has been hit or miss the past few years to be sure Vern. Although some of Neil's fans would crucify me for saying so, I wasn't a big fan of Greendale either (though it had its moments).
But the last couple CDs, "Prairie Wind" and "Living With War" are near home runs in my book. And with the ever-elusive Archives now seeing the light of day with this amazing document of "Everybody Knows this Is Nowhere" period Neil and Crazy Horse at the Fillmore--my interest has definitely been reawoke this past year.
I still can't over how much Crazy Horse sounds like an actual band as opposed to say, "Weld" or "Live Rust." Those are great live records, but really moreso for Neil's guitar shredding than anything else. Here, Whitten and the rest of the band really compliment what Neil does.
Anyway, I'll stop here before I write another entire review but trust me Vern, this is desert island stuff.
Incidentally, I need to get in a plug here...
This review is currently #1 in Google blog searches for "Neil Young." Gotta love that.
Thanx Vern for your always welcome and appreciated two cents worth.
-Glen
13 - Pico
"This review is currently #1 in Google blog searches for "Neil Young." Gotta love that."
Real cool, Glen. Congrats! Enjoyed your review, BTW.
-P
14 - Vern Halen
To me, Neil's career and his fan's reaction to it are similar to that of John Coltrane or Miles Davis. All three artists cover a lot of ground - and there are superfans that go right along withi them every step of the way. Others have an interest in a particular era - for me it's Coltrane's Quartet about '61 -'65; Miles' so-called second great quintet (with Wayne Shorter et. al.), and Neil up to his pre Geffen releases. But these artists have so much material and their live material is nuanced in such a way that every performance is interesting. I've got probably about 8 performances of Coltrane doing My Favorite Things, for instance. So it's easy for me to justify another Neil recording.
I'm wonderng though if the casual fan will care at all. And what about the ipod generation - who wants to buy a 15 min download of Cowgirl?
And thanx, Glen, for letting me get in my two cents', for what it's worth nowadays.
15 - Glen Boyd
Its worth a lot Vern. You really should look into writing for BC in my personal opinion. You're more qualified for this than I think you know---and I have absolutely no doubt your perspective would be welcomed here.
-Glen
16 - Mark Saleski
very good parallel there vern. i guess i'm one of those superfans, as i like stuff from each of Neal's eras. for instance, i loved Greendale. especially so after seeing it performed live.
as far as the ipod generation goes, anybody know what percentage purchased downloads takes up from the entire pie?
17 - Vern Halen
Hmmmm.... checked a few sites - depends how you count it up. Most downloads are singles, but most CD's are albums. Roughly, as close as I can call it, legally downloaded music makes up about 6% of the total dollar value in sales in the three biggest music markets - the US, the UK & Japan. But the number of downloads are increasing exponentially while CD sales continue to plummet.
18 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
19 - Martin Lav
My CD will be arriving in the mail today!
Can't wait.....
The iPod is a perfect medium for a 15 minute Neil buzz. I mean can you imagine running, mountain climbing, biking, hiking, or just sitting while getting mesmorized by this .......
Everything goes better with Neil Young!
20 - Glen Boyd
You'll love it Marty. Also, thanks for the great news Connie.
-Glen
21 - George
I seem to be strangely drawn to this concert. I stumbled on your review by accident while looking for information on which tracks on Four-Way Street were recorded at the Fillmore East (I was at one of the shows). Earlier tonight while checking dates for the Four-Way Street nights I realized that I had been confusing the dates for it with those of this concert of Neil Young and Crazy Horse. The reason I know was that I Was headed down to view the total solar eclipse in North Carolina on March 7, 1970 (it's easy to look up eclipse dates) and stopped to Neil on Friday night in NYC. I had thought it was the CSNY concert I went to that night but now realize it was this one. So I was at the Friday, March 6 concert.
Reading your review I realized that the album that I happen to add as filler on an order from Buy.com to get free shipping two weeks ago is in fact a recording of the concert I heard. The CD is sitting on my table unopened and will be the first thing I listen to in the morning. How great it will be to hear some of the songs again. I remember being quite loud in yelling my apprecation of Neil and will be listening to see if I hear myself. Thanks for the review. You are wrong about one things though. That's when you say "You may have heard "Down By The River" and "Cowgirl In The Sand" done live with Crazy Horse before, but never quite like this." I've heard it exactly like this! I'll post some more comments after I listen to the CD a few times.