“Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown” is a Crazy Horse tune sung by Whitten. When Young introduced it, he wasn’t sure what album it would be on since Crazy Horse was recording their own album. He said he was going to play on it but didn’t. The song appeared on their debut and a live version from this tour was on Young's 1975 album Tonight's the Night.
“Cowgirl in the Sand” repeats the brilliant formula of “Down By The River.” It is over 14 minutes and, as much attention as the leads get, it is the rhythm section that is just as worthy of adulation, creating the steady foundation that allows Young and Whitten to soar.
The album showcases a talented quintet during a historic time in their careers. The band’s musicianship and the disc’s fidelity sound fantastic. While I think everyone who hears it will enjoy, I can’t recommend anyone buying it. People have waited decades since this was first hinted at, and all they get is six songs, a mere 43 minutes, for a retail price of $18.98?!
There were two nights recorded in this stand, which included solo acoustic sets by Young. They want you to believe this is all there was, but in a trailer from Young’s website there’s footage from 1997 where it’s stated that multi-track recordings of only five songs survive. So where did number six mysteriously come from?
I’m pretty sure fans would have been okay getting single-track recordings, unreleased material, or demos from the same time period. And all there is for liner notes is a review of the show from Cashbox Magazine. Nothing by Young or anyone else to provide a little history or context about what makes this release special.
In the future, Young can spare me the righteous indignation over artists singing for Pepsi and Coke. At least there’s not a feeling of being ripped off after seeing someone appear in a commercial. To see how releases like this should be handled, see Dylan’s Bootleg series.
Send a message: don’t buy this album; copy it from a friend.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
2 - El Bicho
Just checked out Wolfgang's Vault, which will be taking up a lot of my time, and they have a fine sounding version of "Cinnamon Girl."
3 - Glen Boyd
I just discovered an AWESOME Sly & The Family Stone show there (Wolfgang's Vault) there today.
-Glen
4 - El Bicho
Glen, I'd heard about it but didn't stumble across it until tonight. I've been listening for the past couple of hours, and without laying it on too thick, I don't think I've heard anything that wasn't awesome. I'm sure you got that Boss show.
I found a Genesis show I might have attended at the LA Forum in '86. I know I went when they came to town for that tour, but am not clear what night. Hope I saved the ticket stub.
I need some discs so I can burn, baby, burn.
5 - Glen Boyd
I wrote about it over the weekend El Bicho. Don't know if you read the article (and if not, I forgive you -- LOL). But yes, the Boss show there is a classic. I'd also check out the Pink Floyd show and as I said I just uncovered an amazing Sly show there today. As for Genesis, theres a show from 78 (circa And Then There Were Three) with amazing sound quality and the performance is great as well.
Yeah Wolfgang's Vault is a great place to get lost in, no doubt about it.
Get it while you can though cause the lawsuits are already in the works.
-Glen
6 - El Bicho
If it was up this weekend, I did not. I took some days off the Internet for the Xmas.
7 - Glen Boyd
Well like I said, I forgive you... LOL
... And I hope you had a good Christmas. For a top ten list this year, I basically did Top Ten Concert Streams from Wolfgangs Vault. Check it out if you get the chance. Although with the time you say you've spent at the Vault tonight, you probably don't need any pointing the way from me.
Happy New Year to you my BC comrade.
-Glen