Rediscovering Neil Young - Mirror Ball

gar mcmichael

I've always been a fan of this album but for some reason, I felt the urge to listen to it again yesterday while driving from Long Beach to Carlsbad, CA. What an incredible album for a drive. Driving through the mountains on the 73 with Big Green Country and Truth Be Known was perfect. And then Peace and Love hit right around San Clemente on the 5 where you see the ocean for the first time. The real irony was Throw Your Hatred Down playing as I passed Camp Pendleton. Not sure what was up yesterday, but they had helicopters flying and tanks visible from the highway. Nice backdrop for lyrics like, "throw your weapons down".

Sorry if you don't know the roads I'm talking about but if you ever have to go from LA to San Diego, queue up Mirror Ball right around Huntington Beach on the 405, then take the 73 to the 5. You'll be in for a treat.

magikev

I know what you mean . . .I'm in Encinitas also. Haven't seen anybody else from the message pit around here. We should get together sometime, grab a beer or something.

goldrush

I agree! I don't know the roads in your post (being in the UK!) but I've always thought that this is a great driving album too!

gar mcmichael

If you ever visit Southern California just make sure you have Mirror Ball with you. There are actually a lot of stretches of road that fit well with the album.

norm

gar mcmichael wrote:

I've always been a fan of this album but for some reason, I felt the urge to listen to it again yesterday while driving from Long Beach to Carlsbad, CA. What an incredible album for a drive. Driving through the mountains on the 73 with Big Green Country and Truth Be Known was perfect. And then Peace and Love hit right around San Clemente on the 5 where you see the ocean for the first time. The real irony was Throw Your Hatred Down playing as I passed Camp Pendleton. Not sure what was up yesterday, but they had helicopters flying and tanks visible from the highway. Nice backdrop for lyrics like, "throw your weapons down".

Sorry if you don't know the roads I'm talking about but if you ever have to go from LA to San Diego, queue up Mirror Ball right around Huntington Beach on the 405, then take the 73 to the 5. You'll be in for a treat.

cool story...just remember to have your toll ready for the 73


maybe i'll try that going to the san diego show

gar mcmichael

I guess I should have mentioned that the timing only works if you have a Fastrak and drive an average of about 80 mph. Otherwise, you'll be singing "throw your weapons down" somewhere around San Juan Capistrano and it just won't be the same.............

mfc2006

such an awesome record.

norm

gar mcmichael wrote:

I guess I should have mentioned that the timing only works if you have a Fastrak and drive an average of about 80 mph. Otherwise, you'll be singing "throw your weapons down" somewhere around San Juan Capistrano and it just won't be the same.............

the 80 mph i got but i don't have a fasttrak...i might borrow my dad's

gar mcmichael

Just up your speed on the 73 to 90 and you'll compensate for time spent at the toll. Actually, you could probably just do 100 going down the mountain after the toll and you'll be back on track.

Music For Rhinos

YES!

I have been playing this album all summer long...it has been my "album of the summer" for sure. Weird that a thread was brought up, I've been meaning to make one for some time now.

Such an awesome fucking collection of songs...they're all great but my favorite has to be PEACE AND LOVE. So, so good.

The whole thing has such a great vibe to it.

bigeye21

So weird. I dusted this off for the first time in years and was listening to it this week driving in my truck. I was thinking, "Damn, this thing still holds up and rocks out! Why the fuck haven't I listened to this in years!?!"

dcfaithful

I love to blast "Big Green Country" while flying down the interstate....so true when you've all said this album is a great drivign album. It totally is.

Cosmo

gar mcmichael wrote:

I guess I should have mentioned that the timing only works if you have a Fastrak and drive an average of about 80 mph. Otherwise, you'll be singing "throw your weapons down" somewhere around San Juan Capistrano and it just won't be the same.............

...
OFF TOPIC:
I know a lot of people will disagree... but, I am GLAD the Marines Camp Pendleton Reserve is there and I hope it remains there til the comet smashes into us and we become as extinct as the Dinosaurs... here's why:
That stretch of the highway has remained the same for as long as i can remember. The landscape used to look like that from El Toro to Oceanside.
Now, it is shopping malls and storage yards and clusters of pink boxes the entrie way, L.A to San Diego... except for Camp Pendleton.
I just think it would be nice for my nephews and neices and their kids to at least, catch a glimpse of what i remmeber the Pacific coast of Southern California used to look like.

hailhail82

Solana Beach here. Made that drive countless times, many with MB playing. Good call.

pjfan021

oh man...i listen to this album at least once a month still. Song X kicks soooo much ass!

gar mcmichael

Young Neil probably never knew he had so many fans in San Diego county.

hailhail82

Hehe, did you see the last Cox Arena show back in Oct? Plenty of Neil love down here!

gar mcmichael

Unfortunately I missed him. I was living in LA at the time. I don't think the LA show ever ended up happening.

After a couple of days of trying to coorelate the timing of Mirror ball to the 405/73/5 drive, I got it right again. It was more a function of traffic than anything.

If you start the album on the 405 right at the 22, and maintain a speed of about 70-75, here's how it works out:

405 to the 73 - Song X, Act of Love
73 - I'm the Ocean, Big Green Country - You're at the top of the mountain towards the end of I'm the Ocean and then cruising through the hills during Big Green Country. Well worth the $5 it costs you in tolls.
5 to San Clemente - Truth Be Known, Downtown, What Happened Yesterday
5 - San Clemente right when you see the ocean - Peace and Love
5 - Camp Pendleton - Throw Your Hatred Down
5 in Oceanside to the 78 in Carlsbad - Scenery
Up the street to my house - Fallen Angel

JB176657

I'm the ocean and downtown......classic.

chris32482

Ragged Glory is also awesome-- It's like Mirror ball, only without the Pearl Jam.