Neil Young: A Treasure (6/14/11)

LukinFan

http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Neil-You ... d_sim_m_10

The 12-track live album, A Treasure includes songs - 5 of which are previously unreleased - recorded during Young's 1984 and 1985 U.S. tours without the support of an album, or Young's then record label due to unique and unusual circumstances. Among those, "Grey Riders" will be the first track serviced to radio. A Treasure features Young's onstage work with some of the greatest artists in the history of Country music, including the late, great Ben Keith on steel and slide guitar and Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle, along with living legends Spooner Oldham and Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano, Tim Drummond and Joe Allen on bass, Anthony Crawford on mandolin & guitars and Karl Himmel on drums, among many others. A Treasure is Young's first release since last year's Grammy and Juno Award-winning album, Le Noise. The live album captures this iconic artist during a fascinating time in his career, when he was facing criticism and lawsuits from his then current record company for exploring a more traditionally country sound. "You can call me erratic," Young said when asked at the time about his tendency toward musical shape-shifting, "but I've been consistent about it, consistently erratic." Always celebrated for his musical versatility, A Treasure, is akin to a sonic time capsule, instantly transporting the listener to the time and place when it was made. "I love this record," Young says. "I hadn't heard these takes in 25 years, but when we unearthed them co-producer Ben Keith said, 'This is a treasure.'"

Part of what makes A Treasure so compelling is the musical contributions of The International Harvesters, with whom Young was playing at the time. Many of them were already paragons within the country music world and their notoriety has only grown in the years since. "I just love to hear those guys," Young says. "They're all country music legends." Those behind the scenes also made significant contributions to A Treasure's sonic potency. Tim Mulligan mixed and mastered the tracks. At the time these songs were recorded, Bob Sterne was the tour manager, Tim Foster ran the stage, and Larry Cragg was in charge of the band's instruments.

A Treasure will be released in several formats, including standard CD, vinyl (180gm and 140gm), digital download with and without videos, and as a deluxe CD/Blu-ray package. The Blu-ray version will feature a curated selection of video that lends context and imagistic power to the tracks. "I like to look at these old live videos and listen to what I think are the best versions of these songs," Young says. "It's fun to see what we looked like when we were playing it then."

* Denotes Previously Unreleased Track

1. *Amber Jean (9/20/84) Nashville Now TV - Nashville, TN
2. Are You Ready For The Country? (9/21/84) Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
3. It Might Have Been (9/25/84) Austin City Limits TV - Austin, Texas
4. Bound For Glory (9/29/84) Gilleys Rodeo Arena - Pasadena, TX
5. *Let Your Fingers Do The Walking (10/22/84) Universal Amphitheater Universal City, CA
6. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA 7. Motor City (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
8. *Soul Of A Woman (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
9. Get Back To The Country (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
10. Southern Pacific (9/1/85) Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
11. *Nothing Is Perfect (9/1/85) Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
12. *Grey Riders (9/10/85) Pier 84 - New York City, NY

igotid88

LukinFan wrote:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VQGGL6?ie=UTF8&ref_=pd_sim_m_10&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393173&tag=abswo-20

The 12-track live album, A Treasure includes songs - 5 of which are previously unreleased - recorded during Young's 1984 and 1985 U.S. tours without the support of an album, or Young's then record label due to unique and unusual circumstances. Among those, "Grey Riders" will be the first track serviced to radio. A Treasure features Young's onstage work with some of the greatest artists in the history of Country music, including the late, great Ben Keith on steel and slide guitar and Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle, along with living legends Spooner Oldham and Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano, Tim Drummond and Joe Allen on bass, Anthony Crawford on mandolin & guitars and Karl Himmel on drums, among many others. A Treasure is Young's first release since last year's Grammy and Juno Award-winning album, Le Noise. The live album captures this iconic artist during a fascinating time in his career, when he was facing criticism and lawsuits from his then current record company for exploring a more traditionally country sound. "You can call me erratic," Young said when asked at the time about his tendency toward musical shape-shifting, "but I've been consistent about it, consistently erratic." Always celebrated for his musical versatility, A Treasure, is akin to a sonic time capsule, instantly transporting the listener to the time and place when it was made. "I love this record," Young says. "I hadn't heard these takes in 25 years, but when we unearthed them co-producer Ben Keith said, 'This is a treasure.'"

Part of what makes A Treasure so compelling is the musical contributions of The International Harvesters, with whom Young was playing at the time. Many of them were already paragons within the country music world and their notoriety has only grown in the years since. "I just love to hear those guys," Young says. "They're all country music legends." Those behind the scenes also made significant contributions to A Treasure's sonic potency. Tim Mulligan mixed and mastered the tracks. At the time these songs were recorded, Bob Sterne was the tour manager, Tim Foster ran the stage, and Larry Cragg was in charge of the band's instruments.

A Treasure will be released in several formats, including standard CD, vinyl (180gm and 140gm), digital download with and without videos, and as a deluxe CD/Blu-ray package. The Blu-ray version will feature a curated selection of video that lends context and imagistic power to the tracks. "I like to look at these old live videos and listen to what I think are the best versions of these songs," Young says. "It's fun to see what we looked like when we were playing it then."

* Denotes Previously Unreleased Track

1. *Amber Jean (9/20/84) Nashville Now TV - Nashville, TN
2. Are You Ready For The Country? (9/21/84) Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
3. It Might Have Been (9/25/84) Austin City Limits TV - Austin, Texas
4. Bound For Glory (9/29/84) Gilleys Rodeo Arena - Pasadena, TX
5. *Let Your Fingers Do The Walking (10/22/84) Universal Amphitheater Universal City, CA
6. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA 7. Motor City (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
8. *Soul Of A Woman (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
9. Get Back To The Country (10/26/84) Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
10. Southern Pacific (9/1/85) Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
11. *Nothing Is Perfect (9/1/85) Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
12. *Grey Riders (9/10/85) Pier 84 - New York City, NY

cool

igotid88

Comes in vinyl

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VB ... g=abswo-20

Johnny Abruzzo

I preordered the CD. This will my first foray into this Neil Young country stuff.

SVRDhand13

I am not a fan of this point in Neil's career but I am such a sucker for anything he releases.

morello

I've pre-ordered this too + blu-ray + DVD(coz I don't actually have a blu-ray payer yet ) + t-shirt! Can't wait until it arrives!
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=154375

MysteryTrain

A song like Grey Riders is the reason why I listen to Neil Young. Gave me goosebumps.

NewJPage

any sign of the vinyl showing up for people? should be soon as it is released next tuesday

merkinball

MysteryTrain wrote:

A song like Grey Riders is the reason why I listen to Neil Young. Gave me goosebumps.

And Southern Pacific with the Harvesters? Those two tracks alone make this a must have release. A very underrated touring band for Neil.

I suppose it's easier to see in retrospect though, can you image in PJ toured like Neil did in the 80's? Alternate country, electronic, rockabilly, blues, and rock tours?

Johnny Abruzzo

Here's a review:

http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/05/album-review-neil-young-and-the-international-harvesters-a-treasure/

I can't wait to hear it!

Johnny Abruzzo

Listening to Grey Riders (unreleased version on youtube) - it's country but it sounds fucking awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRhRkKMoMC8

If the rest of this album sounds like that then it's gonna be amaazing.

SVRDhand13

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Here's a review:

http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/05/album-review-neil-young-and-the-international-harvesters-a-treasure/

I can't wait to hear it!

I love how this site always has reviews up early.

Johnny Abruzzo

SVRDhand13 wrote:

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

Here's a review:

http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/05/album-review-neil-young-and-the-international-harvesters-a-treasure/

I can't wait to hear it!

I love how this site always has reviews up early.

I think it's my Official Music Blog.

NewJPage

received my vinyl today. good stuff after one listen, though a bit more country-ish than i usually prefer. grey rider kills though

MysteryTrain

NewJPage wrote:

received my vinyl today. good stuff after one listen, though a bit more country-ish than i usually prefer. grey rider kills though

Amen to Grey Riders.

Two official videos from the album:

Amber Jean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-24evBDOM&feature=player_embedded#at=15

Get Back To The Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xofQES5Y58k&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

SVRDhand13

MysteryTrain wrote:

NewJPage wrote:

received my vinyl today. good stuff after one listen, though a bit more country-ish than i usually prefer. grey rider kills though

Amen to Grey Riders.

Two official videos from the album:

Amber Jean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-24evBDOM&feature=player_embedded#at=15

Get Back To The Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xofQES5Y58k&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Thanks for posting! I didnt order the vinyl so I'll have to wait another week.

dcfaithful

I have always been impressed with how prolific Neil has been throughout his entire career. I'm excited to give this one a listen.

restlesssoul

Just picked this one up today on CD for 12 bucks. Listening to the country twang now....I love Neil. He is a master at everything he does.

merkinball

It's up on emusic for under $7. Just fired it up, love the fiddles.

SVRDhand13

Just listened to it. Country Neil is not my favorite Neil, but this is a good album. This is a much better release than the last live album (all Harvest Moon songs- love those songs on the actual HM album but I did not see the need for that live release).

intodeep

This is good stuff.
I've heard a few of these cuts before i'm pretty sure Grey Riders and Southern Pacific were the versions used on the unofficial box set Rock N Roll Cowboy that came out in the 90's (before the online A Perfect Echo that was such a killer neil live collection and pretty)
Always loved those so it is nice to hear some other cuts from the band.

Pretty underated band in neils career it would seem.