Rock 101: Neil Young (947 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 1.61 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by The Walrus (View user info) at 2005-01-01 15:37:26 EST
One of the most influential rockers of all time, it is impossible to overlook Neil Young when studying the history of rock. Through his raw nasal tone, powerful guitar playing, and highly personal lyrics he helped to shape rock as it grew throughout his lifetime.
Neil's highly successful career spanned from the 60's to the late 90's. His styles ranged from blues to folk to hard rock, reflecting his emotions or lifestyle at the time.
His routes begin in Canada. Born in Toronto, he moved to Winnipeg with his mother after his parent's divorce. Neil began to take a strong interest in music during high school. He eventually dropped out of school in 1963 to focus on his newly created garage band, The Esquires. Although they produced very few songs, they put on several stellar underground performances.
Young honed his skills as he played the coffee house and folk club scene through the mid 60's. During this time he returned to Toronto, and in 1966 created the Mynah Birds with bassist Bruce Palmer and future soul star Rick James. They recorded a couple songs for Motown, but were largely ignored. Frustrated with their lack of success, Young moved to Los Angeles with Palmer. Here he would quickly meet Stephen Stills, who would later join the famous Crosby, Stills, & Nash.
Together the three artists formed Buffalo Springfield, a huge success. The band released three widely supported albums, but their inner workings were unstable. Due to drugs and differences between members the band broke up after just two years together.
Young decided to go solo at this point and signed on with Reprise Records in 1968. He released his first solo album in 1969 but it failed to make it off the ground. Further frustrated Neil began playing with a local band, The Rockets. Under Young's guidance they were renamed Crazy Horse and together they released Neil's second album: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.
The album was a huge success, going platinum and receiving rave reviews with songs such as "Cinnamon Girl" and "Down By the River." Following the success Neil began playing with Crosby, Stills, and Nash and released another solo album: After the Gold Rush. This is quite possibly his most famous album and jump started Young into stardom.
In 1972, Harvest was released featuring the song "Heart of Gold," Neil's only ever #1 single. With these two successive smash hits Young, along with Bob Dylan became the face of rock music at the time.
Instead of thriving off of this stardom, Neil crashed. His life took a turn for the worse. Two close friends of his, Danny Whitten (Crazy Horse guitarist) and Bruce Berry (roadie), died of drug overdoses. His music suffered visibly and several films and live albums of his were released to poor reviews.
He bounced back however, using the death's as inspiration for his next hit album: Tonight's the Night. Quickly recovering he released Zuma with Crazy Horse and reestablishes himself as a rock god.
Here, though, his artistic side took control and the 80's became an experimental time for Neil. He toured with several others including Stephen Stills and Nicolette Larson and released a wide variety of albums from heavy rock to one where his voice was actually recorded through a computerized vocoder. These were met with shocked and angry reviews, as Neil largely expected.
Yet again he bounced back to his old stardom however, in 1990 he reunited with Crazy Horse to produce Ragged Glory, met with strong support. In '91 he released the live album Weld and soon after that Harvest Moon and Sleeps With Angels were produced by Young. At this point Neil began to play with Pearl Jam, eventually collaborating to create Mirror Ball in 1995.
He released Silver and Gold in 2000, his last gasp of rock music. No one had ever maintained stardom and influence for as long as Neil Young. From the 60's to the new millennium, his music shaped rock as it is today and will stand forever strong within the rock community.
User Reviews
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-11-17 08:41:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Buy Greendale now. Neil Young kicks ass.
Submitted by Dick_Donkeysaber (user info) at 2005-01-03 19:16:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by tinactin (user info) at 2005-01-02 01:33:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Greendale is his last album. Check it out. It's good stuff.
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-01-02 01:32:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Cinnamon Girl is a great song.
Submitted by fieldsr (user info) at 2005-01-02 01:22:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
yep. hes pretty awesome. many people consider him the godfather of grunge. you didnt talk to much about crosby, stills, nash & YOUNG. you pretty much only mentioned crosby, stills and nash. or maybe i missed it because i havent slept in 3 or so days
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2005-01-02 00:05:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Haha Tommy Douglas
Submitted by The_Walrus (user info) at 2005-01-01 23:57:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It's a tad bit frustrating when assholes like yourself (prime) -2 things because you simply oppose the point of the article. Rate on quality not your own opinion.
Submitted by The_Walrus (user info) at 2005-01-01 23:53:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Ouch.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-01-01 23:00:40 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Neil Young is the worst thing to come out of Canada since Tommy Douglas.
Fuckin' Rocking in the free world is the leftist anthem.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-01-01 22:56:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Good piece...you know your Neil Young.
But, alas, I'm a Skynrd fan.
Submitted by The_Walrus (user info) at 2005-01-01 22:42:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Was Greendale a movie? Fill me in.
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-01-01 21:05:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Have another +2, but you forgot to mention Greendale. And everyone should own a copy of Mirror Ball.
Submitted by Spiritoso (user info) at 2005-01-01 18:25:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Rock on!
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-01-01 18:23:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
well researched.
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-01-01 18:03:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 without even reading it.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2005-01-01 17:57:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
NEIL YOUNG RULES
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-01-01 16:59:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-01-01 16:19:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not a HUGE fan of Neil Young, but he is certainly one of the all-time greats, and certainly had more consistency than the Stones. I'm the biggest Stones geek you'll meet, but I'll be the first to admit that they haven't had a consistently good album in 30 years. Even 1978's "Some Girls" was only two or three great songs surrounded by filler.
The Stones certainly reached heigher heights than Neil Young, but Young had many more years in his prime.
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Good point Wiggles.
My arguement was with the longevity issue.
I do agree that the stone have been somewhat inconsistent.
But then, Mr Young has had his dubious moments.
Either way I liked the piece.
-Dave
Submitted by rock_music (user info) at 2005-01-01 16:52:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't feel like reading this, but +2 for giving props to Neil Young. He kicks ass.
Submitted by Wiggles (user info) at 2005-01-01 16:19:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not a HUGE fan of Neil Young, but he is certainly one of the all-time greats, and certainly had more consistency than the Stones. I'm the biggest Stones geek you'll meet, but I'll be the first to admit that they haven't had a consistently good album in 30 years. Even 1978's "Some Girls" was only two or three great songs surrounded by filler.
The Stones certainly reached heigher heights than Neil Young, but Young had many more years in his prime.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-01-01 16:02:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like lasagna.
Happy New Year.
My mind is on a hung-over vacation.
This is a standard reply, and it will not change today, unless Chris Evans decides to be a cock-pillow again.
I love/hate/respect/despise you all.
Submitted by The_Walrus (user info) at 2005-01-01 15:58:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
If there was anyone to rival Neil Young then yes, it would be the Rolling Stones. That's a good point.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-01-01 15:54:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff. Only thing I disagree with is the following line.
" No one had ever maintained stardom and influence for as long as Neil Young."
Check out a little known band called "The Rolling Stones".
But I still enjoyed this, possibly as I think Neil Young may well be the Second Coming.
-Dave
Submitted by tech-junkie (user info) at 2005-01-01 15:49:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good historical post
Submitted by Beer_bong (user info) at 2005-01-01 15:49:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Rocketh oneth.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-01-01 15:40:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Making me think of Dana Carvey's impression = +2