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"...Keeps Me Searching
For A Heart Of Gold..."
As we all know Neil Young
has famously resisted the remastered reissue of his huge catalogue on CD because
of what he feels is the formats less than stellar representation of analogue
tapes' 'original sound'. And almost a full 20 years after 1989's first issue of
Harvest on a dullard CD - it looks like the guy is having the last laugh -
because this meticulously prepared tape transfer is GLORIOUS. It really is.
First to the details - this
June 2009 Remaster is Disc 4 of 4 in his NYA – ORS Reissue Series (Neil Young
Archives - Original Release Series). "Harvest" by NEIL YOUNG on
Reprise 9362-49789-9 (Barcode 093624978992) is a straightforward CD Reissue of
the original 1971 album on Reprise Records and carries the HDCD code on the
label and rear inlay (High Density Compact Disc) – its total playing time is
37:47 minutes.
Until now 2004's
"Greatest Hits" set was the only real indication of just how good the
album 'could' sound (it offered us three Harvest tracks remastered into HDCD
sound quality). And outside of the DVD Audio release (which few people have) -
this is the first time the 'entire' album has been given a sonic upgrade. The
Audio Tape Restoration and Analog-To-HDCD Digital Transfer of the Original
Master Tapes was carried out by JOHN NOWLAND (24-Bit 176 KHZ) with the Editing
and Mastering done by TIM MULLIGAN - and they've done a stunning job.
1. Out On The Weekend [Side 1]
2. Harvest
3. A Man Needs A Maid
4. Heart Of Gold
5. Are You Ready For The
Country
6. Old Man [Side 2]
7. There's A World
8. Alabama
9. The Needle And The Damage
Done
10. Words (Between The Lines
Of Age)
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th
solo album "Harvest" - released February 1972 on Reprise Records MS
2032 in the USA and Reprise Records K 54005 in the UK (it went to Number 1 in
both countries and many others around the world).
The inlay faithfully
reproduces the foldout lyric sheet in the same earthy textured paper that the
matching album cover had (a sort of first for recycling way back then) and the
print isn't cramped either - it's very readable. In fact the booklet in
"Harvest" is probably the most aesthetically pleasing of all 4 releases.
And as these are the first
four albums in a long reissue campaign - to identify them from the old CDs, the
upper part of the outer spine has his new NYA OSR logo at the top and an
'issue' number beneath - D1, D2, D3, D4...and on upwards of course.
However, the big and obvious
disappointment is the complete lack of musical extras or any new info in the
booklet; they're in "The Archives Vol.1 1963-1972" box set that's
still sitting in shop windows at varying extortionate prices. Still - at mid
price - this remaster of "Harvest" is great value for money and with
this hugely upgraded sound - it makes you focus on the music as is and not
anything else.
Some have complained that
the sound is a little underwhelming after all the hype that has preceded these
releases - I don't think that at all. The danger in remastering would be the
cranking of everything, ultra-treble the lot - but I'm hearing ALL the
instruments on this carefully prepared transfer - especially the bass and drums
which now have a clarity that is so sweet rather than flashy. The sound is very
subtle - there's no brashness, very little hiss and when the muscle of the
remaster does kick in - like the strings of the London Symphony Orchestra on
"A Man Needs A Maid" and "There's A World" - it's really
BEAUTIFUL. The music is just 'there' in your speakers all of a sudden.
I suspect for many fans,
rehearing this album and the other 3 will be like revisiting old friends and
finding something new - thrilling to them once again. I'm onto "After The
Gold Rush" as I write - it's impressive stuff - it really is - beautiful
reproduction too.
The gold sticker on the
jewel case of each of these issues states - "Because Sound Matters" -
and although it took him a few decades, on the strength of this reissue, I
think Rock's great curmudgeon was right to wait to get it right...which in many
respects is the ultimate nod to his fans.
Highly recommended.
PS: I've also reviewed
"Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1968), "Neil Young" (1969) and
"After The Gold Rush" (1970) in this Series and each is just as good sound-wise...
And I've also reviewed the 1977 3LP retrospective set "Decade" with Previously Unreleased tracks. It's now been reissued 2017 in the NYA Series onto 2CDs and comes with Card Sleeve Repro Artwork (see reviews)...
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