"Reflections" by GRAHAM NASH [feat Hollies, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and more] (February 2009 Rhino/Atlantic 3 x HDCD Book Set Of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Feed Them On Your Dreams…"

Featuring The Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dave Mason of Traffic, Members of The Grateful Dead and more. Includes tracks from the albums "Crosby, Stills & Nash" (1969), "Déjà Vu" (1970), "Graham Nash/David Crosby" (1972), "Wind On The Water" (1975), "Whistling Down The Wire" (1976), "CSN" (1977) and more...

Across 64 tracks, 3CDs and a career spanning 40 years – Graham Nash's offering in the on-going solo reissues for CROSBY, STILLS, NASH and YOUNG gives you a whopping 32 previously unreleased tracks, a fabulously detailed booklet and the whole kit and caboodle remastered into sparkly HDCD. Here are the harmonising English-Boy done-good details…

Released February 2009 – "Reflections" by GRAHAM NASH on Rhino/Atlantic 8122-79935-8 (Barcode 081227993580) is 3 x HDCD Book Set of Remasters with Previously Unreleased Material that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (74:52 minutes):

1. On A Carousel – THE HOLLIES (February 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5562, A-side, Mono)

2. Carrie Anne – THE HOLLIES (May 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5602, A-side, Mono)

3. King Midas In Reverse – THE HOLLIES (September 1967 UK 7” single on Parlophone R 5637, A-side, Mono)

4. Marrakesh Express – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

5. Pre-Road Downs – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

6. Lady Of The Island – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (tracks 4 to 6 are from the album “Crosby, Stills & Nash” released June 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD 8229 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 189)

7. Our House – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG

8. Teach Your Children – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (tracks 7 and 8 originally on the album “Déjà Vu” released March 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7200 and in the UK on Atlantic 2401 001. Track 8 is a Previously Unreleased Mix)

9. Right Between The Eyes – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Demo)

10. I Used To Be King – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

11. Simple Man – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

12. Man In The Mirror – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

13. Better Days – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

14. Military Madness – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

15. Sleep Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

16. Chicago/We Can Change The World – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

17. Southbound Train – CROSBY & NASH

18. Immigration Man – CROSBY & NASH (tracks 17 and 18 on the album “Graham Nash / David Crosby” released April 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7220 and May 1972 in the UK on Atlantic K 50011)

19. Wild Tales – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

20. Prison Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

21. Oh! Camil (The Winter Soldier) – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

22. On The Line – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

23. You’ll Never Be The Same – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

24. Another Sleep Song – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

Disc 2 (74:38 minutes):

1. To The Last Whale: Critical Mass/Wind On The Water – DAVID CROSBY / GRAHAM NASH

2. Fieldworker – DAVID CROSBY / GRAHAM NASH

3. Cowboy Of Dreams – DAVID CROSBY /  GRAHAM NASH

4. Love Work Out – DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH (tracks 1 to 4 are from the album “Wind On The Water” released October 1975 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-902 and January 1976 in the UK on Polydor 2310 428)

5. Marguerita – DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH (on the album “Whistling Down The Wire” released July 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-956 and in the UK on Polydor 2310 468)

6. Taken At All – CROSBY. STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

7. Mutiny – CROSBY, NASH (on the album “Whistling Down The Wire” released July 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-956 and in the UK on Polydor 2310 468)

8. Just A Song Before I Go – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (on the album “CSN” released June 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19104 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50369)

9. Cold Rain – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased mix)

10. Cathedral – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (originally on the album “CSN” released June 1977 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19104 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50369 – this is a Previously Unreleased Mix)

11. Barrel Of Pain (Half-Life) – GRAHAM NASH

12. Magical Child – GRAHAM NASH (11 and 12 originally on the album “Earth & Sky” released March 1980 in the USA on Capitol SWAK-12014 and in the UK on Capitol EA-ST 12014. Track 12 is a Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix) 

13. Song For Susan – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH

14. Wasted On The Way - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (13 and 14 on the album “Daylight Again” released July 1982 in the USA on Atlantic SD 19360 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50896)

15. Love Is The Reason – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

16. Raise A Voice - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (on “Allies” (Live) released June 1983 on Atlantic 78-0075-1)

17. Clear Blue Skies - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

18. Lonely Man - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

19. Sad Eyes – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix)

20. Water From The Moon – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

21. Soldiers Of Peace - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (on the album “American Dream” released November 1988 in the USA on Atlantic 7 81888-1 and in the UK on Atlantic WX 233)

Disc 3 (74:55 minutes):

1. If Anybody Had A Heart – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

2. Chippin’ Away – GRAHAM NASH (on the album “Innocent Eyes” released April 1986 in the USA on Atlantic 7 81888 1 and Atlantic WX 233 in the UK)

3. After The Dolphin – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

4. House Of Broken Dreams - CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (1, 3 and 4 on the album “Live It Up” released June 1990 on LP in the UK and USA on Atlantic 7567 82101-1)

5. Unequal Love – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

6. Liar’s Nightmare – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

7. Heartland – CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (on the album “looking Forward” released November 1999 on CD on East West 9362 47436-2)

8. These Empty Days – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (on the album “After The Storm” released August 1994 on CD on East West 7567 82654-2)

9. Try To Find Me – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

10. Two Hearts – CAROLE KING and GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

11. Behind The Shades – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

12. Michael (Hedges Here) – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased version)

13. I Surrender – CROSBY, NASH

14. Live On (The Wall) – CROSBY, NASH (tracks 13 and 14 are on the 2CD set “Crosby Nash” released 2004 on Sanctuary 06076-84683-2 in the USA and Sanctuary SANDD293 in the UK and Europe)

15. Dirty Little Secret – GRAHAM NASH

16. We Breathe The Same Air – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

17. Grace – CROSBY, NASH

18. Jesus Of Rio – CROSBY, NASH

19. In Your Name – GRAHAM NASH (Previously Unreleased song)

The audio remaster handled by Graham Nash, Bernie Grundman and John Nowland are truly gorgeous – full of life and presence – really superb work done and care taken. Nowland was involved with the brilliant Neil Young NYA CD remasters over the last few years and Bernie Grundman is a long-established engineer of considerable note. You feel care was taken with each and every track. The 150-page booklet is properly gorgeous – a glossy paperback rammed with colour photos, album sleeves, reminiscences on all the songs, contributions from his vast array of musician friends (household names one and all) and images of his alter life as a painter, artist and photographer. And while the David Crosby Box Set “Voyage” from 2006 had his career on Discs 1 and 2 with all the Previously Unreleased stuff entirely allocated to (a stunning) Disc 3 – the Nash box chooses to mix them in – in chronological order.

Disc 1 opens with a triple-whammy winner of Hollies hits followed quickly by three Nash contributions to the debut CSN album in turn followed by his lovely “Our House” from “Déjà Vu”. We’re then hammered with a slew of 17 alternate versions and this is where I feel some problems arise. Some like “I Used To Be A King” and the acoustic take of “Another Sleep Song” are really excellent - but songs that I love like “Better Days”, “Military Madness” and “On The Line” get lesser or ‘countrified’ versions - when I really wanted upgraded remastered originals.

As you open Disc 2 you’re hit with the vocal magnificence of “To The Last Whale…” and the guitar funk of “Love Work Out”. “Just A Song Before I Go” from 1977’s “CSN” sounds amazing – fantastic audio-quality - as does the Alternate of “Magical Child”. But as we get further into the Eighties and Nineties the quality varies enormously. On the one hand you get the naff “Chippin’ Away” siding with the genuinely moving – a really lovely alternate version of “Unequal Love” – intimate and in your living room. The non-album “Water From The Moon” is awful cod-rock while “House Of Broken Dreams” from the underrated “Live It Up” CSNY set from 1990 is excellent (“separate houses, separate hearts…”). I liked a lot of what was on the 2CD “Crosby/Nash” 2004 set including their hurting version of Marc Cohn’s “I Surrender”. It ends on “In Your Name” – a prayer to God to “stop all this killing in your name…” – a sweet ballad and a cool way to finish the box.

It’s not all genius for sure and some of the stuff on Disc 2 and 3 is too maudlin and middle of the road - but what is here is beautifully remastered and presently in drop-dead gorgeous surroundings. Time to reappraise. Man were they a talented bunch…

"Crosby, Stills & Nash: Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition" by CROSBY. STILLS & NASH (2005 Atlantic/Rhino HDCD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Ruby Throated..." 

The liner notes to this 2006 'Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition' of CSN's monumental 1969 debut album opens with an Introduction from Ahmet Ertegun – founder and owner of the mighty Atlantic Records. It describes the first time he heard the tapes by ex Hollies man Graham Nash who had linked up with ex Byrd's tunesmith David Crosby and Buffalo Springfield's guitarist and songwriter Stephen Stills. The canny Record Man was stunned and knew something huge was happening. He quotes "Crosby, Stills & Nash immediately became my No. 1 project..." And even now - in the twilight months of 2015 – a full 46 years after the event – their opening salvo is 'so' damn good – a melodious masterpiece still casting a harmony-vocal shadow over today's myriad musical landscape. Here are the helplessly hoping details of three men on a sofa...

UK released January 2006 – "Crosby, Stills & Young: Expanded & Remastered HDCD Edition" by CROSBY, STILLS & NASH on Atlantic/Rhino-8122-73290-2 (Barcode 081227329020) offers you the 10-track album newly remastered and with 4 bonus tracks. It pans out as follows (53:17 minutes):

1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
2. Marrakesh Express
3. Guinnevere
4. You Don't Have To Cry
5. Pre-Road Downs
6. Wooden Ships [Side 2]
7. Lady Of The Island
8. Helplessly Hoping
9. Long Time Gone
10. 49 Bye-Byes
Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut studio album "Crosby, Stills & Nash" – released June 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8229 and in the UK on Atlantic 588 189. It rose to No. 6 and No. 25 on the US and UK charts. David Crosby wrote 3 and 9 - Stephen Stills wrote 1, 4, 8, and 10 – Graham Nash wrote 2, 5 and 7. "Wooden Ships" is a co-write between David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner (of Jefferson Airplane).

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Do For The Others [Stephen Stills song]
12. Song With No Words (New Remix) [David Crosby song]
13. Everybody's Talkin' [cover version of a Fred Neil song]
14. Teach Your Children [Graham Nash song]

The 16-page booklet is tastefully substantial – the gatefold lyric insert that came with original 1969 vinyl albums has been fully reproduced, there’s a detailed and informed essay on the album by DAVID WILD which includes quotes from the trio and reissue credits. They’ve even included the lyrics to the four bonuses. The centre pages have a gorgeous colour photo the harmonious trio wrapped up in furs. But the big news is the fantastic new Remaster. JOHN NOWLAND (who was involved in the highly praised first four Neil Young remasters) has used the original 2-and-8 track analogue master tapes and transferred them to HDCD (High Density Compatible Digital). It’s a better form of Remaster and HDCD do not require any kind of special player. STANLEY JOHNSON and GREG HAYES were also involved in the transfers with the Mastering done by the vastly experienced BERNIE GRUNDMAN. The results are the best I’ve ever heard this album sound (odd they haven’t followed this release up with a similar HDCD version of "Déjà Vu"?)

Right from opening Acoustic Guitars of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (written about Judy Collins) and when those magical three voices blend – you realise you’re in the presence of something very special. Although the song is 7:24 minutes long and even includes a Spanish chant-and-dance break – it never seems to overstay its welcome. Having listening to this opener for over four and half decades on various vinyl originals (UK plum labels included) – the Audio achieved here is truly breathtaking. Graham Nash's chipper "Marrakesh Express" was the first 45 off the album coupled with "Helplessly Hoping" on both sides of the pond in July 1969 (Atlantic 584 283 in the UK, Atlantic 2652 in the USA) - it hit 28 in the USA and 17 in the UK. It's followed by the stunning ethereal beauty of "Guinnevere" sashaying into your living room with a softly plucked Acoustic. Then you get hit with the full harmonious power and beauty of those three voices as a wall of one. When the trio first got together in Joni Mitchell's house – they noticed the 'timber' of the combo – and this song more than any highlights that magic. As if that's not good enough - you get the 'life on the road' cautionary tale of "You Don't Have To Cry" where that Stephen Stills tuneful song magic kicks you in the nuts. Fabulous guitar pings, their voices and those words – "...you are living a reality I left years ago...it quite nearly killed me..." Side 1 ends with Graham Nash's "Pre-Road Downs" – a treated guitar gives us another touring-is-miserable song about missing the touch and presence of his ladylove.

"Wooden Ships" would turn up on the Jefferson Airplane album "Volunteers" in November of 1969 (it was a co-write with Paul Kantner) and I’ve always loved both versions – a strange hybrid of Soulful Rock that seemed to belong to California in 1969. CSN's original take is shorter and amps up the Guitar and Organ and once again the Remaster is gorgeous. The bass and rhythm section is so warm and sweet but it’s the Stills vocal followed by Crosby and back again that impresses – beautifully handled in the transfer. "Lady Of The Island" is tender and quiet and Nash's vocals almost aching with his love (written for Joni Mitchell). "...Letting myself wander through the world in your eyes..." he sings – and it's beautifully poignant. That harmony magic comes marauding through your speakers once again (but in the best possible way) with "Helplessly Hoping" – a stunning three-part harmony and probably the best Audio on the disc. Although from the pen of David Crosby - the slinky "Long Time Gone" nonetheless has Still's arrangement and production magic all over it – lifting the song into a CSN recording rather than a solo stab. It ends on "49 Bye-Byes" which always seems to get overlooked – but it has magic in it too – especially in that centre passage where all those melodies on the guitars and vocals build up.

The album was recorded straight (what you see is what you get) so technically there are no outtakes from the sessions per say - but the group continued recording that year and the four bonus tracks come from those sessions. "Do For The Others" would eventually show on "Stephen Stills" - his debut solo album from late 1970. The second it opens – you can hear why its been included on this Expanded CD Edition – not only is this song gorgeous to listen too – it’s beautifully recorded – essentially a Demo with Stills on Lead Guitar while the other two harmonise. It’s a genuine wow. Second up is another harmony winner in "Song With No Words" where they "dah dah" the melody that would eventually appear on David Crosby's magnificent "If I Could Only Remember My Name" debut solo album in 1971. Truly beautiful is the only way to describe the Trio doing Fred Neil's classic "Everybody's Talkin'" made famous by Nilsson's cover as used in the movie "Midnight Cowboy". Crosby describes it in the liner notes as "Stills at his best..." There's a demo of the "Déjà Vu" classic "Teach Your Children" which is nice but nothing as good as the magical trio that preceded it. Fans will know that there are five other 'outtakes' from the period on the "Carry On" 4CD Box Set (1991) - one day we might get a Deluxe Edition 2CD set covering the event in its entirety...helplessly hoping...

So there you have – an established 60ts nugget – cool and beautiful like a summer breeze and given a truly beautiful audio makeover. It’s even furnished and burnished in Aldershot Sun with Bonus Tracks actually worthy of the moniker.

"...Going to where the sun keeps shining... " – Stephen Stills sings on their gorgeous harmony vocal cover of "Everybody's Talkin'". 

I'd gravitate towards this ray of California gold if I were you...warm on your soul and on your mind...and then some...

This review is part of my COOL 1960s MUSIC e-Book available as one of the SOUNDS GOOD Series - Exceptional CD Remasters...

“After The Gold Rush” by NEIL YOUNG (August 2009 Reprise/Neil Young Archives HDCD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...The Morning Brings Another Sun..."

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 format's less than stellar representation of analogue tapes 'original sound' - and almost a full 20 years after 1989's first issue of "Gold Rush" 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...

UK and Europe released 10 August 2009 - "After The Gold Rush" by NEIL YOUNG on Reprise 9362-49790-1 (Barcode 093624979012) is a 'Neil Young Archives - Original Release Series' Remaster (NYA ORS) and carries the HDCD code on the label and rear inlay (High Definition Compatible Digital). It's also Part 3 of 4 of the August 2012 "Official Release Series Discs 1-4" Reissue that bundles his first four solo albums together (the HDCD versions) into one card slipcase.

Until now - 2004's "Greatest Hits" set (which offered us three Gold Rush tracks remastered into HDCD sound quality) was the only real indication of just how good the album 'could' sound (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 - they really have...

"After The Gold Rush" (35:03 minutes):

1. Tell Me Why

2. After The Gold Rush

3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

4. Southern Man

5. Till The Morning Comes

6. Oh Lonesome Me

7. Don't Let It Bring You Down

8. Birds

9. When You Dance, I Can Really Love

10. I Believe In You

11. Cripple Creek

"After The Gold Rush" was released in September 1970 on Reprise Records MS 6383 in the USA and Reprise RSLP 6383 in the UK (it went to Number 8 in the USA and Number 7 in the UK). It was reissued on the Reprise 'K' label variant in the early Seventies when the company went over to 'Kinney' Music.

The inlay faithfully reproduces the foldout lyric sheet with his black and white grainy handwritten lyrics and the print isn't cramped either - it's very readable. (The Harvest inlay has the textured feel of the original LP sleeve and lyric insert too - a nice touch).

Also - 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...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 "Gold Rush" 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 remaster - 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.

So many highlights - the meaty guitars of "Southern Man" and the slyly lovely cover of Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" is great too.

But then there's a triple whammy of "Don't Let It Bring You Down", the beautiful "Birds" (lyrics above) and the rocking "When You Dance, I Can Really Love". Each is so beautifully done but in different ways. They're not bombastic, nor trebled up to the nines, but subtle - the music is just THERE in your speakers to a point where everything seems new and up for grabs again. Fans will love it and feel like they're revisited long cherished old friends while newcomers will now understand what all the 5-star fuss is about.

Nils Lofgren of Grin and Crazy Horse lends his Guitar and Piano skills (Ralph Molina and Danny Whitten also from Crazy Horse play Drums and Guitars respectively) - while Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young contributes backing vocals. Master arranger and musical catalyst Jack Nitzsche also plays piano. But it’s Young and his singular voice, style and vision that dominates – the others complimenting rather than overtaking. Both "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest" are arguably what his legend are based upon – although I find almost all of his Seventies output classy – the kind of music like say Richard and Linda Thompson LPs that grows in stature as the years pass.

The gold sticker on the jewel case of each of these issues says "Because Sound Matters" - and I think Rock's great curmudgeon has actually proved that point...

PS: I've reviewed "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere", "Neil Young" and "Harvest" also - just as good soundwise - and the August 2012 "Official Release Series Disc 1-4" Box Set Reissue on Reprise/NYA that lumps together all 4 x HDCD releases into one card slipcase...

“Harvest” by NEIL YOUNG - February 1972 Album on Reprise Records (June 2009 UK Reprise/Neil Young Archives HDCD Reissue and Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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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)...