Seriously folks, with the exception of Ohio, did he ever really write about anything?!

Seriously folks, with the exception of Ohio, did he ever really write about anything?!

In case this was not done tongue in cheek ...

He wrote about the environment: "Natural Beauty"
He wrote about old friends: Buffalo Springfield Again, One of these Days
He wrote about war, full albums worth
He wrote about love: full albums worth
He wrote about life gone too soon: sleeps with angels, needle and the damage done
He wrote about the computerization of the word: a concept album
He wrote about not fitting within the work force anymore: Without Rings
He wrote about cars, women, drugs, racial tension ....

A better question would be, What didn't Neil Yound write about? In fact, what didn't Neil Young write about that wasn't a classic?

One last thing: Silver and Gold is a great album.

LIVE AT THE FILLMORE- Neil Young and the ORIGINAL Crazy Horse. That's all you need to know. The late Danny Whitton was Neil's ultimate guitar foil. Damn this is a great album!

Releasing more live material from this era would be great.

While not mystical imagery, the lyrics in question from Ramada Inn I think they mean alot. Maybe I'm getting older so that is why it seems to hit home more, but thinking about how love in a relationship past, present and future changes, what it was like in the beginning, what it is like now - as love between people ages and what we do to try and grow it or maintain it, tolerate it or embrace it - whatever it is, whatever the situation, whatever it takes - we do what we have to.

But yeah, Neil's heyday or song writing is in the rearview. I still listen to alot of the newer stuff although I haven't bought all the releases.

Silver and Gold is something I enjoy quite a bit from the newer material.

This thread has been a good read.

While not mystical imagery, the lyrics in question from Ramada Inn I think they mean alot. Maybe I'm getting older so that is why it seems to hit home more, but thinking about how love in a relationship past, present and future changes, what it was like in the beginning, what it is like now - as love between people ages and what we do to try and grow it or maintain it, tolerate it or embrace it - whatever it is, whatever the situation, whatever it takes - we do what we have to.

But yeah, Neil's heyday or song writing is in the rearview. I still listen to alot of the newer stuff although I haven't bought all the releases.

Silver and Gold is something I enjoy quite a bit from the newer material.

This thread has been a good read.

Good point re: Ramada Inn lyrics.

I know he's the real deal, writes pretty much what he's feeling, follows the muse, etc. And I understand that not all songs are going to be classics. It's just that I remember what I read about one of his Greendale reviews where it said 'if it seems that Young wrote these songs on the way to the studio--he probably did'

No problem in being as real as it gets, it's just that if you are going to wake up, rub your eyes, strum a guitar and record it, I'm not necessarily going to buy the album. And some recent albums--to me--have that tossed off feel.

And then of course, you need to buy it in 45 different formats and 21 different versions in order to get the 12 'bonus' songs that are included on all the CD versions but not the Blu-Ray versions because you bought the Blu-Ray so that you could hear the Archives as they were intended to be heard and so you could get the BD downloads (Blu-Ray only) so you could get that one song that was not on the Vinyl-only version that was recorded into a tape recorder in someone's basement in 1962 which may or may not be available on Pono, the new high-res digital format he is coming out with that will likely make redundant everything you've just purchased.

^ that was all in good fun of course. Just a little light humor...

Neil is Neil - he follows his muse wherever it takes him. Fans don't have to follow him there and we really do have to preview his latest releases before we buy it. I am a Crazy Horse fan and I watched other fans complaining and actually leave the shows during the Psychadelic Pill tour. They were there to see acoustic Neil. I think that if you buy tickets in advance to see Neil live you should check out youtube to see what he's playing and decide whether to keep 'em or sell 'em. Neil doesn't want to be a greatest hits tribute band to his past and we gotta respect that. I think he is still relevant but I certainly don't always enjoy his latest wanderings. Thank god he's still around. At his age some of his compadres are dropping off this world. RIP Rick Rosas, Ben Keith and I wish a full recovery to Billy Talbot.

EXACTLY! You need to pick and choose with Neil as he does follow the muse. If you ask me, he can still rock with the best of them. And he doesn't really need CSN, they need him. He's their edge.

Any chance I get to see him, I go.

On a similar topic, the recent Halloween Mule show tribute to Neil was outstanding. Excellent choice of songs, and great playing by Warren and the boys.

A better question would be, What didn't Neil Yound write about? In fact, what didn't Neil Young write about that wasn't a classic?

Lots. Most of what he's done the last 3 decades would hardly be considered classic. I love Neil and was so excited when he came out of his '80s weirdness with Freedom (definitely a classic). I've loved parts of what he's done since Freedom, but for everything that is great, there is an equal or more that isn't close or at least isn't my cup of tea at all. And this is coming from someone who might choose Neil Young to put on my favorite 3 hour concert if I could pick the songs and his band (and I'd includes stuff the past 25 years in that set too).

BTW - Great thread and I love the album by album breakdown.

My favorite Neil moment was 1993 at Starlake on his world by a string tour backed by Booker T and the MGs.

It was my 2nd ever concert and we had row D, 4th row behind the pit. I should look at my stub. I think the show ticket was $20 something. The very next year with the Stone, Eagles and Floyd all touring ticket prices would explode and never return to normal. Waited in a short line at our local ticketmaster outlet for our cheap row D seats. Ah the good old days.

Went with a buddy and two girl friends and we had been listening to Neil alot. This was right around the time that he collaborated with Pearl Jam. Neil had gotten really popular with alot of people my age since he was on MTV all the time. Funny thing was in all those MTV videos they'd show, he wore the same flannel to our concert!

My cousin used to pick me up in the summer to go to work when I was in my early teens and he had turned me on to Neil. If there was one thing my cousin loved more than beer, it was Neil. I then discovered my good friend's fathers record collection which had 4 way street in it. Neil electric jamming from that CSNY release was constant playing at our just out of high school parties.

So anyway, on to my favorite moment. It was All Along the Watchtower. It was the final song. And it was old black. And he beat that guitar with such fury. I think all but two strings were dangling off it when he walked off the stage. I had been playing the Bob Dylan tribute 2 disc set quite a bit and was really into Neil's run on Watchtower, so this was just the cherry on top of an outstanding show.

My second concert ever and is still among the best and most influential that I've seen over 20 years later.

Very interesting thread with great comments. A huge Neil fan, I do agree with many points on some of his later stuff. I do think Greendale is a masterpiece, to me it stands out as a gem of later stuff.

Favorite Neil memory:
Saw Neil in 72 in Albuquerque and it was just a spectacular night of Neil. He played a raging Southern Man. Etched in my mind was a black fellow in front of me, taken by the moment totally, tears in his eyes while Neil sung of the injustices, and he was shaking his fist in the air as he cried, in agreement. I still see it clear as day..... Neil hit that mans soul......

Very interesting thread with great comments. A huge Neil fan, I do agree with many points on some of his later stuff. I do think Greendale is a masterpiece, to me it stands out as a gem of later stuff.

Favorite Neil memory:
Saw Neil in 72 in Albuquerque and it was just a spectacular night of Neil. He played a raging Southern Man. Etched in my mind was a black fellow in front of me, taken by the moment totally, tears in his eyes while Neil sung of the injustices, and he was shaking his fist in the air as he cried, in agreement. I still see it clear as day..... Neil hit that mans soul......

That was a great story! It got me a bit teary eyed reading it .
And this is a perfect example of just how music can reach your soul when it's at it's best.

Thank you for sharing that .....

I am just happy that we have finally have a President of the US of A who does not lie to the American people.

Interesting thread. I love Neil and pretty much everything he has done, regardless of what he chooses to do. I like the fact that he plays whatever he cares to do.

I respectfully disagree with Tim that Neil hasn't done anything classic in the last 30 years. I think Chrome Dreams II and Freedom would qualify. MTV Unplugged? Road Rock?

I have seen Neil many times and the most unusual had to be Greendale. Several years ago when I went to New York for the ABB Beacon run, I noticed Neil was performing Greendale at Radio City Music Hall the night before the ABB weekend started. So I went to NY a day early and got a ticket. The first set was Greendale. I have to admit it was odd. More of a Broadway show. Very theatrical.

The second set was all Crazy Horse. This was probably the most memorable show I have seen him do. I was REALLY hoping he would sit in with the ABB. Maybe do Rockin' in the Free World but it wasn't to be.

I respectfully disagree with Tim that Neil hasn't done anything classic in the last 30 years. I think Chrome Dreams II and Freedom would qualify. MTV Unplugged? Road Rock?

Ahh, that is not what I meant/wrote. He's put out some absolutely classic music in the past 30 year, with Freedom being right up at the top, but there is more music he's released in the past 25 years or more that I don't care to listen to than stuff I do. I was countering the opinion of another poster who contended that every topic he's touched he's turned into a classic.

If I was putting together a dream Neil Young setlist it would definitely include music from the past 3 decades for sure.

And I still go see Neil's shows but I always find out what kind of act he is doing on that tour before I do. In 2003, he played Chastain in Atlanta for Greendale and tickets went on sale before the album was released (so I did not buy), yet the advertising of the show was simply "Neil Young" and fans there apparently weren't happy when it started into Greendale. He played the record sans most of the acting/production starting at 9pm and then ended with just 3 old tunes. And when his mic stopped working well at one point, the already talkative crowd started yelling feedback to him...he quit the song, Bandit, and said "You are worse than Vegas, I'm done with that song." I did not go but a friend who went and is an even bigger Neil fan said it was awkward night!

Fair enough Tim. I guess I just seem to like whatever he puts out. For instance, I know many folks don't like Greendale and I thought it was awesome. Seeing him and Steve Earle together was another highlight.