Track Listing

1. Unknown Legend
2. From Hank To Hendrix
3. You And Me
4. Harvest Moon
5. War Of Man
6. One Of These Days
7. Such A Woman
8. Old King
9. Dreamin' Man
10. Natural Beauty

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1812 in Music
• Released on: 1992-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
When Neil Young seems about to zig, he zags. Two years after 1990's loud Ragged Glory, he retreats to an old world of steel guitars, gentle folk melodies, and pristine country choruses. (That's Linda Ronstadt, who helped make 1972's Harvest a hit album, singing backup on the follow-up.) Young name-drops Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, and his old dog, King, in rich reminiscences about the musical ride he and his fans have shared since the late '60s. The album, as Young sings in "One of These Days," is "a long letter to all the good friends I've known." --Steve Knopper

CD Description
Neil Young's sequel to 1972's HARVEST found him reuniting with the Stray Gators and inviting along a few other famous friends. Unlike the Crazy Horse's sonic bludgeoning, the Gators' light playing featured ethereal-sounding pedal steel andharmonies that caressed like a gentle lover. This was the perfect compliment for Young's songwriting, which was fueled by romantic notions of courtship and deep thought. Young andthe late Nicolette Larson harmonised and became the lovers of "You And Me" whereas Jack Nitzsche's string arrangements made for a nice contrast in "Such A Woman", a bold-faced declaration of love.
Other insights into the normally crankyiconoclast's sentimental side include the delicate touch ofthe title track, which leaves an image of slow-dancing in adark corner. Fast approaching 50, Neil Young also used HARVEST MOON to reflect back on his life, particularly in the biographical "One Of These Days", and "From Hank To Hendrix", a twangy sequel to "My My, Hey Hey (Of The Blue)". Young also continued his commitment to the environment by including both a protest against man's destruction of nature ("War Of Man") and a live tribute to the forest and jungles recorded at a Portland, Oregon performance that included sounds of theBrazilian rainforest ("Natural Beauty".)

Customer Reviews

An aural treat
This is an excellent CD, and you don't have to be a 'Neil Young Fan' (whatever that means!) to enjoy it. The opener, Unknown Legend, is an excellent introduction to the laid back quality of the album, which continues without a real duff track right the way to the end. Even Natural Beauty, clocking in at an impressive 10+ minutes, holds my attention right until it merges into the rainforest noises at the very end. Songs like One of These Days and Such a Woman are almost ethereal, they somehow sound timeless, hints of a Nashville sound coming and going here and there. If you have been put off Neil Young by impressions of an angry guitar weilding man playing long guitar solos, well, rest assured, THAT Neil Young does not make an appearance here.

I don't find myself thinking about the original Harvest album when I listen to this- I think this stands on its own as a great CD. Sure, there are echoes of the original, but owning the Harvest album is not a per-requesite to enjoying this. James Taylor and Linda Rondstadt supply some backing vox, along with longtime collaborator Nicolette Larson.

I am also very impressed by the photos in the CD booklet of the moon. They are an excellent added bonus to this album.

A rediscovered gem
Being a huge NY fan, I've had this album tucked away in my collection for a while. There are probably albums that I would reach for before this one, however, one dark night I decided to give it a spin.

This album has definately matured, and maybe in my haste before, I missed the absolute acoustic gem 'You and me'. The lyrics are emotional, the guitar playing that of an acoustic genius. If you're an folky NY fan, this album is worth this track alone. 'Such a woman' and the live track 'Natural Beauty' are also crackers. In my eyes, Neil Young is king, and this album sets him on the way to his corination.

Money well spent...
While there are more than enough individual tracks dotted around his huge number of recordings to justify Neil Young’s major reputation there are only a few albums that, on their own, hold together as satisfyingly complete “works”. And… in the (self imposed) absence of any sensible retrospectives since 1977’s “Decade” (definitely the best place to start for any “casual buyer”) those not “in the know” could be in for some seriously expensive mistakes. So, what’s been worth the money since then? Well…for anyone looking for the mellower side of this brilliantly mercurial but annoyingly erratic artist here’s a few suggestions: “Comes a Time” (1978), “Freedom” (1989), “Harvest Moon” (1992) and “Unplugged” (1995).

“Harvest Moon”, a straight reference back to his massively popular “Harvest” which he immediately chose to move a long way away from at the time (preferring, in his own words, to head for the ditch rather than the “middle of the road”) is, amongst his peers, the rarest of things – a follow-up album not only 20 years too late but arguably better than its career-building predecessor. Over the top?... well the debate could continue for hours but, with such wonderfully laid back tracks as “Unknown Legend”, “From Hank to Hendrix” & “One of these Days”, the rolling country-rock of “Old King”, the quite beautiful “Harvest Moon” (brilliantly re-worked by Cassandra Wilson on “New Moon Daughter”) and the deeply reflective “You and Me” it’s a close call indeed. Mellow music at its best and an album that leaves you feeling… happy. Money well spent!