Neil Young - Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963 - 1972) (8 CD Box Set) (2009) CD Rip

On The Beach has been an underrated masterpiece by Neil Young since the day it was released! At the time, Neil's need to follow his heart, and continue to evolve as an artist, hadn't yet been recognized, and this record simply caught most people by surprise! The music world was expecting a follow-up to his 'Harvest' style work, and his method of moving from one style to another had not yet been recognized by his newly emerging fan base. This album caught nearly everyone off guard, despite the fact that it has some of the most emotionally driven songs of his legendary career! The record was so poorly received, that it was one of a few records that Neil never allowed it to be released on CD, until the past year, on his Neil Young Masterpiece Series, (The Perfect Designation)! The record has always enjoyed a serious cult following, among Neil's hardcore fans, and now, all these years later, it now ranks among his best -ever works, by fans, critics, and other artists! When you first put the record on, you can't simply play one song and then take it off. You are immediately taken in by the way that one song leads to the next, and, all too soon, the records over, leaving you wishing for more! There are so many magical moments in this album that make it a great addition to any collection, but most of the songs are Vintage Neil, dripping in passion, raw emotion, and a lyrical magic that is part of what makes Neil Young's work so unique that it literally sends chills down your spine. There is music here that could only come from Neil Young. The soul of his voice combined with a Wurlitzer piano makes 'See The Sky About To Rain ' totally different than anything else that was coming out in the day, and 'Revolution Blues ' telling the horror story of Charlie Manson. 'Vampire Blues ' has the greatest electric guitar non-solo ever recorded, a low register, single note G, for about eight - bars, before it skips up and down a note or two as the song fades out, it's unlike any other solo ever recorded. You can feel the Vampire slowly pulling the hair back, out of the way, before moving in on the victim. It's really eerie! But I think the best track on the record is called 'For The Turnstiles ', with just a bass drum beat, Neil's haunting voice and his gentle banjo strum. So, there we have it! Those of us that bought the record when it first came out have been listening to our old, worn out vinyl for 43 years now, and even though I have always had a high - end stereo system, the records in the early Seventies weren't pressed on the best quality vinyl, and most people didn't have any better than mid priced stereo equipment, and so it's been a long timesince they have heard this album, in real high fidelity. It's a Great Record!