Neil Young - On The Beach - possibly his finest work

[Raphph]

Any fans of Neil Young might want to try out On The Beach, his 1974 classic album finally released on CD! In my opinion it's his best album, but you may all disagree.

Anyway, I've reviewed the album for CD Times, and you can read it by clicking here (http://www.cdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=96)

[LouBarlow]

I'd say it's his 2nd greatest album after Harvest...but he has such a fine body of work, I find my favourites change all the time.

[Creamstick]

Both Tonight's The Night and On the Beach are my favourite Neil Young albums - follwed by After The Goldrush and the often overlooked Mirrorball.

[phlebas]

A great album indeed, but as you say Lou, he has released so many fine albums it's hard for me to say which is the greatest. It's definitely up there with After the Goldrush, Harvest and Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, though.

[Mick Jones]

On The Beach is indeed a great album (altho' it was critically panned when it came out) and it was only £5.99 in the sale in my local Virgin Records.

[profondorossoargento]

As most others have said, Harvest, After The Goldrush and On The Beach are all pretty close really, the mid 70's was a bit of a golden patch for Neil.

[hometown38]

On The Beach is an essential purchase for anyone remotely interested in Neil Young.
God i had to wait years to see this finally released on CD.

[LouBarlow]

Whats wrong with vinyl you savages? :lol:

[Creamstick]

Originally posted by LouBarlow
Whats wrong with vinyl you savages? :lol:

I have no Neil CDs (except for Decade) - all my Young, from The Buffalo Springfield to CSNY to Journey Through The Past to his solo works are all on lovely original release vinyl.

[LouBarlow]

Originally posted by Creamstick
I have no Neil CDs (except for Decade) - all my Young, from The Buffalo Springfield to CSNY to Journey Through The Past to his solo works are all on lovely original release vinyl.

Nice!

While I am too young of course to have purchased them myself, I have practically stolen my dad's record collection which contains some stonking music, including the best Neil Young records that he bought quite a while before I was dropped into this world... :)

[Mick Jones]

Originally posted by LouBarlow
Whats wrong with vinyl you savages? :lol:

Hasn't the vinyl edition of On The Beach been OOP for years?

[LouBarlow]

Originally posted by Mick Jones
Hasn't the vinyl edition of On The Beach been OOP for years?

I would think so.

Makes tracking it down and listening to it even more satisfying I would think.

[Mick Jones]

Originally posted by LouBarlow
I would think so.

Makes tracking it down and listening to it even more satisfying I would think.

Mmm. I'm forever reading on the internet about people buying armfulls of pristine old vinyl albums for next to nothing from some charity shop, but that has never been my experience.

I always seem to come across the copies that have been played to death on an ancient gramophone with a rusty blunt needle for a stylus. Comapred to that I'll take the CD, even though I've never particularly cared for the 'CD sound' (two dimensional, bright and glassy IMHO).

[LouBarlow]

Originally posted by Mick Jones
Mmm. I'm forever reading on the internet about people buying armfulls of pristine old vinyl albums for next to nothing from some charity shop, but that has never been my experience.

I always seem to come across the copies that have been played to death on an ancient gramophone with a rusty blunt needle for a stylus. Comapred to that I'll take the CD, even though I've never particularly cared for the 'CD sound' (two dimensional, bright and glassy IMHO).

Yeah I think you're right - for convenience sake, I will usually always go with a CD...

As I said, im not a collector, just lucky to have a pops who had decent taste when he was younger ;)

Some of them are worth a packet too!

[clarkyboy100]

Might grab a copy of this. My fav Neil Young album oddly enough is Harvest Moon. :thumbs:

[ratso-rizzo]

Excellent album - managed to buy two vinyl copies off eBay a couple of years ago for about £20, then sold one of them to a local second hand record shop for £70:)

There are still two unreleased albums which came out on vinyl in the 70's: 'Journey Through The Past' (not really worth bothering with - actually a film soundtrack promoted by Neils record company as the follow up to 'Harvest') and 'Time Fades Away'

I'd have to say that 'Time Fades Away' is pretty close to being my fave NY album (though if I've had a good few vodkas I'd probably say that 'Tonight's The Night' would take the honours:D). It was a 'live' album with most of the audience noise removed. It contained all new songs such as 'Don't Be Denied' (easily one of his best songs), 'Journey Through The Past', 'The Bridge' and 'Last Dance'. You can pick it up for less than a tenner on eBay - well worth the money for a good copy.

I don't think that Neil plans to release these two on CD although DVD-A has been mentioned.

Ratso.

[Blank Frank]

It's pretty good but I haven't heard it for years (other than the tracks that are on Decade).

Nice to see it on CD though.
I may call in Record Collector in Sheffield later this week, see if they still have it in. (and maybe 'American Stars And Bars' too)

[Blank Frank]

Incidentally, am I the only person who likes the Mirrorball album?:confused:

[jmdomain]

Originally posted by Blank Frank
Incidentally, am I the only person who likes the Mirrorball album?:confused:

You're not alone Mr Frank (Does a lunging crunching rugby type tackle).....

.....Oops sorry about that where are my manners.

Yes, Mirroball. That was the 1st album that I'd heard of his. The track 'I'm The Ocean' at the very start has one amazing guitar solo. Great album. A much maligned piece of brilliance.

Became a major fan from then on.

Climbs out of the portal....jings what a journey that was. Need to watch out for that one. Wipes the sweat from his monobrow.

[ratso-rizzo]

Mirrorball is a damn fine album - I'd love to hear another with Pearl Jam instead of Crazy Horse.

I managed to see NY and PJ in Dublin during the tour for this album. Easily the best concert I've been to (and I've seen quite a few!). The whole thing was filmed for a proposed live video and CD which was officially announced at one stage and then withdrawn:cry: This is sort of standard Neil behaviour - On The Beach was on and off the release schedules for years before finally making an appearance.

Has anyone heard 'Merkinball' - the EP Neil did with Pearl Jam to accompany 'Mirrorball'? It's worth checking it out if you like the album.:thumbs:

Ratso

[jmdomain]

I have the 7 inch record of Merkinball. I'd say it's worth getting if you're a fan of Mirrorball as it's just like an extension of it.

[Creamstick]

Originally posted by Blank Frank
Incidentally, am I the only person who likes the Mirrorball album?:confused:

Um.. I mentioned mirrorball at the start of the thread!

[KeyserSoze]

ok we all know Vinyl sounds better than CD

but if the CD is remastered, wouldnt that sounds better ?


when i first heard remastered CD of Ziggy Stardust :eek:

then again, i dont have the original vinyl of ziggy stardust :p

[ratso-rizzo]

I have a fairly good hi-fi set up and would have to say that the differences between my vinyl and CD copies of 'On The Beach' are minimal to my ears. The CD seems to retain most of the warmth of the vinyl.

Ratso:)

[Blank Frank]

Originally posted by Creamstick
Um.. I mentioned mirrorball at the start of the thread!

Moral: next time I'll try and read threads with specs ON....

[Blank Frank]

Originally posted by jmdomain
I have the 7 inch record of Merkinball. I'd say it's worth getting if you're a fan of Mirrorball as it's just like an extension of it.

Sounds interesting. But CAN you still get it though?:confused:

[ratso-rizzo]

There's two on eBay at the moment for £5 approx.

I take it you all know that a merkin is a pubic wig?!?:nuts:

Ratso