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10-11-2004, 09:22 PM
Neil Young-Tonight’s The Night
(1975)
* Number 331 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums
(The lineup for this album changes from time to time, so I will list the particular lineup for each song as I go, also note that Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina and bassist Billy Talbot play on every song.)
Neil Young is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential songwriters and performers of our time. The son of a well known Canadian author named Scott Young, Neil Young released his first album in 1969 and he continues to release new music. He has changed his style of music numerous times, but he continues to mainly stick to two styles of music: acoustic folk rock, and heavy, hard rock. This particular album tends to gravitate between the two.
Tonight’s The Night-(Neil Young-Piano and Vocals, Nils Lofgren-Guitar Ben Keith- Steel Guitar)-4:39- This song is a tribute to roadie Bruce Barry, who died of a drug overdose. It is a very simple song, with a simple, pounding drumbeat. The vocals are haunting and dark. It picks up the groove a little bit towards the end of the song. A classic. 4/5
Speakin’ Out-(Young-Piano and Vocals, Lofgren-Guitar, Keith-Steel)-4:56- This song is a bluesy rocker. The guitar by Nils is great, with an awesome solo. The lyrics are kind of carefree and fun, and at times pleasantly bizarre. Neil supplies the bluesy piano riff. This song is one of the best on the album. 5/5
World On A String-(Young-Guitar and Harmonica, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-2:27- This song continues the dirty, bluesy feel of the previous one. Neil takes over on a guitar, and the whole band keeps up the good work. Great solo as well. 4/5
Borrowed Tune-(Neil Young-Piano, Harmonica, Vocal)-3:26- This song is just Neil singing with a piano and a harmonica. Neil sings some great, high vocals on this song. The lyrics are pretty emotional, and, overall, the feel of this song is both happy and sad at the same time. Pretty simple, but great. 4/5
Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown-(Young, Danny Whitten- Guitar and Vocals, Nitzsche-Piano)-This song features the original Crazy Horse. Pretty happy, rockin’ song. This song was recorded live at the Fillmore East, before the rest of the songs (and before Whitten died). Great guitar work, with a great main riff and great solos as well. 4/5
Mellow My Mind-(Young-Guitar and Harmonica, Lofgren- Piano, Keith-Steel)-3:07- This song is kind of bluesy, as some of the songs before it. Neil’s vocals are mournful and longing. This song is kind of country-ish as well. Another classic, but not the album’s best. 4/5
Roll Another Number (For The Road)-(Young- Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-3:02- Ahh, Neil’s legendary anthem of lightin’ up a fatty. This song is very country-ish, and, as I have stated in other reviews, I can almost imagine a bunch of people around a campfire singing this song. Neil’s lyrics ramble (in a good way), and he actually sounds stoned (which he very well may be, considering the shape he was in when he made this album). How can I not give it a 5/5?
Albuquerque-(Young-Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren- Piano, Keith- Steel)-4:02- This song changes the pace from the last song. It’s sad and mournful, with haunting lyrics and vocals. Neil sings of being sick of fame, and of getting away from it all. This song is pretty dark, but I like it a lot. 4/5
New Mama-(Young-Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren-Piano)-2:11- This song is simply Neil, an acoustic guitar, and some piano from Nils. I like the change to a folk song. It’s a good song, but probably my least favorite on the album. Still, it deserves a 4/5.
Lookout Joe-(Young-Guitar and Vocals, Keith-Slide Guitar, Nitzsche-Piano)-3:57- Another hard rocker. This song has good playing from all the instruments. This song is very similar to “…Let’s Go Downtown”. 4/5
Tired Eyes-(Young-Guitar and Vocals, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-4:38- Here we go. This is the highlight of the album, and also a highlight of Neil’s entire material, this song is absolutely beautiful. Melancholy, haunting lyrics and vocals. Mournful, dark, beautiful, ranting, so many emotions in one song. The best on the album. 5/5
Tonight’s The Night (Part II)-(Young- Piano and Vocal, Lofgren-Guitar, Keith-Slide)-4:52- This is pretty much the same song as Part 1. It has the same lyrics, and basically the same melody, the playing is just a little different. I can understand the point of the title track book ending the album, but some would call it filler. I don’t, though, as it is a good way to end the album. 4/5
This album is widely considered one of Neil’s darkest, most personal albums, which is true. He had suffered the deaths of two of his friends in one six month period; Danny Whitten, (longtime Crazy Horse guitarist), and roadie Bruce Barry. This is, in my opinion, one of Neil’s best albums, if not his best. Every song is a classic, and it has some great guitar work. Nils Lofgren really proved himself to be a phenomenal guitarist on this album, and Neil simply established himself further as a great musician and songwriter. Overall, I give it a 5/5. Absolutely essential.
(1975)
* Number 331 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums
(The lineup for this album changes from time to time, so I will list the particular lineup for each song as I go, also note that Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina and bassist Billy Talbot play on every song.)
Neil Young is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential songwriters and performers of our time. The son of a well known Canadian author named Scott Young, Neil Young released his first album in 1969 and he continues to release new music. He has changed his style of music numerous times, but he continues to mainly stick to two styles of music: acoustic folk rock, and heavy, hard rock. This particular album tends to gravitate between the two.
Tonight’s The Night-(Neil Young-Piano and Vocals, Nils Lofgren-Guitar Ben Keith- Steel Guitar)-4:39- This song is a tribute to roadie Bruce Barry, who died of a drug overdose. It is a very simple song, with a simple, pounding drumbeat. The vocals are haunting and dark. It picks up the groove a little bit towards the end of the song. A classic. 4/5
Speakin’ Out-(Young-Piano and Vocals, Lofgren-Guitar, Keith-Steel)-4:56- This song is a bluesy rocker. The guitar by Nils is great, with an awesome solo. The lyrics are kind of carefree and fun, and at times pleasantly bizarre. Neil supplies the bluesy piano riff. This song is one of the best on the album. 5/5
World On A String-(Young-Guitar and Harmonica, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-2:27- This song continues the dirty, bluesy feel of the previous one. Neil takes over on a guitar, and the whole band keeps up the good work. Great solo as well. 4/5
Borrowed Tune-(Neil Young-Piano, Harmonica, Vocal)-3:26- This song is just Neil singing with a piano and a harmonica. Neil sings some great, high vocals on this song. The lyrics are pretty emotional, and, overall, the feel of this song is both happy and sad at the same time. Pretty simple, but great. 4/5
Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown-(Young, Danny Whitten- Guitar and Vocals, Nitzsche-Piano)-This song features the original Crazy Horse. Pretty happy, rockin’ song. This song was recorded live at the Fillmore East, before the rest of the songs (and before Whitten died). Great guitar work, with a great main riff and great solos as well. 4/5
Mellow My Mind-(Young-Guitar and Harmonica, Lofgren- Piano, Keith-Steel)-3:07- This song is kind of bluesy, as some of the songs before it. Neil’s vocals are mournful and longing. This song is kind of country-ish as well. Another classic, but not the album’s best. 4/5
Roll Another Number (For The Road)-(Young- Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-3:02- Ahh, Neil’s legendary anthem of lightin’ up a fatty. This song is very country-ish, and, as I have stated in other reviews, I can almost imagine a bunch of people around a campfire singing this song. Neil’s lyrics ramble (in a good way), and he actually sounds stoned (which he very well may be, considering the shape he was in when he made this album). How can I not give it a 5/5?
Albuquerque-(Young-Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren- Piano, Keith- Steel)-4:02- This song changes the pace from the last song. It’s sad and mournful, with haunting lyrics and vocals. Neil sings of being sick of fame, and of getting away from it all. This song is pretty dark, but I like it a lot. 4/5
New Mama-(Young-Guitar and Vocal, Lofgren-Piano)-2:11- This song is simply Neil, an acoustic guitar, and some piano from Nils. I like the change to a folk song. It’s a good song, but probably my least favorite on the album. Still, it deserves a 4/5.
Lookout Joe-(Young-Guitar and Vocals, Keith-Slide Guitar, Nitzsche-Piano)-3:57- Another hard rocker. This song has good playing from all the instruments. This song is very similar to “…Let’s Go Downtown”. 4/5
Tired Eyes-(Young-Guitar and Vocals, Lofgren-Piano, Keith-Steel)-4:38- Here we go. This is the highlight of the album, and also a highlight of Neil’s entire material, this song is absolutely beautiful. Melancholy, haunting lyrics and vocals. Mournful, dark, beautiful, ranting, so many emotions in one song. The best on the album. 5/5
Tonight’s The Night (Part II)-(Young- Piano and Vocal, Lofgren-Guitar, Keith-Slide)-4:52- This is pretty much the same song as Part 1. It has the same lyrics, and basically the same melody, the playing is just a little different. I can understand the point of the title track book ending the album, but some would call it filler. I don’t, though, as it is a good way to end the album. 4/5
This album is widely considered one of Neil’s darkest, most personal albums, which is true. He had suffered the deaths of two of his friends in one six month period; Danny Whitten, (longtime Crazy Horse guitarist), and roadie Bruce Barry. This is, in my opinion, one of Neil’s best albums, if not his best. Every song is a classic, and it has some great guitar work. Nils Lofgren really proved himself to be a phenomenal guitarist on this album, and Neil simply established himself further as a great musician and songwriter. Overall, I give it a 5/5. Absolutely essential.