Rated #71 on the Rolling Stones Top 500 list
The year was 1970, Neil was riding high after joing the world renowned supergroup Crosby Stills and Nash (and Young) and releasing the groundbreaking album Deja Vu. Neil had already been with the band Buffalo Springfeild from 1967-68 releasing three album with them. In 1969 Neil released his s/t album which didn't really rattle the charts too much. So later that year he formed his famous backing band Crazyhorse and released the album "Everybody knows this is No Where" which features some excellent electric guitar playing by Neil. This is partly why Neil was asked to join CSN because they needed some to play lead electric guitar and help Steven Stills in the studio. Anyways right after the release of Deja Vu Neil went back to his solo career and released the album "After the Goldrush" featuring many different artists Neil worked with in his young career. "After the Goldrush" was Neil's solo album break through peaking at #8 on the Billboard charts.
Artists Appearing on the Album
Neil Young-Guitars, Vocals, Piano and Harmonica
Ralph Molina-Drums and Vocals
Billy Talbot-Bass
Danny Whitten-Guitars and Voacals
Steven Stills-Guitars and Vocals
Greg Reeves-Bass
Nils Loftgren-Guitars, Piano and Vocals
Jack Nitzche-Piano
Song List
1.Tell Me Why
2.After the Goldrush
3.Only Love can Break Your Heart
4.Southern Mab
5.Til the Morning Comes
6.Oh, Lonesome Me
7.Don't Let it Bring You Down
8.Birds
9.When You Dance I Can Really Love
10.I Believe in You
11.Cripple Creek Ferry
The Reveiw
Tell Me Why-This is a pretty short song featuring some very nice acoustic playing. Neil's voice is high pitched on this track and during the verses almost sounds whiny but he does a really good job of singing the meaningful lyrics. The two acoustic playing go so well together and there is some nice backing vocals during the chorus. 4/5
After the Goldrush-This peice starts with a Neil playing a soft piano and singing. The lyrics are truly amazing and are written to prefection. About two minutes through a soft horn starts playing along with the piano but stops as Neil starts singing. This quiet track with poetic lyrics is one of the strongest songs on the album.5/5
Only Love Can Break Your Heart-Starts off with some nice piano playing and a nice slow rythym. This song has such a cathcy chorus while being so slow. Neil gets lots of help singing the chorus which adds alot to this song. Chances are you've heard this song before on the radio because it seems to get alot of well deserved air time. 5/5
Southern Man-This is one of Neil's most popular songs. Starts with some upbeat piano playing and some light electric guitar work. Again the chorus has some excellent backing vocals and Neil does an excellent job of singing this emotional lyrics. This song is about southern folk and racism which at the time was pretty contreversial(sp?). The band Lynyrd Skynyrd was furious with the lyrics to this and wrote the comeback song "sweet Home Alabama" were they acctually use Neil's name in it. Neil made matters worse when he wrote the song "Alabama" appearing on the 1972 release "Harvest". Besides the point this song is just really really good and has an excellent flow all the way through it.5/5
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Til the Morning Comes-The paino that starts this song off is incredibly catchy but the lyrics dont really have an effect to this song. The track is only 1:21 minutes and Neil uses a lower voice during this song. The backing vocals do a very good job but this song doesn't last long enough for it to have any place in my heart. It is catchy though.2.7/5
Oh, Lonesome Me-The intro features some soft harmonica playing but it doesn't last long until Neil cuts in with his stellar voacals. The harmonica does find it's way back into the song quickly though but again it's cut short. This song does have some blues influence by the harmonica and the style of vocals. I do beleive Steven Stills is the one who sings this song with Neil but he's not loud enough for me to determine if it it him. The song ends with a very short blues solo by Neil. 4.5/5
Don't Let it Bring You Down -Neil brings back his high pitched vocals again for this song but again they do a quality job. Once again there is a nice piano playing and the drums are pretty evident and easy to pick up. Neil shows off his song writing talent once again in this vocal masterpeice.5/5
Birds-This track is also relitively short song. Once again it is piano lead and some talented backing vocals during the chorus. The lyric sound like him and his girlfriend are birds. This song is pretty much the weakest song on the album.2/5
When You Dance I Can Really Love-This song has a really upbeat rythym and a great bassline. It is agrueably the heaviest song on the album compared to Southern Man. This song is Neil's strongest point on the electric guitar. The lyrics are ok but Neil shows some real talent at singing them.5/5
I Believe in You-This track starts off with a nice slow rolling bass line some light elecric guitar and some emotional singing. Once again there is piano but this time it is as dominant as usual. This could be Neil's strongest vocal presence on the entire album but the lyrics aren't his best.3.5/5
Cripple Creek Ferry-A short fun piano lead song. The chorus has everyone singing and it is very catchy. This song ends the album off nicely and although this track is only 1:34 minutes long it is one of my favourites off the album.5/5
I'm giving this album a 4.5/5. It is a very good album but I think there could be a bit more diversity. The majority of the songs are all slow piano lead songs which is great but I think their could be more acoustic peices. But all in all this is an amazing album.:)
