franc'O'brain

Bernard Shakey directed the memorable show at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Bernard Shakey is the "cinematic" alias of N. Young.

It's one of the few CDs I always carry with me when I'm "on the road." With this album, Young certainly reached the peak of his career; and there are no 'Greendale' or 'Are You Passionate?' that can compare. Inside, there's all his personality, all his being. After the bestseller 'Harvest' (too "soft") and the two semi-masterpieces 'On The Beach' and 'Tonight's The Night' (too gloomy), Neil came out with this breathtaking product, miraculously surpassing himself. A fun fact (for those who don't know): years later, in the note he left at the time of his (alleged?) suicide, Kurt Cobain quoted a line from "My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)," which is this: "It's better to burn out, than to fade away." --- Another fun fact: the film about the splendid Rust Never Sleeps Show that Young & Crazy Horse held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco was directed by a certain Bernard Shakey. Guess who that is!

I quote: <<But I keep asking myself: why an album? Someone like Neil Young, who can do anything and could have anything published, well... why hasn't he written a book on the subject? Why not a nice, substantial article for “Internazionale”, an essay, a little book, a blog or whatever instead of an album full of slogans and clichés, which are also predictable and rhetorical (which, in some ways, are debatable)?>> 1 point for the "review" (review???), 5 for this brave output from the great Oldmaster from Canada.

It was the first record by Neil that I bought (on vinyl!!) and for this reason I am fond of it, hence the 3 points. Otherwise, I would give it less because, compared to, for example, 'Rust Never Sleeps', 'After The Goldrush', or 'Zuma', it lacks solidity and depth. Ironically, the most banal track is the one featuring J.J. Cale: "Motorcycle Mama". What a shame. Anyway, the vocal harmonies that Nicolette Larson adds to almost all the songs and the undeniable skill of the Crazy Horse make it an acceptable listen. Together with 'Harvest' (commercial but beautiful) and 'Harvest Moon' (which contains stunningly underrated tracks), this album forms an ideal country trilogy.

The best way to get to know the band is to buy the anthology 'Atomic Rooster: Heavy Soul - The Anthology'. It's 2 CDs that contain the best from their first 5 albums. Basically, it's prog bluesy music. Dark moods, powerful riffs, and the organ that screams at full blast. It's important to get to know them. But beware: they have little to do with Sabbath; rather, they resemble the very early Purple. And, in a certain sense, they relate to Blue Cheer (a California psychedelic band worth rediscovering).

Well, the album "Jig-A-Jig" is actually a mix of tracks from "Mercator Projected" from 1969 (which has one of the most beautiful covers of all time, in my opinion) and "Snafu" from 1970, plus the single "Jig-A-Jig," which was a commercial success for them. The Eastern echoes and the ethnically jazzed progressions of this group are stunning. It's a shame they broke up almost immediately.

Of Lolli, I only love this album and the one before it, which included – among other songs – "Vecchia e piccola borghesia" and "Aspettando Godot." After that, it seems he lost his way, not ideologically but at least musically. As an artist, he remains a phenomenon nonetheless. Due to geographical reasons and/or political beliefs, he is associated with Guccini, but I can’t help but think more of G. Manfredi... Another great who has fallen – even more than Lolli – into oblivion.

But how can your dad vote for Mister Berl with a wife like that? Well, on the other hand, as someone else has already pointed out, Gaber lived with Ombretta Colli... Mysteries of Italy! Hi and congratulations. "Freedom / is not just being in the trees..."

The SECOND best definition of friendship in music; the first is "You've Got A Friend" by Carol King. At least in my opinion. Anyway, great album and great review. Thanks for bringing back two favorites from my youth that, as I've discovered, today are (occasionally) listened to with pleasant surprise by many teens. Bye!