Neil Young
Decade

An epochal record, essential for every rock music enthusiast who doesn't already have the dozen-plus albums on their shelf from which these songs are taken. Folk-rock; country-rock and psychedelic and singer-songwriter rock: of all these sub-genres of youth culture music from the sixties and seventies of the 20th century, Neil Young was somehow not to say the inspirer but certainly one of the most influential voices. And the 35 tracks of this anthology constitute a kind of “authentic summa” of the period 1966-1976 in the sense of being supervised and described by the author himself, track by track, with an unusual determination for an era in which an artist's “greatest hits” collections were almost always compiled unilaterally by the record company.

A triple album and a very interesting excursion (and almost complete: I would say that something is missing only from «Four Way Street» and «Time Fades Away»), starting from the beginnings with Buffalo Springfield, to the fabulous collaboration of the CSN&Y period and then to the solo works, from the epic ones of «Harvest» to the intimate ones of the “dark trilogy,” each with its own gems. Credit to Young for offering us a selection not only “perspective” (from there I started and here I arrived) but also substantially “unitary” so that all this material becomes a great sonic fresco, without glaring discontinuities: as if it were an album in itself and not a “hits” anthology. Indeed, in the digital version on two discs – having to tamper less by flipping sides of the LP – this flow of notes that lasts over two hours is even better appreciated, practically a real concert.

The vastness of the tracklist absolves me from a detailed evaluation and from even recalling each album; instead, I can say that the operational practicality of digital allowed me to focus on some pieces that I had neglected at the time due to “too much abundance,” such as the previously unreleased «Winterlong» and «Deep Forbidden Lake», while - compared to my old long-playing - the sound clarity emphasized the chilling beauty of two masterpieces such as «Like a Hurricane» and «Cortez the Killer».

Obviously, the album format allows for better appreciation of the graphic part, which is very rich and interesting, not only for the autograph notes on each piece from our protagonist, starting from the iconic and enigmatic photo on the front cover (author Tom Wilkes, the same as «Harvest») which is not of the good Neil, but of a girl – just look at the hair, wavy instead of straight – leaning with her back against the guitar case, arms stretched out at her sides, gazing towards the desert. There are also several of his, photos to note: the one in close-up on the back and the other inside, him seated and dressed in white behind the six-string; in both with that furrowed and almost shy look, from below in an upward gaze, as if reluctantly “appearing”. My favorite, however, is another one, the carefree and cheerful one, so unusual for him, where he smiles with a beer in hand.

In short, there is no risk of going wrong with this album: a good path for those of the new generations who want to approach Neil Young of the “classic” period; an excellent “review” rich in emotions and all to savor for those who have always loved him.