Neil Young
Live At Massey Hall 1971

THE REVIEW

The second release of the legendary Neil Young Archives is finally available!

After several years spent waiting in vain with Neil's continuous but never kept promises, now finally by the end of the year, the first box set will also be available along with this release and the 'Live At Massey Hall' released a few months ago! Two small premises to be clear: the album I'm about to review is an acoustic live from '71 recorded entirely by Young alone with his trusty acoustic, so no one should expect something like 'Live Rust' or 'Weld'; lastly, the album was supposed to be released according to Young's own statements between 'After The Gold Rush' and the yet unreleased at the time 'Harvest'.

And now, as a great contemporary writer says, the commercial break is over. Now hold onto my arm. Hold tight. We'll visit exciting places, but I think I know the way. You just make sure not to let go of my arm.

The album begins with a burst of applause and some trial notes from Neil in the background. We are immediately transported to the venue where a very long-haired Young with pronounced sideburns gives us a quick glance and after a few seconds starts with "On The Way Home" from the third and final Buffalo Springfield album. The song is not one of his most well-known at the time, but the applause at the end demonstrates the appreciation. I won't go on describing every single song because in albums like this everyone has a different sensitivity towards one song or another.. be it for the memories tied to one or for a certain text, but that's how it is.

Suffice it to say that following a much-applauded "Tell Me Why" come "Old Man" (which would soon become a classic with its release on Harvest), "Journey Through The Past", and the wonderful "Helpless" which brings back the images of Woodstock where Crosby Stills Nash & Young performed even with this song and whose popularity for a moment rivaled that of the Beatles. It's time for "Love In Mind" and an "A Man Needs A Maid" which in my opinion surpasses the one later recorded for Harvest due to the lack of heavy orchestral arrangement... halfway through the song "Heart Of Gold" sneaks in like a perfect fit and you almost don't notice anything.

The subsequent "Cowgirl In the Sand" stripped of its electricity and nonetheless wonderful, then come "Don't Let It Bring You Down", "There's A World", "Bad Fog of Loneliness" (still unreleased on studio album), "The Needle And The Damage Done "and the historic "Ohio" which provokes a real standing ovation!
To conclude, a thrilling version of "See The Sky About To Rain", "Down By The River", the other unreleased "Dance Dance Dance" and "I Am A Child". Under endless applause, the album concludes.

In short, in conclusion, an indispensable album that if it had been released in its time, today we would surely find it alongside Harvest and After The Gold Rush among our classics. An album for those who appreciate Young's acoustic side but also for all those who want to relax in this chaotic world with some true auteur music. As for the lack of electricity in this album, I recommend you head towards the albums I’ve already mentioned before because this is another story, and I hope you’ll allow me to tell it to you another time.

I don't know about you, but for me every time I get to the end it feels like waking up. It's sad to let go of the dream. Thank you for accompanying me. I enjoyed it and hope you come back because as someone said in an old book, there’s always some new story to tell or listen to.