The BBC concerts are some of the best live performances I’ve seen, and here’s a wonderful half hour with Neil Young, the dark man in the plaid shirt. This was in 1971, when Young was only 26. (Did you know that his middle name is “Percival”?)
My three favorites in this performance are “Out on the Weekend,” (the beginning), “Old Man” (4:00), and “A Man Needs a Maid” (20:12).
If ever a voice could be described as “plaintive,” it was his.
Neil Young was named after a very good Drosophila incubator???
I’ve always liked Neil Young. My favorite, Cortez.
Yes — all based on 5 notes, and three chords. I don’t think anyone can compare with Neil for combining simplicity with transcendent music and lyrical meaning.
I’ve always thought old man was a song about his father. Beautiful poem. Its funny to hear Young talk about some of these songs as new material. Time flies.
Yeah, I had always thought it was about his father, too, who was a wellish-known sportswriter in the Toronto area. But apparently it’s about the guy who took/takes care of his ranch.
It’s a revelation/reorientation to me, as well. Beautiful rendition in any case.
I think all of those songs were at that time unreleased and unknown to the audience. (In fact even Neil forgot a line in Out on the Weekend and sings “ooo ooo” instead!) Not so unusual for the times, perhaps, but still notable that a not so well known young performer goes to the UK and performs all new material (live) before a studio audience. Sign of considerable creative output as well as being prepared to take risks.
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This rarely known NY song might be of some interest to some readers — a kind of stream of consciousness hippie version of a religious song from about 1975 — “Let it Shine” (link to audio)
I got religion in the airport, my Lord
They caught me waiting on my baggage
when I was bored
Let them chant, let them chant
Although they may not be the only one
Let them dance, dance, dance
Although they may not be the only one.
(Lyrics)
Thanks for posting – lovely concert.
In case you missed it – Jimmy Fallon and Neil Young performing “Old Man” in early 2015.
youtube.com/watch?v=H6otmy3DAK8
Yes, that was pretty amazing. Fallon is very good.
A Man Needs A Maid is one of my favorites. What a great song. And I believe that Neil ended up marrying the ‘actress’ he was singing about.
Yes, that was Carrie Snodgrass.
Heart of Gold surely?
yes!
Absolutely.
Yeah, and another dead-simple one, even the intro and so on (hey, I can do it!) Em, C, D, G, the whole way through, basically. But a great song.
Thanks for sharing this. 44 years ago and 70 year young
“Old Man” is one of my favourite sings. Quite beautiful and haunting.
I remember watching this series first time round. That other great Canadian, Joni Mitchell, was also featured (sadly, no Leonard Cohen).
“A Man Needs A Maid” is my favourite from this set. From his later songs I’d choose “Helpless”.
Is there anything else that’s “plaintive” apart from Neil Young’s singing and the cry of a baby gull?
Agree with “Helpless”.
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Got to try out some new headphones from Sony and they are not bad. It’s too bad that CSN&Y did not get along for a bit longer.
There were some giant egos working there (and lots of drugs, etc.).
His MTV Unplugged concert was legendary too. All of the songs are on Youtube but no one has put the whole show up as one file.