I don't think it's so unique to be writing songs at 24. It just got me thinking. Last time I listened to the song I was under 24, and now I'm over 24. I was just trying to compare my state of mind at that time to his.

The "Heart Of Gold" stuff was golden - but what amazes me is that he wrote "Rockin' In The Free World" only in '89, some 20 years after. And, that's it's so much cooler and more straight up than the arty farty sixties stuff.

Viccy wrote: ............. I was just trying to compare my state of mind at that time to his.

All depends what you smoke Viccy, Neil Young looks permanently goofed/and in a "creative" state of mind to me........ ? ?

Gearhead wrote: The "Heart Of Gold" stuff was golden - but what amazes me is that he wrote "Rockin' In The Free World" only in '89, some 20 years after. And, that's it's so much cooler and more straight up than the arty farty sixties stuff.

My dad must play Heart of Gold every time he picks up a guitar. Its one of my favorites..

I still say "they dont make music like they used too"

Lindisfarne is one of my ancient favorites!! also from the 70's.. ?

It was also a different world in the late 60's and early 70's.

I was 24 in 1987, and it was a bit of a plastic generation, no one was angry enough ?

24 in the new Millenium, a whole different set of circumstances, technology driven etc.

But Neil was definately goofed most of the time. Remember the "last waltz" where he ironically sings "Helpless" and can barely stand without help.
?

Brentcgp wrote:
Lindisfarne is one of my ancient favorites!! also from the 70's.. ?

Haven't heard them mentioned on this forum Brent. ?
I had a couple of albums, one of the first songs I ever played after "House of the rising sun" was "Lady Eleanor"

'Like a hurricane' and 'Piano man' were the first songs I tortured my fellow boarders with. Whether they liked it or not they'd start singing along. Ha Ha, the power of music.

I was 24 in 1987, and it was a bit of a plastic generation,

It feels like we're in the plastic generation now. Either way, 24 wasn't so long ago for me, but I remeber being so so very rushed. I had to have done everything yesterday. Luckily that's passed. Now I give myself a good 10 years to accomplish things, just to be on the safe side.

Take it slowly Viccy, It took me forever to get to 24, but about 6 minutes to get to 46. ?

i truly prefered young when he worked in the confines of CSNY ( Crosby stills nash & young ) he was so much more disciplined and precise in his playing than his solo work........... although i did have a an original copy of harvest on Lp which got played to death and that song the "needle and the damage done" was fingerpicking practise back in those days ....strange as viccy said how we grow.. now that album seems so jaded and weak ........

peace and light
Keira

Ah yes, Played 'needle and the damage done' obsesively too.

And the rush is over. I wanted to fix every one's problems. Now I know that's not my place.

Anyone heard "Mirrorball", Neil collaboration with Pearl Jam? Listened to it at the time of release but don't remember it at all (I suppose that's not a recommendation)...

Keira WitherKay wrote: i truly prefered young when he worked in the confines of CSNY ( Crosby stills nash & young ) he was so much more disciplined and precise in his playing than his solo work

+1

I find myself listening to the best of I have on my ipod more than I expect to. I love "Down by the River," but I find a lot of his fuzzed out soloing pretty pointless. But he was pretty awesome in Springfield and CSNY in general. There's an incredible video of CSNY doing 'Down by the River,' which for me just redefines using harmony singing in a big rock song. It was a bit of a revelation: