Cover for Ghosts On The Road

Here's the cover of the upcoming book Ghosts On The Road - Neil Young In Concert by Pete Long. The cover photo is by Joel Bernstein.

The Ghosts On The Road - Neil Young In Concert website contains sample pages and order information.

Al Gore's iTunes Playlist Includes Neil

From Gristmill:

Track Four: After the Garden, by Neil Young
Al Gore: I love Neil Young's passion and his courage in reawakening the music of protest in America. The Bible says: 'A little child shall lead them,' but sometimes it's an old master like Neil Young who provides leadership. In this song, his metaphor is unmistakable and powerful the very first time you hear it."

Massey Hall in Top 5 on Amazon

With a little more than 2 weeks until the official release of the Archives Massey Hall CD, it is already in the top 5 on the Amazon Best Sellers Listing.

Here is the track listing, cover and background info.

Bob and Neil, Over and Over, Again and Again

We really do hate to stir things up here at Thrasher's Wheat. Really. But, at the risk of escalating the debate, here is a blog comment that just begs a response. The comment comes in regarding last year's goof post on Top 10 Reasons Why Neil Young is Better Than Bob Dylan.

A little background on this "battle". A year ago a whole controversy erupted over who was better: Bob or Neil? This resulted in a huge backlash from both the Dylan and Young communities on a number of fronts including whether even such a discussion was relevant.

Well a year later, we still get the occasional comment on the subject. Here goes the latest bomb:

"Neil Young is a better guitarist (and musician) than Dylan, and a stronger more enduring musician(than the seemingly brain-dead Dylan) which is often overlooked by his abundant political activism found within his popular hits, such as Keep On Rocking in the Free World, Ohio, etc. Also, although Dylan is the superior songwriter of the two, his music is better played by other talented musicians (such as All Along the Watchtower covered by Hendrix) or by the local high school garage band that plays in your neighbor's basement for that matter. Vocally I will say that Bob Dylan does have a better voice in certain songs (Lay Lady Lay, for example), but these songs are not what most radio listeners remember. I mean most of the Dylan songs most easily recognized by listeners focus on the screechy, raspy and yappy vocals of Dylan such as: Rainy Day Women or Like a Rolling Stone, just to name a few. Yes I would agree that Neil Young does not have the world's greatest voice either, but there is really nothing that can be done to change the nasal sound of his voice (ask any music student).

Although these last few statements may seem trivial to some of the viewers out there, these facts will stand on there own: Bob Dylan will never be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame on 3 separate occasion as will Neil Young (CSNY, Buffalo Springfield, and Crazy Horse/ solo career), nor will Bob Dylan have 2 guitar solos within the top 100 of the greatest solo's of all time (Cortez the Killer, and Cinnamon Girl). What's even more ironic is that the only time that Young's Canadian nationality is brought up is when his opponents can't think of anything to criticize him for, whereas Bob Dylan you can criticize him for his horrible interview etiquette, or his strange appearance within a Victoria Secret commercial (I don't think a creepy and haggard looking old man does well to sell quality clothing such as Victoria Secret), among a HUGE list of other things, and yet people think Neil Young is a sellout! And the fact that Neil considers himself a B student of Dylan is because his specialty isn't the same type of music that Dylan plays today, and this comment is a way to show respect to an elderly musician as is Dylan. I think the Young haters need to look past the nationality and the stereotyping of Young into only a political songwriter, but look at his overall better musicianship

So let's re-cap

Vocal ability: Young <--> Dylan
Guitar playing: Young > Dylan
Selling Out: Young <> Dylan (Thunder On the Mountain)
HOF nominations: Young 3 (4 including an induction into the Canadian Hall of Fame), Dylan 1
Overall: Young > Dylan

And to the last "anonymous" post, mocking Young's "Let's impeach the President" song, I say to you, your words are those of a sell out Bob Dylan fanatic, because a Canadian and proven legend who is more of a patriot and lover of freedom than many "true-blue" Americans, should not be stifled by a mere material image, he can leave that worry to Dylan instead."

As for Thrasher? He's sticking with Neil's obervation that he's a "B" student of Bob's.

For more, see Top 10 Reasons Not to Goof With Bob Dylan Fans.

Rust Radio's New Website

Rust Radio has a new look and feel. All the usual stuff is still there, and some things have been updated. Where the old content was scattered all over the domain, the new site has the same design for all pages.

Some new features include:

• a new design
• a better explanation about how to use rust radio (with live statistics whenever the radio is online)
• an improved list of neil torrents
• the complete history log files and descriptions
• a list of Neil links

And Rust Radio is still playing those great Neil concerts every week!

Thanks Roel! Looks great! Nice job.

Dennis Hopper Interview on Weld on YouTube

Dennis Hopper interview on the 1991 Weld Tour and filming Human Highway.

More on Weld album.

Ghosts On The Road - Hardback Last Call

A second edition of Ghosts On The Road - Neil Young In Concert is scheduled to be published later this year. There will be a limited number of hardback copies printed and orders must be submitted by March 1.

The first edition of Ghosts On The Road was published in 1996 and immediately became recognised as a valuable resource for Neil Young enthusiasts worldwide. Here at Thrasher's Wheat, we consider the book to be an indispensable resource.

The updated and revised edition will be published in early 2007 and will contain additional chapters relating to the years 1996 through to 2006 together with considerable expansion of many previous chapters. Author Pete Long has spent a good deal of time revising particular sections of the book and his work on the Buffalo Springfield box set and an article in the NYAS magazine Broken Arrow regarding the Time Fades Away tour in 1973 bear testimony to the expansion.

The author says: "I could only justify offering a revised version if it contained sufficient extra information. I did not want anyone, particularly those who already had a copy of the first edition, to feel that they were not getting a significantly improved book."

The Ghosts On The Road - Neil Young In Concert website contains sample pages and order information.

Neil Young Discography Review on the Runout Groove

The Runout Groove has another installment in the Neil Young discography review series.

After reviewing the Buffalo Springfield era, the next chapter is Neil's first solo release. The album is reviewed track by track.

This promises to be a great series of reviews of Neil's catalog.

Son Volt's The Search

Ever since recognizing Neil Young's influence on Uncle Tupelo, Thrasher has been a big fan of both Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar.

So looking forward to Farrar's new Son Volt release The Search scheduled for March 6.

From Amazon.com review by Scott Holter:

"Five albums into Son Volt's career--and a pair into the band's rebirth following leader Jay Farrar's several solo ventures--it's time to bury the encumbering 'alt-country' moniker that has dogged Farrar since his days in the genre-setting Uncle Tupelo. While the inexhaustible songwriter relied on guitars to drive 2005's rock-heavy Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt amends its familiar arrangements on The Search, balancing the instrumentation with piano, organ, and dabbles in a horn section. 'Feels like drivin' 'round in a slow hearse,' Farrar pleads over repetitive piano and East Indian guitar loops in 'Slow Hearse.' It's a pensive opener that suggests something is askew, but the horns that kick off 'The Picture' literally scream it from the Stax vaults. Farrar dives in and out of genres, tingling the ivories to add subtle alterations to both the gorgeous 'Underground Dream' and Imagine-like 'Adrenaline and Heresy,' turning his band into Gang of Four for the 134-second rocker 'Satellite' and singing alongside Shannon McNally on the soulful 'Highways and Cigarettes.' While it may be impossible for this Son Volt to ever reach the pinnacle of their 1995 debut, no one can accuse Jay Farrar of going through the motions."

Preview clips of songs are on http://www.sonvolt.net/.
Pre-order from Amazon.com Son Volt's The Search (Support Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks!)

More on Jay Farrar and Neil Young and here.

Massey Hall Trailer

The trailer for the Massey Hall CD/DVD is now up on
Neil Young's Archives site.

Includes great performance clips from the concert and 1988 comments by Neil.

Also, there is a performance of "Needle and the Damage Done" on Amazon.com

Also, on www.myspace.com/neilyoung is a performance of "Old Man".

Pre-Order from Amazon.comLive at Massey Hall (Support Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks!)

Here is the track listing, cover and background info.

Thanks e2f for the tip!

Portuguese Neil Young website

Here's a new Neil Young website in Portuguese -- Página em Portugês sobre o Neil Young.

The site contains a biography of Neil, some of his collaborators (CSN, Richie Furay), a discography with reviews, a page containing images (divided by decades) and some audio clips.

Thanks José and good luck!

"Mansion On The Hill" Video on YouTube

Here's Neil Young's video for "Mansion On The Hill". Somehow this struck me for Valentine's Day.

Maybe it's Neil as a preacher?

Randomly Blogged: Pearl Jam & Neil Young

America Mystica: Neil Young & Pearl Jam - A rundown of collaborations such as Mirror Ball

Neil Young and Emmylou Harris: Guess who has 11 Grammy Awards and which one has zero?

Neil Young and Emmylou Harris
photo from "Heart of Gold" film

UPDATE - Feb. 12: Neil's perfect Grammy streak continues -- zero awards. Well, at least he lost to Dylan in the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category.

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This weekend, the annual Grammy Awards will be handed out. Neil Young received 3 Grammy Awards nominations for "Living With War". Nominated for Best Rock Album, and 'Lookin' For A Leader' was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance."

So, guess who has 11 Grammy Awards and who has zero?

Emmylou Harris has received at least 11 Grammy Awards in her career. Neil Young -- 0, zero, nada. Not that it matters. Neil Young was up for 2 grammy nominations for Prairie Wind last year. He even dressed up and attended the ceremonies. Will he attend this year?


Jonathan Demme, Pegi Young, Neil Young
48th Annual Grammy Awards - 8 Feb 2006
Getty Images Entertainment photo by Stephen Shugerman

This could only mean one thing. The Grammy Awards are either incredibly correct with Emmylou or horribly wrong on Neil.

Thrasher might live a thousand years and still not know what this means...

More on Emmylou Harris and Neil Young.

Lucinda Williams West

One of our favorite singer-songwriters over the years has been Lucinda Williams. Her work is exceptionally evocative and her concerts are outstanding. Last time we saw her play in 2005, she played a nice mix of newer and older material in her distinctive vocal style.

On Amazon.com, Don McLeese writes on West:

"Though the arrangements stray from Lucinda Williams's motherlode blend of blues, country, and folk, West may well be her best album. It is easily her most musically adventurous, and often her most lyrically inspired. Williams's singing has never sounded better, from the aching tenderness of 'Where Is My Love?' to the ravaged catharsis of 'Unsuffer Me.' New York producer Hal Willner, who has worked with artists such as Marianne Faithful and Lou Reed, enlists the support of eclectic progressives like guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Bob Burger, and violinist Jenny Scheinman, along with harmonies from the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, to weave a subtly rich sonic tapestry. Much of the material was inspired by the death of Williams's beloved mother ('Mama You Sweet,' 'Fancy Funeral') and the bitter breakup of a relationship (the jagged-edged emasculation of 'Come On,' the repetitive incantation of 'Wrap My Head Around That'), though 'Are You Alright?,' 'Learning How to Live,' and 'Everything Has Changed' could reflect the aftermath of both. Other highlights include 'Rescue,' with a languid subtlety and ambient pulse reminiscent of Beth Orton, and the dreamy, wistful title track. Where Williams's music has long cut close to the bone, the best of West slices right through it.

Scheduled for release on February 13, the CD is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com Lucinda Williams' West (Support Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks!)

"Only love can break your heart": CSN&Y on YouTube

CSNY perform "Only love can break your heart" at the Fillmore East, June 1970.

Live at Massey Hall Pre-Order

The 1971 Toronto Massey Hall concert is scheduled to be the next release in Archives Series and is now available for pre-order.

Pre-Order from Amazon.comLive at Massey Hall (Support Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks!)

Here is the track listing, cover and background info.

Thanks for the photo Ed!

The Ragland Project

We've written extensively before about how Neil Young has been ahead of the curve regarding environmental issues. The Inconvenient Truth of Greendale examined the album's themes which served as a warning of the consequences of environmental degradation.

Which brings us back to the Ragland Project. In 2002, Neil's boat The Ragland set sail to save the world's ocean and climate from the effects of global warming.

Neil loaned his 100 yr old wooden schooner Ragland and crew to the Planktos Foundation and began a series of innovative ocean/climate experiments by adding natural iron mineral dust to a small forest sized patch of ocean. The Ragland was used to deliver a cargo of "rust" (the natural iron mineral dust) to help fight global warming. Natural iron mineral dust used in the experiment supplements a scarce iron nutrient in the ocean. When added to the ocean in minute quantities iron is known to stimulate growth of ocean plants, phyto-plankton. The plants, in turn, absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, CO2.

For more details, see The Ragland Project.

SONGS OF THE TIMES: Our Friends

A few of our friends have posted songs on Neil's LIVING WITH WAR TODAY: SONGS OF THE TIMES page. Check out:

• "Virtual War" - Karen Barry
• "Echoes of War" - Francesco Lucarelli
• "A Christmas Wish From Iraq" - Bill Laing
• "When Did Jesus Become A Republican" - Cindy Lee Berryhill
• “A Traitor’s Death”- Josh Hisle
• “Shine A Light” - Jenny Yates
• “Bring ‘Em On” - John Hughes
• "Letters Home" - Gale Mead

All are great, heartfelt efforts and worthy of a listen.

Also, don't forget the upcoming Los Angeles concert Songs of Protest featuring artists on the SONGS OF THE TIMES page.