The (record) Needle and the Damage Done: Neil Young's Vinyl Reissues have ruined my ears (for good)

"The sound.THE SOUND! The sound on this new Neil Young vinyl box set feels like someone dumped oxygen all over these songs. Now I understand".

That was my tweet 20 minutes into listening to the new Neil Young vinyl reissue box set. The sound on off this vinyl was completely overwhelming. There was depth in "Words" I never experienced before. I almost wrote "heard" intend of "experience", but that just would not do.

                 
Click here to download:
The_record_Needle_and_the_Dama.zip (11116 KB)

 

I played each one in its entirety front to back using my Sennheisser headphones. Those headphones plus this 180 gram super vinyl was a surreal experience. I don't think I could have enjoyed it more if I listened to it through my third friggin' eye...If I had one.

 

You are going to think I sound like a complete punter, but that first run through of these albums was like an ear-rebirth. The sound was so up in my head that it felt like Neil was in my face and was singing through it. 

 

The depth in the music felt like aural topography. "Words" was another experience altogether. I have listened to that a couple dozen times since last Thursday. It is INTENSE. Has anyone else heard this out there?  Am I wrong?  Tell me otherwise.

 

Whew. I wish I could share it via this blog, but shit video won't do. In fact, nothing is good enough. I am spoiled rotten now. 

 

Neil Young put out 17+ albums (including these reissues on vinyl) this year and I bought EVERYTHING. I even bought the BluRay Archives. I think this tops it for pure, I feel like I am falling through space and time, maybe I just died, someone pour me another drink, king-of-all sound listening experiences.

 

Thank you Neil's sound team.  Thank you Neil's Muses. Thanks, Ol' Neil. These grooves rip.

_____

Here are some vids I pulled off of Thrasher's Wheat.  The first is an actual pressing of the records and a second is a walk through of the packaging of the Neil V-Box Set (I'm #1,186/3,000)

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Tagged Box Sets Music neil young pics riffs vids Vinyl

It's not what you play, it's how you play it: live music puts a tiger in my tank

"Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio." 

That is a quote by one of my heroes: Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter...I miss your honesty, your true grit and your wisdom. Oh, your wisdom; the wisdom found in this statement prances and preens like one of your precious proud peacocks. I can't agree more with what Hunter is saying here: Music = Fuel.

I want to take that one step further.  If music is indeed fuel, then live music is super-unleaded; high-test; moonshine.

I've been heavily into the live portion of my collection as of late. Great live albums/songs are touchstones to me. If I need a pick me up, if I need to be jolted or if I just need a cheap thrill...I can always turn to some fave live music. 

Case in point...I am trolling the back catalog lately in anticipation for three purchases that will happen in the next two weeks: all of them live. 

I love this time of the year. Record labels are putting out lush box sets hoping to hook holiday gift buyers and solo splurgers. I am a record company's chum; sharks sniff me out and attack and rip me...and my wallet...to shreds. Bring it on. These sets tend to be grandiose with a price tag to match.  It is not that I have money to burn...if I did I would be an arsonist...but I know what I like and what I gots-ta have.

The three sets I am pacing the floor for are:

The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [40th Anniversary Deluxe Version]. This is the proud black panther crawlin' up and down my hall. As far as live music goes, this may be the best show of 'em all: a flat-out, hands-down, sure-bet live masterpiece. This set has the whole kit and caboodle: Three LPs, three CDs, one DVD, books, posters and a lock of Mick's pubic hair. Go HERE to check out this magnificent booty.

This album may contain my fave live tune EVER: "Little Queenie". This song has it all: Mick teases the home crowd with a shout out ("You talk a lot New York City...."), it is a cover tune and it takes that cover tune and turns it into a stone cold monster...a raunchy, only when the moon is full, full-tilt, evil-twin version. It also has multiple guitar solos in it. "Little Queenie" sets the standard for what live rock and roll can be. All this and it has Keef Richards playing some of the his best riffs ever. Dirty.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: quot; target="_blank">The Live Anthology. Four CDs of live TP & The HBs from way back to right now. Everything I hear about this positions it as bow-down material. I think I have to go BluRay version for this.

Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom - Live. I'm going for vinyl on this one. When ever I get done with a Tom Waits listening session I am unsure whether or not red means stop and green means go. Tom Waits swims against the current.

Live music...it is going to be my fuel for the holidays. I want to share a few fave live tunes with you. There is NO WAY I could begin to put together a  list of ALL of my faves...not possible. What I have for you here are ten front-burner faves that I always can turn to when my gage reads "E".  

Normally I like to embed a playlist here in this post; I couldn't find all the songs I wanted to share. Instead, I am gifting them to you in a download.  Tis the season, eh?  Here is what you will find in the playlist, including a bit of twitter'esque commentary on each:
  • Everyday I have the Blues (BB King - "Live at the Regal"): this is the first song on the album. The crowd is in BBs hand before Lucille's second solo rings out.
  • Live Wire (AC/DC - "Bonfire"): This takes place in a radio studio with a small live crowd. How do they strike sparks this fast?!  Combustible music.
  • Mean Woman Blues (Jerry Lee Lewis - "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg Germany"): Pure, unadulterated raw power. The Killer is on fucking fire here.
  • Walk It Talk It (Lou Reed - "American Poet"): Again this one is recorded live in a radio studio. Lou Reed is a rock and roller on this one...it has a definite Chuck Berry sound. 
  • Cowgirl in the Sand (Neil Young - "Live at the Fillmore"): Neil covers the spectrum of his guitar playing abilities on this: intense. Listen to Jack Nitschze's haunting piano: creepy.
  • Little Queenie (Rolling Stones - "Ya-Ya's"): Like I said, this is unmatched R&R.
  • Don't Think Twice Its Alright (Eric Clapton - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): "Bobfest", as dubbed by Neil. This might be Clapton's last great performance. The second guitar solo makes your head shake involuntarily. Whew. And...its a cover song.
  • Emotionally Yours (The O'Jays - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): Wow...this song has that rising power that takes you soaring with it. Emotional, indeed...
  • Caravan (Van Morrison - "Last Waltz") - Another qualifier of live greatness: the all-star jam. Van takes this one over the top with a handful of crescendos...and with a crazy purple spandex outfit [yikes!]
  • You Don't Know Like I Know: (Sam & Dave - "The Complete Stax Singles, Disk 4"): Arguably two of the greatest live performers ever. Listen to the fun and excitement in this one. You can't help but move to it. 
Download the "Live Moonshine" playlist HERE.
Tagged AC/DC BB King Bow-Down Post Box Sets Downloads Eric Clapton Hunter S. Thompson Jerry Lee Lewis Live Lou Reed Moonshine Music neil young playlist riffs Rolling Stones Sam & Dave The O'Jays Tom Petty Tom Waits Van Morrison
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