"Bad Fog of Lonliness" in the top 10 is pretty awesome, even if I didn't vote for it myself.
― hutlock, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:15 (twelve years ago) link
I rarely call in here, so missed all of this completely. But I've spent the last hour or so reading through the results. Surprised, but not disappointed, by the #1.
Good to see a couple of you included Love And Only Love in your ballots. It would definitely have featured on mine - if only the version on Weld. The solo on that is one of my favourite Neil moments.
Excellent presentation, Clemenza.
― Duke, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:24 (twelve years ago) link
Spotify playlist updated: http://open.spotify.com/user/124420673/playlist/7tIBGOFg0EDXgAz10slAJZ
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
Interestingly, the song that came out on top is also one of Neil's most performed songs, beaten only by Cinnamon Girl and Heart of Gold.
http://sugarmtn.org/stat.php?stat=1
― agnosy, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:32 (twelve years ago) link
Wow, I'm surprised he's only played Motion Pictures once!
― Mad God 40/40 (Z S), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
My ballot.
Like a Hurricane -- 20ptsDon’t Cry -- 18Time Fades Away -- 18My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) -- 16Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero Part 1) -- 16Cocaine Eyes -- 14The Needle And The Damage Done -- 14Love In Mind -- 13Blowin' In The Wind -- 13Cortez The Killer -- 12Helpless -- 12The Bridge -- 12Farmer John -- 11Winterlong -- 11Arc -- 10Powderfinger -- 10Ordinary People -- 9Goin’ Back -- 9Sugar Mountain -- 8Peaceful Valley Boulevard -- 8Long May You Run -- 7For The Turnstiles -- 7Ambulance Blues -- 6LA -- 6Lotta Love -- 5Harvest Moon -- 5Comes A Time -- 4Southern Man -- 3Ohio -- 2Tonight’s The Night -- 1
― Jeff W, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
I'm surprised he's played it at all, frankly. all of that OTB and Time Fades Away stuff seems to have dropped off his radar
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
ambulance blues is the only one that he's really returned to in the past decade or so, there's one on the beach from 2003, maybe a handful of don't be denieds.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:40 (twelve years ago) link
favourite line from Ambulance Blues: it's easy to get buried in the past, when you try to make a good thing last.
― agnosy, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:43 (twelve years ago) link
I got to know "Motion Pictures" as a live staple by local (Knoxville) heroes the V-Roys, who did a great raging version of it. (It's even on their career-capping live album.) Actually there are an awful lot of Neil songs I first heard done by other people.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:47 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't rank, but here are my picks that didn't make the cut:
I’ve Been Waiting for YouTell Me WhyWrecking BallNo MoreLove to BurnSafeway CartPeaceful Valley BoulevardLove is a RoseFor the TurnstilesCountry HomeNatural BeautySuch a Woman
Granted, I made a point of trying to draw from every point in his career.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:06 (twelve years ago) link
Whoops, scratch "Tell Me Why" from that.
for the turnstiles made it i think
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:17 (twelve years ago) link
here are the ones of mine that didn't make it (i think)
Razor LoveSurfer Joe And Moe The SleazeCountry HomeGive Me StrengthPushed It Over The EndToo Far GoneLittle WingSpeakin’ OutThrough My SailsSafeway Cart No One Seems To Know
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:18 (twelve years ago) link
(10) 1. Mr. Soul (Buffalo Springfield version)(10) 2. Cinnamon Girl(10) 3. Like A Hurricane(10) 4. Don't Be Denied(10) 5. Rockin' In The Free World (electric Freedom version!)(8) 6. Cowgirl In The Sand(8) 7. A Man Needs A Maid(8) 8. Powderfinger(8) 9. Sugar Mountain(8) 10. I'm The Ocean(8) 11. Prisoners Of Rock'n'Roll(8) 12. Revolution Blues(8) 13. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (Live At The Riverboat 1969)(8) 14. Cortez The Killer(8) 15. Campaigner(8) 16. Pressure(8) 17. Music Arcade(8) 18. Over And Over(8) 19. Be The Rain(8) 20. Sample And Hold(8) 21. Ohio(8) 22. Southern Pacific(8) 23. Fork In The Road(8) 24. Natural Beauty(8) 25. I Believe In You(8) 26. Hawks & Doves(8) 27. Goin' Home(8) 28. Time Fades Away(8) 29. Sixty To Zero (Crime In The City) (oneada live bootleg versions)(8) 30. Look Out For My Love (the MTV Unplugged version!)(8) 31. Prime Of Life(8) 32. Hey Hey, My My - Into The Black(8) 33. The Old Laughing Lady(8) 34. Tired Eyes(8) 35. Mideast Vacation(7) 36. The Restless Consumer ("In The Beginning" version) (7) 37. Shots(7) 38. Down To The Wire(7) 39. Peace Of Mind(7) 40. Driveby
― da croupier, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:28 (twelve years ago) link
My non-charting cuts (DAMN that's a lot of them!):
Love Art BluesTracesSoldierSleeps With AngelsStringmanBurnedTime Fades AwayCripple Creek FerryPushed It Over the EndI’ve Been Waiting for YouDeep Forbidden LakeLove Is a RoseMy HeartShotsOld WaysKinda Fonda WandaJourney Through the Past
― hutlock, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:28 (twelve years ago) link
Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (Live At The Riverboat 1969)otm
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:29 (twelve years ago) link
"Pressure" made croup's ballot! awesome
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
I'm probably most bummed that Hitchhiker didn't make it
― wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
powderfinger - 30expecting to fly - 30winterlong - 20the loner - 20unknown legend - 15like a hurricane -10philadelphia - 10don’t let it bring you down -10long may you run -10tonight’s the night - 10pocahontas - 10computer age - 10ohio - 10cinnamon girl - 10sedan delivery - 10cortez the killer - 10fuckin up - 10don’t be denied - 5i’m the ocean - 5danger bird - 5when you dance i can really love - 5 ambulance blues - 5safeway cart - 5mr soul - 5harvest moon - 5the old laughing lady - 5albuquerque - 5captain kennedy - 5helpless - 5cowgirl in the sand - 5
― balls, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:38 (twelve years ago) link
I actually had a word doc started and was trying to figure out my ballot — procrastinated too long.
Fun post, though I'm surprised 'The Old Homestead' is nowhere to be found.
― Austin, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:41 (twelve years ago) link
Everybody Knows This Is NowhereCortez The KillerDon't Cry No TearsHarvestOut On The WeekendThe Losing End (When You're On)On The BeachCampaignerDon't CryA Man Needs A MaidOnly Love Can Break Your HeartThrasherMotion PicturesEldoradoTime Fades AwayI'm The OceanI Believe In YouUnknown Legend Razor LoveThere Goes My BabeStar of BethlehemSugar MountainCowgirl in the SandMusic Is LoveToo Far GoneRevolution BluesAlbuquerqueAmbulance BluesTired EyesLook Out For My LoveWorld On A StringPrime of LifeDown by the RiverComes A TimeNatural BeautySample And HoldPowderfingerSuch A WomanRockin' In The Free WorldCountry Home
― Euler, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
Clemenza: you said at one point that two songs traded the top spot 'til somewhere near the end, when a third song came from nowhere. What were the songs, how did it play out?
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:29 (twelve years ago) link
It was "Down by the River" with the early lead, then it traded back-and-forth with "Cortez," then Powderfinger overtook them both on the 53rd or 54th ballot.
I'm just finishing the big list. Can someone remind me of the thread where you put a permalink to final results?
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:34 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks. I'm interested 'cos I never monitored the U2 poll as it ran, and it was only when I counted backwards that I found The Unforgettable Fire had led through most of the voting, and only fell away with the last four or five ballots. It'd've been a similarly unexpected no.1 I think.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:35 (twelve years ago) link
ILM Ballot Polls: where to find the results threads
― Neil Jung (WmC), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:42 (twelve years ago) link
Thanks--I'm going to put the list here and link to it there.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:48 (twelve years ago) link
"down by the river" is fine but i would have been bummed if it got the top spot, always preferred "cowgirl"
― da croupier, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:48 (twelve years ago) link
1) 30 Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) 2) 20 Like A Hurricane 3) 20 Sugar Mountain 4) 20 Harvest 5) 20 Ordinary People 6) 15 No More 7) 15 Here We Are In The Years 8) 15 On The Beach 9) 15 Sail Away10) 10 After The Gold Rush11) 10 Soldier12) 10 Little Wing13) 10 Don't Cry No Tears14) 10 Cowgirl In The Sand15) 05 Flying On The Ground Is Wrong16) 05 I'm The Ocean17) 05 Silver & Gold18) 05 Broken Arrow19) 05 Hippie Dream20) 05 Don't Take Your Love Away From Me21) 05 Someday22) 05 Looking Forward23) 05 Feel Your Love24) 05 Thrasher25) 05 Love In Mind26) 05 Ambulance Blues27) 05 Journey Through The Past28) 05 Throw Your Hatred Down29) 05 Weight Of The World30) 05 Without Rings
As I told clemenza, on another day I could have picked a completely different set of songs, Neil has too many good ones to choose from.
― agnosy, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:03 (twelve years ago) link
Final Results:
75. “Ordinary People,” Chrome Dreams II (7 votes/68 points)74. “Don’t Cry,” Freedom (7/71)73. “Cocaine Eyes,” Eldorado (8/71)72. “Sample and Hold,” Trans (8/77)71. “Transformer Man,” Trans (7/78)70. “Words (Between the Lines of Age),” Harvest (9/78)69. “The Old Laughing Lady,” Neil Young (8/84)68. “Love in Mind,” Time Fades Away (11/89)67. “Philadelphia,” Philadelphia (9/93)66. “Fuckin’ Up,” Ragged Glory (12/93)65. “Southern Man,” After the Gold Rush (10/95)64. “Crime in the City (Sixty to Zero Part I),” Freedom (10/96)63. “Broken Arrow,” Buffalo Springfield Again (11/96)62. “Harvest,” Harvest (11/97)61. “Lotta Love,” Comes a Time (13/97)60. “I Am a Child,” Last Time Around (12/99)59. “Lookout Joe,” Tonight’s the Night (11/104)58. “Look Out for My Love,” Comes a Time (12/104)57. “Unknown Legend,” Harvest Moon (11/108)56. “Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown,” Tonight’s the Night (11/110)55. “On the Way Home,” Last Time Around (9/115)54. “Birds,” After the Gold Rush (12/117)53. “Motion Pictures,” On the Beach (13/126)52. “Long May You Run,” Long May You Run (13/129)51. “Will to Love,” American Stars ‘n Bars (13/132)50. “Mellow My Mind,” Tonight’s the Night (15/132)49. “Harvest Moon,” Harvest Moon (15/135)48. “L.A.,” Time Fades Away (14/137)47. “The Loner,” Neil Young (16/143)46. “See the Sky About to Rain,” On the Beach (16/148)45. “I Believe in You,” After the Gold Rush (17/149)44. “Sedan Delivery,” Rust Never Sleeps (18/156)43. “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue),” Rust Never Sleeps (16/162)42. “Don’t Cry No Tears,” Zuma (19/162)41. “Comes a Time,” Comes a Time (18/164)40. “Out on the Weekend,” Harvest (17/167)39. “Barstool Blues,” Zuma (19/168)38. “For the Turnstiles,” On the Beach (20/169)37. “I’m the Ocean,” Mirror Ball (22/188)36. “Danger Bird,” Zuma (18/189)35. “Thrasher,” Rust Never Sleeps (20/189)34. “Time Fades Away,” Time Fades Away (18/190)33. “Winterlong,” Decade (19/194)32. “Mr. Soul,” Buffalo Springfield Again (19/195)31. “Walk On,” On the Beach (15/196)30. “When You Dance I Can Really Love,” After the Gold Rush (17/197)29. “Sugar Mountain,” 7-inch (20/197)28. “A Man Needs a Maid,” Harvest (20/198)27. “Don’t Be Denied,” Time Fades Away (21/220)26. “Old Man,” Harvest (24/237)25. “Pocahontas,” Rust Never Sleeps (26/245)24. “Rockin’ in the Free World,” Freedom (28/254)23. “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black),” Rust Never Sleeps (26/260)22. “Don’t Let It Bring You Down,” After the Gold Rush (28/261)21. “The Needle and the Damage Done,” Harvest (24/267)20. “Heart of Gold,” Harvest (28/271)19. “After the Gold Rush,” After the Gold Rush (28/275)18. “Tired Eyes,” Tonight’s the Night (25/278)17. “Albuquerque,” Tonight’s the Night (26/290)16. “Tonight’s the Night,” Tonight’s the Night (27/308)15. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” After the Gold Rush (30/309)14. “Tell Me Why,” After the Gold Rush (25/313)13. “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (31/314)12. “Helpless,” Déjà Vu (28/315)11. “Revolution Blues,” On the Beach (30/319)10. “Ohio,” 7-inch (32/323)9. “Expecting to Fly,” Buffalo Springfield Again (25/329)8. “On the Beach,” On the Beach (27/331)7. “Cowgirl in the Sand,” Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (34/351)6. “Cinnamon Girl,” Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (34/392)5. “Ambulance Blues,” On the Beach (33/413)4. “Like a Hurricane,” American Stars ‘n Bars (40/435)3. “Down by the River,” Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (41/448)2. “Cortez the Killer,” Zuma (44/480)1. “Powderfinger,” Rust Never Sleeps (44/514)
And the Top 10 albums again, just so they’re in the same place (people were voting for songs, not albums--the points were added after-the-fact):
1. After the Gold Rush (1970) -- 11 songs/1,861 points2. On the Beach (1974) -- 8/1,7293. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969) -- 7/1,6074. Rust Never Sleeps (1979) -- 9/1,5985. Tonight’s the Night (1975) -- 11/1,4146. Harvest (1972) -- 9/1,3907. Zuma (1975) -- 9/1,1558. Time Fades Away (1973) -- 8/7669. American Stars ‘n Bars (1977) -- 7/69910. Freedom (1989) -- 10/652
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:04 (twelve years ago) link
so boss that powderfinger won
― catbus otm (gbx), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:18 (twelve years ago) link
Highest points-per-voter among the Top 75 (intensity quotient, if you will):
1. "Expecting to Fly" (13.16)2. "On the Way Home" (12.78)3. "Tell Me Why" (12.52)4. "Ambulance Blues" (12.52)5. "On the Beach" (12.26)6. "Powderfinger" (11.68)7. "When You Dance I Can Really Love" (11.59)8. "Cinnamon Girl" (11.53)9. "Tonight's the Night" (11.41)10. "Helpless" (11.25)
Songs from my list I most wanted to place: "Country Girl" and "Bad Fog of Loneliness" (I knew "Ocean Girl" had no chance)High finish that puzzles me most: "Walk On"Song from Tonight's the Night I wish had placed: "Roll Another Number (For the Road)"Post-Rust song I was sure was going to place fairly high (and where I wasn't even close): "Over and Over"
Thanks to the action-film and horror-film polls, which got me interested in spending lots of time on the images, and also to the Paul Simon poll, where I liked the sometimes cryptic juxtapositions.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:18 (twelve years ago) link
After The Gold Rush getting the most points is pretty remarkable given that its highest song was #14
― straight up now tell me will I be a fucking lump forever? (some dude), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:22 (twelve years ago) link
who voted for Cripple Creek Ferry
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:25 (twelve years ago) link
(I voted for Oh Lonesome Me)
― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:26 (twelve years ago) link
Post-Rust song I was sure was going to place fairly high (and where I wasn't even close): "Over and Over"
This was actually in regular rotation on MTV in 1991. Granted, said rotation was around 3am, but it was 3am every day for about two weeks:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mzo51vF0OQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL1D1AE27FE928AA35(I have no idea why I was up at 3am every day for two weeks in 1991)
― Chuck? Chuck? It's me, your cousin, Marvin D (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:27 (twelve years ago) link
(ok, that was supposed to be the "Over and Over" video)
― Chuck? Chuck? It's me, your cousin, Marvin D (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:28 (twelve years ago) link
All 11 Gold Rush songs got votes, ranging from a low of 43 to a high of 313. I voted for "Cripple Creek Ferry," also four others. (Everybody Knows and On the Beach have four and three fewer songs than Gold Rush, and that makes a difference.)
― clemenza, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:31 (twelve years ago) link
Danger Bird >>> Cortez
Alfred otm here...Cortez is a great jam but I hate the lyrics so much. I did give Cortez 5 points though.
Thanks for an almighty poll, clemenza!
― recordbreaking transfer to Lucknow FC (seandalai), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:54 (twelve years ago) link
Sample and Hold 25Expecting to Fly 20Revolution blues 20Ambulance blues 20Journey through the past 10Only love can break your heart 10See the sky about to rain 10Mr. Soul 10Broken Arrow 10Hey hey, my my 10Transformer man 10Harvest Moon 10Winterlong 10Helpless 10Such a woman 10Ohio 10Bad fog of loneliness 10Natural beauty 10Danger Bird 10Down by the river 10Country girl 10War of man 5Star of Bethlehem 5Old man 5Cortez the Killer 5Mellow my mind 5Cowgirl in the sand 5Motion pictures 5Last trip to Tulsa 5Peaceful valley boulevard 5
― recordbreaking transfer to Lucknow FC (seandalai), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:56 (twelve years ago) link
1. Harvest Moon2. Don't Let It Bring You Down3. Cinnamon Girl4. On the Way Home5. Lotta Love6. You and Me7. When You Dance I Can Really Love8. It's My Time9. Only Love Can Break Your Heart10. Oh, Lonesome Me11. Ohio12. Old Man13. The Needle and the Damage Done14. Mr. Soul15. My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)16. Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)17. Expecting to Fly18. Tell Me Why19. Cowgirl in the Sand20. Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing21. Long May You Run22. Rockin' in the Free World23. Whatever Happened to Saturday Night24. I've Been Waiting for You25. Southern Man26. Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown27. Will to Love28. Hey Babe29. Like a Hurricane30. Down by the River
- Surprised "Clancy" and "Oh, Lonesome Me" didn't place.- Surprised "Will to Love" and "Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown" did.- Not surprised, but disappointed "You and Me" and "It's My Time" didn't place
― Lee626, Thursday, 12 July 2012 00:02 (twelve years ago) link
I don't mind "Cortez" as a jam, but the lyrics really kill it for me.
I LOVE Cortez as a jam but yeah the lyrics are dumb
― catbus otm (gbx), Thursday, 12 July 2012 00:21 (twelve years ago) link
songs from my ballot that didn't make it
9) The Losing End (When You're On) 14) If I Could Have Her Tonight 15) Down To The Wire 17) Burned 18) Human Highway 22) Oh, Lonesome Me 23) The Emperor of Wyoming 28) Till The Morning Comes 30) Round & Round (It Won't Be Long)
there were 4-5 songs that did make the top 75 that I would have voted for if i had not thrown my ballot together so haphazardly
― buzza, Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:24 (twelve years ago) link
ok i'm gonna look like an idiot here maybe or maybe i'm regurgitating conventional wisdom but how do ppl read 'cortez'? do they read it as a straightforward song about cortez? not saying this is wrong, it very probably isn't, this is neil young, but the way i've read it the dumbness of the first 6 verses is intentional and maybe neccessary, that those first 6 verses are a daydream or digression and the song only moves into present tense and the actual protagonist is revealed in the 'and i know she's living there' verse, that the song is a variation on 'by the time i get to phoenix' sorta w/ the protagonist thinking of cortez conquering and destroying this paradise and how that mirrors how he destroyed his paradise (and it's not hard to believe, guy's a dumbass, cf. his take on the aztecs), w/ the final 'cortez, what a killer' the narrator hanging his head in shame. why do i keep fuckin up etc.
― balls, Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:25 (twelve years ago) link
it could be also that 'cortez is about regret' cuz so many of my fave neil young songs (including my top two) are basically about regret.
― balls, Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:27 (twelve years ago) link
it could be also that I THINK 'cortez is about regret' rather
― balls, Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:28 (twelve years ago) link
neil shrugs enough about it that there isn't any wrong way to read it
― da croupier, Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:33 (twelve years ago) link
i always thought cortez was neil being maybe a lil too upfront about how much he romanticizes native america and the first nations? like pocahontas rides the line, and manages it, but cortez was what neil did instead of hanging up a dreamcatcher and getting a kokopelli tattoo, i dunno
i'd like to be wrong though!
― catbus otm (gbx), Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:36 (twelve years ago) link
an innaresting reading
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:39 (twelve years ago) link
POWDERFINGER
― catbus otm (gbx), Thursday, 12 July 2012 01:41 (twelve years ago) link