A World of Constant Strangers: The Neil Young Results Thread

Was just gonna say that Neil has probably helped/saved as many marriages as come close to ruining them. He has range.

Anyone know who that is?

Who am I to talk? I took my now-missus to see Neil in 2001 and she had to leave to sit down midway through.

believe it or not, my wife is fairly indifferent to neil young. somehow we've made it work.

Hey, my wife loved "Love In Mind" and is (probably) coming to her first NY gig with me in October!

I remember watching the Oscars broadcast when NY played his "Philadelphia" and Springsteen played his and having that AWFUL feeling in the pit of my stomach that Springsteen would win despite Neil writing a 110% more devastating and emotionally charged theme song. Not that Bruce's is bad (it's actually really good), but Neil's is bona fide tear inducing.

Had it at #27.

Pic looks like a young Ken Griffey Sr to me, but I don't think it is...

The movie is manipulative as hell at this point, but when that song plays over the fake home movie footage at the end of the movie ... waterworks.

hmm can't believe i forgot to vote for philly. maybe his best piano ballad?

my wife is a big fan of neil's contemporaries and yet can't stand neil's voice, one of the few folks who are verboten from living room play when she's home. if i'm dying to hear his stuff, I have to settle for the first Crazy Horse album.

Love in Mind, Transformer Man, Cocaine Eyes all on my ballot.

I remember that broadcast too, and they definitely gave the award to the wrong song.

The picture is of Glenn Burke. I just finished Dan Epstein's book on baseball in the '70s, and there's a bit in there on Burke--more here, if anyone's interested.

"Love In Mind" and "Words" are the only songs so far that definitely wouldn't have a shot at my personal top 75, though "Cocaine Eyes" I think I've only heard on youtube like twice so I can't speak to that one either way.

if I ever end a relationship in a way disastrous for myself I will blast "Don't Cry."

http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil66.jpg

My favourite why-do-I-keep-fuckin'-up? scene ever.

The first one I voted for! Only threw it 5 points but I love what a glorious mess it often became live.

"Fuckin' Up" was one of my last cuts, along with "Piece of Crap." I'd love to see them both on here!

Love "Fuckin' Up"! Love that image too!

yeah i cut fuckin up too, but it is a monster, so worthy of its title.

The version from Weld gets me doing a shitkicker stomp.

Totally voted for "Fucking Up," and had I ranked my ballot I would have ranked it high.

ha yeah my first to make it as well

What is that screencap from?

I think if we had decided to count different versions, I would have voted one of those shambolic live takes of it, but the studio cut just sounds tame in comparison to me now.

lol @ "Fuckin' Up" image

I restricted myself to one Ragged Glory tune and while that one is great, ultimately it wasn't what I chose

my top fifteen is on cue to make the bottom third of this poll.

(clemenza - remember to put the names & points on the thread somewhere so the thread still makes sense if the images die. I assume people from the future will still hold a candle for Neil)

It's from Fargo, boxall, the scene where Macy flips out in the parking lot.

I stored all the images on my own homepage index, so they should be good for as long as Tripod and/or I stay in business.

http://phildellio.tripod.com/neil65.jpg

Seems low. "Classic rock" radio fatigue?

glad to see this so low.

I think I've heard "Philadelphia" once. Anyone wanna sell me on it?

Stuff I never knew: they were making George Wallace comic books in the early '60s.

http://boingboing.net/images/georgewallace002.jpg

I'm probably more tired of "Southern Man" than anything else on Gold Rush--fine on the album (it breaks up side one effectively), but I usually switch off when it comes on the radio.

xpost It's beautiful?

xp it's pretty? beautiful, heartfelt lyrics that i can only imagine neil young pulling off? the pet shop boys do it?

sold!

There's a number of blistering live takes on "Southern Man" that are great, and I love the treatment that Neil puts on his voice for that last verse, but it still missed my ballot -- didn't even make the shortlist. It is just too heavy handed for me, along with "Alabama."

I think "Southern Man" is a hamfisted snooze.

"Cocaine Eyes" I only discovered about 18 months ago. I'm a sucker for the late eighties Niko Bolas sound.

Alfred, I'm surprised you didn't stan for Philadelphia -- it's such a fantastic weepy ballad. Just listen to it and put Tom Hanks out of your mind.

i'm a big fan of the insane southern mans on the crazy horse 1976 tour -- the band seems barely able to figure out the tempo changes, neil is skronking up a storm, and the whole thing just lurches.

"Southern Man" is exactly what kept me away from Young for years. I've held my nose so long that I think I'm ready for another shot.

tom hanks never left my mind

I was a little too young, but I think "Southern Man" probably benefited from the immediacy of the moment.

I think "Southern Man" is a hamfisted snooze.

Have you heard "Alabama"?

seriously "Southern Man" is so much better than "Southern Man II"

I agree. I really think "Ohio" is the only one of his Big Statements on the United States Wrongdoing songs that still holds up, but then again, I live here, have walked on that hill at Kent State, etc. so I'm massively biased.

the studio southern man is pretty interesting -- that scratchy vocal effect on the "crosses" verse, the oompah piano, the ultra minimalist guitar solo. as 70s guitar jamz go, it's kind of weird.

^^ the pi-anner is the best part

I hope Neil Young will remember