Elly Roberts reviews
Reprise
First in the series of Neil Young retrospectives,this time including on-off cohorts Crazy Horse (originally called Rockets),and available for the first time on CD.
This concert features original CH members Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot, DannyWhitten (who died in 1972) and Jack Nitzsche recorded in March 6 and 7 1970 at Bill Grahams New York venue Filmore East to support their then albumEverybody Knows This Is Nowhere, which features three of Youngs bestknown songs Cinnamon Girl, Down By The River and Cowgirl In The Sand.
If youre also seeking the album its the famous cover of Young leaningagainst a tree with a white dog sitting at his feet. Just for the record,Young played four shows over the two nights with each gig consisting a soloacoustic set and then with Crazy Horse.
They did perform acoustic songs, not featured here. On these nights they weresandwiched between opening act Steve Miller Band and jazz legend Miles Davis.Covering just over 40 minutes long, there are tracks ranging from 3 to 16minutes.
This gig was one of his first after his solo debut in January 1969 (co-producedby Nitzsche), so its interesting to hear him work-out after his exploits withBuffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash and Young. First two tracks aredone in original formats as are Wonderin and Come On Baby,whereas Down By The River and Cowgirl allow more exploration andimprovisation, with some exceptional guitar licks by Whitten at his peak. HereYoung proves hes not just a folkie, as he embarks on the grungier side ofhis expansive repertoire, though Wonderin is a country chugger of exquisitedelights.
Weblink:neilyoung.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
2. Winterlong
3. Down By The River
4. Wonderin
5. Come On Baby Lets Go Downtown
6. Cowgirl In The Sand
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.