Harvest

For Day 16 of Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, we have 1972’s best selling album in America. Harvest by Neil Young. Released ten years before my birth, it is safe to say there were never any Neil Young posters hanging on my wall next to a golden bikini clad Cindy Crawford or Snoop Doggy Dog. I do know a decent bit about him and some of his music, and these are my thoughts about Harvest. As soon as I put this record on, I instantly felt like an outcasted cowboy on the prairie. The acoustic guitars, the harmonica, the steel guitarsand piano.. they all sound so smooth, and as warm as a campfire in Wyoming in the late 1800’s. The instrumentation is worthy of any Oscar winning film. The song I know the most is Heart Of Gold, a song that got so big that Neil Young distanced himself from it and wouldn’t perform live for most of his career. It’s a classic for sure, and was my favorite of his until hearing other songs on this album. Now, before I continue, I must say.. I’ve always been pretty indifferent to Neil Young. I wouldn’t complain if a stranger in the bar spent a couple quarters on the jukebox spinning a couple Neil Young songs. Full disclosure, upon my first listening of Harvest, I wanted to completely shit on it. It’s slow, kind of depressing at times, and I don’t like Neil Young’s falsetto. I couldn’t picture myself strolling around town in my ’69 Camaro with this in my 8-Track. For God’s sake, The Eagles debut album came out in 1972. I do know myself enough, however, to know that I have to listen to certain albums a couple of times before I know for sure whether I really like them or not. On my third listening of this album it struck me that I actually really do enjoy most of it. (Especially with decent headphones on). The final song, Words, is my new favorite Neil Young song. Up until now, at least. Another stand out, Alabama, a song that struck a literal major chord with the fellas over at Lynyrd Skynyrd, is more uptempo. The guitars and piano are so good. I don’t know shit about Young’s politics in his lyrics, but it’s a sonically pleasing song. The heavy gongs and chimes that lead into There’s a World can’t be denied, and to add the cherry to the top, you get the whole symphony chiming in. Other notable songs are, Are You Ready For The Country and The Needle And The Damage Done. In closing, I started off by totally disliking most of this album. I’m still not all that keen on Neil Young’s voice, and some of the slower and somber songs, but the second half of Harvest really grew on me. The production and arrangement on Harvest is above top-notch, its top shelf. I could listen to just the instrumentation and feel like an old, weathered cow wrangler a few years past his prime, like in the song Old Man. I’m glad I got to hear this album before I died. Props to the Canadian Cowboy! Please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and memories on my likely TL;DR posts!

HOW MANY FUCKING NEIL YOUNG ALBUMS ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME LISTEN TO? Look, I don't like the guy, okay. He's a fine musician, he writes fine songs, and the issue here is that I don't like them and don't want to listen to them. He bums me the fuck out. What I can say about this album is that it does have some of the Neil Young songs that I like. They're uniformly total bummers, but at least they're good bummers, so 3/5? I guess

This is the sort of album Crosby, Stills and Nash thought they'd get when they asked Old Neil to join their super group. When David Crosby says Neil "is probably the most selfish person I know", this is what he means. Neil saves his best shit for his solo albums. He even doubles down on the background vocalists. It's not enough to have Crosby, Stills and Nash provide harmonies, so we get Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on arguably the best songs on the album (your mileage may vary, but they're the two biggest hits). I love "Alabama" for the call and response it created with Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Harvest" easily belongs in the upper echelon of any ranking of the greatest country rock albums of all time.

A friend once mentioned that they thought Neil Young’s voice sounds like Kermit the Frog. Annoyingly it’s been my first though every time I’ve listened to him since. I now imagine Neil sitting on a wall with his guitar, while his little green legs dangle over the edge, singing about the perils of heroin addiction. This is probably my favourite Neil Young album.

This story begins a little somberly: you are lying in bed in a nursing home. You've been there for a while now, for an indeterminate length of time. Sometimes it feels like you've just arrived, other times it feels you've been there an eternity. You're not really sick, but at the same time you're not very well - truth is, you're just dying. Things are slowing down, your body is as likely to betray you as cooperate, and your mind is fuzzy most of the time. You're about halfway mobile; you can usually sit down and shit on your own, but you need help wiping and getting back up. A young man brushes your teeth most days, and for the most part you manage to open your mouth wide enough for him. Similarly, you can shuffle around on a walker but it's easier to spend most of your days just lying in bed, drifting in and out of sleep and simply being prodded awake a few times a day for those mushy meals they dish out at old folks homes. Sometimes, a relative comes to visit. Is it your son? Or maybe that's a grandson? You just don't know anymore, and for some reason it doesn't really matter anyway. Each morning, the nice girl comes and wraps something around your arm then looks at a device. You used to know what it was for, and you consider asking what's going on, but before you've had a chance she's removed it and gone to the bed next door. She is a nice girl, but sometimes she stands at your bed and talks to others about you as if you aren't even there. Eventually, one day you just take a final breath. As you release, it's more of a sigh than anything. For the first time ever in your life, your body chooses not to breathe back in. But in the ensuing stillness, you can hear a slight melody. It sounds distinctly familiar: it's the vocal line to Heart of Gold. And it's at that point you realise just how uneventful this all is. There's no fanfare awaiting you in the afterlife, no final moment of resplendent, youthful glory. And to be fair, there's also minimal pain and definitely no jarring moments. So you've got that going for you, which is nice. If anything, it's all just mildly uninteresting at this point. A lot like Neil Young's Harvest. 2/5.

Like many 14 year old Pearl Jam obsessives in 1995, I was first introduced to Neil Young’s music via their collaborative album, Mirrorball. I remember my mom driving me in our ‘87 Ford Taurus station wagon to pick it up at Border’s Books and Music on release day. While we were waiting in line to check out, my Mom noticed that the hype sticker on the album said “Neil Young” on it and was confused: “I thought you wanted to get a Pearl Jam record?”, she asked. “This is it, they made it with Neil Young.” “Oh,” she said. “In that case, we need to get something else”. We get out of line and head back to the CD section, go to Neil Young and she grabs a copy of Harvest. “I’m getting you this one, too”. Never one to turn down a free CD, I agree…Two cd’s in one day and I don’t have to pay for one of them? Hell yeah. I’ve been a Neil Young fan since that day. Something about his music has always spoke to me. My tastes have changed wildly over the last 3 decades, but Neil Young is one of the few constants. I want to give this record a 5, I really do. It’s the record that started my Neil Young fandom. The title track is one of my all time favorite Neil Young songs, Heart of Gold is amazing, Needle and the Damage Done is harrowing and heartbreaking, Old Man is a classic, Words is an amazing closer and Alabama (coupled with Southern Man) is the song that pissed off Skynyrd enough for them to write Sweet Home Alabama (not sure they really got the point, though). There’s value to be found in There’s a World and (maybe a little less) in A Man Needs a Maid, but like others have said, they drag this album down a bit. Both are kind of overwrought and ornate, sitting awkwardly beside the other more minimal, traditional folk/rock songs. Comparing Harvest to the other Neil Young records on this list, there are others that I think work better as complete albums. The songs on Harvest are undoubtedly among the best in his vast catalog and Harvest is excellent. As an album experience, I don’t find Harvest perfect, but it’s damn close.

Classic. Yeah, the strings on Man Maid and World are a rough go, but there are so many great songs on here that you can forgive that excess. Eminently listenable.

I can see why people would fawn over this, but I just find it whiny and boring.

HELL YEA BROTHER!!!! NEIL FUCKIN YOUNG Neil can harvest the cum out of my moons

Surprisingly cinematic folk sound. Very main character energy.

No thanks. Can’t do it.

I wrote an imaginary doctoral thesis on this album that hinges on a contrarian take regarding this moment in Neil's psychological and creative development, and in particular the Jungian archetypes inhabited by the album's various instruments, and specifically the recurring pedal steel guitar (voice of man) and orchestral strings (voice of god).

I love Neil Young and this album really stands the test of time for me. Something about his haunting voice combined with his lyrics (such good writing; often haunting, too, and nicely melancholic without being self-pitying) and his unique guitar playing. All comes together just so perfectly. Great album.

This is Neil Young's mainstream breakthrough, kind of like his Born in the USA, and I have similar feelings about both records. The band feels really tight on this record, and there's a great groove throughout. Songs like Alabama sound like they could have been off of Tonight's the Night and Are You Ready For the Country? sounds like it's from Everybody Knows. RE: A Man Needs A Maid discourse, I struggle with this one. Its production, like There's a World, seem wildly out of place on this record. However, for me the lyrics: "To give a love, you gotta live a love To live a love, you gotta be part of" redeem the whole song. I think it's a bit of an attempt by Neil Young to view a loving relationship as emotionless, and he has this realization partway through that it's impossible. You need to take it for the ups and the downs, not some old world patriarchal mindset. 4.5/5

This has always been one of my favorite albums, and Neil is the artist that has had the biggest influence on the modern music I most enjoy. Harvest is one of his best folk albums, loaded with great songs. Out on the Weekend is probably my favorite song on here. I just love that beat.

"This track seems kinda thin." "I hear you, what are you thinking, adding an organ or something?" "No, we need a...shoot, what's it called?" "Banjo?" "It's like a banjo.." "Mandolin?" Snorts enormous rail of 70s Colombian bam bam... "Ahhhh...London Symphony Orchestra....that's it. Get me those guys."

If you don't like this album then you don't like Neil Young. If you like Neil Young this is about as good as it gets.

I wish Neil had a manager or friend who would have just told him that the ‘man needs a maid’ song should go to the trash heap. . . Many brilliant classics rock songs on this gem. One of my favorite opening album songs of all time - you feel like your in a pick up driving down the PCH

Harvest contains probably my favorite tracks from Neil Young ("Heart of Gold" - the backing vocals from Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor are an excellent addition & "Old Man"). "The Needle and the Damage Done" is worthwhile too. I own Harvest and have listened to this album many times. Most of the tracks get 4 or 5 stars from me. I'm still not quite what to think of "A Man Needs a Maid". I would recommend this album to others.

1: Harmonicas, so many harmonicas Depression vibe, implies things but never says them. Speaks of escape and avoidance 2: slow/angst/regret/love/wanting/curiosity 3: title yikes, ugh, thin and depressing, did not like, "soundtrack" 4: more harmonica. love/searching. Nice outro 5: "soundtrack"; death 6: "railroad", nice banjo, tired/introspective/sad 7: isolation, suicidal, "soundtrack", nice instrumentals, did not like lyrics 8: nice opening, my favorite track on the album, Alabama! Gratuitous car reference, vibes 9: thin vocals, message: drugs bad. Reminds me of Beatrix Potter books? 10: guitar, revenge? Jealousy, more adult. I liked this one. Overall impression: I wanted to skip most of the album. The overall feeling it gives is "mellow depression". Almost millennial. 3/5

An undeniable milestone at Neil's impressive career. A strong contender when looking for his best record and a masterpiece from start to finish, not a single weak track. 'Heart of Gold' is one of the most beautifully sad songs ever written

This might be my favourite Neil album. I'm kinda glad he is off Spotify since it motivated me to dig up the vinyl, which is still in quite good shape, along with the hand written lyrics sheet.  Heart of Gold is a great song and may be his best selling but I think the title track with its cryptic and terribly personal lyrics is perhaps his best song ever. Harvest is also the  song from this LP that I play even though Heart Of Gold is much easier. I quite like the Stray Gators so "Are You ready for the Country" is another highlight.  No disrespect for the LSO but the LP's only real negatives are the two songs that feature the LSO. "A Man Needs A Maid" is easy not to like even before you hear it since the title is so outdated - it was already outdated on release. If you check out the sans LSO version on his Massey Hall album, recorded before Harvest was released, the song is much easier to enjoy as it is very simple with just Neil and his piano.

This is a really classic album. I decided to give it 5 stars despite Young's singing voice and the mistake that is "Every Man Needs a Maid".

He’s had so many looks over the years. This might be his most well known, and with good reason

I’m not gonna sit here and tell you it’s my favorite album, but this thing is such a classic. Feels like every folk record for 50 years has this one to thank. Neil’s voice isn’t my favorite but it’s packed with such great tunes. Ends super super strong.

I really don't like his voice, but the songs were OK, I guess. I fail to see why we have already listened to 3 Neil Young albums because I really don't feel like any of them were that spectacular.

i feel this album is heavily carried by 2 songs, heart of gold and old man, and i think old man from a pure songwriting perspective in using words to make something special its not that good. decent songs but not outstanding as an album

no internet couldn't listen

Maybe it’s genetic, like how for some people cilantro just tastes like soap. I have the gene that makes me hate Neil Young’s voice. Sorry Neil, it’s not personal. It’s science.

Harvest Dual BBC Cups! I can’t quite remember the timeline, but I think I got this in Makro with my parents, or my parents bought it in Makro and I subsequently nicked it, but I think I got into it around Christmas in the 2nd year of Durham. But I don’t know what prompted the purchase or nicking it, whether Paul already liked him, or he was on TV or I just heard this album somehow. My parents also had the BBC concert recorded off the telly, so I nicked that, which sparked off a quest to find the song Dance Dance Dance. There was scant information about it and it didnt seem to be on any albums. I remember buying Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band album because it had a song called Dance Dance Dance and I thought it might be the same one. (It’s not, but it's a great album anyway) Harvest though was the start point for Neil Young and he is one of those few artists, and this is one of the few albums that felt like a truly transcendent discovery. Not like the first bands you get into at 13, 14 or 15, but one you get into slightly older, you liked music before and after, but finding this particular artist feels significant. All my other favourite artists I was aware of in the ether growing up, The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, but with Neil my fandom just appeared one day. Without the nostalgia it’s still, of course, a fantastic album. I think I’ve said it about all the NY albums on here but this album has some of my favorite NY tracks; The yearning, desolate Out on the Weekend, the rolling Harvest, the classic and catchy Heart of Gold, the stomping Are You Ready for the Country and of course the resonant and enduring Old Man and The Needle and the Damage Done. 6 bangers. But then I also love A Man Needs A Maid, There’s a World, Alabama and Words. I also love how this was recorded, you can hear some bum notes here and there and sounds of people accidently hitting things and making noise, but it adds to the whole warm, welcoming atmosphere, despite some of the lyrical themes, alongside some of the great guest appearances and excellent playing, particularly Ben Keith and Kenny Buttrey. Oh and obligatory mention of the 4 album run from After the Gold Rush to Tonight’s the Night A bit like On the Beach I’m struggling to think of anything further to say about these songs, they’re so familiar and so well loved there’s nothing much I can add that’s worth saying. It’s great and its a 5 - Don’t Miss It! 🪡🪡🪡🪡🪡 Playlist submission: Out on the Weekend, Old Man or Needle and the Damage Done - today I choose Old Man

Quintessential Neil Young album. Bonus points for being released in the year I was born. Contains some absolute classics like Needle and the Damage Done, Heart of Gold and Old Man as well as Alabama the track that riled up Lynyrd Skynyrd

This is among the top if not the best sounding album so far (around 300 in) Just sonically the mixing is so good. Everything comes across crisp. It worked on the car stereo and headphones. Had heard about this album but never a full listen until now and it's just a solid album. I wouldn't say I'm hooked after one listen but I'll give it some more.

I had a friend in college who absolutely worshiped Neil Young, and I never really understood why, but many years later when I finally listened to this album from start to finish, I can see why he felt that way. I'm not a huge Neil Young fan, but even I know this is probably his finest complete album, and it's an amazing, and sad/poignant journey. It could be because my friend was from Utah, or maybe because of some of his album titles and the name of his frequent backing band, but I also always associate Neil Young with the American West (even though I know he's Canadian and didn't really spend a lot of time in the American or Canadian West, unless you want to count his ranch in Redwood City). Admittedly, part of that impression could be from his collaboration on Jim Jarmusch's excellent anti-Western film "Dead Man". I really like how many artists are on this album, and it's pretty cool that he was able to get the London Symphony Orchestra as well, although I do feel like "A man needs a maid" is probably one of the weaker songs on this album despite the Orchestra's participation (and possibly as a result of their contribution, as both it and "There's a world" sound more like a part of a musical or concept album than the other songs). And I had no idea that part of the reason "Harvest" is more mellow and largely acoustic was because of a horrible back injury that literally laid him low. I really like the quote on the Wikipedia entry for this album that Young wrote later: "[Harvest] put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there."

One of the best

Had to listen to this on YouTube with ads but loved it. So much heart in each track. Vocal quality is lacking but the songwriting and lyrics are great. Wonderful album.

Album #: 203 first impressions: Prior to this listen, I'd only heard "Heart of Gold" off this album; couldn't have really picked Neil Young's music out of lineup. But I feel like this is giving me a much clearer idea of who he is as an artist, how his music relates to people he was influenced by (e.g., Bob Dylan) and people he would go on to influence (I feel like this album gives Death Cab for Cutie x Avett Brothers.) after listening through: really, really impressed by the range of places I can hear the influence of this album. A quick Google search confirmed that the orchestral score on "There's a World" is sampled in the opening score of Nelly's "Hot in Her(r)e," for example. I am impressed, and frustrated with the relevance of some of the more political songs ("Alabama", to US politics, "The Needle & the Damage Done" to the opioid epidemic...) but I guess that's how you make a timeless album. post-reading reviews/wiki: I understand and respect Neil Young's perspective & why so many artists I love love him. This album is giving a "your favorite artists' favorite artist" vibe. While I 100% expected this album to be on the list (I feel like its in every (white) Dad's record collection, and cited by so many of the artists I enjoy,) I guess I wasn't fully sure what to expect from it/didn't feel compelled to check it out sooner. I assumed it wouldn't be "for" me, as a millennial Latina. And yet, this is definitely one of my favorite albums so far, 200+ albums into this project. relisten?: Sonically, v. likely. Logistically, probably less likely since his music isn't available on Spotify. I 100% respect that decision but also wish Apple Music cared more about their PC/iPhone UX/ that YouTube music was just...better. :\ If more (established) musicians had a backbone (like Neil Young!!!) we'd probably all be better for it, with more choice for music platforms. And more availability of music that is truly classic for a reason.

9/10 I don’t get why so many people hate on Neil Young like yeah, he isn’t the best musician ever, but he is still pretty darn good

I understand Neil is a polarizing artist, love him or hate. And I fucking love him and this album. There are maybe 2 songs on this album I don't love deeply. Grew up with this on rotation, own the album and play it often, just gets better with time.

Young is a classic for a reason. This albums instrumentation is iconic and has such a good mix of folk and rock and the songs with the London orchestra are so well put together. Harvest is a great ballad, man needs a maid is a heartfelt solo, and heart of gold is just a bop. Damn shame the album isn’t on Spotify because I won’t end up listening to it as much as I would like. Probably will pick it up on vinyl if I see it though

asfafas

The voice and harmonica combo will just never get old on this one. It’s just so uniquely him. Lot of hits here. Instantly takes me back to when I first heard it.

It's a great record, but not my favorite neil record. Too much of a downer to be a 5 for me. It is a very strong 4 though.

A very pleasant listen. Out on the Weekend started it off very nicely. Heart of Gold is an absolute gem. Old Man was lovely. Words (Between the Lines of Age) was a cool way to end it. Apparently Young made this mostly acoustic due to a back(?) injury he picked up on his ranch. Easy 4 stars, but the other songs, although pleasant, were not very memorable.

In the beginning I found Neil Young’s voice to sound a bit whiney but really enjoyed it by the end. My favorites were “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold”.

Never listened to Neil Young before, and was very pleasantly surprised! He's not the best singer but this was a beautiful album. Really liked the songs. They had me lost in my own little world for a while 4 ⭐️

Solid album. I have really liked the 2 Young albums even while not being the biggest fan of his voice. Great songwriter, eh?

I enjoyed this. One of my favoruite tracks that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention if Spotify plays count is There's a World. Crazy orchestration out of nowhere. Very cool. Production on this record is leagues better than what I've heard from some of his other stuff. Still not really a Neil Young fan but this was a good listen.

Ok ok, I get it! I knew more songs than I thought I would. This album feels like a National Park road trip!

Neil is a bit of a polarizing dude. Lyndyrd Skynyrd has their beef, and he's got the multi-name group. His voice is pretty distinct, and I personally can only take so much of it at a time--similar issue with John Fogerty. This album is actually really nice, not too long and has almost a flaming lips feel to it that I hadn't noticed before with either band, and makes me like Neil a bit more. When "There's a world" started I had to check my playlist to see how on earth auto-play ended up in Final Fantasy realm in the middle of the album. That was a neat song and obviously was a bit of inspiration for Uematsu-san. This was definitely a better album than I expected, pleasant surprise Favorite track "Heart of Gold" 4/5

Harvest Heart Of Gold Old Man Alabama The Needle And The Damage Done

Scorned this due to its popularity when I was at university, but it’s weirder than I thought back then. Maid is too absurd to be truly offensive and has a baroque melodrama that is bewildering. Alabama and Word have some delicious, crunchy guitar that a treat after all that hippy acoustic strum, the former sounding like it was recorded in a barn, which I like.

I used to sing along with this on my potty before I could read (along with contemporary James Taylor and John Denver albums), so you'd be wise to anticipate high marks. There are probably NY albums we'll encounter that I would have to rate 6* in comparison, so I'm throwing a 4 on par with its predecessor. As it is, good to hear again - not one I return to often, although "Harvest" itself is up there with my absolute favorite songs. He was wise to head for the ditch afterwards, but this MOR dalliance is exquisite while it lasts, if occasionally a bit overripe

I love Neil young good ole Canadian protester child. This has his two most famous dnd my two favorite songs by him on here with old man and heart of gold. I totally understand if he’s not your vibe he seems very polarizing among listeners but I’m a fan and will always throw him on. I was feeling a bit somber this afternoon and Neil fit perfectly for my mood. -B

There's a World... Paras biisi uskomaton elämys kuunnellu ennen.. ainoa tuttu biisi albumi... Songfacts®: Young felt this song was "overblown." Most critics and fans agree. Rolling Stone put the song on its Terrible Songs by Great Artists list, saying, "For some reason, Young though that the London Symphony Orchestra would mesh with his songs. The result was like a chocolate-covered cheeseburger. This is the one everyone skips when they play Harvest, even if they don't all admit it." Nonobjectivistit skipaten kappeleita.. VARMAAN OLI NEEDLE SONG lemppari.. nisti sympatia.. Olikos viides kappale heh sisäpiireinvitsi Yiungin muille pohatta veikoille...

Obvious influence on Doug Martsch from Built to Spill lyrically and stylistically. Neil's guitar playing also had an effect on Elliott Smith. On Harvest, Neil portrays a lonely character full of yearning for something real and permanent. The themes on the album remind me of James Taylor a little but something about the lyrics or delivery on this record seem a less genuine that Taylor's albums. Chock it up to Canadian aloofness? Old Man is the best song on the album.

Drugi Neil na liscie, tym razem plyta ktora wystrzelila jego kariere solowa, albumik folkowy w ktorym czuc bardzo mocno korzenie country i dumnie to prezentuje trakami takimi jak alabama czy are you ready for country, wiekszosc piosenek jest okolo romantyczna i jakies watki milosne musi zawierac, ale sa une ubrane w youngowy balladowy styl opowiadania historii, ciekawy jest takze trak theres a world, ktorego instrumentale sa dosc oderwane od reszty albumiku, brzmi od jak cos co mogloby byc openingiem epickiej sagi galaktycznej, a nie kawalkiem z harvesta, tak sie rozdrabniam na pojedycznce piosenki, a materialu tylko 37 minut, wiec do przesluchania na raz, do kolekcji plejkowej dodaje the needle and the damage done, czyli traczek ktory idealnie pasuje na tonights the night, a znalazl sie tutaj i to jeszcze w wersji live nagrywanej na koncercie barowym

👍🏽

I don’t really like Neil’s voice, but it’s a decent enough album with some songs I know.

A couple of good classics but the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to them

I remember being so excited for this to come out during my junior year of high school, after Neil’s first 3 albums were so great, especially 2 and 3, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, and After the Gold Rush. The pre-album release single, Heart of Gold, was pretty decent. Then I got it soon after it came out and while I liked it, it was disappointing compared to the others — weaker, slower, songs, comparative lack of flashy guitar work. After the musically great track Southern Man on ATGR, to then get another Southern USA diss-track here, Alabama, seemed a bit much for a guy from Canada. Hooray for Lynyrd Skynyrd for taking Neil down on Sweet Home Alabama. Like Rod Stewart and Van Morrison, Neil had 3-4 great albums to start their solo careers, and then things became so-so (or worse) after that.

Decent album, better than I expected. Will listen to more Neil young in the future

A near perfect folk-rock album from the 70s. It's the simply yet elegantly beautiful track Harvest that scores most of the points in this record for me. The cinematic orchestral swells in songs like A man needs a maid (??) and There's a world feels unnecessary. Alabama was a banging rocker. The outro track with the piano was good. Overall, it's just....good.

The songs are great, but I still wish someone was singing them other than Neil Young.

While I think Young is at his best live (my favorite of his albums are Weld, Rust Never Sleeps, and Live at Massey Hall 1971), this is my favorite of his studio albums. Harvest is Young at his most tender, and I think his most understandable. While I love the impacts of ecology on society and vice versa that After the Gold Rush discusses, I don’t claim to understand those lyrics nearly as well as on Harvest. “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man” are justifiably some of Young’s best and most recognizable songs, and “The Needle and the Damage Done” is one of my favorites. While Harvest might feature Neil Young sounding a lot like Bob Dylan (even Dylan thought so), I also think Young’s lyrics here are by far the most straightforward: relatable while still being poetic and containing great folk guitar and acoustic instrumental backing.

Decent

Very folksy and cozy. Not sure why it was the top album of 1972. I’m glad Neil Young’s vocals were as weirdly pitched. Maybe his vocals got weirder and more distinct as he got older…

it's alright

chills me out in a good way. kinda like the annoying brother you never had.

Stop me if you've heard this one before - interesting lore behind this album. You can nearly hear the winced pain of Young's ailing back through the recordings, but there's a bit of edge, a bit of bitterness and melancholy that elevates the end product. The downside of the more subdued approach is that there's nowhere for the oft-lackluster vocals to hide ("Are You Ready for the Country" is unbearable). The tracks with the London Symphony Orch bring a different, yet welcome, flavor from Neil's usual aural language. Not my favorite of his works. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: Heart of Gold

I was only previously familiar with Heart of Gold by Neil Young. Having now listened to more, I have to admit I’m not desperate to listen again. Not awful though.

the second star is for not *entirely* filling me with contempt

Somehow it feels like I've listened to this album a dozen times for various foolish little projects, which doesn't make sense because besides this project the only music one I've done is to listen to Rolling Stone's top 100 albums off their 500-album list. Harvest is on there, but I think the problem is that so are 2-3 other albums, and there are at least 2-3 other albums on here too, and I just don't care for Neil Young that much. This album contains some of his most Kermit Thee Frog vocals along with songs that just don't strike me as endearing. Of course you want a maid. Just pick up your fucking socks, Neil

middlin

Not for me.

10/10

10/10

Neil is just amazing, anything below 5 stars would be a crime!

Oh ça sonne doux à mon oreille

I grew up listening to Harvest and I have loved this album for years, but listening to it again through the lens of this project reminded me why it’s such an enduring part of the musical canon. Released in 1972, it easily became the best-selling album in the U.S. that year and introduced Neil Young’s fragile, aching voice to a broader audience. My understanding is that folks were just pretty damn tired after the craziness of the late '60s, and they were looking for music that was a little more palatable. This blending of country, folk, and rock captures a specific moment in time when people were feeling restless, disillusioned, and raw. It’s an album that feels weary but honest, offering comfort without pretending everything’s okay. And even though Harvest is mired in the cultural and social upheaval that marked that time in history, it still manages to feel timeless. What sets Harvest apart isn't just its sound but its emotional directness. There’s a sense of weariness and sincerity that underpins even its quietest tracks. The recording process was famously scattered, with some songs tracked in Nashville, others in London with a full orchestra, and some recorded live on the spot. That mix of polish and imperfection works in the album’s favor, adding a feeling of intimacy and vulnerability. It was really interesting to revisit some of the themes of these songs and the album’s cultural context. The standout moments for me are “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man,” “Alabama,” and especially “The Needle and the Damage Done.” The latter is a devastating, stripped-down reflection on heroin addiction. Young wrote it about his friend and Crazy Horse bandmate Danny Whitten, who would die of an overdose later that year. Captured in a live acoustic performance, the song's rawness was striking in 1972 and remains so today. It was one of the first major rock songs to confront the cost of drug addiction so directly, paving the way for future artists to deal openly with loss and substance abuse. This song will strike a chord with anyone who has dealt with addiction in any context, especially opiates. One of the most significant cultural moments surrounding Harvest came from the backlash to “Alabama.” Along with his earlier track “Southern Man,” Young was openly criticizing racism in the American South. This didn’t sit well with some Southern audiences and prompted a now-famous response from Lynyrd Skynyrd in “Sweet Home Alabama,” with the line: “I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don’t need him around anyhow.” But instead of escalating the conflict, the artists expressed mutual respect. Young admitted that “Alabama” lacked nuance, and Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant often wore a Neil Young shirt onstage. That quiet reconciliation is one of the most interesting and respectful musical conversations of the era. Harvest doesn’t always land perfectly, but that imperfection is easily part of its charm. It’s emotional and sincere, a record that captures personal and cultural unease without ever losing its melodic heart. And it sounds so great on vinyl!

I have my mom’s old vinyl and listen to this one when I want to feel a little happy and a little sad at the same time.

Neil Young is always great. And this album is one of his bests, if not his best.

I love this, but I fully admit there are some weird songs on here. You have the beautiful simplicity of songs like Old Man and Heart of Gold, then "Bam!" a full on orchestra out of nowhere in There's a World. Eclectic, but great.

Crazy pull

It’s always a pleasure to spend time in the company of this one. For this listen, I dug out the posh headphones, gave it the Dolby Atmos treatment and soaked up every second. It’s the same age as me but has worn considerably better. Timeless really. A wonderful record.

Old school, but still great... 4.5 stars

One of the best folk albums ever. Not my first listen I love Neil young

incredible from start to finish

Classic album! Brings me good memories. Love all the songs.

Good ol folk tuneage

This is an awesome album. Out on the Weekend is a jam, as is Heart of Gold, Are you Teady for the Country, Old Ma, Needle, and Words. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 80/144

Have always loved this album. However, after listening again to it I realized I like Harvest Moon even more.

10/10 Neil is goated. This album was a beautiful piece of art showing his songwriting, composition, and vocal skills in a tour de force in my opinion. Favorite Song: Old Man (maybe top 20 all time song)

I believe there is little left to be say about Neil Young's "Harvest" that has not already been written. So I will simply say that this is, without a doubt, my favourite album by Young.

Timeless masterpiece. 5 stars!

One of the best albums Neil ever penned. Phenomenal balance of heartfelt and hopeful folk tunes with gut wrenching and cautionary tales. I love Harvest its a great balance and showcases how good of an artist neil was

More good Neil. Unlike a few of the others, I’ve listened to this one a bunch of times and always considered it my favourite Neil Young album. It’s probably a bit of an overrate, but I think Neil deserves a 5 star as a career achievement award

4.5 Wonderfully written collection of songs. There is Live at Massey Hall album that was released in the mid 2000s that had a lot of these songs on there just before they came out in 72. Great solo performance

Neil's masterpiece. Old Man and Heart of Gold make him a legend forever. Loved this. Really cinematic.

Classic

Epochal 70’s (or post sixties if you will) singer-songwriter that captured the zeitgeist and made Neil Young a star forever