Harvest

Old man

Something so earnest about this blend of country and southern rock with Young's vocal... normally not that much of my cup of tea, but I have to admire it here

totally masterpiece

Up front : 5/5. I’m not sure what guys with guitars would do without Neil Young, and without this album in particular. I mean, who puts “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold” and “Harvest” on the same album?! Crazy! And a couple of new favorites “Out on the Weekend” and (upon further, more mature (if I do say so…) listening) “A Man needs a Maid”, thrown in. Albums don’t come much better than this! And even, on an inspired further listen to their colab “Zuma” another extra “Lookin for a Love”.

A perfect album. I’ve listened to this so many times and still keep coming back. Beautiful.

Outstanding start to finish.

One of the greatest albums to ever come out

Amazing album, mellow and beautiful the whole way through, includes my favorite song of his, "Old Man".

A 10/10 album for me

This is a perfect album. 'Harvest' is one of the most beautiful songs ever.

Great album. And is always the case with this standard of album, no filler.

Stunning

own

One of my all-times. 5

Every song a banger even, surprisingly, the orchestral There's A World. Perfect songs for the golden light of a mellow afternoon.

I love this album! Alabama is great, and it led to sweet home Alabama, which is complicated, and that led to all summer long, which sucks, but idk if I can hold Neil here accountable for that.

Fabulous

Probably a top 50 all timer album.

Easy 5/5 for me fucking love this album, no skips, every second. 5/5 Best Song: The Needle And The Damage Done

What can you fucking say

An absolute classic. Beautiful song writing, gorgeous melodies. So, so good.

- .... another bum on the perfect list. -

Une très belle découverte, j’ai passé un très bon moment en écoutant cet album!

Not 1 bad song and a lot of real classics!

So chill, so relaxing. Feels like I'm listening to a musical at times. Incredible!! Beautiful.

Great

This album is like a friend. And all the songs are my friends as well.

Such a good album! Classic neil young! My favorite of his!

Gateway drug Neil Young! Love every song on here. Yes, even the bombastic chorale bits. Easy 5/5

Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: A Man Needs A Maid, Old Man, The Needle and the Damage Done Second Neil Young Album (technically Neil Young and Crazy Horse). This album is great, but also kind of weird. It has like acoustic compositions juxtaposed with orchestral, cinematic ones. For example, going into Old Man, you've got a pretty down to earth acoustic song and that's immediately followed up by this hugely dramatic gong, chimes/bells and keyboard intro to There's a World. A Man Needs A Maid is similar in this regard; the music itself has an overly-dramatic quality to it. It's a good thing. It really breaks up what could otherwise be a largely acoustic/acoustic-sounding set of songs. I can't decide what to make of A Man Needs A Maid.. Is it sexist to need a maid because you're too much of a mook to take care of yourself? Is it elitist for similar reasons? Or is there some deeper meaning about pitifully being unable to take care of ones self and needing a maid to clean your house and make you dinner? I am not sure. It's still a good song; it makes you think. Alabama is another track I'm not so sure about. Is it political? There's some bits at the end of the song that make me think its a criticism of the state for... well, lets just say the state isn't winning many awards from a societal, economical, public works or educational perspective. "I come to you and see all this ruin / What are you doing Alabama? / You got the rest of the union to help you along" With the last line being an implication that Alabama is part of the United States and it doesn't have to go it alone. But I could just be missing some point entirely. I am not generally familiar with the state. Edit: Still listening to this Neil Young album and others months after I first listened to them from the List. Bumping this up to a 5

Lovely, mellow and warm. Some of Neil's best songs on here.

At his storytelling and musical best

An undeniable 5 star album with 5 great (albeit slow) songs. Easily his best album.

Gorgeous, classic, really makes you feel something.

A favorite. With Harvest Moon.

Day585 - my favorite neil young album. great songs and good memories from this.

Des pépites Heart of Gold, Old Man et Words. La voix de Neil Young m'embarque "entre les lignes" de la vie tout simplement.

Kan var Neil Youngs mest ostiga men fy satan var bra den är

All time classic.

Neil doing a somewhat more commercial version of country rock but still doing it very Neil paid off. Not my favorite of his 70s canon but everything is strong. The bizarre piano ballads backed by a bombastic London Philharmonic Orchestra ate such an interesting texture in the context of the rest of the album.

Hands down, one of the best albums of all time. 🌾✨ (ignoring A Man Needs a Maid)

C'mon, it's a 5. It's one of the best albums all-time. Do I like After The Gold Rush better? Yes. But that doesn't mean this isn't also a 5. What a run this guy had in the early 70's!

what a goddam classic, every song hit

I literally had him two days ago r u kidding. Anyway. When I was about 6 (so not that long ago really) I first heard Neil Young on the radio. I didn’t really like his music, and I turned to my mum, a big fan of his, and asked “mummy, why does he sound like Miss Piggy?” To this day, I still refer to him as Miss Piggy. 12 years later and after listening to this album and watching his Glastonbury set on the TV, I would like to retract my statement. This album was honestly incredible, I loved it. The songs were really good and I enjoy his sound. But please don’t give me all 40 of his albums. I’m not sure if I can take that much. 5/5

10/10 no notes great album. I've listened on vinyl! Excellent album

One of my favourites. Though next time someone says that men aren't emotional, I'm sending them to this album

Not my favorite Young album, but undeniably very solid.

This is one of the greatest albums ever made. Can’t fault it and is for me an all timer

Peaceful and pleasing to listen to album! Absolutely beautiful! Loved so fucking much!

Great album.

What a whiny guy

Great listen! One to listen to start to finish with a cool beer on a sunny day. Not a skip start to finish

Nice! I never got into Neil, maybe because a lot of his music is very different than this. Great songs, too bad he did not like the success they generated.

One of the greatest albums period.

Oh THAT's why people love Neil Young

GOATED

An incredible album. When listening to 'On the beach' I thought: maybe I like this even better than 'Harvest'. No I don't. The problem of this album might be 'Heart of gold'. Every normal human being simply heard that song too many times. By the way, it's far from the best song of the album that's so much drowned in melancholy. There are so many highlights: opener 'Out on the weekend', the title track, 'A man needs a maid', 'Alabama', 'The needle and the damage done' and closer 'Words'. All of these tracks would probably be the best track on most albums. But not on this one. Because there's 'Old man'. That might be the most beautiful song I know. And yes, indeed, 'Out on the country' and to a lesser extent 'There 's a world' are a bit less fantastic than the rest. It's forgiven.

I know this album. It's great! Classic!!

Great album and still nice to listen to.

An absolute classic album from Old Shakey. Truly worthy of 5 stars.

This, in my opinion, is his best album. So many great tunes on here. I could name them, but it's track 1 through 10. The Needle and the Damage Done is the best. I'm really not a Neil Young fan, but I can't deny this one. This gets a 5.

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. This has some classics and just an all around cohesive vibe. Has been a top Neil Young record for me for a long time and was probably the first one I ever listened to front to back. It’s an all time classic with no real fillers.

Excellent solo album with some classic songs. All of the background vocals are great. Nice to have all of your friends (Linda Ronstadt, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and others) help out!

Wonderful. The songs with orchestration were a little jarring in the context of the rest of the album, but overall Neil Young knocked it out of the park with this one. I love that CSN, James Taylor, and Linda Ronstadt featured in vocals throughout album, making it clear that Neil had grand visions for this body of work. Given how gentle so many of these songs are, I also loved that he left us with a scorcher on "Words" to make sure we didn't forget about how hard he can rock.

I know this is Neil’s best selling record and the best selling album of 1972, but it’s actually one of the ones I listen to the least. Great record, and it might be perfect if not for the inclusion of “A Man Needs A Maid”. Not a great song, weird message… it’s a shame it’s smack dab in the middle of Side A. Would be easier to overlook if it ended the album. This may be the only of his albums I’ll give less than 5 stars, but rounded up from 4.5 so I guess it doesn’t really count.

Brilliant 4.95/5

Forgot about how jammed packed this one was with keepers!

This album and a campfire would go hard. Highs: Old Man, Alabama, Words Lows: A Man Needs a Maid

Wonderful album. Every track is a winner.

One of my favourite albums of all time.

5=5

Imperfect classic

Listened at home after long day at work. Familiar with album as I own a copy on cd but not a frequent listener. Really enjoyed rediscovering it. Real sense of drama in some tracks, unexpectedly with full strings, but throughout the sense of americana and folk tinged rock is irresistible. Another classic, will listen again soon.

Flott album. Starter litt lunkent, men tar seg fort opp. Orkestralnumrene er litt så som så, men Heart of Gold og hele b-siden trekker resten av albumet opp til nærmere topp-score

Classic early Young.

brimming with heart, grace, wisdom and grit. flawless. needs to be played loud highs: everything, but the last 3 tracks flow so nicely lows: maid is a little bit pathetic/icky but ig thats the point - still enjoy it tho

Great to listen again, natural recording

4,5jhjj

Nice

My wife always says that Neil Young is the greatest of all time. At least, that's what I think she means when she says he sounds like a goat! :-) Whatever you might think of his voice, the power of these songs is undeniable. Wonderfully written, produced, and performed, this album absolutely has to be in the conversation for greatest of its era.

The damage done

Just wanna toss on a flannel, throw down a Pendleton blanket and sit by the campfire with this record.

Endelig

Itte dåli.

It has been just recently that I have come to appreciate Neil Young's music. This album is a masterpiece. Heart of Gold, Are You Ready for the Country?, Old Man, Alabama, the Needle and the Damage Done are all amazing songs. As they say, all killer, no filler. You can hear Young's influence on other musicians over the years and you can still hear it in music today. Amazing album.

Folky, wandering between southern rock and dramatic/orchestral leanings. Excellent variety

Maybe I’m getting soppy with age but this was flawless. Some of the best songs ever written with Old Man, damage done and heart of gold. Stunning

Harvest has my favorite Neil Young song, Heart Of Gold. I get it's his most popular and well-known song, but I just find it really captivating and beautifully written. Some other favorites of mine on here were the title track Harvest, Old Man (almost up there with Heart Of Gold), There's A World, and Alabama. I thought the meaning behind Man Needs A Maid was a bit strange, but I found that the word "maid" is not in the context of a working woman so now it makes more sense. Although I prefer Neil's more grungy/hard rock stuff to this album that features more folksy/country songs, I found this really enjoyable and easy to listen to. This was really good all the way through. As for grading, this lands at 4.5 (high 4, low 5). I think the strength of Heart Of Gold and Old Man helps push this to low 5 territory for me.

Elite album on every level. Neil is a musical genius.

Honestly, I loved this. I loved the orchestral aspects that you would never expect from this kind of album. The rock/folk/country/and classical mixture was done extremely well. And I already liked Neil Young, I like his vocals and his lyrics. So yeah, really good.

I have never listened to Neil Young before this. I really wonder why I haven't because this was some damn good music. It knows perfectly when to rock and when to be somber. So many emotions were put into this album. Its one of those albums that you ca just feel the beauty of. Lovely time will listen again.

I mean, it's not On the Beach but it's pretty damn good. "The Needle and the Damage Done" is devastatingly honestly gorgeously painful to listen to. Easily a classic 5 star record.

Overall: 10/10 This album is incredible. It's easily Neil's peak, not only as a songwriter but as a vocalist. His voice sounds so good on this album, especially on songs like Old Man and The Needle and the Damage Done. I honestly can't believe how many great songs are on this one. This is my 5th Neil Young related album since I've started doing this and I've come to really appreciate how great his career was. Fav Song: Old Man Least Fav Song: A Man Needs a Maid

Come on now

It was 39 days since my last five star record, which may (or may not be, I obviously haven't checked) be the longest fallow period I've had. Anyway, it's broken in spectacular style by the Beloved Neil's Harvest. My record copy of this is my mum's, and is exceptionally battered and bruised, yet still plays perfectly. It feels like that's the best possible way to hear this. One sign of how good this album is, is that it's equally good at 3am or 3pm, or 8am or 8pm. The consistency of the album is one thing that really stands out, both of its quality and its emotional tone. Picking a favourite is really hard, and I've gone with the one that sticks most in my head every time I hear it.

I mean this album has no misses, if that isn’t perfect I don’t know what is.

Tämä on herran paras levy, vaikka hyviä ovat muutkin. Tarinankertoja vailla vertaa. Asetan jantterin legendat laariin. Vanhaa kunnon kuistikantria. 🪑🪕

Greatest. Werd ich nie vergessen kibbut reim. An der wand. Keeps me searching for the heart of gold

10/10

10/10

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

Oh ça sonne doux à mon oreille

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

C'mon.

Not my favorite Neil Young album but it's up there. Do I love the heavier rock with Crazy Horse more, yeah, but this is iconic Neil right here doing what he does best.

Neil was prolific in the 70s, Harvest being his most commercial sounding album and most successful, to me a perfect blend of acoustic Singer-songwriter meets country/pop. It's an iconic record and a certain 5 star. Production is so clean on this one and although Neil isn't the strongest singer it holds up well for me.

I liked it a lot while on the train

Not much of a fan of the sound.

Love this album. Own it.

Perfect. Every song.

Not a bundle of laughs, but beautiful. If only he could sing!

I love an introspective and honest album. Many songs really touched my heart. Music wise, lots of interesting instruments (love banjo in old man), beautiful melodies, etc. This album has cleansed me. At some point I just wanted to say “Thank you, Neil Young”.

I like Neil Young a lot. I don’t know a ton by him but he was always on the radio when I grew up. It’s ingrained in me and so this album hit. I think I am hesitant to give a 5 just because my list of 5’s is so small but I don’t have a single complaint about it. It felt cohesive yet still interesting and unique from song to song. A strong 4 and a slightly generous 5.

Old mannnnn

This was awesome. I’ve heard a few of the songs, but never consciously listened. So many good songs!

I loved the lyrics and the singing.

A true classic, it still sounds as great as it did the the first time!

One of the greatest

What a motherfucker of an album. Pop country rock that noted corporate bitches the Eagles could study forever and never match. Weird ass symphonic overblown stuff like There's a world and Maid. Straight ahead Youngish protogrunge rockers. A protest song that he later apologized for but shouldn't have. (I'm from Alabama and as time goes on it becomes clearer that the racist fats should be given less of a break not more). Like nevermind, every song is distinct after first listen, plus catchy, memorable and serves the whole.

Why my wife stabs me. (27 known/55 new)

Still my favorite Neil studio album after all these years. Every song feels like a warm hug, even the more rocking ones. 5/5

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5 Yes, five stars. You can’t improve on a record that already sounds like it was made in the backseat of a broken pickup truck driving through rural heartbreak. ⸻ The Sound: Harvest is what happens when folk, country, and rock all sit around a fire and quietly fall apart together. It’s got that lo-fi authenticity you can’t fake—half of it sounds like it was recorded in a barn because, fun fact, it was. Literal barn acoustics. He invented the Spotify “cabin-core” playlist before playlists were a thing. Standouts: • “Heart of Gold” — Yes, it’s the hit. Yes, it’s still good. Go cry in your car like the rest of us. • “Old Man” — Neil Young’s gentle roast of future-him. • “The Needle and the Damage Done” — Two minutes of “let me quietly devastate your spirit.” • “A Man Needs a Maid” — So vulnerable it’s almost awkward. Like reading someone’s journal but with orchestral strings. Why It Matters: Because this album isn’t trying to impress you. It’s not overproduced. It’s not trendy. It’s just… true. You can hear the wood in the guitar. You can hear the ache in Neil’s voice. It’s the audio version of someone slowly lighting a cigarette, pausing, then going, “…yeah.” ⸻ Final Verdict: Harvest is like emotional compost—rich, earthy, sad, and necessary. If you don’t give it five stars, that’s fine. Just don’t talk to me about your taste in music ever again.

Chill

One of my favorite albums. Used to play on repeat for me at one time.

lol not to be like "woah this Neil Young guy is pretty good" but like holy smokes. I sort of imagine that he's one of those weirdos who even at his best will end up with some weird misses. I really don't get the whole "Man Needs a Maid" thing. The godfather of grunge thing is interesting, feel like he's arguably more influential now (or I guess maybe 2000s indie rock) (the godfather of grunge thing might just come from the fact that he released an album in 1992 and like Eddie Vedder is a big fan) (but like Vedder loves all the classic rock guys). The idea that a sort of banjo country-popish number could coexist with a sweeping piano ballad featuring French Horn and Oboe. (Literally Sufjan snagged the whole banjo approach to Casimir Pulaski day from "Old Man"). Just feels like a lot of genuinely surprising changes to his sound over the course of the album but the songwriting never wavers.

Who doesn't love some Neil Young. Great Sunday chill album.

I love this album and I'm glad it came up early

Another five for Neil. How could I not! Listened on the original vinyl copy I’ve borrowed (permanently) from my mum. Just a masterclass in songwriting. Also Heart of Gold is the only song I can play (badly) on harmonica and guitar.

solid classic album. multiple hits

Favorite Track: Old Man

Neil Young has always been somewhat on the sidelines for me. Someone I knew, some of whose songs I knew. But not someone front and centre in my life. This changes today. This is an album full of amazing songs, beautifully played and beautifully sung. Yes there are a couple of "filler" tracks. And surprisingly one of these comes early on with the title track "Harvest". What a waste of time. And then "There's a World" later on. But overall this is an album it would pain me to lose, and more than earns its 5 stars. The Needle and the Damage Done is wonderful. Old Man runs round your head for days after you hear it. And Heart of Gold is possibly the *best song ever written*. For me Heart of Gold holds a special place in my own heart, as for me this is my good friend Charlie Knox-Vydmanov's song. For me, he and Heart of Gold are one and the same; we can't see or hear one without thinking of the other. (And his version definitely rivals the original!)

essential

I know a lot of Neil Young fans are not a big fan of harvest. I’ve heard it called Neil Young light. But this is my favorite Neil Young album.

just so fucking good its not fair, timeless fr. pack it in and buy a pickup

Mainly just for Old Man

Magic

Sometimes an album is so classic, so timelessly excellent, you really can’t say much about it. This is not my favorite Neil Young record by a mile, but I think it’s his most essential, and maybe his best point of entry. You get a little bit of everything– weird long-winded proto-grunge cuts with strange guitar solos, gorgeous acoustic songs that transcend time, grumpy old man country songs, and even orchestral compositions. This list has turned me not only into a Neil Young fan, but an all-out Neil Young stan. I’ve fallen in love with his music so much, in fact, that I broke my rule and listened to Harvest (a would-be first time listen) before it came up in the generator, all because I found a copy in the record bin for $7 a few months ago. Now that it finally came up through the generator, even though I already knew I liked this record, this listen solidified that I truly love it. This list has also taught my wife that she absolutely hates Neil Young. Pray for her today.

Always great

Collection

One of the best albums ever

Really fantastic album with some iconic songs.

Absolute the best album in my opinion by Neil Young. I like the music in the 70s and I love the songs even more today.

Это очень хорошо записанный альбом звучит ,как будто он был записан в 2000х,5 из 5,автор генний

Overproduced for no reason at times ("A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World") and a damn near perfect album. "Words" is a great closer and the production is so clean and crisp.

Heart of Gold has to one of the greatest songs ever written. I have always loved Neil Young and Harvest is, rightfully so, considered as one of his greatest albums. I even stuck with him through his 80's use of the vocoder! Neil Young has always had a distinctive voice and many not like it but I think people cannot discount his wonderful songwriting talents.

It’s Harvest

re-listening for a more fair assessment Out on the Weekend - 5/5 Harvest - 4/5 A Man Needs a Maid - 4/5 Heart of Gold - 5/5 Are You Ready for the Country? - 3/5 Old Man - 5/5 There's a World - 4/5 Alabama - 5/5 The Needle and the Damage Done - 5/5 Words (Between the Lines of Age) - 5/5 Average score: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i liked this album just fine my 1st listen, but it took an additional try since then to really appreciate the artistry of it and change my mind on a couple tracks i didn't like. i initially didn't like Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid or There's a World my first time hearing them, but the beauty of these tracks grew on me after giving them another chance

A touchstone for the iconoclast. It almost plays as a survey of his career to date, jangly folk meets hard rocking tunes. Social commentary and ellusive personal statements. And of all the great songs here, The Needle and the Damage Done is the best song he ever wrote, a heartbreaking song that is staggeringly beautiful.

Just a phenomenal album. First Neil Young album I'd seriously listened to, even though Heart Of Gold was inescapable.

i am a neil young fan and this is one of my favorites (not a hot take). although i don't think it's his strongest endeavor, it has some of his best songs on here ('heart of gold,' 'old man,' 'alabama,' 'needle and the damage done,' and 'words'). there are a couple of tracks on here that are sort of misses (specifically the two orchestral tracks that don't really fit in and are two of the lesser songs on the album). that all said, when all's said and done, it's a pretty great album, and an album that i do adore at the end of the day. a formative album, for sure, and one i will listen to for a long, long time.

Good listen. The album flows nicely and has good instrumentals and vocal work. 'Heart of Gold' was my favorite from this album.

GOD

9.5/10 It's Neil. Has some of his best songs. But the dynamic shifts with the Jack Nietzche produced tracks can be jarring, be prepared to be twisting that volume knob

This is probably more like a 4.5 for me - the great songs are truly great, plaintive and haunting and universal, but there are a few misses too. But I love Neil Young.

Most albums would be happy to have one career defining hit on them. Harvest has three.

This is one of those albums that I start hearing in my mind when I think back on my early 20s. Back when I moved across the country and had to figure out what living as an adult meant.

Such an easy 5

A stone-cold classic. Plus I have a huge soft spot for the guitar solo on the closing track.

Great album. One of Neil’s best.

Lovely.

Somehow Neil Young improved on After the Gold Rush and perfected his music with Harvest. The songwriting is incredible to hear on this album and there are moments when both the lyrics and instrumentals (specifically the guitar) work perfectly together. This album has no bad songs is consistent throughout. Harvest is a necessary addition to the list! Favorite songs: Out on the Weekend, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Are Your Ready For the Country, *Old Man, Alabama, The Needle and the Damage Done, Words (Between the Lines of Age)

Grandiose !

Albums like Harvest make you wonder how something so seemingly effortless can carry such immense emotional weight. It’s an album that feels as though it was plucked straight from the air, a collection of songs that existed long before Neil Young ever recorded them, just waiting to be captured. There’s a purity to Harvest—a rare combination of vulnerability, simplicity, and depth that few artists have ever achieved. From the dusty warmth of "Out on the Weekend" to the aching sorrow of "The Needle and the Damage Done," every song feels like a conversation with the past, present, and future all at once. It’s music that doesn’t try too hard, yet leaves an imprint that never fades. What makes Harvest even more remarkable is its production. Recorded in a barn in California with a mobile studio, the album has an organic, unpolished sound that only adds to its intimacy. The lush string arrangements on tracks like “A Man Needs a Maid” and “There’s a World” might feel grandiose in contrast to the album’s rustic charm, but instead of clashing, they highlight Young’s delicate balance between fragility and ambition. The production choices—using sparse, raw instrumentation, the occasional imperfections in Young’s voice, the unmistakable warmth of analog tape—make Harvest feel alive. It’s not overproduced, nor does it sound like a product of its time; it sounds like it was meant to exist in every era. That’s why Harvest is truly timeless. Decades later, it still resonates just as deeply as it did in 1972. The themes of love, loss, longing, and mortality are universal, and Young’s delivery—gentle, weary, and filled with unguarded honesty—ensures the songs never feel distant. Whether it’s being rediscovered by new generations or cherished by those who grew up with it, Harvest remains a touchstone for anyone seeking music that feels real. It’s the kind of album that meets you wherever you are in life, reflecting your joys, your heartbreaks, your hopes. Some records are classics because they defined a moment in time. Harvest is a classic because it exists outside of time.

Great album full of emotion and discontent

Amazing.

Perfection 5/5

I loved it 💚

Another classic. What’s underrated about Young is that he incorporates so many musical styles/genres into his sound and makes them something unique. There’s a marvelous orchestral piece on here that sits with folk-rock, country and blues. Amid the classic songs is a remarkable catalog of Americana. ITV’s timeless .

insanely good with a ramp up from the 4th song towards the end.

Of course I loved it!

Neil Young at the absolute peak of his acoustic country-folk period (he'd have many more peaks) where he couldn't write a bad song, except maybe There's a World. It's ingrained in my psyche; it reminds me of a fond period in life. What else do you want from an album?

Already loved this obviously. Great songs, simple but with clever little details (the opening chords on Old Man, the time signature stuff on Words), singing vulnerable and powerful, sparse arrangements often but also the fucking London Philharmonic. Noticed for the first time that the bass on the chorus of Out On The Weekend only plays one note. Genius

Great! I loved it! In fact I went straight back to the beginning when it ended the first time!

Incredible. Really cinematic and heartfelt. nice compact length. peak

A big favorite of mine. So many great tracks on here, I can't start listing them or I'd list most of the album. Once exception: I've always hated and skipped "A Man Needs a Maid" because I've taken the lyrics at face value, and it seemed just awful. Listening this time prompted me to google it, and it seems I've been misinterpreting it. It's still by far my least favorite track on the album, but at least I won't be skipping it from now on.

Most guys my age I know first got into this album when they found their dad's old record collection in the basement storage in late high school or college. Like the actual song "Old Man", it's one of those male generational bridging albums that connects with young men who feel like old souls and actual old men alike. My only criticism is that what could simply remain a folksy southern rock album however gets elevated at points by the occasional orchestral elements, which always felt a bit grandiose for this collection with their barn-jam photoshoots. It's got those creative decisions that can be a bit much, but at the end of the day, what's the use in arguing with the old man about it.

Tja, ga je dit een 5 geven omdat het een klassieker is en vertrouwd in het gehoor ligt? Feit is dat het allemaal prachtig klinkt, mooie melodielijnen, geen instumentje teveel ook al wordt er af en toe toch een blik violen opengetrokken. Bovendien ga ik Neils direct herkenbare stem steeds meer waarderen. Een relaxt tempo, af en toe mag het een beetje rocken, ik vind het allemaal heel goed gedaan en prettig in balans.

Samen met After the Gold Rush, vind ik Harvest de beste plaat van Neil Young. Aangezien we zo ongeveer zijn complete ouevre voorgeschoteld krijgen in onze geliefde en gehate snoblijst, heb ik hier eerder al op moeten voorsorteren qua rating. Voor dit album heb ik namelijk de 5 sterren bewaard. Hier krijgen we de mooiste liedjes van Neil Young te horen. Ja, hij zingt niet perfect, maar hij weet wel een emotie over te brengen. De begeleiding is soms niet meer dan een akoestische gitaar, maar dat toont maar dat de beste liedjes heel simpel kunnen zijn. Mijn favoriete nummers staan met name op kant twee, met het bekende "Old Man", het provocerende (althans vanuit de ogen van Lynyrd Skynyrd gezien) "Alabama" en het bittere en tragische "Needle and the Damage Done". Kippenvel.

Love this album.

Genius

BIG fan of this album, what a masterpiece. What a surprise as well. I’m someone who is only really familiar with Sweet Caroline… little did I know that man who wrote that timeless pop/ party hit could also be so raw, reflective and insightful. This album feels very of its time, and sounds of a man challenging those of his generation to look outside of themselves. It does not surprise me to see that the president of the time was Richard Nixon after a quick Google. The angst expressed is familiar, yet communicated in such a unique manner. His voice, his lyrics, the timbre, all of this album is incredible and I’m officially a Neil Young fan.

I rock HEAVY with folk-rock artists like the great Neil Young since that’s what I grew up listening to (thanks, Dad). Neil’s voice is so nostalgic for me so I’m likely biased, but I love his music. I also feel like this is the first album we’ve heard where we don’t have to strain to actually hear the lyrics lol. Out on the Weekend is a great start of album song, it starts slow but sets the tone and the beautiful harmonica moments are just great. Harvest, the title of the album, is slow and wonderful, allowing Neil’s voice to shine. A Man Needs a Maid brings the drama with the orchestra. Heart of Gold has a great acoustic sound with the harmonica and vocals. Are you Ready for the Country? is a great song with the fun piano and uplifting percussion. Old Man slows down again and becomes a sad ode to aging, but the banjo brings soul to the song. There’s a World is such a great song. It really feels like you’re going on a journey as you listen and I find the drama of the song so beautiful… god I never thought I’d ever say this but… I love Alabama! It’s got a great melody with the powerful electric guitar and vocals setting the tone. The Needle and the Damage Done was a beautiful song but the clapping at the end to the immediate cut to Words was strange lol. Words was a great end of album song, with a somber lyrical performance contrasted by the powerful guitar and percussion. Man I’m so biased but I love the album - 5/5! Fave Song: There’s a World Least Fave Song: A Man Needs a Maid

Frankli, cut There's a World and it's a 6 There's only time and space to list the ✅✅✅✅s and up: Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama (✅✅✅✅✅), Words (Between The Lines of Age)

NEILLLLLL YESSSS NEIL NEIL NEIL

Oh hell yea. Incredible album. And to think this Tuesday morning in mid December I was sitting here just feeling kind of "bleh" and not super motivated to get started on my daily record spin and review. I adore this album. The sound is warm, and rounded; this idea bolstered by the title itself, and visualized on the album cover with it's soft orange and tan colors. The dry bass and snare drums, the softly strummed acoustic guitars, Neil's unique yet inviting voice- it all feels like a "Harvest" to me. "Heart of Gold" is one of classic rock radio's favorite songs of all time, and for good reason; it's beautiful and sad and deeply introspective for a songwriter who was only 26 at the time of release. It's a song that I've heard maybe a thousand times or more and I am still not even close to being sick of it. The production quality is really spectacular on this album. "A Man Needs a Maid" is so crazy dynamic with it's soft piano and voice entrance that builds up into an orchestral suite. It's so ambitious and executed incredibly well for a track that at its core is pretty simple song. I look back at being a young 19 to 24 year old and going to college and writing a lot of music and listening to a lot of music and having many seminal moments happen in the fall season of those years, this record just had such an obvious imprint on me that will stay with me forever. It's beautiful songs and I like everything about it. Easy 5/5 and existing somewhere in my top 40 albums of all time.

A perfect record, simply put. What an incredible run of three albums, culminating in 'The Needle and the Damage Done' and 'Words (Between the Lines of Age)'.

I’ve got nothing bad to say about Harvest. It’s a perfect record. Pure and simple. No notes. Thank you.

One of my all time favorite albums by one of my favorite artists. This album is one of the first vinyl records I ever purchased and it brings back good memories when I listen to it. When I was a teenager we were having family visit and my grandmother was at our home and I was listening to this in our living room. I saw my aunt and uncle drive up to our house and I made the comment that I better shut off the music and my 74 year old grandmother replied, "Don't shut that off! I like this music!" No better praise can be made.

. Classic.

Has a couple clunkers (A Man Needs A Maid, There's a World) but most of the album is fantastic

Geweldige plaat, prachtige nummers

Most of Neil's albums on this list are around a 4 for me, but this is one that I'll round up to a 5. The best of his catalog, to my ear. The couple questionable tracks are more than covered by the absolute classics on this one.

A journey through life searching for love and meaning. Ends as a reflection and a harvest of the fruits of life and adventure. The mellowness, particularly the almost dreamier parts of the album strikes a chord with me. It's like a wandering journey through the years, beginning and ending with the old man's self reflection. Overall a great number from Neil - as a metalhead this album provides a rest from the heaviness of hard rock and core. Don't get me wrong, I listen to as much of the stuff as the next man, but at times the ears need a break. 17 and already have early tinnitus! 8.5/10 - looking forward to checking out the remainder of what Mr Young has to offer!

Great

Buen descubrimiento 👌

Masterpiece!

It's easy to see why why Neil is a legend in Canada if this album is to go by. Solid 5 Stars.

Once again, it’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I just want one fucking day without feeling a “.5”, you know? This is a very good album; it’s regarded as Neil Young’s best album, and I did enjoy a lot of this. There’s great lyricism, and I deeply dig the country-esque soundscape mixed with rock sensibilities here. I think it’s super well produced, and its storytelling is done really well. There’s not a bad track here, and it’s ultimately a pretty strong 37 minutes, that doesn’t overstay its welcome, though it does start to come a little close. Really, the only complaint I have, and this might just be a general fatigue talking here, but like… this just felt really same-y after a bit, you know? You can only take so many slow paced, guitar driven, rock/country soundscapes contemplating the intricacies of life. This really needed some levity at some point – I’m not punishing the album for taking itself seriously, because I think it carries a lot of emotional weight and heft, and carries it incredibly well for 1972. But, like, goddamn man, just throw at least one fun song in there, would you? All that said, this album clicked super well for me; there’s a few lulls in some extended instrumentals, and an occasional “first minute is the whole track” issue, but I think it more than makes up for it in everything else, especially in the lyrics. I’d recommend it to anyone, unless you’re looking for a more upbeat album. This is not that, even with some great guitar riffs throughout. I enjoyed it, even with the lack of levity, and I think it deserves the bump up to a 5. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to like, MJ or something.

Masterpiece. 4.5.

God, this album just crushed it! Stoned or sober, 5 STARS!

Masterpiece, I can listen to this all day, Neil has one hell of a discography and like Bowie will at least have one or two interesting things on each record or a great concept that he sometimes hits the mark on but can always fall short

Harvest one of Neil Young's essential album and one I picked up on vinyl as soon as I started collecting again. It's a 5 out of 5 any day of the week. If you like folk, singer songwriter or Americana and not listened to this record time to put it in your list. Stand out tracks: - Out on the weekend - Harvest - Man needs a maid - Heart of gold - Are you ready for the country - Old man - Alabama - The needle and the damage done - Words (between the lines of ages) So basically the whole album

Few simply ok songs, but mostly it’s a 5/5. This kind of music has a power to resonates with listeners hearts, not mandatory golden ones, can be silver ones

Wonderful album, loved everything about it. 🖤🩶🤍

Well damn, that was good. The Neil Young stuff on this list has been hit and miss, but this was definitely a hit. This has held up extremely well for something from 1972. 4.8

Harvest is an essential record for me. It nearly had me in tears this time around.

Fantastic album.

I think I shot myself in the foot a bit after an early appearance from ‘On The Beach.’ That record has been cemented as my favourite for so long now that I don’t often venture too far from it, usually Zuma, Tonight’s The Night, maybe Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere if I’m going earlier stuff. As such, I’d almost forgotten how genuinely fantastic Harvest is. Obviously it’s a classic, and it’s here for a reason, but for whatever reason it had slipped out of my go-to’s. This will not be the case moving forward…

Old Man is one of those special songs that gets more poignant every year. 34 and, who knows how much more? This record is an undeniable masterpiece, and perhaps not even Young’s best!

I found Harvest's soul driving through November cornfields, where Young's earthen wisdom resonated across every stubbled acre.

Another fantastic Neil Young album. This was the first of his albums I heard and I knew this was going to be a 5 as soon as I knew it was was on the list. I’m not a huge fan of A Man Needs a Maid but every other song on here is fantastic - the title track, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, and The Needle and the Damage Done are all quintessential Young songs. The closer Words is great as well and is a bit of a turning point for his sound, adding some heaviness which he explores far more in later albums. It’s his best known work for good reason and arguably his best - definitely top 3 for me, and a perfect entry point to his ridiculously strong and consistent catalogue

Excellent! 🙂

9/10 one of my favorite albums by Neil Young, so many good songs. 11-5-2024

Love

My first encounter with Neil Young left me feeling a bit conflicted with his lyrical style, as I still hadn't come to terms with the fact that there's more to good lyricism than verbosity. His writing was more sparse than what I was used to, and that felt a bit jarring to me upon listening to On The Beach. I didn't know what to make of it or how to judge it, considering that my perspective hardly accounts for the records that are lyrically as slim as his. But I did sense something special in it that still felt worthy of paying attention to. My experience with Disraeli Gears, an album that shined with intricate instrumentation while faltering lyrics, put all the things into place. Now I understand that far from many artists, even the great ones, possess even the quarter of lyrical prowess that Young brings to his music. Young's poeticism is immaculate. The emotion delivered is genuine and endearing, and his character is naturally relatable to those who don't feel like they've found their place in this world. I think the song that highlights that the most on Harvest in particular is A Man Needs a Maid. It's a rather dated song upfront, and nowadays, it can be credibly criticized as misogynistic. But I think there's still a timeless quality to it. The loneliness and the trauma of lost love portrayed in the song are deeply relatable, underscored by Young's highly passionate vocal delivery, and the song's message is all the more potent coming from someone with writing prowess as strong as Young's. This album is considered Young's most mainstream, and its wide appeal is particularly evident by the success of his biggest song, Heart of Gold. But I'd be hard-pressed to say that its mass appeal has a negative impact on the album's vision. While it's not as consistent as On The Beach was, and some tracks on this feel like completely irrelevant filler, songs like Out on the Weekend, Old Man, Alabama, and The Needle and Damage Done maintain strong focus on their subject and feel worthy of the classic status they maintain. Actual rating for me is 9/10, or 4.5/5.

There was a time around 10 years ago that I got absolutely obsessed with this album. Neil finally “clicked” with me in my late 20’s, and Harvest was the natural entry point. It’s Neil at his folkiest, poppiest, and most accessible. I assumed it was his best album. While I probably like a few other albums in Neil’s catalog a little more, Harvest is still a masterpiece. A Man Needs A Maid threatens to make it not a masterpiece, it’s one of the few skippable songs on an album I’m giving 5 stars to, but the highlights of the album are enough to make up for it. Out On The Weekend is probably the song that gets stuck in my head the most. Heart of Gold and Old Man are obviously classics and among Young’s most well known songs. The Needle And The Damage Done is a good thought provoking tune about drug addiction, a subject Neil was well versed in. One takeaway from revisiting this album for the first time in a while: I always thought Southern Man from After The Gold Rush was the song Lynyrd Skynyrd took offense to that inspired the verse in Sweet Home Alabama, but I think the song Alabama from this one makes more sense.

Not every song on here is a five star song, but there are enough of them to earn this five stars as an album. Standouts are Needle and the Damage Done, Old Man, and of course Heart of Gold.

My girl ❤️

This one goes to 11

10/10. 9.7/10 on the new scale. Most of the songs made the playlist. Sat between Nick Drake and Bob Dylan vibes.

Du folk d’envergure à la beauté brute, dont les arrangements orchestraux ne dépassent jamais la mesure dans leurs accès grandioses

Auch so ein Album was in meiner Schulzeit in vielen Regalen steckte. Und das ich nie komplett gehört habe. Obwohl ich mit meiner Mutter damals gerne zusammen "That keeps me searching for a heart of gold" gesungen habe. Na da ist diese Bucketlist doch für etwas gut. Es ist mir jetzt nämlich unerklärlich warum Harvest nicht auch bei mir seit 50 Jahren im Regal steht. Ok, 2 Songs könnten ruhig fehlen (A Man Needs a Maid, There's a World) aber der Rest ist grandios.

All time great album

Hard to not belt out I WANNA LIVE, I WANNA GIVE at the top of my lungs while listening to this walking around. Neil is the OG.

Brilliant superb album love Neil Young

Extra aufgehoben für wenn der vibe passt. Sitze gerade im Zug nach Graz, die Sonne scheint auf die herbstlichen Wälder und ich höre das ultimative Spätsommer/Herbst Album. Es erinnert mich jetzt auch immer sehr an Schottland.

This is definitely apex Neil Young. This is where his craft is the most refined. His songwriting is poignant, his voice is perfect and he's really leaning into his sound. It really doesn't get better than this. *Out on the Weekend -love this song. Its country, its rock. It's kind of everything you want in a record. *Harvest -such a rad follow up. Love, loss, time of the season. *Every Man Needs a Main -dark, heavy, intense. Very sad. *Heart of Gold -probably one of the greatest songs of the 20th Century. This song has been in my life for a long time, and I've never skipped it. *Are You Ready for the Country -I love this one. Brings you right back into the energy of this record. *Old Man -I love the story of this song. The self reflection. Amazing song. *There's a World -deep, beautiful. *Alabama -I love how he brings back his political roots and hits back on Sweet Home Alabama even harder with this one. Brilliant. *The Needle and the Damage its Done -heartbreaking. So sad he'd already gone through so much of this at 24. I love this album. Its a treasure.

Contender

4.5 eigenlijk

Top demais

Efterårs-album Neill Young rammer stemningen lige i røven. Det er perfekt til regnvejr, gulnende blade og aftagende sollys. Det er et af hans mere stille albums. Singer/Songwriter stilen er kraftigst. Særligt i første halvdel af albummet. Hen mod slutningen pipper hans karakteriske distortede guitar lidt. Men aldrig så det bliver rigtig hårdt. Det er lige som det skal være på det her album

Always found a man needs a maid to be a strange song but the rest here is excellent 5*

A belter! Knew every song.... Listened to the album about 5 times in the last 2 days.

Really started to fall in love with this one. (Edit: Ended up falling in love with it.) 5/5

Great

HOLY HEAVENS. Favs: Heart of Gold (that's a given) Old Man Alabama (a classic!) The Needle and the Damage Done Words ----THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE. WHAT A WAY TO END THE ALBUM! THANK YOU NEIL!

Perfect album! Heart of Gold is a masterpiece!

Great album

This was a really good and enjoyable album. It’s a wonderful blend of country, rock, and folk. There are a few sections with a heavier rock element mixed in, but overall, it’s a very cohesive, laid-back, and mellow album. The instrumentation is a great mix of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, string arrangements, and piano, which really hooked me in. The album has a warm and intimate vibe with a cozy atmosphere. I have to admit, I’ve never really liked Neil Young as a person, but the more I’ve listened to his albums, the more I’ve found myself enjoying his music. And with this album, he really hooked me in. So far, this is hands down my favorite Neil Young album.

Beautiful stuff, Neil. Sit on my face! 😃

More like Neil Old

Canonical.

This is probably my favourite Neil Young album.

An absolute classic 70s laid back rock album. Beautiful, almost haunting instrumentals and vocals. The album feels like it goes by quickly, so it doesn't feel like it outstays its welcome. I'd never heard Words before, but it has become one of my new Neil Young favourites.

Þau eru ekki mörg árin síðan ég hataði hljóðin sem Neil gaf frá sér. Svo small eitthvað og ég allt í einu *heyrði*. Dýrka þessa plötu.

I'm glad Neil came back to Spotify. I had this on vinyl and played it over and over. It's sad, sometimes angry and lyrical (more Country or Folk than Rock) and very human. Quite simply this is one of the greatest albums ever made.

Finally another 5/5 album. The first one I’d go to from Young’s collection.

A classic Neil Young album with fantastic songs which is a bit overproduced.

In fifth or sixth grade, I bought this and the Beatles’ Let it Be together, and those were my first “good” CDs I bought. When I bought this one, I don’t think I’d heard more than Heart of Gold, but, I mean, come on, it’s an incredible song.

This album is as comforting as a campfire or a visit to an old friend. I love it - Neil is an ace songwriter and he delivers on this one (he was on a streak of 3 incredible albums in a row with this one).

Previously I had only heard After The Gold Rush, which I loved. This keeps the quality at exactly the same level, another great record. Heart Of Gold, what a single.

It's wild how popular Heart of Gold made this album. The song suits Young perfectly and just works. There's an honestness to Neil Young that really shines through in his lyrics and singing. Great example of why music matters.

A masterpiece.

One of my all time favorite albums. Still remember the day I bought this when it was first released.

neil babygirl i love youuuu 5/5

This one has a lot more grand instrumentation than I remember it having. Every song just hits so hard. Love me some Neil.

wow beautiful, score vibes

Another day, another flawless album

This albums simply doesn’t miss. I love the diversity of tunes from the rocking, to orchestral, to the folky, while still maintaining a consistent thread. This is Neil Young at his best for me.

Beautiful

I see this cover and I immediately give 5 stars. Coincidence will have it I listened just yesterday to this absolute classic. It's unbelievable that this album is already more than 50 years old - except for 'A Man Needs A Maid', lol. The title track, Old Man, The Needle and The Damage Done (and the wonderful transition into Words), Heart Of Gold of course and Out On The Weekend are my favourites. Then you even have There's A World, of which Sufjan Stevens made a wonderful cover for his latest album. Perfect album.

It's always nice to get an album that you actually own on record. This one's a classic. Phenomenal. Out on the Weekend is a banger, A man needs a maid is a banger, heart of gold is, duhh, a banger, old man is a banger... I think you get it by now. Solid 5

The king

Think I'll pack it in and buy a pickup--great start to a great album. Whenever I hear it, I'm taken back immediately to the apartment where I first heard it. Such nostalgia! No idea what it would sound like to someone hearing it for the first time these days... Still, terrific.

Favourite song - Old Man

Classic Neil Young, in my opinion it's his best album!

4.5

There's nothing to say about this album that wasn't already covered in the fantastic 50th anniversary documentary, Harvest Time. The album is a masterpiece. It was a favorite of mine when I first heard it. And it's still a favorite of mine, 30 years later.

Harvest is an open and introspective album that dives deep into personal and societal themes. The orchestration is superb, adding a rich, layered texture to the music. Written during his recovery from slipped discs, the album captures a period of vulnerability for Young. The hit single Heart of Gold catapulted him to mainstream success, which he later admitted he disliked, saying it made him "middle of the road." This frustration led him to claim he was heading "for the ditch" to pursue more authentic, less commercial music. Despite its polished production, Harvest remains a pivotal moment in Young's career, showcasing his ability to blend mainstream appeal with profound, personal songwriting. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 8 STAND OUT TRACK - Heart of Gold

meesterwerkje

Great album. Added a couple to playli

Neil Young is so good at speaking to heartache and melancholy while also writing an absolute banger. After the Goldrush is better imo, but this is still the guy doing the thing and doing it masterfully

Staggering talent. I understand why his voice can be a bit divisive but for me, Neil Young is a mega, generational star. So much soul and pathos. Phenomenal songwriting.

A truly beautiful and layered album, lyrically dynamic, great harmonies, arrangements are beautiful. Neil Young at his best. Excellent album.

There isn’t a bad some on this album. I sort of forgot just how great it is until this relistening.

It was great! First track started playing as I backed out of the garage, raining. It was super cool.

Timeless

I like most things Neil Young and I like this one. It's got the most big hits of all his albums for sure, although not every track is as great.

one of my favorite albums

Classic. In my top 50 albums of all time.