Reviews (page 5 of 13)
I'm biased since I love Neil Young, and this album is full of some classics. Needle and the Damage Done is a favorite of mine. Great songwriter and some classic folk tunes here including the song that led to Lynyrd Skynyrd calling him out in a friendly way in Sweet Home Alabama. Kind of surprised Harvest Moon isn't in the album called Harvest, but great album as it is.
I love it, it is a true masterpiece
Heart of gold, Old man, and The needle and the damage done are of course standouts, but I liked the rest of the album too.
Yes!
I'm not sure there are many records that simultaneously exist as a complete thought while also representing the various sides of a musician better than this one. I love it. Every song (well, except for the sorta awkward "A Man Needs a Maid") is superb. The acoustic numbers are sentimental and instrumentally beautiful. The "rockers" are classics and show Young honing his characteristically messy-but-impressive lead playing. The electric guitar tone is vintage but still sounds modern. Neil Young's voice is sweet and what he lacks in pitch control is made up for in sincerity. I'm not sure he has ever made a solo record with as much commercial/pop appeal as this one. Walk into any record store and you can find five copies of this - four original pressings for less than $2 each and a reissue pressed on 180g vinyl for $40. that's the mark of immediate commercial success and staying power. There are other records he made after this one that I think are more interesting. And I hope they're on this list somewhere. "On the Beach" takes all the sounds here and turns them into art pieces with a much more politically-somber tone. And, his record with Crazy Horse "Zuma" is also a great one thatI hope we can listen to as part of this list. All that being said, the song "Words" puts this over the top for me. My favorite Neil Young song and what secures this as an easy 5-star record. I wish I could give it more stars.
Heart of Gold has always been one of my favorite songs, so I'm happy about finally listening to the whole album. A Man Needs A Maid will...take some getting used to. But everything else was solid, from the instrumentation to the vocal delivery. This is more a 4.5 than a 5, but I can't NOT give it a 5.
Iconic, not my usual but definitely sets a foundation for a lot of folk, rock, and progressive artists.
Great album, one of Uncle Neil's classics.
One of those albums that you hear about all the time and you think “surely it can’t be that good” but then it’s better than you ever imagined
Just a perfect album. Great run time, he maintains his unique singing and melodic approach, storytelling, showcasing himself as a super underrated acoustic and electric guitar player. Music is folk throughout but has production from various other styles. Big Neil gets a 5…a tiny bit of bias being a Canadian
A beautiful and timeless record, one of those albums that I never get tired of. Grew up with this album so I hold it close to my heart. Easily Neils finest moment although I’d say he would disagree. From the wonderful lyrics through to the guitar and orchestration it’s just flawless.
First song I learned on the guitar: Heart of Gold. What a great album.
A super strong album, interesting and well written. Not only heart of gold and old man, but the last three (alabama, needle), and words are stellar. Fantastic.
Amazing!!! 8/10
Uha det var et lækkert album. Kort og godt med en enkelt smutter, men virkeligt godt. Har faktisk aldrig hørt noget af det før
Very good. Best music for a calm evening near the ocean
Masterpiece. Loved it very much! Great great songs. Rhythm, Melody, Groove really good.
slow burn, but brilliant
The memories that this album evokes are palpable. I believe this is the first album I ever owned, the first one that I played on my own Lloyd's stereo system that I got for my 11th birthday, some 49 years ago. That original album is long gone but the memories are still here and very real. This is the album that started my life long love of music. It might be 40 years since I listened to it front to back but listening to it today the memories came flooding back. Favorite songs; Heart of Gold, Needle and the Damage Done, A Man Needs a Maid, Alabama....especially Alabama, and Words. This one's a no brainer...5 stars
This is practically a greatest hits album on its own. One of those rare albums I immediately start over and listen to again.
Phenomenal folk from the Canadian master.
July 16, 2021 This is good stuff. The juxtaposition of orchestral arrangement, choral vocals, and more acoustic tracks is a little jarring, but in an eclectic way I am really enjoying. Love the last track.
Excelent folk-rock
Awesome
Fantastic
Superb. The band began quite striped back and became more integral to the songs as the album progressed, finishing with an epic performance.
Quality
Damn fine album
Darn good album.
A solid album that asserted Neil Young as one of the best acts
Tolles Album!
Good old memories
A classic.
Brilliant
Absolute classic
Amaze! the voice, the acoustics. perfect record.
neil :)))))))
One of my favorite album and singer. Saw Neil Young several times in USA and Germany. Absolute genius.
Go Canada!
Classic for a reason. Timeless
Folk rock gold
Heart of gold!! Old man!!!
This album is a personal favourite. Amazing songwriting and arrangements, an artist at their peak.
Sooooo good
Really enjoyed harvest, knew that before relistening, but still held true
One of the best.
Fantastic!
One of the all time best records.
Will never cease to amaze me that Neil somehow manages to make his voice sound so good. All-time classic album.
I'm loving this album. I was def a banger
One of his best album, all good songs for sure
one of my favorite albums from him - good from start to finish
Beautiful album
Another Neil Young album. pretty good
I really cant find faults in this. Several incredible, emotional, hearfelt songs.
Fantastic album. Some absolute classics here. Not the biggest Neil Young fan, but this is solid songwriting.
Lovely Sunday album
Album #118: Harvest - Neil Young Genre (W): Folk rock, country rock Singles: Heart of Gold / Sugar Mountain, Old Man / The Needle and the Damage Done I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: Neil Young has a great voice and is an amazing songwriter. I think the ultimate genius of this album is how tragic it is despite the uplifting sound. I felt pretty sad listening to it even though it sounded upbeat, and I loved every minute and aspect of it. Favorite songs: Side One, Old Man, Alabama, The Needle and the Damage Done, Words (Between the Lines of Age)
siento que en estos primeros álbumes soy capaz de ponerle 5 estrellas a todos asi que tengo que forzarme a ser un poco más objetiva... una vez que salgo de la locura de escuchar nuevos sonidos no es un album excelente, pero me gusto mucho
i wish this site allowed for .5's cause this is more like a 4.5, I just think its got a few songs (are you ready for the country, there's a world) are just okay, but they are along some stone cold classics (alabama, out on the weekend, not to mention all the classic rock radio staples that don't even need a mention). It's very funny that Neil (or a producer, i guess) thought that a man needs a maid needed the big orchestral treatment lmao
me gustó
excellent 4.5/5
Perfect tempo for Neil’s stories
I think this is my favourite Neil Young's album so far. Interesting stories, evocative lyrics, good melodies, many great songs.
Very good album. Loved the country influence, last song a tad too long, however.
1001 Neil young and David Bowie albums to listen to before you die. This is the best of the lot though
TBD
Out of all the Neil Young albums, this would be the one I would choose to listen to and most definitely deserving to be on this list.
I think this makes the 7th Neil Young album to appear here, solo or CSNY. Still, this one definitely deserves to be on the list. There’s some snooze tracks on the album, but it deserves higher placement on Old Man, Heart of Gold alone. Out on The Weekend plus Needle And The Damage Done bring it into solid standing.
Yes, there’s too much Neil Young on this list, but I still very much enjoy this album. Couple songs are super meh, but Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, and Old Man are enough for me to round up. 3.75/5
Despite appreciating the music, I’m still yet to fully connect with Neil Young. RYM: Y (#312) Saved a song: N
This was rough at parts (tell me why you need a maid Neil????) but it balanced out enough in the second half that I ended up really enjoying it. Alabama, words, and the gut punch that is The Needle really got me. You're on thin ice though Neil
Very good album. Starts a little slow then turns into some of the best songs written in the early 70's
Great album but one or two pretty bad tracks that keep it from being perfect.
I actually liked it a lot, the chord progression was nice in a lot of them. Favorite Song and highlight Old Man
bob dylan take notes - this is how you play a harmonica
Yeah it’s good it’s aight luh calm
Harvest is a more accessible, exceptionally produced record for Young. He puts his talent on display again, maybe even more coherently this time. The harmonica passages are fantastic. I’ve enjoyed just about everything he’s been involved in that I’ve heard so far. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Heart of Gold, Words (Between the Lines of Age), Old Man
Expectation: -> Despite liking some of his stuff, I'm not enthused when I see his name come up. After listening: -> Neil Young has surprised me over the past three months of this project. I really enjoyed this album. Heart of Gold is just incredible. The rest is solid. Had this on repeat for a couple hours and could have done a couple more. Loved some of that harmonica and slide guitar. Track ranking: Heart Old Man Alabama Words World Weekend A Man Ready Harvest Needle
I liked this a lot more than the last one of his we listened to. Heart of Gold and Old Man are the standouts here.
hell classic
So much Neil Young on this generator, but this was the best one. Was finally on board with all the songs. Loved the vibes and music here. Old Man was my fav song and first listen of the album. Harvest and Heart of Gold were my other highlights
Had a bit of an aha moment about Neil Young and music in general listening to this. This is the second album of his I've received and I think there's like 5 more coming. I listened through once and didn't dig it other than the songs I knew, especially Old Man (which is definitely my favourite Neil Young song). A Man Needs A Maid particularly bugged me, it's so over the top with the strings and what the fuck is he even singing about needing a maid? It bugged me enough that I looked it up and found some other people complaining about it on Reddit. The discussion around the lyrics was really interesting. Perhaps it's a break up song, he's so heart broken he doesn't want to open his heart to another woman and is cynically saying "maybe I'll just get a maid"... He's belittling the woman that broke his heart in order to cope. Perhaps it's a tongue and cheek jab at himself. He's uncomfortable with his new place in world with fame and fortune. He's got no real problems to work out anymore and he's making fun of himself for toiling over the decision to get a maid... With over dramatic music to go with the joke. Someone mentioned he was dating an actress, Carrie Snodgrass, at the time and she had played a maid in a movie which he mentions in the last verse. So the whole song is about meeting her, she's the "maid". All that from a song I don't even like. I used to not care about lyrics at all, music was mostly about the musicianship, vocal delivery, the groove, riffs etc. But as I get older I've noticed lyrics more and when listening to music with my 6yo daughter, I find I am often trying to explain to her what the song is about as a way to pique her interest. Maybe I'm ready to explore music that might not be that interesting to me musically but might be fulfilling lyrically. I listened again with this more open minded spirit and enjoyed it a lot more. Maybe I'll turn out to be a Neil Young fan afterall... Maybe even Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen!
very good
This album stands as a prime example of a solid 4 for me. On one hand, I really like the good songs on this album. Heart of Gold and Old Man are just great. Then the rest of the majority are pretty good too. Then there's a couple songs I just can't connect with, but I just push skip when they come up and move on. Overall I'm not a huge Neil Young fan, but this era of his music rocks pretty hard.
Man this stuff just calms me down. The instrumentation on this is more varied than I expected from the start, including electric and orchestral offerings on a few song. Faves: Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man
A lot of really good classics. I remember listening to my parents play as a child. Not to keen on the sound mixing on a couple big orchestral songs like a man needs a maid.
Second Neil Young album this week. This one is less rock-coded than the last one, I would describe it as heavy country-folk. Even with the genre shift, this was still a pretty good album. Having ‘Old Man’, ‘Heart of Gold’, and “The Needle and the Damage Done’ puts its floor at a low 4/5; unfortunately two dud tracks (‘There’s a World’ & ‘Alabama’) keep it from elevating any higher. Solid album, would listen again, but I still liked Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere more. 4/5
Not my go to Neil Young record. Old Man still hits, especially since I'm older.Hard to be objective after hearing the hits so many times...Love Neil, but this one is not for me.
For the culture, and fuck yeah Old Man
Good shit. Noticed that Nelly uses something from this album for Hot in herre
Solid album. Not a fan of a man needs a maid or there's a world. Everything else is great. Not my favorite Neil album but its up there
Excellent
Definitely his “best” in terms of quality, impact etc. even though On the Beach might be my favorite. I did get bored on a couple of the sparser songs but when it works it’s really good. I loved the drumming on the opening track. Rating: 4.2
Neil Young was 26 when he wrote this album. A lot of songs about being old from such a young dude. Still some all time classics and a few surprises.
8/10
Starting off with this album, I’m loving the calming vibes. Out on the weekend is just nice to listen to. It’s nothing overly special, but it’s nice. The title track had those same calming emotions that the first track had. I’m really enjoying this so far, but honestly I could probably fall asleep to it. The piano in A Man Needs was gorgeous. I love a good ballad. That orchestral track too was amazing. Heart of Gold was so sweet. I really liked old man, and could pick out the oboe in There’s a World which was pretty cool. It almost had a threatening vibe to it which was cool. Alabama had some nice country undertones. I enjoyed it. The last few tracks on this album were also lovely. I thought this was such a great album with gorgeous music. It’s definitely not perfect, but I enjoyed it. 4/5 ⭐️ 158/1089
3 Harvest - Neil Young 7.8 I liked this. Fav song: Old Man
I am not a Neil Young fan but I really enjoyed this album. It had several songs I know well, which helped. But my low expectations probably also helped.
Pretty good not as good everybody knows this is nowhere but I can see why it’s a classic
8.5 / 10
Really good, and very interesting. I enjoyed the symphonic pieces.
4/5. Standout songs include out on the weekend, heart of gold, and old man. A bit repetitive but stand out songs are rly good
What's my favorite Neil Young album...prob this one.
Neil Young's best album with some of his best songs. Simple music backing powerful lyrics and his signature voice makes this album something special.
I'm not a Neil Young fan but this album is really good.
4.25 - The best Neil Young album so far.
Geggjaður Neil.
Neil Young can be hit or miss, there are tracks on this album that soar to the sky's but there's others that you wonder was he padding the album.
porque ha tocado escuchar neil young veinticinco veces en los ultimos quince dias por otra parte: maravilloso
You always were a kidder, Neil
Je l’avais déjà écouté parce que mon papi m’a donné le vinyle. Très bon album, à réécouter !
Liked this a lot more than the first Neil Young album we had on here damn. Words Between the Lines of Age is especially a banger. A Man Needs a Maid didn't do it for me tho
Another truly enjoyable Neil Young album. This one feels like a light, breezy, relaxed summer day. I've never been able to get into the orchestral songs, but that is just a small segment of the album, so it's all good. Happy to get this one back into my ears.
2nd half is better than the 1st. Still great.
Thought it’d be a 3 but it’s a 4…
fuck yeah
Through this project, I've learned I like folk music (for the most part). I suppose it's the somber nature of the songs that appeals to me for some reason. This album is full of somber melodies (mixed with some rock n roll and twangy country elements) and I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite songs were "Old Man" and "The Needle and the Damage Done".
============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== -------------------NEIL YOUNG----------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------HARVEST------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------(1972)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== ------------------CALIFICACIÓN---------------- ----------------------★★★★⯨------------------ ----------------------(4,3)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 1. Out on the Weekend (★★★★★) -Fav 2. Harvest (★★★⯨☆) 3. A Man Needs a Maid (★★★☆☆) 4. Heart of Gold (★★★★★) -Fav 5. Are You Ready for the Country? (★★★★★) -Fav 6. Old Man (★★★★★) -Fav 7. There’s a World (★★★★★) -Fav 8. Alabama (★★★⯨☆) 9. The Needle and the Damage Done (★★★★☆) 10. Words (Between the Lines of Age) (★★★★☆) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE TOTAL 5+3,5+3+5+5+5+5+3,5+4+4 = 43 ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE PROMEDIO 43 / 10 = 4,3 ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== CALIFICACIÓN FINAL ★★★★⯨ (4,3) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== COMENTARIO -El que tenga buenas letras y que esté bien ejecutado me hace valorarlo más pese a que no es de mi estilo... ============================================== ============================================== ==============================================
beautiful
Good classic rock from a good ol’ boy. Awesome shot of nostalgia straight into the veins
Some iconic tunes and an album that old and young (no pun intended) can enjoy
Very good album from Neil, maybe his finest. Certainly don’t think there are any bad tracks, but it also feels slightly lacking in finesse to be a 5 for me. Fave Tracks: Heart of Gold, Old Man 4.3/5
- Goddamn, I love me some Laurel Canyon 70s scene music - I enjoyed this, I think a solid 4 - That power chord at the very start of Words completely took me by surprise in the best way possible
2 neil youngs in a row is crazy, really close to a 5, just not quite on the same level as rust never sleeps or after the gold rush
Sittin' on porch
I always forget that I like Neil Young. This is a solid album with some legendary songs. The harmonies are beautiful.
Got sidetracked by my deep dive into covers, but I still liked this. My one complaint was the sound mixing. Maybe it was my car’s speakers, but it sounded like the vocals were at half of the volume they should’ve been on some tracks. Speak up Neil! 3.5-4
This is the 4th time I’ve started to write one of my long self indulgent reviews about Neil Young and the 4th time I’ve erased it and said I’ll save it for later. Mark my words: “Tonight’s the Night” will get the long one.
05/16 Classic album
Very good, I was impressed
Ugh this is right on the edge of a 3/4 for me. Good music, I really liked the symphonic components he added in but overall the album didn't fully wow me. I think I'm still going with a 4 Fave songs: out on the weekend, Alabama, Old Man
Very nice tunes honestly. Liked the old western ish style and the instruments. Never knew about neil young deffo gonna listen to him more.
Me cuesta reseñar este álbum. Por un lado me parece maravilloso en muchos sentidos, esos cambios repentinos de sonido, pasando de una simple guitarra hasta un sonido completamente maximalista, me atraparon completamente. Comienza flojo, pero va mejorando a medida que pasa. Líricamente no me pareció la gran cosa, tiene algunas canciones interesantes pero nada del otro mundo. Por ejemplo, me sorprende lo tanto que puede decir sobre una mucama en una canción tan majestuosa. Pero bueno, honestamente lo disfruté bastante.
hey man what's up with that big gushy string section on A Man Needs A Maid? where'd all that come from? you get bored in the studio one day? this one is obviously a classic but upon re-listening i'm struck by how much of it kinda just washes over me. you would think that every song on here would be on the level of the completely inimitable Heart of Gold or the heartbreaking Needle and the Damage Done - and yet! maybe people are just remembering the extremely high highs and kinda glossing over the stuff that languishes in the margins. it's definitely no After the Gold Rush. now that is a fucking album.
- The violin in a Man Needs a Maid is beautiful. - Old Man is very groovy.
I’ve known a lot of the songs forever. Great album
Four elite songs on here
The acoustic and country-based sound gave this album a warm and reflective atmosphere, though I personally preferred the darker and rougher side of Neil Young found on albums like On the Beach and Rust Never Sleeps. Still, the quiet sense of aging and emotional vulnerability running through Harvest left a strong impression on me.
Favorite track(s): Out on the Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama Heard before Previous rating: 7/10
Nice mellow album. My only prior knowledge of this album is through the marvellous songs of "Heart of Gold" and "The Needle and the Damage Done" other than that I went in blind. The album sounded like what I suspected it would sound like; I just had a hunch. I was a bit apprehensive about this album a couple songs in, but I believe it started getting better by the end, unlike some album where they progressively get worse. I think Neil Young really nailed the country sound on this album, it's done so well. I think I will be humming the melody of "The Needle..." to the end of time, it's so infectious! Highlight Song/s: "Heart of Gold", "Old Man" and "The Needle and the Damage Done"
First time listening to this album I was not convince, this second time tastes different. Not a fan of the pace of this album, but Young has something special.
Beautifully done singer-songwriter music. Neil Young is an all-time great songwriter, and this album is littered with thoughtful and introspective takes on love and life. However, I can't talk about this album without talking about the music, an excellent mix of rock, country, and folk that's pure ear candy. The flourishes of harmonica and slide guitar give this record so much personality and color. You can tell a lot of time and effort was put into make it sound good, but it always retains a slight rough edge that prevents it from sounding too sanitized. There are some great jammy moments, particularly on the last track, where the band just lets loose and sounds like they're having a ton of fun. The one sore spot here are the orchestral moments, particularly A Man Needs a Maid. It just doesn't fit the emotions that the rest of the album is going for. Otherwise, really good stuff.
A clean, beautiful, heartfelt album. Heart of Gold Old Man
A true and well-worn classic, Neil Young at one of his finest songcrafting moments.
love this album. feels like a warm hug.
the dads of the world may have been right about this neil young guy, huh? also - why does neil young have two separate albums called harvest and harvest moon???? i think it was reasonable to expect harvest moon to come up on an album called harvest but my hopes were DASHED
Pretty good, not quite enough walk it home guitar solos but put me in a good mood all day.
Great singer song writer stuff.
Like it so far, nice ambience.
Owned Beautiful
Just feel like Heart of Gold and Old Man stand head and shoulders above the rest of the album. But they also stand head and shoulders above most music that's ever been written, so what are you gonna do?
A classic… 3 singles I love The song, “Alabama”’s guitar sound is top!
I liked this album more than I thought I would. The production is great. Really wild that this was from 1972. It would work today.
A Classic peace that always deserve a new listen
Love it. Mellow gold.....
I’ll cave and give it 4 stars. This kind of music is really a 3 1/2 star for my taste but I recognize the brilliance behind the songwriting and vibe Neil Young lays down.
One of the best
This is THE Neil Young album for me. It has (almost) all the iconic tunes I associate with the best parts of his solo career, and taken as a whole this album is a sampler platter of the various styles that epitomize that career. There’s the poignant solo acoustic ballad (The Needle And The Damage Done), the riffier acoustic band jam (Heart Of Gold), some proto-grunge electric rocker with his signature dirty guitar sound (Alabama), a little country (Old Man), a piano ballad (the beautiful but perhaps problematically misogynistic Man Needs A Maid), and, yes, some ill-advised though moderate use of a harmonica (Out On The Weekend). There are a few dull spots here and there but that’s probably the album’s worse sin, being slightly less interesting in spots.
Aside from Jack Nitzche’s obnoxious orchestral arrangements on two songs, this is one of Young’s most solid albums.
vind dit wel lekker, beetje country, beetje rock, ineens twee tunes met london symphony orchestra.
Lekkere muziek met een paar knallers
Old Whiny, Kermit voiced Neil Young. Love it, sucker for Neil young and this album is like being dropped on the plains, with a guitar and a bottle of whisky.
Buenas cosas. Me gustó el sonido, aunque no soy muy fanático del Folk-rock. Igual like
Meget bra.
Full Album Thoughts: Album Rating: 4.5 (A+) I guess I like 1 Neil Young album? Which is a weird thing for me to say? I still cant get past his singing voice, but its used more deftly here. For some reason we had a couple orchestral tracks, and a more electric guitar sound. I didnt think this would come out to be as high a rated album, but its song writing bones are there! Track Thoughts: Out on the Weekend 00:04:35 A This grove is giving me raconteur vibes, which is great until I remember what Neil Young singing falsetto sounds like and I am bracing for impact. And then it never gets that bad? No, I hate to say it, but this is actually an All Timer in my books. Wistful, haunting, and vivid. Harvest 00:03:03 C No we are back to generic country. Sorry this is the same ol sway back and forth, and its too simplistically structured to be anything but cliched. Thankfully the singing and the slide guitar arent overpoweringly twangy this time... but still not something I will ever actively seek out. A Man Needs A Maid 00:04:00 A HEY NEIL CAN YOU SPEAK UP? YOURE SINGING FROM THE OTHER ROOM! Oh heck we get a whole dang Orchestra! Could a piano ballad like this work? Yes absolutely, if it was literally any other singer. This is just a song from a musical. Its meandering in structure (said approvingly), and has such breadth of instrumentation as to be constantly engaging! I just wish there was a stronger lead performance, that is all that is keeping this from being an S tier song. Heart of Gold 00:03:05 A This has escaped containment. And I cant even hate on it, this is excellent almost rock song writing. If they swapped out the slide guitar for an electric with a bit more bite, I think this would be ready to be a staple in my rotation. Oh and yeah, I still cant stand Neil's voice, but for most of this album he is at least staying lower in register. Like I was about to give it an A- and then the final vocal chorus came in at the end and dang if I am not a sucker for that. Uhg. Back to an A, under protest. Are You Ready for the Country? 00:03:21 B This would fit in with "One of the weird Beatles songs" category. You take any other lead singer, you even the slide guitar is good in moderation, but something about the over use of both these tones... it just saps my enjoyment. This is a very wrote song structure, so you gotta do SOMETHING fun to keep it interesting. As is, it actually feels a bit sparse? Old Man 00:03:22 A+ "The old know what it is like to be young, but the young do not know what its like to be old." I think this maybe has escaped containment, but I cant place my finger on where I've maybe heard it before. I really love the laid back bass grove accompanied by the finger picked banjo. If it weren't for Neil's singing voice ESPECIALLY when he tries to belt, this would again be an S tier song! There's a World 00:03:00 C+ Hello uh... Some Final Fantasy Track? This is introducing the Evil Empire vibes. I really was not expecting the full orchestra on this album. This sadly has less drive to it than "A Man Needs A Maid". At least there is no slide guitar, so points for that. Alabama 00:04:02 A+ Ah, now I too have heard what old Neil has said about you! This is such a wild dark full sound for the album! Still cant escape the slide guitar, but paired with the actual drive of the electric guitar it helps fill out the space more appropriately. I think OF THE TWO SONGS re: alabama... I prefer this one? The Needle and the Damage Done 00:02:00 A Okay so a thing I love is a finger picking style like this where you hold the same note and then slide down the chords, its such a vibe. This as a purely single guitar and singer focused song, it actually works... you can imagine this as just 1 Dude On Stage, overhearing this while you are paying attention to something else in the bar. It doesnt overstay its welcome either. And of course the clapping HARD CUT OFF is a choice. Words (Between the Lines of Age) 00:06:42 B This didn't need to be a 7 minute long ender. This is bombastic and really builds initially, but idk if its earned. The noodling guitar solo is a bit over indulgent. But then again, nothing in the song (beyond Neil's voice as usual) is offensive.
Solid album
This is a good album and will always be a fun listen.
i mean its not the most exciting in tyool 2026 but this is iconic classic rock. Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama are all-timers. Also doesn't get too self-indulgent like so much other rock from this era. Ten tight songs clocking in at under 38 minutes....perfect
Endelig et Neil Young album der virkelig hører til på listen
Mit hotte Neil Young take er at det her ikke er en top 5 Neil Young plade, men der er satme stadig nogen lækre numre på!
The songs are so good. I could hear a lot of other artists I like that has been inspired by this.
i like it i feel at home, this is something i would play at my ranch house or something. relaxing, so emotional sometimes
Great album
I like Neil Young, although I didn’t need 2 in one week. I enjoyed this. His songwriting is always good and this has some of the best songs. 4/5
Lots of slide and a heart of gold.
When I think of Neil Young, these are the songs I hear.
Vive Neil Young
Neil young is actually pretty good. Who knew.
I just really enjoy the mood that this album brings. Very strong album throughout. There’s times where I’m not too keen on Neil’s voice as it comes off a bit weak or frail, but maybe that’s just a sign of honesty and vulnerability making their way through his voice. Overall, the album is very good.
Lives up to the hype, if the hype is only scoring around 7.5/10. This is my first listen to it as an album instead of just some of the singles. Solid from beginning to end. It’s also influenced so many other albums/bands that it’s really hard to judge it in a void.
First time I've heard anything from Neil Young. I was expecting something very stripped-back and minimal. And that was my impression for the first few minutes of the album. But once "A Man Needs A Maid" came in...oh my goodness. That beautiful, lush orchestra. And then later on in the album, when The Needle surprises you with thunderous audience applause, cutting straight to one of the few electric jams on the record. The production on this thing is immaculate, despite presenting itself as so toned down. Harvest actually sounds quite a bit like the album cover. The font itself is flashy and detailed, but outside of that, there is almost no color or any frills at all. The album, both sonically and visually, is exactly what it needs to be and not a bit more. For that, I really appreciate Harvest.
Probably the one Neil Young album that actually should be on this list.
Fun and Canadian that reminds me of the codeine song
Yeah it wasn't bad, you win Neil!
Heart of Gold
Cool, pero no me hizo sentir cosas
Pretty slow, very good though. I like the instruments.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/neil-young/harvest/ Nice lil Neil Young album. Not super familiar with the man, aside from some albums and some hits, but I've been trying more recently. I know he has albums I like more than this one, even tho this one of course has great songs like Heart of Gold and especially Old Man.
Really surprised me. Very interesting and complex compositions after deceptively simple set ups. Feels like a spiritual predecessor to Father John Misty
A great album with a ton of classics.
Hpnestly, i still find the guy’s voice annoying, even though in general i like singers with this tone of voice, like Thom York, but he just sounds like a 10 year old choir boy, who tries to sing after crying for an hour. That being said, this is probably as good as he gets. I’d have still given it a strong 3 altogether, if it wasnt for the incredible sound/mixing of this record, like wow. Even on worse gear, this one shines.
favs — 'a man needs a maid', 'heart of gold', 'alabama'
When someone says “classic Neil Young” this is what they mean.
The album to come back to what’s real in life
2 bangers the rest is mid
Great, simple, chill album. Never was the biggest Neil fan but there's a lot of bangers on this one and it's a beautifully produced album
Gosto muito do estilo Neil Young, bem pra pensar na vida. Heart of Gold é uma clássica. Old Man também é muito boa. Álbum foda, 2 músicas hit dele, acho que as mais famosas mesmo. Me conecta com meus 20 anos, dá vontade de explorar o mundo, principalmente a natureza ouvindo esse álbum. 4*
lindo álbum son 8 los puntos
The big singles from this are incredible. “Heart of Gold” is probably my favorite Neil Young song, particularly the harmonies at the very end. I will listen to the whole song just to hear that. The album as a whole is interesting- it’s mostly acoustic folk, but with lush orchestration on some songs, a live, stripped down version of “Needle,” a couple of electric guitar work outs- it’s pretty varied. My biggest issue is that the languor represented here is just not something I want to dip into all that often. On the whole though this is a very strong 70s record. FOUR STARS
There are some legendary songs here. However, though it's a great album, I found other albums by Young from this period a little better. Still, a strong 4/5. Young is truly one of the greatest songwriters, who always stayed true to himself.
Es un álbum que me hizo sentir varado en un espacio donde estoy flotando y estas en calma, es como si la única compañía que necesito es este álbum y mi propio ser... Es como ver un paisaje oscuro y hermoso mientras todo lo demás esta suspendido en el tiempo. Mi tema fav. del álbum es "Old Man - Neil Young".
Such a lovely little album, I knew ‘Old man’ going into this and I love that song, so I was hoping the rest of the album could reach that same vibe. I think that it delivered on this with ‘Heart of gold’ and ‘Out on the weekend’ and the overall vibe of the album matched it which I enjoyed. I liked how a couple of the songs like ‘Alabama’ brought in more of a rock sound, there was enough of a bit of variation to keep things fresh whilst listening to this album. I liked the good amount of emotion in the songs, I feel like you can really hear it in Young’s voice which I think pairs nicely with the country style music. It’s a simple formula but well executed with the vocals and quality instrumentals; a great album is created and one that I will be adding to my vinyl Wishlist.
Great album with some of Neil Youn’s best songs n it- although I was disappointed that Harvest Moon wasn’t on there- it’s my favourite and I assumed it would be there because of the title. Some truly wonderful, timeless song writing on this album. I do slightly prefer the live at massey hall album with a lot of the same songs though if I was going to choose- it’s great hearing the audience react to these.
Very enjoyable listen with less grating vocals from previous albums.
This is a great record that also contains two absolute stinkers, A Man Needs A Maid and There's A World, just schmaltz covered nonsense. The rest? Out on The Weekend, Harvest, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Alabama, Needle and the Damage Done, some of Neil’s very best songs
delightful, evocative of so many feelings and memories
Really smooth all the way through, aside from a weird dip in A Man Needs a Maid. I mean, it’s got Heart of Gold on it. I do like me some Neil Young.
47#
4.5
I enjoyed this, not a perfect album but some interesting things going on (11/8 ftw) low/mid 4
Harvest is a total classic, no doubt. It's got this nostalgic, down home vibe that just hits the spot. The pedal steel and harmonica are awesome, giving it that cozy, campfire feel, especially on "Heart Of Gold" and "Old Man". The production is fantastic, mixing that stripped down folk sound with some big, orchestral moments... But, and this is a big but, it's *still* a Neil Young album. While the songs are amazing, his voice… it's a bit of a mixed bag. It can be cool, but sometimes it's just a little much. It's a shame, because the instruments and lyrics are so good, but his vocals are a bit of a hurdle for some folks. Still, it's a must-have record. I just wish someone else was singing these songs sometimes.
Never heard of Neil Young before. Some songs were good, great music if you need something moody or for thinking
In the multiverse NY put out a version of this album without ‘A Man Needs a Maid’ and I rated it 5 stars.
Love me some Neil Young. I think I preferred the previous record as a whole but this had some great high points. Really enjoyed Old Man and Alabama.
Such a brilliant album that I hope I will listen to in full more often now. 'Old Man' is an exceptional, stand-out track for me, but it doesn't diminish the others. "Harvest" just has such a charm to it that makes for a great listening experience. Other than this album and 'Harvest Moon' I haven't listened to much Neil Young, and perhaps I should, but this album is certainly a great way to start. Rating: 4.5.
Heart of Gold and Old Man really carry this album but I found it to be really an enjoyable listen.
🤣👍
Harvest was the first Neil Young album I really got into, so it will always have a special place in my heart. That being said, I'll try to be as objective as I can, and objectively, out of the 6 albums from the seventies that can usually find their to the top of Neil's discography, Harvest has to be the least consistent one, boasting songs that are near the top of his catalog, while also having some of the weirdest ones from this period. And as others have pointed, and I agree, it has to be songs with the loud and over the top string arrangements. You can feel it's sort of a PR move, and that Neil doesn't fit in a song like There's a World, and A Man Needs a Maid (which I'll give credit to, is a decent song until the whole orchestral part), But man, Harvest simultaneously has some of his best and most memorable tracks ever. Out On The Weekend is a great opener and instantly paints that pastoral picture of a mid-summer day on the porch, Old Man and Heart of Gold have that classical Neil Young wisdom, while The Needle and the Damage Done is a glimpse into the what the future holds for Neil. And if I'm being honest, Alabama and Words can be added to that list as well. Those are some great fuzzy hard rockers. It's a good album, but those few tracks for me lower the rating. A shame really, because he couldn't quite achieve the mix of commercially and artistic viability he achieved on here until maybe the 90s.
Приємний альбом, десь на 4-4.5. Heart of Gold - хітяра.
А оце хороший Ніл Янг, як я люблю.
Standouts Out on the Weekend Heart of Gold Are You Ready for the Country Old Man The Needle and the Damage Done
I'll search for comprehensive information about Neil Young's "Harvest" album to provide you with an in-depth review. # In-Depth Review: Neil Young's *Harvest* (1972) ## Overview Released on February 14, 1972, *Harvest* stands as Neil Young's most commercially successful album and his only #1 record on the *Billboard* charts . Yet this mainstream breakthrough emerged from circumstances of physical pain and creative fragmentation—Young was recovering from back surgery that prevented him from playing electric guitar in his usual manner, forcing an acoustic approach that defined the album's sound . The recording process was famously scattered: some tracks were cut in Nashville with session musicians dubbed "The Stray Gators," others in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, and the devastating "The Needle and the Damage Done" was captured live at UCLA's Royce Hall . --- ## Lyrical Analysis ### Themes of Vulnerability and Isolation *Harvest* explores what critic Jimm Cushing identified as Young's "guts to be romantic"—a willingness to expose emotional fragility that was rare in early '70s rock . The lyrics navigate the tension between solitude and connection, often through the lens of Young's then-new relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress (whom he'd met after his roadie insisted he watch her in *Diary of a Mad Housewife*) . **"Out on the Weekend"** opens with a man literally running away from connection ("Think I'll pack it in and buy a pickup"), yet the song reveals this escape as a mask for deeper longing. The narrator's retreat to a "place in the country" becomes a metaphor for emotional withdrawal rather than genuine peace . **"Harvest"** (the title track) uses agricultural metaphor to explore relationship uncertainty. Each verse begins with a question designed to gauge mutual vulnerability: "Will I see you give more than I can take? / Will I only harvest some?" The "change of plan" line—possibly referencing Snodgress's mother's suicide attempts—functions on multiple levels, applicable to divorce, family upheaval, or any unexpected life alteration . **"A Man Needs a Maid"** remains the album's most controversial lyric. The title suggests patriarchal convenience, but the song actually charts Young's terror of intimacy: "To give a love, you gotta live a love / To live a love, you gotta be 'part of.'" The narrator considers hiring help to avoid emotional entanglement, only to recognize the impossibility of such detachment . **"Old Man"** transforms a conversation with Louis Avila, the elderly caretaker of Young's newly purchased Broken Arrow Ranch, into a meditation on generational commonality. The bridge—"Old man, take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you"—dissolves age barriers through shared loneliness: "I need someone to love me the whole day through" . ### Political Consciousness **"Alabama"** functions as a sequel to *After the Gold Rush*'s "Southern Man," though Young later expressed regret about its execution. In his 2012 autobiography *Waging Heavy Peace*, he admitted the lyrics were "accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out" . The song nevertheless sparked one of rock's most famous dialogues—Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" responded directly with "I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don't need him around anyhow." Despite the apparent conflict, Ronnie Van Zant often wore Neil Young t-shirts onstage, and mutual respect persisted between the artists . ### Addiction and Loss **"The Needle and the Damage Done"** stands as one of rock's first direct confrontations with heroin addiction. Written about Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten (who would die of an overdose months after the album's release), the lyrics avoid preaching while bearing witness: "I am not a preacher, but drugs killed a lot of great men," Young noted in *Decade*'s liner notes . The live recording's spontaneity—complete with audible applause—creates documentary immediacy that studio polish would have diminished. --- ## Musical Character ### The Nashville Sound Working with Nashville session musicians including pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith, drummer Kenny Buttrey, and bassist Tim Drummond, Young achieved what he called "the Nashville sound without the Nashville attitude" . The Stray Gators provided supple, empathetic backing that honored country conventions while maintaining rock's edge. **"Are You Ready for the Country?"** and **"Words (Between the Lines of Age)"** benefit particularly from this ensemble's loose precision. ### Orchestral Experiments Producer Jack Nitzsche arranged two tracks with the London Symphony Orchestra, creating the album's most divisive moments. **"A Man Needs a Maid"** begins sparely—just Young's piano and voice—before exploding into symphonic bombast that even Young admitted was "overblown" . **"There's a World"** fares worse; thundering timpani and sweeping strings overwhelm slight material, creating what one critic called "Porgy & Bess from pork butt" . ### The Acoustic Core The album's enduring reputation rests on its stripped-down material. **"Heart of Gold"**—featuring harmonies from James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt—became Young's only #1 single, though he famously reacted with ambivalence: "Oh no! I've made a hit record! We can't have that now, can we?" . The song's harmonica riff and straightforward structure represented accessibility that Young would spend subsequent albums complicating. **"The Needle and the Damage Done"**'s solo acoustic performance demonstrates Young's ability to command attention without embellishment—its power lies in restraint rather than arrangement. --- ## Production Elliot Mazer, Henry Lewy, Jack Nitzsche, and Young himself shared production duties across disparate recording locations . The patchwork nature of the sessions—spanning January to September 1971—somehow coheres into a unified statement, though not without seams showing. The transition from "The Needle and the Damage Done" into "Words" feels abrupt; the orchestral tracks sit uneasily beside the Nashville material . The 2009 remaster improved the balance on "A Man Needs a Maid," though nothing could fully reconcile the tension between Young's reedy voice and full orchestral backing . Recent archival releases—including *Harvest Time* (2022)—have allowed reassessment of the creative process, revealing alternate versions that sometimes surpass the original choices . --- ## Cultural Impact and Influence *Harvest* defined "country-rock" for mainstream audiences, influencing everyone from Eagles to contemporary Americana artists. Its success paradoxically pushed Young toward more abrasive, less accessible material—*Time Fades Away*, *On the Beach*, and *Tonight's the Night* constituted a deliberate retreat from *Harvest*'s commercial achievement . The album's influence extends through: - **Elliott Smith** and **Built to Spill's Doug Martsch**, who absorbed Young's guitar approach and lyrical directness - **The "unplugged" movement** of the 1990s, which *Harvest* anticipated by two decades - **Addiction narratives** in popular music—"The Needle and the Damage Done" preceded similar explicit treatments by years Retrospective critical consensus has shifted dramatically. While *Rolling Stone*'s John Mendelsohn initially dismissed it as "a disappointing retread" of *After the Gold Rush* , the album now ranks #72 on *Rolling Stone*'s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020 revision) and was named the #1 Canadian Album of All Time by Bob Mersereau in *The Top 100 Canadian Albums* . --- ## Pros and Cons ### **Strengths** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Emotional Directness** | Unprecedented vulnerability in rock; established template for confessional songwriting | | **Melodic Craft** | "Heart of Gold," "Old Man," and "Harvest" rank among Young's most enduring compositions | | **Musical Versatility** | Seamlessly blends country, folk, rock, and orchestral elements | | **Historical Significance** | Pioneered explicit addiction narratives; sparked dialogue with Southern rock | | **Vocal Harmonies** | Strategic deployment of CSNY, Taylor, and Ronstadt enhances without overwhelming | | **"The Needle and the Damage Done"** | Arguably the album's greatest achievement—raw, prescient, and timeless | ### **Weaknesses** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Orchestral Overreach** | "A Man Needs a Maid" and "There's a World" suffer from overproduction; the latter is "skippable" | | **Lyrical Inconsistency** | "Alabama" lacks nuance; "There's a World" approaches banality ("You live in the world... so look around") | | **Pacing Issues** | The album's second half grows darker and heavier, creating tonal whiplash | | **Vocal Limitations** | Young's "thin, reedy voice" struggles against orchestral arrangements | | **Self-Imitation** | Early critics noted similarities to *After the Gold Rush*; some tracks feel like retreads | | **"A Man Needs a Maid" Title** | Dated even in 1972; creates unnecessary barrier to appreciating the song's actual content | --- ## Conclusion *Harvest* endures not despite its flaws but because of them. The orchestral misfires, the occasional lyrical heavy-handedness, and the tonal inconsistencies create an album of human dimension—ambitious, wounded, occasionally misguided, but ultimately sincere. It captures Young at a crossroads: commercially triumphant yet artistically restless, physically constrained yet emotionally expansive. The album's greatest legacy may be its demonstration that mainstream success need not require artistic compromise—though Young himself would spend the subsequent decade proving he could survive without such success. *Harvest* remains essential listening not as perfect artifact but as document of an artist negotiating fame, pain, and creativity at the height of his powers.
A classic. Ever listenable, and iconic sound. "A Man Needs a Maid" is, however... unfortunate.
Throughout the experience, this album, I was treated with many features and great artist that collaborated with this man. It was amazing to see his heart bleed through his songs.
A superb album probably Neil Young’s best.
This is really good, no notes 8.5/10
Had a couple of other Neil Young albums through this and wasn’t that impressed - thought this was good though - Harvest is a great track
I like it
Really pleasant with a surprising amount of orchestral ambition
a good album! the back half is very solid and i really enjoyed my multiple listens. while the orchestral bits were a bit much and a man needs a maid was weird af, there’s a world grew on me on second listen. if i have to pick just two faves which no one is making me do but myself, i gotta say old man and words.
What a great record. Beautiful songwriting. The more orchestra heavy songs aren't landing for me as strongly as the rest of the record. Old man and Words are incredible songs. Listening to this, the influence many of my favorite artists take from Neil Young is abundantly clear. Wilco, Jason Molina, etc.
Quite good! Definitely the best album we've gotten so far. Sufjan Stevens must have really liked Old Man Fav tracks: Old Man, Heart of Gold
This generator loves Neil Young and the rest of CSNY. Still a really good album. Some beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar and iconic songs
It is a consistently strong album. I prefer his later work, which has a bit more anger, but this still has his trademark sense of melody and harmony.
Really solid album and there are some great individual songs on it. Just let down slightly in my eyes by some of the odd song with overblown orchestration of ‘there’s a world’ that don’t really fit the vibe of the rest of the album.
I actually recently discovered this album this past fall, and fell in love with it! Still in the honeymoon phase here but I think this record is beautiful. The songwriting is strong, the instrumentals are gorgeous, and the lyrics are timeless. Great album.
Not too sure about There’s a World and Alabama, but other than that this was a really enjoyable listen. Old Man is such a perfect song; a definite Top 100 track of all time. I also love how the guitars, keys, and drums opened up in proper rock style on the closer, Words. What a solo! Neil Young has a lot to say here, and gets his emotions across to the listener extremely effectively. Thanks to the lovely Harmonica, Banjo, and Slide Guitar accompaniments, I’ll be gladly going back to listen to him again.
Never been a huge fan of Neil Young but this is a good album. Lots of great songs and few weak points. A nice relaxing listen
stunnin'
Pretty sick, good ol folk American music from Neil. Not much more to say
I really liked this one! Had some unexpected more orchestral arrangements which was fun. His voice is not great but in a way that is really endearing and tends to heighten more emotional moments.
I don’t know, man. I was a Neil Young hater coming into this - or at least I thought I was. You have to give it up for the songwriting though, the guy is a beast. These are gorgeous songs and the record is a classic clearly for good reason. I have a hard time still with his voice, though.
Classic Neil Young. This was perfect to listen to while driving. At times, quiet and soulful, other times almost cinematic.
Great album, surprised me
I like Neil Young fine. He writes amazing songs and, oddly enough, I like his voice but he's not a favorite. That said there are some amazing songs on this album, old man being my favorite, Heart of Gold and Alabama not far behind
Short and sweet album with some classics
I want to give this a 5, but I'm going to go 4.5 and round down because Neil is one of my favorites and he has other albums I like more. Still a classic tho
More Neil. One of his best. Still waiting on Down By The River ...
Whoever compiled this list loves Neil Young. I didn't mind this album though, Heart of Gold and Old Man are classics
4+
If i didn't listen to this many years ago I probably would have hated it as folk and country isn't my thing but damn i love this sound. songs like alabama and old man are so good. I learned the song a man needs a maid is kind of a joke song? its just not a good joke and it's kinda weird o well every record is entitled a stinker. he was in love with actress carrie snodgrass and ...well after they had 2 kids they separated. supposedly a lot of this record was about his love for her. you can now say that a heart of gold isn't very strong. look i got my own not good jokes 4/5
Ta bien
A classic, but several tracks sound mawkish now, while several others sound both timeless and epoch-defining.
A couple of bangers on a very eclectic album.
Me encanta
Yea he's nice
Not bad, it's Neil Young things.
My favorite Neil Young album, although it has a few weak tracks keeping it from being a top tier album.
Neil young has a voice that captivates and keep you interested. Its soothing sound
Knew about half these songs but had never actually listened to Harvest all the way through before. My favourite Neil Young record is On The Beach which led me to view this as the poppies, ippier side of him that he largely rejected. I lent into that a bit in my last review of a Neil record for this project, and would like to renounce that, as I look forward to giving After the Gold Rush a fair hearing too when I get that.
kind of iconic
Saker 1001albumsgenerator punkt com lärt mig: G Love & The Special Sauce existerar The Rolling Stones suger Neil Young tycker jag tydligen nu är jättebra, välkomnar 30+ smaklökarna.
Fan vad fin han är här. Och enorm respekt för en man med så jobbigt diskbråck att han inte kan stå upp och lira elgurka men ändå köttar på! Drömmen om att flytta ut på landet fick nytt liv efter några varv med denna.
Är nog denna och after the gold rush jag har närmast relation till. Mycket bra skiva där ett par trökisar här och där kompenseras av bland det bästa han gjort.
haha asså varför höjs volymen så mycket vid heart of gold? gåshud i alla fall!
Aargh! En urstark fyra. Fyra komma fem? En underbar artist och människa. Vill ju ge femman men den når ju inte riktigt trofém, utan fingrar bara på kanten av översta hyllan
neil for normies
The only reason I'm giving this four is to justify the five for Live Rust which is the penultimate Neil Young album.
Okay I can now confirm after two albums, Neil Youngs voice is very hit or miss for me. That said the rest of the constituent elements of this album are far better then the previous, though that may be a taste thing because I do like this general era of country-rock. Opposite to a lot of albums on this list, it starts bad and gets better as it goes. I was very worried about the first two songs, but then it does pick up into something I actually enjoyed. Heart of Gold is absolutely great. I really like Old Man too, which gave me a big "OH I know this one!" moment. The build into the chorus is sooo good. Alabama is a great guitar piece with a strong chorus. Also in the last leg of this album we start getting some really good vocal harmonies out of nowhere. I didn't really get people liking the previous Neil Young album and hearing the first few songs I thought that was going to be the case here again, but I left very pleasantly suprised! It gets a 4, and honestly it could've been a 5 had it not been for the first 3 songs which I do not like.
3.6 2x a few classics on here
When to listen: bummed out or want to be more bummed out. Look, it's a good album. Heart of Gold and Old Man... always loved 'em. But sometimes having a musical style means having a repetitive album and that's the case here in my humble opinion.
This was my first exposure to Neil Young and I have been a fan ever since. I am not sure he has any 5 albums, but he has consistent 4's and a few 3's. His influence on music cannot be overstated.
Real plodding first two songs but I did like the line "I've seen you give more than I can take" from Harvest. Nice bridge to A Man Needs a Maid. Heart of Gold IS great. Are You Ready for the Country? - I like the laugh that kicks it off. Old Man is great - love how it's building already but then the octave jump/harmony crashes in out of nowhere before it settles back down. There's a World - jarring tonal shifts between verse and chorus. Love the orchestra though; what a maverick move. Alabama - VERY cool; emotional chords to start, and then a sort of Byrds-Fleetwood Mac sound to the tune and harmonies for the chorus with some The Who sounding backing?! Then back to Byrds emotion again before another build. The Needle and the Damage Done is alright. Words - INCREDIBLE song; one of the best ever, added to the hallowed halls occupied by Baba O'Reilly, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and Do You Feel Like We Do. SUCH cool timing stuff going on throughout, and a really She's so Heavy/Lonesome Tears drawn-out ending with amazing guitar riffs. Love the singing crashing back in for a surprise encore.
I was quite skeptical about this one. I have been quite indifferent towards Neil Young and his songs. Sure, I already knew Heart of Gold and loved that song, but for some reason I never was bothered to learn more about this artist and his other work. And after hearing the first song, I wasn't sure this was going to be my genre of music, but somehow Neil Young takes you with him on a long path in the countryside and suddenly you are entranced by his music and you have to admit: this was a great album.
Absolute great American road trip of an album. Cool sliding guitar notes accompany Neil’s whining story telling, it reminds me of the classic image of a hobo you met stowing away on a cargo train telling the story of his travels. Old Man is an all timer too.
Harvest is the fourth studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released on February 15, 1972, by Reprise Records. It featured the London Symphony Orchestra on two tracks and vocals by guests David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, and James Taylor. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks, and spawned two hit singles, "Old Man", which peaked at No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and "Heart of Gold", which reached No. 1. It was the best-selling album of 1972 in the United States.
A pretty good album, but I am not sure why people think this is is best album. He has at 3 other albums that easily clear this one. Overall, this didn't do a whole lot for me, but I did enjoy it. Mid 4.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but i always preferred Harvest Moon..this is really good and the pastoral imagery is beautiful. But A Man Needs a Maid is a just a horrid song.
What a great album!
Classic album. There are other Young records I prefer more, but a solid album nonetheless
pretty good
I think this album opens really strong "out on the weekend" is a great track that i really enjoy. I can give or take "harvest" but the real sin and the downfall of this album is "a man needs a maid" which is a genuine 3/10 listen slapped just three songs into what is otherwise a very good project. I wish i had a maid so she could listen to this song rather than me. After that things pick up, "heart of gold", "old man" and "needle and the damage done" are all fantastic tracks and wrangle the album back into the 4* category.
Really enjoyed this one. Always love a bit of Neil young . Was a tad disappointed that harvest moon wasn’t on this but I guess that’s on me. Also didn’t know Alabama before but my goodness what a banger Specific rating - 4.5 Fav song - old man Least fav - harvest
Old man, look at my life, 24 and there's so much more! Favourite song: Old Man Least: There's a World
Neil young album I can get behind
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9,
Better than I expected. Never heard a full Neil Young album before and I would definitely revisit this. Have a new appreciation for his role in rock history.
Just fantastic. High bop ratio but a few smudges. Neil Young rocks
I haven't heard the record for a long time. Brings back old memories.
I actually really liked this album. I liked when it brought in the Orchestra. It's not the preferred album to listen to when going through a breakup... just saying. there's definitely some feels.
Classic album and huge influence on a lot of acts I like.
Rating: 7/10 Short Review: Cute little country/folk rock album with some poignant lyricism. Sometimes tracks kind of blended together but it will probably grow on relisten
Easy listening. Nice flow. Was great to listen to while I was mowing a lawn.
Surprisingly doesn't hold up as well as the esteem I've always held it in after not listening to it for a while. I don't know, Neil has 15 great songs and then his self-righteousness comes through on the rest.
Solid
Neil Young is a great songwriter and it really shines through on this album. Heart of Gold and Old Man are my favorite tracks. Sadly not all the tracks hit like they do, but the album is really good nonetheless.
i likeeee ❤️ old man is my SONG
Pretty good, solid length too.
This album somehow has some of Neil's best song as well as some really smaltzy ones. Probably closer to 4.5 but alas.