Harvest

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

There is *a lot* of Neil Young on this list. This one is probably the pick. A very solid 10 track 37 minute conventional album with some of his best work on here. Old Man, Heart of Gold and Harvest the picks.

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.

I have always hated heart of gold. But everything else is wonderful.

Efter stor succes med crosby nash and still havde han brug for at vende tilbage til tidligere rødder og mere sig selv igen. Det resulterede så i hans gamle folk rock stil, country folk og Singer song writer. Teksterne er dagbogsagtige og ærlige. Jeg synes også produktionen lyder meget rå til tider og sommetider også som om det er optaget på meget gammelt udstyr som måske også er defekt. Men det er ikke alle sange. Han synes åbenbart senere at folk misforstod ham for at være for blød og det ledte til crazy horse senere.

Heard before challenge. This is where, for some, Neil really finds his stride. For me, it's another entry in an already stellar career up to this point that is affirmed by some really incredible songs. I'll always die on the hill of "A Man Needs A Maid", and I don't need to say anything else about "The Needle And The Damage Done"; plenty has already been said.

Neil Young is so good.

A quality Neil Young album, though not quite as good as After the Goldrush. We listened to this on our roadtrip back from Norwich and it was the perfect accompaniment.

Along with _After the Goldrush_, this is one of the two Neil Young albums that I own. He has way too many albums in this list but if you were to pick just one, there's a strong argument for this being it. His biggest selling record thanks to the success of _Heart of Gold_, it encapsulates a lot of what made him great.

Hey Neil (because I know Mr Young definitely reads through trifling internet reviews of his work): Thanks for this--the folky masterpieces, the searing and sad rockers, the crazy good guitar solo on Words, even the weird orchestral ones. It was super important to me in 1987. And it kicks ass.

reminds me of my grandpa :))

Was really surprised by how much I liked this one. Liked the harmonica and slide guitar especially, and there was a nice variety between each song. Would give 4.5 if I could

Classic Neil Young (probably my best known). Only track that's a skip for me is Man Needs a Maid

Great

what the hell sure

A couple good songs, overall pleasant

Started slow but love the 3 hits. Alabama and Words were nice surprises. 4/5

this is my type of music!!

Love.

surprisingly good

8/10

Listened to this some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed. While I wouldn't say its his best, there are some great and popular tracks on here.

I only got into Neil Young 15 years ago, but then bought a lot of his albums including this little beauty

A couple of iconic songs. very consistent style, maybe too melancholy for me (or the me that is listening to it today)

Reminds me of my dad

I liked this

Just an amazing album, beautifully written with great music 4/5 might come back for 5*

Its a classic

It’s similar to the current albums I’m listening to. I really like it! Perfect for slow days that I also want to be moving. I feel less like an old man, more of a person while listening.

Ok truthfully I didn’t get all the way through it, but “A Man Needs a Maid” goes kinda crazy. I’m not even sure how much I like it but the orchestral backing is super interesting. I like how earnest it is

This was better than expected

Nostalgic

Was fairly similar to Deja Vu, obviously since they're are both folk albums. This one had a bit of a slower pace which was great, especially in the last track. Favorite Track: Alabama

Stunner and a classic

I picked this.

Already listened to this album and it amazing. 4/5. Highlights: Heart of Gold, Old Man, A Man Needs a Maid, Needle and Damage Done

An album right in my musical wheelhouse. Love the raw sound and the lyrical content is fantastic in most places. Track by track there are some weak points that bring the album down a few fractions, and as a whole it seems a little filler heavy and almost unfinished as a whole record (37 minutes with two live tracks tacked on). Old Man, Alabama, and Heart of Gold are absolute classics. I prefer CSNY records, but this one is still very good. 3.75/5 rounding up to 4.

Old man was super good. The entire album gave Summer or fall roadtrip vibes. I also really liked Out on the Weekend

Wait I can actually get behind this...

Heard many of these songs over the years many times. Never listened to the whole album. It’s masterful storytelling in song . Look forward to the whole album experience

I don't like this as much as "After the Goldrush"... and of the two, this feels the more mainstream. The Neil Young songs I heard on the radio before knowing who Neil Young was were definitely off this album. After a few listens, I've come around to it more. "Old Man" and "Alabama" are standouts. Wasn't expecting "There's a World", but pleasantly interesting. I saw an article once call Alex G the Neil Young for the modern generation. Considering my love of Alex G, I think it makes sense that I've coming around to Young's work so quickly.

נההההדדרדדד מממש ממש יפה רציתי להקשיב לאלבום כבר הרבה זמן ולא ידעתי שיש בו כל כך הרבה שירים שאני מכיר ומחבב מאוד

Favourite Neil Young album Favourite Track - The Needle And The Damage Done 8/10

Still love it.

Not really a fan of this type of music, but it's a nice album and I understand why it deserves a spot.

Hhmmm

Not my favourite album, but I thought the sequencing was very good, with a great build towards the end, I loved Words and Alabama, both of which I hadn’t heard before - earlier tracks blend into one a bit for me.

Brilliant lyricist and great band.

What a nice album to listen to. Neil Young is great. No real hits on this one for me, but no misses. Out on the Weekend ★★★☆☆ Harvest ★★★☆☆ A Man Needs a Maid ★★★★☆ Heart of Gold ★★★★☆ Are You Ready for the Country? ★★★★☆ Old Man ★★★★☆ There’s a World ★★★★☆ Alabama ★★★★☆ The Needle and the Damage Done ★★★☆☆ Words (Between the Lines of Age) ★★★☆☆ Average Album Rating: 3.6/5.0 ★★★★☆

It has that “legendary” feel but I’m not super into him

Agréablement surpris, j’aime presque tous les morceaux, Il m’aura fallu seulement 2 écoutes pour rentrer dedans. Des riffs des guitares à apprendre ici pour améliorer son jeu rythmique.

Not an album I’ve ever sat down to listen to which is shocking but what kismet it was that it was the first one that generated. I’m glad to say I’ve listened to it, listened at 2am so glad it was a quick 37 min. Dripping with emotion so probably not a casual listen for me. There’s A World really took me by surprise, very grand and unexpected. The Needle and The Damage Done broke my heart. I can tell a lot of took inspo from his wispy vocals, especially 2000s indie rock artists like Elliot Smith. Fav tracks were Heart of Gold (already knew I liked but liked even more in context with the album), Alabama, Old Man, Words, and Are You Ready for the Country?

1 4 6 9

Nice vibe

I'm now 3/3 for Neil Young albums in this project, which is causing me to rethink my previously held assumptions. It's not that I outright disliked his music, but it never did much for me. Maybe it's age or actually taking the time to listen, but I liked this quite a bit. Its legacy as a classic has long been cemented—nothing more so than "Heart of Gold"—so my late-arriving thumbs up doesn't mean anything. But I'll add my voice to the chorus singing Harvest's praises.

Some really iconic songs. Listening to Old Man in the context of the whole album is the way to do it

Finally a Neil Young album that's actually as good as all these Neil Young albums are supposed to be...

folk tranquilo estilo bob dylan, suena bien, lo escucharía otra vez, mood chill

Old folk rock isn't usually a genre I like listening too so I was a little disappointed but I was kind of down and I think it put me in the right state of mind for the album and I ended up kind of liking it 7/10 Best song: alabama

Loved

Great Neil Young collection, including a couple of his most popular. I like the fact that some of the songs are more folksy and some have hard-edged guitar. 4/5

An album pinched from mum and dad, which I heard throuout my childhood. A necessity in every collection. 1. Heart of Gold 2. Old Man 3. Words

Certainly not Neil’s biggest fan, but this one is definitely one of his best and most tolerable.

That’s that good shit

Cool mix of country and more complex stuff Great album overall

Words (between the lines of age) was my favorite. Heart of Gold being the hit is wild in my opinion. Fantastic song, but Words did something to my soul & that breakdown in the middle is heavenly

nice songs id play in the background.

This isnt my favorite Neil Young album in terms of the actual track list, but the star power here is undeniable. You have James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and the rest of CSNY popping in, which already gives the album a huge lift. The orchestral arrangement on “A Man Needs a Maid” is phenomenal. It hits way harder than you expect and feels almost cinematic. And Ben Keith’s pedal steel throughout the album is unreal. He adds so much warmth and texture that it ends up being one of the highlights of the whole record. Even if it is not my personal top Neil Young album, it’s still a classic for a reason. I slept on Neil Young for way too long throughout my life. Definitely didn’t appreciate his work until recently.

Good album. First listen for me.

the orchestration surprised me!!

I JUST listened to Neil Young like 3 days ago and now they give me another Neil Young album. Sigh. I previously listened to Tonight's The Night from 1975 and today it's his 1972 album...which wasn't horrible. I originally wrote a review for this album that was overly harsh. After listening to it a bit more, I think the appeal for Neil Young is directly his ability to speak to regular people. He's a brilliant songwriter and his songs on this album and Tonight's the Night are relatable for normal people. He's also not a great singer. A Man Needs a Maid is particularly "amateurish" in singing ability and in many of the songs he's saved by his features....who happen to be Crosby or Stills. But I think the bad singing is what makes him a bit more relatable. He's a great storyteller and I guess it doesn't matter if you're a sensational vocalist if you can still convey that emotion and feeling. Overall I can't say that i'm a *fan* of Young but I can understand the appeal as he has a way of speaking to regular people. Old Man is a good example of this, even though the protagonist is 24, there's this dooming feeling of "getting old" and what that means and the fear of being alone. Even though the "old man" would laugh at a 24 year old having these worries, it doesn't mean the feelings are invalid. Time goes by fast and that 24 year old will quickly be that "old man". We see that today when people that are like 27 are "Unc status".

Neil at his best

The quintessential Neil

I bought this album when Sonic Youth was on tour with Neil Young and I was familiar with the radio hits that came off of it. I think there are some songs on here. I think his voice sometimes may almost be a disservice to the well crafted songs but their his songs to do how he wants. I'd love to hear some covers of Harvest and Out On The Weekend

A good jazz album. Can't believe it's more than 50 year old.

There are so many Neil Young albums in this challenge, but Harvest really stands out as one of the best. The album is packed with great songs, and Heart of Gold feels like Young’s finest moment, a perfect blend of warmth, melody, and timeless songwriting. Harvest is undoubtedly one of his strongest folk records, full of charm and beautifully crafted tracks. Favourite track: Heart of Gold: A genuinely perfect song. Least favourite track: A Man Needs a Maid didn’t land for me at all; it felt overly sentimental and almost like a slightly off Christmas tune with the heavy use of strings. Album artwork: A classic cover that suits the album perfectly.

Klassiker, aber die Hits bleiben die klaren Highlights. Schwache 4 Sterne.

Ganz ganz starke 4, kurz vor 5. Nach den letzten Alben war ne gute Overdosis Pathos (A Man Needs a Maid) gerade das, was ich gebraucht habe. Ansonsten wird's bestimmt ne 5 nach ein paar weiteren Durchgängen.

The story is Neil towed someone to a middle of a pond and played the album from big speakers to them in a rowboat. I listened on a Tuesday morning, driving in my work truck, in the middle of the first snow storm of the year in Pennsylvania, and it was a perfect atmosphere to listen to it. Just an introspective for Neil and for me. I don’t love every song but the ones I do are masterpieces. Stand out songs: maybe it’s cliche but old man and heart of gold are standards for a reason

very likeable album, one can easily see why it's his most commercially successful one

Arrancamos semana completa con Neil Young y un disco que ubicaba por su tapa. De sonidos amables y rockeros de a momentos, es un álbum ideal para una mañana nublada y para transitar el trabajo. ¡Qué importante tener buena música para esto! Muchas gracias y hasta mañana.

Otro clásico que no habia escuchado nunca. Sigo confirmando que este no es mi género pero tiene un sonido nostálgico y lo siento muy innovador en comparación a las otras cosas que escuchamos de country, capaz es el que más me gusto de los que nos salieron. Que bien toca la guitarra este hombre también Favs: Out On The Weekend, Heart of Gold, Old Man, Words

I don't think Neil Young can sing. and yet.

I could probably do without the grandiose orchestral tracks, but other than this two this is an excellent record. Favorite track: Heart of Gold

Big CSN&Y fan.. not so much Neil Young solo but registering to this album it has grown on me.

My favorite recommendation so far. True soulful, heartfelt music. Gave me a few songs for the ol' emo playlist

Great

Great album

Very good

Really good.

I needed Neil today 4/5

great song, but not my kind

Short and concise. Enjoyable whole way through. Not many thoughts on after my first listen. Does what it sets out to do and does it well

4.5 stars. Phenomenal folk rock album. Just enough steel guitar with Young's talented songwriting and wistful/nostalgic singing voice. More orchestral elements than I was expecting. No weak tracks and standouts are the mega-hits, "Heart of Gold" and all-timer "Old Man".

Mellow 70s with a lot of familiar songs. Need to listen again

The hits are incredible. The rest is pretty good.

I like Neil Young but you do have to be in the right mood to truly enjoy it. Listening to 'out on the weekend' while cycling on my way to work in the pouring rain on a dark Wednesday morning made me feel depressed but hearing it again in the evening under a blanket with a joint in the comfort of my own house I felt relaxed and pleased about the simplicity of life. This tonal difference is very subjective and while it is a remarkable thing to accomplish, it does make it so I can't enjoy the full album in one sitting. While 'heart of gold' and 'old man' are timeless classics and enjoyable whenever, I feel like you have to be in a different mindset to really like 'words (between the lines of age)' or 'a man needs a maid'. If I could I would give this album 3.5 stars but because 'heart of gold' was my introduction to the lovely music of Neil Young a while ago, I'll give it 4 stars

Beautiful album, Old Man is a song that hits me every time. I didn’t know the other tracks except maybe for heart of gold, but liked most of them too. Harvest is probably my second favorite song and then The Needle and the damage done. Such a nice mood, a little sad and melancholic but I like it a lot. Great for listening to in the evening.

This is a “great album, but.” In terms of greatness: the opening song, “Out on the Weekend,” if you’re lonely, you can feel right into it. “Old Man,” the platonic ideal of a country rock song - perfect in every way. “Alabama” - ouch. (Side note: just got done with a Stevie Wonder album from this same year, which also had a blistering song about racism tucked away near the album’s close.) In terms of “great, BUT.” Whatever deeper meaning there might be to “A Man Needs a Maid,” and I can believe there is one, it’s lost in this overly dramatic orchestral production. Like, really? And I feel just about the same way with “There’s a World.” Having said that, this is a good album… listen to it all but next time you might skip a track or two. Around this same time he recorded my favorite of his albums, Tonight’s the Night. Released a couple years later, and flawless!

I'm always impressed by Neil Young's ability to swing from the dark and serious to the silly within a single album.

Some good ole Neil Young. A few great songs, a few alright songs. All together it's pretty good. It's hard to really make any specific notes. I found it interesting how he had such an orchestral vibe to some songs, oddly very non Neil Young of him. Fun stuff, nothing bad to say about my Canadian icon

I was not familiar with you game Neil, I apologize. At times soulful, at times orchestral, this album captures a unique melancholy of lost friends, and lost time. Favorite track was Alabama

Fucking Neil Young again…but Heart of Gold is such a good song.

A few lackluster songs but overall very good.

Neil Young's most commercially successful and most critically acclaimed album. Album includes several guest vocalists. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #72 (2023) Best Songs Out on the Weekend Heart of Gold Old Man

i really enjoyed this, Neil Young’s voice is so pleasant and the strings in these songs are beautiful.

Not my favorite Neil, but there's some classics.

I’ve not listened to much Neil Young, although I have a friend or two who are super-fans. I loved this album-thoughtful, tuneful, mellow.

A friend of mine went to see Neil Young recently….

It's good and I like the vibe but it doesn't still click as a crazy incredible masterpiece.

Better than I expected

klasse

so the thing I have learned about folk sounding music is that if it includes a harmonic it's dogshit and if it doesn't it is average or even better, also back half of this album is incredible

Great album but a bit variable, hence not the full five stars. Prefer the more melodic songs to the heavier ones.

This is an album that I've always wanted to listen but always found an excuse to not listen. I was expecting a lot from it as it is the best album of basically all my favourite artists but I was a little bit underwhelmed with his voice. The production and the storytelling is great, so it is understandable how influential this album is, it is a beautiful album. . However, I thought Neil Young pull out his album from Spotify, yet, I listened to Harvest there... .

Ett fint countryalbum. För visst är detta mer country än något annat. Lite spretigt i produktionen. Rejält Lofi emellanåt. Detta ger samtidigt en viss charm.

5. Great album

I mean, it's just a classic. Heart of Gold and Old Man are some of the best songs ever written but the whole album is gold. Out on the Weekend is great along with Alabama and The Needle and the Damage is Done. Couple songs I'm not huge on like Harvest and A Man Needs A Maid (don't really care for the orchestra, still don't in There's A World). But still a great record.

I started this album without a lot of expectations because folk/country music isn't really my forte, but I can tell you after listening to it for a few times I actually enjoyed it. Yes, it was kind of slow-tempo at times, but the lyricism and the instruments make up for it in those specific songs. The song I like the most is "Words"; the guitar solo is really magnificent. Just for that, I wish I could play the guitar. This has nothing to do with the album, but when I was researching Neil Young, I went through his website. And let me tell you, it is AMAZING—the graphics and the way you can interact with each record. Also tit's really beautiful the aesthetic.

There’s something quietly beautiful about this album…it feels like I’m watching one of those flowers that only blooms one night every century. It struck me on “A Man Needs a Maid,” a song that I wasn’t the biggest fan of at first. Suddenly though, in comes the orchestra to lift Young’s voice and elevate the song into something beautiful and dramatic. From here the album hits its stride in full—Heart of Gold, Old Man and Alabama come in to buoy up the sound Young is trying to convey. Perfect album for a fall day!

Neil Young used to play in a band with Rick James. That's hard to imagine. Wonder if RJ ever gave Neil the ol' "F#$% YO COUCH!" treatment. 4/5 #211

The last of us.

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.

What did this man put in this album. Loved it. 9/10

Loved this, another great commute album to chill to.

A little inconsistent to me. But when it’s on, like Heart of Gold, Old Man, or the Needle and the Damage Done, it’s terrific. 7/10

Getting by quite fine without a maid.

Had this album already (50th anniversary deluxe with the live tracks included). Great album.

Out on the weekend. Heart of gold. Alabama. Great Melodies. Good Album.

I know alot more Neil Young songs than i thought i did. For the most part a great listen

Undoubtedly deserving its Classic status - very much of its time and place, arguably peak California boomer. May have only heard it twice before, but one evokes strong memories from that day. However, I am definately in the camp that finds the orchestra on a couple of the songs very overblown - though often a fan of these effects I.don't think they work with these songs. That said, I do hear the influence of later stuff like Flaming Lips here - through bringing in The London Symphony to declare you need a maid does seem a little de trop.

I've always loved this album but it's been over a decade since I've listened to the album in its entirety. It's hard to accurately review for this since it has just become so nostalgic for me.

Neil Young is an excellent artist and this is a great album.

I really enjoyed this one — I’ve heard a lot of it growing up so it was cool to hear it all come together. It sounded like an amalgamation of Sirius XM in a good way. Feels like a time where things were softer.

Pretty solid album with two of his greatest hits but the orchestral numbers kind of took me out of the listening experience. Neil Young with an orchestra was a weird marriage and I think a more spare production is much more suitable for what he does.

Likes this one. Have listened to it before, a long time ago when I was at university. Brought back a lot of memories.

Album was good and sounded pretty decent but one of the songs was super sexist it sounded good but the sexism stopped it from making the playlist.

Great sound, enjoyed this a lot

The iconic Neil Young album that every record store has at least one copy of on vinyl. It’s not bad but maybe I’m just not a big Neil Young guy. Old Man is great and reminds me of a party I was at where me and a solid 10 were just screaming this song at each other and harshing everyone’s buzz, total humblebrag. The rest of the tracks all just blur together though. And the last 2 songs definitely feel like afterthoughts. Damn maybe I didn’t like this album as much as I thought? I’ll say it’s a 3.5 rounded up

More classic Neil Young; I am not mad at it. I prefer this one to Rust Never Sleeps overall, so thanks for this add. Songs are 'simple' with somewhat repetitive verses, but that was sort of record style in the early 70's. Orchestral arrangement of MAID is lovely though the lyrics need an explanation. The Needle and the Damage Done is poignant in its simplicity.. addiction sucks. Neil's voice is like an IPA- it's an acquired taste. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Old Man, Heart of Gold, ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved no tracks.

Classic

That was good. I had a copy of this album on cassette kindly gifted to me by a friend a really long time ago. It's not my normal cup of tea but it was a pleasant listen

Очередное открытие! Душевный фолк-рок от американского исполнителя. 7 из 10.

So, I’m about two Neil Young albums in and I kinda formed the opinion that I don’t like him. His voice is grating and I don’t really care for his songs. So naturally, when this came up, I was expecting to hate. But funnily enough, I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Neil still sounds like shit and not every song’s a winner, but there’s like a mellow energy to this. It somehow hits the right notes for me. So, this one gets a pass. I do not expect this to be the norm for Neil or else I’m going to have a long gaze into the mirror. Favorite track: A Man Need A Maid (it didn’t need to go that hard) Other hits: Harvest, Out on the Weekend, There’s A World, Heart of Gold

Great album, liked it more than I expected

3 sterne

Stone cold classic, if a little bit country for my tastes.

Was surprised by how much I enjoyed that. Maybe I do like folk. Old man is a banger even if I did feel bad for recognising it from insta reels

Nice!

Another Neil slapper. I think he might be incapable of making bad music. Heart of gold and old man obviously slap but everything else is so solid. I’m almost positive there’s a relatively good alt rock cover of old man that was popular and I shudder to say I think it’s puddle of mudd. There's some snoozing moments throughout this thing but nothing that really takes away from how good it is; I think I just prefer louder and heavy Neil personally.

I was like… this is a lot less MJ Lenderman how interesting, and then Alabama came on. Doppelgänger moment like even the guitar tone now is identical. Rly liked this album, not sure if I liked it better than on the beach tho

I can’t think of any other phrase to use here other than one I’ve used countless times before and probably on every other Neil Young record on this list, and that’s that it’s ‘one of those albums’. You know, one of those ones. You know? So timeless and respected that you can hardly talk about it, let alone bring anything new to the table. It’d be pointless. What I can say though is that, again, it’s ‘one of those’ that immediately draws you in, from the first notes of Out on the Weekend it’s clear that Harvest can be nothing but an eternal classic. I don’t even think Young is anywhere near his best here, indeed, one or two songs aren’t even that good - There’s a World especially sounds like a shitty cover of Sufjan Stevens’ actual cover, which I’m more familiar with. But when it hits hard, it’s unrelenting. Heart of Gold, Old Man, Words, it’s undeniable. He might just be the very best at this whole country rock thing.

Really not a fan of the orchestral songs on this album. But they can’t stop it being great.

Neil Young was on a roll in the 70s. Every album is good. I get his voice is acquired taste, but he really did write beautiful songs, especially on this album. You've got great tunes like Harvest, Old Man, Heart of Gold, The Needle and the Damage Done etc...

pretty fun

Nice

Iconic, gorgeous melodies and instrumentation

I really like Neil Young’s music .

It was nice. I don't really dig the harmonica tho

Okay maybe I DO like Neil Young...

Really like Neil Young, and Heart of Gold is such a classic. Listened multiple times.

It's great (not quite 5-stars great). Classic CAN heartland songs

Banger after banger

Really good. A bit too slow to grab my attention sufficiently enough for a first-listen 5, but has the potential to get there over time.

Old slow stuff that old guys like me listen to

It's funny, whenever Neil Young comes up on this list, I brace myself, but then I end up really liking the album. This was my favorite one we've gotten yet. Simply enjoyable to listen to, with lyrics that could keep you thinking for a while. Good stuff.

Melancholy, autumn-feeling. Probably the Neil Young album I’ve liked best. It grew on me as it went. Favorites: Old Man, Words

Folky and orchestral, while maintaining rock roots. Beautiful album. Heart of gold, old man, the needle and the damage done

a short one today! this was nice

Peak Neil Young, gubbigt men tycker ändå några av de här låtarna verkligen har nåt

Riktigt härlig musik.

Tre bästa: Old Man, Alabama, Needle and the damage done Sämsta: Man Needs a Maid Otrolig produktion, jag gillar Neils röst. 8/10

70's rock at its finest.

Love Uncle Neil, and this is one of his best. Awesome album.

Classic

Clearly a classic 70s rock album. Easy orchestral grand 70s rock

Heart of Gold starts off the conversation as one of the great songs of its era, musically and lyrically. Many other strong tracks. A Man Needs a Maid must be understood in the context of his personal health difficulties at that time. Torn between 4 and 5. 5 is reserved for albums that I would listen to over and over. This doesn't quite get there for me.

hermoso disco de Neil.

Ohne die Empfehlung hätte ich das Album wahrscheinlich nicht nochmal gehört...danke

Solid

4 - good album

Good songs but his voice starts to get to your after a while

Neil Young's albums is a massive blind spot for me. So odd that I don't already have this. Heard before? The singles Owned: No. 8/1001, 8/35 (22%) Will I get? Recommend: Getting rid of this field. Don't see the point.

4 1/2 stars

probably one of his better record, nice chill sounding country singer songwriter record, good harmonica and guitar as well, will have to listen again

Classic

Neal makes the 1001 Must Hear List yet again. Around 1977, L purchased Harvest as her first NY album (vinyl.) J bought it on cassette a few years later. This is back before your collection had a lot of albums, so it got plenty of play. We know it well. Some (5 or 6) legendary hits and a couple skippers; Man Needs a Maid and There’s a World. L = (3.7*s) Listened to a lot of “the man” on the way to work at King’s Grant throughout the late seventies. J = (3.4*s) He’s good, he’s whiny, and he’ll be back.

Yet another Neil album but this one is list worthy and his best. Surprised how much I like this album, even as a younger lad. It is slow and country-esque but it's deep and there is something about the burn of each ballad that gets ya. "Old Man" has been a favorite song of mine forever and I do agree "A Man Needs a (Bang) Maid." Not a bad track on the record. 3.89 stars for the reaping the Harvest.

I knew we would be running into this one. Despite being a little tired of Neil Young it was a welcomed entry. It's probably Neil Young's finest work from start to finish. I heard this album quite a bit growing up and a lot of the hits are still very deserving of any airplay they receive. While Neil Young is over-represented on this list there is no argument to be lobbed at Harvest as it really is a strong album whether Neil's folk rock sound is your thing or not. It is hard not to have Neil's other entries bring this one down a bit but it still deserves its marks. 3.68 stars

4.5

Mit „Heart of Gold“ landete er seinen einzigen Nummer-eins-Hit, ein sanfter, ehrlicher Song, der das Album zum Klassiker macht. Neben diesem Highlight glänzt Harvest mit introspektiven Stücken wie „Old Man“ und dem düsteren „The Needle and the Damage Done“. Die Mischung aus Folk, Country und Rock ist zeitlos, auch wenn nicht jeder Track gleich stark ist. Gerne mal wieder.

It is dissapointing to me that this album 'harvest' doesn't include my favourite song by him 'harvest moon' which I think would make my desert Island list. But my love for this song doesn't necessarily translate to a love of his music generally. Saying that I love an outspoken person that says stuff about advertising and boycotts.

4,0/5

chill, musique de fond

A classic! Strong songwriting and likely some of his best. I’m sure his voice is not for some people, but I’m not one of them.

I am a fan of Neil Young, but much prefer his Crazy Horse and rock sound than his acoustic music. I do still enjoy albums like “Harvest” but they’re not my favorite. This is still an excellent album with three of his most well known and greatest songs, but not what I will seek out when I want to listen to his music.

Obviously a classic album and one of his most beloved, but I personally think of it as more of a proof of concept than a great album. I love Neil Young, but he's at his best live, when he's not trying to gussy up simple music with complex orchestration. His simple melodies, straightforward guitar playing, and idiosyncratic voice are what unique and effective; covering those up with strings and harps doesn't elevate it, it just clashes. It's like putting on a pair of old overalls and then adding a tiara and thinking you're dressed up. It's somewhat incoherent. The clear top song of the album, for me at least, is The Needle and the Damage Done, the simplicity of which allows the emotion of the song to come through sincerely and without artifice. A Man Needs A Maid suffers the most from the unnecessary and overwrought strings; it's almost as if he heard Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left and tried (unsuccessfully) to replicate it. Any time I listen to Harvest, I end up wishing I had just listened to a live album instead (just not the one where he's Too High and can't make it though a single verse of Sugar Mountain without interrupting himself to spout some nonsense. I want to say it's Young Shakespeare).

It really is beautiful. His voice is delicate and raw. The instrumentation is beautiful. Some classic song writing. Its just not on heavy rotation for me. Very much at "the 60s were actually during the 70s" record.

Chill, easy listen with great production quality. This is a timeless classic.

Underrated classic.

Great find. I love Old Man and Alabama.

The guitars are fantastic. The orchestral tracks are stunning. The lyrics are captivating.

This is an album I've been eager to listen to for a long time. More country than some of his other offerings, country still seems the wrong way to describe it. Starts off slow, classic melancholy Neil Young but then "A man Needs a Maid" hits with a totally unexpected "big" sound. " Heart of Gold", "Old Man" " There´'s a World" "Alabama" all instant classics. I will buy this album.

Some great songwriting here.

I love this album. Always have. Young's unique blend of folk and rock creates something astounding. But "A Man Needs a Maid" can fuck off.

Not as good as After the Gold Rush, but dang solid still. His voice is so fragile it feels like it's about to burst sometime, but I'm here for it. Best song: Out on the Weekend Worst song: A Man Needs a Maid Cover check: Simple and rustic, could've been a vintage whiskey label. Fits the folk-country vibe well.