Fred Neil

“Fred Neil is the second album from Fred Neil, a pioneer folk rock musician.” In this one he captures an unwilling child for the photo shoot.

Nice voice, but his stylings are studiously lazy. Grating on the ears. Never heard “Fred Neil” by Fred Neil before, but I did know that Harry Nilsson was disappointed that Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” was chosen for Nilsson to sing as the title song of “Midnight Cowboy”, rather than his own composition, “I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City”. Nilsson’s version of “Everybody’s Talkin’” is much better. Lyrics utterly unpoetic. I remember seeing Fred Neil in the background of some old Bob Dylan footage, never knowing that Dylan actually got started in New York playing backup harmonica for Neil. Interesting reversal. The album “Fred Neil” doesn’t wow me now. I doubt it would have wowed me in 1966. 2/5

Something about the way this is recorded makes it sound extra nice. Folky in a good way, not like the mics used were bad or the instruments especially noisy, but that there was real warmth in the space it was being recorded. There is a great spectrum of songs, and a few of them are shining gems: The opener, Faretheewell, and the closing Raga. The other tracks are best when they utilize Neil's low register. There's something that doesn't quite cohere, though that might disappear after further listening.

Nick Cave meets Neil Young, with hints of David Gray, Johnny Cash, Eels, and St Paul & the Broken Bones, which (let's face it) is a pretty spectacular review. I didn't expect much from this seemingly little known 1960s folk album, but it turns out to be brilliant. A deep, soulful voice singing mournful querying lyrics with engaging, natural melody over evocative music is great. Does what it does perfectly. 4/5.

I thought this was a very good softer, quieter rock album, primarily with Western and folk themes but with some more exotic sounds towards the end of the album. A 4 star rating might not do this one justice, but I don't think it quite rises to the "absolute classic" level of a 5.

Chill classic country vibes, cool.

Comme vous le savez probablement, l'existence de ce générateur a pour unique finalité l'organisation de l'émission "Le Grand Quiz du Générateur" présentée conjointement en direct de Kiev par Nikos et Arthur. La préparation des candidats a déjà commencé avec la création de la playlist officielle sur Spotify. Sachez qu'à chacune de mes séries d'entraînement, le nouveau venu Fred Neil a été trouvé à chacune de ses apparitions. Et sans forcer.

Now this is great example of why listening to the 1001 Albums is so worth it. I never heard of Fred Neil and I had no idea what to expect given the album cover, but I'm really glad this is on the list. Here's a guy who invited a young Bob Dylan on stage with him and who influenced Steven Stills, David Crosby, and Joni Mitchell. Wow. Really nice vibe on this album and his voice is outstanding. Great album from start to finish. Everybody's Talkin' became a hit when covered by Harry Nillson in 1969 for the movie Midnight Cowboy. I think the original version on this album is better. His voice is fantastic. Really liked the vibe on songs like I've Got a Secret, Faretheewell, and Green Rocky Road. The Dolphins was a nice chill opener. Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raja has a pretentious name, but it's a cool vibe to end an excellent album.

Took me by surprise, a really great subdued and acoustically wonderful endeavor

I don't think I ever would have listened to this on my own, and I'm glad I did. There's a little country in there, and also hear Chris Isaak, which makes complete sense. And a couple of tracks that we know because of more famous singers recording them.

Did you know this guy fucked dolphins? 2.5 stars

This is great. Really great. Some great originals, at least one true classic, and some great covers/traditional numbers. I’ve never heard of Fred Neil but his work clearly had a profound influence on Jerry Garcia who would cover many of the same songs with the Dead. This seems an important album in the evolution of folk away from its strict, traditionalist roots and into the realm of free-loving rock and roll. That, and I find Fred’s voice profoundly beautiful. And his original lyrics simple, sweet, and deep. This album has no fat. It carefully captures a watershed moment in the evolution of folk, rock, and Americana. This is one of my favorite discoveries yet.

Oh yeah, I loved this - one of my favorite discoveries from this project so far. Mellow and smooth enough to blend into the background if you're not focusing on it, but rewards attention if you do. Strong opener with "The Dolphins". I'm a sucker for Elizabeth Cotton covers, so loved track 2, and then the quality holds up as the album keeps going, finishing with a psychedelic raga - great stuff! Fave track - "That's the Bag I'm In" for the relatable pessimism...

This album was terrific. Neil has a really sonorous voice and the backing instrumental arrangements are tasteful and creative. Great songs and a really good album.

Country tinged folk rock, was quite enjoyable

Can't believe I have never heard this album. So good. Will add to my vinyl collection.

Great voice, gentle songs.

Smooth and classic. High quality country-folk with some unexpected hits. We enjoyed chilling out to this.

Great record. I had never heard of Fred Neil. Worth a listen.

Brooding folk rock with style.

I actually quite enjoyed this one. Kind of folk rock or country. It was good

Country twang with some class and heart. It was smooth and passionate, undoubtedly enjoyable.

A decent folk record for a rainy day.

Mediocre folk relic tho it's cool to see the original everybody's talking.

Alors que je rencontrais Fred Neil en 1966 peu avant la sortie de son album, voici quelques extraits de nos échanges: ---- Moi: "Eh Fred, comment ça va depuis que tu t'es fait larguer? T'es toujours aussi nul?" Fred Neil: "J'essaye de remonter la pente, et de m'améliorer autant que possible jour après jour" --- Moi: "Eh Fred, j'ai vraiment pas apprécié comment tu m'as parlé l'autre jour, viens un peu tâter de ma salade de coup de poings" Fred: "Je suis désolé je n'avais pas pour intention de te vexer, j'accepte ma punition" ---- Moi: "Eh Fred, t'es vraiment qu'un pauvre type, en plus regarde un peu ce bide, t'as avalé un trombone ou quoi?" Fred: "C'est vrai que je me suis un peu laissé aller recemment, il faut que je me me reprenne en main" ---- Vous l'aurez compris, cet album n'avait aucun caractère.

This guy didn’t want to be in the music business and just wanted to live at the beach and fuck dolphins and squeeze the heads of any passing children who got too close to his strong tanned arms. Shouldn’t we respect his wishes and let him leave the music business completely by not listening to his albums ever? I’m certainly going to.

Hmm, like being trapped in a 60s coffeehouse. Groovy man.

Not my thing - overrated album in my view (for what *that's* worth). I often felt like the musicians were playing different songs at the same time. +1 because Fred has a pleasant voice. Oh and Harry Nilson did "Everybody's Talkin'" better.

Love his voice, but it's telling that the best song on here is done so much better by by a cover two years later. Unfortunately I just don't think there's enough here unless you're really into sleepy country-sounding folk.

In a nutshell: moody folky blues. Introspective music is okay, but not this. Many songs could've been cut in half. Lyrically disengaging. Neil sounds like a chronically depressed Donovan. Overall: 2/10

So great. Makes me miss Kris Kristofferson.

Extremely good album and a nice genre change of pace

I came across Fred Neil because of a cover of Dolphins by Billy bragg and never looked back. This album is just pure beauty. His voice is incredible accompanied by a beautiful array of instruments. I do not own a physical copy of this, but this has reminded me that i need to

This is pretty forward-thinking for an album from 66. I love the varied instrumentation, and he has a great voice. The 8 minute raga track at the end really surprised me too.

As it starts off, I think that his voice might have too much of a country twang for me to get into...but then I recognize the song. Or almost recognize the song. I wrack my brain trying to find where I know it from. I check the Wiki page and look for covers. I search in Google to find a hint. Then it hits me and I go off to confirm. BUT THIS HAPPENED FOR ALMOST EVERY SONG ON THIS ALBUM!! Maybe not whole songs, but there are enough borrows or straight up lifts all throughout things I listen to. And I jumped down a bit of a rabbit hole and found an article titled, "Fred Neil, The Greatest Singer-Songwriter You’ve Probably Never Heard Of". This checks out. Now I know what to listen out for. Now I know this man is quietly in the blueprint and genes of a great deal of music that I enjoy. Damn. The things you find out.

I think this is going to be an artist like Nick Drake that gets better the longer it marinates.

Fred Neil by Fred Neil, what an unexpected delight! The nondescript eponymous title and slightly terrifying album cover would have ensured I kept on flipping if I found this in a record store. How wrong I was to judge Fred by his cover. His gravelly, soulful voice lends itself perfectly to the country-leaning folk instrumentals. The instrumental moments are some of my favourites, especially on the peculiar closer "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" and "Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)". An ode to Murphy's Law, "That's The Bag I'm In" is a cynical, yet humorous gem. Some light reading would reveal that this album was re-released 3 years on (1969) with the title "Everybody's Talkin'", a name befitting the hype this album deserved but likely didn't receive. Top 3: 1. That's The Bag I'm In 2. The Dolphins 3. Everybody's Talkin' Bottom 1: Sweet Cocaine Overall Score: 8.9/10 (rounded to five stars as I can't give this 4.5 stars and 4 wouldn't do it justice)

Could've done without the raga at the end - but I feel churlish starting on a negative note, as almost everything else on this collection is sensational. Superb writing chops, judicious instrumentation and one helluva voice (one of the coolest I've heard in a while) elevate this to the top of tree. I like a lot of folk rock from this era - why hadn't I heard of this one before now? I would feel miffed, but that's overriden by the joy of a new discovery, one that really speaks to me.

Fuck Bob Dylan, this is where it's at. 0/5 album cover though

On arrival me and my partner were nervous but once we saw the other doggers we felt at ease. The road was a bit noisy but other than that a great crowd. Thx Dai and Linz xx

Fantastic…. and a strange link to the man being involved with The Dolphin Project in his later life is a strange link to what my son is interested in…

I had never heard of this guy before but knew a couple of the songs. Wonderful discovery. Thank you!

Solid, quality, true record.

Super atmospheric and vibey. Fred Neil has a fantastic voice. Great folk record

I didn't know what to expect when I saw this cover, but it was NOT this. I can fully understand why the "hippie" artists loved this album. The OG version of "Everybody's Talkin" is far superior to the Nilsson one. If Fred Neil was 10 years younger, had long, flowing locks, and had completely changed the cover art, this album would have made him a huge star.

Oh man, this one hit the spot. I’m a big fan of Bill Callahan and Fred Neil carried that same dry wit delivery that draws me to his music. From the first track, The Dolphins caught my attention immediately, a truly beautiful tune. That’s the Bag I’m In is a top tier blues track, lyrics are just so clever. Excellent rock and twang album here, Neil’s relaxed vocals blend so well well with the skillful harmonica and guitar. This is an exactly the type of album discovery that keeps me excited to carry on with this experiment. 5 stars

What a record! Like Dylan meets Lou Reed but they get a baritone to sing it.

starts off VERY slow and gets better as the album goes on. the last few songs are S tier and the final semi-experimental instrumental track is fantastic. album saved and will be listened to again

Fred Neil performing the soundtrack to inside llewyn davis

I was really enjoying this and then, oh!, there’s the song from Midnight Cowboy and that just made it better. This felt good.

An unsung masterpiece. Got to know Fred Neil through two things: Nilsson's version of "Everybody's Talking" for *Midnight Cowboy*, of course, but also the use of "Dolphins" for a quite memorable scene in the arguably best TV series of all time *The Sopranos*--during which Christopher Moltisanti is high on heroin and tripping in a funfair at night. Those two tracks are the two highlights of the album for sure. But "Badi-Da", " Everything Happens" and "Sweet Cocaine" stellar as well. Such a huge talent, and such a perfect crooning voice. 5/5. Number of albums left to review: 470 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 252 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 120 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 156

This is one of those times that following this list pays off. I had no idea who Fred Neil was before, having always thought Harry Nielson wrote Everybody's Talkin' I spent the day listening to a few of his other albums and this on repeat

So good

this is the bag i'm in. best album i've never heard of that's come up on this list. Anton newcombe has listened to this album a lot of times.

Excellent - Fred Neil's voice in combination with his fine guitar is mesmerising at times and always deeply soulful.

Suena a ponerle CBD al primer café de la mañana. 13 estrellas pachecas.

I LOVE THIS!

Crooner music

Probably helps I just watched the Dylan Biopic but love me some early 60s ne work folk music.

THIS IS WHY I KEEP COMING BACK!

Love The Dolphins, have done since Guy Garvey insisted on playing it regularly on Sundays. Don't care too much for the Buckley cover. There's a song about how much he loves cocaine, and instead of using metaphor, he just says it. The long raga finishes things off well. I don't have a lot to say but this is great little singer songwriter album and I'm glad I heard it.

How did I not know this guy?? I love this folky, outlaw country stuff. Great grooves and harmonies without overplaying his hand. Meaningful lyrics and fun arrangements. My only complaint is that he didn’t whistle more. That was beautiful.

As mentioned by others here, albums like this is why I started this daily listening project. If I’d heard of Fred Neil before (due to Midnight Cowboy), I’d forgotten about him. His life story is amazing. It sounds like the shape of music as we know it would not become what it was without him. He gave Bob Dylan a shot, influenced Dylan and the scene by apparently writing the first major Greenwich Village protest song. Dylan went on to do his thing, and in turn influence the Beatles, and the rest is history. Nilsson’s version of Everybody’s Talkin at Me is one of my favorites from the era, so to think that song wouldn’t exist without Fred Neil, who I’d never even registered before, is bananas. Then, after, he went on to influence Jefferson Airplane, etc. This guy lived a life. As for the album itself- super chill and super vibing. Not epic classic status, but I’d definitely put this on again. At first, I thought he was an Elvis copycat, but as the album went on, I felt more of an aura of the era. Truly, he was the king of the Village folk scene. I think it’s time for a Fred Neil renaissance. Let’s bring this music back into public awareness. Why’s this guy mostly forgotten?

Old time country sounds, cool rainy day vibes

Very nice, I’ll go back to that!

I'd give this 3.5 stars, personally, but I'm going to bump up to 4 stars, as I think it deserves that more than 3 stars. This is not something i think I'll revisit much, but for 1966, I think it has a nice mix of genres and good/interesting songwriting. I didn't expect something that was a mix of more folk music and almost Elvis-like crooning.

Très bon petit album de folk, qui s'écoute tout seul.

Fantastic.

Kinda crooner-ish,but with some world music influences

Even if you’ve never heard the name Fred Neil, you’ve almost certainly heard his music. His songs—especially Everybody’s Talkin’—have taken on a life of their own, even as Neil himself all but disappeared from the industry. For the most part, I enjoyed what Fred Neil has to offer, though the mythology around it looms large. Neil was one of those figures who seemed to exist on the fringes, deeply respected by his peers but uninterested in fame. After this album, he essentially walked away from the industry, retreating to Florida to focus on dolphin conservation rather than songwriting. That sense of detachment, of someone already half-gone, lingers in these songs. Musically, the album carries the DNA of blues and early rock & roll, but also folds in folk and jazz influences, creating a sound that feels loose yet deliberate. Neil’s deep, resonant baritone is the gravitational pull of the record, guiding songs that are more about mood than melody, more about atmosphere than immediacy. The Dolphins is a wistful, hypnotic opener, setting the tone with its rolling, meditative groove. Ba-De-Da drifts into mantra-like repetition, while Candy Man injects some folk-blues swagger into the mix. Even Little Bit of Rain—one of the album’s more conventional ballads—feels weightless, as if it’s floating just out of reach. Ultimately, Fred Neil is an album that seeps into your soul rather than grabbing you outright. The arrangements, while sparse, are carefully constructed to let the songs breathe. It’s easy to see why so many musicians—Jefferson Airplane, Tim Buckley, Nick Cave, Kurt Vile—worshipped Neil, even if the mainstream barely noticed. If you’re in the right mood, this album feels like stepping into a quiet, half-lit world where time slows and everything dissolves into the sound of Neil’s voice.

Very cool album. Heard one of the songs before and didn't know it was by him. Stand out song - Everybody's talkin

Enjoyed this massively as a big Harry Nilsson fan

Really enjoyed this. Some great tunes and a voice that reminds me of Bill Callahan

This was pretty enjoyable! Folky calm and I knew some of them already. Quite paired back this album I thought. Soothing

this is a good album elevated to a great album by Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga

This was a delightful find. Never heard of him nor the album so went in blind. Love the voice, the guitar playing, the variety of influences and the suprise hit.

Raise your hand if you remember Fred Neil. Talented songwriter!

Pretty relaxing

Що я знаходжу для себе цікавого у старому американському #folkrock -у, так це приємну, та якусь, «транквільну гіпнотичність». І цей альбом не став виключенням. Він дозволяє, по-справжньому, розслабитись та просто тихо насолоджуватись. Але, що цікавого та особливого в цьому альбомі, так це те, що Fred Neil, напевно і придумав цю саму «гіпнотичність». Саме Fred є ключовою фігурою, що почав додавати до традиційного фолку, той самий, рок та джаз, а також використовував електричні інструменти разом із акустичними. Крім цього, зі слів інших музикантів, цей альбом, має чи не найбільший вплив на, так званих, singer-songwriter-ів. Для прикладу, вже відомий нам, Harry Nillson робив кавер на Everybody’s Talkin’, що разом із Sweet Cocaine є моїми найулюбленішими піснями на цьому альбомі.

Interesting and influential folk

Folkish, like Bob Dylan but with a deeper voice. I liked it.

I hadn’t heard of Fred Neil before. Apparently he’s a pioneering folk musician, though only achieved notoriety for others covering his songs and being influenced by him. I saw that he was looked up to by the likes of Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills, and David Crosby. After listening to this self-titled album of his, I can certainly hear the legacy. This is folk album led by acoustic guitar with prominent harmonica accompaniment that’s well-played and pleasant to have in the background. You get a good sense of the musicianship from the personnel involved with Fred. This is especially the case for the eight-minute instrumental closer “Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga” in which they took their folk-rock instruments and created an Indian-esque classic instrumental piece of improvisation. Pairing with the good instrumentation are the lyrics in which I get a harrowing sense hardships endured. Whether it’s the narrator being lost in their thoughts on “Everybody’s Talkin’”, the yearning for escapism on “The Dolphins”, or the lower-class and poverty imagery on “That’s the Bag I’m In” and “Everything Happens”, these songs invoke the feeling of being down on your luck and looking for something better in life, even if the framing is rather simplistic. While I get the pathos of this album and it’s well-played, it doesn’t quite go beyond being a decent record. It’s still a 1960s folk record, complete with grainy production that can feel muted in places, and a couple of cover songs added for a longer runtime even if I think they did well with the traditional “Sweet Cocaine”. Still, I had a pleasant time with Fred Neil’s album, and I’m glad to have enjoyed it beyond the historical significance of his influence.

An interesting background character that probably never got as much due as he should have. Great voice and songwriting.

This album turned out to be much better than I expected. Blending elements of country, folk, and rock, it delivers a rich, soulful listening experience that feels timeless. Neil’s deep, resonant voice adds an emotional weight to every track, making it hard not to get drawn in. The album’s mellow vibe shifts into something truly unexpected with its closer, “Cynicrustpetefredjohn.” It’s a wild, chaotic ride that feels like the result of sweet... inspiration, or maybe something stronger. Either way, it’s a bold, unforgettable ending to an album that’s well worth your time.

Better than expected

Eu provavelmente nunca teria ouvido esse álbum por conta própria, mas fico muito feliz por ter dado a chance. Fred Neil é um excelente exemplo de por que vale a pena explorar os 1001 álbuns antes de morrer. A música tem uma suavidade que permite servir de trilha sonora discreta ao fundo, mas, quando você presta atenção, revela camadas emocionais e uma beleza única. Sua voz profunda, transmite letras melancólicas, enquanto as melodias naturais se entrelaçam com a música evocativa, criando uma experiência auditiva que é ao mesmo tempo relaxante e profundamente envolvente.

Didn't know what to expect at all, but that was pretty good.

While I’m not familiar with Fred Neil I am a fan of Harry Nilsson’s version of “Everybody’s Talkin’.” This is the first time I’ve heard the original and I loved it! I kept thinking how contemporary artist Orville Peck has a very similar vocal and writing style as Fred, with obvious Elvis Presley inflections. Overall this is a great folk rock album that I have overlooked throughout the years and I’m glad I get a chance to experience it now for the first time.

What an absolute badass this dude is. Wrote and sang a bunch of awesome early folk songs, wrote songs for Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, mentored Bob Dylan and David Crosby, wrote a song that won a Grammy ("Everybody's Talkin'" from this album got covered by Harry Nilsson and won the award), and then abruptly quit music and spent 30 years saving dolphins. 10/10 life, no notes. I'd never heard of Fred Neil before, but I'm very into this. I'm a sucker for early folk music in the first place, but this is solid throughout. He's got a deep, powerful voice and it works. Really solid album. Favorite song: Everybody's Talkin' Other: The Dolphins, I've Got A Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree), That's The Bag I'm In, Farethewell (Fred's Tune), Sweet Cocaine, Green Rocky Road 11/26/24

who knew!! I LOVE THIS what fun to discover that Fred Neil was behind certain tracks - the originator of what I thought was someone else's song! Really enjoyed the vibe and mood the whole album created and was very impressed by his guitar skills - great album

On first hearing was ready to dismiss and almost turn off, but later sat and gave a more attentive listen and did an almost 180. There is a cool introspective atmosphere, sung with a great vocal that just drew me in.

I must have been sheltered growing up, because I've never heard of Fred Neil until today when this album popped up on my listen for the day. I had no expectations going into this, but overall I'm liking this. Definitely folk music, but with some funky psychedelic guitar work. Very neat. I had no idea Fred Neil wrote Everybody's Talkin', I love the Nilsson version, this one is excellent too. Best song on this album by far. I rated a lot of songs 2 and 3 stars because of how I listen to music, but overall I understand the importance of this album and I believe it should be heard by more people. 4/5

A really nice pick for the plane ride to Shanghai, bit of folk to wake me up, very easy on the ears

I liked a lot. Only knew Everyone’s Talking At Me. All of it is a wonderful easy stroll. Nice vibe.

I absolutely hated his voice at first but by the third song the tunes were so good I was not only over it, but into it!

I really enjoyed this one. I had not heard Fred Neil prior to this, but in reading about him he certainly had an interesting career and life. Everybody’s Talking sounded familiar, and I’ve certainly heard the Harry Nilsson version. It sounds a lot like Leonard Cohen’s debut album to me, which is a very good thing. Well performed, recorded, and written, it’s a great album and one of many nice discoveries on this list for me.

This was a lovely find. I've always like Dolphins as a song. I had no idea about the history behind it. Fred's baritone voice serves it well. The whole album is an exercise in masterful songwriting. The pace feels so out of time with the period. There's no urgency or rush. There's not enough songs about cocaine these days. I love a good old rambling guitar solo, as is the case for the final unpronounceable track.

Excellent album. Neil has a soulful voice which nicely accompanies the simple old-school guitar driven tracks. Reminds me slightly of Johnny Cash. I also loved the huge departure from the rest of the album on the last track which sounded Indian-inspired. Favorite songs were Everybody's Talkin and the finale.

The Indian song is a great ending to the album

I'd never heard of this artist before, despite the fact that I knew at least one of the songs. It's a really solid folk album with great production. The songs are very well-crafted, and the lyrics are easy to digest without being simple or pandering 4/5