Fred Neil

I enjoyed this, it had a nice pace to it and it didn't overstay it's welcome. Wasn't expecting Dolphins on here either.

First time hearing this I like the sound of it so far, it's a bit of folk and a bit of rock nice slow enjoyable songs with nice vocals and nice instrumentation , I enjoyed this one

I love the mournfulness of his chimey electric and his poor-man's Roy Orbison-croon, his loungy country-loser delivery. I hear as much early VU in this as I do Greenwich Village, both happening on different blocks in NYC at the time. It makes for a bit of a melancholy bummer befitting the bus ride in Midnight Cowboy where Harry Nilsson songbirded up "Everybody's Talkin'" I like it a lot.

Nice one.

I enjoyed this

When to listen: quiet rural day. I’d heard a few songs on this album but never the whole thing. Love Everybody’s Talkin.

good!

7/10

Good stuff, Sweet Cocaine is one of the best songs ever. 4/5.

I actually liked the bluesy, folksy, country tone of the album. It was nice easy listening and it made for a nice relaxing background type of music. The last song, Cynicrustpetefredjohn Saga actually had a touch of 60s psychedelia that was pretty interesting. I don’t know that I need to put this on any playlist, but I’m glad that I listened to it.

Nothing about this album is things that I should like, if I think about it. But it FEELS good. I can't explain it. Maybe it's just the best done version of all of these things I don't typically like (sad slow songs, difficult to understand country twang, sometimes repetitive lyrics). But I was digging this.

Nice recording. Easy to listen to. Enjoyed it. Kind of covered a variety of styles of music. Way cool to hear the original version of Everyone's Talkin'. I always thought Harry Nilsson wrote it.

Really cool sounds here. This crooner is an obvious influence on The Jefferson Airplane. Probably influenced by and influence on Johnny Cash & Elvis Presley. A 4.

Idk I liked this

This is his sophomore album and a great improvement over his debut. A perfect example of folk/blues. One of the many highlights is definitely Everybody's Talking which was a huge hit as a cover by Harry Nilsson back in either 69 or 68. It was basically the theme song from the movie Midnight Cowboy.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/fred-neil/fred-neil/ Had never ever heard of this man, but it’s actually quite nice! Strong voice, good instrumentation. Alll you want from a folk record.

# Album Name: Fred Neil # Artist: Fred Neil # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Nice voice. Very good actually. Love the mix of acoustics and the vocals. Very well suited. Some good tunes on the album. # Top Tunes: Dolphin / Bag im in / Everybodys talkin / Sweet cocaine / Green rocky road # Would I listen to it again? Yes

That's the Bag I'm In speaks to me on multiple levels.

inspiration for orville peck

the album is good, but his wikipedia article give it quite a lot of context as to its inclusion. very influential to many artists on this list: dylan, crosby, stills, parsons. did not know nilsson was not the writer of "everybody's talkin'".

struck by the deep well of loneliness running through this record, its slow, steady night-drive crawl. it starts melancholy and drifts further downwards, towards something loose and strange, a different kind of night. not every song here sticks for me, but even throwaway tracks are very well rendered by Neil's emotive, elastic voice, an instrument he can calibrate perfectly, never oversinging. there's something focused about the atmosphere of this record that makes it stand out to me, especially for the era - it feels cohesive and considered, a long dark night of the soul in miniature. wonderfully moving stuff!

Wonderful voice and great lyricist.

I really liked this.

Wow I really enjoyed this one. Great chilled folk/country vibe and terrific vocals, particularly in that lower register. Decent enough variety for the genre as well. A shame it was removed from later editions of the book, this is one of my favourite surprises.

I liked this album, I liked his style. I had no info, so it was a cold listen. Tried to peg the genre, the decade, maybe where it was recorded just by ear. From his voice, it had to be country. At first, figured early sixties. Gave of a Nashville odor. And I was right for the most part. Biggest song on there that I knew was Everybody's Talking, which was made famous in Midnight Cowboy (best picture Oscar, 1969). But found out that someone else's version was in the movie Either way, it was good. I'll give Fred a listen on his other albums. Unexpectedly good.

Just a cool vibe to listen to. I didn't really think I would like listening to this kind of music, but I shocked myself. I really enjoyed listening to this album, each song actually felt different from each other and it was a very interesting album to listen to.

Overshadowed by Dylan & Cohen, i.e., the obvious candidates, as well as other lesser known tho still celebrated entities like Dave Van Ronk, not to mention Harry Nilsson, whose cover of 'Everybody's Talkin'' endures as the one everybody's still talkin' about, Fred Neil is the definition of an obscure artist. Like Jackson C. Frank, known by those in the know but too obscure to be a cult figure, Neil sings for himself & himself alone. I mean, who the fuck sings about dolphins except for a fucker w/ a personal attachment to the animal & who could give a damn if you've got one too. Fortunately tho, his voice is heartbreakingly gorgeous, & tho not every track here matters, those that do, especially the quieter ones, are stunning, essential, & real.

Good

It's like a psychedelic Johnny cash.. this was a weird one and kind of hard to put my finger on. Had to listen to the whole album before letting myself form an opinion. A bit of a fever dream blizzard mashup of country, folk and psychedelic influences. Some tracks i liked more than other but his influence on the genre makes me lean toward a favourable review.

This album was a mixed bag. There were some tracks that I really liked and some that I could have lived without. Fred's guitar playing is quite solid and his voice fits the music better in my opinion than Bob Dylan. He lands somewhere between Dylan and Johnny Cash on this album with better guitar chops than either one. The mixing is solid and it's very well written. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this one again, but I certainly won't turn it off if someone puts it on.

Beautiful album! I’m so glad I heard this

I think this is the first album from the 60s that’s really connected with me. Amazing voice on Fred and some of the harmonica solos in the tracks really hit the spot. I’ve got a secret and Everybody’s talking are favourites here. I’ll be back to this one

I love the clean sound of the instruments. I love the stand-up bass. Great folk album. Sweet Cocaine hit me by surprise, and I thought I was going to hate the last track but it's actually a pretty fun jam.

A pretty badass album. This is what it must have felt like to be cool in 1966. Still holds as a “vibes” album. Rock in a rocking chair on the porch vibe. The guitar solos are sweet. Quite a charming record.

Amazing to find someone I'd never heard of who is clearly so influential. Every sardonic self aware hipster singer songwriter can trace lineage here, and the last track is pure NYC guitar band cool. I love the acoustic guitar all over the album too. Great choice.

Cool discovery. Like finding the author that inspired your favorite author.

You know what, this album is kind of dope, fairly distinctive sound and some really good songs. Even though it isn't too remarkable, I enjoyed it and would give it a very low 4.

This album feels very 60s. Love the guitar in this, Fred's voice is perfect for this era. A quite lovely folk album. It reminded me a bit of Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles, Nancy Sinatra, and Johnny Cash at certain points. Dolphin was a very solid first track. I also had no idea Everybody's Talkin' was actually written by Fred and not Harry Nilsson. Everything Happens sounded a bit like Black Country Woman - Led Zeppelin. Lots of influence coming from this album it seems.

Ecouter de la musique comme si c'était un job, c'est le meilleur moyen de finir par détester ce qu'on aime, ou de devenir un vieux con aigri qui soupire dès qu'il entend une guitare acoustique. Heureusement, je suis déjà un vieux con, né en 1970, élevé à la dure entre les bacs d'un disquaire indépendant et les studios de radio où on fumait encore entre deux morceaux de Post-Punk. Alors, quand je tombe sur une pochette de 1966 avec un type qui s'appelle Fred Neil, mon premier réflexe, c'est de lever les yeux au ciel et de soupirer. Le titre de l'album ? Son nom. Quelle originalité, vraiment on sent que les mecs du marketing de l'époque se sont foulés la rate. J'ai posé le diamant sur le sillon — ou plutôt, j'ai appuyé sur play, soyons modernes — avec une moue de scepticisme gravée sur le visage. Pour moi, c'était plié d'avance : un petit 2 sur 5. Un truc de barde barbu pour hippies en manque de sensations fortes, un disque qui allait prendre la poussière sur mon étagère mentale. Et puis, le premier morceau démarre. « The Dolphins ». Et là, une décharge, pas une décharge électrique non. Une décharge de reconnaissance car cette mélodie, je la connais par cœur. Mes années radio me sont remontées à la gorge comme un reflux gastrique, mais un reflux de luxe. Matt Johnson, The The, Shades Of Blue sorti en 1991. Et je me suis souvenu de la version qu'il en avait faite, une putain de reprise. C'est là que j'ai réalisé que Fred Neil était la source, le mec qui avait écrit ça. Et rien que pour ce lien de parenté avec Matt Johnson, j'ai sorti mon stylo rouge et j'ai gribouillé un point bonus sur ma fiche de notation. On passait donc à un petit 3 sur 5. C’était déjà une belle progression pour un type dont je n’attendais absolument rien. Je me suis assis dans mon fauteuil, celui qui a la forme de mon cul après des décennies d'écoute intensive, et j'ai commencé à vraiment prêter l'oreille. Fred Neil n'a pas une voix de chanteur de folk ordinaire, c'est une voix de baryton basse, profonde comme un puits sans fond, avec une résonance qui te fait vibrer la cage thoracique, le genre de voix qu'on n'entend plus. Plus l'écoute avançait, plus je sentais mes préjugés s'effondrer les uns après les autres. C'est du folk, certes, mais un folk sombre, urbain, teinté de blues et d'une mélancolie qui n'est pas feinte. Ce n'est pas de la musique de feu de camp pour scouts en culottes courtes. C'est de la musique de fin de soirée, quand les lumières de la ville deviennent floues et que tu te demandes ce que tu fous là. On arrive doucement à un joli 4 sur 5. Pourquoi ? Parce que l'album a une texture, une épaisseur. Ce n'est pas juste une collection de chansons, c'est une atmosphère cohérente, un voyage dans la psyché d'un mec qui a fini par préférer les dauphins aux humains, et honnêtement, quand je vois la gueule du monde actuel, je ne peux que le comprendre. Fred Neil, c'est l'anti-star par excellence. Un mec qui a écrit des tubes pour les autres mais qui gardait la substance pour lui. On sent dans ses compositions une liberté totale, il s'en fout du format, il s'en fout de la durée. Il cherche la note juste, celle qui fait mal et qui fait du bien en même temps. C'est brut, c'est honnête, et c'est foutrement rare. Et puis, il y a la fin de l'album, le morceau qui justifie à lui seul que ce disque soit dans la liste des 1001 albums. « Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga », et rien que le nom est une provocation. Neuf minutes de transe, neuf minutes où le folk s'évapore pour laisser place à quelque chose de beaucoup plus vaste, de beaucoup plus mystique. C’est là que j’ai décroché de la réalité. C’est du raga, c’est de l’improvisation, c’est une espèce de messe païenne qui te prend aux tripes. C’est transcendant avec le bouzouki qui s’entremêle aux différents instruments, créant ainsi une spirale sonore qui monte, qui monte, et qui finit par t’exploser le cerveau. On n’est plus en 1966, on n’est nulle part, ou plutôt, on est partout en même temps. C'est ce dernier morceau qui met tout le monde d'accord, il balaie les dernières réticences et transforme un très bon album en une expérience nécessaire. Alors non, ce n'est pas un chef-d'œuvre absolu selon mes critères personnels, car je garde mes 5 sur 5 pour les disques qui ont littéralement changé le cours de mon existence. Mais c'est un disque qui mérite amplement son statut, c’est du bon folk-rock, solide, intelligent et hanté. Fred Neil est un fantôme magnifique qui hante encore les enceintes de ceux qui prennent le temps de l’écouter.

Ya sabíamos que la famosísima "Everybody's Talkin'" era una versión, pero pocos habíamos reparado en escuchar la original de Fred Neil. Cierto es que los arreglos la elevan a otra categoría, siendo más luminosa y optimista, pero hay que darle el crédito al autor, que acabo de conocer. Este es un disco de folk rock, bastante intimista y con claroscuros, pero más que interesante para escuchar. Junto a un par de versiones de canciones tradicionales y un extenso instrumental a final del disco, Neil nos ofrece un puñado de temas desnudos, orgánicos, algo tristes pero emocionantes, que llaman a la introspección y al desapego. A veces es necesario.

This is not exactly what I expected the album to sound like. Of course, with the cover being a picture of Fred Neil (presumably) choking a young boy to death, I probably should have not made any first assumptions about the content of the album contained therein. I thought this would be boring hippie shit music. I felt there was more country-influenced songs than I had expected and there were zero songs about fairies, queens, knights or any of the other crap that can annoy me about folk music. This was a really good album, especially the first song about dolphins. I don't think this is necessarily a classic but definitely worth a listen. Everybody's Talkin' has never been my favorite song but an entire album of songs like that makes me it worth the listen to me. "They will probably drop the atom bomb the day my ship comes in" is a line that Morrissey wishes he had written. My favorite tracks: The Dolphins I've Got a Secret That's the Bad I'm In Everybody's Talkin' Sweet Cocaine

Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Great story telling throughout.

Genuinely never heard of him before Thought this was great, thoroughly enjoyable. Didnt know he wrote Everybodys Talkin' Great voice, Minister/Preacher tone great and the extra syllable he puts on everything. Feels like a discovery.

This is the kind of adult easy listening mildly confrontational album that works primarily as a nostalgia album. I am not sure that it is really that good or relevant, but it was enough so at one time that it keeps you interested. Bonus points for "Everybody's Talkin at Me." Anything that reminds me of Midnight Cowboy gets greater consideration.

This is excellent! Teetering between 4 and 5, listening again to see how I feel

A nice surprise. I liked it.

“Dolphins” and “Everybody’s Talkin’” would be pretty much enough to get this to four stars. But the rest of the album is dang strong, too. Great voice and laid-back delivery. The album really exemplifies a mid-60s folk-rock vibe, eh?

Cool album! It was nice to hear original version of “Everybody’s Talkin’” without that stupid “wah-wah” vocals in the Harry Neillson cover. Fred Neil had a great baritone voice. It’s in my library now and I’ll definitely give it another listen.

"Everybody's talkin' at me...." Pretty good album! Fred Neil kinda rules. Definitely see his influence in Bill Callahan.

I dunno. Normally this wouldn't be my jam but every track on this album sounds like the song playing over the end credits of every movie made by every 70s auteur that I so revere, so it really grew on me. Another surprising discovery.

Beautiful album I hadn't heard of him and I'm glad I know now. The first songs are familiar. I love Billy Bragg's dolphin song. Shake sugaree is a treasured elizabeth cotten number and what a beautiful tribute. The last track also was a standout.

Solid

New to me! Undiscovered gem. Fred has a lovely voice. Gravelly with a light twang. Not so folksy and country that they couldn’t add some mystical raga at the finale. 4/5

was pretty good!!

Liked it way more than I thought. Good album.

This was such a surprise. My very low expectations were met by the second track. I will listen to this again

Well! This settles it, I've known for long time but this clinches it. I'm a sucker for the harmonica! Neil's singing reminds of Sturgill Simspon or Orville Peck. His songwriting is interesting, Dolphins is a weird song, it's nice but weird & not in good way. When I heard Everybody's Talkin I immediately recognized it. Neil's is better. His voice is better suited for the song. The Let's Slam Our Names Together Jam is just a Let's get stoned & Jam It was delightful, though not perfect. 4

GOOD SHIT

I'm disappointed to see the low ratings of this album, I think it's beautiful. Fred Neil had such a unique and gritty voice packed full of raw emotion. It's a really great mix of folk and country, and.with a lot of complex and interesting storytelling. I suppose there are better country artists, and loads of better folk artists (interestingly like how he mentored Bob Dylan). That doesn't digress that this is a fabulous listen. Is it a 5? I'd say it probably stops short of that, just. Fred Neil's voice, while I loved it, seemed to be very one sided on this album. He didn't really change tone (or key?) during the whole recording, which can lead to songs sounding the same or boring the audience. Still, I love the history of Fred Neil, how his music inspired Bob Dylan and also the Midnight Cowboy cover song (which is probably better...)

AWSOME sauce

My first ever listen to this artist who's songs I'm very familiar with from being covered by other artists. His deep rich voice makes this album an enjoyable listen.

Last song is noooot my fave That’s the Bag I’m In & Everything Happens>>> 👍🏻

The crooning worked

I loved "The Dolphins", "I've Got a Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree)", "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Green Rocky Road", with "Sweet Cocaine" right behind them. Those were thrown on a lot of playlists, and are strong enough to justify my rating. I already knew Nilsson's cover of "Everybody's Talkin'" from the incredible film Midnight Rider. Fred's original is just as powerful. His voice has a beautiful baritone that resonates. The rest are all good songs. I don't know what to make of "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga". It's basically a freakout jam sesh among the musicians named in the song title. It's not offensive, but there's not enough that I latch onto. It feels incongruous with the rest of the album, although it makes sense in a 60's Greenwich Village Scene sorta way. Very happy to have found this.

To me the songs are good not great, but he’s got a beautiful baritone and I’m giving him a four for helping welcome Bob Dylan into the folk scene. I will seek out more from him.

I just love this style of music, so it's hard to give it anything below a 4. It's not a perfect 5 because there isn't really anything here that absolutely "wowed" me, and the last track went on a bit too long for my tastes. But other than that, the songs on here are really good and I think they'll grow on me the more I listen.

Going into this album I thought I was going to hate it, or at least be really bored, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really like his voice, and the guitars have a really cool and unique tone especially on the first couple of songs. Low 4.

Great for old country/folk music:)

New discovery today! Love his voice, and I really like his songwriting even if it’s pretty bare-bones. Cool record, but I sort of wished I’d listened to it at 1am with whiskey in hand instead of at 3pm while knitting a sweater. I never knew Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” was a cover, but lo and behold here’s the original. Love that song!

This is why I subscribed to this list: great stuff, brand new to me

I'd never heard of Fred Neil before, so I didn't know what to expect. It was a nice folk/country album, with influences from the 1960s that I don't typically hear in that style of music. I enjoyed it.

Some good Folk Rock with a good dose of Blues thrown in. The guitar and harmonica playing compliment the folky, honest vocals really well. Seems quite underappreciated though, looking at the Spotify numbers.

Enjoyed this album. Just has a really nice 60s-type folksy vibe that works. Not every song is a banger, but really solid overall.

Something so earthy in this combination of rock and country, an album I would've never found if it wasn't for this list

Unexpectedly great! I love this type of understated blues and Neil’s voice is just incredible to listen to. Best Track: The Dolphins

220821 13:48 4

Dreamy folk rock. Deep, warm vocals. Lots of soul. Mellow. Rich. Feels kind of like a live recording at times whilst still being beautifully produced. Prefer the more bluesy moments to the country leaning tracks. Favourite track - Everybody's Talkin. 7.5/10

Extra point for writing Everybody's Talkin'

C'est du 4,49 dans mon coeur. Du folk de qualité premium. Quelle voix!

solid and fun

Fred Neil is an underrated gem of 1960s folk-rock. His voice, songwriting, and mood are beautiful. If you’re interested in the intersection of folk, blues, and singer-songwriter traditions of the 60s, this is a must-listen.

I've never heard of Fred Neil, but he sure has a nice voice. Weird choice for an album cover, though.

An artist I was completely unfamiliar with. Country-tinged folk with a oh so slight psychedelic vibe. Did not know "Everybody's Talkin'" was a Fred Neil original. Good stuff for the right mood.

Fred Neil is one of those people who deserves to be recognized even if he doesn't have a particularly spectacular album under his belt. Neil was an important figure in the late 60s, albeit somewhat behind the scenes. He wrote good songs that other artists turned into great ones. He helped bring Bob Dylan to fame when first arrived in New York. But he was somewhat reclusive, didn't tour, and never had many hits himself. His self titled album is definitely a worthwhile album, though it exists somewhat in the shadows of bigger name artists. The most obvious hit here is "Everybody's Talkin", famously covered by Harry Nilsson for the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack. It's impossible not to compare the two versions but it's a bit unfair to Fred Neil. In other circumstances and maybe with more effort and touring, I think he could have been much bigger.

Not as folky as I thought it would be. I might check out another NYC folkie I heard of I think the Byrds covered some of his stuff… Good stuff here Would’ve been a 3, but he wrote Everybody’s Talkin’ which earns a bonus star

This one surprised me

You can definitely tell he was making music around the time of Bob Dylan just with more rock elements

Really really fun Best Song: That's the Bag I'm In Rating: 7.0/10 Stars: 4

Dad rock meets country and we are here for it

The Dolphins, That's The Bag I'm In, and Everybody's Talkin' are all five star all time awesome songs but there's a few tracks in here that aren't up to snuff and it's just shy of the 5 star. More like 4.5 since I love those songs soooooo much

toughness and tenderness, ragas and rage

Quite liked this, though only one track ended up going to my liked.

Subtle folk-country album anchored by his voice. Subdued but not boring with strong songwriting across the board. I even enjoyed the eight-minute instrumental closing track.

Off the bat, I took the advice of a fellow group mate and didn't consider this as a folk album. I mean, the labels: folk and singer-songwriter... You read these and you're probably tempted to consider this album in the same way you would Leonard Cohen or Joan Baez or Bob Dylan — especially Dylan. Certainly I'd've done that just looking at the **VERY SERIOUS** monochrome cover. But if you look at this album like that, you're kind of doing it wrong. 'Coz this ain't just folk music: it's folk **rock**. And very bluesy folk rock at that. Really, it's more folksy blues rock. Like, just taking this thing as a vibe like I did... It's good. It's perfectly fine. I really don't have many thoughts about this album as a whole. It's just some good, folksy blues rock. Fred Neil has a nice, deep-ish voice; everything is played perfectly well; it's not particularly lyrical, but the ones that aren't here aren't bad... It's good stuff. And frankly, that might be the album's biggest sin. It's good, but there's nothing particularly daring about it. I mean, OK, yeah, the closer is a seven minute experiment in trying to create a "sitar-like" sound, but other than that, it's pretty safe. And that's not always a bad thing, really. Sometimes you just want an album that just does what it does and does it well and never really aims to swing for the fences. There's a place in this world for base-level fine. It's just that if you wanna try and argue that this is an essential album that you **need** to hear before you do... Unless you're talkin' to someone who's a big fan of 'Midnight Cowboy,' you're probably in for a difficult time. I'unno. It's just not a very easy album to have strong feelings about, one way or the other. If you listen to it I'm sure you might like it... Or not. But if I can guarantee anything, it's not that I'm sure it does have everybody talkin'. And with that song title shoed-in as the conclusion, I bow out. Off the bat, I took the advice of a fellow group mate and didn't consider this as a folk album. I mean, the labels: folk and singer-songwriter... You read these and you're probably tempted to consider this album in the same way you would Leonard Cohen or Joan Baez or Bob Dylan — especially Dylan. Certainly I'd've done that just looking at the **VERY SERIOUS** monochrome cover. But if you look at this album like that, you're kind of doing it wrong. 'Coz this ain't just folk music: it's folk **rock**. And very bluesy folk rock at that. Really, it's more folksy blues rock. Like, just taking this thing as a vibe like I did... It's good. It's perfectly fine. I really don't have many thoughts about this album as a whole. It's just some good, folksy blues rock. Fred Neil has a nice, deep-ish voice; everything is played perfectly well; it's not particularly lyrical, but the ones that aren't here aren't bad... It's good stuff. And frankly, that might be the album's biggest sin. It's good, but there's nothing particularly daring about it. I mean, OK, yeah, the closer is a seven minute experiment in trying to create a "sitar-like" sound, but other than that, it's pretty safe. And that's not always a bad thing, really. Sometimes you just want an album that just does what it does and does it well and never really aims to swing for the fences. There's a place in this world for base-level fine. It's just that if you wanna try and argue that this is an essential album that you **need** to hear before you do... Unless you're talkin' to someone who's a big fan of 'Midnight Cowboy,' you're probably in for a difficult time. I'unno. It's just not a very easy album to have strong feelings about, one way or the other. If you listen to it I'm sure you might like it... Or not. But if I can guarantee anything, it's not that I'm sure it does have everybody talkin'. And with that song title shoed-in as the conclusion, I bow out.

Nice and catchy stuff on this one. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m at a 4. I wouldn’t necessarily call this “folk rock” – I think it puts the album into a Dylan-y box that’s hard to shake the perception of, given that the first track has some of the most unconnected lyrics I can remember in a bit, and overall, the lyricism doesn’t strike a “folk” tone at all. This is easier to classify as a blues rock album with folksy elements, leaning towards an instrumental minimalism more adjacent to folk rock, but not exactly a vocal one. With that framing in mind, I think this is a strong blues rock album. I do think “The Dolphins” suffers from the chorus being shoehorned in, but after that, this album finds a really nice rhythm. It’s rather easy to be serenaded in by his sadness & his joy, and the way the instrumentation is recorded gives the whole thing a very minor wall of sound effect that adds depth to the deeper tone, but not to the higher ones. Part of the higher tones of this album include the harmonica, which I’m just a complete sucker for, as well as the guitars, which tend to find really nice melodies and just settle there, in a way that’s certainly repetitive, but not obnoxious, so it works just fine. It’s a weirdly hypnotizing album in that way. Since his vocals are in that deeper range, and oddly reminiscent of Randy Travis (a guilty pleasure ‘80s country singer I like), they pop out in a way that glides on the instrumentation, even if he strays off the percussion for a solid chunk of the album. So, why a 4? Few tracks just didn’t click, simple as that. “The Dolphins” feels a bit flat as an opener, and a weird tonesetter for my ears. “Ba-Di-Da” feels like the vocals don’t match the woeful urban city life the track should be going for & it just doesn’t meet the potential it could have. “Green Rocky Road” has a great instrumental rhythm, and his vocals glide, but I’m just stuck on the lyricism feeling totally incohesive. I’d be remiss to not talk about the 8 minute closer that is “Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga”, which is a solid experimental instrumental, but it just doesn’t feel as… clean as it could be. It’s a raw track, & it feels a little unrehearsed, but I admire the swing of trying to make a sort of sitar-y / Indian-inspired song using more of a bluegrass base for the instruments. When it’s all in rhythm together, the track works really well, but I’d say it only has a cohesive rhythm for sections of the track. That inconsistency feels a little frustrating as a straight 8 minutes; it feels like listening to a track where the volume fluctuates against your will & you constantly have to adjust. I do wonder if the track would be better if it was trimmed to a more concise 4 minutes. Overall though, when this album is rolling, it’s a damn fun listen, at least to my ears. I didn’t find myself ever hating it, and in all, it’s just a strong 38 minutes. I don’t know if I can ever see myself going up to a 5, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone else gets there. If the minimalism & his vocals just bounce off, this could easily be a 3 or even a 2. I’m fine with a 4 here; it’s a totally inoffensive, play-it-safe album that never hits a low point & takes one big swing where mileage may vary. I liked it.

This is one of those albums that is probably more fun to learn about than it is to sit down to listen to. I had never heard of Fred Neil nor his royalty amongst the Greenwich Village beat crowd. His voice is deep and rich and powerful, I could imagine it being a show-stopper in those NY bars. The songs are all well-written, not really a weak one here. "Everybody's Talkin'" is clearly the most recognizable due to Harry Nilsson's cover, which is superior to the original. The song that stuck with me most was "That's the Bag I'm In", and "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" was an extremely interesting ending track considering this predates the Summer of Love and Beatles psychedelia, etc. This sits around a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding up to 4 due to Neil's impact and influence.

i've always wanted to listen to this album ever since i fell in love with 'everybody's talkin' as performed by harry nilsson, but never got around to it until now. it's a nice folky album. fred neil's voice is very unique in the space, it's quite low but kind of beautiful, in a way. not all the songs here are my favorite, but it's still a pretty solid album.

Very good

Really liked “The Dolphins”

Yeah this was cool. Overlooked by time I guess. And extra points for being from Cleveland! Still prefer Nilsson’s version of Everybody’s Talkin’, but I liked listening to this quite a bit.

Pretty good road trip music. Some classics.

Quite something

Nice album! Had this album on in the morning, and it instantly made the day better. I get a similar feeling listening to this as I get when listening to Nick Drake, quite cozy. His voice reminded me a bit of Elvis Presley as well (of which I wonder when we'll see on this list!?). Overall a nice ride. 'Everybody's Talkin' is instantly recognizable, though perhaps Harry Nilsson's version is the more famous one. Perhaps no single song that really grabbed me, but I much prefer the whole album being enjoyable then one track being stellar and the rest garbage. Weak 4.

Beautiful

The last song makes the whole album.

It sucks when the wiki doesn't have critical reception or any historical relevance. Asked my friendly neighbourhood bot instead and it told me what I need to know in terms of the music shift at the time and the artists he influenced. Great example of an album that would never have crossed my path and deserves to be on the list. It's nice. Moody, laid back and stripped down. The album grew on me. That 8 min track at the end came outta nowhere. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

Awesome bass-baritone voice. Maybe not an album that has aged particularly well in some aspects, but enjoyable enough overall.

Fred Neil walked so Llewyn Davis could run.

I liked this quite a bit. I'm generally a fan of real country. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, that sort of thing. This felt very reminiscent of that sort of thing, essentially roots music for American white people.

Really enjoyable album would listen again. Ace harmonica on it.

Dig the country/folk sounds. The last song was surprising, but a cool jam. I wonder if Orville Peck was inspired by this guy. Similar vibes.

Better than Coldplay

Trend setting folk album played electric. A real time capsule and great songwriting. 4/5

Some pretty cool vibes with this one. I really dug That's The Bag I'm In and Everybody's Talkin. Not the most memorable otherwise, but I enjoyed my time more than a 3 out of 5.

There are a couple weaker tracks, but I loved the album: easy, soulful folk with a country inflection.

3/4 idk

Por qué no lo había escuchado antes? Es como si Johnny Cash y Lou Reed fueran uno solo. La primera mitad de disco es increíble. ADEMÁS HAY ARMÓNICA. Cositas muy Robinson/Mississippi, me gusta. El último tema es falopita total. Compré a la mitad

Never heard of Fred Neil, though obviously very familiar with "Everybody's Talkin'." This album was excellent and I really enjoyed it.

Cool bluesy folk

Surprised by this. I really, really enjoyed this.

Surprisingly good

Listens: 3 Standout tracks: Everybody's Talkin', Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga I have heard "Everyone's Talking" before, specifically during the Episode of Futurama in which Zapp Brannigan and Kif Kroker are out of pocket, having been dismissed from the DOOP for... blowing it up! But! It's actually the Harry Nilsson version, which is decidedly more popular (41 million plays vs 713k plays in YTM). That's got to suck a lot, for someone to take your song and play it (subjectively) better than you. It's a great song, both versions of it. Anyways, I just got off of listening to Elvis's 'From Elvis in Memphis', and had rated that a 4. I listen to this and like... why would I give Elvis a 4 when I want to give this an actual 4 because I like this so much more! Its not exactly apples to apples, but this is actually something I want to listen to more than a few times. Elvis was riding high off being the King of rock and roll in my mind. As far as actual other tracks go, hands down Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga is the best track on the album. Very psychedelic. Very 60s. A fusion of folk and psych rock with a mix of middle-eastern/Indian influence in the form of what could be a sitar. Excellent track.

Never heard of this guy. I like the first two tracks a lot. These sounds are so modern and the mix is so clear I had to double checked what year this was released. I can’t believe I have not heard of this guy before. How many other great artists are lost to history? This album is amazing

I listened to his albums Tear Down the Walls (with Vince Martin) and Bleeker & MacDougal years ago and never really felt the need to investigate further thinking he was one amongst many 60's folkies but this is much more to my taste, it's looser and jazzier. I wish I'd listened to this years ago, definitely one I will come back to.

Every emotion Neil ever felt seems to live in that impossibly deep voice, turning each song into an act of soul spelunking where his baritone excavates stories the lyrics only begin to tell.

Hearing this album with no context, I was immediately reminded of Tim Buckley. Loose and easy folk, a touch of sloppy playing, and mellow double bass. Fred Neil has more of a croon though, and I like the woozy, stoic approach. Overall, this is a great surprise. His brand of confessional and unhurried folk, drawing from traditional, blues and country sources, hits a spot the way Jansch or Drake or Cohen do.

This guy has been through some stuff

tältä kuulostaa mies.. ei kuin minä.. vikisevä jättihiiri.. (bulked up but high voice..) vois tehdä albumin jonka nimi on sessions.. sessiot.. hiljaista mutta pysyvää musiikkia! ei mitään rokki hullutusta ei mitään turhaa teknologiaa käytetty ei mitään huutolaulua kun älyttömät apinat!! pelkkää taitoa ja kitaratyöskentelyä...awesome.. ja has ja sitten huume hörhötys biisiä luulin että tämä on aivan kunnon vanhanaikainen tervejärkinen henkilö ei mikään moderni HUUME HÖRHÖ!!! muuten hyvä albumi mutta se 20 minuutin pätkä missä hän puhuu ilman mitään taustamusiikkia siitä miten hän rakastaa fentanyyliä oli vähän kummallinen.. dolhpins

Great singer/songwriter stuff. Need to return to this.

Old timey folk sound for sure, but not in an annoying country way. Got a bluesy attitude kinda edge to it. Dolphins and cocaine.

lovely, lovely album, gorgeous melodies paired with the perfect bluesy voice

I’ve never heard of Fred Neil before, but from what I’m reading about him, it seems like he was in the orbit of a lot of big-name artists of his time, and he had an influence on a pretty wide variety of artists. I’m not completely sure what to expect from this album, but I’m hoping that this will be a new and noteworthy discovery for me! Fred Neil’s self-titled album was a really pleasant surprise. The vocals were fantastic throughout the album, and the guitar playing and songwriting were excellent as well. These songs were really great from start to finish, and I enjoyed the social and political messages in the lyrics as well. It seemed to me that the emphasis on this album was on the vocals and lyrics, and I think that’s what made it so successful with me. “The Dolphins” was an excellent lead-off track. I loved the wavering sound of the guitar, and the bold twang of the vocals reminded me of Orville Peck, which I really loved. The vocals on “Faretheewell” also gave me Orville Peck vibes, and I loved that this song was a bit of a slower ballad. I think Fred’s version of “Everybody’s Talkin’” is superior to Harry Nilson’s version. This version feels more adjacent to country music, and I thought that mood suited the lyrics really well. This version felt like it was telling the story of a lone gunslinger, leaving one town and heading somewhere else, where he won’t be known or recognized. Love That’s the bag I’m in. The doom of the present woven into a future pessimism. Brilliant. Love the guitar and harmonica. My favorite song on the album though was “That’s The Bag I’m In.” I loved how well the harmonica paired with the wavering guitar playing, and I loved the way the lyrics lamented the small troubles of daily life, while the world burns around the narrator. It was an apt commentary for how even in the worst of times, we still have our daily troubles, and life has to go on. My biggest critique of this album is that it felt like a one-trick-pony (it’s a hell of a trick though, if it’s the only one you’ve got), and it got a little boring at times. I didn’t care for the last song that much either. At over seven minutes long, it didn’t justify its own length, and it felt like a cheat that it didn’t feature Fred Neil’s vocals. Still, this was a really good album, and it makes me want to check out more of Fred Neil’s music.

This was a very pleasant surprise. I did not know the name Fred Neil before today. Good job, Fred. Good job, 1,001.

höfrungur hápunktur. önnur mjög fín lög hér. 4.

After my first listen I thought, yeah, this is pretty good. Not too bad. Maybe should have dropped 1 or 2 songs towards the end. But, It kept drawing me back and now I've heard this album at least once a day this week. Just a really good chilled out acoustic album with some great tracks that you find yourself singing to in your head if not along to with the music while you're listening. This is exactly why I wanted to try this random album a day thing. Finding gems like this. Not perfect, but a great folk album and my favourite this week for sure. I even had to track down a physical copy for my collection I liked it that much. Great album👌

"Fred Neil" is the second album by American folk singer-songwriter Fred Neil. The album was produced by Nick Venet and was more laid back than his debut. Neil was lead vocalist and played electric and acoustic guitars. Other musicians on the album included Pete Child (guitars), John T. Fosha (guitar), Cyrus Faryar (guitars), Rusty Faryar (finger cymbals), Jimmy Bondi (bass), Bill Mundi (drums, percussion) and Alan Wilson (harmonica). The album begins with the only single released "The Dolphins." Echoing electric guitar. Neil's deep basso vocals. Very soulful and reminds me of Tim Buckley and why wouldn't it as Buckley coveted this song. Very poetic lyrics as he's wondering about a woman and searching for transcendence in the world (searching for dolphins). The second side opens with another really good song "Everybody's Talking." Vocals right off. A very melodic acoustic guitar with some nice finger picking. Harry Nilsson covered this song for the movie "Midnight Cowboy." I knew I had heard this song before. It's a song about desiring to retreat from the harshness of the city to a more peaceful place. He gets the blues going with a harmonica and acoustic song "Sweet Cocaine." It's labeled a traditional song??? It's 1966? How long had cocaine been an issue back then? Anyway, a nice melody which resembles Dean Key and Kelly Gordon's (and made famous by Frank Sinatra) "That's Life." He's observing people doing cocaine and not making judgement. The album closes with the instrumental "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga." Great title and they cover ground with country, raga, multiple guitars, harmonica, various percussions and speed changes. Fred Neil has a deep soulful basso voice which is very similar to early Tim Buckley. The music stays for the most in the folk rock category with multiple guitars, soft percussion and a harmonica. There are two exceptional songs with poetic lyrics and the other songs are not just filler but decent ones too. I enjoyed this album and most of you would too. Recommended for everyone.

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

Very country

Classic tune on here

A great collection of songs that shows a more melancholic side of folk country. No doubt about Fred Neil's talents as a singer and songwriter but my favourite track is his version of Farethewell in more of a quieter treatment. The two big tracks are obviously The Dolphins and Everybody's talkin. I like the latter more in Nilson's version. He brings a bit more emotion into it which is sometimes a weakness of Neil. His deep voice doesn't suit every song. Combine that with some of the mixing which has very conservatively guitar on your left and the bass on the right. Here they could've done more even at the time the album was recorded. Overall a good album that you definitely should listen to.

Very solid singing. Kind of a different flavor for the times

Good but not my usual thing.

didn’t know what to think at first but very enjoyable. You could see where his influences helped a generation! The song cocaine is hysterical and I just loved it.

Notable tracks: Everybody’s Talkin’, The Dolphins, Sweet Cocaine, That’s The Bag I’m In, Ba-Di-Da

Gewoon argeloos opzetten en luisteren heeft altijd het effect dat je eerst een beetje moet raden naar wat je hoort. Een countryplaat, dacht ik eerst. Maar het zweeft al snel de hippie-kant op, met een ode aan verdovende middelen, en een jamsessie met Indiase instrumenten. Fred was er tijdig bij, in 1966. Opvallendst is Everybody's talkin, dat een paar jaar later een hit werd voor Harry Nilsson, toen het werd gebruikt voor de film Midnight Cowboy. (De overige muziek voor die film is van mijn favoriete filmcomponist John Barry, maar dat terzijde.) Een aardig voorbijkabbelend album, geen idee wat er bijzonder aan is, maar vooruit.

Ik moet hier toch wel even inkomen, maar op een of andere manier pakt het me wel. Het is zeer rustige ingetogen country-achtige folk. Het heeft ook iets van Elvis (meer nog van een andere zanger, maar ik weet even niet welke). Maar de beste man geeft er natuurlijk een onmiskenbaar geluid aan door zijn croonende stem. Het is aan de ene kant melancholisch, maar ik kan me ook helemaal voorstellen dat je het totaal niet gelooft, want het is ook wat kitscherig. Ik kan er wel goed naar luisteren (op de vroege ochtend), het zit voor mij tussen een 3 en een 4 in.

Great

I love it!

I've got a case of the blues, and Fred Neil needs some creativity in naming his albums

First listen this morning. A really beautiful album of folk rock. Neil has a deep resonating voice and impressive guitar stylings that compliment the songs. Haven't really been able to dissect the lyrics but I am planning further listening. Additional listens yielded additional enjoymet. A nearly perfect album of its genre. 4 stars

That's The Bag I'm In is a low-key blues jam. Dude has a voice. I've definitely heard covers of Everybody's Talkin' before. Classic song; great songwriting. Everything Happens is an awesome follow-up. I love the progression here, but wish the guitar noodling at the end wasn't so buried. Kind of a weird outro track, but otherwise this was much more enjoyable than I anticipated. 4 / 5.

Fred Neil

Pretty incredible voice to go along with some really good folk sounding music. Sounds very similar to Johnny Cash which I am completely ok with. Sounded like I should be in a western saloon playing blackjack and five finger fillet with the boys. The last song, which I don't feel like spelling out, was a super trippy song I don't even know how to describe it but it was cool.

I actually thought this was very nice to listen to, and that surprise 10 minute funky track at the end was really cool! No real standouts for me personally (I guess some people really like a song that played during the Sopranos?) but I enjoyed my time with Mr. Neil.

I'd never heard of this guy but this was a nice surprise, I enjoyed this a lot. The last track was a bit odd and out of place but the rest a nice vibe.

Very solid album. Long Black Veil was a little disappointing, though.

Really good album. I throw it on occasionally and I'm always satisfied

I rolled my eyes when the first track started, thinking this was year another 60s era attempt at folk/blues, like so many others on this list. It grew on me as it went along though. One of the better examples I’ve heard on this list so far.

Ah exactly what I needed now

So I had to give this one a second listen. I don't usually listen to this type of music so it took me a bit to get into it. Near the end of the album the bluesy song about a bittersweet relationship with cocaine caught my attention and then the album ends with the absolute banger of a track "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga". Then I looked him up and found out he never really achieved commercial success as a performer and instead moved to Florida to work with the Dolphin Project, helping with the preservation of dolphins. This led me to go back and really listen to the lyrics of the first track "The Dolphins" and really connected with it. TLDR; After a second listen and really paying attention to the lyrics, my rating went up quite a bit.

Could've listened to another 8 minutes of Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga

Didn’t know about him beforehand. Great album, last track seems abit out of place and sounds abit Middle Eastern almost. Nice smooth lyrics, reminds me slightly of Leonard cohen but Fred’s abit more soothing I think.

Good album 💿

Amazing, truly great. Incredible voice

Had me with that first phased guitar chord.

Nice to listen to. Not my particular style but cool to hear a slightly less famous voice from greenwich village folk times.

I'm not usually a folk guy but Fred must've caught me in the right mood, or just drew me in with that smooth voice.

Enjoyed this far more than i thought i would! Learnt a lot from reading about him! Excellent song writer! 3.5

It's an understated record that's so horizontal you could easily doze off listening to it. That said, I do like its stoner folk/country vibe; it's the kind of record we would play in the afternoon in University after a few beers in the Students Union (or perhaps even the early hours) with a bifta or two. 'The Dolphins' and 'Everybody's Talking' are the highlights but the whole album is very listenable.

Very surprised by this one. Liked it a lot

Favorite Tracks: That’s The Bag I’m In Farethewell The Dolphins

Low key and pretty for country

I knew "Everybody's Talking," but this album really does go in some unexpected directions. I honestly thought the final track was some random modern band I'd randomly started playing on Spotify.

great old timey folk music

At first I thought Fred sounded like Elvis but then started feeling like it was more like a folky blues. I really enjoyed this and would relisten!

A good, soulful blues man. Not bad, but definitely one that takes some getting used to. A bonus point for playing dinks song and another 1-2 that were also in INSIDE LLEWIN DAVIS.

Very peaceful and relaxing.

Weirdly appealing for a slow and morose record. I'm into this?

Really liked his sound - will defo listen again

This is a real nice, smooth, chilled album. I kind of like everything about this. The really nice guitar, the complex strumming and picking. I like his lower register vocals. I even like the harmonica, so that's saying something. Maybe because it sits nicely in the mix, and isn't brought obnoxiously up front.

This was a new one to me, and I quite enjoyed it. "Everybody's Talkin" and "That's the Bag I'm In" were the highlights for me.

Like many others, I wasn't aware of Neil before, so the list has given me something new. Found it very compelling, his voice isn't very typically poppy but it suits the tone of the songs and is melodic, deep and smooth. Some of the arrangements are not that complex, but the instrumental closer shows he can write more layered songs too. Nice!

It’s kinda cool to hear the intersection between folk and country.

Yee haw?

his singing voice is phenomenal. the chords and arrangement are so pretty. not much of a folk person but this album was atmospheric i like!

I didn't like everything but there were a few songs that I liked quite a lot.

This was alright. I liked "The Dolphins" and the last song.

Never heard any of his music before (other than Harry Nillson's cover of Everybody's Talking -- which I had no idea wasn't his own song). This grew on me. Initially it felt a little too much like Leonard Cohen, but I got past that. I like the mix of electric and acoustic instruments and the smoothness of his voice. A nice surprise.

What a laid-back and unassuming record! I didn't love it on first listen but it grew on me when I listened for the second and third time today. It sounds like this might have influenced the Tim Buckley album we heard earlier in this project. The final track was wild, but I respect that he put it on here honestly. Not quite a 5 but very good.

I read some of the other listener reviews before listening and expected a bad dated sounding Album but found it to be very much the opposite. It sounds fresh and compelling. I really enjoyed it and will definitely listen again and listen to his other albums. His vocal style is more like a country crooner than a folk singer. I like his original of Everybody’s Talking too and I have long been a lover of Nilsson’s interpretation.

I did not know that "Everybody's Talkin'" wasn't written or originally recorded by Harry Nilsson! Neil's original version is less produced, but fully familiar and smooth. The other tracks had versatility and range in the musical rhythms and syncopation making it an easy one to listen to and enjoy. Neil's vocals are comfortable and pleasant, I think he must have influenced many artists in the genre.

Great sounds and a cultural artifact of a proto-psychedelic album.

Really enjoyed this. Good mix of blues with a wee bit of country and western. A bit Dylanesque, Glenn Camble, he did a cover on one of the tracks featured on this album. Even reminded me a little of Johnny Cash. Deep vocals. Certainly give it 4 stars. Great listen.

Enjoyed it a lot. Really nice voice Rating: 4.2

Dolphins is one of the best songs ever.

Album is four stars, but man's life story is five stars.

Didn’t hate it.

Original and good, similar to Cat Stevens and Van Morrisson

7.2

I really liked this, and I liked it more the more times I heard it. (I left it on repeat, so it played about three times.) It really evoked the '60s folk scene.

Not familiar prior & pleasantly surprised! Love his voice & cocaine! I would have enjoyed Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga more if it was about 3 mins shorter

Good

Really cool unique blend of genres and styles, especially for 1966. 4/5

Very good voice. Songs have a sad tempo. Great for one song but a whole album, no.

Solemn and sweet

This was my first listening to Neil, so I did not know what to expect. The first five seconds of the first track, “The Dolphins,” answered that question almost immediately. A melancholy yet powerful sound that seems to be rightfully represented by the cover will fill your ears for the next 40 minutes. Each song creates an atmosphere where the listener can dwell and be part of the experience. Fred’s deep and charismatic voice profoundly connected me. The instrumentation, particularly the harmonica, brass section, and even the whistling is fantastic. I will listen to him more and more in the near future.

Bluesy country folk. It's not typically what I listen to, but it was pretty good!

I really enjoyed this album

Well, had never heard of this guy and didn't even know he wrote Everybody's Talkin'. What a find. Thanks 1001 albums. Fine guitarist, great songwriter.

Made me feel things.

Really good blues

Never heard of this artist before, but I have heard of some of the artists that covered his work. I really enjoyed it, actually. He’s got a great voice, and the songs are beautiful.

Best song - I've Got A Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree)

Rating: 8/10 Great folk album. Really enjoyed the instrumentation, singing, and songwriting. Has some Indian influence which is really cool. Favorite songs: The Dolphin, I've Got A Secret, Sweet Cocaine, Cyni Raga. Worst song: Faretheewell, kinda boring.

Great folk rock, loved "The Dolphins" and enjoyed the whole album working. Beautiful melodies with classic western vocals

Mooie cover

What you get when you cross Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash. Crazy to learn that he retreated form public eye for the conservation of dolphins. Highlights: That's the bag I'm in Ba-Di-Da Faretheewell Everybody's talkin

Wow. Love it when my preconceptions are completely wrong. Album cover and year had me thinking it would be some naff Sinatra ripoff, instead some great folk. How was this guy not more famous?!

Fred Neil is a new one for me! I enjoyed the songs, his distinctive voice, and the guitar in this very much. "Everybody's Talkin'" is probably one of my favorite songs of all, and I'd never known this original version. It's absolutely perfect.

This was nice. I kept thinking that it sounded like someone else that we had heard in this project. Finally, I realized that it was sounding like Tim Buckley to me and then read that Tim is one of Fred Neil's "musical descendants".

I have never heard of Fred Neil but Everybody’s Talkin’ has always been a favorite! Nice performance here.

Great album nice and chill, will listen again

A great album by one of the most influential US singer-songwriters.

A very interesting addition to the list, with some fun instrumentation throughout.

Pleasant

Good! I enjoyed it a lot.

This album is pretty good. My favorite song was that pseudo-indian jam at the end. Nothing else really felt particularly compelling though.

i’m always in for some 60s folk but this felt kind of bland. better than a full cover album but not as good as the top tier of folk from the time

Great to listen to the album that bought us 'Everybody's Talkin', not normally my kind of music but the instrumental finisher, 'Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga' was fantastic, like a classy spaghetti western soundtrack

Quiet and contemplative, Fred Neil sounds like he’s seen some shit but he doesn’t regret any of it. It’s a shame his discography is so small.

Fred could have chucked it in after co writing Roy's Candy Man, but fortunately for us he kept at it and produced Dolphins and Everybody's Talkin. As a performer he's good, no doubt he honed his skills endlessly playing coffee houses and that baritone is just superb, a great voice. He reminds me a lot of Jake Holmes in terms of song writing, and he has a good sense of melody. Dolphins is both a beautiful melody and a lovely lyrical metaphor. And like House of the Rising they all did Green Rocky Road, and I absolutely love Fred's arrangement here, just what that song needed. This is a good record with a couple of absolutely brilliant highlights. Harry N is the ultimate interpreter of other peoples work, Fred and Tom Evans and Pete Ham in particular. That said I've always love Fred's version, the lyrics are incredibly moving, there is a poignancy and a pathos there that really cuts through. One of my old fart laments is that nobody writes great lyrics anymore, has anyone written anything as powerful as this in the 21st century, I don't think so. He references some old folk tune with the line about his clothes suiting the weather (and the times), but the rest is truly original, his meditation on wanting to be somewhere else, something we all want at various times in this rich pageant, it is deeply emotional.

I have Neil’s first 2 solo albums on vinyl. This is the second of them. I just played them both & found them to be equally entertaining. One thing that really struck me was just how much Tim Buckley’s voice was like Neil’s. Buckley may have used it slightly differently & his music was certainly funkier than Neil’s folk-influenced tunes, but their voices are very similar. On the previous album John Sebastian featured heavily on harmonica, but on this album it’s Canned Heat’s Al (Blind Owl)Wilson with those duties & he’s great, particularly on That’s The Bag I’m In, Sweet Cocaine & particularly on the last track with the crazy name, an 8-minute instrumental described as a piece of raga rock. It’s unlike anything else on the album. Neil’s signature tune, Everybody’s Talkin’ opens Side 2, marginally slower than the version by Harry Nilsson, who had the big hit with it after it was used in the film Midnight Cowboy. The album has no duds on it. Still a great listen.

Some good old fashioned bluegrass folk. Free flowing album where each track had a similar edge, but different enough to make it feel unique. Enjoyable.

A few amazing songs on here. Definitely worth exploring a few times more.

so far this is a great folk album. the bass is so pleasing. his voice just tears through the tracks yup. upon research it is a double bass and a sexy one at that. very much enjoyed. the last track is sick almost delves into jazz territory

Terrific! Didn’t realize he wrote “fare thee well” or “everybody’s talkin”. Two songs I love from other artists. Time to watch Midnight Cowboy again

Solid album, but the last song really makes it for me. It's a journey on its own

Nice album. Back story is also quite interesting how he essentially retired in his 30's, and before that he was more of a writer for others than a solo artist.

This was really good! Also fun to see some old (maybe even original?) versions of songs I know from other places

Dolphins

Wow, what a sleeper. Had never heard of this but props for writing "Everybody's Talkin'" and recording a version that I imagine very few people have heard. In his voice, you can hear an affectation that would re-emerge in an unfortunate manner in the 00's in bands such as Creed. However, he does it so sincerely that I must forgive it. I'm taken with the simplicity of the production, with just a few instruments, nothing more than necessary. If you want a trip, listen to Randy Travis and then come back to this - remarkably similar.

This sounds like Smog but 30 years earlier. Nice blend of genres and surprisingly soulful. The Indian influence on the last song was an unexpected twist.

Very special, unknown but beautiful

Laid back and earthy with resonant vocals and nice hints of psychedelia. Surprisingly spicy finish. Fave Songs: I've Got a Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree), The Dolphins, Faretheewell (Fred's Tune), That's the Bag I'm In, Everybody's Talkin'

I’ve come home late from work tonight. It’s around 9pm, a single street lamp with a yellowish glow shines out the window, and I’m sipping on a cup of tea. The record player is switched on and I piece through the vinyls, looking for something that fits the mood. All of a sudden I come across this album, unlistened to for the past 6 months, sandwiched between some of the other castoffs. It’s a nice night, and the songs soothe me after a long day. However, as we near the end of the album, that feeling of loneliness starts to creep in. Who is there to hold me tonight? Is my life progressing the way I dreamed it would? How have things changed since I last listened to this album? Loneliness turns into sadness. I dispose of the tea bag, place the mug by the sink, and shuffle off to bed. As the shades are closed and the bedside lamp is switched off, I stare into the black of night. I can’t help but sense around me this sensation: pure emptiness. That, that is what I feel inside.

How have I never heard of this guy?

I like his voice.

Any album with the original Everybody's Talkin' on it is worth a listen. I like the integrity and sincerity plus there's a bouzouki! Good easy listening. Forgot the whistling, harmonica and finger clicking too.

How have I never heard of Fred Neil? Guy writes pretty great music and this is the first I've ever heard of him. I'm disappointed in myself. I only get one star.

the early songs are like a country Elvis the very end is bad but thats fine

Loved some, indifferent to others, but generally good to me

Good stuff.

A very pleasant slice of seemingly forgotten American folk.

Two deeply beautiful songs in 'The Dolphins' and 'Everybody's Talking' and a very good folk record throughout.

i enjoy the songs and the unassuming nature of the record

Fred shmeil

Tranquil country songs with tasteful accompaniment helping to broaden the soundscape. Something of a forgotten classic