Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Fred Fneiltstone
A completely fine piece of ‘60s folk rock. When it works it’s exceptional and it does that more often then not. Why hasn’t Wes Anderson used this on a soundtrack yet? It’d be perfect.
I found Fred’s vocal style a bit distancing - is theatrical the word? But there are lovely melodies here. Some put me in mind of the eponymous Velvet Underground album, in terms of the musical approach rather than the lyrics. Some were more of the Andy Williams kind of vibe, or maybe more Neil Diamond.
Relaxing album, even if I was eaten by flies while listening.
Not normally what I listen to but I really liked this album. His voice is great.
Hard to put my finger on why but I really enjoyed this.
4.25
Wild story about the guy. Dolphins? Still, pretty good album.
Never heard him prior to this. Interesting listen.
A nice moody album with a flourishing finish. The Dolphins is a great opener, There's The Bag I'm In is relatable, Everybody's Talkin', well huh, who know it was about sailing, or is it another euphemism for cocaine?
What a nice surprise
surpreendeu
First impression: what the hell? Creepy album cover with songs about dolphins and cocaine? Listening to album: Wow, this is surprisingly good.
Хорошая музыка, ноты дикого Запада
4, awesome album, but not much happens really. And I mean that must be one of the sexiest albumcovers yet.
Cool folk album. Went pretty hard.
Despite the unsettling cover art, this is one of those surprising finds because it isn't something that I would generally gravitate toward. Though I can't entirely describe what I like about this album, it does remind me of a folksy Johnny Cash, Lou Reed album from another dimension.
Took me a minute to warm up to it but I dig it. Definitely didn’t know the origin of some of these tunes.
Never heard of him before - not consciously anyway - but I think Harry Nilsson made "Everybody's talking" his own. Great song on an album with few standouts.
Never heard of him and thought neilson wrote everybody's talkin. Everyday is a school day. Really liked this
Soft 4 stars. Great collection of folk rock songs. I had no idea that Fred Neil existed let alone wrote everybody’s talkin’. Reminds me of futurama.
"They'll probably drop the atom bomb the day my ship comes in" - badass line in "That's The Bag I'm In" I know "Ba-Di-Da" from the excellent Mark Lanegan cover. Really enjoyed this record. A bit Cash-like in some ways. Definitely see the Mark Lanegan connection. Great record.
Lots of interesting styles going on here. Hard to pin down to just “folk”. Country and blues in there and eastern vibes on the last track. And of course Everybody’s Talkin’ is a great tune.
Really enjoyed the sad 60s folky vibe. Spotify recommended a playlist called “sad 60s“
Chill
I never heard of this album, or of Neil. This record is fantastic, it straddles multiple genres. His voice reminds me of Glen Campbell, Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits.
Cool album, really enjoyed it
Good👍🏼
Really cool blues rock/folk record. Neil’s baritone voice reminds me of Johnny Cash. Somewhat staggering that this was released in 1966. It has that timeless quality that makes it sound like it could’ve been recorded yesterday. The Dolphins and Everybody’s Talkin’ are the two standout moments here, but really the whole record is strong overall.
good solid folk rock sounds!
Мне норм. Замечаю за собой, что мне все больше нравится такой вот блюзовый соул, или как это там называется. Ну, в основном из-за вокалиста. The Dolphins, Faretheewell, Sweet Cocaine — вообще балдеж, можно полежать позалипать. Да и в целом, тут даже какое-то какие-то эффекты на гитарах есть, панорама треков очень гармонично построена, что как будто реально окруженным музыкантами себя чувствуешь. Хорошо, хорошо, мне нравится, 8/10
Трек Everybody's Talkin' встречается в Борате, так что 5 из 5. Хотя... там другая версия, так что лишь 3 из 5. В прочем, подлинный оригинал то как раз тут, так что 4 из 5.
Sí me dio el blues, en buen sentido.
its good
No mentiré, estaba cansado y trabajano y como que me empezó a dar sueño la mayor parte del disco. El mood no me favoreció esta vez para apreciar bien el disco digamos. De todas maneras, me gustaron mucho Ba-di-da, Sweet Cocaine y esa última pieza en la que folk gringo meets india y cuyo nombre larguísimo no pienso replicar aquí. Mood: Hickory sticks
Old, classic folk. Acoustic sound, can hear as a source of influence for later eras of the genre
Buen álbum la verdad me gusto mucho que su nombre sea el nombre del álbum jajaja esta como para escucharlo con un escoses como los grandes capos de la mafia.
Quiet but worth to listen
Pretty into this. Not a lot of Folk folks sounded like this in the 60s, and I can appreciate the psychedelic touches.
1966. Key Songs: The Dolphins, Everybody's Talkin', Sweet Cocaine
I had only heard the one song before. Interesting stuff.
So this is what folk music sounded like before Dylan. Thanks, Bob.
Mellow vibes. I'm more familiar with the cover of Everybody's Talkin', but this was alright. I probably won't listen again though.
An interesting intersection between country and mid 60's psych rock
surprised that i know some tracks of this, probably through some film soundtracks but i can't recall what. anyways, it got a nice feeling to it but overall, it's a bit too downtempo moody/bluesy for my taste.
liked one song
This was one of those surprise historical albums. I had no context for Fred Neil, as an artist. However, as the album continued forward, I realized I knew most of his songs, just not performed by him. I had just listened to everybody’s talking by Harry Nielsen the previous week. Green Rocky Road was also Van Morrison song. And even a song Cynicrusttpetefredjohn Raga was covered by Metallica on their Live Shit! Album between guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Jason Newstead during their solos. I have to admit, I admired this album. Sometimes you have to step away from the tree and admire the roots.
Some good songs, some kinda meh.
Fine but did not seem notable to me.
Favorite Track: That's the bag I'm in
You can ask The Dolphins about this one but I think they might be on that Sweet Cocaine. Everybody’s Talkin’ about it like it’s a Merry Go Round. But That’s the Bag I’m In.
Not bad
Folk-rock, bordering on crooning, which, while perfectly fine, didn't blow me away
I don't enjoy country too much, but I'm into folk, and this was a combination of both. I liked the melancholy sound of the music, though there was too much harmonica for me. An okay listen.
:OK
who? anyway i only care about approximately two celebrities called fred or freddy or freddie and this guy is not one of them. also i care about only two or three celebrities called neil (with one being a massive jerk who at least have some good artistic output), and this dude is neither as good as any of the freds or as good as any of the neils. although if i squint harder i could see him sounding like one of the freds. but still 3/5
It was ok. A little too boring. Couple great hits though
This was a nice surprise
Great songwriter. Didn’t know his work prior.
I liked the bluesy, weary but not too heavily laden feel of this. The experimental closer didn't quite work for me with everything else though, and everything else is a little slight. But unlike my last 2 albums which were a bit of a chore, these songs feel like they make more sense listened to as a package than bits and pieces. Take the raga out and that's only 30 minutes. Most importantly though, Everybody's Talkin' is such a beautiful song that probably only makes me cry because of Midnight Cowboy, but does that matter? And Fred Neil is to thank for that so he gets a thumbs up from me. I might prefer the Nilsson version but it's gorgeous here too and fits perfectly into the album.
This was ok, probably wouldn’t listen to it again—maybe the song about dolphins, but that’d be it. 3/5
nice deep voice but nothing special to get into this group
Kind of somewhere between Neil Diamond and Harry Nilsson, but less interesting than that comparison would make you assume.
Almost Johnny cash
Fun to hear a previously unknown singer songwriter. Pretty good. I will likely never listen to it again though.
Mid 3.5. Tem ótimas músicas, mas a produção não é tão cativante, e a interpretação de Neil não é tão potente.
Not bad but nothing I would remember. This type of music really washes over me like background music which is not a bad thing when you want to reach a mood. The last track is really the weak point and is mostly a tension rid jam session. I wouldn't call this a "must hear" but it's nice and not insufferable(except the last track) as other albums on this list.
It’s fine. Very tame but that’s the era as well I guess. Production at times is not great.
The album would have been much better, maybe even a classic, if Fred Neil had paid more attention to his singing style.
Neil was a folk-rock pioneer. He was influential to and mentored artists like Bob Dylan, Tim Buckly, Steven Stills, David Crosby and Joni Mitchell. Given that he directly worked with these household name singer-songwriters, it is somewhat surprising that many, including myself, have never heard of him. This was largely by design, the dude simply did not want to be famous, so his notoriety largely remained with the many artists he inspired. Now, thanks to this project I have been introduced to an important piece of rock history. I can appreciate that, in fact, that is why I’m here. Neil was a wonderful bass-baritone voice that really drew me into his music. Absurdly obvious, but a captivating voice is critically important for singer-songwriter music, yet this is often where music in this genre falls flat. This was not true with this music. Another great discovery. This is great country-folk music with an important history. I will revisit the record again the next time I’m in the mood to listen to chill music.
Kick open the saloon door, knock the dust off a glass, drink down some whiskey. Reflect on the family you left at home while chasing the life of a drifting cattle man. This isn't Western music per se, but gives me those feels.
This is straddling the line between 2 and 3. It's mostly based on Neil's voice. When it gets slurred and/or nasally I really don't like it. Otherwise, he's got quite a nice voice that really works well with the music. The music itself is just fine. TIL "Everybody's Talkin" was not written by Nilsson.
Not quite what I expected from a guy I’ve never heard of before, but who knows his way around coming up with a sorta disconcerting album cover. The record itself is decent; it kinda has a darker Chris Isaak vibe at points. Honestly, I was not looking forward to this one at all, but I’m enjoying it as I go. 7/10
when i was 17 years old, i decided that i should listen to the entirety of pitchfork's list of the 200 best albums of the 1960s. it's not a perfect list (inherent feature of lists, to be fair), but it introduced me to a lot of kinds of music i had never encountered before - free jazz, krautrock, chanson.... and also folk music. both of my parents really only cared about pop and rock, and although it's impossible to grow up in the united states without absorbing the various cultural impact of the greenwich village folk scene, i don't know if my high school self could've really told you about any folk songs besides 'this land is your land' and 'blowin in the wind.' anyways... all that to say that i have heard fred neil's self titled album, because pitchfork decided that it was the 135th best album of the 1960s. all i really remembered about it was that it had the original recording of 'everybody's talkin,' later popularized by harry nilsson in the version he did for Midnight Cowboy (sidebar: i saw this movie a couple weeks ago and it's as great as everyone says it is). on second listen, i think it's a decent little folk rock album. neil's got a very interesting voice, and his version of everybody's talkin is very nice, even though i think nilsson's clears. his vocal performance on 'that's the bag i'm in' is pretty fun, and the raga jam to close out the album is a cool and unexpected touch. like dave van ronk, though, fred neil would be outshined by the younger greenwich village denizens he mentored. still a worthwhile listen, imo
Not a favourite of mine but I still enjoyed it
Sixties, walker-esque precursor to Tim Buckley, good baritone bass voice. Worth a second listen.
I didn't dislike this; Everybody's Talkin' is a good song, even if the Nilsson version is better. And the bouzouki added a nice touch in a few tracks. But Neil's voice is a little too smooth for me. Low three.
Very easy listening. It's a darker and more mysterious side of folk, which I appreciate it. Had not heard of this artist before, but I enjoyed this one.
Unremarkable. Just some other 60s guy. Did bro have a stroke with the last song title? 3/5
All the covers of Everybody’s talkin are better than the original but I guess I have to give him some credit for writing it
I don’t know, Lou Reed, Neil Diamond and Leonard Cohen influenced this guy? This is like, I want to quickly skip through the songs but it holds me back from doing it. And I really don’t know why. I can barely like it but I also just don’t feel it. I don’t try to lead anyone astray. It’s a mood album.
Good
Pretty good for 1960s standards.
Definitely on the more boring side of folk but I like the more rock songs, it's short enough where it's not overly boring
Фреди поет свою кантри шнягу онлайн без регистрации
Everybody’s talking is the best song, but not as good as Harry Nilsson’s version. When does *he* appear on this list?
Listenable.
Okay, fine.
Vibras western chill. 3/5
pa relajar
Goods songs. But the best - Dolphins and Green Rocky Road have been sung better by others.
Great oldies sound, a bit of country or folkish vibes i liked it!
Seems like a good songwriter but the performance is not at the same level. 3 stars or C+.
3.4/5 charming stripped down rock w country n r and b flavor
Cool
Nice folk album, could be a bit more refined in my opinion, nice to see the orignal version of Everybody's Talkin's. 1. Everybody's Talkin' 2. Sweet Cocaine 3. The Dolphins
I bet old people love this guy.
easy listening. the raga at the end bumps a half star
Has its moments but is a one and done.
Oh yay more folk rock Vocals are pretty excellent on this one, definitely the main takeaway I had on this one. Sweet Cocaine and The Dolphins were probably my picks, I just think there’s some interesting stuff going on musically in those two. Biggest complaint I had about this one was the lack of variety, where so many songs bleed into each other. This is one where I do think the instrumental sections don’t actually add a whole lot, where that last song just felt like it took everything I liked about the rest of the songs and didn’t do anything. Never heard of the guy but apparently he’s one of the pioneers of the genre so fair enough. Gotta lot of respect for the guy’s efforts with dolphin conservation though, seems like a cool guy but I just don’t think I’ll ever like his music genre.
I really wanted to love this album. I really did. But, it didn't speak to me in the way I hoped it would. I was left feeling underwhelmed and wanting. I asked myself why? Was it the songwriting? No, it was excellent. The singing? No, it was solid. Was there too much harmonica? Maybe, but I'm just not big on harmonica. So why didn't I love it? I have no idea. Maybe it’s because you've got it all, half baked blues, half baked raga rock, half baked, plain ol' folk rock, all of which I would never be able to pick out of a line up. It's inoffensive in a sense, all in one ear and out the other, but it is a waste of time in its truest form, so it is a pain to sit through all forty minutes of. I think some plain folk music would've worked better, and maybe that's what Fred Neil was doing before this album, but this is just rough, a bore.
no es mi estilo, realmente siento que es muy repetitivo
My first time hearing this album and being introduced to Fred Neil. I really enjoyed the guitar sound. He's got a unique voice. Slow tempo.
Folksy with a tinge of blues. The defining feature is Neil's low voice that has a sad resigned trait. Most of the lyrics are related to being tired of society and longing for an escape to nature which I think is generally relatable. Learned the origins of Everybody's Talkin' and I agree that Nilsons is my preferred version. Seems he was very influential but I probably wouldn't listen outside needing some introspective tunes for a cloudy afternoon.
I feel like this could be a Bob Dylan album the way the writing hits me. But he also reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen in his singing style, and that he has a very deep, baritone voice. This was very good overall. It was loungy, but also had some psychedelic vibes, and you could hear the rock and roll sound starting to form. I think this was ahead of its time for 1966.
Solid folk record. The last track is quite surprising.
he seems like a chill guy, didn't love every song but it as all a vibe and I can't complain
This was decent. Some psychedelic folk music. I enjoyed it, but I doubt I’m really going to revisit it any time.
Interesting. Hadn’t really heard of this album.
Nice enough album. Woke up early in a cold cottage in the West of Ireland and laid in bed and listened on my headphones. Good to hear the original version of Everybody's Talking but otherwise fairly forgettable. 3 stars
I had no idea that this was the guy that originally wrote "Everybody's Talkin". I definitely prefer the Nilsson version but this one is good too. That's about all that I got out of this album. Favorite track: Everybody's Talkin'
Dig the voice. Baritone, mellow and enunciated in an era of increasingly strident tenor screams. Lyrics were above average. Playing and sing were not his forte. There is a reason Harry Nilsson scored the hit with Everybody’s Talking. I really appreciate this discovery but will probably not seek him out again.
Last song is great. Decent rest.
Album 153. Fred Neil (https://open.spotify.com/album/7wpo5k9gqXQHfxISH1jatO?si=3cBHX50zTmu825ygqmwA5w) — Fred Neil (1966) Good folk album, like it. But didn't enjoy the last song. 3/5 Liked: — Ba-Di-Da — Faretheewell (Fred's Tune) — Everybody's Talkin'
It's a little Bob Dylan at home, but I liked it. Closes off with a pretty cool raga track and obviously it has the original 'Everybody's Talkin'. fav tracks: That's The Bag I'm In, Everybody's Talkin', Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga
Better than I thought it would be. Still fairly average.
I always thought Everybody’s Talking was a Harry Nillson original. He definitely did it better.
Everybody's talkin and some other songs.
It was fine
Back again with what I assume to be another folky singer-songwriter album. It's been quite a while since the last one of these. Can't say I'm too enthused about the return, but I shall go in with an open mind nonetheless. Here goes. I'm apparently correct in my prediction, but this strikes me as more of a country album, particularly the bumbling bass and Southern drawl. This was an interesting listen. The reverberating, distorted guitars on the first track sound like they were ripped straight out a 90s song, which is incredibly surreal when you consider where music was at during the time. The guitars are a constant highlight, really. They're pretty vibrant and radiant, which contrasts nicely with the bassy, somewhat muddied ambience which hangs over the rest of the instrumentation. The sound is definitely there, but something keeps this music from going the full mile for me. I think it boils down to the songwriting being a little feckless, the middle tracks sounding a little empty and folk not really being my style. Still, I commend this album. It was a decent listen and well ahead of its time in a few respects. Book time. "Although his own recording career was brief, the late Fred Neil was a key figure in the transition of folk to folk-rock." The album blends folk, rock and jazz, apparently. I'm not really hearing that last genre, though there is certainly a wide spread of influences in here. "Essential listening for all singer-songwriters, this album contains no filler." Some prominent people have covered his music, notably Harry Nilsson, Tim Buckley and Cass Elliott of The Mamas & the Papas, the latter of whom is believed to have provided the backing vocals for "Badi-Da". The royalties Neil receives from "The Dolphins" apparently go to dolphin charities. That's sweet. Wikipedia says that this album features Neil's most popular songs, but that's about it. In my exploits of using this website, I've noticed that there are four main qualifiers for an album making it onto the list, those being popular support, critical acclaim, creative influence and British nepotism. Within this group there are a few subcategories (i.e. star power, aesthetic significance or indie/niche/overlooked music) and there's typically a healthy overlap between multiple categories. This album appears to land in one of the most interesting and rare niches, that being music which isn't popular and isn't particularly loved by the critics, but appears to be well-respected by a few notable musicians and producers, either due to the artist knowing a lot of people or the album being covertly influential. I generally favour these picks. It's interesting to hear music that is listened to and appreciated by an entirely separate group of people (i.e. creators rather than consumers). There aren't too many albums like that on the list, so I'm favourable to them whenever I come across one. For that reason, I cosign this inclusion.
Hoge
Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga was pleasantly different.
It's okay, but very boring
The blurb says folk music but there’s a lot more country twang here. I liked it.
Smooth, pleasant. Too much so really. It's a little boring and just kind of slides by. It's not quite interesting enough or bad enough to notice.
A fine folk rock/country album, but I'm on the fence as to whether it is a great one. I would argue that it was Harry Nilsson's performance, arrangement, and production elevated "Everybody's Talkin'" on the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack, that elevated the bare bones songwriting of Fred Neil into something that was actually an all timer with legs. I could see how guitarists might prefer Fred Neil's version though. Favorites: "Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)" , "Everybody's Talkin'", "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" In fact, I kind feel like "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" influenced The Doors when they composed the instrumentals for "The End".
This was ok. Nothing to really fault but nothing special either.
Honestly great. I’m typically not a country or blues fan, but Fred Neil is such a great songwriter that he gets away with both. His unique voice also has the ability to grab the attention and keep it for the duration. Yeah! I’m into it!
Fred Neil - Folk singer with a deep relaxing voice. Highlights: The Dolphins and the original recording of Everybody’s Talkin’. Later recorded by Harry Nilsson and taking into the top ten. 3.0
Nicely recorded, in a similar area to Johnny Cash for me. It sounds like a combo of blues, folk and country in parts, not my sort of thing but I can see the appeal.
Pleasant
Tell ya what, i did quite like this. Enjoyed the dolphins and sweet cocaine very much. Didnt care too much for everybodys talkin’, just cos nillson kinda stole it and made it his own and a million times better. Well done fred xx
Didn’t mind this. First song reminded me of Bill Callahan. Everybody’s Talkin’ is a straight up classic joint. Would happily bang this on sat round a poker table. You wouldn’t want more than 40 minutes of it though.
“Last night as I was walking down the street Whistling the blues to the tapping of my feet Some jive crank called the cops on the beat It'll happen every single time” Whilst I enjoyed this and really enjoy Folk music from this era in particular I found that this album did pass me by slightly. None of it hit me in the way that I expect tracks from Fred Neil’s contemporaries to. Although in fairness one such contemporary was Bob Dylan so that may be unfair. A worthwhile listen for fans of Folk but not essential otherwise.
Ved ikke om jeg behøvede det sidste nummer men ellers helt fin
This felt like a long cover album, but then I found out the songs were (mostly) his originals. Nice.
Everybody's Talking is the standout, mainly because of Midnight Cowboys, otherwise most of this makes me kind of sleepy.
Decent country-folky album Not that rememberable 3/5
I quite like Everybody's Talkin'. I didn't think the rest of the album is anything special.
Elvis and Leonard cohen
Bon ben encore un album qui n'a rien de mauvais, bien au contraire, mais qui ne me parle pas. Je sais reconnaître que c'est un bon album, qui parlera sûrement à beaucoup de monde. Mais moi, mon cerveau, il a tendance à laisser passer sans retenir grand-chose. Le dernier titre (Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga, sacré nom !) était quand même vachement sympa. Mais c'est tout ce que j'en retiens vraiment.
Quality country rock
I thought I would like it more than I did, but I didn’t.
5.5/10
Never heard of this guy. Apparently he made this and then became a total recluse... Interesting. Anyway, onto the actual album: it's mostly laid-back folk-rock. The lyrics aren't as good as I would like, but the guy's voice is pretty unique for the genre, being a country-inflected baritone rather than the usual fragile tenor. It's better produced than a Bob Dylan album, despite not having the lyrics of Dylan. I don't think this album needed an eight-minute instrumental raga rock track at the end, but then, it's the 1960s. In summary, if you like folk-rock albums with an emphasis on the musicality rather than lyrics, this is for you. If you prioritize lyrics in your folk-rock, leave this alone.
This is a pretty accurate-sounding album of what music was like at around that time. The album is overall pretty chill, maybe a bit too chill, but it's definitely alright leaving it in the background. Now that I think about it, it's probably that kind of music that they play in the background in Fallout whenever they're just chilling.
Fred Neil has an undeniably interesting voice—deep, worn-in, and distinctive. “Everybody’s Talkin’” is a genuinely great song and stands tall even decades later. Beyond that, though, the record feels solid but unspectacular. There’s mood and atmosphere, but not a ton of emotional resonance for me. I respect it more than I love it. A thoughtful listen, but not one I’m likely to return to often. Strong three.
Not too much to say on this one. Acceptable set of songs. Nothing too good or bad. Generally entertaining. The man has a great deep voice. The baritone is admirable. And really the only thing of note is bringing up the midnight cowboy song. This must be who wrote it, cause the song in the movie is neilssen or however you spell it. But its a good song though I think I prefer that version. Alright time here bit nothing more
It was decent but nothing really stood out about it to me.
Fred Neil’s self-titled debut was an unknown quantity to me until now. It offers a mellow folk-rock soundscape that’s incredibly easy to settle into. Neil’s baritone is captivating, even if his delivery is somewhat understated. What really shines, though, are the arrangements; the acoustic guitar patterns are intricate and attention-grabbing, providing a sense of dynamic contrast. It's a nice three star listen. Side one 1 "The Dolphins" (4/5) 2 "I've Got a Secret (Didn't We Shake Sugaree)" (3/5) 3 "That's the Bag I'm In" (4/5) 4 "Badi-Da" (3/5) 5 "Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)" (Traditional) (3/5) Side two 1 "Everybody's Talkin'" (5/5) 2 "Everything Happens" (3/5) 3 "Sweet Cocaine" (Traditional) (3/5) 4 "Green Rocky Road" (3/5) 5 "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" (3/5) Total - 34 Average - 3.4 244/1001 135/244 albums reviewed were new to me
Fred has a very nice voice. He seems like the type of guy who has never purchased his own shoes. 3.5/5
It was all right, just didn't hit in any special way.
Det kan du si
Everybody's Talkin' was such a good theme on Midnight Cowboy, so I liked hearing the full album from the original artist. Good stuff if you're in the mood for singer/songwriter music. Not really something that I'm often in the mood for, but it's good to put on in the background while working.
surprisingly didn’t mind it!
Eh. Not terrible, not great
Fine '60s folky soft rock stuff, maybe it carries a little blandness compared to similar things of its time
Fred Neil, aufgenommen 1966 vermutlich unter anderem im Capitol Recording Studio in Hollywood, ist das selbstbetitelte zweite Album des amerikanischen Sängers und Songwriters Fred Neil. Der Interpret stammt aus den USA, seine Musik bewegt sich im Folk-Rock-Genre mit Einflüssen aus Folk und Blues. Das Album enthält mehrere heute bekannte Titel, darunter „Everybody’s Talkin’“, das später durch Harry Nilsson und den Film Midnight Cowboy weite Verbreitung fand, und „The Dolphins“, das von verschiedenen Künstlern adaptiert wurde. Daneben gehören „That’s the Bag I’m In“ und „Green Rocky Road“ zu den prägnanteren Stücken der Platte. Instrumentierung und Arrangement bewegen sich überwiegend im akustisch-elektrischen Bereich, mit Gitarre, Bass, Harmonika und dezenten Rhythmus-Beiträgen, ohne auf größere Studiotricks zu setzen. Der Klang wirkt ruhig und direkt; die Texte sind introspektiv, mit persönlicher Note, aber ohne demonstrative Effekte. Fred Neils tiefe Stimme trägt die meisten Songs, unterstützt von sparsamer Begleitung, was dem Album eine unprätentiöse, klare Atmosphäre verleiht. In der Rückschau zeigt sich, dass dieses Werk zur Folk-Rock-Szene der 1960er Jahre gehört und durch spätere Coverfassungen einzelner Songs auch über das ursprüngliche Publikum hinaus bekannt wurde. Bewertung: Ein nüchterner, gut strukturierter Beitrag zur Folk-Rock-Musik der 1960er, dessen Einfluss vor allem durch einzelne Songs spürbar ist.
Great
3,3 Highlights: The Dolphins, That's the Bag I'm In
Unknown artist to me. It was fine. Nothing jumped out at me. I had heard Everybody's Talkin' but I think probably a cover and not this version. Would go to a lot of other albums in this space before I came back to this one.
A perfectly cromulent album of '60s easy listening country folk. Last track is an odd, long, raga-flavored instrumental. Well performed, well-written, but there's nothing outstanding that would put it on my personal 1001 albums list. I recognized "Everybody's Talkin'", but that's about it.
This is not bad but also not as good as the more political songwriters from that same era. Still enjoyable though.
Je to príjemný album, ale nie som si istý, či si ho ešte niekedy vypočujem. Možno...
This record settles into a comfortable, low-key groove right from the start. The baritone vocals have a resonant depth that carries the folk and country blend well. Some of the world music influences add a nice texture that keeps it from being a total standard genre piece. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - The Dolphins - That's The Bag I'm In - Everybody's Talkin'
Bariton, folksy, mid-sixties, singer-songwriter. I've heard others cover his songs but never the originals. It's ok. It's what you would expect from a bariton, folksy, mid-sixties, singer-songwriter. Someone was probably hoping he's be the next Dylan (even though a pre-fame Dylan was his harmonica player), but he isn't. He sounds like a bunch of other Dylan wannabes/dubbed new Dylan. Best Tracks: Ba-Di-Da; Everybody's Talkin'; Sweet Cocaine
Decent psychedelic styled folksy tunes
For better or worse it wasn’t very memorable
A curiosity from an oft overlooked folk musician. Nice to hear the original version of ‘everybody’s talking’ and ‘dolphins’ and the last Raga like track is very 1966….. clearly better known for songs he gave away.
Interesting stuff. Never heard this one!
Rv
No mal. Buen disco de rock y country. La voz de Neil es genial y en general se pasa un buen rato.
Lovely baritone voice reminiscent of Johnny Cash. And good songs. None better than Everybody's Talking. Why they didn't use his version in Midnight Cowboy I don't know but that's history and probably why nobody outside of his fandom has heard of him. Pleasant album spoiled by the final track. Also generally a bit too much harmonica.
How have I never even heard of Fred Neil? I know the "Everybody's Talkin" song from the Harry Nilsson cover which was all over the radio when I was a little kid - but had no idea it was written by someone else. I've had Nilsson's version of this song "liked" on Spotify for years. I also found that I had already liked Linda Ronstadt's version of "The Dolphins" and never knew it was written and originally recorded by this guy. It was fascinating listening to this and noticing similarities to Johnny Cash, Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, Glen Campbell, etc. - and learning about his influence on Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Grateful Dead and so many others. Plus Bob Dylan played harmonica with Fred when Dylan was just getting started in NYC. Plus he wrote songs for other artists like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. This guy was connected to so many great artists back in the day. One article I read about him said that the Beatles were in NYC and really wanted to meet him and he was like "ok, I guess I'll make some time" or something like that - haha. And then the fact that he just didn't care about the business and promotion side of music and chucked it all to focus on starting an organization for the protection of dolphins - makes him even more of an interesting character. I listened to this album 3 times in a row and ended up "liking" 6 songs out of 10 just from that. One thing great about this 1001 Albums is discovering "new" (to me) artists and albums like this. Liked songs on Spotify: 6/10 Rating: 3/5
So THATS where the song came from.
Pleasantly surprised here! I almost judged the book by its cover, seeing what resembled a creepy cover reminding me of that French album “History of Melody Nelson” or whatever lecherous crap that was.. reminded me a bit of Jim Croce or other smooth folksy artists from around this time. 3.25/5
I don’t really know what to make of that. It wasn’t really my thing - I love the genre but found his voice oddly boring. He voice is deep and resonant and full, but without much range it gets quite boring. But still it was so much better than a lot of tripe on this list.
This guy's got a pretty unique voice for folk. Almost seems more at home in country to be honest. Anyway, interesting life for Mr. Neil too, as he spent most of his post-music career assisting in the preservation of dolphins. It should be no coincidence that a track called "The Dolphins" is on here. Don't really have much else to say, hadn't heard anything from this before today and was mildly impressed. There's probably better folk songwriting out there, though.
Ratio'd by Nilsonn
The original Everybody's Talking, and some lesser country/folk stuff. Plus a weird freakout. Not bad.
Fred has some decent songs on this album. I appreciate it’s shortness.
At least it wasn’t an hour long
A pleasant listen but nothing particularly remarkable either 3.5*
2 1/2 stars. Not bad. I’d listen to it again.
3,5
I'm somehow not familiar with Fred Neil, and after reading about him that surprises me. I remember reading that Dylan used to cover "Shake Sugaree," though it doesn't sound familiar to me. And of course I know "Everybody's Talkin'." I now see that Dylan wrote in Chronicles about getting up onstage with Neil when he first got to NYC, but I read that book like 20 years ago and that detail didn't stick with me.
Eh not bad
Early folk-rock/Americana. It’s fine. Good voice, well recorded. Nice little songs. Seems like it was influential but you wouldn’t know it by the sound of it. Not a masterpiece or even very interesting.
★★★½
This album of folks at a certain time and place in music history. He has an interesting voice and his impact on musicians is amazing. This was an enjoyable lesson for what it was and I understand why it is on this list.
Better than expected, but no need to listen to ever again.
This is music for SERIOUS hippies, not your garden variety types. It's also the kind of record that the BIG folk artists would point to as inspiration, despite never really getting over himself.
Not bad at all Fave: The Dophins Least: Ba-Di-Da
5/10 - I would like to re listen to this on a weekend where I have more time to examine the lyrics. On first listen, there isn’t much to bring me back.
It took me no time at all to determine that Fred Neil was not Fred Schneider from the B-52s.
Good bluesy and folk rock record. Interesting instrumentals
The very definition of an average album. Good voice, not great. Decent songs, nothing amazing. Average length even. Just average. Right down the middle. Nothing special.
Pretty fine album. As a whole it was fairly subdued and stripped down, but there were a few flourishes and intricate moments to add something to it. I liked his voice and the overall sound he got here; the mostly acoustic instruments with a bit of gruffness to the vocals gave it a powerful quality despite the understated style. I found the last half better than the first half, with tracks 6 > 7 > 8 being the part I liked best. There wasn't much I disliked other than to say it was a bit boring and bland as a whole. My main issue is that I didn't see much special about it. Even the parts I liked I wouldn't say were more than OK/good. It's solid, but not more than that for me. Overall: 2.8/5
Good voice. Reminds me of Chris Isaac.
The album cover is quite distressing, but I enjoyed the album and learning about his influence. Everybody's Talking is a classic. I'm giving it a 3 based on one listen, but it could grow on me with some time.
very good vibe
Kind of like a bad Merle Haggard album which is to say an above average album 3.5
Pretty standard folkie stuff. Not remarkable but not terrible. Was going to give it 2 stars but "Everyone's Talking" is worth an additional star
Hard to go wrong with a 60s psychedelic album, and this one was a solid listen. I instantly recognized Everybody’s Talkin which was a nice surprise, and Sweet Cocaine was a straight up banger. Fred Neil had a cool, laid back style that fit the era perfectly. The wild card was Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga. That was a pretty unhinged way to end the album, but honestly it added to the charm.
I guess that was kind of cool. The best song was the one everyone knows, though.
Apart from the last track, which is like going on an acid trip with Scott Walker and a Maharishi, this album is Scott Walker without the Theatre School melancholy. And as if Fred Neil has ever been within 50ft of cocaine!
1966. I enjoyed the folksy bluesy tones with a dash of psychedelic jamming in there
Folksy acoustic singer songwriter stuff with a nice, kind of jazz, backing band giving it a bit of nice oomph. The country leaning stuff is great - approximating Johnny Cash and incorporating a bit of slide and twang. The the blues leaning stuff and the really slow ballads are pretty boring and predictable. The raga at the end is really amazing, gives the acoustic guitar a real workout on some mesmerizing psychedelic drones. Favorites: Everybody's Talkin', Everything Happens, Sweet Cocaine, Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga
I genuinely think he has a nice voice. But it's the kind of nice voice I've got no desire to listen to. This isn't something I'd choose but I can't deny his voice. I see the appeal for (now deceased) grandpas. It's a good album to be fair.
Brushes of simple profundity enmeshed in otherwise corny lyrics. He sounds really beautiful when he’s not trying too hard to sing. Also, that’s not a raga.
Þessi plata rann bara ljúflega í bakgrunni án þess að það hafi eitthvað staðið upp úr nema Everybody's Talkin' sem maður þekkti undir eins. Mun líklegast gleyma þessari plötu fljótt en ekkert að henni samt
Never heard of this before. Surprisingly good!
Nick Cave and the bad seeds heard this and said, I’m about to make this my entire personality. It’s fine, kinda grungier western rock, doesn’t make much of an impression though.
Very listenable album and I had no idea that he wrote Everybody's Talkin. Always cool to discover folk rock songwriters from the Cafe Wha scene that got completely overshadowed by Dylan. He's no Dylan, but he's good.
Not bad Fred. Simpsons: No
Liked it, didn’t love it. Wouldn’t listen again.
Not sure why this is so influencing for other musicians. Does have 1 iconic song but the rest was pretty boring
I really enjoy his voice and there is a lot of soul in his singing. To me the songs are varied though,. some really good and others I would rather skip past. A lot of albums have a time and place when they are best listened to and I know I will return to some of these songs when the mood sets in.
Meh. 2.75 Stars
Folky with a 60's rock vibe. Lyrics are very 60s folk. No shortage of vocal reverb or tremolo-tinged clean electric guitar. 6 and 12-string acoustic, harmonica, maybe some sitar in there too. Some bluesy songs too. Also now I've got Midnight Cowboy in my head.
I've made no secret folk music isn't my thing, but combining it with rock makes it more palatable. Still, not my favorite. Folk typically has a lack of excitement and is too simple for me. Fred Neil is no exception. His original "Everybody's Talkin'" isn't as engaging as Harry Nilsson's cover. But the final song grabbed me and is the reason I'm giving this a 3. Indian music in the Western world in the late sixties was very common, but "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" is different--I think because of the absence of the sitar. The song is a jam session with the name contains the six (presumably) white men that crafted it, but I remain intrigued.
Arriving in the late 60s somewhere between country and folk, this album was likely an inspiration for the folk rock of the 70s. To my surprise, there wasn't too much 60s psychedelia on this album, save for the final track. "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga" skirted the line of psychdelic-country-folk, clearly playing with that Eastern world sound that was so popular in psychedelic music at the time. Also, a bit of a sidenote, but I'm particularly amused that Fred Neil was thorough enough to credit himself (or get credited) for "mumbles" and "finger snapping" on this album. I'd probably put this at about a 2.5, but found myself okay with rounding it up to a 3.
Fine but another uninspiring entry to this list
This was fine. I enjoyed hearing the original version of Everybody's Talkin'.
Quite good.
Enjoyed a few of them, excited to listen to more of Fred Neil. Didn't blow my socks off tho. But a good vibe.
Dejlig arbejdsmusik.
Ive never heard of Fred Neil before so it's interesting to find out that he was this important influence on folk rock. That said I don't think it's a fantastic album, but it's alright, and that's an experience I have with a lot of these albums that pave the way, usually the truly great albums comes after the way has been paved and the concepts have been refined Standouts The Dolphins Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga 3/5
Better than what I thought it was going to be.
For how influential this album is, it felt pretty mediocre and middle of the road to me. It’s an early folk rock record with some blues influences. I think it was the sound of his voice and his singing style that didn’t really click with me. It’s not bad by any means, but it didn’t have anything that stood out or felt particularly unique.
An awesome collection of songs to have written or be closely associated with. These versions are solid but often aren't my absolute favourites. I love "stones" by a boy called Doris. When I was younger I'd never heard dolphins so I assumed that refrain was entirely original rather than a reference - I still expect to hear sweet harmonica when that line is delivered.
I kind of liked the folk rock production on dolphins with the tremolo guitar and drums, etc. i’m not sure why he would sing that he’s going to heaven in a split pea shell but I kind of like that 12 string warbley guitar.
Smooth and deep voice, country sound. Would listen again but would listen to other things first.
I liked the bluesy folk songs at the front half of the album. It felt like it derailed at the instrumental songs. As a result of the disjointedness, the album felt much longer than it actually was.
Really high highs. The opening track The Dolphins and the final track, Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga are really good, it feels like a lot of filler in the middle to be honest. There is a good mix of timbre throughout though, which kept me engaged. The tracks are better when they're a bit more experimental, but only because they are lightly and cleverly experimental, which leaves the 'filler' tracks feeling a bit bland really. Lyrically it's great.
Decent album, perfectly good folk rock. Some good songs - everybody's talking is a classic, though like many I know Harry Nilsson's cover better. It's good! That's all I have to say.
pretty alright i suppose
Always crazy hearing the original versions of songs I didn't even know were covers (Everybody's Talkin')
This was fine. It was a nice, folly chill album that I enjoyed well enough. Just didn’t really feel like essential listening.
Relaxing Very yeehaw blues vibes Nothing really stood out Good album cohesion
I like folk.
Bel sound e voce profonda, non è però il mio stile al 100%
Its finee
A good late 60’s singer songwriter, reminiscent of Leonard Cohen, but less dark and bleak. A bit of melancholy but more of a nostalgia feel.
A good album, though not a lot more than that. I personally do believe this album could have been left out of this list, since there are many better albums like this one on the list already. Fred Neil has a pleasant voice to listen to and the music itself is also pretty good, it just does not stick out at all in this list. 3/5
Everybody’s talking at me… Otherwise a good outing of the time.
Some really solid freak folk, reminded me of Love
A little too plaintive for me. That being said, I am giving it a listen openly. It has its moments--I think I just want more of them. No vocals very engaging.
I’d never heard of this bloke before even though he was allegedly a pioneer. His voice was pleasant enough and the album felt very much of its time. It’s probably a 2.5 - everything felt a bit tonally similar but I didn’t mind it.
The whole time this album played I was waiting for a song to come on that I recognized. Neil's voice was so familiar, but I couldn't quite place why. Then "Everybody's Talking" came on and there it was! There was something soothing yet edgy at work here, and while the record rates more like a 3.5, I'm not quite at a 4. Good album, and by my count, that's three versions of "Cocaine" we've heard thus far.
At least it's different than most folk albums of the time but still nothing that wowed me.
I enjoyed a handful of songs, but the compilation as a whole- was a meh for me.
There were parts that were jam bandy and I liked those a lot but overall would I listen to this album again? Probably not
not bad
This album is so great at times that it hurts me to feel that some songs were bland and uninteresting to me. While listening to it my internet decreased until the last song, which was pretty nice. So, I liked it, but the album has many aspects that doesn't make me love it.
### In-Depth Review: *Fred Neil* (1967) **Released:** 1967 **Label:** Capitol Records **Producer:** Nick Venet **Engineers:** John Kraus, Pete Abbott **Genre core:** Folk-blues / proto-folk-rock with light psychedelia ### 1. LYRICS & THEMES - **Interior, not exterior, politics:** Neil avoids the protest-song vogue of the mid-’60s. Instead he writes about **alienation** (“Everybody’s Talkin’”), **addiction** (“Sweet Cocaine”), **rootlessness** (“The Other Side of This Life” – not on the LP but cut at the same sessions) and **quiet resignation** (“That’s the Bag I’m In”). - **Nature as refuge:** “The Dolphins” uses the sea as an escape metaphor; Neil later devoted his life to dolphin-protection projects, so the image is autobiographical. - **Economy of language:** Lines are short, almost conversational. John Sebastian recalled that Neil made lyrics feel “like they just fell out of your mouth… you hadn’t labored over them,” a style later echoed in the early songwriting of Tim Hardin and Jackson Browne . - **Sources:** He re-works Libba Cotten’s folk-blues “Shake Sugaree” into “I’ve Got a Secret,” illustrating the living “folk process” inside a commercial studio . ### 2. MUSIC & ARRANGEMENTS - **Baritone gravity:** Neil’s cavernous voice sits in the same range as later singers such as Scott Walker or Mark Lanegan; it gives even mundane lines gravitas. - **Blend of acoustic & subtle electric:** Electric guitar, bass and brushed drums are added but never swamp the intimacy—an approach Richie Unterberger calls “perfectly balanced electric instrumentation” . - **Modal folk-blues progressions** (“Green Rocky Road,” “Faretheewell”) sit beside **country two-beat** (“That’s the Bag I’m In”) and the **raga-flavoured drone** that closes the record. - **“Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga” (7½ min):** A loose, improvised drone that anticipates the eastern-tinged jams soon popular in San Francisco ballrooms. It is the clearest nod to emerging psychedelia and is routinely cited by listeners as the album’s biggest sonic surprise . ### 3. PRODUCTION - **Producer Nick Venet** (also early Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt) keeps the sound warm and uncluttered. Close-miked acoustic guitars and a light room-reverb give the impression you are sitting a few feet from the band. - **No stereo gimmicks or radio-friendly sweetening;** this may explain why the original LP stalled commercially even though two of its songs became hits in other artists’ hands. - **First-generation analog tape, recently remastered** for Qobuz/HD downloads; the 2021 reissue retains the original dynamic range (no loudness-war compression) . ### 4. INFLUENCE & LEGACY - **“Everybody’s Talkin’”** – Harry Nilsson’s 1968 cover shot to #6 after its use in *Midnight Cowboy* (1969). Nilsson himself admitted he “tried to sing it like Fred” but added pop sheen . - **Peer recognition:** Bob Dylan, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Joni Mitchell, John Sebastian and Tim Buckley all cited Neil as a key influence; Dylan’s first paid NYC gig was playing harmonica behind Neil at Café Wha? . - **Direct musical tributes:** Jefferson Airplane’s “The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil,” Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Coconut Grove,” and multiple covers of “The Other Side of This Life” and “The Dolphins” by Tim Buckley, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg & Beth Orton . - **Cult stature:** Because Neil refused to tour after 1969 and let his albums go out of print for decades, he became a “songwriter’s songwriter,” a name-checked ancestor of the 70s singer-songwriter movement without the superstar baggage . --- ### 5. PROS & CONS **PROS** - **Vocal timbre:** One of the deepest, most soothing male voices in 60s folk; many listeners discover the record for that alone . - **Song quality:** “The Dolphins,” “Everybody’s Talkin’,” “Faretheewell,” “That’s the Bag I’m In” are all staples of the late-Village canon. - **Atmosphere:** A coherent late-night mood—several reviewers use the word “floating” . - **Historical importance:** Demonstrates how folk could absorb electric textures and Eastern drones without surrendering intimacy—an influence audible on early Tim Buckley and Tim Hardin records. - **Concise running order:** 10 songs, 38 minutes; no filler, ends on an experimental note that invites replay. **CONS** - **Uniform tempo:** The languid pace can feel samey; some listeners call it “studiously lazy” or “sleepy country-folk” unless you are in the right head-space . - **Lyrically sparse:** If you favor dense poetic imagery (early Dylan, Cohen) Neil’s plain-spoken style may seem under-written. - **Sonic modesty:** Low-key production means no big sonic “wow” moment for casual listeners accustomed to psychedelic extravaganzas like *Sgt. Pepper*. - **Limited commercial immediacy:** Lack of hooks or pop push meant the LP never charted and remains less visible in classic-rock narratives. - **Cover overshadows original:** Nilsson’s glossier “Everybody’s Talkin’” is so ubiquitous that Neil’s earthier take can feel like an alternate version rather than the definitive one to newcomers. --- ### 6. BOTTOM LINE *Fred Neil* is a quiet cornerstone of 1960s folk-rock: musically unforced, emotionally direct and—because of Neil’s self-imposed exile—untainted by over-exposure. Its influence is measurable through the artists it shaped (Dylan, Airplane, Buckley, Nilsson) and through the durable standards it introduced. The album rewards close listening but demands patience; its refusal to grand-stand is both its virtue and the reason it remains a cult item rather than a household classic.
Decent folk, with a jazzy side. Didn't seem like anything special. I did enjoy the raga at the end.
Very eclectic album. I don't know how often I will revisit Fred Neil but I enjoyed the instrumentation.
Fav Song: Everybody's Talkin'
Nostalgic , my grandparents kind of music, enjoyable.
pleasant album. strange cover.
60s Singer Songwriter is not my favourite realm of music in the world, but this had some real charm to it.
Solid album but the one that stood out to me was Everybody Talkin'. I thought it was a Harry Nilsson song but nope, turns out it was a cover. Fred Neil's version has a different vibe that while it won't be the version I think of, it's a nice contrast to switch things up. Hell of a song to write in a short moment and record in one take though. Favorite track: Everybody Talkin'
Neil's chroming baritone was a welcome reprieve from ACDC yesterday, nothing to write home about for me. Favorites: everybody's talking, that's the bag I'm in
Solid stuff, not really my thing and I probably won't be revisiting this at all. But, I don't have a negative thing to say about this, it's just not my jam.
Not bad. A little same-y. Pleasant guitar work. “Green Rocky Road” was way different from the Van Ronk version.
Cool, but nothing I would listen to again
I will need to revisit this album
Hadn't heard of Fred Neil before and wasn't sure what to expect. I quite liked his voice but apart from Everybody's Talkin' not much stood out to me.
Appreciate this one for what it is.
9/18/25. Will need a couple more listens, but a cool folk album with a lot of electric elements. I enjoyed the different chord progressions and lyric choices, as well as the choice in different instrumentation.
Some folksy tunes right here.
It was nice, nothing special.
Fint folk album.
Actually kind of enjoyed this one. Compared to many of the albums on this list, it’s nothing special. Just some easy going music. His voice reminds me a bit of Glen Campbell but deeper and less range. Fine listen.
sounded like bob dylan, it was decent, some good tracks
Not really for me but I respect the hell out of it.
I liked parts of this! Guy has a crazy voice! Enjoyed "That's The Bag I'm In" "Everything Happens" and "Sweet Cocaine" the most.
One listen really is not enough is it. Sounded like I might love it, but going with a nice, safe, cosy three stars.
Bit Johnny Cash, genuinely never heard of Fred Neil! Not really my thing to be fair but great voice
Some ok songs
Standard singer-songwriter fare. Not bad for what it is - but not more than that either.
He has a great voice, the music is alright, but too much of the same.
Should revisit - I did think there were really good songs like "Sweet Cocaine" but it was too distracting for me to focus on homework. That is why it needs a revisit.
ещё один про которого я не знала но оказывается одну песню всё же знала) вокально не увлёк, местами слишком расслабленно, местами слишком кокаин
I don't know how I feel about the vocals on this one. On one hand Fred Neil is clearly very talented but his over the top vibrato really felt like a pisstake. Was prepared to give it a 2 star but then we get "Everybody's talking" which I thought Harry Nilsson wrote. It is a very good track. I also enjoyed "Sweet Cocaine". I think those 2 tracks make it just squeak in to a 3 star review.
I didn't care much for this album until the mysterious Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga came on. The open tuning, Indian vibes and and dissonant harmonica captured my attention like not many other songs do. It was quite unexpected and out of place, but I really dug it. On it's own it's a 4 star track, although not quite enough to push the whole album into 4 star territory.
Приємний фолк, декілька пісень собі зберіг. Як ціле альбом видався занадто рівним.
Доволі дефолтний, але приємний фолк.
distinctive voice, could sub in for some road trip lists
This was a decent album not anything really to write home about but it was good not bad, not great!
This was a pretty enjoyable journey for an album, ending with the instrumental at the end. The tone was definitely quite bluesy but also more on the raw side which makes it easy to just kind of lose yourself in listening to it. While there weren't any clear standout songs, it was consistently good all throughout and as such will receive a 3.5/5 which will be bumped down to a 3 as it doesn't quite hit enough to make it to the threshold of the next rating.
Love the mixing and use of panning. I’ve Got a Secret and Faretheewell are beautiful. Neil’s voice is very strong and carries the melody very effectively. A few songs sound a little too similar to each other but it doesn’t detract from the listening experience. Very enjoyable listening of an album I otherwise may have never heard.
More 60s stuff.
Relaxed, ontspannen folk. Kan er wel naar luisteren op de achtergrond bij een cafe, maar niet gewenst
Great vocals, calming music
Was this ground breaking for 1966? Like the acoustic and electric mix. Never heard of Fred Neil. Really love the sound.
Stämningsfullt och grym röst. Kul att höra originalet "everybodys talkin" (som man hört med Harry Nilsson). Det höjer sig dock inte över "helt ok". Saknar flera låtar som skickar albumet över tre.
Ingen dålig platta men ingen som riktigt sticker ut heller. Hans röst är cool, jag gillar det instrumentella och Everybody’s talking är grym, men skulle behövas ett par ytterligare låtar av den kalibern för ett högre betyg. Trevlig och njutbar lyssning rakt igenom dock och en stabil trea.
Blandade skurar. Everybody Talking är fantastisk. Vissa av de bluesigare numren riktigt bra. Men det finns gott om svaga spår. En trea (mest för Everybody Talking)