Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Mid
Not an artist I'd ever heard of before which is why this place is GREAT. Soulful voice, certainly not an unpleasant listen. "Everybody's Talkin" the track that would be most recognisable thanks to Nilsson and tough call which I prefer.
Competent and good listening especially for your nan or the geriatric. 3 out of 5 will keep in mind for when I'm senile.
There was one familiar dong
Chill folk songs, nothing that really stands out though 3,5
What’s with the raga at the end
Well I didn't know Everybody's Talkin was originally by this guy. Love that song. And he's got more in there to offer. I enjoyed this, it has an untidy charm.
Globali näyttää mitä näyttää ei tämä huonoa ole..
Bij het zien van de hoes krijg ik meteen een gevoel van onbehagen, maar daar zal ik toch even doorheen moeten gaan luisteren. De muziek is gelukkig minder verschrikkelijk. Aan de andere kant vind ik het ook geen feest. Wat langzame country/folk/blues, maar nergens vind je iets wat een ander niet beter kan eigenlijk. Toch kun je er (in tegenstelling tot de hoes) niet echt aanstoot aan nemen. Een beetje vergeetbaar. Drie hele vale sterren.
Another new one for me. Good voice. Enjoyable album
The first thing I noticed about this album is just how fantastic the recording and production are. Those first few hits of electric guitar and bass are just SO tasty. That super-high production value makes its presence known throughout the album and I love it. It's a shame that Fred Neil's voice and songwriting don't reach the same level. It's not that Fred's voice is bad. It's not. It's just... really over-the-top. And the songwriting often goes to very obvious, almost cheesy, places. In a release year characterized by albums like "Blonde on Blonde", "Pet Sounds", and "Revolver" it's hard to be impressed by these songs. It's alright. But it's not super impressive overall.
Love a good “forgotten artist with a classic album.” Cool guitar tone for a 1966 folk album. A quick wiki search tells me this guy REALLY loved dolphins. Much credit to him for giving us “Everybody’s Talkin’,” an absolute classic from Harry Nilsson.
I had never heard of Fred Neil before. He was apparently a pretty prominent artist in the early 60s folk revival scene. The tunes on here are ok in my opinion. I'm not too high on his baritone voice, but the songwriting is alright. I think many psych bands took inspiration from this record, namely the almost 8 minute raga jam that finishes off the record. That has to be my favorite track on here, and bumps this score up by 1 star.
Good folk-rock album. I like his voice though musically overall it isn't as interesting apart from the last few songs. I can hear how his music and singing style influenced Tim Buckley's.
Bit of a snoozer.
Album 141 of 1001 Fred Neil - Fred Neil Rating : 3 / 5 Favorite Track : Everybody's Talkin' I like the folk thing. Aside from the shared song, he reminded me of a more folksy Henry Neilson. Expect that I'll put this one on again, at some point. If you want something different, this could be it.
I liked this but I didn’t love his voice tbh
Country. Aburrido
Not sure if this was the same album Apple provided as apples version was 2.5 hours. Either way the first portion of the album which I assume is the right one was very old school folky with a country influence. This is pretty much just Fred Neil singing and causally Playing the guitar. This is like my last album with the big band music. It’s good and isn’t bad to listen but unless you really like this genre it’s unlikely you’ll want to revisit this one. 6.1/10
A historical curiosity but not that interesting overall. 2.5/5
Troisième album d'affilé avec une force influence country, mais plus orienté folk. Style singer/songwriter avec guitare. Ce n'est pas mauvais et j'ai l'impression ça a dû avoir un impact considérable sur ces scènes musicales. Pas exactement mon genre mais je peux reconnaître la qualité du matériel. 7/10
This was alright, nothing too remarkable.
Not a bad little album.
this is a nice 60s roots folk country land of deep man sings a song album. big style in this era, has bright moments in its melancholic material. i enjoyedddd.
This one gets a solid 3 stars I love his voice actually. The ‘middle-eastern’-ish digressions in the guitar are very interesting. He’s finding a groove between Dylan, Nick Drake, similar-era country stuff like early Johnny Cash/Merle Haggard, maybe Roger Miller….. I dig it
okay
I think I quite liked this. Wasnt sure at first, but the more it went on the more I enjoyed it. Very folky, I think, but then also occasionally weird and almost psych at times. I think. Everybodys talkin was the only one Id heard before, think I enjoyed Sweet Cocaine or the last track that I cannot spell the most. Not sure there’s much more to say. It’s canny. Glad I heard it, probably wouldnt return.
Never heard of Fred Neil. An old-school American singer-songwriter, bit Johnny Cash. Went along nicely in the background but can't say anything jumped out. Can't tell if I recognise everybody's Talkin' or it just reminds me of another song I cant quite remember (something by David Grey maybe?).
I listened to this on the way back from the centre, as a counterpoint to the NWA album, and the journey flew by. He has a melodic voice, but it was a very forgettable album. Thanks Fred.
Liked this more than I expected because I'm not into folk music. It was fairly enjoyable as mellow background music, however, I don't think I'd listen to it again.
Never heard of this guy before. Everybody's Talkin I knew, but not this version, which is the original it turns out.... Think the Harry Nilsson version is actually better though, sorry Fred. Thought dolphins was good too. I didn't mind this at all, but none of it quite grabbed me.
Fullt godkänd.
Inte så pjåkigt.
Nothing to write home about, but nothing overly offensive to the ears either.
Disc de folk rock amb tonalitats fosques i la veu greu i pastosa de Fred Neil com a principal protagonista. Dos grans clàssics neixen aquí, 'Everybody's Talkin'' i 'The Dolphins'
Started off with some strong Scott Walker energy but descended into nothing much at all
Sort of like a bright Johnny cash?
When you listen to a cover and hear the original, a lot of times the original is better. This is not one of those times. Kinda like Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" is better than the original, Neil's version of "Everybody's Talkin'" pales to Nilsson's. But they rereleased this to coincide with "Midnight Cowboy," what did they expect would happen? The rest is standard fare for the most part. The last piece was an interesting bit. When I saw it was eight minutes I was a bit worried it would be an eight minute vocal piece. He can play a guitar pretty well, I will give him that. More of that last track next time, please. Hearing this right after a L. Cohen's album it was interesting. The two were not as dissimilar as you might thing. I appreciated the Cohen album more after hearing this one actually. I wonder what others would do with Neil's songs...
I dunno. Is this album bad? Not really. Is it noteworthy? I can't figure out why. I guess Fred Neil was a pioneer of folk rock but the Byrds were already on the scene for a few albums, as was the master Bob Dylan. So it's not as if this album was a turning point for that genre, just another example of the emerging genre... and a so-so example in my opinion. With his warbles, Harry Nillson's version of Everybody's Talkin is more memorable. I don't think this album is a 2, but 2.5 stars might be more appropriate. I'm rounding up for some reason.
A low 3 for me - some great, powerful country-western guitar on a few tracks made this listenable, it’s just the shockingly bland songwriting that lets the LP down.
Had nevet heard I'd this guy before, but enjoyed a lot of this. Its an interesting mix of genres and he has a great voice, remeniscent of Scott Walker. I also really like a lot of the guitar playing. Only downside I have is that after two listens, several of the songs aren't particularly memorable. I think the raga at the end was a bit of a strange choice too, but it's not terrible.
Whilst listening to the albums I'm trying to read about them to get a feel for the context. With albums like this it's really helpful because I knew nothing about this artist at all before. Of course, the big songs - Everybody's Talkin' and Dolphins - I've heard but only as covers. Here's the thing. The covers are better. As an album, I enjoyed listening to it but I think much of that enjoyment comes from knowing that context, hearing the covers, listening for the influences on later, better, music. The last eight minutes of instrumental weirdness were certainly unexpected though!
Pretty normal album but I liked it - high 3
Good album, nice background
Spare, beautiful, sad. Great voice, great guitar picker. It's got Everybody's Talkin' on it. I'm not a massive 60s folk fan, but I can admire this. (The folk/blues raga is a bit strange)
Green Rocky Road would comfortably sit on a Led Zeppelin album. Weird.
dolphins on cocaine? with _my_ reputation?
Was wel oké
Vile but chill
I had a good nap to this
was not feeling it at the start but it is definitely growing on me as it progresses. It sounds extremely dated (not sure if that is a good or a bad thing to be honest). I love songs/albums (mainly from this time i guess) that only use a few instruments but utilise them really well like this album. Ok now my interest is fading with each track. Everybodys talking is a banger that ones my favourite. Interesting title on the outro track. It is pretty good background music as I unwind and plan out my day tomorrow but I'm not sure I would ever sit down to solely listen to this album. Notes as I was listening ^^^
A unique blend of folk and country with some more foreign influence as well. Not bad, but hard to stand out from the many similar artists from these genres.
Enjoyable folk album that certainly was a bit of a pioneering work and hasn't lost its relevancy since then
Prima album. Ik had hem sochtends aanstaan bij de hond uitlaten, daar is het echt prima geschikt voor. Verder vond ik het niet heel bijzonder. De stem herkende ik ook ergens van, maar ik weet niet van wat. Ik heb er in ieder geval nog nooit van gehoord.
Chill and good
This one kind of went in one ear and out the other. Everything is good, but sounds very of the time.
At first I wasn’t sure but it grew on me
An interesting listen and I certainly learnt something, as I didn't realise he was the original "Everybody's Talkin'" guy!
It was okay. Nothing special, and some weird things.
Nice folk and glad to listen to a new name, but didn't do anything else others have done better, IMO. Kind of came and went.
Yeah cool, it didn't grab me or anything and I wasn't sure what or who I was listening to until Everybody's Talkin came on. I feel like if I find the time to do a bit of backstop and looking up lyrics then I might have a fresh set of eyes to listen to it, and perhaps a few extra stars
Everybody's talking is super, as is the last track.
Not to be confused with Fat Neil
I'm so tired of living. The joy I used to garner from writing my reviews has been rendered obsolete as the endless drumming of life continues, matching the beat of the expoitative world mankind has formed as it tramples that which preceded it. Much like life and my depressive episode it's a solid 3, and I can appreciate its briefness.
I liked this more than I was expecting. I was already very familiar with Beth Orton's version of The Dolphins, and it's one of my all-time favorite songs. I was also very familiar with Everybody's Talkin' of course, which is also a very good song. The other songs were interesting and had enough variety to keep me into it. Overall, very good. 3 stars.
I'm not usually crazy about Folk Rock. This one was less folk and more easy listening, so I enjoyed much better than expected. Favorite Tracks: Everybody's Talkin', The Dolphins 3/5
I enjoyed this while listening, and immediately afterward I forgot all about it. Best track: Everybody's Talkin'
áhugavert
p86. 1966. 3 stars. Classy 60s singer/songwriter. Great voice and production. There is a direct line from this to Tim Buckley and "Grace". The only thing missing are more standout songs. Good stuff.
Folk rock. Ni fu ni fa.
I had a bit of trepidation going into this. Mid-60s folk/rock act... sheesh, those usually do nothing for me. But this guy is really a lot more country/blues than folk. I think Sweet Cocaine was my favorite. Solid album.
Good folk music.
It's good but not something I find myself looking for or going back to
1960’s folk crooning pretty cool. It’s good but some of arrangements feel kind of thrown together. A lot of the guitar parts are kind of noodely. I dig the vibe but feel the recordings could be more interesting. Everybody’s Talking is a great song. Definitely prefer Harry Nilsson, stevie Wonder and tedeschi trucks versions.
I almost love this record. I love the tones and production. The reverb on the vocals sounds amazing and the guitars sound so good. The arrangements seem a little lacking but still achieves a cool vibe. Sometimes I love his voice and sometimes it really bothers at me. Everybody’s talking is a great tune, I thought Harry Nilsson wrote it
He sounds like a cross between Sturgill Simpson and Brian Elmquist (The Lone Bellow). This was fun to listen to.
A bit of folk, bit of country, bit of blues, lots of smoky saloon vibes...until the last track whisks you away to the Tangiers, to sit beside William Burroughs in an opium stupor.
Not my favorite, but the cocaine song stuck in my head.
5/10 pretty uninspired, it starts out fine but ends up a bit grating bc it is so monotonous throughout.
6/10. This was nice, but not very memorable.
A real snoozer with a bit of country twang. 5/10
Pas mauvais, bon compagnon de route. Je ne savais pas que c'était lui qui avait fait Everybody's Talkin'!
Fred Neil is another artist I’ve never heard of. I’m barely into the 1001 Albums book and have already discovered so many new musicians already! This is proving to be such a fun project. Songs I already knew: Everybody’s Talkin’ (although it was a different version to what I was familiar with) Favourites: Everybody’s Talkin’, Sweet Cocaine This is a prime example of music that I enjoyed, and yet doubt I’ll ever return to. It was fun to hear it for the first time, I liked his voice, the instrumentation kept me interested - but not interested enough to have me hooked. I can’t quite hone in on why that is either, other than maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood, or maybe it’s just not my kind of music. Regardless, I am happy to have discovered this album even if it’s not likely to stay on rotation.
Slow folksy acoustic with a bit of an old school country fee to some of it. As far as slower background music goes, I kinda dig it. I feel like it might be one that I like better on another listen.
It was OK, not much to dislike.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Everybody's Talking (5) 2 - That's the Bag I'm In (3) 3 - Sweet Cocaine (7)
solid in it's field i'm sure. appreciated.
Folk - rock; nice discovery
3.8 - Blues-tinged singer-songwriter folk rock with a baritone croon, most notable for "Everybody's Talkin'", the theme from the film "Midnight Cowboy." Other highlights include "Cocaine Blues", "The Dolphin" and the exceptional raga that's the last track and approximates traditional Indian instruments with harmonica and guitar.
Have never heard of Fred Neil, didn't know he wrote "everybody's talking" but I really enjoy that song. Unfortunately the rest of the album didn't really connect for me
The dolphins-👍 I've got a secret - good vibes That's the bag I'm in - bluesy vibe 👍 Ba-di-da - another good vibe,, especially at end👍 Fare thee well - quite dull Everybody's talkin' - good melody, solid song👍 Everything happens- quite standard song Sweet cocaine - don't do cocaine kids😡 Green rocky road - meh Cynicrust Pete Fred john Raga- weird Indian inspired instrumental Definitely a pleasant album to listen to with smooth singing. Just a bit pedestrian for me now. 3/5
A slightly trippier off brand version of Bob Dylan. I didn't hear anything that I thought was revolutionary here. Decent album, but I don't need to revisit it anytime soon. Best Songs: Everybody's Talkin, Everything Happens, Sweet Cocaine Worst Songs: The Dolphins, Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga
Enjoyable. Nothing here blew me away, but I’ll probably listen to it again. 3/5
Very my Dad music, good but pretty simplistic, not something I'd listen to too much of my own volition
When this started I was thinking it would be a hard listen. At least I had "Everybody's Talking" to look forward to. It ended up being a decent listen especially the second time through. His voice has a velvety tone that beautifully moves up and down the scales and he has a way about him that makes him an excellent storyteller
He has a rich voice and wrote a famous song that got used in a famous movie but other than that, I don't hear anything that makes this a standout album.
This was better than expected, folksy but not too folksy and thankfully not very country either. Everybody's talking is of course the stand-out track here, a really simple but lovely song. He goes against the folk stereotype and gets a bit experimental with Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga.
Rare example of pure country music I found pretty engaging the whole album
Listened Before? N I have never heard of Mr. Neil before. This was an interesting listen. Started out soulful and somewhat innocent in the beginning. Imagine my surprise when, by the end of the album, we had a song about cocaine and an 8-minute jam session including sitars. Who knew? Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist - That's the Bag I'm In
Interesting album, didn’t really grab me
It sits on the margins of folk and country/western. The instrumentation drives the music forward, and the vocal delivery seems to take cues from country singers rather than the contemporary folk scene. Neil's voice is the focal point, and is well controlled and powerful when it needs to be.
I was expecting something a bit dated given the time period but the songwriting feels pretty fresh and I loved the final song it ended off with. It's interesting to see the musical branches coming from this artist and where this fits in the music canon, too. I feel like this will grow on me but for now, I think it's decent.
Johnny Cash+Pink Floyd+Spanish and Middle Eastern guitar for a focused Frankenstein monster of an album Would rate higher if it wasn’t the new standard for a 3
J'aime bien la reprise de "The Dolphins" par Tim Buckley
la dernière track j’ai soufflé fort
Genre: Folk Rock 3/5 Fred Neil, someone who I thought would be a total Bert Jansch, is a folk artist who never quite hit the big times until after some of his songs had big time artists cover them. He left the music scene, hating the grind of the road, and never returned to the biz, even after some renewed popularity. This album, aptly named Fred Neil, is pretty darn good for what it's worth. It's none too exciting musically throughout, except for a few interesting sonic choices, but the crown jewel that is Fred Neil's beautiful, chocolatey baritone voice outshines any of the obscene blandness. There are some real folk gems on here: melancholic, sparse, but passionately performed and expertly executed. That's the Bag I'm In and Sweet Cocaine, two song titles that are so obvious as to what they point to that there's no real point getting into it, are wonderfully led by Neil's powerful lead vocals and mellow blues feel. The real wild time here though is the outro, Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga, a 7+ minute Rock Raga (an ode to Eastern classical music) that is a real sonic detour with no purpose being here, but certainly gives this its own unique stamp amongst the wider folk landscape. There are some other decent tracks here, enough to keep listening to the album as it plays out, but they don't separate themselves from any other tunes you may hear in the genre, even with Neil's unique vocal stamp. A decent album overall, though! Will certainly revisit my favs from this.
Never knew he was the originator of "Everybody's Talkin'". I'd only heard "Dolphins" before, which was quirky but a good listen. Overall I enjoyed!
It's nice to be reminded now and again that there were more folk-rock singer-songwriters in the mid 1960s than Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Fred Neil is one such artist, whom I'd never heard of until now. His self-titled album isn't necessarily the pinnacle of its genre, but it flourishes under a consistently mellow mood, as well as enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. The most famous track here (and possibly the sole reason the album made the 1001 list) is the original "Everybody's Talkin'", later made famous by Harry Nilsson. It's interesting to hear Neil's version, but what's perhaps more interesting is that it's by no means the standout track. It's perfectly good in a way most of the rest are: no more, no less. Neil excels at melancholia. His smooth and rich baritone voice has much more character than, say, James Taylor (whose album I had just after this one). His lyrics are introspective and often wryly dark: "You know they'll probably drop the atom bomb the day my ship comes in" is a wildly doomed line and I'm all for it. The strongest tracks for me have a lovely yearning, stripped-back quality, like "The Dolphins" and "I've Got a Secret" (originally by Elizabeth Cotten, who I'd now like to check out). But the best by atmosphere alone is the beautiful rendition of old standard "Faretheewell", a gorgeous exercise in restraint punctuated by some bouzouki of all things. There are some nice instrumental touches to keep things going: the tremolo effect on the guitar in "The Dolphins". The whistling at the end of "I've Got A Secret". The harmonica which crops up throughout many of the tracks. But it's all topped off by the closer, an 8-minute instrumental raga (titled "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga"). It is glaringly out of place and almost derails the whole set. In some ways, I'm not sure Neil was the man to attempt this kind of feat- what was he thinking? Still, credit to him for shaking things up in the home stretch. Overall then, I'm a fan of this album: a hidden gem (to me at least) of mid 60's folk. Not an essential listen, but a good one.
I found the first song, Dolphin, unlistenable but the rest of the album was an a-ok listen and I'm glad I didn't turn it off. I hadn't realized that Everybody's Talkin' was by Fred Neil and not Harry Nilsson
Interesting, not super catchy or exciting, but pretty pleasant and enjoyable. The Dolphins and Everybody's Talking were my favourite tracks
Definitely an artist to know, but how influential he has been I can’t say. I hear lots of subtly layered playing, two great songs I’m glad to know the provenance of (I’ve always loved Billy Bragg’s version of “Dolphins” and think I prefer Neil’s original “Everybody’s Talking at Me” to the bigger hit), a wonderful jammy raga to close, and distinctive (if heavy, blocky) voice. This feels like a period piece, though, again, a good one to know. 3.2 for 3.
I liked George Jones better
Bom.
No Van Ronk, but the harmonica is to die for.
An very enjoyable listen. A masterpiece? Not sure about that.
Love the old folk music. He has a nice voice and the songs are pretty good. I will come back to this album some time. Favourite songs: - Sweet cocaine
legalzinho, tipo um elvis sem grife do folk
Mediocre, I want to like it. Solid 3
When it started I almost don't like it, but after the first songs, I kind of liked this folk album with a strong voice. I'll probably not be a fan of it, but it was good to know a new folk artist beside the clichês around.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: The dolphins
Great voice, he sounds like the Righteous Brothers and he was hugely influential amongst the Greenwich Village cognoscenti - but although the songs are OK and obviously Everybody's talkin' is a fantastic song, but it isn't a great or even particularly good album.
proper country, rich but not hitting the spot for me
Meh on the album, but it generated a good station.
Not my thing specifically but I left it on repeat so can't complain
“The Dolphins” isn’t just the opening song on Fred Neil’s self-titled second album. The dolphins are also what Neil spent much of his adult life focused on rather than music, co-founding the Dolphin Research Project. Along with “The Dolphins,” Neil’s music often sounds more country and western than the folk it is labeled as, but I can hear the adaptation of the C&W style into something more folk rock-influenced. Neil has a rich and classic voice, but the vocals and instrumentation is subdued and chill.
A low end ***. I could listen to that album again, but that last song. Whew, it ambled sideways. Seems like Fred had it tough in love. He was married several times, each ending in divorce after not very long. Then later on he accidentally ran over his girlfriend and killed her. Yikes!
Pleasant throughout. Bluesy at time, folksy at others. Some sweetness here too. Very nice album. Cute cover art. Last track was actually my favorite, felt psychedelic and full of ominous energy. If I were escaping the country while hiding on a train, this song is what I'd play.
Solid easy listening. Respectable man-with-a-guitar old school country music.
Pleasant listen, it didn't really standout much or grab my attention, but it was easy to listen to. Really enjoyed the chord changes and progressions of some of the songs like Ba-Di-Da. Favourite Tracks: Ba-Di-Da, Everything Happens
This album seems like it should be my style but something isn't really clicking for me. Sweet Cocaine and Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga are top picks.
Never heard of this artist, but recognised the song Everybody's Talkin'. Laid-back folk/country/blues you can play in the background, but it did not exactly make a lasting impression.
Never heard of this dude but liked his style, nice laid back vibe and nice tunes
Wow. Did not know that Dolphins was a cover by Billy Bragg. Great voice. Bit psychedelic at the end.
Un bon album folk rock qui secoutait bien en bavkground. 3.5
Kinda cool country folk songs
Wasn't really in the mood for it. but not bad
Spare, melodic, surprisingly contemporary in places. The raga at the end dates it, though.
This old world ain't never change the way it's been And all the ways of war can't change it back again I've been a-searchin' for the album that's folksy And sometimes I sing, "Everybody's talkin' at me"
Enjoyed this one a lot sounds a bit like Dylan and a good album for the time. As the album went on it got a little more annoying.
I find myself wanking about Fred Neil most afternoons. His voice just lights up my world and I can't help myself. I've wanked on a school bus, I've wanked in a library, a courtroom, a bouncy castle, a phone box, on a ferris wheel, in Nando's, in a primary school, in my gran's bathtub, in a tree, during a hurricane, in a desert, on a jet ski and during a jewellery heist.
3.6
Second listen. Still enjoying it. 3/5
Just like the Grateful Dead album I had before this, it was easy listening. No standout amazing songs but no songs that I hated. I have nothing else to say about this album except that it got very weird in the last song compared to the rest of the album. Fav song: everybody’s talkin
I had mixed feelings about this one. I liked parts of it and found other parts of it to be a bit repetitive and annoying.
Probably worth 2.5 stars but felt like it was too good to deserve just 2
3.3 Was awesome to hear Everyone's Talkn and I enjoyed the other tracks on the album.
No fue música mala, simplemente muy olvidable. Creo que lo escuché tres veces y no sé decir gran cosa del disco. Por ahí la rola de "Sweet Cocaine" resalta como curiosidad por el descaro completo de hablar de eso sin tapujos, pero incluso la que se supone que es famosa, "Everybody's Talking" no me parece tan interesante. Ya anecdótico es que leí un poco de Fred Neil y resulta que prácticamente abandonó su carrera musical por dedicarse a salvar delfines.
It was decent. Will listen to again but probably need a bit of context with this album.
Folk pop, it seems frankly pretty lightweight. My perspective in the value of this kind of thing has become jaundiced as I watch this bad old world age.
Resonating deep voice… good songs especially the hit everybody’s talkin
Fine for what it is. The last instrumental track tries its hardest to be good or skilled music, without success. It almost tanked the rating.
Tarantino-core but like nothing wrong with that, it's fine
Leans more country than folk which I don’t really like. His voice is kind of boring outside of the performances on Green Rocky Road and That’s the bag I’m in. The last song is an interesting departure from the rest of the album at least. Favorite songs: Green Rocky Road, That’s the bag I’m in
You can definitely hear the influence this guy had on the folk scene here
very easy to listen to gets a bit daft at end
Husky voice singing about dolphins. Interesting. Seriously, though. I'm already realizing that this 1001 list has such great records that even if they're from a genre I'm not interested in, they're a real delight to hear. I want to listen to this again. Highlights: All the songs are great, and I appreciate the non-traditional folk instruments (electric guitars, etc.)
Never heard of Fred Neil (although I was familiar with Everybody's Talkin'), and I'm not a big "folk" fan, but this is a solid album and I enjoyed listening to it. It's simple, not over-produced (or produced at all, really) - just good song writing and solid execution. That's the Bag I'm In - great lyrics, sweet tune Everything Happens and Sweet Cocaine are also great songs.
Enjoyed this marginally more than I thought I would. I wouldn't buy it though - Not sure it would make my top 1001. A solid 2.7
Relaxing, kinda cowboy rock if that’s a genre. No individual songs stood out, but I’d put the album on for background music.
didn't mind listening to it, but not something I'll play again for myself
This album is pretty neat to be honest. Its got so many different sounds. Blues, Jazz, Folk, and a dash of country. Some smooth vocals added in. I don't think the lyrics were the best in the world. But it's a solid good time.
Kinda good but nothing rly stands out. Found out about this guy through tim buckley (one of my favourite artists)'s cover of the dolphins, so i was excited to see what he had to offer, and while i can see how buckley would have been inspired by fred neil, and imo went on to kinda perfect his formula, this album sorta doesnt stand on it's own for me. I've been listening to this album since it popped up here, and it's currently the 2nd of july, so i think ive given it enough time to make my mind up that it's all fine, certainly not offensive, but often falls just short of being remarkable. Everybody's Talkin' is probably the highlight i'd say
A brilliant songwriter who laid a foundation for Folk and Americana standards, which would go on to receive greater acclaim when performed by others. Musically, and stylistically it is easier to see why that happened.
Ah the 60’s. Where you could write sweet, innocent songs about your unabashed love for cocaine.
Finally one I've never even heard of! I'm not a huge fan of the 1960s American folk scene. This is pretty engaging though. He's got a deep, brooding voice and the musicianship is strong. There's a kind of melancholy mood through the album even when the songs are ostensibly happy. First time I heard the original version of "Everybody's Talkin'" ("everybody's talkin' at me, I don't hear a word they say") - didn't previously know whose song that was, to be honest. Towards the end of the album, you get some psychedelic touches, including an 8-minute raga (or the American folk equivalent to a raga). I can see how this might be a treasured album for some. Its not a style or period that majorly does it for me, although I will keep this and listen again sometime.
Never heard of him, an interesting life story. Listened twice - it's decent, if unmemorable. Background music in a cafe.
Fine, albeit boring. Hard to recall anything that left an impression, good or bad. Perhaps that is the worst sin in music, then. The lone exception to this is the final track Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga, which takes a turn from the folksy stuff to demonstrate some incredible instrumental raga rock. Felt like they took a risk on the closure and it paid off imo. Bumped from a 2 to a 3 for this alone.
dit vond ik wel lekker om even naar te luisteren.
cocaine cocaine cocaine
Good variety. 1RS
Very Woodstock. Really liked the last track but enjoyed the whole album ***
Easy listening, pretty chilled. Surprised to hear a song about Cocaine in there!
'Sometimes you just can't win cause that's the bag I'm in'. Goed plaatje en geweldige stem! 4 Sterren mag alleen als ik bereid ben om dit vaker te gaan draaien en dat zie ik niet gebeuren. Dikke 3 sterren dan maar.
Dit was best goed eigenlijk! Aardige Tim Buckley vibe, en dat is nooit verkeerd.
Aangenaam. Mooie stem.
Liked it, not typical folk
Nearly a four
Clásico. Un gran virtuoso.
No conocía a Fred Neil y ciertamente no me dieron ganas de escuchar más de él con este disco. No suena mal, pero entre que no es mi género y entre que hemos escuchado creo del tipo otros discos que me han parecido mejores, meh. No me esperaba la canción final, eso sí, con su toque de música de la India, muy interesante pero muy estraño. 6.5/10
Folk rock and a little bit of progressives, did not knew I would ever pair those genres together but it kind of worked
A nice, chill album. I enjoy the folky soft rock mix. Kind of forgettable maybe.
Better than I thought it would be.
Interesting but the last song ruins it. 2.5 rounded up.
Old vibes!
Another good roadtrip album that needs listening to again. I hope that's his boy, boy.
3
Not bad Fred Neil Young
Smooth listen
Dolphins!
I know he's one of the pioneers of folk, but it just didn't really stand out to me. Nevertheless, it was pleasant to listen to and I liked the blues influence at times.
This is a hard one to guess by the cover, doesn't really scream "trope!" or anything. I'm almost thinking it'll be something unexpected, like religious songs or strings/piano/flamenco guitar instrumentals. I don't think this list goes that far away from rock/pop but who knows. Ok it's... country, but with a hippie twist? It sounds like Johnny Cash or Roy Orbison, but then there's sitar all through it etc. Guess I read wiki now lol. Ok, wiki says it's folk rock, but ehhh, that just feels like a catch term for anything with hippie influence at the time, like an ideological line was drawn so they could say it wasn't country. And apparently he wrote songs for the big O, so there's that connection. tbh I like it. Might listen to this again even. 3/5.
Alright
65
Fairly boring by the standards of folk rock of its era.
Not bad, but kind of boring. It felt like the songs never really went anywhere.
Some more decent folk. Nice
El album es largo, sin contar como la parte 2 que tiene, y sinceramente, se me hizo un poco corto a la vez. Aunque la voz sea muy buena, la instrumental la siento repetitiva, puede ser bueno escuchar al artista porque es algo muy trabajado su labor de vocalista, pero quitando eso, las canciones no siento que sean la gran cosa. Pese a esos puntos, siento que igual tiene su toque el album, pero no es gran cosa, llegaría como a un 2.7
Now I know who did that song
Everybody’s Talkin’ is a great song (did this inspire Jimmy Buffett to make Margaritaville?) and Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga was an incredibly interesting instrumental passage. The rest of this I could probably take or leave. His voice is great, but I don’t think the songs do enough.
Enjoyable blusey music. Vocals kinda ruined it for me. 2.5/5
Fine but falls off
Ver dull folk.
I mean, for a Folk music album, it was not that bad. 5/10
4/10
Fine I guess? Everybody's Talkin' is of course an all time classic, and a few other songs were decent, but I didn't really hear anything remarkable imo. 2/5.
Yeah pretty mid. Would give 5/10 but -1 for the harmonica. 4/10
Crooning psychedelia? No thanks
Yeah, really not feeling this one. Bookended by two awful tracks that could almost be parodies. There are some decent tunes in there but his delivery is not it. A case in point being how much Better Nilsson’s version is.
Man this generator better stop giving us bullshit im getting burnt out. This is 60s Singer/Songwriterism with all the bad parts (white boy blues, awkward producer arrangements) and none of the poetry that made it what it is.
girl. what? i mean. it's fine. nice even. every song sort of sounds the same but he's not bad at it. better lyricist than cat stevens i can tell you that much. i'm too bored to have an opinion. 2.5. "cynicrustpetefredjohn raga" is worth .8 of that.
me aburrio mucho la verdad. no me molesto, epro me aburrio
Everybody's talking about it - good The rest
Thanks for your contributions to folk music, I guess, but this didn't do it for me. 2.2
Criminally boring but not obnoxious
5/10 - there's a hit song here but the rest is ok
It really felt like the same song multiple times
Hey it's that one song everyone knows. I can't say I actively disliked this album but I was thoroughly bored by it.
Meh. That's the bag I'm in, great. Respect for the weird one at the end
Was a bit something and nothing. Can see why it was removed in the updated version of this list. Not especially interesting for me.
High expectations but this didn’t hit. It’s a shame, his voice is amazing. But not the one.
Not bad but didn’t enjoy
Liked the cocaine song, can't remember anything else
This was as smooth and clean as a homeopathic milkshake. And by that I mean it had very little to it. It was nice in parts, but it just lacked... anything. And the cover is creep as hell.
Aw man, I read about this album before I started it and it sounded intriguing. It wasn't. He has a fine voice I guess, but I'm a style I like, I guess I like my folk a bit less smooth. Everybody's talking is probably a great song but I really dislike it (heard it too much one day years ago and never got past it). Don't care for any of this.
its fine Will I listen to again: 1%
It is my honest opinion that almost every folk album from the 1950s & early 60s is virtually indistinguishable from each other. They are all pleasant, but completely generic and forgettable.
It was fine. Pretty boring overall Standout songs: Ba - Di - Da Green Rocky Road
Made me feel like the poor kid on the cover that wants to get away from this dude. Different variations of the same boring song over and over. When he ran out of lyrics he threw in some la-di-da’s.
Kind of interesting. Never heard of this but I guess an influential folk singer. Wouldn't need to listen again but was fine.
I learned this guy performed the original Everybody's Talkin'. Apart from that, I couldn't find much to get along with here.
Couple of songs are ok but I think this is another one of these dudes whose songs are much better performed by others. Sorry Fred.
Bon, plutot bon album de folk. Honnêtement, le style est plutôt efficace et certains morceaux sont vraiment remarquable comme sweet cocaine, ou Candy Man, qui incarne bien le style de l'artiste. Néanmoins, l'album reste assez répétitif et vraiment très très peu inventif, c'est vraiment dommage.
60s folk singer. like a worse jonney cash. not my fave.
Middling singer-songwriter stuff, a couple okay tracks. An overlong instrumental track to end the album, which is weirdly common in albums from this era.
Acceptable acoustic country. Folk music just really isn’t my thing
I was not expecting that opening tremolo guitar effect on a 1966 album. Could this be a groovy undiscovered (by me) gem? No. My interest waned after track. A dull album, despite his lovely voice.
I respect his artistic vision but absolutely fuck off with your 8 minute closer of noise.
The album cover is creepy enough. Anyway, this journey has showed me subgenres I enjoy more than I thought I would, and vice versa. I thought I was a big Folk Rock fan(thanks to the "Juno" movie soundtrack), but I find myself bored with listening to an entire album of it. Favorite Track: "Badi-Da".
Siento que esta pagina ya me recomendó el mismo disco varias veces, es totalmente genérico y aburrido.
This album is like catching an overnight bus home to go to a family friend’s funeral. You are sad and it is late, so you want to get some sleep. Try as you might though, you can’t get any sleep because some guy sitting across the aisle from you, chewing your ear off about how he is going to visit his son who lives in your hometown. His son is going to take him sightseeing. You don’t care.
Wasn't terrible but won't be revisiting any time soon
This would be more meaningful if I had more knowledge of the context, meaning that if I knew more about the artists career and the musical scene he was a part of in the mid-sixties. Sounds like an attempt to be charming that didn’t resonate with me.
This did not connect with me on any level.
Det var meget pænt og sådan. TIL at Everybody's Talkin' ikke oprindeligt er en Harry Nilsson sang (skulle til at brokke mig over at "originalen er bedre" men så fandt jeg ud af det faktisk *er* originalen på den her plade). Havde ikke brug for det indiske nummer til sidst. Lille 2er.
A capa é bem bonita e convidativa. É o tipo de capa que faria eu comprar um disco cegamente sem saber nada sobre o álbum ou sobre o artista, como é o caso aqui. Uma voz agradável e composições simples. É um disco inofensivo, porém não me prendeu totalmente. O problema não é a simplicidade, nunca é, mas o disco me causou tédio imediato. Folk antigo tende a fazer isso comigo, então não há surpresa. Algumas passagens instrumentais bem doidas, mas nada super notável. Disco tedioso e meio que interminável, apesar da duração regular. Sensação de monotonia. Passo. 2.5
It’s telling that the best song on here is done so much better by Harry Nilson as a cover two years later. Unfortunately I just don't think there's enough here unless you're really into sleepy country-sounding folk, which I am decidedly not. Also, creepy vibes from the album cover. I really hope that’s his kid… 2⭐️
Two first names!
Eh
< the Beatles
Sånn passe
I find folk to be generally repetitive and uninteresting and this was no exception.
Nice sixties singer songwriter album with the original “Everybody’s Talkin’”
Okay but instantly forgettable for me (apart from one).
Another great relaxing album, but this one didn't quite stand out to me greatly.
mehhh
Fred Neil is one of those albums that sounds great while somehow doing very little with that greatness. The production is warm, the grooves are loose and inviting, and Neil’s voice has that gravelly, late-night wisdom that makes you lean in. On a purely sonic level, it’s pleasant, sometimes even seductive. You can imagine this record playing in a smoky room where everyone pretends they’re listening very carefully. But then you actually listen. And wait. And keep waiting. The songs drift, circle the block, and never quite park. What should feel hypnotic ends up feeling half-finished, like a jam session that forgot to become a song. There’s atmosphere for days, but ideas are on a strict ration. It’s not bad because it’s ugly; it’s bad because it’s boring in slow motion. Dogshit? Harsh, but let’s say conceptually dogshit, executed with a very nice guitar tone. In the end, Fred Neil is a record you respect more than you enjoy. It sounds good, it feels authentic, and it absolutely refuses to reward your attention. Five out of ten: pleasant on the ears, empty in the soul, music that lounges confidently while accomplishing almost nothing. 5/10
2,5
I didn't love the album and I really didn't love the album art lol
Eh this was pretty boring
I just can't bring myself to care. I see he influenced Dylan. idk I need to figure out a prompt to separate the albums/artists that were more foundational stepping stones to other movements. like you can see their DNA in other more popular works and styles. But as is, it lumps them all together with the popular artists and it doesn't seem fair to grade them equally
this is music that sounds good when its playing on a tv show with cool western shots but when you actually sit down to listen to it, youre put to sleep
It was ok, sounded country bluesy, wrote some famous songs made more famous by others
Music to watch a campfire slowly die down on a warm summer evening to. And then you realize there's more to life than sitting on your butt and being content with yourself.
Not my thing, kinda nice. The kind of thing id smile to if my grandpa made me listen
Another mostly forgettable effort here.
Not really a fan of this. It sounded a bit too country? I know it's folk rock but it still wasn't great.
A voice I didn’t really warm to, and a sound that felt more country than folk or folk-rock. I liked Everbody’s Talking At Me, but I prefer Harry Nillsen’s cover. He seems like he influenced a lot of people, but I wouldn’t be rushing to hear this album again. A medium to strong 2.
It was….ok. Got the sitar in there
twas alright
I probably could have enjoyed this album if it wasn't so full of harmonicas.
This low key sucked. It was sad and made me sad. Every song felt the same and didn’t sound good either. Literally nothing very pleasant about this fart.
not at all familiar with him & really don't think I will remember even listening to this. 2.5 stars
That last track did NOT need to be 8 minutes.
Mid
This was very nice. Dont have a whole lot to say. For a 40 minute album it felt long, but I dont have anything bad to say about it. His voice is very unique and I'm disappointed to say I don't think I've heard it before.
It's less than 24 hours after I listened to it and can't remember almost anything except that I think it was alright.
Pretty bland stuff. He's like the Nick Cave of old folk music.
very nice blues element, love the sound. just.... not the songs for me, lyrics arent very interesting or appropriate in our time period, and i just don t have a reason to listen to this again
I feel a little bit cheated, as I read somewhere that the singer sounds a little bit like Nick Cave, and this was enough for me to form an initial poor impression. Nothing came along to change my mind, so two stars.
Nice, deep voice, original, personal but quite boring music.
Boring
On me garoche vraiment des cailloux alors que je suis déjà sans connaissance au sol depuis trois semaines
kinda boring tbh
Better than Leonard Cohen. Still dull folk music though. Technically this is a pretty good album, just not for me.
The only song I saved was Everybody's Talkin, which I knew from Harry Nilsson. The rest of it was fine, won't listen to it again. 5/10
Auditory Ambien. Every song is slow but not dark enough to be particularly interesting to me. I do like the version of "Everybody's Talkin'" here better than the more famous Harry Nilsson version. I always respect good songwriting, and there is some of that on Fred Neil, but, again, everything is so slow and understated that nothing grabs me. There is even an almost-interesting instrumental, "Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga," at the end of the record. I guess that this instrumental was maybe kind of groundbreaking to listen to stoned in 1966, but jazz musicians had been incorporating sounds from other countries for a decade prior, so it's hard for me to be impressed. I listened to this record two or three times yesterday. I didn't hate it, but I don't plan to return to it again. Two stars.
Didn’t hate it!
Mouin... c'est croche, pis pas d'une manière que j'arrive à apprécier ben ben. La prod est mollasse. Le band me gosse, le chanteur me gosse, oups y reste pus rien. La dernière toune : j'ai entendu des affaires plus intéressantes que ça au studio gerry à 4 heures du matin. 2.49 étoiles
bland
I couldn't get into it. It should be up my alley but it just kinda fell flat for me.
Folky, mediocre
He has a fine voice but not suited for this type of music, it would be better suited to a west end show or a cabaret. Album was a bit tedious because of the style.
Boring and grating
Not for me
“But I don’t want to listen to this faintly shit, boring yank-folk!” “I know, son, I know - but we committed to this project and we’re going to see it through no matter what.”
Felt longer than it was
Started ok, but I was bored by the end
Has got some interesting weirdness going on, but not really any interesting songs.
No idea what to expect with this one. It was alright, but more background noise and fairly forgettable. That said I really liked the final track, “Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga”. That probably increased my score for this one by a point alone.
Just didn't gel with this at all