Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall 1971

Listening to the new CD of Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971 works like a time machine for the musician and film maker's fans. For the couple of people that haven't experienced Neil's unique vocal style and incredible songwriting talent this CD is perfect ear candy.

Released as part of the Neil Young Archives-Performance Series along with Live at the Fillmore, it showcases the young Neil at his acoustic best. It is the concert from beginning to end including guitar tuning and Neil interacting with the crowd, at one point asking fans not to take flash photos while he was playing. "It takes my mind off what I am doing."

Neil had returned to Toronto, Canada after nearly five years chasing the rock n' roll dream in Los Angeles. The two shows played at Massey Hall brought him back to his home country. You can feel the ease and comfort of a musician playing for, and speaking to fans that came to hear their hometown star.

Massey Hall in Toronto was built in 1894 and by 1971 had a history of hosting an eclectic range of events. Winston Churchill spoke there, Jack Dempsey boxed there, and many of Canada's elite had been married in the hall. It is now a heritage building and continues to be a cultural and entertainment venue.

The recording of Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971 comes through crisp and clear like you are in the front row. Listening right now to "See the Sky About to Rain" each note of the piano reminds me of the melody a rainfall makes. The song fades and the crowd erupts with applause and song requests are shouted from the audience.

Nine of the seventeen songs were new then, and classics now. Track #3 is 'Old Man' that Neil explains was written about an old man that lived on the farm he had recently purchased. #12 'The Needle and the Damage Done' he speaks poignantly about musicians the world would never come to know because heroin killed them. Nine songs you will hear played before they were recorded in a studio.

Live at Massey Hall 1971 is not only a musical journey, it is full of the history and motivations behind some of rock n' rolls seminal music. It was once said that Neil Young wrote notes and lyrics that only his voice and guitar could properly translate. It was true then, and it is true now.

Track Listing for Live at Massey Hall 1971 - 1. On the Way Home 2. Tell Me Why 3. Old Man 4. Journey Through the Past 5. Helpless 6. Love in Mind 7. A Man Needs a Maid/Heart of Gold 8. Cowgirl in the Sand 9. Don't Let It Bring You Down 10. There's a World 11. Bad Fog of Loneliness 12. The Needle and the Damage Done 13. Ohio 14. See the Sky About to Rain 15. Down by the River 16. Dance Dance Dance 17. I Am a Child

The acoustic versions of these songs will sound fresh to a Neil Young fan that has every album, or introduce someone to the music and messages of a rock n' roll icon.