Harvest (180g Lp) [Original recording remastered]

Nonetheless, a look at the song titles from 'Harvest' reveals why
the album sold so well (though I doubt it would have done so without
the build-up provided by 'Everybody...', 'After the Goldrush', and
the first Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young disc, 'Deja vu'). The album
includes Neil's only number one hit, 'Heart of Gold', and a number
31 hit, 'Old Man'. More than ever Neil turns his attention to
relationship-based, country flavored selections (always a good sell)
such as 'Out On the Weekend'. He mixes in a couple heavier
rock-styled numbers toward the conclusion with 'Alabama' and
'Words', and even mixes in a couple orchestrated selections, the
"overblown" (Neil's description) 'There's a World' and 'A Man
Needs a Maid'. There is a satisfying mix in the lyrical content
between the intropective ('A Man Needs a Maid') and socially
relevant ('Alabama') selections.

If there is to be a criticism of 'Harvest', it is that much of the album
is just too low key ('Out On the Weekend'), or downright depressing
('The Needle and the Damage Done'). Neil doesn't even pick up an
electric guitar until the eighth cut, 'Alabama', surely a disappointment
for many Young fans weened on the likes of 'Everybody Knows...',
'Rust Never Sleeps', and 'Weld'. By the same token, however, it
can be said that 'Harvest' provides a respite from the Crazy Horse
Neil, something many of us, and apparently Neil himself, needs from
time to time.

The album features vocal contributions from David Crosby, Stephen
Stills, and Graham Nash in three configurations on three songs,
and James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt get called in to croon on the
two Top-40 numbers. The liner notes feature lyrics, a nice plus
which should be a staple on all CD's.