Neil Young - Songs For Judy

Neil Young - Songs For Judy - Album Review

Whilst Shakey's new output has been patchy to say the least over the last few years, the Neil Young Archives keep dispensing the goodness. After "Hitchhiker" last year we've already had "Roxy: Tonight's The Night Live" in 2018. Now we get a 23 track, 22 song single disc of solo live Neil with a difference.

A mono soundboard mix recorded on cassette and then transferred to reel-to reel for posterity from a 1976 U.S. tour by photographer/guitar tech Joel Bernstein. In conjunction with his friend Cameron Crowe, (yes, that Cameron Crowe) they compiled the best versions that comprise this release.

It is a real treat. The track listing is superb with plenty of lesser known gems alongside the staples. "White Line", which didn't finally appear on record until 1990's superb "Ragged Glory".

"Human Highway" which Neil introduces with a comment about the abortive attempts to get it recorded.

"Give Me Strength" which surfaced on an official recording for the first time last year on the aforementioned "Hitchhiker", is followed by an interesting version of "A Man Needs A Maid" which appears to feature the lead line from the "Like A Hurricane" during the intro.

"Journey Through The Past", "The Losing End" and "Here We Are In The Years" complete the lesser know songs that make this a highlights package. For the Neil fan getting these songs in at a better quality than the already available bootlegs is great, and the sleeve notes from Bernstein and Crowe really add to the overall package.

Alongside the aforementioned "Roxy" this makes a fine pair of archive releases from Neil this year. Here's hoping for more of the same in 2019.

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