Neil Young & International Harvesters : A Treasure :: Review
In the 1980’s, it was hard to peg Neil Young’s music down in any genre for too long. Like a musical vagabond, you didn’t know where he would turn up next or what he would sound like. The flitting around with styles was partially due to Neil Young’s troubled family issues relating to concerns with his second disabled son Ben and problems with his record label, Geffen Records. Neil Young’s experimental streak ran the gamut through electronic, rockabilly and country music that resulted in both a lawsuit with Geffen Records for making music “unrepresentative” of himself and the music contained within A Treasure. The music on A Treasure compiles twelve live recordings dating from 1984 and 1985 featuring Young and his backing band, The International Harvesters who supported him on 1985’s Old Ways.
A Treasure is more of a tribute to a period in time rather than a traditional live album, as it’s fairly obvious that Young holds this era in his history in high regard. Young has stated that the late pedal steel player, Ben Keith named the album and has also lovingly praised the International Harvesters for their performances that are contained within. To their credit The International Harvesters are deserving of all the accolades that Young can bestow on them as they included Keith but also fine country musicians Spooner Oldham, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Tim Drummond and Rufus Thibodeaux.
A Treasure contains five unreleased Young songs and all present his take on traditional country music. This alone should incite any Neil Young into registering a purchase. One of the unreleased tracks, “Amber Jean,” is a paean to a newborn daughter that opens the album with an upbeat number featuring an exquisite pedal steel lead by the late Keith. Other unreleased tracks include the oddball shtick of “Let Your Fingers Do The Walking” and the Ragged Glory-esque stomp of “Grey Riders” which is sequenced at the end but can hail itself as a new classic. Posturing doesn’t do “Soul of a Woman” justice by terminology alone, as there is enough swagger in this brash number to fill up two roadhouses. The country spiritual influenced “Nothing is Perfect” addresses dated political dramas that were present in the 80’s and aside from a few lyrics could appear timeless if it was updated.
Other album highlights include Harvest’s “Are You Ready For the Country” which is given a swinging overhaul and a Southernly remake of Buffalo Springfield’s “Flying On The Ground Is Wrong” that deeply deposits Young’s footprints in the music and mud of the South like a real country gentleman. If Mr. Young ever decides to make another “unrepresentative” album like this again, I’ll be quite pleased.
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