NEIL YOUNG : TOUCH THE CLOUDS

  1. Flying on the Ground Is Wrong
  2. Mr. Soul
  3. I've Been Waiting for You
  4. Oh Lonesome Me
  5. I Believe in You
  6. Mr. Soul
  7. Everybody's Alone
  8. Dance Dance Dance
  9. Wonderin'
  10. Sugar Mountain
  11. Bad Fog of Loneliness
  12. Country Home
  13. Don't Say You Win, Don't Say You Lose
  14. Shots,
  15. Barstool Blues
  16. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
  17. World on a String
  18. Homefires
  19. Too Far Gone
  20. The Losing End

Label : no label

Time : 71:50

Venue : studio + various  

Date : various

Quality : Soundboard and Audience Recordings (A+/B+)

Review (Old Grey Cat) : This one-disc compilation does a superb job of collecting tracks (20 in all) from a wide variety of sources while maintaining a modicum of listenability.The fun kicks off with an International Harvester-backed "Flying on the Ground is Wrong" at the 1984 New Orleans World Fair; it's a great song made even better thanks to the country lilt of the backing. The next few tracks are all alternate studio versions: Buffalo Springfield's "Mr. Soul" and "I've Been Waiting for You," "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Believe in You." Up next is a Woodstock rehearsal of "Mr. Soul" that finds it slowed to a crawl--but still packing a powerful punch. The unreleased "Everybody's Alone" kicks off an extended clip of Neil rehearsing for a KSAN radio appearance that also includes "Dance, Dance, Dance," an extended "Wonderin'" and "Sugar Mountain." The mood is relaxed throughout, and while the performances (acoustic all) aren't mesmerizing, they definitely rank as interesting. A solo rendition of "Bad Fog of Loneliness," from 1970's Carnegie Hall engagement, follows. Two tracks from 1983, also acoustic, are next: "Country Home" and "Don't Say You Win, Don't Say You Lose." I prefer the acoustic treatment of "Country Home" to the Ragged Glory version--but, then, I was familiar with this one first. That logic continues with the acoustic version of "Shots," taken from an audience tape of Neil's 1978 stay at San Francisco's Boarding House. It's a stunning song, true, but I prefer the electric, official version (found on the re*ac*tor LP). "Barstool Blues" ups the wattage factor somewhat. Recorded at the Catalyst Club with Crazy Horse in 1984, this sounds as if it's from the same tape that produced The Violent Side. Returning back to '70, an alternate take of "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" follows--it lacks CH's back-up vocals and, as a result, suffers. From 1973's UK tour, "World on a String" is next--and it's great. "Home Fires," from CSNY's '74 stadium tour, suffers from poor sound, but the last two tracks, "Too Far Gone" and "The Losing End," both recorded with Crazy Horse in Germany during 1976 are, in a word, excellent. What sets this disc apart from many compilations is that is doesn't claim much beyond the music; in some ways, it's a smaller Rock 'n' Roll Cowboy--but with better overall sound.