244. Harvest - Neil Young

An album whose success almost undermined the creativity and reinvention so central to Neil Young, it remains an album I have a real soft spot for.

Harvest was the biggest selling album in the US in 1972, a year not short on great records. Heart of Gold also reached number one in the singles chart, so it was fair to say that Neil Young responded well to the demise of Crosby, Nash, Stills and Young two years earlier. Several of his former band mates feature on this album, showing that their relationship remained strong. The album's success though would surprise and concern Young, who would become increasingly experimental as a response.

Out on the Weekend starts things off at a relatively sedate pace, with a nice gentle country track with just the hint of an edge. Young's voice flirts with angst on the later choruses, but it is the harmonica that steals the show - something of a recurring theme on this album. The title track has a lovely guitar and piano combination throughout, and drumming that demonstrates that less really can be more. A Man Needs a Maid is a quiet yet forceful epic, and one of the songs that got me into Neil Young in the first place. It is stark, and Young's voice is not classically brilliant, but my goodness is it compelling. Heart of Gold is a classic pop song, with a wistful harmonica that captures a warm summer's evening just perfectly. Are You Ready For the Country is a proper gather round the piano stomp, although its slight lack of tightness means that it is one of the weaker songs here. Old Man is a delicate track with some of the best acoustic guitar playing you will hear. The harmonies on the later choruses are a joy to behold, and there is a delightful ebb and flow to the build up. There's a World is a rare miss, with the strings leaving it sounding overblown amongst such stripped back and sparse companions. Alabama is the jewel in the crown of this album for me, with that delightfully dirty yet crisp guitar sound, and harmonies on the bridge that build with a real anthemic quality. It is mournful yet persuasive, and the variety of instruments here all play their part, without overshadowing each other. The Needle and the Damage Done is a heart-wrenching song that captures the destructive force of heroin addiction. Words (Between the Lines of Ages) has a great guitar tone, but is slightly forgettable other than that.

Overall I loved this album, as I knew I would. Whilst at times seeming to hold himself back, the quality of the writing and playing shows Neil Young at the peak of his powers - a peak that he would transform into a triumphant plateau over many years. Whilst often overlooked as dated, the sheer array of excellent songs contained on this album means that it is an essential for any record collector.

Chloe's  album rating: 8

Chloe's favourite track: 6. Old Man

Olly's album rating: 8

Olly's favourite track: 8. Alabama

Next week we have the bizarre sounding 187. Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart.