The reason for the 74 concert release is simply that it contains song material that he has almost never played live, and which there is exist no official recording of prior to this release. The opportunity to hear song from On the Beach live, finally, is for me as a huge Neil Young fan simply a godsend. Yes, it’s not audiophile grade, but that’s not really expected considering that it’s a audience recording. The song material and performance however is a true historical treasure.
Just listened to CKJB for the first time and loved it so much I played it twice. Fascinating, deep renditions on On The Beach tracks, one of my favourite Young albums. Essential listening for any serious Young fan.
Citizen Kane Jr Blues. I have had on vinyl since early 90s. I have sold many thousands of my personal records through the years and if I had to sell down to 100 this would always be in my collection. To me it has always been edge of your seat listening, fine storytelling to see what he would say next. Listen online at least really a fun listen. Love the channel.
I have the Citizen Kane Jr Blues and It’s definitely not an audiophile recording but the performance and the atmosphere are amazing. Personally I found it a far more compelling listen than the Carnegie Hall album. Music is not only about the quality of recording or playback if it were we’d have to dispose of an awful lot of it. Personally I would like you to focus more on the music than the sound quality and hype sticker.
This is where I part ways with the audiophile community. Live recording was at its infancy then, unions controlled many aspects (after 9 PM is double time pay, you have to have three guys carrying gear not one...), different halls had different limitations, the availability of mobile recording trucks was limited and expensive, how many venues had 8 track, 16 track or 24 track tape machines?, funds for live recording varied, all kinds of logistical things can go wrong on tour back then, even things like the venue having the right mics, or ungrounded cable causing 60-cycle hum, unshielded cable picking up the local FM radio station, feedback from the acoustic guitars, not enough power, unclean power, "rock" music wasn't taken seriously by the more formal venues like Dorothy Chandler (home of the LA Philharmonic), so many variables existed, I'm frankly impressed Neil has so many recorded shows regardless of the uneven quality. These are quality bootlegs, not audiophile recordings. Take them for what they are and be happy we have them. Why does he put it out on vinyl? Did you want it on digital for your PONO player?
I haven’t heard them on wax, but listening online ‘Citizen Kane Jr. Blues’ is my favourite. I have quite a high tolerance for low fidelity recordings as long as they have character and for me at least, that recording has plenty of that. I did find the audience noise difficult at first, I have to admit, but as I continued listening I found it helped place me in the room in a way that reminded me of my days as a sound recordist on film sets. Of the three, it will be the one I pick up. (‘Citizen Kane Jr. Blues’ also contains more of my favourite Neil Young songs)
It looks from the comments so far, and from your review Michael, as though these releases are going to be divisive! I have the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion one and played it this morning. Loved it. I think the sound quality is terrific - warm, enveloping and beautifully mixed. Listen to the piano on ‘A Man Needs A Maid’ - it’s like being in the room with him. The whole concert a lovely performance, heartfelt singing, some trademark humour with the audience but not too much as the focus is clearly on the songs. As for the Bottom Line (ie Citizen Kane Blues) one, I have enjoyed this as a bootleg for many years. The performance is wonderful. It’s like sneaking into a club without a ticket, suddenly Neil Young walks on unannounced and plays his new songs from the bottom of his heart. Read Neil’s brief sleeve notes on the back - the story will help with your appreciation of the music. No this is not audiophile, but not is it for completists only - I think it’s one of Neil’s greatest performances. And I’m not sure I’d want it in audiophile quality actually, a soundboard recording might eradicate some of the charm. Just my opinions of course! Thanks for the regular videos Michael, I really enjoy them.
Great video Michael. It's good that you call out the difference between the albums. We can't buy everything so good to know which one you think is best.
I agree Michael I was disappointing, The 2 releases are clean & solid, The Citizen is what it is someone recording it with a tape machine on a table.For completionists only 👍
The Citizen Kane Jr Blues album is taken from an audience recording of a much loved bootleg . It's a fantastic show that features ( probably for the first time ) some of the classic songs that would appear on - On The Beach . Neil's humorous engagement with the crowd makes this classic gig even more essential . Forget the sound quality and focus on the gig . Definitely the one to get out of the three albums reviewed .
I've heard all the three 'bootlegs' and my first thoughts are: the Royce hall concert has more energy and a different tuning, compared to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Plus, the albumcover is more like a regular album cover and it's wonderful to look at. Ok, Massey Hall is the pinnacle as a solo-concert release. But, for me Royce hall at least equals Carnegie Hall and The Young Shakespeare. No, I like it even more. It''s a must buy in my book. Citizen Kane Jr. Blues1974 is a historic important event, but still lacks in the audiophile segment. However, the improvement done by Grundman, is well worth it. Plus, we can hear unique versions of 'Greensleeves', 'Pushed It Over The End (still a favorite) and Pardon My Heart. Now it's time - I hope - we get more 1973, 1976 and 1978 live releases.
these bootleg releases are fucking boring, all you need is Massey Hall 71' and im kinda pissed at Neil for this why does he release the same songs on acoustic again
I only got Citizen Kane Jr.Blues due to the repetition on the set lists of the other two. You are right that CK is not audiophile but it’s not supposed to be. I found the whole atmosphere really interesting and great to hear the newly recorded On the Beach songs.
I didn’t get any of these despite being a huge fan. He doesn’t vary the songs much, so if you have one of really good sounding concerts, I don’t think you need these. I will stream them
Thank you! I was looking to getting at least one of these, but will save my money. After Carnegie Hall release and how amazing that was (as was Joni Mitchell there too) was hopeful of similar quality. I’m not a Neil Young completionist but definitely a fan with over a dozen of his albums and still chasing a few. Another one to avoid which sadly i did not is his EP during lockdown - The Times. It was recorded with his iPad and you can tell.
THANKS for the warning my fine European friend! Bullet dodged as we say in the United States! Usually your reviews cost me money! This time you saved me money!
I bought all three LPs and they are definitely worth the time, effort and money if you’re a NY fan. My favourite- in terms of song selection, atmosphere and authenticity is the 74 recording. I don’t mind that the sound quality is poor when your are witnessing an audience hearing (and reacting) to ‘new’ songs for the first time. If I’m honest, this is how I imagined Carnegie Hall was going to sound when I first heard it was coming out, so I’m not disappointed. I’m enjoying the 2 better sounding 71 shows, even though the set lists are very similar. I hope he keeps them coming, although maybe he should space his releases out a bit so we can afford to buy them. Eldorado was only out a week before!
And the next 2 in series are Ducks in ‘77 and Rainbow ‘73. The first 6 bootleg titles were announced over a year ago, as they were all meant to be released in 2021. Easy to find this info.
Thank you for your clarifying presentation 😊 You saved me on expenses and shelf space. I stick to mine "Young Shakespeare" and "Carnegie Hall". See you next time.
Michael, I implore you to give “Citizen Kane Jr Blues” another chance. Sure, it doesn’t sound like a professional recording at a world renowned concert hall, but it is a wonderful album, and honestly, it doesn’t sound that bad.
I can't think of another artist (except maybe Dylan) where you'd be willing to put up with so many solo acoustic show releases. Says a lot about his general presence and commitment to his songs. I keep saying "do I really need to buy another acoustic Young gig?" and I always end up loving them.
I agree with Mr. Groningen-- Massey Hall is at the pinnacle, certainly one of the best-sounding records I have heard. (Michael Fremer in his latest Analog Corner says Barn is the best-sounding Neil Young record.) Although the others may not reach that scale, we cannot lose sight of the big picture, the impetus behind these releases-- Neil Young is reminding us rock is not merely songwriting, not merely recording, but above all things rock music is performance. People forget that performance is more critical to a rock artist's vitality than the recording, in my opinion. I have arrived at this after seeing Paul McCartney in the Let it Be film insist to the other Beatles that they need to get out there and play, as he believed that playing in public would revitalize the band. I see this also in Bob Dylan's insistence on playing and touring, despite the fact that he is one of the most successful artists in both financial and artistic terms. Unfortunately, Neil is not ready to tour, so he has thoughtfully given us these performances instead.
Thnx for the vid! I have the Carnegie Hall and I also like that album very much and it sounds great. And I was asking myself should I buy the three new ones. Now I know after seeing your vid, , I dont have to.
Idk what anyone would expect from Citizen Kane Jr. considering it’s sourced from actual bootleg tapes. It’s called the official bootleg series for a reason. I think Neil knows this is for the die hards. I’m sure that as an artist with such a vast output it must not sit well with you to think there’s a plethora of bootleg concerts out there that sound terrible and aren’t pressed well either. If he has real multitrack tapes from some of these shows then why not put them out so people can get better versions? In the case of Citizen Kane Jr. he must not have had multitrack tapes but I’m willing to bet having CB master the bootleg tapes and having that pressed properly makes it sound better than the real bootlegs did and that’s still a win. This also just highlights how much of a benefit it is that he’s doing this for the shows where they do have their own tapes. All these shows were bootlegs once and I bet they all sounded even worse than Citizen Kane Jr. and the price is very reasonable on all of these. It’s definitely for the die hards, but seeing as how the majority of his output has already been tackled and handled well...Kinda makes sense
Great review Michael & I totally agree with you...I was not interested in the 1st two you showed due to the set list & I already have Carnegie & Shakespeare from last year but I was interested in the 3rd release 1974 due to a different set list but I knew I was not going to get it after streaming it first & hearing how bad the recording was....well let's hope & I sure there is more to come...
Thanks you just saved me £60! I love Neil Youngs 70's output and have the wonderful Carnegie Hall LP but I was dithering about A. The duplication of tracks and B. The sound quality. I already have the '74 album and whilst its a great gig the sound is ropey. Hopefully Neil will put out some better recorded bootlegs with more diverse set lists from later in the decade. ✌
There's a reason they're called bootlegs... They are rare & not originally meant to be released. Some will always be better than others. Although I have yet to hear all 3, I'm pretty sure Neil just got tired of others releasing these performances & making money off his name & also positive he did everything he could to make them sound as good as possible before officially releasing them now (Bernie is no slouch.) I just played some sample here on YT of the Citizen Kane LP & I dig it myself. His voice & guitar come through clear & not distorted while also having a charm which makes the lack of sound quality a very small concern for me (and I consider myself an audiophile with a great home system), but to each his own.
Being a huge neil young fan I pretty much have to have everything he releases, especially releases from the 60's and 70's. I think the best way to collect his bootleg series is to get the good sounding releases like Carnegie hall on vinyl and the lower sound quality ones like the last 3 on cd. Just a thought.
Thank you for reviewing these. When you say they are bootleg quality - Can you please tell me... how do they compare to his official bootlegs Roxy, Songs for Judy, Tuscaloosa and Shakespeare? I have those. Is the audio quality on the latest releases anywhere near those 4? Cheers
thanks for the review, I ordered from Neil's website so no idea when my copies will arrive. Springsteen releases a lot of his live shows on CD. I wish he'd release them on vinyl, but doubt it will happen.
I would love to see jimmy Page release a Led Zeppelin the best of the bootlegs boxset, but I’ll keep dreaming. Love Neil young so the bootleg editions are well worth checking out even if the sound quality is not 100%. Thank you for another great video
You and me both brother on the zeppelin I've spent thousands through the years on their bootlegs. I read a recent interview with Jimmy Page and he said they can't agree on anything at all right now so I guess we will have to wait a long time on that one.
I have Massey Hall (stunning) - you are in the front row, can tell when he does the slightest nuance. It is the utmost audiophile acoustic live recording and Neil is playing new unheard song from Gold Rush to his home town crowd the Shakespeare deluxe box set and Carnegie are very good and worth Trying to figure out if these 3 additional acoustic shows are essential, sounds like Citizen Kane has great songs but poorer sonics. Kudos to Neil for making these available 77-79 will be a juicy live period
I only ordered the Citizen Kane Jr. Blues release, and I have to say I was also very disappointed with it. Although it was great to hear some of the On The Beach material in acoustic form, I felt the overall sound quality and obtrusive audience noise spoiled the experience. A shame, as I agree the Carnegie Hall release was absolutely fantastic.
May 16, 1974 Ry Cooder performed at The Bottom Line Club in New York. After the concert was over, Neil Young came on stage and played a set of about an hour, with almost only new songs from his upcoming album On the Beach, but also a rare acoustic version of Pushed it Over the End (which he announces as Citizen Kane Jr. Blues) and the much later Pardon My Heart and Long May You Run. Unfortunately, Young did not have a professionally recorded multitrack from this bootleg, as was the case with Royce Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Carnegie Hall, but had to deal with Simon Montgomery's recording, of which he has the original tape. Montgomery is now Joni Mitchell's archivist, along with Joel Bernstein. Citizen Kane Jr. Blues is still a great audience recording and has a legendary status. And I can imagine that there are people who don't like this quality. Especially for those who are not used to listen to audience recordings. But maybe if you try long enough and listen to it several times, you get used to this recording. That's my experience.
I'm still waiting for mine (oddly still unreleased in the U.S.) and though not a NY completist by any means I still want all three. Hey, it's a bootleg, our expectations re sound quality should be low, and then we can be pleasantly surprised if it's better than expected!😉 Or maybe I'm still mad I didn't buy the first NY Official Release Series when it didn't cost 500 bucks! Anyway, great and honest review.
As many have mentioned, this is a ‘Bootleg’ series so the releases may not necessarily be the highest quality sound wise, but may be important. And they have been (obviously) previously bootlegged. Funny you mention Harvest Michael, perhaps you know the Royce Hall concert supplied the take of ‘Needle & the Damage Done’ used on Harvest…
I picked up Citizen Kane only since there are already so many great albums covering the early 70’s solo performances. I agree regarding the sound quality but for me it’s not really the point about this release. I knew it was a basic audience recording. The song selection and the performance is very interesting.
I think you miss the point with something like Citizen Kane Jr. The point is to recreate the bootleg feel but cleaned up as much as possible. That gig was recorded with a tape recorder sitting on a table in the audience. But the sound and feel are essential to the record. It is not so bad that you can't listen. With that one he's going for vibe.
I hope I don't sound like an idiot but I have a question I'd really like to have answered. I just found and purchased 5 new Neil bootlegs and it got me wondering ... how does a bootleg go from a kid with a tape recorder to a vinyl album? Is there any way to know how many copies of a particular bootleg were made? And I mean "original" copies not copies of the copies. Is it possible to know how many original vinyl albums were made from the original bootleg tape? Thanks so much to anyone who knows about this stuff and replies to me! Thanks!!
Thanks Michael. This video was very helpful. My plan is to pick up the best of this run but I can’t afford to buy things I’ll maybe listen to just once. I’d rather grab a gem here and there. So this video helped give me some context. I know these things are subjective, but I also know you love Neil even more than I do! So if you say a 6/10, I’m inclined to think I’d concur! Thanks for the videos. All are must watch for me as I learn a lot. Oh by the way, any plans to review the large Nirvana box set on May 27? Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the Doors L.A. Woman sessions. Looking forward to future posts. 👍🏻
Aloha Michael, thank you for your review. I don't think I'll be purchasing any of these 3. I did purchase the 1st, released & it sounded ok, but I expected more as far as coming off the sounded board, with that being said I'll stick to studio and or quality live releases not the bootleg series unless it's better quality then the first released, will be watching your videos for more reviews. Mahalo Ed
Have a nice sounding REAL boot of citizen Kane which puzzles me because it was pretty good and could have cleaned up Cellar door dc…they like the 930 and bayou recorded their shows…
I've been buying Neil Young albums for over 45 years.Have now got 112 CDs and 34 LP's Unfortutely with so many ( mainly) bootlegs included the same " tracks " keep appearing ,this is especially with recordings from 1970/1972 .I'll buy all these because it's it's Neil and I won't have THAT actual " recording / gig" However the down side is that I now own 22 " Heart of gold" s 20 " Needle and damage done" and 26 versions of " Old man" .So what tracks awaits me on these " NEW" archives.?? Yep youve guessed it .." Needle and the damage....ect..... So I'm sorry Neil but I won't bother with lot.
Check out"Neil Young goes record shopping" It's on You Tube. Fantastic review Mr 45 RPM. Carnegie hall is great! Also like Live at Massey Hall, great sound.
Stay with the original boots, at least they add the spirit of music from fans for fans,...when nothing was around. Neil Youngs Business Successors will flood the market anyway.
You know, I could really see the disappointment on your face . Saw the first 20 secs of the vid and thinking- "something isn't right w/ Michael, he is not himself.."
I would never listen to a Neil Young bootleg recording that are sold for profit. I’ve seen him live a couple dozen times and that’s what counts. What does he think about your bootleg collection? Hmmm
Hi Michael, the worst is yet to come: just recieved my album Citizen Kane Blues yesterday. For Neil Young standards (for everybody's standards really) this quality is absolutely unacceptable. I read that this album is the worst of the trio so you're kind of lucky with these two. Why has he made these records: we don't need them! We already got Carnegie Hall, Massey Hall and Cellar Door in wonderful quality. And another question that comes to mind is what's with the ridiculous fake ringwear on the albumcover? I think Neil is a wonderful musician and I love most of his albums but these three albums have nothing to do with his legacy. It's more of a money grab in my opinion... The price of these three albums is the same as one album from let's say acoustic sounds, or two albums by Craft Recordings with absolutely stunning quality which will be played over and over again for years to come.....waste of money.
It’s called the official bootleg series and the release you’re talking about is using bootleg tapes...What the hell did you expect? Maybe be more aware of what you’re buying next time lol.
@@dajmasta94 Of course it's called the bootleg collection but Carnegie Hall was also part of this series and it sounded wonderful. From Neil I expect much much more than this shitty pressing. Neil is into quality and not into quantity.
@@dajmasta94 So the three of them amount to $ 75. That's the price of one or two very very very good records. But if people want to listen to a crappy sounding record who am I to judge. Just my opinion that this bootleg series is a total waste of smackaroos.
These are live concerts recorded with primitive equipment in the 70s. For you to bitch about the sound is unfair That is why a lot of the audiophile community turns me off. You are tone chasers and don’t appreciate a lot of the music I grew to love music on a old transistor AM radio in the 60s and music never sounded better
But these bootleg releases are fucking boring, all you need is Massey Hall 71' and im kinda pissed at Neil for this why does he release the same songs on acoustic again
a great time to be a Neil Young fan & appreciate his music.
The reason for the 74 concert release is simply that it contains song material that he has almost never played live, and which there is exist no official recording of prior to this release. The opportunity to hear song from On the Beach live, finally, is for me as a huge Neil Young fan simply a godsend. Yes, it’s not audiophile grade, but that’s not really expected considering that it’s a audience recording. The song material and performance however is a true historical treasure.
Just listened to CKJB for the first time and loved it so much I played it twice. Fascinating, deep renditions on On The Beach tracks, one of my favourite Young albums. Essential listening for any serious Young fan.
Citizen Kane Jr Blues. I have had on vinyl since early 90s. I have sold many thousands of my personal records through the years and if I had to sell down to 100 this would always be in my collection. To me it has always been edge of your seat listening, fine storytelling to see what he would say next. Listen online at least really a fun listen. Love the channel.
Thank you for saving me some money. Citizen Kane Jr was the only one of the three I was going to purchase.
I have the Citizen Kane Jr Blues and It’s definitely not an audiophile recording but the performance and the atmosphere are amazing. Personally I found it a far more compelling listen than the Carnegie Hall album. Music is not only about the quality of recording or playback if it were we’d have to dispose of an awful lot of it. Personally I would like you to focus more on the music than the sound quality and hype sticker.
This is where I part ways with the audiophile community. Live recording was at its infancy then, unions controlled many aspects (after 9 PM is double time pay, you have to have three guys carrying gear not one...), different halls had different limitations, the availability of mobile recording trucks was limited and expensive, how many venues had 8 track, 16 track or 24 track tape machines?, funds for live recording varied, all kinds of logistical things can go wrong on tour back then, even things like the venue having the right mics, or ungrounded cable causing 60-cycle hum, unshielded cable picking up the local FM radio station, feedback from the acoustic guitars, not enough power, unclean power, "rock" music wasn't taken seriously by the more formal venues like Dorothy Chandler (home of the LA Philharmonic), so many variables existed, I'm frankly impressed Neil has so many recorded shows regardless of the uneven quality. These are quality bootlegs, not audiophile recordings. Take them for what they are and be happy we have them. Why does he put it out on vinyl? Did you want it on digital for your PONO player?
AMEN.
I haven’t heard them on wax, but listening online ‘Citizen Kane Jr. Blues’ is my favourite. I have quite a high tolerance for low fidelity recordings as long as they have character and for me at least, that recording has plenty of that. I did find the audience noise difficult at first, I have to admit, but as I continued listening I found it helped place me in the room in a way that reminded me of my days as a sound recordist on film sets. Of the three, it will be the one I pick up. (‘Citizen Kane Jr. Blues’ also contains more of my favourite Neil Young songs)
It looks from the comments so far, and from your review Michael, as though these releases are going to be divisive! I have the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion one and played it this morning. Loved it. I think the sound quality is terrific - warm, enveloping and beautifully mixed. Listen to the piano on ‘A Man Needs A Maid’ - it’s like being in the room with him. The whole concert a lovely performance, heartfelt singing, some trademark humour with the audience but not too much as the focus is clearly on the songs. As for the Bottom Line (ie Citizen Kane Blues) one, I have enjoyed this as a bootleg for many years. The performance is wonderful. It’s like sneaking into a club without a ticket, suddenly Neil Young walks on unannounced and plays his new songs from the bottom of his heart. Read Neil’s brief sleeve notes on the back - the story will help with your appreciation of the music. No this is not audiophile, but not is it for completists only - I think it’s one of Neil’s greatest performances. And I’m not sure I’d want it in audiophile quality actually, a soundboard recording might eradicate some of the charm. Just my opinions of course! Thanks for the regular videos Michael, I really enjoy them.
Great video Michael. It's good that you call out the difference between the albums. We can't buy everything so good to know which one you think is best.
I agree Michael I was disappointing,
The 2 releases are clean & solid,
The Citizen is what it is someone recording it with a tape machine on a table.For completionists only 👍
The Citizen Kane Jr Blues album is taken from an audience recording of a much loved bootleg . It's a fantastic show that features ( probably for the first time ) some of the classic songs that would appear on - On The Beach . Neil's humorous engagement with the crowd makes this classic gig even more essential . Forget the sound quality and focus on the gig . Definitely the one to get out of the three albums reviewed .
I've heard all the three 'bootlegs' and my first thoughts are: the Royce hall concert has more energy and a different tuning, compared to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Plus, the albumcover is more like a regular album cover and it's wonderful to look at. Ok, Massey Hall is the pinnacle as a solo-concert release. But, for me Royce hall at least equals Carnegie Hall and The Young Shakespeare. No, I like it even more. It''s a must buy in my book. Citizen Kane Jr. Blues1974 is a historic important event, but still lacks in the audiophile segment. However, the improvement done by Grundman, is well worth it. Plus, we can hear unique versions of 'Greensleeves', 'Pushed It Over The End (still a favorite) and Pardon My Heart. Now it's time - I hope - we get more 1973, 1976 and 1978 live releases.
these bootleg releases are fucking boring, all you need is Massey Hall 71' and im kinda pissed at Neil for this why does he release the same songs on acoustic again
I only got Citizen Kane Jr.Blues due to the repetition on the set lists of the other two. You are right that CK is not audiophile but it’s not supposed to be. I found the whole atmosphere really interesting and great to hear the newly recorded On the Beach songs.
I didn’t get any of these despite being a huge fan. He doesn’t vary the songs much, so if you have one of really good sounding concerts, I don’t think you need these. I will stream them
Thank you! I was looking to getting at least one of these, but will save my money. After Carnegie Hall release and how amazing that was (as was Joni Mitchell there too) was hopeful of similar quality. I’m not a Neil Young completionist but definitely a fan with over a dozen of his albums and still chasing a few. Another one to avoid which sadly i did not is his EP during lockdown - The Times. It was recorded with his iPad and you can tell.
THANKS for the warning my fine European friend! Bullet dodged as we say in the United States! Usually your reviews cost me money! This time you saved me money!
I bought all three LPs and they are definitely worth the time, effort and money if you’re a NY fan. My favourite- in terms of song selection, atmosphere and authenticity is the 74 recording. I don’t mind that the sound quality is poor when your are witnessing an audience hearing (and reacting) to ‘new’ songs for the first time. If I’m honest, this is how I imagined Carnegie Hall was going to sound when I first heard it was coming out, so I’m not disappointed. I’m enjoying the 2 better sounding 71 shows, even though the set lists are very similar. I hope he keeps them coming, although maybe he should space his releases out a bit so we can afford to buy them. Eldorado was only out a week before!
And the next 2 in series are Ducks in ‘77 and Rainbow ‘73. The first 6 bootleg titles were announced over a year ago, as they were all meant to be released in 2021. Easy to find this info.
Thank you for your clarifying presentation 😊 You saved me on expenses and shelf space. I stick to mine "Young Shakespeare" and "Carnegie Hall". See you next time.
Michael, I implore you to give “Citizen Kane Jr Blues” another chance. Sure, it doesn’t sound like a professional recording at a world renowned concert hall, but it is a wonderful album, and honestly, it doesn’t sound that bad.
True story. I just bought one and I agree.
I can't think of another artist (except maybe Dylan) where you'd be willing to put up with so many solo acoustic show releases. Says a lot about his general presence and commitment to his songs. I keep saying "do I really need to buy another acoustic Young gig?" and I always end up loving them.
However I'm certainly ready for some early Crazy Horse shows, if there are any recorded
I agree with Mr. Groningen-- Massey Hall is at the pinnacle, certainly one of the best-sounding records I have heard. (Michael Fremer in his latest Analog Corner says Barn is the best-sounding Neil Young record.) Although the others may not reach that scale, we cannot lose sight of the big picture, the impetus behind these releases-- Neil Young is reminding us rock is not merely songwriting, not merely recording, but above all things rock music is performance. People forget that performance is more critical to a rock artist's vitality than the recording, in my opinion. I have arrived at this after seeing Paul McCartney in the Let it Be film insist to the other Beatles that they need to get out there and play, as he believed that playing in public would revitalize the band. I see this also in Bob Dylan's insistence on playing and touring, despite the fact that he is one of the most successful artists in both financial and artistic terms. Unfortunately, Neil is not ready to tour, so he has thoughtfully given us these performances instead.
Thnx for the vid! I have the Carnegie Hall and I also like that album very much and it sounds great. And I was asking myself should I buy the three new ones. Now I know after seeing your vid, , I dont have to.
Spun the 71 Royce tonight, blown away. Such an entertaining LP, highly recommended!
Thanks Michael for info.
Idk what anyone would expect from Citizen Kane Jr. considering it’s sourced from actual bootleg tapes. It’s called the official bootleg series for a reason. I think Neil knows this is for the die hards. I’m sure that as an artist with such a vast output it must not sit well with you to think there’s a plethora of bootleg concerts out there that sound terrible and aren’t pressed well either. If he has real multitrack tapes from some of these shows then why not put them out so people can get better versions? In the case of Citizen Kane Jr. he must not have had multitrack tapes but I’m willing to bet having CB master the bootleg tapes and having that pressed properly makes it sound better than the real bootlegs did and that’s still a win. This also just highlights how much of a benefit it is that he’s doing this for the shows where they do have their own tapes. All these shows were bootlegs once and I bet they all sounded even worse than Citizen Kane Jr. and the price is very reasonable on all of these. It’s definitely for the die hards, but seeing as how the majority of his output has already been tackled and handled well...Kinda makes sense
Thanks for the honest review Michael!
Great review Michael & I totally agree with you...I was not interested in the 1st two you showed due to the set list & I already have Carnegie & Shakespeare from last year but I was interested in the 3rd release 1974 due to a different set list but I knew I was not going to get it after streaming it first & hearing how bad the recording was....well let's hope & I sure there is more to come...
Thanks you just saved me £60! I love Neil Youngs 70's output and have the wonderful Carnegie Hall LP but I was dithering about A. The duplication of tracks and B. The sound quality. I already have the '74 album and whilst its a great gig the sound is ropey. Hopefully Neil will put out some better recorded bootlegs with more diverse set lists from later in the decade. ✌
There's a reason they're called bootlegs... They are rare & not originally meant to be released. Some will always be better than others. Although I have yet to hear all 3, I'm pretty sure Neil just got tired of others releasing these performances & making money off his name & also positive he did everything he could to make them sound as good as possible before officially releasing them now (Bernie is no slouch.) I just played some sample here on YT of the Citizen Kane LP & I dig it myself. His voice & guitar come through clear & not distorted while also having a charm which makes the lack of sound quality a very small concern for me (and I consider myself an audiophile with a great home system), but to each his own.
Being a huge neil young fan I pretty much have to have everything he releases, especially releases from the 60's and 70's. I think the best way to collect his bootleg series is to get the good sounding releases like Carnegie hall on vinyl and the lower sound quality ones like the last 3 on cd. Just a thought.
Thank you for reviewing these.
When you say they are bootleg quality - Can you please tell me... how do they compare to his official bootlegs Roxy, Songs for Judy, Tuscaloosa and Shakespeare? I have those. Is the audio quality on the latest releases anywhere near those 4?
Cheers
Great video. I am considering buying some or all of these. Your video really helped me with my decision. Thank you so much.
thanks for the review, I ordered from Neil's website so no idea when my copies will arrive. Springsteen releases a lot of his live shows on CD. I wish he'd release them on vinyl, but doubt it will happen.
I would love to see jimmy Page release a Led Zeppelin the best of the bootlegs boxset, but I’ll keep dreaming. Love Neil young so the bootleg editions are well worth checking out even if the sound quality is not 100%. Thank you for another great video
You and me both brother on the zeppelin I've spent thousands through the years on their bootlegs. I read a recent interview with Jimmy Page and he said they can't agree on anything at all right now so I guess we will have to wait a long time on that one.
I have Massey Hall (stunning) - you are in the front row, can tell when he does the slightest nuance.
It is the utmost audiophile acoustic live recording and Neil is playing new unheard song from Gold Rush to his home town crowd
the Shakespeare deluxe box set and Carnegie are very good and worth
Trying to figure out if these 3 additional acoustic shows are essential, sounds like Citizen Kane has great songs but poorer sonics.
Kudos to Neil for making these available
77-79 will be a juicy live period
This reminds me, I'm due for my yearly dose of Massey Hall lol. Citizen Kane Jr Blues is the most intriguing release for sure.
Massey Hall & Carnegie Hall are the both to have for me !
I only ordered the Citizen Kane Jr. Blues release, and I have to say I was also very disappointed with it. Although it was great to hear some of the On The Beach material in acoustic form, I felt the overall sound quality and obtrusive audience noise spoiled the experience. A shame, as I agree the Carnegie Hall release was absolutely fantastic.
😂 you got stung, love it!
Im only in my ears 20's but Neil 2 years ago made me start playing guitar now I have a Gibson Les Paul
May 16, 1974 Ry Cooder performed at The Bottom Line Club in New York. After the concert was over, Neil Young came on stage and played a set of about an hour, with almost only new songs from his upcoming album On the Beach, but also a rare acoustic version of Pushed it Over the End (which he announces as Citizen Kane Jr. Blues) and the much later Pardon My Heart and Long May You Run.
Unfortunately, Young did not have a professionally recorded multitrack from this bootleg, as was the case with Royce Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Carnegie Hall, but had to deal with Simon Montgomery's recording, of which he has the original tape. Montgomery is now Joni Mitchell's archivist, along with Joel Bernstein.
Citizen Kane Jr. Blues is still a great audience recording and has a legendary status.
And I can imagine that there are people who don't like this quality. Especially for those who are not used to listen to audience recordings.
But maybe if you try long enough and listen to it several times, you get used to this recording. That's my experience.
Thx a lot for this great comment Johan
I'm still waiting for mine (oddly still unreleased in the U.S.) and though not a NY completist by any means I still want all three. Hey, it's a bootleg, our expectations re sound quality should be low, and then we can be pleasantly surprised if it's better than expected!😉 Or maybe I'm still mad I didn't buy the first NY Official Release Series when it didn't cost 500 bucks! Anyway, great and honest review.
As many have mentioned, this is a ‘Bootleg’ series so the releases may not necessarily be the highest quality sound wise, but may be important. And they have been (obviously) previously bootlegged. Funny you mention Harvest Michael, perhaps you know the Royce Hall concert supplied the take of ‘Needle & the Damage Done’ used on Harvest…
I picked up Citizen Kane only since there are already so many great albums covering the early 70’s solo performances. I agree regarding the sound quality but for me it’s not really the point about this release. I knew it was a basic audience recording. The song selection and the performance is very interesting.
Well done!
I think you miss the point with something like Citizen Kane Jr. The point is to recreate the bootleg feel but cleaned up as much as possible. That gig was recorded with a tape recorder sitting on a table in the audience. But the sound and feel are essential to the record. It is not so bad that you can't listen. With that one he's going for vibe.
I hope I don't sound like an idiot but I have a question I'd really like to have answered. I just found and purchased 5 new Neil bootlegs and it got me wondering ... how does a bootleg go from a kid with a tape recorder to a vinyl album? Is there any way to know how many copies of a particular bootleg were made? And I mean "original" copies not copies of the copies. Is it possible to know how many original vinyl albums were made from the original bootleg tape? Thanks so much to anyone who knows about this stuff and replies to me! Thanks!!
Thanks Michael. This video was very helpful. My plan is to pick up the best of this run but I can’t afford to buy things I’ll maybe listen to just once. I’d rather grab a gem here and there. So this video helped give me some context. I know these things are subjective, but I also know you love Neil even more than I do! So if you say a 6/10, I’m inclined to think I’d concur! Thanks for the videos. All are must watch for me as I learn a lot.
Oh by the way, any plans to review the large Nirvana box set on May 27?
Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the Doors L.A. Woman sessions.
Looking forward to future posts. 👍🏻
We’ve been spoilt by the Carnegie Hall release. A shame, but I’m sure there will be better future releases ( well I hope so)
Curious.. what do you think about neil young shakespeare live album?
I try not to skip through the ads so that the extra income will provide funds to feed Karl und Friedrich🐈🐩
Thank goodness these aren’t as good as Carnegie Hall…my wallet needs a break!
Aloha Michael, thank you for your review. I don't think I'll be purchasing any of these 3. I did purchase the 1st, released & it sounded ok, but I expected more as far as coming off the sounded board, with that being said I'll stick to studio and or quality live releases not the bootleg series unless it's better quality then the first released, will be watching your videos for more reviews.
Mahalo Ed
Have a nice sounding REAL boot of citizen Kane which puzzles me because it was pretty good and could have cleaned up
Cellar door dc…they like the 930 and bayou recorded their shows…
I've been buying Neil Young albums for over 45 years.Have now got 112 CDs and 34 LP's Unfortutely with so many ( mainly) bootlegs included the same " tracks " keep appearing ,this is especially with recordings from 1970/1972 .I'll buy all these because it's it's Neil and I won't have THAT actual " recording / gig" However the down side is that I now own 22 " Heart of gold" s 20 " Needle and damage done" and 26 versions of " Old man" .So what tracks awaits me on these " NEW" archives.?? Yep youve guessed it .." Needle and the damage....ect..... So I'm sorry Neil but I won't bother with lot.
Check out"Neil Young goes record shopping" It's on You Tube. Fantastic review Mr 45 RPM. Carnegie hall is great! Also like Live at Massey Hall, great sound.
Stay with the original boots, at least they add the spirit of music from fans for fans,...when nothing was around. Neil Youngs Business Successors will flood the market anyway.
You know, I could really see the disappointment on your face .
Saw the first 20 secs of the vid and thinking- "something isn't right w/ Michael, he is not himself.."
Kneel (And Bob) Young.
I would never listen to a Neil Young bootleg recording that are sold for profit. I’ve seen him live a couple dozen times and that’s what counts. What does he think about your bootleg collection? Hmmm
Hi Michael, the worst is yet to come: just recieved my album Citizen Kane Blues yesterday. For Neil Young standards (for everybody's standards really) this quality is absolutely unacceptable. I read that this album is the worst of the trio so you're kind of lucky with these two. Why has he made these records: we don't need them! We already got Carnegie Hall, Massey Hall and Cellar Door in wonderful quality. And another question that comes to mind is what's with the ridiculous fake ringwear on the albumcover? I think Neil is a wonderful musician and I love most of his albums but these three albums have nothing to do with his legacy. It's more of a money grab in my opinion... The price of these three albums is the same as one album from let's say acoustic sounds, or two albums by Craft Recordings with absolutely stunning quality which will be played over and over again for years to come.....waste of money.
It’s called the official bootleg series and the release you’re talking about is using bootleg tapes...What the hell did you expect? Maybe be more aware of what you’re buying next time lol.
Also these all cost about $25.00 which is not twice what a craft record would be and many AS albums are pricier than this
@@dajmasta94 Of course it's called the bootleg collection but Carnegie Hall was also part of this series and it sounded wonderful. From Neil I expect much much more than this shitty pressing. Neil is into quality and not into quantity.
@@dajmasta94 So the three of them amount to $ 75. That's the price of one or two very very very good records. But if people want to listen to a crappy sounding record who am I to judge. Just my opinion that this bootleg series is a total waste of smackaroos.
These are not crappy sounding records
To make new record albums with fake ring wear on them has always been completely stupid and embarrassing
You are so far out of your comfort zone trying to review these releases, they are simply cleaned up bootlegs that have been given official releases.
These are live concerts recorded with primitive equipment in the 70s. For you to bitch about the sound is unfair That is why a lot of the audiophile community turns me off. You are tone chasers and don’t appreciate a lot of the music I grew to love music on a old transistor AM radio in the 60s and music never sounded better
Royce pronounced like ROICE.
But these bootleg releases are fucking boring, all you need is Massey Hall 71' and im kinda pissed at Neil for this why does he release the same songs on acoustic again