Comes a Time

Neil Young, Crazy Horse | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KCV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,918 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #78 in Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Often overlooked as it comes between Young's career-defining 1977 three-LP set Decade and the decade-ending Rust Never Sleeps, Comes a Time is a gentle album that includes some of Young's most soft-spoken material. "Lotta Love" became a hit for Nicolette Larson, who adds harmonies throughout the album, and tracks such as "Look Out for My Love" and "Human Highway" are indicative of Young's divergent styles. With four producer credits, six studio listings, an orchestra, and Crazy Horse all on the same album, Comes a Time is an interesting pastiche of all the things that make Young tick. Lacking his usual conceptual thrust, you'll just have to settle for some great songs. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Lush arrangements, love lyrics and steel guitar solos rule on this 1978 album, which features harmony vocals by Nicolette Larson. Highlights include Four Strong Winds; Already One; Look Out for My Love and Lotta Love (with Crazy Horse); Comes a Time; Motorcycle Mama; Peace of Mind , and more, 10 in all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Neil's most consistent releases, September 24, 2003

By 

John S. Ryan "Scott Ryan" (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Comes a Time (Audio CD)

I wrote in my review of the recently-released-on-CD _Old Ways_ that I liked it as well as I like _Comes a Time_. A minor correction: I think _Comes a Time_ still has a slight edge.

So that you know where I'm coming from: if I were asked to name Neil Young's very best album ever, I'd dither between _Tonight's the Night_ and _On the Beach_. But by and large, my favorite stuff to listen to over and over is his acoustic material. (Not exclusively, but overall.)

That means my favorite 'repeater' albums are _After the Goldrush_, _Harvest_, the acoustic 'sides' of _Rust Never Sleeps_ and _Hawks and Doves_, _Old Ways_, _Harvest Moon_, _Silver and Gold_, occasional songs from his other albums (e.g. 'Ambulance Blues' from _On the Beach_), and this one. (Oh, and of course _Decade_, which is where you should start if you haven't listened to Neil before.)

On to _Comes a Time_ itself. I've had it since it was first released on vinyl; I liked it then and I like it now.

It's mostly straightforward country-inflected folk. For most of it Neil is accompanied by the 'Gone with the Wind Orchestra' (led by Grant Boatwright, whose last name is consistently misspelled in the liner notes; they also play on the acoustic side of _Rust Never Sleeps_). Crazy Horse sits in on two tracks, though: the haunting 'Look Out for My Love', and 'Lotta Love'. The latter was also a hit for the late Nicolette Larsen, who sings harmony with Neil on nearly every song on this release (but _not_ on 'Lotta Love'; apparently they knew she'd be releasing a version of her own).

I feel almost disloyal to Neil in mentioning that one of my very favorite tracks is the one he didn't write: he and Nicolette do an absolutely stunning version of 'Four Strong Winds', written by Neil's fellow Canadian Ian Tyson (of Ian & Sylvia, whose version of the tune you can find on their album of the same name).

At any rate, the whole thing is gorgeous from start to finish -- even the unexceptional 'Motorcycle Mama', which Nicolette manages to bring to life. And if you read the liner notes carefully, you'll spot one or two interesting guests (notably J.J. Cale).

There weren't any 'hits' from this album, but I think it's one of Neil's most consistent efforts. If you like his acoustic side and you don't already have this one, check it out.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Huge Album Albeit A Quiet One, May 3, 2000

By 

robert ostrovsky (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comes a Time (Audio CD)

Comes A Time is a seminal work from Neil. It has a collection of songs which shepparded me through my adolescence and continues to guide me today. It may come off upon first listen as a little too overproduced and too country BUT the songs are some of the most compelling of Neil's acoustic life. A song like "Peace of Mind" is staggering. The lyrics are beyond description. The melody tears through your heart and the music is the perfect blend of achingly beautiful guitars and voices. Other stand out songs are,"Look Out For My Love","Already One","Comes A Time","Field of Opportunity","Going Back", in fact there is not one song on this album which doesn't stand out as a classic for me. My first copy of this album I literally wore out from playing it too much. Now that I have the CD I hope it lasts well into this Century. If you love acoustic rock which takes you deep inside the human heart and the human experience do not miss Neil's Comes A Time.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mellow in the best sense of the word, November 1, 2001

By 

Daniel Rosenberg (Highland Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Comes a Time (Audio CD)

Don't get me wrong. I get a kick from hearing Neil rock, and appreciate "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "Like a Hurricane" as much as anyone. But for some reason, I always find myself coming back to this country/acoustic-flavored gem, and probably listen to it more than to any other of Young's numerous fine offerings. Maybe it's because I'm about the same age as he was when he recorded this, or maybe I'm just getting to appreciate the quieter side of life now that I have a young child. Either way, I find songs like "Going Back," "Comes A Time," and "Human Highway" just perfect. They bring me back to the late 70's, when I was a kid, even though I never heard these songs until I was an adult, and remind me of how simple and peaceful life seemed back then. Other standouts are "Look Out For My Love," "Already One" - which can bring tears to my eyes even though I've never been through a divorce - and Neil's terrific cover of "Four Strong Winds." This is Neil's best acoustic album, ahead of Harvest Moon and Harvest.