Customer Reviews

Old Ways

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A straight ahead country album from Neil Young featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings - "OLD WAYS", originally released in 1985- is traveling down the road again with a country band International Harvesters.

Guest appearances by some notables as - Bela Fleck on banjo, Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano, Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle, Ralph Mooney on steel guitar, Marty Stuart on mandolin and Terry McMillan on harmonica, plus his usual sidemen Ben Keith, Spooner Oldham, Tim Drummond and Karl Himmel.

This re-mastered album is pure fun, sounds better than ever. Give a listen and see if you don't agree - "OLD WAYS" is a real down-home barn-raisin' time!

Total Time: 36:45 on 10 Tracks/ Universal-Geffen - 069 490 705 2 (2000)

I remember being vaguely disappointed with this one when it came out. But I'm durned if I can remember why. Hearing it on CD, I like it as well as I liked _Comes a Time_.

It's mostly traditional, straight-up country music, with the usual Neil twists (this time it's astronauts sitting around watching reruns of Muhammed Ali). The opening track -- a beautiful take on "The Wayward Wind" -- is the only track that Neil didn't write, and it's as lovely as "Four Strong Winds" on _Comes a Time_. The guest appearances by Waylon & Willie are suitably understated. The songs are strong.

I honestly do not remember why I wasn't thrilled with this when it was first released. But whatever the reason, I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

I seem to recall that around the time this album was released, David Geffen sued Neil for putting out uncharacteristic and uncommercial music. Well, here's hoping Neil keeps that up forever.

Neil, I apologize for doubting you. I haven't got a _clue_ what I was thinking.

One of Neil Young's strong suits (among many) is that he is unpredictable. At no time was this more apparent than during that phase in the mid-80s when he went from techno to rockabilly to country to blues-- a period in his career that I call "genre hell." Eventually, Neil pretty much went back to being Neil, and all was well again.
Unsurprisingly, Neil's music during this time was wildly uneven. Case in point: his "country" album, Old Ways. Some cuts are essential: "My Boy" and "Bound For Glory" channel the genre in a way that doesn't submerge Neil's genius for melody and heartfelt lyrics. Other tracks, however, seem (in the words of another reviewer) like a country-music "caricature." For example, the Jew's harp solos in "Get Back To The Country" are flat-out silly. A couple of tracks, in fact are downright unlistenable ("The Wayward Wind," "Misfits")-- quite a statement from a hardcore Neil-ist such as myself.
Also of interest are the appearances by a variety of country/bluegrass luminaries, such as Willie Nelson, Bela Fleck and the late, great Waylon Jennings.
While this album is still a worthwhile chapter (and, a mercifully brief one) in the Neil Young lexicon, don't expect something as stellar as "Harvest," "Comes A Time" or "Harvest Moon."

Neil Young was going to give Geffen a HARVEST2, but it was rejected.So,in order to make his record company sweat,he announced to the world that he was thinking of giving up rock'n'roll and going country.OLD WAYS backed up this threat.This release shows Neil embracing the Nashville sound, even roping in Waylon and Willie to duet with. Young came up with some great material to work with:MY BOY,MISFITS,BOUND FOR GLORY and ARE THERE ANY MORE REAL COWBOYS? rank as some of the best lyrics since RUST NEVER SLEEPS.Anywone who saw him tour for this record with the International Harvesters,will agree that neil back catalogue adapted to the country very well.Old ways,meaning to remain stagnant,can be a ball and chain;Neil Young changes styles nearly every studio release.OLD WAYS is an unlocked treasure chest waiting to be plundered.If you like HARVEST, HARVEST MOON,and COMES A TIME; OLD WAYS is for you.

Neil Young is probably the most eclectic performer in rock. The trio of albums he released between 1982-1985 are the best example of his wandering muse. Trans is a futuristic, electronic album, Everybody's Rocking is an homage to 50's rock sounds and this album, Old Ways is a countrified album in the tradition of Harvest. The album contains some great tracks awash in the steel guitar sounds that mesh so well with Mr. Young's voice. Old Ways has some great stuff including "Are There Any More Cowboys?", "Misfits", "California Sunset" and the superb "Bound For Glory". Old Ways is like an old pair of jeans, comfortable.

YOU LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC AND NEIL YOUNG?YOU HAVE ALMOST ALL NEIL YOUNG'C.D.?THIS IS ALMOST A BOOTLEG ALBUM BECAUSE NOBODY EVER HEARD ABOUT IT!

This album is a must own for Neil Young Fans Who like country music. We also have copies of Unplugged and Harvest Moon, but nothing by Neil Young is as good as this. If you live way out in the country and have a sound system, buy this CD and play it in your car. Will make you think of the countryside as you listen to it. Listen to California sunset or The Wayward Wind and you'll see what I mean.

This CD is a hidden jewel in the Neil Young catalogue, especially for those who enjoy Neil's forays into Country Music. Classic songs include "Once an Angel", "Are There Any More Real Cowboys?" with Willie Nelson, and "Bound for Glory" with the late, great Waylon Jennings. Recorded during his feuding days with David Geffen, this was one of the CDs that Geffen sued Young over, claiming Young had recorded albums that weren't "like Neil Young". Perhaps Mr. Geffen forgot about songs like "the Emperor of Wyoming", "(When You're On the) Losing End", "the Old Country Waltz", "Harvest", etc. If you like Neil Young, and you like Country, you'll like this too!

This is the album that introduced me to Neil Young. I bought it purely because I love Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, who appear on several tracks. Previously, I had a preconceived view that Neil Young was loud and noisy! I still prefer his accoustic stuff, but at least I learned the errors of my ways. This album holds its own in any category, i.e. country or rock, and comes highly recommended.

What artist could collaborate with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Linda Ronstadt on a country album only ten years before collaborating with Pearl Jam on a Rock album? Only one person...Neil Young. This album truly is a journy. If you have litte or no appreciation of county music (as I did), buy this album and experience country music as it was meant to be. Neil truly pours his heart and soul into this one.