Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore East

Good, Not Great

I was at this show, so I am thrilled to have this CD, and without any hesitation I also bought a copy for my friend with whom I went to the show, hitchhiking in from CT. This recording comprises selections from one of the most amazing nights of music I have ever experienced - and there have been many - with outstanding sets from the Steve Miller Band (then a new power trio), Miles Davis (a little out of place but an interesting juxtaposition, precisely what Bill Graham tried to achieve with such lineups), and Neil Young, in a transcendent moment, having recently established himself as a major artist.

This CD captures some of that transcendence, especially in "Cowgirl In The Sand," but it could have been so much more. This is only about half the set, and key songs like "Cinnamon Girl" and "The Loner" have been omitted. Other reviewers mention these and other songs were left off because of the lower sound quality of their recording. I wish the producers of this album would not have been so fussy. I would rather have had a recording of the complete performance, warts and all. The vast majority of fans of live rock recordings are willing to forgive such inconsistencies in quality in order to have the complete performance. I wish the producers of this type of recording would understand this, after having seen and heard these pleas for decades.

That said, it's great to listen to this CD and hear what I heard so many years ago. Three of these songs, "Winterlong," "Wonderin'," and "Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown," are new to me (well, pretty much - it's been forty years) and are revelations. "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere," not really the best song from the album of the same name, is solidly performed here. "Down By the River" seems a little tentative compared to the album version, but "Cowgirls In The Sand" burns, and when they're done the band has nothing left. This album reminds me of the album "East-West Live" by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, put out by their keyboardist Mark Naftalin a dozen years ago. That featured three different versions of that classic jam, which gave listeners an opportunity to experience part of the piece's evolution. It demystified the "original" version from the band's second album, but furthermore illuminated the piece. Whatever version of a performance of a musical composition is originally released enters the public consciousness and becomes known as the definitive version; "East-West Live" and similarly this version of "Cowgirls In The Sand" stand as reasonable alternates to the "definitive" version everybody knows. And everybody knows this is nowhere, though it's a great place to visit. November 9, 2008

Excellent

This album is full of stunning performances. The solos in "Cowgirl in the Sand" are as desperate and passionate as you will find on any recording.
The sound quality is great.

"Live at the Fillmore East" is not an inexpensive album, but the music certainly merits the price. People are complaining about only 6 songs, but two (River and Cowgirl) account for 25 minutes of music. I'd love to hear the entire concert, but what is released here is great, energetic music. July 1, 2008

I love Miles Davis and I like...

Neil Young. Quite frankly however, I just don't understand why this CD is a rip off just because Davis was on the same bill that night at the Fillmore East. In my opinion, and I will leave it to the Neil Young fanatics to explain the genesis of these vault tapes, this is a gem. And, I am sure that the acoustic set that preceeded this one was just as great. Hopefully, that set will be issued at some point. The most intriguing song is Wonderin'. With 20/20 hindsight, the obvious country influence on this tune appears to be a harbinger of what was to come with Harvest, two years later. Crazy Horse is Crazy Horse, a solid and very competent R&R band that was perfect for Young's material. Simply put, I don't think that anyone who is intersted in the music will be disappointed. June 11, 2008

Excellent

Being a hardcore fan of NY perhaps I'm easy to impress ... I you are a fan this is one that you should buy. Note the rhythm guitar on 'Down by the River'. April 26, 2008

Decent but not essential

This is not a bad set. It's nice to hear a live recording of Crazy Horse with original guitarist Danny Whitten. What ruins it for me is that the bass is really flat during "Cowgirl in the Sand." February 20, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...