Search - Crazy Horse :: Complete Rerpise Recordings 1971-73

"...I Can Tell From Your Eyes That You've Probably Been Cryi

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 06/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This May 2006 2CD set on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122-70144-2 (also called "Scratchy" in the UK) contains the 1st two albums of Neil Young's backing band CRAZY HORSE along with some excellent session outtakes. Here's a detailed breakdown...



Disc 1 (79:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Crazy Horse" issued on Reprise Records RS 6438 in the USA in February 1971 and Reprise RSLP 6438 in the UK in early 1972. Six album tracks were issued as 7" singles:

1. "Downtown" b/w "Crow Jane Lady" on Reprise 1007 in the USA in March 1971

2. "Dance, Dance, Dance" b/w "Look At All The Things" on Reprise RS 23503 in the UK and Reprise 1025 in the USA in July 1971

3. "Dirty, Dirty" b/w " "Beggars Day" on Reprise 1046 in the USA in October 1971



The BAND for "Crazy Horse" was:

DANNY WHITTEN - Guitar, Lead & Backing Vocals

NILS LOFGREN - Lead Guitar, Background Vocals, Lead on "Beggars Day"

JACK NITZSCHE - Piano, Backing Vocals, Lead on "Crow Jane Lady"

BILLY TALBOT - Bass, Backing Vocals

RALPH MOLINA - Drums, Backing Vocals, Lead on "Dance, Dance, Dance"



RY COODER plays slide guitar on "Dirty, Dirty", "Crow Jane Lady" and "I Don't Want To Talk About It"

GIL GILBEAU plays Fiddle on "Dance, Dance, Dance"



Tracks 12 to 24 are their 2nd album "Loose" issued on Reprise MS 2059 in the USA in January 1972 and Reprise K 44171 in the UK. "All Alone Now" b/w "One Thing I Love" was issued as a lone 7" single on Warner Brothers K 14159 in the UK and 1075 in the USA in February 1972.



The Band for "Loose" was:

GEORGE WHITSELL - Vocals, Guitars & Conga

GREG LEROY - Vocals, Guitars

JOHN BLANTON - Vocals, Keyboards, Cello, Harmonica

BILLY TALBOT - Bass & Vocals

RALPH MOLINA - Drums & Percussion, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar



Disc 2 (40:15 minutes):

Seven tracks which include 5 outtakes from the 1st album, a previously unreleased 1973 version of Neil Young's "When You Dance You Can Really Love" (off his 1970 "After The Gold Rush" album) and a 1971 Promo-Only Radio Spot advertising their debut LP.



The reason I've listed both band line-ups is because it goes a long way to explaining why the first album was so good and the follow up so mediocre. On their debut Crazy Horse had three mercurial song-writing talents in Whitten, Nitzsche and Lofgren and even gleaned exclusive song contributions from Neil Young on "Dance, Dance, Dance" and a co-write on "Downtown". The album was rock one minute, folk the next, soulful also in places - in fact you felt that anything could happen with the different styles and talent - a little like the first 2 CSNY albums - mixed up styles yet somehow all slotting together as one cohesive whole. Rod Stewart famously covered the beautiful "I Don't Want To Talk About It" in 1977 and made it a Number 1 (lyrics above), while Dan McCafferty's raspy vocals delivered a stunning rocking cover of Jack Nitzsche's "Gone Dead Train" for Nazareth in 1978. But with the departure of the three powerhouse players and writers, the 2nd LP had seven of its 14 songs written by newcomer Whitsell and came across as very ordinary country rock LP with little or none of its predecessor's flourish.



The compilation was produced by ANDY SAX, the 28-page booklet has great band photos by JOEL BERNSTEIN, a superlative essay by BARRY ALFONSO which features contributions from co-producer BRUCE BOTNICK and band members for both albums, Molina and Talbot. The remastering has been handled by long-time Rhino tape engineer DAN HERSCH and is typically great - warm and clear - better than the Warner Archives CD of the first album put out in 1994.



But the big surprise is the quality of the outtakes - "Dirty, Dirty" is an excellent alternate version, while "Scratchy" features Takes 1 to 3 and lasts nearly 12 minutes - and although the vocals are lost in the mix for a couple of takes, it's still a great listen. "Dear Song Singer" features Whitten on Lead vocals at first with Nils following - it's very pretty. But the big one is the near eleven-minute unedited long version of "Downtown" which feels like a Neil Yong guitar workout - fabulous stuff. "Susie's Song" is Nils Lofgren at the piano unaccompanied and it's a peach too - like eavesdropping on the formation of a lovely melody. You could probably live without the one minute Radio Spot though...



So there you have it - a rather excellent reissue really and even if it is a bit pricey, it's highly recommended."

Rereleased

Joseph Schlesak | Palatine, IL | 12/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a import version of the "Scratchy-The Reprise Years" limited edition Rhino Handmade version. This is not numbered like that one was. But it's good to have this available at a decent price. the first disc contains the two Warner?Reprise albums by Crazy Horse. The brilliant frist album and the somewhat lesser "Loose" album. The first "solo?" Crazy Horse album (sans Neil Young althuogh he did write or co-write some of the songs) is a brilliant album, not a bad song on it. Worthy of six stars out of five. Loose merelt deserves 2 and a half, although the band is tight and the arrangements sound great. It suffers from fair songwriting.



The real treat here is the second disc bonus material, notably "Scratchy" "When You Dance..." and the extended "Downtown". "Downtown" is the real prize here, has a slightly different mix than the album version but the extended Dany Whitten guitar solo is quite phenomenal. I advise you to buy this now before it is out of print. The remastering job on the first cd is exceptional miles ahead of the Warner/Archive or Wounded Bird versions. Get this!!! If you don't enjoy the first Crazy Horse album, then check your pulse!!!"