So there I was four months ago, saying, "Long-term Neil Young Archive-watchers know that announcements come and go every few years but have yet to bear any fruit. This one does look credible, however…" Doh! The release date was last Monday. Do we have Volume 1 of the Archives? No, we don't. According to Wikipedia at the time of writing, the release has now been put back to "early in 2009". To be honest, I don't mind now if it slips another year or two — give it time for the blu-ray hardware to fall in price — and, anyway, I've already bought my own Christmas present for this year (a Peter Schmidt print, currently being framed and soon to be placed above the screen where I'm writing).
The subtitle of Archives Volume 1 is apparently 1963-1972, so it seems a fair bet that it will include the recordings on this bootleg, which date from 1963 (the two instrumentals by The Squires), 1965 (seven unaccompanied solo songs) and 1966/67 (four Buffalo Springfield songs).
I can't remember when I got this (the sticker on the back says £14.00), but I it was pretty exciting at the time. Neil's voice on the solo demos manages to be both vulnerable and surprisingly full-bodied at the same time. It's not Roy Orbison by any means, but it's closer to the Big O in attitude and spirit than any other recordings I've heard.
Neil played The Squires' The Sultan twice during his shows at Hammersmith Odeon in March this year, but sadly not on either of the nights I was there.
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