Neil Young News: Comment of the Moment: 'The Riverboat' Bonus CD's with Chrome Dreams II

Monday, September 03, 2007

Comment of the Moment: 'The Riverboat' Bonus CD's with Chrome Dreams II

The news that Chrome Dreams II would include 'The Riverboat' bonus CD's generated quite a few comments. Apparently, quite a number of folks think the idea of various versions of the release is a travesty and an affront to his fans. The Comment of the Moment on bonus CD's comes from Anonymous:

Neil does not owe any of us one damned thing, nor should he feel compelled to be some kind of crusader at this point in his career. How many people are gonna pass around CDII and burn it into i-tunes? How many folks are gonna see all the stuff Neil puts on the Web? What ends up on YouTube? How many of us have the technology to copy and/or store the whole shootin match? ALL FOR FREE!

I own every studio album Neil has ever put out plus numerous boots and DVDs. I have only seen 32 shows - I bought 2 T Shirts ever! I did not buy Greatest Hits - no reason to. I am into Neil for a few thousand bucks. I will own CDII the day it comes out - same with Archives.

If I have to pay market prices to get the music and go to a show - so be it. Reprise and Ticketmaster are gonna make their money - that's life - get over it!

As Neil fans we are the most blessed group of people in the entire history of Rock n' Roll. We have an artist that is producing relevant, critically acclaimed material consistently for more then 4 decades. Neil once said "If it sounds good - ship it! Well, if it sounds good to you, buy it! Complaining about anything at this point is ludicrous! God Bless Neil - he is just a dude doing his thing and I am along for the awesome ride.

Also, a few good comments from RDR here and here.

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12 Comments:

At 9/03/2007 10:01:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Elliott,
Is that you? Way to $tand up for greed! Yeah! You and Neil can teach those young whipper$napper$ like Pearl Jam a thing or two about feathering the old ne$t. Ah,ca$h!
At 9/03/2007 10:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: So it's reprise and ticketmaster making the money off the shows. Thanks for clearing that up for us. Poor, poor neil. Maybe we can take up a collection for him at the shows, you know - pass the hat - so he at least gets something out of the deal.
The thing about serial hypocricy is that at some point there is no "getting over it".It just towers there right in front of you, growing bigger and bigger until finally it's insurmountable. neil trying to pull off woodie guthrie - this is going to be good.
At 9/03/2007 11:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: When the bugs get your cotton,
the times they are rotten,
I'm a jolly banker, jolly
banker am I.
I'll come down and help you,
I'll rake you and scalp you,
singin' I'm a jolly banker,
jolly banker am I.

W. Guthrie
At 9/04/2007 11:58:00 AM, Anonymous said...: This "poor poor" Neil shit should end. Is this a fan site or what?
At 9/04/2007 02:21:00 PM, Anonymous said...: HEY, ARE FRINGIN PEOPLE NUTS OR WHAT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THE ARCHIVES. IF NEIL WANTS TO PUT A SINGLE FROM THE RIVER BOAT DAYS THAT IS GREAT. MAYBE THIS IS HIS WAY OF SAYING SORRY FOR THE DELAY. JUST CHILL FOLKS, JUST CHILL.
At 9/04/2007 07:52:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I don't get how Neil including a free promo CD is ripping anyone off. Can someone explain this to me?
Keith
At 9/04/2007 09:31:00 PM, Anonymous said...: In July 1974 my girlfriend and I sat at Wager Beach in Rocky River Ohio in my dads 1969 station wagon listening to the music of Neil from about 8 miles away. We could hear sound coming across the lake and on that day we could not afford the tickets. That day I went to the record shop and bought "On the Beach" and have been listening to it ever since. I have never thought about the opinions of others when it comes to his music because he is writing for me. It matters not at all what others think of his music. Because all he wants to do is " bring a smile to your face"
At 9/04/2007 10:23:00 PM, Anonymous said...: "I don't get how Neil including a free promo CD is ripping anyone off. Can someone explain this to me?"

I agree. this is a PROMO cd, meaning it is promoting something that will come out at a later date. This is not the only way to get these tracks, this is a way to keep us big fans interested and drum up newer fans interest in the archives which will come out in the future. I'll buy the archives and get all of the tracks then, if I dont download them online first.

I take it not too many people on this board pay close attention to newer artists like Queens of the Stone Age who recorded 6-7 b-sides (including the title track with Trent Reznor of NIN, explain that one to me) and did NOT put them on the record but spread them out over shipments to 6-7 different retailers. Those are tracks that will not be released together anywhere to anyones knowledge yet, and THAT is baiting people to buy multiple copies. A week after the album was released I went to a message board and downloaded all of the tracks for free from fans, Im sure this will happen with the Riverboat as well.

Skillit
At 9/05/2007 11:07:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Hey Thrasher- Thanks for highlighting my comment - an no I am not Elliott - I am just a fan in Denver. I understand and have some sensitivity to folks who love Neil and do not have the where with all to spend a ton of money. Neil charges market rates - he is not pulling an Eagles style $400 ticket on anyone. I guess my point is that everytime I walk out of Red Rocks or walk out of the record store I wonder if this was tha last show or the last bit of new material and whatever I paid was cool with me under these circumstances. I just feel like at almost 62 and the treasure this guy has given me I can't complain - nor can I speak to Neil's intentions. He has crusaded repeatedly on many many things over the years and he does not take himself terribly seriously, but takes the body of work and what he writes very seriously. Is he still making a ton of money? - you bet! He has even said as much, but who are any of us to tell this guy that he should throttle it back when no body else is. I don't know the answer, but I am not about to trash Neil nor put the guy on some kind of pedestal. Its all good.
At 9/05/2007 12:23:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I'm gonna buy the new Neil album and then buy the Archives when it comes out. Buy buy buy! I'm the mindless consumer! Hahaha! Anyway, yeah Neil! Keep up all the great music. And to all you Neil fans, keep up all the great messages. It's cool to read all the different opinions.

Ian
where the people are the real stars
At 9/06/2007 12:39:00 AM, HE Pennypacker said...: IF NEIL WANTS TO PUT A SINGLE FROM THE RIVER BOAT DAYS THAT IS GREAT. MAYBE THIS IS HIS WAY OF SAYING SORRY FOR THE DELAY

You've got to be kidding! Neil sorry for the delay?? After 20 years? I don't think so...
At 9/06/2007 01:01:00 AM, HE Pennypacker said...: Neil would never rip off his fans. I'm sure it was just a genuine mistake that Live at Massey Hall was released as a DVD/CD package containing a DVD that states it's from Massey Hall, but is actually from another concert a few days later with the Massey Hall audio dubbed over the video footage. Neil will probably recall the DVD when he realises what's gone down - don't hold your breath though..