Neil Young News: Uncut Magazine's Great Lost Album: Time Fades Away

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Uncut Magazine's Great Lost Album: Time Fades Away

The latest issue of Uncut Magazine features Neil Young on the cover.

The issue's cover article is "50 GREAT LOST ALBUMS". Believe it or not, there are still official releases by The Who, Van Morrison – even The Beatles – currently out of print.

Uncut's top pick of great lost albums is Neil Young's Time Fades Away.

The issue also mentions Neil Young Appreciation Society and Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks Allan!

"It's like stashing Mona Lisa in the basement."
Petition Signature Signer #6628 by Gareth D.

As for TFA's re-release? Maybe someone should do something else to get it released? Doesn't seem like that petition thing is working out too well...

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23 Comments:

At 4/03/2010 09:41:00 AM, Darth Matl said...: I'm sure TFA is just waiting for the next Archives Set (not to mention TFA II (!)).
At 4/03/2010 10:31:00 AM, Yair Yona said...: There's a TFA II ?
At 4/03/2010 11:51:00 AM, Darth Malt said...: From a Neil interview in Guitar World Oct 2009:
"One thing I'll tell you about the next volume of Archives is that Time Fades Away II is in there. And it's interesting because the whole thing has a different drummer than what was on that album. I switched drummers halfway through the tour- Kenny Buttrey was in there for the first half, and Johnny Barbata came in for the second. It's a completely different thing, with completely different songs. So that's interesting. There's lots of stuff like that that I'm working on right now for the second volume."

The first Archives Volume was amazing, but I'm waiting for the next one like the Second Coming. More, in fact.
At 4/03/2010 02:41:00 PM, Annie said...: What's the use for having TFA1 on CD when it sounds so much better on vinyl.It's not like it's impossible to find.It's not the kind of album you listen to in your car but at home when you're in the mood.
At 4/03/2010 05:57:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I agree. Archives II covers Neil's most fertile period. Hopefully he'll get it out in my lifetime.
At 4/04/2010 09:28:00 AM, Lyne said...: I hope they dont release it! It makes my original album complete with poster size hand written lyrics even more special. Seriously though-it would be great to have on CD:)
I have to get ahold of a copy of that magazine. Thanks.....
At 4/04/2010 10:15:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Neil shouldn't allow such expensive magazines to publish features about him. This magazine is over twelve dollars, how can his fans afford all this. What a bummer.
At 4/04/2010 10:38:00 AM, Darth Malt said...: "What's the use for having TFA1 on CD when it sounds so much better on vinyl."

It's not the CD I'm waiting for, but the Archives Blu-Ray. I already have the vinyl and the cover shot is beautiful.
At 4/04/2010 01:07:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Interesting but the album is neither Great nor Lost!
At 4/04/2010 02:48:00 PM, LRR said...: Here's what I'd like to know.

OK, so apparently there are no master tapes for the tracks on TFA. The 16 track multi-tracks (with perhaps vocal overdubs) were mixed live and straight to acetate. I think "live" here refers to the mixes being done "real time" in a studio rather than the acetate being progressively cut "out on the road" since the disk is all out of order.

So, if there were no masters for the individual tracks, how did Mulligan make the ultra-rare TFA HDCD? Would it have come from a really good vinyl rip? Did Mulligan remix the damn thing from scratch? Sidestreet Records implies that the latter would be very difficult to do, which is probably why Neil has made a TFA2.

The existance of a TFA2 may be evidence that we will never get TFA issues on disk form. Or else, why do it? Well, maybe because TFA was a mish-mash or tours and he wanted to do a true "performance series disk" purely from the TFA tour.

Anyway, I can't wait for the answers, but I will probably have to. I'm sure all will be answered in the Archives vol2!
At 4/04/2010 06:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: time fades away hijacked my mind and my inner ear from the first time I heard it. its spooky, sounds like its coming from over there (thereafter). its real, its consuming. its hard to bare. its even harder not to put the my old National SL-turntable not in the eternal repeat position.
had the album sleeve on the top of the book shelf for days - till my wife dicussed it away.
by the way: why the useless petition? it takes me one hour to get a 1973 US-edition here in Stuttgart and a few minutes on the internet to get a "mint", unplayed japanese seventies copy of the album.

Malte, Germany
At 4/04/2010 06:26:00 PM, BigChief said...: I've never quite understood all the hoopala concerning the re-release of T.F.A. I have a prestine vynal copy which was played maybe a dozen times if that, not so much as to preserve it,but because its probably my least favorite recording that Neil has ever released next to ARC and possibly 'Journey Through The Past'. I'm certain that Neil shares the same sentiments or it would have been included when the others were finally released on C.D. According to past interviews, everything relating to that tour was a miserable experience as it was Neils first attempt to tour with a band after the death of Danny Whitten. Shortly into the tour, members of the 'Stray Gators' began to complain about wages and drug use within the band created turmoil and animosity as well as poor performances resulting in a drummer change midway into the tour.And if all of that weren't enough to reak havok on Neil, his voice gave out resulting in Crosby and Nash joining the tour to help out on the vocals. Add to all of this the less than enthusiastic response from the audience being bombarded with unfamiliar new tunes on the heals of the success of Harvest,and you have the resulting reminder of all of the negativity documented forever on a recording called 'Time Fades Away' which probably evokes in Neil the same feelings as a divorce or a death of a loved one. This period in Neils life and career eventually inspired some of his, according to purists and true fans,greatest work as an artist once he began to harness all of the negative emotions and experiences and translate it into music.This recording was the prototype for the 'trilogy of Doom' records to come, taking advantage of his observations of the darker side of life, while most of his peers at that time were singing of peace and love and hope in something, Neil's world recalled "fourteen junkies who were too weak to work" and how "they shot four men in a cocaine deal".He had become so successful with his new songwriting formula and the personna that accompanied it, that it caused concern amongst Glen Frey, during the tour for 'Tonights The Night',attempted to lecture Neil on how he was "destroying his career" and "man, why can't you just play Heart of Gold .. thats what they came to hear". Well, the Eagles stuck to their safe formula and the result is the mundane band that they are. And Neil, for that matter, recovered nicely from his shortcut through the ditch to super-stardom status without even intending to, resulting in the most interesting and glorious recordings of his career. Try to imagine his body of work without the 'Trilogy of Doom'.As with most prototypes, however,T.F.A. just doesn't seem to hold up nearly as well as those that followed, as 'T.T.N' and O.T.B' I believe that Neil's reasons for not releasing it are valid enough and obviously, at least so far, any attempt to petition or otherwise has not come with any success. And the thought of a T.F.A.-2, well, we have already been treated to a 'Chrome Dreams 2' which didn't really live up to the hype of its namesake after all of those years.To those who really feel the need to have T.F.A. in their collection, I believe that Neil has already hinted that it is going to be included in 'Archives #2' in one form or another. Until then, could I interest you in a mint, prestine, vinyl copy to get you by until you get your own C.D?
At 4/04/2010 10:16:00 PM, LRR said...: TFA2 is said to be a totally different beast than TFA. Different drummer, different songs. Preumably it's an earlier part of the tour before everything turned to shit.

AG has stated that "the TFA era will be well represented on Disk0 of Vol2".

I have not really seen any statement that TFA (the album) will be represented.

In a chronological Archive, what makes the most sense to me is to get a 2 set representation of the TFA tour. TFA2 followed by TFA, so the listener can hear exactly what the hell happened. How it all fell apart. In the era of Blu-Ray, both can fit nicely on one disk.
At 4/05/2010 10:05:00 AM, Darth Malt said...: Comparing TFA II (as it was described by Neil) to Chrome Dreams II doesn't sound like a fair analogy. Chrome Dreams II does not really have much to do with the time period of the original Chrome Dreams album (except in the universe of Neil's logic and sense of humor I guess) - while TFA II consists of recordings of the same tour as TFA (albeit from an earlier leg and with the noted drummer change). Then again, who the heck can say what we'll find in Archives Vol. 2 when it finally lands.

While on the subject of great lost albums, I'd note Chrome Dreams on the list for sure (although the songs saw the light scattered over several subsequent works).
At 4/05/2010 11:32:00 AM, Anonymous said...: complete tour dates......

Tue May 18 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
Wed May 19 Shea's Performing Arts Center Buffalo, NY
Fri May 21 Hanover Theatre Worcester, MA
Sun May 23 Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
Mon May 24 Constitution Hall Washington, DC
Wed May 26 Palace Theatre Louisville, KY
Thu May 27 Knoxville Civic Auditorium Knoxville, TN
Sat May 29 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
Sun May 30 Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Spartanburg, SC
Tue June 1 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Wed June 2 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Fri June 4 Jones Hall Houston, TX
Sat June 5 Bass Performance Hall Austin, TX
Mon June 7 Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, TX
At 4/05/2010 06:58:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Very wry comment from Anon 10:15- touché. Although I do think it's a great album, in terms of the nature of the album itself, and much of the music, ragged as some of it is, and a landmark as far as I know (if there were albums of this nature prior to TFA- a good subject for future discussion- I'm not aware of it, in particular a self inflicted shot in the foot in the still fresh afterglow of a number 1 hit song and album), I agree with much of what Big Chief says. I'm not quite sure what the urgency of a TFA re-release is about, but then the album is permanently ingrained in me, I hardly have to actually hear it, even after all these years, although it never hurts when I do listen to it. And like a couple people have mentioned, it is out there to be had by the hard core fan. I've got a couple vinyl's and a cassette, so I guess I'm a little complacent on the subject.

However, if a re-release means getting the album to people who never got to experience it, I say damn the torpedoes, even if it does represent a discomfiting period for Neil. The present moment fades away, yes, instantly becoming the past and eventually history, and "time heals all wounds", and enough time has gone by, and- oh hell, I do hope it somehow gets back out there soon, especially if soon means it comes out in either or both versions on Archives II- even if I still haven't heard Archives I because I haven't had the spare cash... On second thought, everything really does happen in its own time, I think I'll just leave it all up to Neil.

Greg M (A Friend Of Yours)
At 4/05/2010 09:03:00 PM, BigChief said...: The Chrome Dreams II album as released did not represent the format of the original recording although several of the songs were written in the same era. However, most of the songs intended for Chrome Dreams were eventually released on later albums, albeit in different arrangements.I would have preferred that Neil had released the original recording in all of its glory.It would have been nice to have that accoustic version of 'Powder Finger'.He could also have included the songs that appeared on 'C.D.II' as a bonus. The big disappointment for me,however, was the version of 'Ordinary People' that was chosen rather than the live version thats been bootlegged for years that I've been hoping would eventually show up on a new release.It's a mystery to me that he never included the live version of that song on a record since it was the highlight of his performances during the 'Blue Note' era. Even the live bootlegged 'Low-Fi' version in all of its glory (still playing on you-tube)blows away the lame version that ended up on 'C.D.II' I'm sure many of you would differ with me and it's rare that I would critisize anything Neil would do since I usually have nothing but praise for the man to a fault. But I too get frustrated from time to time and what better place then this wonderful site to vent my frustrations with the very people whom I can relate to without the fear of being labled a 'fanatic'... imagine that!
At 4/05/2010 09:08:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Very wry comment from Anon 10:15- touché. Although I do think it's a great album, in terms of the nature of the album itself, and much of the music, ragged as some of it is, and a landmark as far as I know (if there were albums of this nature prior to TFA- a good subject for future discussion- I'm not aware of it, in particular a self inflicted shot in the foot in the still fresh afterglow of a number 1 hit song and album), I agree with much of what Big Chief says. I'm not quite sure what the urgency of a TFA re-release is about, but then the album is permanently ingrained in me, I hardly have to actually hear it, even after all these years, although it never hurts when I do listen to it. And like a couple people have mentioned, it is out there to be had by the hard core fan. I've got a couple vinyl's and a cassette, so I guess I'm a little complacent on the subject.

However, if a re-release means getting the album to people who never got to experience it, I say damn the torpedoes, even if it does represent a discomfiting period for Neil. The present moment fades away, yes, instantly becoming the past and eventually history, and "time heals all wounds", and enough time has gone by, and- oh hell, I do hope it somehow gets back out there soon, especially if soon means it comes out in either or both versions on Archives II- even if I still haven't heard Archives I because I haven't had the spare cash... On second thought, everything really does happen in its own time, I think I'll just leave it all up to Neil.

Greg M (A Friend Of Yours)
At 4/07/2010 07:02:00 PM, Anonymous said...: When I was a reader of the rock press - long before I joined SOUNDS as a writer - I was often swayed by reviews. TFA was denounced, so even though I was a NY fan I didn't rush out and by a USA import but dithered until the UK issue. Suckered again by the press! As with OTB later, the LP was slagged and misunderstood at first. Though OTB was fairly quickly rehabilitated it has taken decades for the raw masterwork of TFA to get its due. Will the petition do any good? Who can say, as NY seems to think the original reviewers were right! Sandy Robertson (ex SOUNDS features editor) London.
At 4/09/2010 12:18:00 AM, Mr Henry said...: Released in 1973, Time Fades Away is a reaction and reflection to the years immediately preceding. So many great musicians gone in their prime: Al Wilson; Jimi Hendrix; Janis Joplin; Jim Morrison; King Curtis; Duane Allman; Berry Oakley and Danny Whitten, who died within one week of each other in November 1972...right after the reelection of Richard Nixon. The drugs were getting harder and the war would never end.

During this period, Neil Young was creating a new kind of American music. The sound was totally new and different; also haunting and familiar. From his position in a "burned out basement" he was performing a synthesis of what had come before and what was yet to come. Remember that 1973 was the year of Wounded Knee and Brando refusing to accept his Oscar; the year when Watergate came to life; the year when everyone who could get there (including me) camped at a race track in Watkins Glen to just be together and listen to incredible live music that you wished would never end.

Neil Young was part of this world but his restless heart and soul could sense there was something else coming. Heeding the warning from Hank Williams who sang "In a world of greed and hate, will you wait 'til it's too late?", he willfully took a sharp turn and has never looked back. From our future vantage point, it seems impossible to imagine him doing anything different. As others have noted, Time Fades Away became the introduction to three of his greatest albums. It was his introductory Hobbit before launching a Lord of the Rings trilogy. In many respects, his music throughout the decade encapsulated the 70's, much the same as The Beatles and Bob Dylan had done for the 60's. All were Artists of the Decade for their respective periods and Neil often seems to be an American hybrid who has the best parts of these and other great artists.

Very interesting and revealing that Uncut has named Time Fades Away the Great Lost Album. Perhaps if the tapes for Tonight's the Night had not been saved (a truly depressing thought) or had never gone to CD, then this would be the one. It was Scott Young's favorite, and who knew Neil better? In many ways, these two albums run parallel with another masterpiece from that era, Big Star's album Sister Lovers, which I have listened to at least twenty times over the past few weeks.

New Music Express named Sister Lovers (aka Third) the #1 Heartbreak Album ever and it seems like Neil Young and Alex Chilton were having similar visions and emotions, making great music from their pain and trying to understand just what the hell had gone wrong. Alex was younger than Neil and had his greatest popular success at the same time Buffalo Springfield was going to be "the American Beatles". Both became dissatisfied with the music business and ambivalent about their desire for general acclaim. The way they dealt with this and the resulting music they made was totally different, but again you really can't imagine any different path for either one.

I'm sure that Neil has valid reasons for not putting Time Fades Away on CD and you can always have the great experience of listening on Vinyl. Bet those used copies out on Amazon and eBay and in the used LP stores are worth more now than they were a few weeks back. I also agree there are many of his songs where I'd prefer to hear other versions or recordings. Life's not perfect, but it will do until perfect gets here. I first played Time Fades Away as a college DJ and it sure wasn't like anything else...which was just great. And often when I hear it, I'm still eighteen years old.
At 4/09/2010 11:50:00 AM, Thrasher said...: Thanks Mr. Henry. Great comment.

ps - a comment on this thread was inadvertently deleted. Sorry on that whoever it was because it was an insightful one. If you can re-submit, please do so.
At 4/09/2010 07:01:00 PM, doc said...: Could that "insightful comment" that had been "inadvertently deleted", been one of my 89?...just wondering Thrash, before I resubmit all 89 of them! lol

luv doc
At 4/12/2010 04:31:00 AM, freqazoidiac said...: Annie said :
"What's the use for having TFA1 on CD when it sounds so much better on vinyl.It's not like it's impossible to find.It's not the kind of album you listen to in your car but at home when you're in the mood."

This seems to be quite the mythos. When talking about the sound of the LP, you have to look at how they processed the original recording, the technical description in the liner notes clearly states it was recorded entirely in one of the earliest Digital formats, at a resolution just below CD quality. I think it was recorded at 12bit 44khz.
When I recorded waveforms at 24/96 from the LP pressing, there are visible spikes which show a lack of dynamics with the lower frequencies. The mid range is audbily muddy, or digitally smeared, not the fault of the LP, but the source, which is at least 2 fold lower resolution than an LP. So the LP may try as she may, but it hits the wall of deficiency from the source, digitally recorded material. It does not bother me per say, but I strongly suspect why Neil may distance himself from this. Unless of course they did a second chain recording to analogue multitrack. I heard there is a Mono analogue reel from the takes. Cool thread..super classic LP in this place.