Recorded in Michigan in 1968, Neil Young’s Sugar Mountain concert at Canterbury House was performed during a transitional period for the singer-songwriter. Buffalo Springfield had recently dissolved and the 21-year-old Young was tentatively feeling his way towards a solo career. There are no orchestral embellishments here – it’s literally just Young, his guitar and a steady flow of stories and audience banter. Versions of “Mr Soul” and “Expecting to Fly” are stripped right down to the basics, and Buffalo Springfield tracks like "Broken Arrow" and “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing&rdqu...
Early Neil Young solo concert, 2008-12-11
Buffalo Springfield could have been a very big band indeed. Nevertheless, due to infighting and Neil Young's continual restlessnness, they became a group lauded only by musos. Hence the slightly nervous and goofy chatter that punctuates this release; Neil Young's future was by no means certain. Indeed his first album would sell poorly and, just like Bob Dylan, would quickly release a magnificent follow up in an attempt to cancel it out.
This concert from 1968 predates that first album and indeed appears to be a very rare early solo venture fresh out of Springfield's security. The chatter shouldn't come as such a surprise, his humour was evident all through Massey Hall though in an albeit more subdued sense. The music is genuinely what counts and here we have such a collection of songs that we are only likely to hear Neil sing live on this cd/dvd and that makes it such an attractive buy.
On The Way Home kicks it off, the same as Massey Hall as it happens. The version here doesn't match up to that by any means, though the follow up Mr Soul is strummed to such a different beat to any I've heard that it immediately pricks one's ears up. The next two songs really raise the stakes though; an acoustic Expecting To Fly (without a doubt my favourite Sprinfield era Neil Young song) which is gorgeous, and a version of Last Trip To Tulsa which is far more urgent and less rambling than the album version.
There follows The Loner (like Mr Soul this is strummed in a quite unique style) and Birds which was eventually released as a piano version on After The Gold Rush. It sounds like it would have sounded at least as good if it had remained a guitar song. Another Springfield song follows (Out Of My Mind). For those unfamiliar with his demos on the Springfield box set, this will come as a revelation.
If I Could Have Her Tonight is followed by the familiar Sugar Mountain. Although previously released its still a beautiful song and its great to hear it in its context. I've Been Waiting For You, one of the better songs on his debut is here stripped down to its bare bones and sounds fantastic. The collection is rounded up by Springfield songs Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing (how wonderful to finally hear Neil's vocals on this one), Broken Arrow (the sound collage of the studio version is again stripped down to just an acoustic accomanpaniment, which seems impossible but he pulls it off with gusto) and also The Old Laughing Lady from his first album.
Overall, this is a compelling listen. I've tried to concentrate on the songs rather than the chatter. These 'raps' are quite charming but don't add anything to the experience other than to inform us that Neil was in a position where the future was a blank page and he was young, inexperienced (in a solo sense) and nervous. But it is such a cracking listen and the songs really hold up. He was clearly something of a songwriting genius early on and his voice is as pure as a mountain stream. The only reason I haven't awarded it 5 stars is because it simply doesn't measure up to Massey Hall 1971. That was so outstanding, a piece of perfection when Neil's star was in the ascendant. This is more an early and momentary glimpse into the shifting nature of Neil Young's muse, a trait that marks him to this day.

Carol singing and Yorkshire would seem to go hand in hand. Who better to record an album of Christmas carols then, than South Yorkshire’s own Kate Rusby? Regarded as one of the UK’s best folk singers thanks to breathtaking albums like Hourglass, Sleepless and the recent Awkward Annie, Sweet Bells gives us Rusby’s own repertoire of Christmas favourites. She mostly keeps things pared down to voice, guitar and accordion (played by frequent collaborator Andy Cutting), as well as the odd splash of brass from the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Festive favourites mingle with lesser-known songs like &ldq...
Kate does Christmas - beautifully, 2008-12-31
This is a lovely collection of songs. The potent combination of Kate's melancholy yet uplifting voice, gorgeous melodies and sympathetic arrangements (Kate and brass band - a match made in heaven) results in an experience that stays with you long after you have finished listening. It gets better with each play, and is a worthy addition to Kate's catalogue of beautiful, rich, resonant work.