Words from Bob Dylan on Fred Neil
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Legendary songwriter and recluse, this songs taken from the album 'Fred Neil', I wish he'd made more music in his lifetime because what i've heard is so good.
Heres what Bob had to say about the man:
"Fred had the flow, dressed conservatively, sullen and brooding, with an enigmatical gaze, peachlike complexion, hair splashed with curls and an angry and powerful baritone voice that struck blue notes and blasted them to the rafters with or without a mike.
He was emporer of the place, even had his own harem, his devotees. You couldn't touch him. Everything revolved around him. Years later, Freddy would write the hit song "Everybody's Talkin'." I never played any of my own sets. I just accompanied Neil on all of his and that's where I began playing regular in New York."
quote from Bob Dylan 'Chronicles volume one'
Comments (4)
He was an original, with a great voice, and some great songs. In the mid-60s the editor of Sing Out magazine lamented that he had learned that an (unnamed) folksinger had become a heroin addict. I'm guessing he was referring to either Sandy Bull, Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley or Fred Neil.
I like how the early Sixties New York folksingers that Bob Dylan chose to write such perceptive admiring portraits of included many who, unlike Fred Neil, now are not so fashionable or remembered.
lakeillustration, I like your avatar. My mother sang with three other people on one of Harry Partch's records in the 1950s, and he was a friend of my parents for the rest of his life.
Spike thats amazing! Do you know which record it was as I'd love to hear it? I'm not that familiar with Partch, only just started to listen to his music, not sure where to start really. If you have any recomendations I'd love to hear them
lakeillustration, it might have been "The Bewitched." I'm not sure, but from allmusic.com's description of it, it's possible that that was it. I'll have to check out my deceased parents' record collection next time I get a chance i to in January. As far as where to start investigating his work, your guess is as good as mine. Quite a bit has been reissued over the years.
Thanks Spike, I'll check the bewitched out. I'm going to look into Partch's music more when I have time, seems like an interesting character