For an artist as prolific as Neil Young, assembling a greatest hits set is like asking Hugh Hefner which of his girlfriends is most beautiful. Who do you choose? From a solo career spanning thirty five years, Young’s albums are greatest hits unto themselves. From name alone, After The Gold Rush, Zuma, On The Beach, Tonight's The Night, Harvest and Harvest Moon are landmark collections full of countless "hits." Young previously did the greatest hits thing in 1977 with Decade, covering material from the mid 60’s to mid 70’s. There was also Lucky 13, that assembled Young’s “best” and for many fans, his " worst" from his lost 80's years on Geffen Records. As for any 30 + career artist, there is always time for another greatest hits package, just ask Aerosmith. So just in time for the holidays we have Greatest Hits by Neil Young.
Unless you’re a rock and roll recluse, you already know most of the familiar songs on this collection. Covering territory from most of Young’s creative periods, excluding his experimental 80’s era and most of his 90’s work, Greatest Hits is pretty much a rehash of his popular radio songs that battle Boston and Bad Company for air time on classic rock radio.
From his loud, garage rock early days with Crazy Horse, there’s “Down By The River,” “Cowgirl in the Sand,” and “Cinnamon Girl.” For those that enjoy his California 70’s folk rock, it's “Helpless,” “After The Gold Rush,” “Only Love Can Break Your Heart.” And of course, there is more loud mixed with soft, perhaps Young’s most endearing quality, in the atmospheric beauty of “Like A Hurricane,” followed by the serene country rock of “Comes A Time.”
Neil Young’s Greatest Hits could obviously fill four Cds, but this release serves as a nice collection for beginners. More experienced fans are better off listening to the cryptic and personal Tonight's The Night with the lights off as their "greatest hit."
