Vinyl LP pressing. On the Beach is the fifth studio album by Neil Young, released in 1974. Recorded after (but released before) Tonight's the Night, On The Beach shares some of that album's bleakness and crude production-which came as a shock to fans and critics alike, as this was the long-awaited studio follow-up to the commercially and critically successful Harvest-but also included hints pointing towards a more subtle outlook, particularly on the opener, "Walk On". Much like Tonight's The Night, On The Beach was not a commercial success at the time of it's release but over time attained a high regard from fans and critics alike. The album was recorded in a haphazard manner, with Young utilizing a variety of session musicians, and often changing their instruments while offering only bare-bones arrangements for them to follow (in a similar style to Tonight's The Night). He also would opt for rough, monitor mixes of songs rather than a more polished sound.
After working his way through loss and chaos on the brilliant TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (recorded in 1973, but not released until 1975), Neil Young deftly exorcised any lingering demons with 1974's ON THE BEACH. The album opens with the saunter of the aptly titled "Walk On," followed by the utterly gorgeous, Wurlitzer-tinged "See the Sky about to Rain."
The set also features a trio of scathing songs--"Revolution Blues," "Vampire Blues," and "Ambulance Blues"--that address issues important to Young, both social and personal. It is good to hear Young back with such bite and vitriol, especially after the broken desperation of TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT. But while ON THE BEACH is edgy and deeply felt, it also manages to sound liberating and relaxed, with glimmers of hope and humor peeking through the spare, evocative arrangements. Inexplicably unreleased on CD until 2003, ON THE BEACH is both unflinching and resilient, and easily stands as one of Young's finest albums.
- Format: Vinyl
- Genre: Rock
- Remastered
- Remember, for our lowest prices, always order directly from our official JocoRecords website!
TRACKS
Side: 1
1 Walk On (2014 Remaster)
2 See the Sky About to Rain (2014 Remaster)
3 Revolution Blues (2014 Remaster)
4 For the Turnstiles (2014 Remaster)
5 Vampire Blues (2014 Remaster)
Side: 2
1 On the Beach (2014 Remaster)
2 Motion Pictures (For Carrie) [2014 Remaster]
3 Ambulance Blues (2014 Remaster)
